Preparing for a Successful Islamic School Year: A Checklist for Parents

Summer is coming to a close and this means that the start of another school year is just around the corner. For many students, this is a time to start thinking about the classes they’ll take and the friends they’ll meet. But it’s also a time to enjoy the last few weeks of freedom before the hustle and bustle of the school year begins.

The new school year is quickly approaching, and with Islamic schools being the ideal choice for many Muslim children we thought it would be a good idea to give you some suggestions on how to prepare.

What You Should  Know About Preparing Your Children For School?

As parents, we always want our children to succeed in school, but it can be hard to know exactly how to help them. If you’re looking for ways to support your child academically we have created a checklist of items to consider as you prepare your child for the upcoming academic year. Keep the following in mind as you get closer to the first day:

Be sure to set realistic expectations based on student strengths and weaknesses!

Firstly, don’t put too much pressure on your child to excel academically in areas where YOU have always found success. Every child develops at their own pace and will have their own unique strengths, weaknesses, favorite subjects, and talents. Help your child set realistic goals for themselves based on where their strength and weaknesses lie.

Don’t forget to give them a pat on the back for their accomplishments, whether they are big or small. What matters most to them may differ from what matters most to you, and that’s fine. As long as they are making great strides toward getting good grades overall be sure to let them know that you see and value their accomplishments.

Encourage a love of learning in younger and older children.

One of the best ways to prepare your child for school is to instill a love of learning in them. Help them see that learning new things can be extremely rewarding. If they are younger, read with and to them. Take them to the library rather than the park some days when you want to get out of the house. This will help to nurture their desire for knowledge and improve reading comprehension.

For older children, sign them up for extracurricular activities that are in keeping with their studies. Success in these extra-curricular programs may be included in a college application.

Promote the development of social skills to reduce stress.

Believe it or not, school is not just about academics—it’s also a place where children learn to interact with others. Developing socially helps children to maintain a positive outlook on life, and reduces stress for children at any age.

You can help your child improve social skills by taking part in social events in your community or at your local mosque that are geared toward children in the same age group. Activities that encourage teamwork, cooperation, and communication are perfect for nurturing the social butterfly in us all.

Rehearse basic life skills to encourage independence.

This one is mostly for those children who are new to schooling, preschoolers for example. Rehearse with them those things that are considered basic life skills. For example, tieing shoes, and taking shoes off and on independently. Even little ones may go back and forth into the Musallah for prayer and activities during the day. Being able to take shoes off and on, and tie their shoes will help make life easier for your little one. Young ones should also rehearse good bathroom etiquette, making wudhu independently, and practice cleaning up after eating or playing.

Life skills that are academic success essentials for teens include staying organized, planning, time management, limiting mobile phone use, minimizing distraction while studying, decision making, and problem-solving skills. Parents may assist their children in developing these fundamental life skills by redirecting self-doubt, encouraging positive self-talk, and offering opportunities for children to handle more challenging responsibilities at home.

Help them develop a positive self-image.

Building a strong self-image is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s academic success. Self-esteem can have a significant impact on academic performance. A student’s desire to learn, ability to focus, and willingness to take risks may all be affected by low self-esteem. Positive self-esteem, on the other hand, is one of the key components of school success; it provides a solid foundation for confidence in learning.

As parents we can help encourage a positive self-image through positive reinforcement, encouraging independence, and setting reasonable expectations. By fostering a positive self-image in students, parents along with educators can help them reach their full potential.

Be involved in your child’s education.

Being actively involved in your kid’s education is one of the most effective methods to get them ready for school. Attend your community Islamic school events, meet their teachers, and assist with their studies. By taking this action, not only will your child feel more comfortable, but you will also be able to gain a better grasp of the material they are learning and how you can help them to excel.

Share These Study Tips With Your Children!

Study after Salah – Salah’s calming effect may help teenagers study more effectively if they begin after offering the salah. During this time, right after completing the Salah, the mind will be much clearer, and stress will most likely decrease, so focus and attention will improve as a consequence of it.

Start with Bismillah – As with anything else we do as Muslims, remind them to start their study session with the name of Allah.  By saying Bismillah we invite and welcome blessings/assistance from Allah (SWT) to make things clear to us. It is when we neglect the saying that we deprive ourselves of blessings, goodness, and ease.

Remember “Indeed, with hardship will be ease.” (Quran 94:6). – Recognize that learning new material isn’t always easy. They may have great results in one area of study while having difficulties in another, and this is normal. Maintaining a consistent study schedule, having the help of parents, teachers and most importantly Allah will result in a better understanding of difficult subject matter.

As the new academic year approaches we hope that our checklist and tips have given you some ideas of things to do as you prepare your child for another successful school year. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child and by working together as parents and educators we can ensure that every one of our children reach their full potential.