Getting Back to School Routine

Time to Plan for School Again 

It’s time for families to plan for school again.  This is an exciting time for students of all ages as they look forward to new classes, activities, and friends. It’s also a good time to teach planned shopping, economics, and routine.

Helping Prepare

  You can include young children in your shopping plans for school supplies and new clothing.  Most families with elementary aged children will have a supply list from the school. Preschoolers may not have a supply list, but will enjoy buying something new like a t-shirt for the first day, a special folder for notes and papers, new chunky pencil, and crayons. Most students will need a backpack. Preschools often request a washable pillow or mat for napping and a change of clothes. 

 You can make this a good learning experience by reading the supply list together and writing down what is needed. Since most stores only discount supplies now, families may want to buy a few extra pencils, folders, and spiral notebooks to replace worn out items needed in a few months.

  Keep a few extra supplies around the house for older children like colored pencils, crayons, markers, ruler, and paper. Families will avoid making a late night emergency store stop.

Positive New Year

   Read local or on line ads and coupons with children. Teach them the importance of printed information, costs, budgets and price comparisons. Help children add up costs to determine the total.  Add on and explain state sales tax. 

 This interesting practical activity helps build positive attitudes about starting a new school year and reviews math and reading.  At the store, involve children in decision making as much as possible. 

Make Places to Organize School Materials and Clothes 

  Some families may be unable to purchase suggested supplies. Communities and religious groups will help.  New supplies help children feel this is a new beginning, and “I’m going to do my very best.”

   At home children need a special quiet spot with good 

lighting for writing, drawing, looking at/ reading books and working.  This can be a little desk, small table, or the dining room table near to family supervision. Help your child organize this space with some home supplies in a storage box and no distraction.

  You can mark supplies, backpacks, and jackets and other clothes with first and last names to have lost items returned. 

  Have a place in your house, either on a wall or on the refrigerator to display pictures, notices and good papers from school. 

Remember a Space to Display School Information

Go over homework papers and clean out the backpack every night. That’s how families know what is happening in school. 

It’s a good time to return to family conferences, an early bedtime, bath, nightly reading to relax, nutritious snacks, video and other technology rules.

For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com; wnmufm.org /Learning Through the Seasons; Pinterest and Facebook. 

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Getting Along with Others in School

School Success Depends on Getting Along

One secret to success in school is getting along with others. Children who have experience with rules, being respectful, courteous, generous, and affable will have an easier time and be happier in school according to school psychologists.

  Adults can help children form these virtues by setting an example at home and helping children practice some basics.

  Words and Actions Matter

   Act polite and you’ll be polite.  Using words like “please, thank you, no thanks, and excuse me” with a kind voice set a tone of niceness and respect. Adults can help children use words to ask for help or express feelings. Teach the difference between telling an adult if something is not right, bullying, or unsafe and being a constant “tattle-tale.”  

Act Polite and You'll Be Polite

Practicing these suggestions around the home makes a difference but takes patience say psychologists.

  Use kind language. Give sincere compliments and express concern. Talk about how kindness makes others feel good and then they are more likely to be kind to you.  Adults may need to remind that some words kids hear are off limits and inappropriate in your family and at school.

  Help children practice listening silently when someone else is talking and looking at the person’s face. Adults can kneel or sit down to children’s height when talking with them to

Share and Tidy Up

 show how this is done.  Role play with stuffed animals or practice at mealtime and praise good listening.

   Greet and say “good-bye” to people.  Smile. Act enthusiastic and you’ll be enthusiastic is a Dale Carnegie tip for a successful life.

Share and Tidy Up

   

You can start the sharing habit by asking your baby to share Cheerios. Little ones love this game.  Cut treats in half to share or share space on the couch. Ask others if they want a treat or a piece of paper while getting supplies. Let another person go first if there is a tie for first in line.  The water fountain will still be there.

  Participate in helping to pick up toys, clothes, 

Share and Tidy Up

and clearing the table.  Make it a game by singing a pick-up song, playing favorite music, or having a contest as a part of an established routine.  Point out when materials are picked up they are easier to find next time. This is known as a “kid reason.”

   Play games where taking turns is expected like cards and Candyland. Practice “now your turn” at meal time, 

while sharing crayons, or choosing a show.

Demonstrate Inside Behaviors...

Hang up clothing or backpacks. Make this easy by setting a good example and providing kid-friendly pegs and containers.

   Demonstrate and practice inside, outside, and whispering voices. There will be classmates who have not yet learned these virtues, but your kids can show them how it’s done.   

