Amanda began decorating her homeroom the end of July so she could be assured she had overlooked nothing her students might benefit from and enjoy. There was the reading corner with beanbag chairs and baskets of books appealingly displayed and waiting to be read. In another area were colorful bins filled with art supplies: paints, brushes, crayons and construction paper. Musical notes covered a wall and a piano sat at the ready for instruction and musical enjoyment; last year it had come in handy as the students square danced around the room. Amanda had also stocked up on foam board to mount pictures so she could display them all around the room, even planning to hang some from the ceiling so her students could admire their handiwork everywhere in the classroom. Yes, all of the physical things possible had been readied for incoming students but Amanda was well aware that much of the preparation had to begin at home before her students ever set foot in her room. She wished she could ensure that each child in her room for the coming year would be given the following common sense opportunities to help success be within his or her reach:

1. An established bedtime is a must to ensure your child is ready to face the day rested and in a good frame of mind. It's beneficial to structure the student's bedtime routine so that possibly a warm bath and the freedom to read books in bed will aid him in falling asleep.
2. A good breakfast has proven to be more beneficial than anyone ever realized. Leading nutritionists claim this is a very important meal and thought should be given to being sure there is everything a child needs to give a healthy start to his day.
3. Parental interest and strong involvement in your child's behavior and academic progress are a must. It truly sets the student up for success when he or she knows that parents are there for any meetings at school or available for even a simple thing such as questions about homework.
4. A specified place to attend to homework is also very helpful. Even if it happens to be a spot at the dining room table with needed pencils and paper in a drawer close by, it can be an effective tool. Structure helps in focusing on assignments and certainly aids in time management. It's never too early for a student to learn organization and the value of not wasting time.
5. Firm rules and guidelines regarding watching television and playing with video games are such an aid to the way a child assesses what is important and what is a fun diversion. While it's always a good idea to allow play times and carefree pastimes, it is certainly wise to limit the amount of time a child spends in front of the television and focusing attention on the lure of the video games. Each of these can become almost addicting to a child and can be much more appealing than getting homework completed. It is helpful to insist that homework is to be finished before contemplating television viewing or video game playing.