Oklahoma families are gearing up for the new school year, with many preparing their children for the return to classrooms this week. | MORE | Oklahoma Back to School: Start dates, school supplies and more Rose McKnight, a grandparent to Oklahoma City Public Schools students, is stepping up to help her grandchildren get ready for school. On the Saturday before school starts, McKnight is busy cooking dinner and spending time with her grandkids."It's like being a new mama. I got to get back into practice, you know?" McKnight said. Inside her Oklahoma City home, the grandmother pays close attention to her grandchildren as the summer break comes to an end. "Sit right here. Don't squeeze her. Be nice. Pet her like that," McKnight said to her grandchild, showing him how to hold a dog. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.This is McKnight's first time in years taking children back to school. Her daughter and two grandchildren recently moved in with her, presenting new challenges like getting them ready for bed early."I started when he stayed with me a few months ago. I put on Beethoven music – bedtime music. I turn out all the lights, make him lay down in bed, and I put that music down. Sometimes, I fell asleep before he did, but it works for him too," she said. The school year is a time for growth for thousands of children in Oklahoma. This week, Oklahoma City Public Schools' new superintendent, Jamie Polk, is asking parents to prepare their kids.“We will ensure our students, all students, are safe, and the importance of our students knowing their phone number, their address and their parents or family’s name," Polk said. >> Download the KOCO 5 AppMcKnight is determined to make sure her grandchild going into kindergarten is ready, adding that he is even inspiring her to change her ways and attend classes to learn to be a great parent for them."God's given me a second chance with the grandchildren," McKnight said. Top HeadlinesAre you a Cash App user? You may be eligible for a piece of this $15 million settlementOklahoma City church officials express grief over deaths of three members in Sundance Airport plane crashOCPD: Person dead, two hospitalized after shooting at apartment complex near SpencerNew details in murder, crime spree across Oklahoma CityNew call to impeach Ryan Walters after some school districts not receiving safety funds