Back to School…
By Robert A. Southworth, Jr., Ed.D.
As the long days of summer begin to shorten and the first bells of a new school year ring out, teachers across the country are once again called into their roles as architects of student intelligence. But the first days of school can be hard—for students and teachers alike. Children return from very different summer experiences: some structured, some chaotic, some joyful, and some difficult. So how do we help every child transition smoothly back into a space of learning?
The answer lies in a blend of intentional structure, creative opportunity, and emotional intelligence—the very heart of the Versatile Intelligence and Assessment (VIA) model. Here are five ways to support that transition with care and purpose.
1. Begin with Belonging
Before diving into curriculum, focus on community. Use the first days to build a classroom culture of safety and connection. Ask students to co-create classroom norms. Try morning circles, name games, or collaborative art projects that allow students to share who they are—and feel seen.
💡 VIA Link: Emotional and interpersonal intelligences form the base of academic growth. If students feel safe and welcome, their minds will be more open to risk-taking, persistence, and problem-solving.
2. Honor the Whole Summer Self
Give students time to process and share their summer experiences. This doesn’t have to be a standard “What I Did This Summer” essay. Try a gallery walk of memory collages, six-word memoirs, or story circles. These activities validate each child’s story and allow for joyful and creative expression.
💡 VIA Link: These early narratives serve as informal assessment windows, giving you insight into each learner’s voice, style, and confidence as they return.
3. Reset Routines with Flexibility
Students thrive on structure, but the start of the year calls for flexibility. Introduce classroom routines gradually, using visual cues, consistent language, and modeling. Assume attention spans may be short, and transitions may be bumpy—and that’s okay.
💡 VIA Link: Intelligence grows in predictable but responsive systems. Transitions should invite students back into systems thinking—where they learn how the classroom works, how their learning is measured, and how they belong in that ecosystem.
4. Use Formative Moments, Not Formal Tests
Resist the urge to start the year with a diagnostic that labels students. Instead, use low-stakes, high-engagement formative tools: group problem-solving, exit tickets, storytelling, or creative choice boards. Look for thinking, not just correctness.
💡 VIA Link: This is assessment as evidence of learning in action—where what matters most is how students integrate prior knowledge, not how many points they earn.
5. Celebrate Versatility from Day One
Every classroom holds mathematicians, poets, coders, dancers, caretakers, and inventors. Make that diversity of intelligence visible. Design your first weeks to give each student a way to shine: a math puzzle one day, a drawing challenge the next, a classroom build on Friday.
💡 VIA Link: When students see that intelligence is not fixed, but fluid, they begin to shape their own learning journeys—with you as their guide.
Final Thoughts: Teaching is Transition Work
Helping students return to school isn’t just a logistical task—it’s an emotional and cognitive re-entry. As teachers, we hold the power to make that return one of joy, confidence, and renewed purpose.
So as you prepare your classroom this fall, remember: the best learning begins not with tests or textbooks, but with trust.
And the most powerful curriculum you deliver this year may begin with three simple messages:
You belong here. Your mind matters. Let’s grow together.
