Back to School 2009

Q. I have a 3-year-old daughter, and I'm a first-grade teacher. I often see kids that are struggling as younger students or older students that excel within their grade. Her birthday is August 1. The school start deadline here is September 15. I'm debating about when she should start school. She's social, outgoing and academically has met or exceeded the milestones for her age group at this time. Her sister is 16 months behind her ... so they will be either a year or two apart in school, based on this decision. Any advice?

Don't let counselor dissuade you from dream job DR. WALLACE: I'm in the 11th grade and would like to become a nurse. I talked with my school counselor to see about getting into college, but she told me that my IQ was only 101 and I should plan to do something else. I am a solid B student with good study habits. I'm really concerned. What should I do? -- Brenda, Garden Grove, Calif.

If your kids' grades are slipping, their moods have changed dramatically and they suddenly want to be driven to or picked up from school instead of taking the bus, be cautious: These are some signs that your child may be the victim of a school bully. Other signs include a diminished appetite, problems sleeping and coming home with torn clothing.

It has a pull even parents can't deny, but too much technology for youngsters causes serious weight problems, interferes with school work and overexposes them to risky behaviors like violence, sex and drug use. Yet, on average, children ages 6 and younger spend two hours per day in front of the television, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To put it in perspective, that's about the same amount of time they spend playing outside.

Life in the classroom changes along with the times. Students of all ages now show up to school with cell phones, as text messaging has replaced passing notes for the best way to relay juicy gossip, and computers are as common as chalkboards. However, all of the latest technology has not been effective in preventing one of the biggest threats to academic achievement: cheating. In fact, it's probably gotten worse.

Are you worried about your child's eating habits? Anyone up on the news knows that obesity is on the rise among children in the U.S.: According to an article in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, nearly one-fifth of American 4-year-olds are obese. Whether in preschool, high school or in between, helping children learn their way around a kitchen can promote good eating habits and stem the tide of obesity and diseases like diabetes.

That cool new backpack your child picked out seemed like a good idea -- until they loaded it with 30 pounds of books and supplies. Now they're walking around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, griping that their shoulders hurt. It's no wonder why. The wrong backpack wreaks havoc on a child's posture -- and proper posture is crucial in preventing future back pain and injuries, according to occupational therapist Chris Sorrells, an ergonomic assessment specialist and president of ergonomicssimplified.com. That heavy load of books and supplies, distributed improperly, day after day, will take its toll on a young, still-growing spinal column.

At the last parent-teacher conference, you were informed that your precious child doesn't sit still or pay attention in class. He doesn't seem to want to follow through and finish classroom projects and he is easily frustrated and impatient. The teacher even hinted that you might want to ask your doctor about medications normally used for children suffering with attention deficit disorder (ADD). This diagnosis is often used as an umbrella term for a group of sensory processing disorders, which may or may not respond to medications or sensory-based treatments.

From online purchases to scouring second-hand stores, there are several ways to find back-to-school clothes -- but the best place to start is in your child's closet, experts say. In addition to saving money, you'll also have a way to teach your child "a thing or two about financial responsibility," said Adam Carroll, an Iowa-based financial expert and co-author of "Winning The Money Game" ($12, National Financial Educators, Inc.). "The key to being fiscally conservative when it comes to school clothes is two-fold: know your budget and know what you need.

You've heard it before -- as a parent you are your child's first teacher. You alone have more influence than anyone else on his or her behavior, values and work ethic. However, when it comes to getting the school year off to a good start, it always helps to pay attention to what professional educators have to say.

For many students, homework assignments often seem to come last on the list of priorities. Huge writing assignments are often rushed through with scribbled words and carefully reworded "borrowed" phrases from research. From grade school through grad school, students through the years have experienced enormous stress as they near their due dates.

The school day may end in mid-afternoon, but with homework, the learning process can continue right up to suppertime and then some. Many children have a hard time developing good habits, especially if they dislike a subject. That can lead to failing grades and family arguments that turn the homework process into homework horror for both parent and child. Fortunately, it's fixable, experts say.

It's easy to let things get in the way of creative and active play. Busy school schedules create tired kids, which means they often resort to video games, television and computers for downtime. This does not bode well for most children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, watching more than one or two hours of television a day means a child is more likely to be overweight, sleep irregularly and have behavioral problems, impaired academic performance and less time for active play.

One of the best ways to assure that your child becomes a successful and happy student -- and eventually a well-adjusted adult -- is to make sure he or she is a good reader. This journey begins the day a child is born and lasts throughout his or her lifetime, said Rebecca Chrystal Armstrong, director of literacy services for Reading is Fundamental, the nation's largest children's literacy organization. "Learning to read begins long before children enter formal schooling. It begins with learning the sounds of spoken language when they hear family members talking or singing and continues as children respond to the sounds that fill their environment.

As the saying goes, "You can't wrap children in cotton wool." But given the array of unforeseen dangers that can befall their offspring, parents should teach safety rules to their kids early on, according to the Children's Safety Network (CSN). The Newton, Mass.-based organization, which is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works with states and communities to create safe and healthy environments for youth.

Studies indicate that, while whites still make up the majority of the college student population, Latino enrollment has shot up in recent years to surpass that of the black population.

Grade point averages have been better than in previous years, but girls still edge out boys slightly. Here's a look at the GPAs of both male and female students in recent years.

According to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the average math score of eighth graders in the U.S. was higher than 37 of the 48 participating countries. Here's how some of them stacked up.