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!

STEM fun for the first day of school!

Back to School STEM Activities

These Back to School STEM Activities are themed with school supplies like pencils, crayons and more traditional themes like buses and apples for a warm welcome into the school year.

As you kick off the school year start off by building your own DIY Dollar Store STEM kit. Here are some tips for storing STEM activities in a DIY STEM lab.

Plus for back to school fill your bookshelf with these popular STEM books for kids! We’d want to encourage you to make time for STEM activities the rest of the school year with our 50 Stem Activities for Kids!

STEM Activities with Pencils

Pencils are a classic icon for Back to School so we put together a collection of five STEM Activities with Pencils to do with your child.

Can you build a tower with pencils? How tall can your pencil tower go?

Create a pencil catapult! With just a few supplies you’ll be launching tons of back to school fun.

Get ready to build a bridge with pencils! Try your hands at a pencil Da Vinci Bridge.

The magic breaking pencil activity is a fun way to demonstrate how light waves work with kids

Explore the chemistry of polymers by making your very own leakproof bag experiment. Who would have ever thought that a plastic bag, some water, and a few pencils would be so much fun?

STEM Activities with Apples

Apples are the classic first day of school item, so why not have a little STEM fun with apples? Here are five quick and easy STEM Activities with Apples.

Can you pick your apples from the apple tree with the help of a few magnetic tubes? Take this Back to school STEM challenge with our apple STEM activity.

How high can you stack your apples? Try out this apple stacking STEM Game!

Make back to school snack time a STEM challenge too with this fun and easy apple toothpick STEM challenge

Pull out the containers for this easy apple science experiment and discover how different liquids affect apples.

Create an explosive apple volcano with just a few supplies in your cabinet.

STEM Activities with Crayons

A fresh new box of crayons is a sign of a new school year. It also means there might be a few broken crayons looking to become a STEM activity for back to school. These five STEM activities with crayons explore all sorts of ways that properties of matter can change.

How many crayons can you count? This sensory bottle math game with crayons is tons of hands on fun!

Will it sink or float? Try this crayon sensory bottle science experiment!

Explore how crayons can change with heat with this beautiful melted crayon stain glass art project.

Back to school time, you tend to clean out the boxes and find old broken crayons, this hot rock melted crayon art is perfect for those crayons to find new life and explore how properties can change with heat.

Can you make a rainbow crayon? Discover the melting point of crayons, does the color matter?

Bus Themed STEM Activities

For little ones, the school bus is one of the things they are super excited about, even if they walk to school. Take advantage of this interest and see how much fun they’ll have with these five bus themed STEM Activities.

Can you make the wheels on the bus move? This Wheels on the Bus STEM Activity is perfect as we head back to school!

Work on numbers as you head back to school with this delicious school bus math game.

Build your own school bus photo frame with popsicle sticks for a back to school keepsake.

Create your own school bus with watercolors to work on math facts for the school year!

Sometimes it’s all about simplicity and the challenge of building your own version of a bus with a fun challenge inside like this. school bus sensory bottle.

Why do STEM Activities with your child?

STEM activities provide hands-on and minds-on lessons for your child. Making math and science both fun and interesting helps your child to do much more than just learn.

STEM is in every part of our lives. Science is everywhere in the world around us. Technology is continuously expanding into every aspect of our lives. Engineering is the basic design of bridges and buildings. Mathematics is in every profession and family, every activity we do in our lives.

By exposing students to STEM at home and school and giving them opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts, our hope is that they will develop a passion for it and in the future express their interest in a STEM-related job.

We’re excited that you can inspire your child to kick off their first day of school with tons of Back to School STEM Activities!

Which one will you start with as your first STEM Challenge for Back to School?

Your child may also enjoy these Back to School Resources…

They are so easy even the kids can paint them! 

Here’s how to make and play!

