Well, Summer's over. It's time to put away our bathing suits, our Carowinds passes and get back to a routine. It's time for school to start.

As a teacher and a parent, I would like to offer some tips for sending our children back to school. It is time to reflect on what has been successful and unsuccessful for our children.

Tip #1: Our children need to read more. Every home should have a collection of age-appropriate, interesting books that not only educate about current events but provide a wealth of creativity for our children. Our homes need libraries.

Tip #2: Have a set place in your house where your child can study, free from distractions. Your child may tell you that he/she can study to the sound of MTV, but that's not true. Children study best in a quiet environment that is consistent everyday. So get a table and a chair and have little Johnny sit there to study each day.

Tip #3: Have a supply of supplies. Don't ever let your child go to school or attempt homework without the proper supplies. Have a drawer specifically for school supplies. This drawer should contain pencils, paper, crayons, scissors, calculators and any other necessary supplies, and your child should have free access to those supplies at all times.

Tip #4: You are what you eat. So many times, I have found that my students come to school without breakfast. In the middle of the morning they are tired and cranky. I have also seen children coming to school sucking on lollipops and drinking an eight-ounce bottle of mountain dew. Parents...this is not the best food for your children's brain.

Tip #5: Have set bed times. All children need adequate sleep, and you won't know whether this is happening unless you monitor your children's cell phones, television, laptop/desktop or any musical devices. Just because the bedroom door is closed doesn't mean they are asleep. At a certain time, all electronics must go to bed, too.

Tip #6: Embrace the uniform. If your child's school has a uniform policy, make sure your child is wearing the appropriate uniform. BUY A BELT! If the school doesn't have a uniform policy, make sure that the clothing is appropriate for learning... Nothing too short, too loose or too tight.

Tip #7: Check homework. It is your child's responsibility to do the homework, but as parents, we should be checking it. If your child comes home and tells you that he/she doesn't have homework, that is usually not the case (especially for middle school and high school). If there is no homework, make them read for an hour. You are your child's best teacher, and this let's your child know that you care about his/her education. It also emphasizes your expectations.

Tip #8: Make sure your child's teachers know how to contact you. If they call...respond. Show up at school unexpectedly. This will keep the child and his/her teachers on their toes. Go to parent/teacher conferences; join the PTA and volunteer.

Tip #9: Check your child's bookbag. You would be amazed by what's inside --test grades that you should know about, notes from the school, unfinished homework, notes from the girlfriend that you didn't know he had, and, God forbid, anything dangerous. You need to know what's in the bookbag.

Tip #10: Avoid morning conflicts. All that yelling in the morning does not translate to a smooth day at school. Have clothes out the night before.

Tip #11: Use parent assistant. CMS has a wonderful grade-monitoring system for parents to keep track of their children's grades daily. The password can be obtained from the front (main) office of most schools, and guess what; you don't have to believe them when they say they don't have homework. Sit down and talk to your child about why education is important and how it affects his/her future.

Wow, I guess you say, “That's a fulltime job.” Yes, it's a job that is necessary to make sure that our children can compete on a global front, so that our children can succeed at the same level as other children. We won't be left behind, and it will be well worth the effort.

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