Elaine Adelman, a retired elementary school teacher who taught for 30 years, said that even before the first day of school starts creeping up on the calendar, parents can prepare their kids for the new academic year by encouraging them to read and by reading to them.

"Every child has something he is interested in," said Adelman, who now teaches in CSUN's Elementary Education Department. "Once you find out what that is, encourage him to read about the subject, whether it's fiction or non-fiction. A teacher can always tell if a child spent a summer reading and exploring and learning about new things. The more a child reads, regardless of the subject, the more prepared he is for school."

Adelman said parents also can call the school and find out what subject the teacher will be focusing on during the coming year.

"For instance, in fourth grade in California, students learn about California's mission history," she said. "Parents can take the opportunity some time during the summer to visit a couple of missions so their child will have some foundation in the subject when it comes up during the school year. It'll make learning about the subject easier."

Parents can also do a little homework of their own on their child's new teacher by talking to other parents and even the teacher herself to find out what she expects from her students and what ways the parents can support her during the school year.

Julie Fabrocini, who also teaches in CSUN's Elementary Education Department and is principal of CHIME Charter Elementary School in Woodland Hills, said as the start of school draws closer, parents need to re-implement bedtime and other routines they may have let go lax during the summer months.

"The first week of school can be stressful enough without the additional problem of trying to get the kids up on time," she said.

If parents have children with special needs, she suggested they contact the school before classes begin to ensure that the teachers and staff have the resources they need to adequately serve the child.

"If a child needs assistance feeding himself, for instance, the parent can make sure that someone is assigned to assist him," Fabrocini said. "If possible, the parents and teacher should meet before classes start and talk about the specific learning needs the child may have."

Fabrocini said a tour of the school before classes begin might take some of the anxiety out of the first day.

"When children are starting a new school, whether it's in kindergarten, middle or high school, they should visit the campus during the summer when it's empty and get a feel for the area. It removes some of the anxiety on the first day that comes from not knowing a new place and new people," she said. "If they can visit their new school two or three times before classes start, they can find out where their classrooms are and where the bathrooms are, things that are important when you are in school."

And as a gentle reminder that summer's nearly over, Fabrocini suggested parents and their children go on a special shopping trip to buy school supplies.

"Letting your kids help buy their school supplies can actually be a fun part of getting ready for the start of school, and a wonderful opportunity to start talking about what's ahead," she said.

"The start of school is actually a pretty exciting time. I know we're looking forward to it, and I like to think the children are, too," said Fabrocini, whose own charter school starts its new academic year Sept. 2.