Back-to-School Strategies for All Learners

While it may seem like summer just began, the new school year is approaching quickly. This is a hectic time for any student, as she meets new teachers, adjusts to new classes, and finds out just how much homework this new grade level requires. But for students with learning disabilities, such as autism or an emotional disability, the return to school can be even more daunting. Take time to prepare your child for the new school year, and to find strategies that work best for her. These strategies can be seamlessly integrated into your tutoring sessions, so that she sees education (i.e., at-school learning and in-home tutoring) as part of the same important concept.

For children with autism, familiarity is key. Novel concepts and sudden changes can create feelings of insecurity and even panic, so make sure that your child knows what to expect. This can mean buying school supplies several weeks before school begins. Use the supplies in your at-home tutoring sessions — even if you just ask him to write a short journal entry using his new pens or colored pencils. You may also want to combine the new school supplies with still-usable, familiar school supplies from the previous school year.

Many children, including those with autism, respond well to color-coded supplies. If, for example, the cover of your child's science textbook is green, get a green folder in which she can put papers, and a green pen for taking notes. This simple step can go a long way toward helping your child make the connection between learning in the classroom, attending tutoring sessions, and doing homework.

If your child has heightened sensory sensitivity, buy and wear school clothes well in advance. Many kids with autism are highly sensitive, as Kathy discussed in her recent post. Something as seemingly minor as a scratchy tag or stiff new pair of tennis shoes can be very distracting. You don't want your child to become frustrated in a tutoring session or in the classroom because of physical discomfort. Allow your child to wear new school clothes at least a week before school begins, so that the two of you can identify and fix any problems.

To create a good routine and help your child with organization, make a schedule. You can use a whiteboard, or one of the oversized desk calendars that are available at all office-supply stores. If your child has autism, he may benefit from a picture calendar, which provides visual cues about the items on the schedule. Children in general — and kids with autism in particular — are not fans of the unexpected. While some things come up suddenly and cannot be avoided, it's still always a good idea to map out a schedule to the best of your ability. This includes tutoring sessions, activities (such as music lessons or team sports), family trips, school open houses, etc.

By spending the next few weeks helping your child prepare for the new school year, you will be putting her on the path to confidence and success. If you'd like to hire a tutor to further help your child succeed, check out the great experts here.