new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: back to school tips, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 6 of 6
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: back to school tips in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
Here’s my blogger friend Gail Terp with some great tips for getting your kids in Back To School mode.
Back to School Tips: Some kids are starting school this week; others will start within the next few weeks. After a summer of less structure, getting back into school mode can be a challenge. Here are a few tips for getting off to a good start.
Establish a place to keep all school information.
- Your child’s teacher(s) and contact information
- Your child’s schedule
- The school calendar
- Documents such as report cards, immunizations, a behavior plan, Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), and any document you think you may want to refer to through the year
School Clothes
- Inventory your child’s school clothes and discard/recycle mismatched socks, clothes that don’t fit, and clothes your child doesn’t like. Getting these things out of the way will streamline getting dressed for school
- Consider setting out school clothes the night before. This can greatly help the morning preparations.
Morning Routine
- Brainstorm with your child what needs to be done before he goes out the door in the morning. Things like getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth…
- Write it down! In the morning, if your child needs reminders, all you need to do is have her check her routine card.
- Build in a reward. Checklist completed? Brainstorm what can happen (watch TV, get points towards a reward, computer time…)
- Launching Pad
- Establish a place near the front door to collect all that needs to go out the door. Things like backpacks, lunch, shoes, jackets—whatever you don’t want to have to search the house for.
- Homework
- Set up a routine. This is a very individual thing. A routine is best if your child has input.
- Consider when your child is freshest and most motivated. Right after school? After dinner? For some kids, the morning is a good time. It’s risky, of course, but it’s something to consider.
- If possible, establish a dedicated homework area. This will need to reflect your child’s work style. Some kids do just fine in their rooms, others need to be where you can monitor their on-task behavior.
Along with my own experience, I used these sites to write this post. Please check out them out for more ideas.
Friendship Circle
Pragmatic Mom
Stress Free Kids
Here are 2 sites that have downloadable resources you may find helpful.
Reading Rockets
School Family
Have a great start to the new school year!
Gail Terp
About Me
I’m a retired teacher who has spent the last 30 years working with enthusiastic and reluctant readers. One of my top goals as a teacher was to connect kids with books they loved. It’s still my goal. My blog, Best Blog for Kids Who Hate to Read, is one way I use to reach it.
Well, it's that time of year again. Teachers are moaning and groaning, and so are kids. In light of the upcoming new school year, I have a post from August 2009 to reprint.*****
Back to School Count DownFive, four, three, two…yup, it’s that time of year again, rising early, getting to school on time, homework, tests…yuck!
But you know, it’s not really that bad. If you’re prepared and get into the right mindset, that’s half the battle. Everything we have to do in life and come up against in life gives us two options: (1) put a positive or good spin on it, (2) dread it.
Since you have to do it anyway, you might as well opt for Option #1.
To get you started in the right direction, here is a list to help you get in gear for, “school time, school time, good ole golden rule time.”
The Do List:1. Many teachers have lists of what you will need for your upcoming school year. Try to find out if your new teacher has one and how you can get a hold of it.
2. To avoid needed school items being sold out; have Mom or Dad let you do your shopping early.
3. Make sure to get the items that are actually listed. If the list says “one red pen” don’t come to class with a green or purple one.
4. At least a week before school starts, go to bed at the time you normally would on school nights. This will give your body a chance to get accustomed to waking and eating breakfast early. If you do this, your body and mind won’t scream at you that first school day morning, “Hey, are you crazy? Only roosters are up at this time!”
5. A week before that inevitable morning, start a new mantra (saying): “I will listen to my teacher. I will listen to my teacher. I will listen to my teacher.” You can say this 100 to 1000 times a day. Another useful mantra is: “I will be respectful to my teacher and classmates. I will be respectful to my teacher and classmates. I will be respectful to my teacher and classmates.” Either of these two mantras is fine.
6. Make sure to get to school on time and obey your school and classroom rules. Practice Rule #5 so this won’t be a problem.
7. If you are required to have your classroom items in class the first week of school – have them there the first week…having them at home doesn’t cut it. You have to actually bring them to class.
