3 Easy Ways for MilFams to Succeed at School

Aug 1, 2018
3 min read

You’ve misplaced the one and only pair of sneakers your child owned. Plus, your spouse is set to leave again.

Oh, and school starts next week! Your military life is totally not crazy at all.

It might feel like you’re starting off all out of sorts this school year, but you can still get everything under control with a few simple steps.

It’s all about creating systems and starting fresh this school year. Use these simple solutions to help your children find success at school without driving yourself insane.

1. Take the Stress Out of Homework

If your homework routine starts the minute your child walks in the door, it’s time for a refresh. Instead of buckling down right away, take about 30 minutes to decompress, move and grab a quick bite to eat.

It might sound counterintuitive to not do homework when your child is still in the “school” mindset, but this works!

A short break will help your child’s brain to de-stress and reset. The snack will refuel their body. When they do sit down to homework again, they’ll feel calmer and more focused.

During homework, take short breaks every so often to move around or relax.

You can get more tips, and a free fridge guide, for Stress Free Homework from MilKids Ed!

2. Talk to the Teacher

Starting off on the right foot means building a good working relationship with your child’s teacher. You don’t need to be best friends, but you should be able to talk and email professionally.

Begin to create this relationship right from the start, at Meet the Teacher or Back to School Night. Introduce yourself and mention your child’s name. Find something positive to share about your school year so far.

Provide the teacher with a little extra insight into your child but sharing a brief history of their K-12 years. You should also pass the teacher your contact information, including a reliable email address.

Make it a point to find something positive about school each week or every other week. Send a quick email to the teacher expressing your thanks or sharing why an experience was valuable for your child. Creating this kind of communication helps a teacher to feel better about your relationship, and makes it easier to talk if things get rough.

If something of concern does pop up, be open and honest about your experience and requests. Ask questions, but be ready to hear honest answers in return. If you already have a fairly solid relationship with the teacher, it’s easier to get answers and find supportive solutions.

Talking to the teacher is one of the best ways to help your child find success at school

3. Ask for Help

Find resources and supports in your community or online.

The teacher should be your first contact whenever you have a concern or question. They can direct you to class or school specific resources that can make a difference. In school, you can also access the school counselor, as well as any specialty therapists on staff. Administrators, like principals or special education directors, are always happy to answer questions or sit in on meetings.

School Liaison Officers (SLO) are another great resource open to military families. Many SLOs are located on your local military base and have good relationships with the area schools. They can help with enrollment, finding schools near you or creating a volunteer relationship with the base. SLOs might also be a great first resource if you and the school have a disagreement about your child’s education.

MilKids Ed is a wonderful resource for military families, or any family, looking to improve their child’s education. Through timely articles and helpful resources, MilKids Ed helps parents find simple solutions to school problems.

You can also reach out to parents in your community through social media, the PTA or local organizations. They might have contacts to tutors or education centers near you.