With just four weeks before the start of the new academic school year for most students, parents are consumed with ensuring that things like uniforms, school shoes and all the other sundry items are squared away. But one teacher is urging parents to begin familiarizing their children with the things they will be facing in the classroom.
"My advice would be to go and get the child's book list, purchase the books on the list and give the child a jumpstart," said Valarie Kemp, a sixth grade teacher at Oakes Field Primary. "Work with the child to see how much in that book the child remembers, or what the child does not know."
By doing this, Kemp said parents can give their children a jumpstart on the new school year by allowing them to get some experience in the work they'll be doing throughout the term.
While many educators also advise having children review during the summer months, Kemp said parents could help their children look back at the previous year's work. However, according to the teacher, many of the books that children will use in their next grade levels will make the connection for them.
"So they will make that connection and be able to review from that and add to it, so it will be easier for that child when he or she is studying," said the educator with 40 years experience.
One thing she is adamant about is that parents ensure that their children return to school with all the textbooks they will need for the academic year.
"They [children] need to come back with all the material that they need at the very beginning," said Kemp. "I don't want to have to wait for the end of September for them [parents] to be looking for the books. I can't hold my class back for your child who does not have the text from the list you were given from the end of school. It's not fair, and that's what happens a lot of times. The children need the texts," she said.
And if parents haven't purchased textbooks yet, they should be doing so now, advised Kemp. The closer it gets to September, the more prices increase and the more likely it will be that books are sold out.
"Last week I found a book at one place that was $6.10. I went to another store, the same book was $13.95. As you get closer (to the opening of school), the prices skyrocket," said Kemp. "So parents need to ensure that they get the textbooks and get the child the opportunity to go through those textbooks and get a jumpstart."
Even if parents have allowed their children to slack off during the first half of the summer break, they should not berate themselves. Kemp believes they can use the remaining weeks to get their children's brains back into learning mode. Keeping with the spirit of summer holidays, she hopes that in doing so, parents can make the experience fun.
"It's time for the children to start reading and not letting their brains stay too idle. If it's not a book that they pick up, they should be reading on their tablets or laptops. Parents should just make sure that their children are reading," she said.
Kemp also warned about children constantly play video games. If they must do so, she hopes parents ensure that their little ones are playing educational games.
"You have to make it fun and make him feel that he or she is still on vacation, but at the same time they're working," said the teacher. "Parents have to work with the child -- let the child read to them, or parents read to the child or they read as they go along. They should not make it seem like he or she is still in school and it's punishment, but make it fun. Whatever you're going to do, make learning fun, and then they'll be all right," she said.
For students who are moving up into sixth grade and those who are leaving primary school behind and moving up to junior school, Kemp said this is the time for parents to let their children know that the transition will be very important.
"We have parents who treat the children like they're still babies, so we advise them to let go, and let the children be responsible for their own doings or whatever they have to do. Parents need to talk to them about the importance of the sixth grade and going into seventh grade," she recommended.
Her advice to the children who have graduated primary school and will start junior school in the fall is for them to do their best and work.
"Once they make that transition into the seventh grade, and successfully do that, then it would be easier straight through as they will be grounded and that's important," said Kemp
With mere weeks to the school year, the teacher also said that parents should be putting into practice getting their children into a regular routine of bedtime by 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., at the latest, to ensure that the children are fresh and ready for school. She also said parents need to get their children excited about coming to school and make school sound like a fun experience.

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