Pencil Themed Clothespins

This time of year is always a fun time to spark your child’s love of learning and school. Playing games inspired by back to school supplies help you kick off the school year with a focus on taking good care of all those products you just spent your money on.

Here’s how you can make simple but fun pencil themed clothespins with your child.  You can even make them personalized pencils for a special school work art display to highlight their special work this year.

One way to prep your child for reading success is to start off the year by working on the Dolch Sight Word List.

Disclosure: Affiliate links used to Amazon.  

Materials Needed for Pencil Themed Clothespins and Literacy Game

• Mini Wooden Clothespins 
• Shimmering Silver Acrylic Paint
• Acrylic Paint Canary Yellow
• Acrylic Paint Pink Parfait
• Paint Brush
• Scrapbook Paper 
• Scissors 
• Sharpie Permanent Marker Black
• Handwriting Paper
• wax paper or paper plate

Instructions for Pencil Themed Clothespins

1. Use the yellow paint to create the pencil by painting on both sides of the chunky clothespin covering 3/4 of the wood.  Be sure to also paint the sides too. Get your kids involved in this craft, it’s really easy and a fun memory to do together.

2. Then using the pink paint, it’s time to add the pencil eraser to the end of the pencil.  I made the end where you pinch the eraser portion so I could also paint the inside portion too.  Be sure to paint the edges on this task too pink.

3.  The last step is to use your silver paint to create the metal portion of your pencil.  The Shimmering Silver Acrylic Paint adds a special sparkle to the whole pencil craft which I highly recommend.  You can use it later in the year to create holiday crafts too, instead of using glitter.

4. OPTIONAL: You can paint a little black potion of the end for a pencil point, we left it off to make them easier to make.  Plus, if you really want your pencil painting to last you could also add an Acrylic Paint Sealer

Pencil Themed Sight Word Game

This can be a fun hands-on way to work on those high-frequency words for Kindergarten & First Grade! To create the pencil themed literacy game for sight words take your Scrapbook Paper and cut out with Scissors  24 squares.  They can be the size of around 2 inches by 2 inches for easy handling, you go make them smaller if you’d prefer. Add a few more if you’re planning to do spelling words for those double letters in words like the word “that.”

Write one letter per square with your Permanent Marker Black.  You can do it with your child watching you write the letters and discuss letter formations for younger kids OR I would have my child do it and have an alphabet chart on the table close by so that they can work on proper letter formations with you watching their handwriting skills.

Once you write all of the letters, it’s time to play!  You can start off with letter writing practice by choosing a letter card and putting it onto the Pencil Clothespin as a stand. 

Next, you can move to practice forming word families like choosing the word family -at and then selecting a few letter cards that would go with it like s, c, m, p, f, r.  Then challenge your child to see if they can read those words.

This activity would be ideal for spelling word practice too!  Have your child gather the letter cards and place them onto the Pencil Clothespins and then write them out on their Primary Handwriting Paper for spelling word practice in a hands-on way.

You can have them practice writing down each word that they made with the pencil themed sight word game!

Literacy Game with Pencil Clothespins

• Work on Spelling Word Lists
• Word Families
• Alphabetical Order
• Matching Upper Case to Lower Case Letters

Did you know that sight words make up around 75% of the words used in beginning children’s print materials? Sight words can give your child a better start in learning to read.

If your child is able to quickly recognize sight words then as a beginning reader they will be able to spend more time concentrating on the meaning and comprehension of the words as they read them instead of having to decode every single word.

Learning Materials for Back to School Writing

• My First Pencils Large Round
• #2 Pencils Box of 96
• Primary Handwriting Paper

Learn now Why You Should be Using Beginner Pencils for Handwriting Practice with young children.

Can’t wait to hear how your child’s pencil themed clothespins turn out and how they use them at your house. They would be a cute little teacher gift idea for their teacher too. You could even attach magnets to the back to create pencil themed magnets for their classroom.

