I consider 1st grade a transition year.  Some students will attend a full day of school for the first time because they attended a half day Kindergarten program.  Students will spend more time sitting at their own desks and even have a little homework.  They will be learning to read, write sentences, complete projects, and put numbers together to form new ones.  Some of the ways you can help ease your child through these transitions and more are:

Set up an early bedtime routine and stick with it

Lay out the next days clothes, backpack, and other materials the night before

Have your child eat a filling breakfast and pack a healthy lunch and snack (include a note of encouragement on the napkin)

Establish a mode of communication with the classroom teacher early on so that you can be aware of any changes in behavior or academic progress

Set aside time after school for homework and to check the backpack for each days papers and announcements.

Don't over schedule extracurricular activities

During counselor time in 1st grade, we cover all the Blue Valley Virtues with lessons on Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Kindness, Self Discipline, Honesty, Courage, and Perseverance.  Guidance lessons might include reading a story, playing a game, role playing or acting, doing a worksheet etc..  Please ask your child what they did during Counselor time which is 30 minutes every other week.