Education tips

BACK TO SCHOOL TRADITIONS

Summer may not officially end until September 21st, but let's face it, once school begins, summer is over.  Having back-to-school traditions can help soften the blow and lessen the building anxiety a new school year can bring by giving children something to look forward to.

As a former teacher, I always dreaded the middle of August after I had my first child because it meant an end to being able to spend my days at home.  When he started school, I didn't want him to have that feeling so I decided to try and make the days leading up to the beginning of school something to look forward to instead of something to dread.

Now that we have two school-aged children and a busier schedule due to sports, I've modified it a bit, but the idea is the same.  The last week of summer is set aside for day trips and activities which means that week is off-limits for camps.  Each family member gets to choose an end-of-the-summer activity.  The destination and cost has to be within reason.  For example, this year the six year old choose a mini-golf outing and the older one wanted to go and see World War II planes which were on display at a nearby airfield.  Kids love the idea of being in charge of the daily itinerary and generally put some thought into it before deciding.   I've yet to get an outrageous suggestion.

A couple of days ago a friend who runs a Bounce U invited us to a 'Bounce Back-to-School Party.'  What an awesome idea!  My son loved the idea and was really looking forward to the party and seeing some of his former Kindergarten classmates and finding out who their new teachers were going to be.

 Another simple tradition is the back-to-school dinner.  The week classes start each school-aged child gets a day to decide on the dinner menu with the stipulation that it is a homemade meal, not take out.  Finally, they get to choose the contents of their lunch for the nerve-wracking first day.  For younger ones, a card or a note inside the lunchbox can be a pick me up.  With the older ones, I'll put in a special dessert instead.  Parents are walking a fine line with tweens these days and the slightest misstep can be a major source of embarrassment, so it's best to keep it simple.

Whatever you decide to do does not have to be fancy, expensive, or time-consuming.  Remember, traditions do not have to revolve around a holiday.  An impending school year can be a source of anxiety and it doesn't matter what age you are.  Sharing some back-to-school time with your children can also be an opportunity for them to discuss their concerns with you.  Fun and smiles can go a long way toward helping to start the school year off on a positive foot.  

If you don't already have some, try saying good-bye to summer and hello to school with a special back-to-school send off this year.  Find what works for your family and revisit it next summer!  You'll find you won't be the only one looking forward to those school bells.

BACK TO SCHOOL BASICS

Depending on where you live, school either starts in a couple of weeks or a month.  However, now is the time to start getting things together so that you and your children don't go insane when the calendar says 'first day of school.'

With a few simple tips, everyone can begin the academic year on a positive note.  First off, even though you're still in summer mode, it is very important to get children back into the routine of going to bed and waking at a set time.  

A couple of summers ago, we made the mistake of going on vacation the week before school started.  We returned on a Saturday and school started on Tuesday.  Everything was ready to go, but their sleep/wake clocks were way off and we were already a couple of weeks into school before they got on track.  Not fun!  I learned a valuable lesson that I won't forget.

If you start by trimming the bedtimes and wake times by five minutes a day, you can gradually ease them back into the routine with a minimum of whining and complaining.

Before shopping for clothes, take a look at your closets.  A good rule of thumb is that if you can't remember wearing it recently, then it's time to go!  Begin with the younger ones to make room for the clothes items that can be handed down.  Enlist the aide of your children to make keep, reuse, and donate piles.  The middle one loves to 'go shopping' in his brother's room.  Hand-me-downs are great, but still remember to purchase a few new items for the younger ones as well.  This helps to avoid the feeling that they never get anything new.

Take the time to talk with your kids before you hit the mall.  Set a budget and let them know that the sky is not the limit when it comes to new clothes and footwear!  That to die for sweater is usually forgotten by the time you get home so try and avoid the impulse to give in to avoid the drama.  You'll be glad you did when your credit card bill arrives.

Watch the newspaper circulars for school supply sales and coupons.  Most schools have the lists of what is needed on their websites already.  If you wait until the last minute, you'll be stuck running around and paying full price!  Also, don't forget to see what you have leftover from last year.  Pens, pencils, and crayons never go out of style.

If you have middle and high school aged children that play sports, make an appointment for those athletic physicals now to avoid the rush!  Sometimes your physician's office simply needs to fill out the forms if your child has recently had a well visit in the past few months.  Ask, it can say you some valuable time.

Make it a point to attend any summer orientations that your school district offers for your children regardless of the grades.  The start of a new school year is anxiety-filled for most children and meeting the teacher and future classmates beforehand can help to take some of the stress away.  This is especially true for children who are starting a new school this year or have recently moved.  

If you have a child who seems especially troubled about the impending school year, make it a point to discuss this with the teacher at orientation in order to avoid those first day of school tears!  Most schools can offer you suggestions to help and can place extra personnel to help if you fear your child may have a great deal of difficulty during those initial days.

With some careful planning and organizing, you and your children can start the school year off with a smile which believe me I know is easier said than done!

OLYMPIC FEVER

The Olympics are a perfect time to sit down with your children and actually watch television together because let's face it there really isn't many things on TV that you and your kids can view as a family.  They are also a terrific learning opportunity and since they're only on for a fortnight, you need to take advantage of it now!

Each event can be a geography lesson with different countries' flags and colors on display.  My six year old had a blast picking out the riders in the cycling road races and trying to identify their country.  This usually ended up with him asking where this country is located.  Thank goodness for Wikipedia because I don't think we have an updated world map in the house.  Nevertheless, it's a great teachable moment since they have Olympic fever.

The history of the Olympics and it's origins from the Ancient Greeks is also a fantastic topic for discussion since the pageantry of the opening ceremonies among other rituals dates back to ancient times.  

