Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – By the time the Illinois State Fair is over, class will be in session.

Erica Filipiak, District 186‘s assistant superintendent of multi-tiered system of support, said phasing in a “structured routine” of going to bed and waking up more on a school schedule. This should happen gradually, say, moving it up fifteen minutes a week. “I think a big, huge, drastic leap is going to set the student and the adults around them for probably some grumpy days.”

Another idea: “Minimizing that screen time so that their brains are ready for having less of that during the day and more learning.”

Flash cards can also help.

Filipiak encourages families to make reading a priority, “whether that be a short fifteen minutes a day, whether that be a quick story at night before we go to bed, but reading always does a great, great trick for us.” Parents can ask kids what they’re reading and what the characters are doing.

District 186 begins Aug. 24.