school

How To Take Attendance At Your Event The Easy Way

When hosting a group event such as a school open house, scout troop meeting, business seminar or church workshop – anything where the attendees will be handed written material – use this technique and you will quickly know who did or did not show up. It is a simple process of elimination.

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Moms know a whole lot of tricks to make life easier, don’t we! Well, this one I learned as a high school guidance counselor and, later on, as the administrator of a PreK – 12 school. We would have such large events that, when sharing important written information such as the parent-teacher handbook, it was challenging to know who received it and who did not. This technique worked perfectly every time and became a great way of taking attendance!

The simple tip: label it! Yes, whether you write out their names by hand or print off some snazzy labels, put those take-homes into a nice envelop and print their names on the cover. Hand the packets to each attendee. The names of those who did not get theirs are on the outside of the leftover packets.

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Here is an EXAMPLE: Today is our annual “meet the teacher” get together for preschool. I wrote a nice 2-page introduction with important FAQ’s like the school hours, what to wear (i.e. if your child comes to school wearing sandals, bring sneakers for gym), food, what fun we will have, etc. Then I printed out copies to give to all of the parents, my teaching assistants and the principal.

Now, I could have labeled the actual page – that method works fine – but today’s meeting is outdoors so, I chose to use envelopes to protect the letter from the elements. On the outside of each one I wrote “To The Parents Of …” and the child’s name.

*Using the child’s name (first name or first + last name) is helpful since children do not always have the same last name as their parents or guardians.

After the event is over, I can easily figure out who wasn’t there as I will still have their labeled envelop! I can then either email or mail the information to them or have it ready to hand to them on the first day of school. So simple.

And that’s my little attendance taking tip!

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Enjoy!

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How To Bring Order To The End Of The School Year

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School is coming to a close for another year. The final weeks of a school year are typically full of an abundance important events. Concerts, recitals, graduation ceremonies, playoff games, sports banquets, field trips … the list goes on and on. It can be exhausting.

Nothing feels worse than rushing through life and not enjoying the scenery along the way. Wonderful people whom we love have great milestones taking place. Instead of truly enjoying each moment, we often hurry along just counting the moments till it is all over.

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Bring calm to the chaos by planning these important weeks out on paper. Making a plan will make it seem so much more doable and will give you the assurance that all will go well.

Here is how:

How To Bring Order To The End Of the School Year

Get out 3 things: your personal planner, a family calendar and this year’s school calendar.

Pull out your children’s book bags, too. Why? Book bags hold little nuggets of valuable information stuffed inside. Check for newsletters or classroom flyers.

Start with the school calendar. Identify the important events, dates and times.

Awards Ceremonies

Class Trips

Concerts

Field Trips

Final Exams

Fund Raisers

Graduation Ceremonies

Graduation Rehearsals

Projects Due

Proms

Science Fairs

Sports Banquets

Sports Games

Teacher Appreciation Day/Week* (hint: first week in May!)

Put everything that pertains to your family on one family calendar. Now, add events generated by family and friends such as:

Baby Showers

Birthdays

Bridal Showers

Graduations

Picnics

Weddings

Your School Year Wrap-Up To-Do List

Finally, ask yourself “Is there anything I need to do for each event?” Is there special clothing that must be ready? Gifts to buy? Refreshments to be made? Invitations to send?

Think ahead. This is where a checklist comes in handy. In addition to your grocery list, a checklist will keep you on track with the finer details.

Tip #1: if you would like to give your children’s teachers a card or gift as a “thank you” for a great year, add that to your shopping list.

Tip #2: the end of school is immediately followed by SUMMER! Do your children go to summer camp or summer programs? How about summer sports? Get them signed up before school is over!

As school is coming to an end get a head start on all of the activities and events. Organize for it! #organizing #tips Share on X

The most important thing to remember, as you travel through this event-laden season, is that you and your family are making memories together. Enjoy it all – and take pictures!

Enjoy!

Preschool Class Mascot – Gilbert The Dog

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Having a preschool class mascot for your classroom sounds like a huge responsibility and it is. A classroom pet requires a lot of care – just as much care as having a pet at home. Teachers, if you are not up to the task, there is another way to do it. Bring toy mascot to school, instead.

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The Perfect Classroom Mascot

Recently we had a furry visitor come to our class who was absolutely no trouble at all. Gilbert The Dog is a very realistic looking stuffed toy beagle. He was easy to manage and such a good little boy. This toy looks so real, for a moment you might even think you were looking at a real dog!

Adorable little girl with her beagle dog plush toy #AD

Gilbert was actually the classroom mascot for the first graders. One time a week, he went home with a child who wrote about what he did as a guest in their home. Eventually they ran out of children in that classroom to take care of him so it was time for Gilbert to do something new. Our preschool class was delighted to pitch in and have him join us for a day.

The children took him from place to place, petting him and showing him around. He read a book. He sat on the windowsill. He looked out the window. He joined them for circle time, too. He even watched us making our craft of the day. Gilbert had a great time in preschool and we wrote about it in a little story for the first grade class to read.

So, if you prefer to not have the responsibility of a live classroom mascot, I do recommend a stuffed toy that looks real. There are so many plush toy animals on the market that look very realistic, like Gilbert does.

How to have a classroom mascot with no effort at all! #kids #pets Share on X

3 Ways To Have a Live Pet Visit Your Classroom

1.Show and Tell Another idea that requires very little care on the part of the teacher is to invite a live pet to visit for show and tell, like the cute guinea pig that came to our classroom.

2. You could also arrange for a therapy pet to come by. Therapy dogs can come to your class for part of a day, managed by their handlers. It will be a wonderful experience for your children.

3.If you are truly adventurous, contact the local reptile store. Ask them if they make classroom visits. The reptiles can be brought in by trained handlers so everything will be safe and sound. Our kindergarten teacher did just that and it was a great success. Even the most timid child was willing to take a closer peek at those fascinating creatures.

Have you ever had a classroom pet? What kind?

Enjoy!

34 Lunch Solutions For A Nut Free School

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Hey parents, will your children be attending a nut-free school? Do not despair. There are lots of delicious snack and lunch foods your children will love that are all 100% nut-free!

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Nut allergies are so prevalent that, in my opinion, it is better to select non-nut and non-tree-nut foods for public settings rather than taking a chance of sending someone into an allergic reaction. Here are 34 great, healthy ideas to help you decide what to pack for a nut free lunch!

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List of Nut Free Snacks

apple slices
applesauce
baby carrots
bagel – with cream cheese inside
berries – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
brown rice
cereal – non-sugary, dry
cheese slices or cheese cubes
cheese sticks
cherry tomatoes
chips
crackers
cucumber slices
dip – send veggie slices or apple slices with it
eggs – hard boiled
fruit cups
graham crackers
grapes
guacamole
hummus
lunchmeat – rolled up
non-nut butters – sunflower butter
olives, pitted
pepperoni slices
peppers -green or red bell peppers- slices
pickles
pizza slice
popcorn
pretzels
raisins
rice cakes
tangerines
veggie sticks
yogurt

Over the years I have witnessed two severe food-based allergic reactions and I would never want to be responsible for triggering it for anyone. In each case, without aid the person could have suffocated as their throats swelled up. It happened so quickly and in each case they did NOT ingest nuts. They were just in the vicinity of them. It is scary.

34 Nut-Free School Lunch Ideas #kids #allergies #food Share on X

Send tummy-warming, nut-free dishes to school with your little ones! More styles to choose from 🙂

Another option is to make some homemade snacks – like these Nut Free Banana Oat Protein Energy Balls by Laura of Petite Allergy Treats or Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Energy Bites from Running With Spoons – to send in your little one’s lunch.

Ever wonder how you would tell if someone is having an allergic reaction to food? This article from the Mayo Clinic clearly defines a variety of possible symptoms, the causes and what to do if you need to act on their behalf: Food Allergies Symptoms & Causes

Do you or someone you love have food allergies? What additional non-nut foods should we add to our list?

Enjoy!

5 Things To Do For Your Child’s Teacher On The First Day Of School

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Each school year begins with a clean slate – another opportunity to put the past behind and start out fresh. It is an exciting time for kids, parents and teachers!

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Yes, the school year is not just new for you and your children – it is new for your teacher, too. Having been a school administrator for many years and, currently, a preschool teacher, I can tell you that teachers are under a lot of pressure. Demands are high. Classroom help may be limited – if it exists at all – yet, they are still expected to get the job done with excellence and a smile. Partner with your child’s teacher to make this an awesome school year. They will appreciate the help!

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Here are five simple ways to help your child’s teacher

1. Start each day off right – be on time! If your family is constantly cutting it close to the wire and just running through the door when the bell rings (or later) then the day is already starting off on the WRONG foot. Children need a few minutes to settle in, get acclimated and be ready to perform at their best when that bell does ring! Teachers maximize their classtime. Start time means really starting – students in their seats and ready to go. Help her out and get there early.

Tip – hungry, tired kids do not learn well. Make it a habit to see that your children get plenty of rest each night and eat a healthy non-sugary breakfast before they leave the house.

2. Read the paperwork! Schools send home communication prior to the first day of school. The classroom teacher may also have his/her own newsletter or FAQ sheet for families. Take the time to read it all and highlight (or take notes on) the important things to remember. If your school sends information electronically, keep on top of it.

3. Keep a calendar! Write down the most important dates for the school year including first day of school, last day of school, open house, teacher conference days, holidays, special activities, sports, concerts, etc.

4. Homework! Believe it or not, there will be homework even in kindergarten. Your children need help getting into the homework routine. Create a time and place where they can do that homework every day. Many children do better if you are in the room. That doesn’t mean that you do the homework for them, but you are available to answer questions and be moral support. Teachers have a purpose in assigning work at home. Support that effort by encouraging your children to do it well and hand it in on time.

Tip – the homework location should also be a cell-free-zone. Electronics go off until homework is done. The earlier you enforce that policy the easier it will be to continue it throughout the year. Set a good example. Turn YOUR phone off, as well. Doing that will be a great help to your child.

5. Volunteer! Not every parent is able to actually come in to aid in the classroom. If you can, your teacher will love it. Don’t feel bad, though, if you cannot spend whole days. Consider offering other kinds of help. Talk to the teacher about his/her needs.

Suggestions: come to school and make copies on the copier, cut out pieces for projects, put up a bulletin board, clean the classroom at the end of the day, round up special materials he/she may need, laminate pieces, monitor quiet time so that he/she can take a break, write the classroom newsletter, chaperone a field trip.

5 things to do for your child's teacher on the first day of school #tips #school #parenting Share on X

Can you think of ways to help your child’s teacher this year?
Share them in the comments!

Enjoy!

Math Fun For Your Kids Online – FREE Interactve Math Games

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Education.com has come up with some fun interactive games for your kids to hone their math skills this summer. They have a nice collection of FREE math games for children ages Preschool through Middle School.

Here is one of the games for you to try out! Kids build three-digit numbers using playing cards in this number sense game. Check out more of Education.com’s math games for practice with essential math skills.

Enjoy!

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8 Things You Should Tell Your Child’s Teacher

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Life at home affects us all. When it comes to our children, it can show up in the classroom. Teachers can only guess why a child is acting differently than the norm. A usually cheerful eager learner can become sullen, irritable, withdrawn or angry. As a teacher, I can say that it is so helpful when mom or dad gives me a little clue why things may be different.

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Now, we are not talking dangerous conditions. If you have a situation that is becoming volatile, get help quickly. Go to a trusted family member, your pastor or even the police but do not gamble with your family’s safety.

In this instance, we are addressing are the normal circumstances of life that will pass but temporarily impact our kids.

The teacher may need to know about this:

1. Sleepless: whatever the reason for a child not getting enough sleep, it can have an impact the following day at school. Teachers need to know!

2. Missed a meal: getting children to eat first thing in the morning can be a real challenge. Going to school hungry, though, will impact the day. Do your best to give them a healthy breakfast (not all sugar – include some kind of protein.) At the times that they have not eaten, let the teacher know. Be SURE to send an extra snack, if that is the case.

3. Getting Sick: parents can tell when their kids are coming down with something. I used to know when my son had an ear infection in the works before the doctor did. Teachers appreciate parental instincts and it helps to give them a clue that your child is feeling out of sorts.

4. Family Woes: financial stress, unemployment, sick family members, marital disagreements, broken down car…the list of possibilities goes on. It may not show in the child’s behavior but children certainly pick up on the vibes.

5. Loss: big changes like the death of a loved one or the family pet can have a significant impact. Moving from one house to another is another disruption, even if the move is a step up. Divorce, separation…there can be losses of many kinds.

6. Pain: headaches, bumps and bruises, allergic reactions, loose baby teeth.

7. Fear: anxiety over school itself. We’ve all heard of “test anxiety” but there are other kinds of apprehension, as well. When I was a little girl I had a bad experience in the cafeteria when I dropped a tray full of food. That did it for me. I was so fearful that I would never buy lunch again!

8. Peer Pressure: children can be very sensitive about who is nice to them, whether they feel acceptance or rejection…you know the drill. If there are some hurts there (especially if your child is very young) and they don’t seem to being going away, it may be something that should be discussed with the teacher.

Bottom Line: Whatever the deal is, do not hesitate to mention it to your child’s teacher. It will be appreciated and could make your child’s day at school a whole lot better.

Help your child have a great day at school - 8 things you need to tell the teacher! #tips #parenting #school Share on X

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Enjoy!

Photos from Freedigital Photos by stockphoto and Serg Betasius