From an athletic standpoint, viewing the events exposes children to some sports that they wouldn't otherwise see such as archery and fencing.  It also shows the importance of sportsmanship and the value of fair play as well as the dedication, determination, and sacrifice these athletes put in in order to compete at this level.  Unlike professional sports, there isn't a paycheck attached to their participation.

Yes, yes, I understand that a gold medal performance can bring an athlete a nice chunk of change in endorsements.  However, the bottom line is they are out there representing their country and there is a priceless lesson to be taken from that!  So sit back, enjoy, and root for your country!

SUMMERTIME BLUES

Whether your child is struggling or at the top of the class, spending time doing school work during the summer months is a must.  Too much information is lost during the ten to twelve week lay-off.  Now, I am not an advocate for year-round school.  As a former teacher, I understand that educators need the time off more than students do to remain fresh.  However, students need to devote time each day in order to keep skills from falling off.

The simple joys of summer like hanging out with friends at the pool or beach are important, but so are maintaining those multiplication tables.  A half an hour of work along with a half an hour of silent reading is all you need.  The groans of my oldest could be heard throughout Lakeshore when we were purchasing our summer skills books.  Bridgebooks are a good choice, but I prefer separate ones.  A math book is a must.  Those concepts are the first ones to suffer due to lack of use.  If your child has a trouble spot such as reading comprehension, I recommend picking a specific book to help in that area.  A quick check of your child's report card can help pinpoint areas of difficulty.  A hand-writing book can also be a helpful tool for summer practice, especially the dying art of cursive.  Books can be found at Barnes and Noble, but Lakeshore has a wider variety of choices.

Silent reading is incredibly important.  Don't rely on the suggested summer reading list the school provides.  Our district didn't provide one until the end of fourth grade and it was only one book.  At the conclusion of fifth grade with middle school a couple of months away, it was still only one book.  You don't necessarily have to visit a bookstore and pay a fortune.  Make it a point to pay your local library a visit on a weekly basis.

Many libraries take part in summer reading incentive programs and offer a wealth of programs for free.  Our town has a wonderful story time program which we take advantage of year round.  If you model reading, your child will be more apt to do it as well.  Encourage reading a book during down times instead of turning of the television or set aside a specific time each day, such as the half an hour after baths or showers, for reading.

On vacations, the workbooks and novels are wonderful for keeping kids occupied while waiting for meals or in the hotel room when everyone is getting ready for a day out.  I try and keep a certain time each day for skills practice and reading.  It is usually in the morning while I am doing the household chores or getting us ready for an outdoor excursion.  Most children respond well to a schedule and it can be a sanity saver for you.  If they are busy doing something, you won't have to spend as much time playing referee.

Your child may grumble or love it.  I have both at my house.  However, I make it clear that it is simply not an option and make it part of the day.  If you make up your mind to incorporate it into the daily schedule, the transition back into the school year will be much more seamless.

BENEFITS OF READING ALOUD

This is one subject where the research studies have remained constant.  The benefits of reading to children are numerous.  Not only does it help develop speech, children who are read to from birth tend to be early readers and achieve higher academic success.

I'm not a big fan of some of the newer programs geared toward teaching your baby to read using the television and computer.  Technology has its place, but not at a young age.  If you want your child to be an early reader, stick to the basics.  Open a book.

Board books are a wonderful choice for the baby and toddler set.  They are short enough for drifting attention spans and durable enough to take on little hands and teeth.  Yes, it's okay for them to handle the books.  As a matter of fact, it is encouraged.  Babies and toddlers are tactile and need to handle objects in order to process what they are learning.

Picture books are ideal for three and four year olds.  The colorful language and illustrations along with predictable plots keep these developing minds engaged.  Basic and recognizable vocabulary form the building blocks for beginning reading skills.  Children at this age often enjoy hearing the same stories over and over again.  Boring to you, but fun and a necessary learning step for them.  

Chapter books should be introduced as read-alouds around age five and continued through the elementary years.  Listening to more involved dialogue and vocabulary works to expand your child's verbal and written language skills.

Don't forget that older children enjoy being read to as well.  They also need to work on reading aloud as well.  Many times teachers stop listening to children read after grade four and this is often how a child with a reading issue falls through the cracks.  Having your older child read to younger children a couple of times a week can be a time-saver for you and a benefit to your older child as well since it helps work on fluency.

Remember to read with emotion and inflection.  This will help your child learn how to read with expression.

Story time is a great way to get kids to wind down before bed and spend some quality cuddle time with your children.  It's one of my favorite times of the day.  Even if you can only manage ten minutes, it will be ten well-spent minutes.  The middle one says he can't go to sleep without a story.  So sit back, curl up, open a good book and enjoy building memories and academic skills with your children.

JUNIE B.

If you are ready to start reading chapter books with your child, but are a little nervous.  Start small and meet Junie B. Jones, the world's most obnoxious kindergartners.  Junie B. was created by author Barbara Park.  There is a whole series of books beginning with THE STUPID SMELLY BUS.  The books follow Junie B.'s journey though kindergarten and eventually first grade.

They are hilarious and a perfect read for children who are new to chapter books.  The chapters are longer than a picture book, but short enough to keep the interest of younger readers.  The stories are told from Junie B.'s perspective and make for a lively, fun read.  When I taught, my kindergartners and first graders loved hearing her exploits.  Second graders also appreciate the humor and outrageous situations Barbara Park sets up for her character.

You and your child will enjoy these books which are available at your local library and bookstores.  I highly recommend picking up a boxed set at your local bookstore.  The middle one and I just went through the whole series which we had on a shelf from the older one.  These books are timeless.