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

For more science and math STEM adventures go to -  grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Saturdays at 8:30 am and pod casts archived on the site.

Preparing for New School Year

Grandparents Often Help Prepare Children For School

When families prepare for the first month of school, they often include grandparents who provide before and after school care, when possible.  Sometimes they are on call in case of emergencies or available on Face Time or Skype for children to discuss a problem immediately and a parent is not available. All kinds of support systems are being generated this time of year.

  Teachers and physicians offer tips to prepare for a positive school start and successful year. More than ever, success in school depends on a partnership between extended families and school.

 Helpful School Family Checklist

·       Check out school supply lists 

.       Check bus schedules and other transportation needs

Check Transportation Needs

·       Are registration information and vaccinations current?

·       Who will be with the children before and after school?

·       Is there a backup plan for sick days and vacations?

·       Does the school offer before and after school programs and tutoring/homework help so children of all ages do not go home to an unsupervised house with access to the Internet and friends?

·       Is there a quiet spot to do homework, daily reading, and projects at home?

·       Are all technologies like TV’s, computers, personal devices, and phones in the kitchen or family room and not in the privacy of children’s bedrooms? Do they have child protection? Are they checked often for site history and communication with others?

·       Are technology rules discussed, 

written, and supervised?

·       When the family is home is there a time scheduled for a snack and schoolwork before TV, play, or personal classes and sports?

·       Do children know how to fix themselves a bowl of cereal or make a cheese or nut butter sandwich? Can they find a piece of fruit like an apple or banana, vegetables or cheese and crackers to hold on until dinner?

Can Children Find & Fix Healthy Snacks?

·        Is someone ready to help with assignments?

·       Are backpacks checked each evening for notes and updates from school?  Are school papers looked over? Is there a schedule for long term projects to avoid night- before craziness? Does someone check regularly with the teacher and teacher’s web site? Are papers coming home? Are desks checked for stashed papers? Is the teacher contacted before conferences if there is suspicion something is not quite right?

·       Take time around dinner for a moment to talk with children daily about two good 

things that happened, something new they learned, and something that was not good, not right, or worrisome at school. Stay alert for “friends” problems.

Families may wish to encourage reading for relaxation before sleeping. It tends to calm the brain. Games and Internet activity excite the brain and make it more 

difficult to sleep.

Scientific studies suggest children need about 10 hours of sleep every night to avoid a sleep deficit by Friday.
Sketches: Mark Nowicki
Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

For more science and math STEM adventures go to -  grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Saturdays at 8:30 am and pod casts archived on the site.

Learning School Edu-Speak

Photo: Grandparents Teach, Too

 At the beginning of the school year, parents and other caregivers  receive information about rules, routines and special opportunities for students.  Sometimes educators use language that is unfamiliar.  Below are some words and ideas that may be new to parents of preschool and early elementary children.

TEACHER LANGUAGE

Developmentally appropriate:  activities that are just right for a child’s age and learning curve. 

Cognitive development:  the process by which we use experiences and thinking skills to build ideas and figure out solutions to problems.

Common Core:  an effort to develop nation-wide expectations for student learning at each grade level—especially in reading and math. 
STEM:  learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. 
Oral language development:  activities related to listening and speaking and the building of a growing vocabulary. 
Motor skills:  Gross motor skills describe how a child uses his body to do large muscle body activities.  Fine motor skills relate to how children use their fingers and hands to do smaller movements like drawing, crafts, and printing. 
IEP:  a special plan for a student that includes objectives and how they will be accomplished.  This individual child specific plan is developed by school staff and must be approved by parents. 
ELL:  English language learners—Students who are learning English as their second language. 
LEARN THE LINGO 
Learning disability:  a student is identified when testing shows that there is a significant difference between intellectual ability and current achievement. 
Special education:  a term which explains that some children need extra help from teachers and flexibility in the school day in order to achieve their greatest learning potential. 
Homogeneous grouping:  Children are put together with others who are similar in developmental or academic level.

Photo: Grandparents Teach, Too

Heterogeneous grouping:  Children are mixed together with others who have various developmental, academic levels or learning styles. 
Learning centers:  a way of delivering instruction or practice where students go to a specific section of the classroom to complete activities. 
Cooperative learning:  Students work together in small groups. Each person within the group has a task to help complete a project or activity 
Specials:  Physical education, art, music, library time, etc. 
Standards:  descriptions of what students should know or be able to do at a specific level.

Teachers value parent interest and participation.   Do not hesitate to ask questions, to request clarification or suggestions about ways you can help your child at home. 

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest