TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2023 - BACK TO SCHOOL

 TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2023 - BACK TO SCHOOL (FOR YOUR CHILDREN/GRANDCHILDREN)

Okay, it is back to school time. For the next three days, I’ll write suggestions on how to help your children or grandchildren get to school. 

BASICS:

As children get older, they need less direction. Grandparents (and parents) can suggest without being dogmatic.

Younger kids:

Get all the school supplies. Find suitable containers that are uniquely theirs. If you have a label gun, put their names on all their items (even pencils and pens). It is much easier to defend the “he took my pencil” when you have your name on it.

In my day, it seemed like everybody had the same pencils - Ticonderoga #2 - bright yellow pencils. You can find pencils that already have their names on them. So, if Johnny takes a pencil with “Megan” on it, the teacher (and Megan) will know!! Now, it might be that Johnny borrows a pencil from Megan, but it helps to keep track. (If your child has an unusual name, it might be harder to find a pencil that says “Gwen” on it - then pick a name that isn’t in their class. A Katie pencil is the same as a “Megan” pencil if there are no Katies.

Before the first day, pack all the supplies the night before and put them on the kitchen table. If they are going to walk to school, pack the supplies in their backpacks.

The children will need to be responsible for middle and high school. If they arrive at school and don’t have the suitable materials, it would be a good lesson to learn at this level.  

(My friend Tom Capone says, “Show up; Show up on time; Show up on time, ready to work.”  If they need scissors, they know exactly where they are in their desk (and the scissors have the child’s name on them!!!)

Mentally preparedness:

NEVER say anything bad about a student’s teacher in front of the student (or within hearing range). For this year, that teacher and your student must be a team that works well together. If you say, “Your teacher is mean,” your child might not learn as readily. You can qualify if needed, “Your teacher is hard, but fair and understanding.”  The implication is that your child needs to work hard, but the teacher is there to help.

ALWAYS say positive things about education. “I always liked school,” “I always liked my teachers,” “I always did my homework on time.”

(Don’t put a guilt trip on kids if they don’t get their homework done on time or have a little problem with school. Help them to be positive. School WILL make me ready for adult life!!!)

GO TO THE SCHOOL.

Especially for kindergartners attending a new school (Middle School or High School), go to the school building, find the cafeteria, the library, the classrooms, and the gym. Will they have a locker? Will they need a locker for the gym? 

Meet their teachers, meet the librarian, and meet the other staff. They will spend more awake time with these people in the next few months. Be positive with your students. Make school a special place.

READ

Over the summer, during the school year, encourage them to read. I was always a reader. For beginning kindergarten kids, read stories about the first day of school.  

TALK

Talk with their friends - get everybody excited about school.

ENCOURAGE THEM

Put a note in their lunch pack, and use a Post-it note in their books (if they are carrying books back and forth). Tell them how much you love and are proud of them.  

Children need LOVE - we all need LOVE!!

*****

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER - FOR YOU AND FOR THEM

If you hang around five confident people, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five intelligent people, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five millionaires, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five idiots, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five kids who are always in trouble, you will be the sixth. 

*****

More tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS US

LOVE HELPS US TO LEARN

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © AUGUST 29, 2023,