It’s almost time for children to head back to school for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Ahead of school starting in Michigan, we asked teachers in Metro Detroit to gather some helpful tips for students of all ages, as well as their parents.
Here’s what teachers are saying that parents should know ahead of the school year:
The responses were collected from dozens of teachers around Metro Detroit, and not necessarily just from the six who participated in the roundtable discussion below:
1. Routines at home
Teacher from Detroit with over 10 years of experience
“A solid morning and evening routine and at least 8-10 hours of sleep. All too often, my students are exhausted in class because they were on social media or playing video games until 2 a.m.”
Teacher from Ferndale with over 20 years of experience
“Create a routine for your child weeks before school starts. Make sure they are going to bed on time and remove any video games, TVs, tablets and cell phones from their room. Create a time in the day for your child to do their homework.”
Teacher from Macomb County with over 10 years of experience
“Establish a consistent routine at home-which can help reduce stress, improves focus, and set them up for success both academically and emotionally.”
Teacher from Detroit with over 20 years of experience
“Start the back to school routines about 1 week before school. Bedtimes, wake up times, homework times, etc. Getting scholars into their routine before the school year begins goes a long way with keeping them on track for the first day!”
Teacher from Wayne County with 20 years of experience
“When kids are going between two households, try to keep school routines consistent across both homes. Communicate about assignments and activities (field trip permission slips). Children require stability, and mixed messages only add stress.”
2. Attendance
Teacher from Detroit with over 10 years of experience
“Please come to school every day. We don’t have enough time as it is to learn everything we need to in 10 months so missing 1-2 days a week really adds up and is detrimental to the learning process. Let the school know if financial strain is hindering your child’s ability to get to school.”
Teacher from Wayne County with 20 years of experience
“Consistency, effort, and a positive attitude are crucial for success. When students show up each day ready to try their best, ask questions, and stay open to learning—even when it feels hard—they grow both academically and personally."
3. Communication, teamwork
Teacher from Wayne County with over 20 years of experience
“Communicate with your child’s teacher. We want to know what your child needs to be successful and you know your child best.”
Teacher from Warren with 15 years of experience
“View me as a partner, not an adversary. Email me early in the card marking. We can work together. Let me know if you’ve suffered a loss in the family or if you’re going on vacation. Give me time to be flexible and accommodating.”
School social worker from Oak Park with over 10 years of experience
“Parents, have a great relationship with your child’s teacher. Discuss behaviors regularly with teachers. If you’re child has a bad day, talk to your child. Discuss better ways to deal with that issue together. Please do not tell your child to solve problems with physical violence. This always makes the situation worse; and your child will be in trouble too. School are opportunities for you child to learn to handle conflict in life’s situations. Violence is never an effective option, there are multiple other better choices.”
Teacher from Grosse Pointe with five years of experience
“If parents could communicate that we are a team (the parents, child, and teacher), then teaching and learning would go much smoother.”
Teacher from Macomb County with five years of experience
“What parents can do to help us is to be on our side when we need support. If we reach out about a behavior instead of asking what we did wrong asking how they can help us.”
Teacher from Birmingham with over 10 years of experience
“Parents can help by establishing good, open lines of communication so trust can be built. Teachers and administrators want the best for our students and we cant do it without the most important teachers who are parents.”
Teacher from Pontiac with over 10 years of experience
“The biggest thing that I have noticed over the years is the change in accountability. Parents do not believe when educators call to inform them about something that happened in the classroom regarding their student. In the lack of respect for educators as a whole. I can’t count the amount of times I have been threatened by a parent, whether it be that they are gonna come up to the school or they’re going to go to the school board or the news, etc. The way that parents act are one of the biggest reasons people are getting out of education.”
Teacher from Detroit with over 10 years of experience
“Parents should assist their children with homework and make sure it’s complete and accurate. Parents should create an organized system for school attire, lunches and snacks. Parents should listen to their child read for twenty minutes each night or the parent reads to the child. Also, I encourage parents to attend parent teacher conferences so they can identify how their children are progressing. Maintain an open line of communication with teachers. Parents should keep an accurate phone contact updated at all times as well as emergency phone contacts. We are a team and are working together to create a successful learning experience for their children. Student + Parent + Teacher = Success”
4. Cellphone/electronic use
Teacher from Lenawee County with over five years of experience
“I think parents can be a huge help by setting technology/screen time limits. A lot of students have a hard time being present and paying attention, which is affecting not only their grades but their social life and health.”
