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Back to School: Start Smart!

Back to School: Start Smart!

Whether your child is a first-timer or an old hand, explore these articles and resources to make this the best back-to-school season ever.

Put your grade-schooler on track for school success. Whether your child is a first-timer or an old hand, explore these articles and resources to make this the best back-to-school season ever.

Preparing for the New School Year

Review the essentials in order to help your child thrive this year.
Try these solutions if your child is dreading her return to the classroom.
boy sitting at desk doing homework
Create a comfortable place for your child to complete her homework.
Gauge your child's growing self-reliance.
Get kids involved (and eating healthier) with these brown-bag updates.
Help your child handle following in his big brother's or sister's footsteps at school.
Getting back in the academic saddle is a family effort as you stock supplies, organize, and prepare for the busy year ahead.
Starting the school year doesn't have to be a hassle. Use these ideas for a smooth September.
Stock the tools your child needs to tackle homework.
Reduce stress with these simple, time-saving, mood-lifting strategies.
Keep back-to-school time from becoming berserk by getting things in order before the first day.
Get a sense of your child's life at school by asking questions that elicit more than a one-word response.

Books and Reading

Delight in these charming, poignant, and downright funny books about friendship, learning, and classroom antics.
Join generations of fans and introduce your kids to the world of Judy Blume.
Introduce your child to to the vibrant characters of this Library of Congress "Living Legend."
Cabot's winning tone and characterizations will make Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls a surefire hit with kids as well as parents.
If you adore Harry Potter, try these fantasy books and series that will satisfy your taste for all things magical.
These fun seek and find books are full of poems, rhymes, and images certain to entertain your little lady.
These reads will help girls gain a better understanding of themselves and others.
Honoring the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children," Newbery winners are some of the best chapter books... more
Your middle school reader will enjoy taking a trip through time with these stories of ancient civilizations.

Tips for Success

Find creative and fun ways to begin a new year of school.
Read these tips from teachers to help get your child ready for the new school year.
Encourage these signs of progress in your independent reader.

Get Involved

Make the most of your tour.
Advance planning means your teacher conference will be productive and pleasant.
Building a strong parent-teacher relationship from the start is key to your child's academic success.
Sharing information at the start of school helps you build a strong partnership that will benefit your child all year long.

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