8. What about the reading you were to do over the summer? Did you do it? Well, if you didn’t, start today. It’s better to read a least one book than none. Did you know that anything you want to be, an astronaut, a doctor, a firefighter, a superhero, all require reading. Okay, not the superhero, that jut takes a good imagination.
These 8 Dos should give you a jump start on a smooth new school year.
Now for the Don’t List:1. Don’t ignore the ‘Do list’ above!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'
m having a slow start to building my fanbase on my new Facebook Fan Page, so if you have a moment, please click on the link and LIKE me!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Cioffi-Ventrice/157731977630305?sk=wal
THE A-B-C’s of W-R-I-T-I-N-G
by Joanne DeMaio
It’s that time again. September means we’re tossing notebooks and pens and paper into our shopping cart, keeping the kids well stocked for a new school year. I say, toss in a few for yourself, too. Your town’s annual adult-ed schedule, and the local college’s non-credit courses, are just waiting for your enrollment. I tried it, and let me assure you this: School is cool when you're attending as a writer. It’s surprising which fun classes help your craft to …
Strengthen Characterization
Is your novel’s protagonist a nervous chef, mulling life in a kitchen? Does your cozy mystery’s thief bury jewels in a garden? Live their lives! Prepare a five-course Italian dinner in the class Tuscan Cucina and won’t your words then be cooking up a storm, right along with your pan frying protagonist. Fall Bulbs: Spring Surprises plants ideas for your plot to blossom on an unaware gardener’s surprise jewel find. Experience is the best teacher, and enrolling in a relevant non-credit course helps you bring a world of experience to the lives of your characters.
Develop Story Structure
Who doesn’t love admiring a beautiful painting? The works of the masters stop many viewers in their tracks. Borrow their knowledge. Be a student of artistic structure in a basic watercolor class. Understand how an idea starts as a sketch delineating shape and form before the painting even begins. Or try a beginner photography class looking at composition, framing, focal points and depth, all parallel qualities to a good story. Study and learn from the similar process of creativity comprising other art forms, then use your words to start painting your picture-perfect plot.
Spark Inspiration
Treat yourself, and motivate your muse. One of my personal top writing rules is to indulge our very own passion. That way, we can not only write what we know, but write what we love too. If you’re a history buff, take Genealogy 101. And you know that seminar in Kitchen Design is just calling your name, inspiring you to spruce up your home. What about that Parisian trip you’ve always dreamt of? Beginning French will get you closer to your destination! Be sure to take class notes on the great ways your passion can show up in your next novel. So let’s go, it’s time to hit the books …
* * *
]Joanne DeMaio is a Connecticut writer and founder of the inspirational blog Whole Latte Life. Grab a coffee and stop by for a visit at www.joannedemaio.blogspot.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Packing Backpack, Lunchbox, and Confidence: Tips for Sending Children Off to School
It happens every autumn. Millions of young children start school for the very first time. They carry backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils, sometimes a grin on their face, but more often, a look of trepidation about what school will really be like. They wonder: Will my teacher be nice? Will I have friends? What if I can’t find my way? Who will sit with me? What will I do? What if I don’t like it? What if I miss home? What if it’s too hard?
As parents guiding our children off to start school for the first time, or to begin a new school year, we want to do all we can to ensure that they have a great experience. At the same time, we want to encourage their independence as they set off on a new journey in their development.
Kathryn White, author of Ruby's School Walk
by Sharon Blumberg
As your children return to school, now is a great time to make sure they have the foundations for a successful school year. If they have a supply list, make sure they have all the required supplies to help them be prepared. Have a pouch in their trapper that is well stocked with writing utensils and any other necessary items. As a junior high teacher, I often see students who don’t come to class prepared with these items.
The school years are also a crucial time in your child’s life, to develop important life skills.
If possible, when your child or children come home from school, a quiet study area with ample lighting should be waiting for them once they get settled in from a hard day’s work. If you work and are unable to be home when they arrive from school, have an understood routine waiting for them. For example, depending on their responsibilities, you could require at least one hour of study and homework time. Also, have them be accountable for something new to accomplish for that evening or afternoon, and reward them for it. Rewards can even be verbal praise and acknowledgement of doing a job well done.
