That time of the year is creeping up on us…marble notebooks, mechanical pencils, 3-ring binders, graphing calculators that cost more than a weekend getaway. By now, you have probably combed through the sales and picked up jeans here and loose leaf paper there. I bet you’ve traversed the county, on the hunt for the perfect backpack for your first-grader. All of the preparation will be worth it when the big moment arrives: The First Day of School.
How do you deal with the back to school transition? Are you bouncing off the walls with excitement, feeling weightless from the relief of no longer needing to keep antsy children entertained all day, every day? Are you consumed with anxiety, thoughts of book reports and pages upon pages of math and science homework sheets dancing through your daily nightmares? The school year is a stressful time for parents and students. It’s a constant juggling act, whether you’re a student or a parent, and most of us often feel just one misstep away from dropping everything. As you gather your supplies and plan your carpools, take comfort in these few things that will help with the transition back to early mornings and scheduled days.
- Don’t let homework worries bring you down. As a Levittown Library cardholder, you have free access to Tutor.com, a one-on-one service that provides a live tutor 24/7 for homework assistance. Tutor.com is available through our databases. For questions or concerns regarding the service, see their Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Speaking of databases, if this is the year of SAT’s, ACT’s, and college applications, visit the Education & Careers section of our databases. Here, you and your child can start to gather helpful information from sources including Learning Express Library 3.0 and College Source Online.
- ….Since we’re still on the subject of databases, do you know that your Levittown Public Library card unlocks hundreds of databases? You can search by subject or name, and they are also organized into helpful groupings, like Teen Databases and Children’s Databases. Homework doesn’t stand a chance when you have these tools at your disposal.
- Getting back into a routine can be a challenge, especially if there’s a new school in the mix. PBS has some great, common sense back-to-school tips for parents.
- Feel more secure letting your kids out of your sight for a few hours with these health and safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Topics include: bullying, homework habits, and school bus safety, among others.
- The online coupon source Passionate Penny Pincher created this useful Back to School Cheat Sheet for school supply basics, comparing the prices of four major retailers: Target, Walmart, Staples, and Office Depot/Office Max.
- Visit the Children’s Room to see our display of back-to-school picture books to get your kids excited for school. If nothing on display catches your eye, speak with a librarian to find out about more options; We have enough to go around for everyone! The Children’s Pinterest page will be featuring a Back to School board, as well.
- Get in the school spirit by watching these films, all of which take place during the school year; for most, the action revolves around the start of school. My favorites on the list are The Breakfast Club and Dead Poets Society (O Captain! My Captain!).
Lastly, to all the teachers out there: You rock! Thank you for setting your alarm clocks to a disgustingly early hour so that you can make your classroom a magical place. The start of the school year is just as stressful for you as it is for the parents and the students. Here’s a little something for you: 20 memes of What Teachers Hate About Going Back to School. Enjoy, relax, and stock up on the Sleepytime Tea and Vitamin C.
Libraries and schools go hand-in-hand. Maybe you haven’t been in much this summer. That’s okay. We look forward to seeing you again! Come in with your math sheets, your book report topics, your highlighters and flashcards. Let us help get you through the next ten months.
Happy Reading,
Jess
