Whether you're counting down the days until the school bell rings again or wishing summer could stretch just a little longer, you're not alone. As I begin my eighth year as a teacher, I’ve learned that transitioning from summer freedom back into structured routines can feel overwhelming—for both children and parents.
One educator whose work continues to inspire me is Charlotte Mason, a pioneering British teacher and author who described education as “an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” With that in mind, here are a few tried-and-true strategies to help ease your family back into the school year with a bit more peace—and maybe even some joy.
Lunches That Fuel (Without Fuss)
Packing lunches doesn’t need to be creative, just consistent. I’ve seen every type of lunch in my classroom—from beautifully curated bento boxes to sandwiches in brown paper bags. The students who thrive? They tend to have lunches that are simple, filling, and familiar.
One parent put it perfectly: “I aim to cover each food group so my child has energy to learn.” That might look like:
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Main: Turkey and cheese wrap, chicken and rice, or pasta with some protein
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Protein snack: Yogurt or a jerky stick
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Healthy fat: Cheese or sunflower butter
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Fruit + Veggie: Something crunchy and colorful—think cucumber slices, bell peppers, or apples (pro tip: a little lemon juice squeezed on apples will stop them from browning)
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Treat: A small sweet or salty snack
Leftovers work just fine, too. Keep it doable—the goal is nourishment, not Pinterest perfection.
Morning Routines That Teach Responsibility
We all know the morning chaos: getting everyone dressed, fed, and out the door with minimal meltdowns. It can get easier, but it takes practice and— as American education advocate Horace Mann famously observed—habit.
“Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, and at last we cannot break it.”
One of the most powerful habits to build? Responsibility. Give your children small, consistent jobs they can own:
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Fill their own water bottle
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Lay out clothes or shoes the night before
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Pack their school bag
The key is to let them do it—and let them experience the natural consequences if it’s forgotten. That’s how real growth happens.
Books That Build Readers (and Hearts)
Reading isn’t just about comprehension—it’s about connection and imagination. I can tell immediately which students read at home: they write more creatively, speak with wider vocabularies, and engage deeply with stories.
The secret? Finding a book your child loves.
Here are a few classroom favorites that turned reluctant readers into proud bookworms:
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Magic Tree House series – Time-travel adventures for early readers
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Imagination Station – Fast-paced historical fiction with a values-based twist
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Ten Boys Who Changed the World / Ten Girls Who Made History – True, inspiring stories of real kids who made an impact
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Fidget Game – A hands-on tool for building high-frequency word recognition
As the poet Maya Angelou beautifully put it, “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.”
A Word of Encouragement
The return to school doesn’t have to be perfect. Start small. Stick with habits. Find joy in the simple things—like a packed lunch, a helpful morning, or a book that makes your child say, “One more chapter?”
This isn’t just a new season—it’s a fresh opportunity to foster independence, curiosity, and confidence in the days ahead.
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Jasmine Johnson is a classically trained educator with an MA (Hons) in Elementary Education and an MTh in Biblical Studies.