You may also enjoy these activities with your child…

More Sight Word Games for Kids

• Sight Words with Glass Gems 
• Sea Shell Sight Word Game 
• Pumpkin Sight Word Game with Sensory Bottle 
• Fish Themed Sight Word Game

Want the best pencil to learn to write? Here’s our favorite!

** LIKE IT? PIN IT!  **

Explore these tips and tricks to make it a smooth transition filled with memories for a successful school year.

As a teacher and Mom of 3 kids I’ve experienced the first day of school from both sides for over 20 years. Confession… it’s my favorite time of the school year!

All the excitement of getting ready with your classroom for your new students can be so much fun and a whole lot of work.

Back to School Resources for Parents

Preparing for back to school time is important for parents and kids because it helps to ease the transition back into the school routine. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety levels for both parents and kids.

Here are some tips for preparing for back to school time:

• Start planning early. This will give you plenty of time to get everything done and avoid last-minute stress.
• Create a back to school checklist. This will help you stay on track and make sure you don’t forget anything.
• Talk to your kids about their expectations for the new school year. This will help them feel more prepared and excited about the upcoming school year.
• Help your kids get organized. This includes packing their school bags, setting up their school supplies, and creating a homework schedule.
• Make sure your kids get a good night’s sleep before school starts. This will help them be well-rested and ready to learn.
• Pack a healthy lunch for your kids. This will help them stay energized throughout the day.
• Be positive and supportive. This will help your kids feel confident and ready for the new school year.

Having the school year kick off with the right start can make such a difference.

From Back to School Books, First Day of School Poem or Help Packing School Lunches and After School Snacks we’ve got you covered!

Here’s a collection of Back to School resources from The Educators’ Spin On It to help you prepare your family for a successful school year.

Magic Dust for the First Day of School 

First Day of School Books

Back to School STEM Activities

Best Lunch Box Options for School

Back to School Lunch Organization

Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School

Lunch Box Notes for Kids

Host a Back to School BBQ

Does Your Child’s Kindergarten List Compare?

Top Ten Back to School Tips for Home and School

DIY First Day of School Sign

Meet the Teacher Tips for Parents

Morning Routines for School

Open House Tips for Parents

Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten

Activities for Making Friends at School

Preparing for School- A Mix of Emotions

Back to School Concerns as a Parent

Tips for Making Friends at School

Back to School Anxiety for Kids

Crayon Themed Activities for Back to School Fun

Pencil Themed Clothespins and Literacy Game

Back to School Reading Interview

First Day of School Interview Self Portrait

Back to School Printable for Kids

Teacher Gift Idea for Back to School

Teacher Gift idea: Personalized Post-it Note Gift

Back to School Quote and Magnet Idea

Snack Ideas for Kids After School

Back to School Snack Ideas

9 Back to School Tips for a Busy Family

Back to School Shopping Tips for Thrifty Families

7 Back to School Photo Prop Ideas

Requesting a Change in Your Child’s Classroom Placement

Getting Kids Engaged and Ready for Back to School

How to Write a Placement Letter

Give a Teacher Supply Box

First Day of School Printable Book

Back to school time can be a stressful time for both parents and kids. By following these tips, you can make the transition back to school a little bit easier for everyone.

Questions about Starting School

If you have any questions you’d like to ask as you prepare your child for school please leave a comment and I’ll find the answers for you! With a few simple steps Back to School can be your favorite part of the school year too!

You may also enjoy these activity ideas…

Read together as your child shares in those first day jitters and excitement to help them be prepared for their teacher, school and new classmates.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for easy shopping on Amazon. CLICK ON the images of each book to learn more and BUY.

First Day of School Books for Kids

Grab this back to school book list and get ready for your child’s first day of school.

