Requesting a change in your child’s classroom placement can be tough, here are some ideas to help get started.

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Requesting a Change in Your Child’s Classroom Placement

My daughter went from dreading to looking forward to her day at school. As a parent, I ho-hummed about requesting a change in her teachers, but then realized that speaking up for her needs at school was what I had to do. Now that we are half way through the school year, I am SO glad we did.

Read How to Get the Teacher You Want for next year!

How do You Know It’s Time to Request a Change to Your Child’s Classroom?

1. Your Child Doesn’t want to Go to School

The classroom placement for this year just wasn’t working for my grade school daughter. It started out ok. The new teacher was friendly, organized and enthusiastic. My daughter seemed to get along with her, but then things never really settled after the first few weeks of school. She was coming home frazzled, didn’t want to go to school, and was having a hard time making friends. It wasn’t like her and so we sat down and talked.

Some kids do not want to go to school for a variety of reasons from feeling frustrated with academic tasks to having friend issues. Talk to your child about what is making them unhappy. If they say, “I hate my teacher,” or “My teacher is mean.” Ask for examples. Keep in mind, you are hearing the kid-version of the story. E-mail or call for the teacher version.

Because of the grade levels schedule, my daughter was seeing one teacher for home room, another for reading, another for science and yet another for math. Add in all the special teachers (library, art, PE…) and she didn’t see one teacher for more than 90 minutes in a day. Which also meant, she didn’t see the same kids either. On top of that, she had to keep all her belongings in the homeroom class and stop there – like a locker- in between all the other classes. It felt like my 9 year old had the schedule of a middle schooler. When we really analyzed it, she had MORE transitions that a middle schooler.

My book-a-holic, straight A student hated school? WHAT? This mom knew, her daughters homeroom classroom needed to change.

2. You have scheduled a conference with your child’s teacher, made a plan, and things still haven’t gotten better.

The first thing we did was talked with the teacher about our concerns. She really listened and referred me to our school counselor. Because my daughter has a 504 plan, she arranged a meeting for her education team (all the teachers and school counselor) to discuss possible solutions. Even if your child does not have an IEP, Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, you can always ask your school’s guidance counselor, curriculum director or principal to help set up a team meeting to discuss the educational needs of your child. (After the conference, plan, and no improvement)

3. A change in your child’s classroom placement should occur if your child’s learning is affected by a relationship with another child or adult.

This not getting along with a teacher, professional in the room, or peer may be causing inner turmoil. Looking at the facts, there are just times when 2 people do not work well together. It is my opinion that if a child does not feel emotionally safe at schools then we, as parents, must speak up and insist upon a change. I have seen parents remove children from the public school setting to homeschool due to these bad connections. Changing classrooms is always an option to consider too.

Don’t miss How to Write a First Grade Teacher Request Letter

What to do when Your Child’s Classroom Placement Needs a Change

Tips for Requesting a Change in Your Child’s Classroom Placement

• Address the issue with your child.  Do lots of listening.
• Address the issue with your child’s teacher via phone or e-mail.
• Schedule and in-person conference with your child’s teacher
• Make and follow a plan to solve the issue as a team (parent – child – teacher)
• Continue the dialog on a consistent basis. Do not wait weeks to let your child’s teacher know the current plan is not working.
• If the plan doesn’t work – Consider meeting with an extended education team. This team may include the guidance counselor, grade team leader, principal, curriculum director, behavior specialist, teacher, and parent.
• If it hasn’t already been brought to the table as an option, ask firmly, but kindly for a change in classroom placement. Can we consider changing my child’s classroom?
• As always, it is easier for me to sandwich the issue between positives. Say something nice about the current situation, then explain why it isn’t working and must change, then end with a positive, like how the new teacher will help your child do better in school.
• In our case, my daughter’s entire team of teachers was in support of changing her homeroom classroom teacher. We were lucky in the fact our issue was not related to having a “mean teacher.” It made it so much easier to say, “Mrs. E is very sweet, welcoming, and organized, but the way my daughters’ schedule is set up, it severely affects her learning with so many transitions. I would like to propose that she moves into ___ or ___ homeroom. This change would eliminate 6 transitions and add 25 minutes to her learning day. “

Additional Resources for Classroom Placement for Your Child

Keep your kindergartner’s skills sharp this summer and help prepare them for first grade with these hands-on, innovative learning games in our book, 100 FUN AND EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. Turn off the TV and beat boredom blues with these clever activities that are quick and easy to set up with common household materials. Each of the 100 learning games comes with an additional 3 alternative ways to play, making this a resource with nearly 400 activities!

We have already started our back to school shopping. Luckily, our school has just published their school supply list for all the grade levels. As a teacher, I looked forward to all these supplies coming in. As a parent, I see this list with new perspectives.

