BACK TO SCHOOL

I can’t believe that the end of August is here and that kids are returning to school! As a teacher/ now parent, I always had a good laugh at a Staples commercial that used to play about this time of year. A father is taking his two children back to school shopping. While they trudge along slowly with great sadness on their faces, the father is skipping and happily jumping about, while “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” is played in the background. This commercial really does show the way many (but not all) parents feel.

While I love back to school time simply because I love teaching and learning, I also know that it can be a hectic time for parents. Growing up, I was one of five kids and my mom always made the day or two before going back to school a day to shop for school supplies. We all loved it because we got to pick out special food for our first day lunch, new items like lunch boxes, backpacks and supplies, and we always went out to lunch to celebrate. Then she worked like a whirlwind to make sure that we were organized and ready. I never understood (and still don’t to this day) how my mother kept us all organized for school. Sure we had the typical lost folder and “I left my backpack on the bus” but overall, she helped us keep it together. She was here recently, and we talked about it. So here are just a few tips both a parent’s and teacher’s toolbox!

	Make or use a calendar that has multiple columns, one for each family member (check out http://www.busybodybook.com/ for a sample).
	Label EVERYTHING! While a pain, it saves great time later when you are looking through lost and found! (buy a label maker at an office supply store, use the computer to print labels or use return address labels with the address cut off for privacy protection).
	Save 35 mm film canisters for putting change into lunchboxes.
	Make a special box for your children to place forms from school which need special attention and label it with their names (could be something as simple as an old shoe rack, a hanging shoe organizer or a plastic tray) .
	Buy a good quality backpack and lunchbox as they get the most abuse!
	Get a lunch container that can hold a clod pack so that lunch can be simple things like last nights leftovers!
	Try to color code or use the same symbol to denote each child’s items. ( For instance, your oldest has folders marked with a certain sticker).
	Pack lunches and lay out clothing the night before.
	Have some easy breakfast and lunch ideas that can be pulled from the freezer for those hectic mornings (see last month’s newsletter for some ideas!).
	Buy things that are already individually packaged, such as tissue packs and snacks to save you time when making lunches.
	If you need to, make a visual schedule of the daily routine for the kids to see so that they know what to expect and can help out with it.

Submitted by Jenn O'Hara.