After a summer of sleeping in or doing things on your time, the alarm bell announcing that first day of school can be a rude awakening.

There's no escaping the fact that the first day of school can be crazy. New kids wander around in circles. Lockers won't open. Freshmen are running in all directions, looking for their homerooms...

School seemed simple when you were younger. Everyone told you where to go, what classes to take, and how to finish your homework. Now things are different...

Listen up! Paying attention in class can actually pay off in the long run. Sure, it's often easier said than done...

Get enough sleep! Studies show that teens need at least 8½ hours of sleep each night to feel rested. Sleep deprivation can lead students to fall asleep in class (embarrassing if you're caught!) and can also make it hard to concentrate.

School is a time to make friends and try new things, but it's also a place to learn skills like organization and decision making that will come in handy for the rest of your life.

Here you can read and listen to some ways to make the transition from summer to school a little easier:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/back_to_school.html#