How does your school’s kindergarten supply list compare?

How Does Your Child’s Kindergarten Supply List Compare?

My friend and I just had our annual – can you believe our kids school supply list conversation on the phone this afternoon?

The first school I taught at supplied all of our classroom materials including paper, pencils, markers, scissors, and crayons. We filled out a form and the school delivered it to our classrooms during pre-planning from their warehouse. If we needed more, we asked for it. The supply closet was stocked and all the kids needed to bring was their own backpacks.

As the years went on, the teacher supply closet concept ended and as a teacher, I was left to find supplies for 26 kindergartners with a $100 budget. YES. I was expected to purchase enough supplies (paper, pencils, crayons, glue, ect) for an entire year of projects for 26 young children with $100.

Needless to say, I went over budget because, well… kids need pencils and paper to learn and even with sales shopping and planning, paper and pencils alone for 26 kids for an entire school year come out to way more than $100.

You know that! Why? Because I’m sure your school supply list comes close to that amount – for 1 child.

Nowadays, parents are big contributors to classroom supplies. 

It’s hard on the budget these first few weeks, but so very important for kids to have the needed materials.

My Son’s Kindergarten Supply List

I just printed out our supply list for this school year. Thankfully, the stores have decided that it’s back-the-school sales this week, so we are going to be picking up some supplies. Unfortunately, it seems that most of the sales are for the brands not called for in our list.

Yes, the brands were specified on the lists we received.

As a teacher, my supply lists never specified brands, but I can understand why they do.  Some brands of crayons, for example, do not color as brightly or last as long as others. Rather than buy more than you need, choosing a brand that you know works better ends up saving time and money in the long run. I did shake my head a bit at the “pre-sharpened” pencils.

Sure, they save you a couple minutes of time, but is it really necessary????

Kindergarten Back to School List

Amazon affiliate links to products. Surprisingly, some of our supplies are less expensive (the sharpened pencils)  when ordering online and having them shipped to my door (I have Amazon Prime).

• 1 pack Crayola Ultraclean Fineline Classic Markers (10 Count)
• 1 pack Crayola Ultraclean Broadline Classic Washable Markers (10 Count)
• Crayola Crayons 24 Count – 2 Packs
• Elmer’s All-Purpose Glue Sticks, .77 oz, 12 Pack (E517) (not large)
• 1 pair of Fiskars 94917097 No. 5 Blunt Tip Scissors
• 24 Dixon Ticonderoga Pre-Sharpened with Erasers Pencils, #2, Yellow, Box of 30 (13830)
• 1 Backpack(NO ROLLING BACKPACKS, please)
• One Box of Facial Tissues
• $10 cash donation for miscellaneous classroom supplies
• Girls bring:
  • 1 container Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
  • Ziploc Double Zipper Gallon Storage Bags – 52 count(freezer type preferred)
  • 1 bottle Elmer’s Washable No-Run School Glue, 4 oz, 1 Bottle (E304).
  • 1 box Bandages
• Boys bring:
  • 1 bottle Hand Sanitizer
  • 1 Paper Towel Roll
  • 1 box Ziploc Double Zipper Storage Bag, Quart, 48 Count (freezer type preferred)
  • 1 container Baby Wipes

What is missing from the school supply list?

There are some things that we use every single day that are not included on the back to school supply list provided by our school.

1. Tennis shoes
2. School uniforms
3. Lunch Boxes
4. Lunch Box Containers
5. Cold Packs for lunch boxes
6. Water bottles
7. Small gift for the teacher

Yes – you read that right. Do NOT wait until teacher appreciation week in the spring to give your child’s teacher a gift. A gift card and a heartfelt note do wonders for developing strong relationships.

Sample Back to School Messages for Your Child’s Teacher:

Pack of kid-friendly stickers – I saw these in the store and thought you may find a good use for them!
$20.00 Gift Card to Target: I am so excited that ___ is in your classroom this year. I’m sure there are some extra things that you may need for your classroom and hope that this little bit helps.

$20.00 Gift Card to a local cafe/restaurant- Back-to-school is such a busy time of year. Dinner’s on us tonight!

A small basket of extra school supplies: Looking forward to a fantastic school year with you.

Do you have a wiggly kid that has a hard time sitting still? Take a look at the best school supplies for ADHD.

Where to find your child’s school supply list?

• Most schools have published their grade level lists on their school website and/ or Facebook pages.
• Pick up a paper copy at the front desk.
• Call the secretary and ask for the list.

You may also want to consider grabbing the best school supplies for ADHD.

How to Save Money on School Supplies during Back-To-School Time.

1. My number 1 money-saving back-to-school tip – Use what you already have!!!!!

Buy a decent backpack and keep re-using it each year. We encourage our kids to choose non-themed backpacks so they don’t outgrow the character. Items such as kid scissors can also be re-used year after year. They do NOT need to be brand new in a package!

2. Make a list and stick to it.

You don’t need all the cutesy extras – like a ruler snap bracelet or sparkly pencil toppers. Get the essentials. If your child really “wants” something special and it’s in your budget – choose ONE special item and have them keep it in their homework center at home!

3. Buy an extra set of pencils, markers, and crayons when they are on sale for you to keep at home.

Here are some additional tips for back to school for your child…

• Teaching Kids How to Be Responsible for their Backpack
• Back to School STEM Activities
• First Day of School Books
• Back to School Resources for Parents
• The Best Lunch Boxes for Kids

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dixie. The opinions and text are all mine. This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Back to School Traditions – Friday Night Family Barbecue

I’d like to say that I made a fancy sign for them to hold on their first day of school (does holding up fingers count?) or made them a special first day breakfast (um – cereal?), but the thing is, our lives our busy and sometimes we just have to make an effort to enjoy more moments just with each other.

As life with a family of 5 gets hectic, I find that it’s important to stop stressing about the small things. (like how I look in the picture above after a full day of mommyhood and having a kid photographer)

The truth is, my kids do not need a “Pinterest Worthy” back to school picture in order to remember their first day of school. They will remember my smile after taking a goofy shot to send Grandma and Moms lingering embrace.

My kids do not need homemade cinnamon rolls or waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream, although it does sound good.

My mantra this year is to stress less and enjoy the moments more.

What my kids need is – ME.

Without the stress of making picture-worthy events. Without the stress of rushing to clean up and do dishes. Without the need to impress anyone.

They need to have me in the moment, cherishing time with family. I’m lucky to have them in my life and need to take time during the busy moments to embrace the moment.

So in lieu of all the extravagant back to school traditions, we are kicking it back to the basics this year with an end of the first week of school Family Night Barbecue.

It didn’t take much planning at all.

Steps to Organize a Family Night BBQ for Back to School

STEP 1: Ask your family what they would like to eat on the grill.

STEP 2: Get the kids to make a table decoration.

1. Grab a piece of card stock
2. Fold in half.
3. Let them write the words and
4. Decorate it.

STEP 3: Assemble a tray with Dixie plates and silverware, vegetables, fruit, and any needed buns.

If you have more time you can also make a side salad using these simple recipes for Vinegar Coleslaw Recipe, Potato Salad, or Old-Fashioned Three Bean Salad.

STEP 4: Grill.

Doesn’t everyone grill and serve certified Angus beef filet mignons on paper plates?
(That way my choice! The kids wanted hot dogs)

STEP 5: Sit down and enjoy the meal.

My husband walked through the door just as I was setting the food on the table…

WHAT? Filet Mignon on paper plates???

You bet honey!  A delicious meal and no one’s doing dishes tonight

STEP 6: Talk about your first week of school

• What are your classmates’ names?
• What is your favorite subject to learn about so far?
• What do you hope to learn this year?
• In 3 words, how would you describe your first week of school?

STEP 7: Then clean up! Which takes only a few seconds!

STEP 8: GAME TIME… because we saved time on clean-up using Dixie Plates – we were able to play a game of Spot It before snuggling up with a good back to school book and heading to bed.

Back to School BBQ Ideas

• Steak and Mango Salsa Flatbread
• Healthier Potato Salad
• Kale and Orzo Pasta Salad
• Salad Bar Ideas
• Delicious and Easy Appetizers

Family Notes:

Although we typically use glass plates, it’s really nice to bring out the disposable Dixie products for a really quick cleanup. Back to school can be hectic and stressful. Those extra few minutes that would have been spent doing dishes were instead spent snuggling with kiddos.

It’s important to find the balance. My kids need me present in the moment. Family gatherings should be cherished and enjoyed by all!

Dixie believes nothing should interrupt family moments. Gather around your loved ones, linger a little longer, and be more here.

You may also enjoy these activities…

Creating Effective Morning Routine for School Days

Parenting an elementary school child is tons of fun! They crave independence, are helpful (most of the time), and can do many things on their own (like getting dressed, pouring cereal, putting their shoes on). BUT, my elementary school child likes to do things on her own time, which can cause some problems if you’re like us and need to be out of the house by a certain time.

Here are some helpful tips for getting kids ready for school in the mornings:

1. Plan ahead and have a routine. This will help to reduce stress and make the morning go more smoothly.
2. Lay out clothes and pack lunches the night before. This will save time in the morning.
3. Have a healthy breakfast. This will help kids stay focused and alert during the day.
4. Give kids plenty of time to wake up and get ready. This will help them avoid feeling rushed.
5. Be positive and encouraging. This will help kids start their day off on the right foot.

What My Elementary School Child is Like in the Morning

My 2nd grader is an awesomely creative kid, but not the highest functioning in the mornings. Our morning routines consisted of me making breakfast, getting all 3 kids dressed, teeth brushed, fed, and out the door.  I was giving way to many verbal reminders and there was just a feeling of stress all around, which isn’t a great way for anyone to start their day.

I felt like I was nagging.

She felt like I was nagging.

Our tone of our voices were not kind and loving.

Tears were shed.

When she was younger, we used to draw pictures to give her visual clues for expectations, on a whim one night last week, I made this checklist for her and set it on the table.

Using a Checklist for a More Effective Morning Routine

She woke up, trudged to the table, and slumped down by the empty bowl (I set as much out the night before as I can).  I could tell she read it because she moaned, “I need a pen.”  Chuckling to myself (I am a morning person) I handed her one. She set it beside the paper, ate her breakfast, and checked off that part of the list.

Then, she went to the bathroom and brushed her hair and her own teeth, ran to the sheet, and checked off that line. Continuing through the list, she didn’t once need a verbal reminder or fuss about any step.  It was AMAZING! She was ready and waiting at the door at 7:00 while I put her brother’s shoes on.

 In her sweetest voice,  she asked, “Would you please laminate the list so I can use it again tomorrow?”

Admittedly, our list isn’t the prettiest, but I think that is what makes it special!  She has used it consistently for a week with absolutely no complaints.  As we get better in our routines, I believe that she will rely less on the list, but it is laminated for her – just in case.

If your weekdays out-the-door routines are stressful – take time to think about what you can do to make them go smoother this weekend.  You could make a picture list for a non-reader, set clothing choices out the night before, write down a breakfast menu for the week, or even write a special message on your fridge to keep you in a positive mood.

Sometimes a little preparation on parents’ part makes a world of difference.

Now is the time for PARENTING WITH PURPOSE!

UPDATE: We have now used this morning checklist for 2 weeks. I have no idea what I did without it.  Although all of our morning routines are a little different – I made a prettier version to share!

What do YOU do to make your mornings a happy, non-stressful part of your day???

Are you looking for more back to school resources?  We recommend:

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We scoured the piles of over 100 coats with no luck. 

Then surprise… my son remembered he left it on the school playground. We boogied out with our fingers crossed. PHEW, it was thankfully still laying in the dirt where he had left it.

But not everyone is as lucky…

Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate links included in this post.

How to stop losing things at school.

Missing items is an issue in every school. Has your child lost one (or a few) Jackets? Sweaters? Hats? Water bottles? Lunchboxes? The lost and founds are overflowing this time of year, so I know I’m not alone. Read on to see what teachers are doing to help your child and what you can do at home to help your child stop losing things at school.

What “most” teachers do to help children stop losing things at school.

The good news is that most classrooms already have routines and procedures in place to help your child to stop losing things at school.

Everything has a place.

At school, children have a special place to hang their coats and backpacks.  In schools with lockers, students may share or have their own locker to keep outside gear in.  In classrooms with no lockers, some teachers use a bin system, coat racks, or cubbies for each child or pair of children.  The teachers teach children at the beginning of the year how to begin their day by taking care of their belongings.

Most rooms have lost and found items storage areas.

Having taught in 5 different schools, each school also had a centralized area in which lost and found gathered.  This place is usually in a public meeting area such as near the cafeteria or office area.

Teachers routinely try to connect missing items with their owners.

They first check for a name written on the coat.  If it is, then they may ask the student to put it back into their cubby.  If there is no name on the item, a teacher may ask the class, “Who’s jacket is this?” As a teacher and as a volunteer in my own son’s classroom, I have witnessed an entire class not know who’s coats, water bottles, lunch boxes ext. are in their own classroom’s lost and found. (I promise they did get there somehow!)

Don’t miss these fabulous parent tips on how to write a placement letter.  A sample letter is provided for you to use and change to fit your own child.

What to do if your child has already lost something at school?

1. It happens to most kids at least once in their school years.  The best place to start is by taking a deep breath.
2. Talk with your child. Find out if they remember the last time they had on the item.  Walk through the day with your words. Ask questions such as, “What happened next?” or “Where did you go afterwards?”
3. Send a quick e-mail to your child’s teacher.  FYI – We are missing a (color) (size) (brand) (item name). If you see it, would you please set it aside for (your child’s name).
4. Stop by the classroom in the morning. Check the lost and found. Then, check the grade level lost and found. Finally, check the school lost and found. Yes, most of the schools I have taught at had lost and found areas in all 3 places.
5. Repeat the above stops 2 days later if the first day was unsuccessful.  Notify the office. Some keep a list of missing items.

What to do if your child can’t stop losing things at school?

So losing something at school may happen to any kid, but what do you do if it becomes a routine?  Try one or all of these ideas!

• Create a place at home for your child’s belongings and remain consistent that they are hung or placed there daily.  If the item is missing, start searching for it the next morning.
• Develop routines to teach children how and where to store small items such as hats, gloves, and scarves. Many parents teach children to put gloves and mittens inside a hat. Then the hat gets placed inside the coat sleeve. Do this EVERY TIME.
• Buy LESS.  Yes, this may seem counter-intuitive, but when your child has just one jacket, they know what it looks like and they MUST BE RESPONSIBLE for it.  (Mittens are an entirely different issue as they are small and truly get lost easy.  I recommend buying 2 of the same pair. You can’t go wrong with having extra mittens.  Plus, if you do lose one, you can still make a pair.
• LABEL LABEL LABEL.  If you truly would like to see your kids items again, take a permanent market and write the initials on the tags. You could get fancy with pre-made sew on labels, but a simple sharpie is really all you need. Want to get fancy, try Amazon’s best selling no-iron clothing label —- click here for current pricing.

You may also like these school related articles here at the Educators’ Spin On It

Turns out, young children can be responsible for a lot!

Starting with their very own school bag!

Teaching Kids How to Be Responsible

That’s right. Who packs their school bag?

From day 1, I have my kids (ages 2, 5, and 9) be responsible for everything that enters and leaves the backpack. This is their responsibility.

• We practice wearing it.  
• We practice unzipping it.  
• This year, we even had a discussion on how not to use it (must not be swung over your head or use as a slide down a piece of wood) 

Then I begin by teaching the children our household routines. Here is what we do:

1. Give the children ownership over their school bag.  Allow them to select the bag within reason.  We gave our children 2 choices X or Y, they got to choose one and use it until it wasn’t usable.

2. Write their name in the backpack along with the information you would like shared.  Some people add grade level or their telephone number as well.  Show your child what you are doing. Make sure they understand this is the only time the bag should be written on and that now everyone will know that it is theirs.

3. Let them pack their own back to school supplies and bring some of them to school in their backpack. Even the youngest learners are extremely excited to contribute supplies to the group.

4. If your child brings a water bottle or a lunch from home, set it up so that they are the ones who place these items into the bag.  In the hustle and bustle of busy mornings I have been known to toss a lunch box or water bottle in a child’s backpack, but for the most part, they fill their own school bag.

5. When returning home from school, make sure there is an area of your home to set backpacks down to be emptied. For us, this area is the hallway.  All three kids line up their backpacks and unload the contents. Notice I said the CHILDREN unload and take care of the contents.

6. Have children bring out any paperwork that needs to be signed and homework that needs to be done. Do both as soon as possible and return them to the backpack.

7.  Let children take out their school projects and hand them to you. Use this time to ask them about how they made it, what they learned, or what their favorite part of the day was.

8.  Prepare the backpack for school the next day the night before together. We pre-make lunches and keep them in the fridge and set empty lunch bags on the counter ready to be filled (I’m sure you guessed it – by they kids!)

*** Must of teaching young children responsibility is building up a routine.  Do it with them in the same way for several days. Then allow them to do it on their own with verbal queuing.  Soon, they will be responsible for their school bag and supplies on their own, even at 2 years old! ***

Teaching Responsibility to Preschoolers

For more Resources on Teaching Responsibility from the Early Childhood Education Team, we recommend:

• Teaching Responsibility in Preschool through Practical Life Skills via The Preschool Toolbox Blog
• Teaching Responsibility: Use a Morning Routine Checklist via Mom Inspired Life
• Morning Routine Chart for the Preschool Classroom via Fun-A-Day
• Teaching Responsibility: Simple Daily Routine Chart for Kids via Learning 2 Walk
• Using Group Goals to Teach Responsibility in Kindergarten and Preschool via Capri + 3
• Teaching Kids to be Responsible through Literacy Activities via Growing Book by Book
• Responsibility Interactive Mini-Book and Memory Game for Preschoolers via Life Over C’s
•  Homeschool Lesson Plan Checklist via Still Playing School
• Teaching Children How to Be Responsible for their Own Backpack by The Educators’ Spin On It

If you liked this activity, you may also like these ideas for preschoolers…

Disclosure: Amazon Affiliate Links to Products

She loves kiwi, gingersnaps, and cream cheese, so this has become one of her afternoon make-it-myself go-to snacks.

Kiwi is a fruit with a thin fuzzy brown skin and bright green insides. The tiny black seeds are edible. We often find them in the store hard and set them on the counter to ripen. They become soft to the touch when they are ripe.

Often, I will cut them in half and serve them as a snack with a spoon (using the outer skin as a natural bowl) Kiwifruit are also nice sliced on top of fruit pizza and can be added to a fruit salad too. I personally am not a big fan of kiwi. (they taste too tinny to me and I’m not fond of the aftertaste) But, just because I don’t like something, doesn’t mean my kids won’t.

We try to eat the rainbow and diversify our fruits and vegetables. Kiwi adds in the much-needed GREEN!

Warning: This recipe is PACKED with flavor. So much, that my picky preschooler won’t even touch it. We made this recipe using strawberries in place of the kiwi. Another alternative is to use original graham crackers in place of the gingersnaps.

Here are some additional recipes for kids to cook.

Kiwi Gingersnap Mini Tarts

Ingredients Needed:

• 8 Ginger Snaps
• 1/8 cup of Cream Cheese
• 1 Teaspoon Local Honey
• 1 ripe Kiwifruit

Directions to make Kiwi Gingersnap Mini Tarts

1. Measure out 1/8th cup of cream cheese. Set in a small microwave-safe bowl and bring to room temperature. You can let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes or try softening it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds.

2. Use a small spatula or spoon. Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with the cream cheese.

3. Count out 8 gingersnap cookies. Spread a small amount of cream cheese mixture onto each cookie. Repeat for all 8.

4. Have an adult peel the kiwi fruit. Using a cutting board, cut the kiwi into thin slices.

5. Top each cookie and cream cheese tart with 2-3 thin slices of kiwifruit. My daughter says you can eat any leftover kiwi that doesn’t fit on the cookies.

6. Arrange on a pretty plate and serve with a cold glass of milk. 

2 Kiwi Gingersnap Mini Tarts = 1 serving.

This article is part of Cooking A-Z Series. Other K is for Kiwi Recipes:

• Kiwi Gingersnap Mini Tarts from The Educators’ Spin On It
• Frozen Fruit Kabobs from Sugar Aunts
• Kids Fruit Smoothie from Mum in the Madhouse
• Fruit Salsa from Still Playing School

Did you miss letter J for Jam?
We made Strawberry Jam Surprise Muffins!

You may also enjoy these kid friendly recipes…

Muffin Recipe Ideas for Back to School Breakfasts

Yes, my three kids and I head to the kitchen this time of year to make dinners, snacks, and back to school breakfasts that will freeze well.

The baby is the most enthusiastic helper.  He sees me headed to the kitchen and grabs his wooden spoon, waving it in the air, screaming “BAKE, BAKE, ME BAKE TOO!”

The preschooler is a fan of pouring and mixing.  He is my “rule follower” in the kitchen and doesn’t like it when we make up our own recipes. He likes the predictability of old favorites and requests them often.  (This is the kid who declares Wild Rice Soup to be his absolute favorite meal in the whole wide world )

The grade schooler is the real chef.  She is able to grab a recipe and make almost anything from scratch all on her own.  She is not afraid to try new things and experiment with new flavor combos.  It is fun to see her read a recipe. You can almost see her baking in her head. Then, three minutes later she will say, “I could substitute a half cup of whole wheat for white flour, change out some oil for apple sauce, and reduce the sugar to make this healthier.” (I just sit back and watch thinking – WOW, is she a mini-me or what?)

All four of us in the kitchen: total chaos! But oh, so much fun!

Why Back to School Baking?

The first few weeks of school are a little hectic. Getting 3 kids up and school ready, brushed teeth and hair, shoes on, lunches packed, and breakfast eaten, all before 7:15 in the morning can be a little tough for one Momma to do.

I NEED a quick and healthy breakfast that requires little preparation and fills up hungry tummies.

Store-bought bakery items tend to be very sugary and expensive, so I try to use these in moderation.  I also wonder how many preservatives are in each package, as they tend to last much longer than the baked good we make at home. The only way I can control what goes into the food we eat is if we make as much of it as possible

Hard-boiled eggs are a great way to get protein in and can be made ahead of time. Pair it with a glass of milk, a healthy muffin, and fresh fruit and we’re set for early mornings!

Egg + Muffin + Fruit = YUMMY Breakfast

How Do You Find the Time?

Let’s be real. It takes time to shop, prep, cook, and clean. Making your own food may be more healthy. Making your food may be more budget-friendly. But making your own food is more time-consuming.

I try to set aside two mornings or evenings a week to bake. Then, I plan several meals that freeze well to make: lasagna, baked chicken, and enchiladas are good to make ahead and reheat meals. I then set up a baking station on a kitchen counter.  

Here is a picture of ours from yesterday. It’s nothing fancy, but it works. I re-use the same bowl and measuring spoons, washing them out between batches.

I let each kid choose what muffins/cookies/scones they want to make that week.  

That child gets to have 1:1 parenting time together to make their recipe. The other two kids read quietly in the living room for their turn. We adapt the recipes to what we have on hand. 36 muffins (Each kid makes 12) are too much for even our family of 5, and so I freeze half of each batch for another week week. 6 muffins go into each freezer bag.

That way, we don’t get tired of eating the same thing all the time and there is always a healthy snack or breakfast available for those busy days.

Some of our favorite breakfast muffin combinations

• Blueberry with Grated Orange Peel
• Lemon Blueberry
• Vanilla Raspberry
• Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins
• Vanilla Walnut
• Blueberry Streusel
• Strawberry Banana
• Orange Strawberry Jam Muffins
• Oatmeal
• Zucchini
• Chocolate Zucchini
• Cranberry Orange
• Lemon Poppy-seed
• Apple
• Apple Walnut
• Peanut Butter and Jelly

Click here for 30+ Muffin Recipes for Kids!

This week, we had purchased coconut milk and so my seven year old asked to make coconut raspberry muffins. I was game to try something new and they came out fabulous!

Want even more ideas with raspberries? Try these delicious Raspberry Oatmeal Bars! They start with a oat-maple syrup crust that is layered with tart, juicy raspberries and topped with a buttery crumble.

Raspberry Coconut Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of beet root powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup of coconut milk
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 egg beaten
• 3/4 cup frozen raspberries

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine flours, sugar, beet root powder, and salt.  Mix well.
3. In a small bowl combine coconut milk, oil, and egg.  Mix well.  Add to dry ingredients. Mix only until blended.
4. Gently fold in frozen raspberries.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
6. Cool to room temperature before serving

Amazon affiliate links below.

What is even more awesome – is that we found a book to go with this muffin – Raspberries! A story about a baker and his raspberry adventures! We’ve put it on hold at the library and look forward to reading it soon!  

Being able to extend an activity with a good book helps create life-long readers!

Are you looking for more back to school resources?  We recommend:

• Meet the Teacher Tips for Parents
• Back to School Printables
• Back to School Resources for Parents
• How to Write a Placement Letter

What is your families go-to healthy breakfast recipe?

The only extra needed: ICE CREAM.

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Ice Cream Math Playdate Ideas

Sample E-mail Invitation for Ice Cream MATH Playdate

We’d love to have you over for a playdate all about ICE CREAM this {day of the week} at {time}! We will be reading books, playing games, crafting and eating ice cream. Please bring a healthy ice cream topping to share. I’ll provide the rest.

Materials Needed for Ice Cream MATH Playdate

• Books about ice cream
• Chalk
• Pretend play ice cream
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Markers
• Glue
• Ice Cream
• Bowls
• Spoons
• Ice Cream Scoop

Before the Ice Cream MATH Playdate

1. Check out math themed ice cream books from the library (or order them online).

Just one more “may” be more about life than math, but it does make for a great tie into to the number cone activity.  Just one more than 1 is 2. Just one more than 2 is 3.  In the highly kid-relatable story, Ruby wants just one more of everything: bedtime kisses, one more minute of playtime, one more scoop of ice cream… Read more about the book here.

The Sunday Scoop is a great book for getting kids thinking about different combinations of numbers that make 6 (Addition!) It may be a little advanced for some young learners, but I like to keep their brains challenged! Read more about the book here.

Ice Cream: The Full Scoop is a non-fiction story that brings some additional math concepts to the table such as measurements and dates in history.  Although more science, I like to pull a few favorite pages from this book to share with kids during an ice cream math playdate to talk about numbers.  Oftentimes, longer books like these are better read in small groups. I’ve found little ones get much wigglier with their friends are over! Read more about the book here.

2. Draw an ice cream hopscotch game on the driveway
3. Set out bowls, spoons, napkins, and an ice cream scoop.
4. Cut brown triangles for cones and colorful ice cream scoops. Cut and write numbers on 10 scoops for each child.

Click for directions how to make an end of the year ice cream sundae keepsake

When the Kids Arrive for the Ice Cream MATH Playdate

Read an Ice Cream Story

We like to read a story and sing a song about ice cream when all the kids arrive. This helps build vocabulary and gets children thinking about all the vocabulary; freezing, creamy, and calcium are rich words to weave into your play and learning.

Make an Ice Cream Number Cone

Then demonstrate how to make an Ice Cream Number Cone

1. Select a paper cone. Then have each child find scoops with the numbers 1-10.
2. Put the scoops in order on the table.
3. Then place them in order on top of the ice cream cone.
4. Glue in place.

