Clean Slate

Having a seven year old opens your eyes to many things, including the emphasis we place on "The New Year." What is it that makes this time so charged and exciting? Is it because we start writing a new year? Is it because we are still on the "holiday high?" Is it simply because as humans we enjoy starting with a clean slate? 

Many of the people I know, myself included, have benefited from getting a "do over" moment in life. I cannot claim to have made the best decisions for 100% of my life. Whether it was a chance to redo a test, or submit a paper after the due date, or start my work shift late when I overslept, or pull an all-nighter to submit a work assignment late, or to be able to slide in at the last minute at a performance when I double booked my schedule....I have appreciated getting the opportunity to begin a new day with a new blank "to do" list.

January offers many students and educators the chance to start anew. A large percentage of school districts have completed the first half of the year either right before Winter Break or shortly after getting back to school. This often means new classes, maybe new teachers, and often starting with a perfect grade in classes. With this "do over" opportunity, here are three ways to make the most of the New Year.

Replenish binders, writing utensils, backpacks, and other necessary school items
In our house, one of the thrills of the new school year is getting all new school materials: a new lunchbox, a new backpack, new notebooks, new pencils, even new school clothes and shoes. January is a good time to see where you stand on your school supplies. 
Check your notebooks

• Are any of your notebooks falling apart and causing you to lose valuable work? Repair them, if possible. If not, replace them.
• Are you out of paper for notes or to complete assignments? Get more paper, perhaps one notebook of paper per subject.
• Do you have outdated papers in your folders? File them if you will need them later this year. Recycle them if you will not.
• Do you have enough notebooks? Get a notebook for each of your classes, especially if you have new classes this term.

Check your backpack

• Do you have old items in there? Dump everything out of your backpack and only replace the items you will need for this upcoming term. If you need to replenish snacks, do that now.
• Do you have enough writing utensils? Make sure you have the pencils, pens, markers, and highlighters you will need for your classes this term. If you use mechanical pencils, make sure you have enough led. Make sure you have enough erasers, as well. Now is the time to get pen refills for your favorite gel pen.
• Are the zippers and straps in good working condition? The best way to wear a backpack is on both shoulders. Make sure your straps are in good condition. Check that all of your zippers are keeping your work safely inside your backpack, including those pockets that hold electronics and other valuables.
• Are all your textbooks still accounted for? If your school still has textbooks, check to make sure you have all of the required textbooks and they are still in the same condition you received them. Many schools charge a fee for damaged or lost textbooks. Plus, there is a chance you might need that textbook at some point this term.

Check your electronics

• Are your school supplied electronics working correctly? If you have been using a Chromebook or other school laptop that isn't working correctly, now is the time to get it to IT to have them look at it. If it is your own device that isn't working, now is also the time to check into what options are available to you to get you through the school year.
• Are your headphones or earbuds in good condition? If you rely on headphones or earbuds for classes or for free time during or after school, now is the time to make sure they are in your backpack and are in good working condition. After holiday sales might be a good time to replace ones that aren't functioning correctly.
• Do you have your power chords? Make sure the appropriate charging chord is available for when you need it. If you only charge electronics at home, make sure they are available at home. If you charge our electronics at school, place the chords in your backpack.

Use a planner (paper or electronic) for the rest of the school year

• Make sure your planner has holidays, days off, delays, and any known deadlines in it. This is the opportunity to stay on top of these dates, even if you never tracked them before. It is best to track these in a monthly overview calendar.
• Make sure your planner has daily spaces for you to write in assignments for each of your classes, including any new classes.
• Starting this term, schedule in advance. If you have in a week, schedule daily review times for each day up until the test. If you have a project due at the end of the month, break the project down into smaller chunks and schedule in daily time to work on the project.  
• You have a life...schedule it in. If you're involved in anything outside of classes, schedule those events. Make sure practices, games, performances, rehearsals, and other events make it into your planner. This will help you create a realistic study schedule for school work.

Track your stats, contact your teachers

• Start tracking your scores, either in your planner or in another location. If your school uses an online grade tracker, compare your tracked scores with what is showing online at least once a week. Why be surprised at the end of the term with scores that are lower than you anticipated.
• If you see scores that aren't reflecting your tracking, talk to your teacher. Ask to schedule a time to go over your scores with their scores. Don't leave these conversations for the end of the term where it might be too late for incorrectly recorded scores on your part.
• Write down the contact information for each of your teachers, including the new classes. Use this contact information for questions about class assignments and other clarification, but don't expect immediate responses from your teachers. Your lack of action does not mean they are at your beck and call. Many teachers do not keep the same hours as you do and often will not check school emails regularly outside of class hours.

We are at "clean slate" status. Use this time to your advantage. Whether the beginning of the year was great or horrible, now is the time to start anew. Take control of your education and make the rest of this year an awesome experience.

---