• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
• Set aside ample time for homework.
• Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
• Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child’s homework for her.
• To help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying, it’s recommended that youngsters close the books for 10 minutes every hour and go do something else.
• If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren’t able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child’s teacher first.

One suggestion: check out BookFinder.com. They can help you save a significant portion of the cost, though not without some caveats. It helps to know before classes start what text you’ll need, what edition, and whether it must be the U.S. version.

If you want to take a more activist approach, you can also check out MakeTextbooksAffordable.org.

get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they’ll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning)

eat a healthy breakfast (kids are more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day)

write down the need-to-know info to help them remember all of the details, such as their locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers’ and/or bus driver’s names, etc.

use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc.

have them organize and set out what they need for the school day the night before (i.e., homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the front door, and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms)

• Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She’ll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her memory about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
• Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
• If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.