Here’s our favorite books…

• ABC Ready for School: An Alphabet of Social Skills
• Butterflies on the First Day of School
• David Goes To School
• If You Take a Mouse to School
• Mae’s First Day of School
• Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
• Monsters Love School
• On the First Day of Kindergarten
• Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
• The Day You Begin
• The Night Before Kindergarten
• The Kissing Hand
• The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
• The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School
• This School Year Will Be the BEST!
• We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
• School’s First Day of School

Some of these back to school stories I’ve read with my Kindergarten students for the past 20+ years. However many are new authors and new characters that your kids will grow to love time and time again. This is such a special time in your child’s life and this list highlights the best First Day of School books to prepare for a memorable school year.

Looking for more themed book lists? Visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

It’s the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her twenty-six new students. Each has a special name and animal that represents the alphabet letters with a colorful and rhyming storybook for all Kindergarten children.

This School Year Will Be the BEST! by Kay Winters

In this story, classmates are asked to share what they would most like to happen in the upcoming year. Some kids’ hopes are familiar while others are off-the-wall. Whether it’s looking good on picture day or skateboarding at school, everyone’s wishes are shown in adorably exaggerated illustrations. As the first day arrives, there can be no doubt—this school year will definitely be the best!

Best Books About Starting School

You can help your child get ready for school by reading a few of these adorable books about the First Day of School. They open up conversations for discussing the classroom, the school, their new routine, the teacher and even their classmates.

On the First Day of Kindergarten by Trish Rabe

There’s so much to do on the first day of kindergarten. From making new friends to jumping rope in gym to riding the bus to school. The stories explore a lot of firsts with your child including saying good-bye to Mom and Dad when the school bus pulls up. Perfect for nervous and excited kids about to go to kindergarten. It’s a pretty cool place to be!

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wig

It’s the first day of school! Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all—saying good-bye to Mom and Dad. Perfect for parents to read as you’re getting ready to start for your special school year off.

David Goes To School by David Shannon

David keeps his teacher busy with her hands full! From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David’s days at school may have a little bit of trouble in them but they are sure to bring a smile to readers. A great book to take about the rules at school with.

ABC Ready for School: An Alphabet of Social Skills by Celeste Delaney

C is for cooperate. G is for grow. P is for play! This friendly alphabet book helps young children explore a variety of skills related to school readiness. Kids preparing for school will learn social skills from A to Z. The adorable illustrations bring the skills to life with encouraging scenes of fun and learning in the classroom, on the playground, and more.

Books to Ease First Day of School Jitters

At the beginning of school many children and parents experiences some jitters and fears that everything will be ok. The following books are perfect for just this situation and help your child through these anxieties and help easy the first day of school jitters.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The award winning lyrical text and colorful art carries the story that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. There are many reasons to feel different through this heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.

Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro

Meet Rosie, a brand-new student who has butterflies in her stomach. She can’t wait to start kindergarten. She’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. However on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to her surprise, when Rosie says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies, and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too.

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube

As Mae’s first day of school get closer she decides she is not going! She’s feels that school is scary! She worries about the other kids don’t like her and writing her name. And even what if she misses her mom? Mae’s anxiety only gets worse as she walks to school. But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl as readers see just how powerful friendships can be.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

As school is starting Chester Raccoon does not want to go. Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. This story is especially helpful for children experiencing times of separation and the worries that come along with it.

Back to School Books with Adorable Characters We Love

Head to school with some of your favorite characters in back to school books! From a special If You Give a Mouse to Pete the Cat and even the beloved Pigeon, each will be a special story to read together as you get ready for your first day of school.

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

Head to school with this award winning series as you explore the various elements of going to school for the very first time. If you take a mouse to school, he’ll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he’ll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he’ll need a notebook and some pencils. He’ll probably want to share your backpack, too.

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean

Pete the Cat discovers the library, the lunch room, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school in his school shoes. No matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his classic song…because it’s all good.

Monsters Love School by Mike Austin

Summer is over, and now it’s time for the biggest adventure of all…Monster School! These colorful monsters head to school for the first time as they explorer reading, writing and learning your monster history.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

It’s the first day of school and Penelope Rex can’t wait to meet her classmates. However, it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until she gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all.

