Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Adjusting... Back to School It Is!

       How is the adjustment of back to school going? Are you kids eager about homework still or are they still in the summer daze? 
      Maybe your kids are some of the lucky ones that get to start the day after Labor Day and you haven't quite thought about the upcoming school days. 
      Whether your kids are in school or not, remember just like teachers in the classroom, parents need to have clear expectations about what happens after school. Get your kids in the habit early and it will cause less arguments down the road! Whatever your routine may be, make sure it is consistent!


Sample
Monday - Thursday
3:30 Home/Snack/Sharing
4:00 Homework
5:00 Play
6:00 Dinner
6:30-8:00 Extra-curricular activities, family time, etc.
8:00 Reading
8:30 Bed Time


I am not foolish and believe me this would be idyllic! You know your child and the homework standards for your school, so make a schedule that both your child and you can live with. If you can't live with it, then it will never be followed. Also there are special occasions, and things that come up. Don't feel bad if your schedule gets disturbed! 

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Back to school, a breeze or a nightmare?

      The craziest things happen when the school year starts or it is just approaching for those who are lucky enough to start the day after Labor Day! One of two things usually happens, your child wakes up at 4:30 with school clothes on, teeth brushed and they want to know when it is time to go or it is 8:00 and school starts in a 1/2 hour and your kid is begging for 15 more minutes. Why can't there be a happy medium? 


     You can always check your success based on whether or not your child is wearing clean underwear, has eaten breakfast, brushed their teeth and are wearing matching shoes! Everything else will usually fall into place. 


     What kind of child do you have? 

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Building a Relationship with Your Child's Teacher!

 
As parents, you might ask what does my relationship with the teacher have to do with my child’s education? I’m here to tell you, it means more than you know!  I am not suggesting that you have to be best friends with your child’s teacher, but developing a relationship with your child’s teacher can prove to have huge benefits.
                        The biggest benefits are trust and open lines of communication (addressing both successes and concerns, with email there is no more need to wait for parent teacher conferences).  For example, your child comes home complaining that someone was teasing him at school and that it has been going on for a couple of days. If you have a strong relationship with the teacher, you quickly send an email and the teacher addresses the issue directly the next day. If you didn’t have an established relationship, would you feel differently?

·      Smile, smile, smile! Introduce yourself more than once and don’t be offended if your child’s teacher forgets your name.
·      Get to know your child’s teacher! Ask questions (be careful not to get too personal, but ask questions that show you genuinely care about them.)
·      Be helpful, if you want to “check out” your child’s class ask if there is anything you can do.
·      Give notes or emails of gratitude. The more teachers feel appreciated the harder they try, because they feel valued as professionals.
·      If you are able to, volunteer in the classroom or from home. In many cases, teachers have projects that can be done at home and sent back on a predetermined due date.
·      You get out, what you put in!




Thursday, August 12, 2010

The World of Charlie and Lola

       The brilliant Lauren Child has a gift of bringing characters alive that easy to relate too. The problems she uses in her books are every day problems that all kids at one point or another go through or can relate to. Her books allow for students to make text-self connections with ease. Her straightforward writing also allows students to practice identifying problem and solution in stories. Her style of writing and the font she chooses and the emphasis she places on letters or different words, help teach students how to read with more inflection. When used correctly it can build their fluency skills.


The following is a list of my favorite Charlie and Lola books:
(All books are best read with using your best English accent!)

Boo! Made You Jump! (Halloween)

There are so many more to choose from it is hard not to get carried away! If you have little ones at home there are board books too!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Books Your Child Will Love!


These books are some of my favorites! I think they are definitely worth checking out if you haven't already! Happy reading!



Mommy Doesn’t Know My Name by Suzanne Williams

Always In Trouble by Corinne Demas




No, David! By David Shannon (All David Shannon Books!)


Gloria and Officer Buckle by Peggy Rathmann


The Hallo-Wiener by Dave Pilkey

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann (Check out Purpilicious and Goldilicious too!)

Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore (I like Frecklefact Strawberry and the Dodgebal Bully)

Tuesday by David Wiesner

Skippy jon Jones by Judy Schachner

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'connor

Get Ready for School!

Yes, school is starting up again! There are probably many mixed emotions. Maybe some of you are sending your first kindergartner to school, or maybe this will be the first year that all your kids are in school for the whole day! Whatever your circumstance may be, it is important to begin to prepare your child for their inevitable return to school.

Ways to Prepare Your Child

-A week or two before school starts, get your child back on to their school-sleeping schedule. Wake them up at the time they would have to get up for school, begin to go over morning routines (clothes, brushing teeth, eating breakfast) in a timely fashion.
-Have down time during the day in small intervals where your child is working on completing a task (art project, journal entry, reading or listening to a book). This will prepare them for times where they are going to be asked to sit and not to be active.
-Begin to have conversations about the school year and how exciting it is going to be (Your attitude about school will directly affect your child, so think and be positive). Have many open conversations about their feelings about the first day of school. Address any concerns they might have. Common concerns among kids are: “Is my teacher nice?” “Will I know anyone?” “What if no one likes me?” “What if I have to go to the bathroom?” “How do I get school lunch?” The list continues, open up the line of communication now, so if anything happens in the school year they know you are willing to listen and help them come up with creative solutions.
- Talk about how to make a new friend. It is best to role play!
-Have a bedtime routine established and follow through on a consistent bedtime.

If your child is anxious about leaving you, the following books come in handy.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Both stories deal with a child being separated from their loved ones, but with the reassuring message of being connected all day through “an invisible string” or a “kissing hand,” is sometimes all it takes to ease your child’s anxiety about being away from you during the day. (It might good for both of you!)  

It's that time of year again!

It is that time of year again, where parents are rushing around finding all the latest deals on school supplies running from Target, Walmart, Office Depot, Staples and more, just to find the perfect set of school supplies, to hopefully start a perfect year. There is a lot to do and a lot to think about! I want to help! 


I have been a school teacher for the last three years in the younger elementary grades. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to ask! My plan is to give you helpful hints to having a great school year, as well as, answer any questions or concerns you may have!