School is just around the corner for us southwestern, desert dwellers. Hopefully, your summers have been full of lazy mornings sleeping in and loud nights where you stay up too late. Summer is the perfect time to shut your brain down a little and do all of those wonderful things that you can tell your great-grandkids someday. Like, eating ice cream from a street vendor, blocking off the street for some neighborhood football, playing way too many video games, campouts and smores, and sitting quietly on the porch watching the sunset or the rain come in. The monsoons where you run to get out of the rain, and the sweltering heat where you dash to the nearest body of water. Only one-fourth of the year is allocated for this special time so make it special! : )
With that said, of course, this is not why I am writing. I don't think anyone really needs advice on how to be a kid in the summer. It's what comes naturally. I thought, instead, I would write on how to prepare your children for the school year. As a teacher, there are a lot of things we do to prepare. Everything from putting up our fresh new bulletin boards to lesson plans to make a bazillion copies. We work hard so that when you come to school we have done our best to make an educational atmosphere. One where learning is the most conducive and pleasant. That doesn't always mean it will be fun...on the contrary, learning is an adventure and adventures are never just for fun! They excite us, scare us, thrill us, and challenge us to be the very best we can possibly be! That's why so many people crave adventures. And to be fair, not all learning takes place in the classroom!! (The teacher inside quivers with fear when I say this because I don't want them to take away my license!!! : P) However, let's get ready to learn.
**School shopping...
Let's start here, because let's face it. This is where it all begins. That moment where you start seeing the aisles and aisles of crayons at Wal-Mart, the Staples/OfficeMax ads...even the grocery stores conspire to sell us what we might or might not need for the coming school year. And I am sure that your school has already told you what you NEED to have. Here's my advice for what it's worth. 1)A really nice, simply binder. Please don't spend that much money on the expensive kind! Those are great and fun, but since a binder usually doesn't last all year long anyway, go with the sturdiest one you can find for the best price. I especially like the ones where you can put the paper in the cover to customize it. 2)Paper and pencils. Um, duh. So many times I have heard students say that they don't have these at home. You should have enough to last you awhile and they are really cheap during the month of July. Keep them with you in your binder, but also at home. 3) Crayons, contruction paper, scissors, glue sticks. All of this is great and you know you will have at least one "creative" project during the year, so be prepared ahead of time. As for the rest...yes, teachers do like donations of tissues, hand sanitizer, spare t-shirts, etc., but only buy what you can afford to, and always be ready to supply those things later in year when the teachers run out and ask for more. 4)Backpack. Make it a sturdy one, look for sales, and think about only buying one every two years or so. One of the things that my family does is to switch backpacks, so they still get to have the experience of having a "new" backpack, but I don't have to shell out more money. If you are an only child, maybe try switching with a friend. 5)CLOTHES!!!!! The fun stuff. I always like to go through what my kids have, sort and send to goodwill/friends, and THEN go shopping. I know that your child is going to want to buy everything they see, but the key to shopping with kids is compromise. I always let them pick out their first day outfit with usually very little say from me. This gives them a chance to "EXPRESS" who they are and I feel like I have spoiled them a little. The rest of what we buy is what they need...you know-the shirts, jeans, socks, underwear-basics they will use all year long. I also like to make sure they have one nice "dressy" outfit, which my kids always need for the many performances at our school. If you know what you need, then you can usually find it for less money than if you wait for that note home saying your child needs such and such.
****And here we pause for, well, mommy time with a two year old!!!****
To be continued...
S-
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