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn’t like it? What if the teacher doesn’t like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?! Mo Willems brings to life this beloved character for a special back to school book for kids.

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen

Mr. Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he worries about writing his name, drawing shapes, and how to do math. In the story he’s —reassured that school is the perfect place to learn about this new skills.

Here’s a few more First Day of School Book suggestions from our favorite online book Friends:

For more book lists be sure to visit our Virtual Book Club for Kids

DID WE MISS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES? What are your favorite first day of school books? We’d love to hear about them in the comments.

Here are a few more book suggestions as you begin school….

Additional First Day of School Ideas for Kids

• Magic Dust for the First Day of School with (Printable Poem)
• DIY First Day of School Sign
• First Day of School Interview (Printable)
• 9 Tips for First Day of School Success
• Back to School Resources for Parents
• Back to School STEM Activities

As you prepare for your child to go to school for the very first time it can be very exciting but it’s also an anxious time for both parents and your little ones. It’s a great opportunity to talk about feelings and what we do when we feel a certain way.

Here’s one special way to celebrate the first day of school with Magic Dust for your child.  

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

First Day of School Magic Dust Poem

To help make this transition go smoothly my daughter received a special First Day of School Poem from her teacher that was so precious I wanted to share with you. 

She was so excited about putting her magic dust from her teacher under her pillow all week long that we even had to make a special Count Down to School for the First Day of School.

You can use glitter or star sequins to create this magic dust to put under their pillow. Be sure to print out this first day of school poem below to read along with the magic dust.

Here’s a PRINTABLE Version of the available for just $1.50. FREE THIS WEEK!!!!!

First Day of School Tips for Parents

Check out this video for tips about the importance of reading books to help your child get ready for the First Day of School.

At the end of this video, you can take a peek of my daughter reading the Magic Dust poem the night before her first day of Kindergarten. (we were pretty surprised how many words she was able to read in the poem, typically you will want to read it with them to help out.)

Magic Dust Ingredients

• star sequins or extra fine white glitter or white glitter sand
• small glass jar or fairy dust jar
• small ziplock baggy

Just add a little pinch of the magic dust under their pillow in the small ziplock baggy to make the magic happen. We were feeling a little extra anxious so we also sent a little in her lunchbox too.

Here are the options for the Magic Dust Poem to download. They are available in white, gray and rose, when you purchase you will get all three options.

We’re making this download FREE for Back to School 2025. (For this week only)

Book Recommendations for Preparing for the First Day of School

Reading with your child about the first day of school and the things that they can expect in their new classroom can also help with anxieties.

Here are a few of my favorite First Day of School books that I encourage you to read with your child.

The Night Before Kindergarten by Julie Durrell

First Day Jitters (Mrs. Hartwells classroom adventures) by Julie Danneberg

On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe

The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing 

Mouse’s First Day of School by Lauren Thompson

 The Kissing Hand (The Kissing Hand Series) by Audrey Penn

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten  by Joseph Slate

Franklin Goes to School by Paulette Bourgeois

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen

Explore even more of my favorite Back to School Books for Kids here!

First Day of School Printable Book

My daughter and I talked about school a lot this summer to help prepare her for her Kindergarten experience.

We made a special “Going to School” Book by writing the text together about different parts of a school day and illustrating it together. She wanted to read it again and again with me as we talked about the various parts of Kindergarten.

PRINT  your own First Day of School Book  {HERE} for $1.50 FREE THIS WEEK !!!!!

Hope this helps your little one feel confident as they begin their school experience. Talking about the experience and sharing it through books and role play can help to make the transition easier for everyone.