Teacher from Detroit with over 20 years of experience
“Limiting phone use. We’ve seen many situations where a misunderstanding in class becomes exaggerated when a student immediately texts home instead of checking in with their teacher. This can lead to miscommunication and unnecessary worry. Parents should feel confident in our communication systems—if they need their child, a call to the main office will ensure they’re connected."
Teacher from Wayne County with over 10 years of experience
“Keep screen time to a minimum and be aware of what your child is watching, playing, or accessing online. Their young minds are absorbing everything! Set aside time to read with your child daily. Choose books you can talk about and ask questions while reading, this builds comprehension and strengthens your bond. Turn on Closed Captions when watching TV. This small step can boost your child’s reading and vocabulary skills without extra effort. Set up a quiet space with all the supplies your child needs to complete homework. An organized, device free spot makes homework time easier for everyone.”
5. Teaching independence
Teacher from Dearborn with over 10 years of experience
“From a preschool teacher of many years: parents, please practice -- Children should be able to open their own snack packages. Children should be able to put on their own shoes. Preschool sets habits for future success. Getting to school on time is important, even at 4. We have 16-20 Children in our class. Little ones get frustrated when they have to wait for teachers to open everyone’s snack.”
Teacher from Whitmore Lake with three years of experience
“As a kindergarten teacher, it is so important for students to be able to zip their jacket, open things in their lunch boxes, know some manners, and know how to take directions from an adult that isn’t their guardian. I think it’s crucial for their grownups/adults/guardians to send positive messages about education to their child. How the adult feels about education and whether they take it seriously or not really matters.”
Teacher from Orion Township with over 10 years of experience
“I can tell you that the most important thing you can do for your incoming kindergarten is help them to be independent. It almost feels like lazy parenting if you do it right lol! They should be able to open their own snacks help with their meals have chores that are theirs and verbalize needs and wants. Give them opportunities to problem, solve as often as possible, including on the playground with friends! The more independent we make our kiddos the more successful they are in a setting with 20 or 25 other students! Make lots of memories, expose them to as many opportunities for learning, like museums and zoo and farms as you can! All of this background knowledge is useful when learning to read and when Learning to write. Find as much time as you can to enjoy each other over the rest of this summer and I can’t wait to meet my new kindergartners in the fall!!!”
6. Help with supplies
Teacher from Oak Park
“Children today thrive when lessons are interactive—whether that’s through a creative math game, a catchy song, or hands-on activities that help bring the content to life. I’ve seen how much more motivated and confident students become when learning feels exciting and meaningful.
To make this possible, additional supplies, educational posters, and interactive games would make a huge difference in our classroom. These resources help reinforce key skills and concepts in ways that stick."
Teacher from Detroit
“What will help me most in the classroom is good support from families such as help with learning support. Donations of supplies always comes in handy as well especially teaching in the inner city.”
7. Get involved
Teacher from Roseville with five years of experience
“Get involved! Volunteering at the school, chaperoning field trips, or coming to after school clubs/events is a great way to show your child that learning is important and education is valuable.”
Teacher from Novi with over 10 years of experience
Be active in school. Read those newsletters and find ways to participate in your child’s education. Working families make it hard to come to school, but just having those conversations about what they’re learning about is actively participating as well.
Teacher from Oak Park
“Parents, your involvement matters. You can support your child’s success by staying on top of their schoolwork, encouraging positive habits at home, and most importantly—building a strong relationship with me as their teacher. We’re in this together, and open communication is key."
Teacher from Grosse Pointe with over 10 years of experience
“Parents play a critical role in their child’s success. Parents that are involved in their child’s school day tend to show the most growth and mastery of skills. Parents involvement in their child’s school day teaches the child that school is important, homework is important, and conversation about the school day is crucial. Children that feel heard, respected and appreciated both at school and at home are more likely to maintain a higher level of engagement in their studies, thus setting them up for future success.”