Are you feeling both excited and nervous about returning to school in 2024?
Most articles on the internet point to how teachers and parents can help students prepare for a new school year, but what can students themselves do if they want to beat the holiday blues?
Here, we are going to explore how students in their primary and secondary years of education can take steps to tackle the new school year and beat the stress around exams, leaving them confident and ready for a great year ahead!
How to prepare for primary school
Students in their primary education years may face difficulties when returning to school after a long holiday. Some primary school students may try to ignore the reminder from their parents that school is starting soon; others may even develop anxiety or school avoidance.
Fortunately, cultivating a positive mindset and healthy habits leading up to the first day of school can help prepare students for a new primary education year even if it's fresh off the holiday season. Worried about exams or facing stress over having to move to a new class? Primary school students can use the tips below to prepare for a new school year.
Get new school supplies
Yes, it's that time of the year again when you'll see Malaysian students trail behind their parents around shopping malls to buy new uniforms, books and supplies.
Before the long holiday is over, it is common to see parents take their children out to shop for new school supplies, uniforms and other necessary materials. This is a great practice to get primary school students in the mindset that a new school year is approaching while also reminding them that they are being supported in their education.
Encouraging young children to choose their school supplies (picking a pencil case, backpack, notebooks, etc) involves them in the preparation process and helps them feel more ready for the new year!
Create a study space
There's nothing like a personalised space that is organised and conducive to get younger students in the mood for school. Parents and children can discuss how to set up a study space at home so that the children can do their homework and revisions according to their schedule.
Here are some tips for students to set and stick to a schedule!
Explore extracurricular activities at school
Remember that your school life shouldn't be limited to only books and revisions - participating in school activities helps you make new friends and gives you something to look forward to after a holiday! Joining extracurricular activities like being a member of the badminton club or choir can also help to ease the stress around exams.
How to get back to secondary school life
Students in their secondary school years are facing a whole different ball game.
Even parents will worry about whether their teenage children can settle in or cope with the heavy volume of homework that comes with pursuing a secondary education.
After a long holiday, students at the secondary education level may experience both excitement and anxiety around a new school year: keeping up with classes, the pressure to perform well in exams and maintaining a healthy social life can cause stress for many students.
Nonetheless, it's possible to smoothly transition from the holiday mode into secondary school life if you apply the following tips.
Review study notes from the past year
Although secondary schools will require you to take on challenging subjects like Additional Mathematics, Physics and Accounting, your school syllabus is likely designed in a way that helps students progress through subjects from the basics to advanced level.
By reviewing past study notes, you can revise the current knowledge you have in subjects you will continue to take in the new school year and identify areas for improvement before you even sit for your exams. This should give you some direction for how you want to plan out your studies after a holiday!
Keep in touch with friends
Are you familiar with the awkward feeling of stepping into a new class at your school?
One way to start the year off right is by staying in touch with your friends - even if you're still on holiday! While you and your friends are apart, exchange photos and videos with each other (hey, staying at home to watch shows can also be a holiday) to share what's been up in your lives. Later, you can have a seamless catch-up when everyone meets up in school - or better yet, if you all end up in the same class again! This should ease your nerves when entering a new school year.
Seek support where necessary
Many secondary school students experience stress and do not seek help until they start facing problems in their studies or exams. If you are struggling with the new school year after the holiday season, reach out for support from trusted adults and teachers. Or, if it's the subjects that you are finding difficult to understand, you can also consult classmates who are knowledgeable in the subject.
Looking for professional mental health support? These are resources to help students take care of their mental health.
How to manage stress during exams
Exams could single-handedly be the biggest worry that students face every time they step into a new school year.
That's why primary and secondary school students need to practise healthy stress management skills throughout their school life! Here are some ways you can manage exam stress after returning from a long holiday:
Build effective study habits
These effective study habits should include, but are not limited to:
- Using a study schedule to organise time for revisions and sticking to this schedule
- Eliminate distractions when studying, such as doing your revisions in a quiet space
- Reducing screen time on devices, especially around exam season
- Increasing physical activity to keep your body and mind active
In addition to these study habits, you should be aware of what type of learner you are so that you can structure your study methods according to your preferred learning style. Here's an article to help you find your learning style as a student.
Practise self-care activities
Study, study, study... if all you are doing is memorising your study notes, you will likely experience burnout even before you can sit for exams! As a student, self-care is a necessary practice for maintaining your well-being while still being able to excel in your academics.
"Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation." - Audre Lorde, American writer and professor
You can explore hobbies that maintain your physical and mental health. For primary and secondary school students, these are usually fun and relaxing activities like:
- Reading an uplifting book
- Listening to music
- Playing with a pet at home
- Practising daily positive affirmations
- Playing board games with friends
You should also know about the power of taking a break.
How Superprof can help you build a great school year
You could have made all the necessary preparations for a new school year but still struggle to get things done.
At this point, reaching out for support with your studies would be wise to help you get back on track with your school's curriculum.
That way, you can manage the stress and pressure from school.
Did you know millions of students have benefitted from lessons with their Superprof tutors?
As of 2023, over 35 million students worldwide have joined the Superprof platform, including primary and secondary school students in Malaysia who are seeking support for subjects such as:
- English
- Bahasa Melayu
- Mandarin
- Mathematics
- History
- Physics
- Chemistry and more
That is because Superprof is a platform that connects students with qualified and experienced tutors from around the world. All you need to do is hop on the Superprof Tutors website and key in the subject you want to study, which links you to all related tutors' profiles.
Important details such as subjects taught, tutors' educational background, availability of face-to-face and online classes, and lesson rates by the hour are provided on all tutors' profiles. This should help narrow down your search for the best Superprof tutor according to each subject.
In addition to flexible lessons with your Superprof tutor (which you can schedule with your tutor when you sign up today), you can also attend your first lesson for free on Superprof! You just need to decide on a preferred subject to get started, so how about improving your mastery of Bahasa Melayu or polishing your Mathematics skills?
Dealing with stress, especially when exams approach, is part and parcel of every student's life. However, with these tips to tackle the new school year and the support of your Superprof tutor, we are confident you will make 2024 your year!
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