Student Checklist for the First Week of College

Going off to college for the first time can be a daunting, exhilarating experience. It's easy to become overwhelmed by all that there is to do in the first few weeks of school. However, you should know that it's all going to settle down and you'll get used to college life in no time.

Use this checklist to make sure that you've taken care of all of the important things during the first week of school:

• Settled in to housing. Whether it's a dorm or an apartment, you want to make sure that you're comfortable there from the get-go.


• Met a few people. You don't need to make all of your friends immediately but start socializing with one or two people.


• Bought all of your books and supplies. By the end of week one, you need to have everything your teachers require.


• Tested out any technology. Your laptop, calculator and phone should all be in working order to keep life running smoothly.


• Learned your school email and website information. Most classes today require you to have an online presence so make sure you understand all of those requirements.


• Created a schedule. You need to have a schedule in place for when you plan to do your studying. You should also have a semester-long calendar showing all of your study dates, test dates and days off of class.

The first week of college will be busy but it doesn't have to be hectic. Get organized, begin to socialize and make sure that you know who to turn to if questions come up. You've got an exciting four years up ahead!

A Parent's Changing Role in Education

One of the most important things that a parent can come to realize is that the role that he or she plays in a child's education is going to change over time. Here are some of the common stages that this role will go through:

• PreK - Before your child enters kindergarten, you are most likely his primary teacher.
• Elementary - You must transition to allowing the classroom teacher to take over the primary role. Your focus should be on helping your child to develop good homework habits and fostering a positive attitude towards school.
• Junior High - This is a difficult time during which children are struggling to fit in with peers. Although education is important, the parent should focus on assisting the child to balance school with developing a healthy social life.
• High School - This is when a parent should play a supportive and instructive role in guiding children towards college. Keep an open mind towards many different colleges and be available as a resource for your teen.
• College - When a child enters college, it is time for him to become an adult. The parent should no longer be extensively involved in the school life. However, this is a great time for parents to actively engage their children in conversation about social issues that they are learning in school. This shows respect for the child.

A parent who successfully navigates the different roles that he or she will need to play in education over time will be a parent who can always brag about the child's successes.

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