Additional First Day of School Resources

• 16 Adorable First Day of School Books
• Back to School STEM Activities
• Back to School Resources for Parents
• First Day of School Quote and Magnet Idea
• Tips for Making Friends at School  
• 100+ Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School 
• Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten
• Does Your Child’s Kindergarten List Compare?  
• Preparing for School Brings Emotions for Both Parents and Children 
• 9 Back to School Tips for a Busy Family 

What are you going to do at your house to get ready for the First Day Of School?

Helping children with feelings of anxiety is a part of parenthood and childhood. We hug them in the dark and when they hear scary noises. We hold their hand as we go to new places and while meeting new people. We talk with them about their fears and worries and even show our children there are no monsters in the closet from time to time.

Starting school can bring up some worries in our children. Some worries are about if they will make friends, will they get lost, will the teacher be nice and like them or even will it be too difficult.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes is a great book to read to children to help them with their feelings of anxiety about the world around them and starting school. In the story Wemberly worries about big things and little things and her parents are concerned she worries too much. 

I love how it addresses some common worries of children so that they can relate to her and know that they are not alone in their worries. One of her biggest worries is about starting school. 

In the end, she finds that she’s not the only one who worries through a special friend who somehow makes things a little less worrisome.

Activities for Back to School Worries

Identify your child’s worries with them. Are they big worries or little worries?

OR

We used a board to write down and discuss our worries. You could easily use a sheet of paper too. As we wrote down our worries we put them under Big Worries or Little Worries. Sometimes it helps them to be able to sort out what we should really worry about because it’s dangerous or something that just might happen but it’s not a big deal. 

As you talk about your child’s concerns about School or anything for that matter encourage them to categorize these concerns with you. 

It’s a difficult thing for smaller children to do, just think of how intensely you may have felt when you thought a shadow was a “real monster”. But the more you talk about when it’s not really happening the more they will begin to understand. Have them relocate those worries if they’ve placed them in the incorrect category.  

Some terms to use as you discuss these worries are the likelihood of them happening.

Ask them to sort their worries into groups of just might happen or not likely.

Once you’ve identified some true concerns that just might happen it’s time to talk about them and come up with strategies for them.

Here are some Examples and Strategies

Worry: I will forget my lunch

Truthfully it just might happen…. so make a plan.  Having them come with you to give the food service money might assure them that there is money there waiting for them just in case they leave their lunchbox at home.

Worry: I won’t have any friends

We hope that this never happens to any child but know that it is a big concern and rightly so. Come up with strategies for your child to make new friends. I encouraged my daughter to just remember only 3 names on the first day of school. It can be overwhelming to meet so many people at once. The next day I asked her to remember who she sat by at lunch or who she stood by in the line. Encouraging them to make those connections will help with forming friendships.

Worry: I won’t know the answers

I think it’s human nature to want to know things all the time but encouraging your child to ask questions and know that they are there to learn new things will help with this one. Also encouraging them to speak up and raise their hands when they don’t understand. A teacher is there to help you learn and understand is a great phrase to teach your child.

Worry: I’m going to miss my Mommy & Daddy

This is one of those things that you just never know how your child will react to until they are there at school. You can guess from experience in the past with child care providers but I know as a Mom of a crying child on the first day of Kindergarten I never saw that coming since he had done so well at preschool the year before.

Literally, the teacher had to pry my son off of me so that I could go to teach my classroom for my first day of school too.

Here are some Suggestions for Helping with Back to School Worries

• Create a heart for them to carry in their pocket or backpack. Curly Birds has a great tutorial on how to create them.
• Create First Day of Magic School Dust, we have a printable just for you with ideas.
• Read lots of books about school.  Here’s our list of favorite Back to School Books.
• Read Kevin Henkes collection of Mouse books they address so many social issues that children go through in school.
• Create your own Back to School Book.

We’ve created a printable for you. You can sit with your child and personalize their own book about school to talk about some concerns they may have and to also discuss the rules and procedures at school.

