Back-To-School Blues? Here's What Teachers Want You To Know

These teachers offer real tips and advice on how parents and students can best prepare for a safe and successful school year.

Patch Deals, Brand Partner

Posted Wed, Aug 25, 2021 at 4:07 pm ET|Updated Fri, Aug 27, 2021 at 4:07 pm ET

From having important back-to-school conversations with your child to keeping them safe in the classroom, these teachers offer parents advice on how to navigate the new school year. (Getty Images)

For almost a year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of life as we know it — and heading back to school is no exception. From wearing masks in the classroom to remote learning, students and teachers have been forced to navigate many uncharted territories. And, unfortunately, we’re not quite out of the woods yet.

The good news, however, is that educators across the nation have stepped up to the plate and put their heart and soul into giving their students the education they deserve. Aside from being the true superheroes that they are, teachers also give some pretty good advice — especially when it comes to adapting to the “new normal” kids are facing this school year.

In these unprecedented times, parents may be struggling to find the best ways to communicate with their child about topics such as health, safety and the anxiety they may be experiencing about returning back to school. Fortunately, we’ve gathered some advice and tips from some amazing teachers who are here to help. They’ve shared everything they want you to know about the new school year below.

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This post is sponsored by FTD, a Patch Brand Partner, and includes a selection of products we think you'll love. When you make a purchase, Patch may earn a small commission. All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change. The teachers quoted in this article are not affiliated with Patch or FTD; all views are their own.

Stay Safe In The Classroom

Sixth grade teacher Rebekah Poe, who runs a blog called Lessons and Lattes, is looking forward to kids returning to the classroom. However, there are some important conversations parents should have with their children regarding health and safety beforehand. Poe offers some advice: “Make safe choices. Try to stay socially distant. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Don’t share supplies if you don’t have to,” she tells Patch.

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Heather Fischer, a kindergarten teacher and founder of the blog A Trailblazing Teacher, admits that talking about COVID-19 with children can definitely be tricky. “On one hand, you don’t want to instill fear, but on the other hand, you want to be honest with them and make sure they take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.”

The conversation you have with your children will vary depending on their age. If your child is in elementary school, Fischer suggests explaining how to keep themselves safe in terms that they will understand. “I would suggest first talking about what germs are, where they can be found, what happens when we come in contact with germs,” she says. “We want to protect ourselves from getting sick so we don’t accidentally spread it to other people with our germs. Scientists have learned that when we wear masks, keep our distance from others and wash our hands often, we are less likely to spread our germs and get others sick.”

Keeping things clear and simple will give children some guidance when it comes to being safe at school without scaring them.

Have An Open Conversation About Fear And Anxiety

With the constant chatter and media coverage surrounding COVID-19, it’s only natural for kids to get wind of — and feel confused and anxious about — what’s going on in the world. It’s important for parents to help them navigate this “new normal” — and the first step is having an open conversation.

“Many children will look to their parents or caregivers as to how they should react to this ‘new normal.’ If a parent shows a huge fear of their kids getting sick, it’s more likely that the kids will develop a huge fear as well that could hinder their ability to function,” Fischer tells Patch. “Same thing can happen on the other end of the spectrum. If a parent is very upset about their kids having to wear masks in school, the kids are more likely to have problems wearing masks. Children are pretty resilient, but they are also very aware of and sensitive to what their parents and caregivers are feeling.”

Another way to help children combat anxiety and fear is to “monitor your kids on social media so they’re not getting bombarded with inaccurate information and scare tactics,” says Poe. Children trust their parents, so it’s important that the information they’re learning about COVID-19 and the pandemic is coming from you — not social media.

Help Them Stay On Track This School Year

Whether your children are back in the classroom this year or they are learning remotely, it’s important to keep them on track so they can get the most out of their education. “Set aside specific times for schoolwork and homework,” says Poe. She also recommends investing in a planner.

This 2021-22 Student Planner from BooQool Store is a great pick for elementary students. The colorful planner includes both weekly and monthly tabs, so students can achieve both short-term and long-term goals and stay organized in the process.

If your student is a bit older, a more academic planner, such as this one (also from the BooQool Store), is likely your best bet. This particular planner includes weekly sections, monthly tabs, several sections for notes, quick reference information and much more.

As for your kids’ overall schedules? Fischer is a firm believer in a “work hard, play hard” mentality when it comes to learning. She encourages students and parents to “take breaks and ask for help when you need it. Your mental health should come first! Set up a realistic routine that includes time for work, play, and relaxation.”

Treat Your Favorite Teacher To Back-To-School Flowers

After all of the time and effort they’ve been putting into making their classrooms a safe, comfortable and welcoming place, teachers deserve some thanks for all their hard work. FTD Flowers has a variety of back-to-school bouquets and gifts to show your child’s teacher just how much they are appreciated. And right now, Patch readers get 15 percent off retail price! Discount is automatically applied at checkout.

Gifts that can be proudly displayed on a teacher’s desk, such as a lovely bouquet of flowers or a succulent plant, are sure to make any teacher smile. Wish a teacher a great start to the year with a thoughtful bouquet of stunning blooms, such as the Best Day Ever Bouquet.

You can also show the student in your life some support on their first day of school by surprising them with a gift such as the Mrs. Fields Hello Sunshine Tin, which makes a tasty study time snack.

Whether they prefer plants or sweets, FTD has gift options available to please any teacher or student and help them kick off the school year the right way!

Save 15 Percent On Back-To-School Bouquets And Gifts For Teachers And Students

Go Back-To-School Shopping

According to both Poe and Fischer, one of the most important things students should have on them this year is hand sanitizer. “For kids, I would definitely recommend a travel hand sanitizer that can be hung from their pants or backpacks,” says Fischer. “I would also recommend a mask lanyard so whenever they take off their masks, they don’t get lost!”

This variety pack of gel hand sanitizers by Purell includes eight travel-size hand sanitizers with jelly wrap carriers that can be hung from a child’s backpack or brought on the go. You can also get this set of 10 face mask lanyards in a variety of colors, so your children will always be able to keep track of their mask in the classroom.

In addition, Patch has rounded up some of the latest and greatest back-to-school deals on notebooks, backpacks, lunchboxes and more: