Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! At Good Dads, we’re excited for another year of school success stories and lessons for lifelong learning. Your children may be dragging their feet on the first day of school. They may be excited to see old friends and even make some new ones.
No matter how your child is feeling as they go back to school, dads have an important role in their child’s school success. As you’ve heard from Good Dads before, communicating with other adults in your child’s life leads to more clarity and preparedness for both fathers and children alike.
This week, we spoke with Derek McCarty, a stepfather and teacher, about all the ways dads can support their children on the first day of school and beyond. Derek taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes and will begin teaching 6th grade ELA this year. Keep reading for more insights!
Dads are more than just disciplinarians
Derek has observed a stigma for fathers in education circles. The stereotype is that you only contact Dad when a child’s misbehavior has become a problem in school. Conversely, updates on academic and social progression are relayed only to mothers.
To combat this unhelpful pattern and divide, Derek suggests dads be intentional to create opportunities to communicate with teachers that aren’t restricted to whether your student is in trouble.
“I really enjoy sharing the kiddo’s general experience in the classroom—what they’re working on and the skills they’ve displayed,” Derek said. “Like maybe they’re into hands-on stuff, building things or art.”
Teachers want to share positive updates on their students! A good way for dads to accomplish this is to reach out to teachers for more information. Derek says that by learning more about their child from their teacher, it can make it easier to expand on their skills and interests at home.
Opportunities like Good Dads Strong Schools allow fathers to positively engage with their children in school. Through a yummy breakfast and a fun hands-on, character-driven activity, Strong Schools create lasting memories and allow children to start their day on the right foot.
Help your kiddo get organized before and during the first week of school
One of the biggest aspects of preparing for the first day of school are the back-to-school shopping lists. For dads, Derek said, this step can look intimidating, especially given the rising costs at the checkout line. However, he explained that these school supplies aren’t just necessary for the classroom; they’re necessary for personal organization.
“A lot of kids struggle with (organization) because they haven’t been taught,” Derek explained.
He emphasized that this isn’t a knock on dads! Personal organization is simply a skill many grown-ups take for granted. For Derek’s students that are transitioning from elementary to middle school, this means more independence and more classes. Keeping track of schedules, homework assignments and more is crucial.
Staying organized doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Derek suggests having separate folders for class subjects and keeping a designated place at home for pencils and other school supplies. It may take some practice, but keeping things in order helps kids to be school-ready.
Have a positive attitude
Going back to school is a big transition. Some kids are starting school for the very first time. Other students are moving up a grade, which sometimes means moving to an entirely new school. Talk about lots of big changes and big feelings, for both dads and kids!
One piece of advice Derek has for kids and grown-ups alike? Your attitude can go a long way.
“The energy that you give out and have internally is the single biggest factor of how each day is going to go at school,” he said. “It makes such a huge difference, regardless of how you approach things.”
Derek said that this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be upbeat and happy every single day, as some days will prove to be more challenging than others! However, he said to be wary when you find yourself feeling more frequently negative and pessimistic.
“Once you get into that sort of mindset, it’s really hard to come out of it,” he stressed.
For dads and educators alike, Derek says having a positive attitude about the work you do is crucial—as well as remembering your “why” and the positive impact you have on your kids.
Take advantage of parent resources and learning portals
Your child’s school probably uses online software for turning in assignments, posting grades, updating school calendars and more. At Derek’s school, parents can interact with what their students post and can even directly message teachers in the app. Derek highly recommended parents get savvy to this tech.
Why is utilizing these resources and communicating with your child’s teacher so important? For Derek, these programs are a good way to keep a record of the progress your child is making in school. Another benefit is addressing problems before they grow.
“A lot of the time, conflicts start because it reaches a point where a student isn’t doing well academically or having big behavior problems, and there hasn’t been communication along the way,” he said.
Derek says it’s helpful when dads have specific questions that they can then relay to their kiddo. Even if you don’t have as much of a hands-on approach with homework help, checking in with your child’s teacher to see if there’s an upcoming test or project can allow fathers to feel more in the know.
Take advantage of school resources designed for parents. This includes communicating with your child’s teacher and assuring your child is on the right track in their education journey.
Final Words
Dads play a key role in their child’s education. By being involved in a positive way, getting your kiddo organized, and having a positive attitude, you’re bound to have a great school year. How can dads keep their children motivated through that period of time?
“Give (your kids) specific but genuine praise for the stuff they’re doing right and the stuff that they’re good at,” Derek encouraged. “I feel like that empowers them to tackle the things that are harder.”
Here’s what specific praise might look like:
- I love how you stayed focused on your math worksheet first instead of heading straight to the Xbox.
- Great job on your group science poster. I can tell you worked hard to make the charts and graphs look just like your teacher instructed.
- I like how you helped your classmate tie their shoes in the car line today. You are a kind and helpful friend.
- Your art project is beautiful! It looks like you really took your time on it. This is going on the fridge!
The most important thing to remember when communicating with your child’s teacher is knowing you’re both on the same team and share the same goal: wanting your student to succeed in school, and later in life.
“I think we teachers and parents have a tendency to be hard on ourselves when everyone is just doing the best we can,” he concluded. “Remember: You don’t have to be perfect.”
