The new school term is just one week away, and many parents are wondering how to help their children transition smoothly from holiday mode to focused learning. After a long break, children’s sleep schedules, daily routines, and study habits may be disrupted, making the first week of school challenging.
At RL Education, we’ve identified several key steps students can take in the final week before school starts to ensure they enter the new term ready for the new courses with confidence and efficiency.
Adjust Daily Routines for a Smooth Start
Holiday schedules often mean staying up late and sleeping in, which can affect concentration and energy levels.
- Tip: Gradually adjust your child’s sleep and wake times during the last week of holidays. Move bedtime earlier by 15–30 minutes each day, and encourage a consistent morning routine.
- Benefit: Children who adjust their routines in advance arrive at school alert and ready to focus, particularly important for high-achieving VCE and IB students.
Review Key Concepts from Last Term
After a long break, students often forget important material. Jumping straight into new content can make them feel behind.
- Tip: Focus on reviewing core subjects. Simple summaries, key formulas, or a few practice questions are enough to refresh knowledge.
- Goal: The aim isn’t to overload with work but to reactivate memory and reinforce foundational concepts.
Develop Effective Study Habits for Lasting Success
Many parents assume the difference between high- and low-performing students is “how much they know,” but the real factor is consistent, effective study habits. Focused attention in class is just one part of the equation.
Key habits include:
- Pre-class preparation: Preview material or review previous lessons to mentally prepare for new content.
- Active engagement in class: Listen carefully, take organized notes, and highlight questions.
- Independent thinking: Attempt to solve problems before asking for help.
- Post-class review: Summarize what was learned, consolidate notes, and reflect on strategies.
- Homework and practice management: Complete assignments on schedule and track mistakes or difficult concepts.
- Strategic help-seeking: Ask teachers or peers for clarification after attempting a solution independently.
- Time management: Balance study and rest to maintain consistent energy levels.
Students who cultivate these systematic study habits not only perform better in class but also gain long-term skills for self-directed learning and academic success in VCE and IB courses.
Set Goals for the New Term
Goal-setting helps students stay focused and motivated from day one.
- Examples: Weekly study targets, completing assignments on schedule, subject-specific achievements
- Encourage children to participate in setting their own goals to increase accountability and motivation.
🎯 At RL Education, teachers guide students in setting realistic, achievable goals, ensuring a structured approach to learning and progress tracking.
Maintain a Positive Mindset Before School
The last week of holidays is also about mental preparation.
- Plan light, enjoyable family activities to help children relax.
- If there are holiday experiences or fun activities they haven’t done yet, try to fit them in so they enter the school term feeling satisfied.
- Offer encouragement without creating pressure.
- Help children look forward to the new term rather than feel anxious.
💡 Studies show that students who start school emotionally balanced and satisfied are more attentive and effective in class.
RL Education: Courses for Year 3-12 Students
The final week before school is crucial for preparing students to succeed. RL Education provides different courses in year 2026 to help students make the most of this new term
- VCE / IB tutoring programs: Mathematics, English, Chinese, Science…etc.
- Year 3-10 programs: Mathematics, English, Chinese, Science…etc.
- Special programs: UCAT, AMC, Scholarship Preparation, Selective School Preparation
📌 Book a trial class at RL Education today and help your child start the term with confidence and focus!
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