PLAY Ice Cream Shop

Set out an ice cream set in your pretend kitchen area for children to play with when they are done crafting and playing games. 

Fake money and a cash register may encourage kids to set up their very own ice cream shop (bringing a little more math and learning into your already fabulous ice cream math playdate!)

Play Ice Cream Hopscotch

Head to the driveway to play on your ice cream themed hopscotch.

Enjoy your Ice Cream Treat

You can even make your own ice cream.

Have a toddler?  You may want to set up for this Ice Cream playdate with play dough!

Add a little more fun by making this Ice Cream Cone Necklace Craft.

Even MORE Ice Cream Play and Learning Activities from the Early Childhood Education Team:

• Ice Cream Cone Patterns Printable from Life Over C’s
• The Great Ice Cream Cone Race-Gross Motor Game from Capri + 3
• Summer Math for a Preschool Ice Cream Theme by Fun-A-Day

You can also use our list of the best ice cream books for kids available here:

Looking for More Playdate Ideas?

100 FUN & EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS is a great resource for playdate inspiration! You could pre-make some of the games and activities for kids to play when they got together OR gather some mom friends and have a game making MNO (Moms Night Out). 

Make a bunch of games so that you can keep your little ones engaged and learning .

The huge variety of activities means you can choose from high-energy group games full of laughter and delight, or quiet activities that kids can complete on their own.

Here are some additional ideas to do with your child…

10 Fun Math Activities to Keep Your Preschooler Learning All Summer

Affiliate Links are included in this article.

1. Head to your library and check out some math books. Including literature into your summer plans is a great way to expand your child’s mathematics vocabulary. Read more…

2. Build towers with blocks.  Yes, when in doubt, bring out the blocks.  Blocks are great for counting, sorting, and even adding.  Use block towers to practice simple addition problems.  Knock them down for some subtraction! Read more…

3. Count and Snack  Snack time is a great time to sneak in math activities throughout your entire summer. Try this Goldfish snack game to practice counting and number recognition.  Make a snack mix using different shape foods and have your kids sort them out.  Scoop a bowlful of cereal and see if there are more than, less than, or equal to 100 pieces.  Read more…

4. Bring out your measuring tools.  You may have a ruler, a tape measure, a thermometer, a calculator, even a scale. Make a point to bring one of these mathematical tools out for summer exploration and learning. Teach your children how to use them. Young children may surprise you with what they can learn. Our 2 year old grabs the thermometer and asks us how hot it is outside.  Read more…

5. Play Trains!  If your kids are anything like mine, we play trains at least one morning every week. The kids love to build new track paths and argue over who gets the favorite train cars set up the train cars. Extend their play by encouraging color sorting, counting, addition, and patterning.  Read more…

6. Bring out the puzzles.  They are an amazing kids activity that will not only entertain but strengthen problem solving and spatial reasoning.  We tend to bring out puzzles out right before dinner. Each child works on their own, and I can get dinner made.  My oldest helps my youngest if he isn’t able to figure out exactly where his pieces go.  Sometimes, they even bring out the floor puzzles and work together to complete them. Read more…

7. Bounce your way to stronger math skills. That’s right.  Most of us have a few balls for outdoor play. Use them for sorting, counting, and ordering.  Play catch to work on hand-eye coordination too. read more…

8. Play Preschool Board Games. Candy Land is great for learning colors and practicing taking turns. Hi Ho Cherry-O is a favorite preschool game for counting. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game is good for fine-motor and 1:1 correspondence.

9. Hand over your digital camera (or buy a simple one for them to use) and let them photograph a number. Take those pictures and put them together for a home-made book.  Work on one number a week and by the end of the summer you will have an entire collection of home-made number books! Read more…

10. Subscribe to have learning activities delivered to your door.  We wrote last week about Animal Trackers monthly subscription boxes.  A favorite of my older child is also the new Tinker Boxes from Kiwi Crate, Kiwi is running a limited time Summer Discovery Series with hands-on kids projects delivered to your door with 2-3 projects and all the materials. Read more…

Top 10 Summer Fun and Learning from the #PlayfulECE team:

• 10 Sensory Fun Ideas for Preschoolers Learning 2 Walk
• 10 Book Inspired Cooking Activities for Preschoolers by Growing Book by Book
• 10 Preschool Summer Activities All About Coconuts by Fun-A-Day!
• Top 10 Ocean and Beach Activities for Preschool! by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
• 10 Summer Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers by Mom Inspired Life
• 10 Ways to Play and Learn with Sand by Still Playing School
• 10 Ways to Learn About Colors with Your Preschooler from Life Over C’s
• 10 Fun Math Activities to Keep Your Preschooler Learning all Summer by The Educators’ Spin On It