Engage your child in conversation in order to find out how his or her day went. Rather than ask, “How was your day or how was school?”And getting, “Oh it was alright,” ask your child specific questions that will elicit specific answers. For example - What was the best part of your day? What was the worst part of your day? What made you surprised or disappointed? When children respond to these kinds of questions in detail, they are using storytelling methods. They often have to go in chronological order and give explicit details when they talk about situations that happened to them while confiding in you. This establishes trust and reinforces their literacy skills, such as story sequencing. No matter how busy or tired you may be feeling, this type of contact time brings priceless rewards to your relationship and to your child’s well-being.
Directed conversation is also another useful way to find out important information regarding your child’s teacher(s) and classes. If there are ever concerns that develop during the school year, you can find out with specific questions what the concerns are. If it appears that your child may be too sensitive, you can discuss these issues with him or her as well. If from your conversations, it seems as if perhaps a problem could be blossoming with a teacher or a situation involving other students, you can find out what it may be. Make plans to call or conference with the teacher. In this way, you can strive to keep communication open on all levels of your child’s school experience. If you ever have additional concerns regarding how your child is interacting in social situations, the school counselor or social worker/psychologist may be a good resource to start with. As a teacher, They are whom I usually refer parents to when they talk to me about these kinds of concerns.
Always try to stay connected to your children’s school life. When they reach their pre-adolescent and adolescent years, they will gravitate a little more to their peers, so you may start to see some changes in personality. Don’t worry, they are still the precious bundles that you brought home, but their bodies are going through some major changes. They just need firm guidance, love and understanding from you. A wonderful book to read regarding this topic, written by David Walsh, PhD, is Why Do They Act That Way? It will be a worthwhile read, I promise you!
I wish you all a wonderful school year. May this be the best year yet of your child’s school experience.
No Tags
from Karen Cioffi-Ventrice
Try these advance preparations to be sure you and your child ease into the new school year:
1. Shop early, for both school supplies and clothes. You’d be amazed how many people wait for the last minute, including teachers. This only makes first day anticipation more nerve wracking. If you want to avoid the crowds, sold out items, and aggravation…SHOP EARLY.
2. Find out what your child will need (in supplies) for his or her new classroom and grade. Many teachers provide print outs for the next term’s students. Contact or drop by your child’s school to find out if you can get a copy.
3. Make sure to get the actual items listed. The teacher will greatly appreciate each student being prepared and having the supplies actually required.
4. Usually, students are given a reading list the end of each term to keep their minds active. Check to make sure your child is up to speed.
5. This one is a preparation specifically for students and teachers: for the last month and a half you’ve been free as a bird: no alarms to wake you (or parents screaming your name); no schedule; no schedule plans or homework to do; and no stress. Well, that’s coming to a fast end, so get ready. Now is the time to go to bed around the time you would for school, and set that alarm clock so your body is use to rising early. Prepare those schedule plans for the first couple of weeks – you’ll be so glad you did.
6. How we perceive our world is how we’ll feel; we can be happy or miserable, it’s up to us. So, instead of dreading that inevitable day, think of positive things. You’ll see friends, co-workers, and classmates. You also won’t get bored. Whatever it is that will create a positive feeling about returning to school, be sure to think about it.
Applying these tips today will help create a great first day of school. And, don’t be anxious, the first day of school happens every year and everyone survives. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and breathe out saying, “I am at peace and strong; I can handle anything.” Just do this a few thousand times from now until the end of the term and you’ll be fine.
No Tags
.jpeg?picon=893)
.jpg?picon=694)
This has GOT to be helpful to the back-to-school crowd--teacher variety! (-:
Carolyn, Thanks for stopping by! I did the list with my daughter, a 4th grade public school teacher. :)
Even though my kids have already started school, it'd still be good for them to do a couple things on this list. Like the mantra: “I will listen to my teacher. I will listen to my teacher. I will listen to my teacher.” :-)
LOL Farry, I know some kids start early, but forgot to post this in time.
Thanks for stopping by!