When we think of preparing kids for back-to-school, we often think of buying them flashy pens or trendy clothes to boost their confidence in the new year. While fresh sneakers and school supplies can make your kid feel sharp when school starts, material items can’t prepare their brains for engaged, motivated learning. To get the most out of their academic experience, children need to enter the school year with the right attitude towards learning. But positive outlooks aren’t exactly sold in the back-to-school aisle, so what can parents do to get their kids in the right mindset?

As we round the bend from July to August, it’s time to start thinking about the new school year. While summer has been filled with outdoor fun and memories, many of us are exhausted from entertaining our bored kids for the past two months, and trying to find the time for a parental recharge.

The goal of every parent raising children is to do just that: raise them. We all believe that with our help and guidance our children will not only achieve great things, but will become strong, successful, independent adults.

If you’re the parent of a high-schooler, you know the pressure surrounding your kid’s performance on the “big kahuna tests.” You know, the SAT’s, PSAT’s, ACT’s, AP exams, and so on. With graduation approaching, those scores hold a lot of power in proving your child has what it takes to succeed in college. If your child has a disability that affects their learning, the stress of these impending exams can feel especially overwhelming. You know your child’s potential and you don’t want their challenges holding them back from success.

Let me start by saying, contrary to what my children may say, I am not old. That is unless we are talking about technology, in which case I may have well been born in another century altogether.

Currently, there is a buzz in educational research on peak learning times. Unlike the traditional school model that has a confined 8am-3pm schedule, Halstrom Academy’s flexible and intentional scheduling allows us to integrate this research to adapt to our student needs and advance student success.