• Visit 6 Ways to a Less Worried Child from Awesomely Awake
• Visit Loving ways to Ease School Separation Anxiety by Imagination Soup
• Read Llama Llama Misses Mama on We Give Books, it’s even online!

• Create your own Wemberly Worried inspired by Mrs. T’s First Grade, she’s included tons of printable activity ideas too!
• Follow our School Pinterest Board for more Resources for Back to School.
• Role Play with Finger Puppets some of the worries your child may have and some of the words that can use in those situations.
• Preparing for School Brings Big Emotions for Kids and Parents too
• Download Kevin Henkes Wemberly Activity Guide. Includes a Maze, Dot to Dot, Coloring Page, Finger Puppets, Word Search, Songs and MORE!

Downloadable Wemberly Activity Guide from Kevin Henkes

If you haven’t read the story here is an online version.

We wish you the best of luck as your child begins school. Even if it’s their second or third year of school don’t forget sometimes their worries might even get more intense as they have memories of years prior. Communicate with your child and communicate with your child’s teacher to create the best environment for your child. I think we all have a little Wemberly in all of us! 

Who knows they just might want to make Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star next!

Here are some additional Back to School Resources to make your school year kick off with success!

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

It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over and it’s time to start getting our kids ready for school. We’ve been busy cherishing our summer memories but reality hit me as I walked through the Back to School Section at Target that school is starting very soon.

Are you ready? What grade will your child be starting?

Back to School Tips for a Busy Family

After spending 10 years in a classroom and 29 as a mom here are a few tips that will get your school year off on the right foot.

1. Make the First Day of School Part of Your Discussion

Start talking about school a few weeks before the first day of school. New teacher, new classmates, and new schedules can create some anxiety with kids. The more you make it part of your conversations they will begin to feel comfortable with changes. Print out our First Day of School Personalized Book.

2. Take a Look at Your School’s Website for Teacher’s Names 

Before life gets hectic take a moment with your child to look at the school’s website and see who their grade-level teachers are. No matter which teacher they get it will be helpful for them to know the names of the other teachers in their grade level. Hopefully, the placement letter you provided will help your child get into an ideal environment for their learning style.

3. Add the School Calendar to Your Calendar 

Take time to look at the school’s calendar and add it to your personal calendar. As the year kicks off more events will be added but the basic framework has already been set with holidays and days off. Take a look at your PTA Calendar and see if they’ve already started planning school-wide events too. Knowing what’s coming can help you feel less overwhelmed throughout the school year.

4. Go Back to School Supply Shopping Before School Starts 

The aisles at the stores are packed full of school supplies, take advantage now of your time and shop while the store isn’t as busy. Most places have your child’s school supply list publicly posted so you can get exactly what your child will need. Don’t forget to buy a few extras for homework time or a quick Winter restock in January.

5. Start Your School Routines About Two Weeks Before School Starts 

Start working on your bedtime routine that supports your school hours a few weeks before the first day of school.  I saw it year after year with my students, on the 3rd day of school they would all crash and be exhausted the first week of school. The rush of the first day of school was gone and waking up early for school caught up with them.

Start waking up at the time you’ll need for school to give your body time to get adjusted to the new routine of school. Start going to bed earlier too to help make this transition further. Here are a few more morning routine tips.

6. Set Out Your Back to School Clothes for the Week 

Avoid missing socks and mismatched clothes each morning but set out your clothes on the weekend with your child. It helps them to understand what matches and gets them organized for their week.  Mornings will run so much smoother when you already know what you’re wearing. Here’s our system for storing clothes.

7. Set Up a Station for School Lunches 

Get your child involved in making their school lunch each night.  Packing a lunch each day can be so much easier if you find ways to get your child part of the process. Set up stations for them to choose from like this. You can also peek at your school’s lunch options for hot lunch, your child will discover a few meals that they like at school.

Check out our Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School 

8. Set Up a Homework ZONE  

Create a spot for success this school year by setting up a homework zone where you child can do their homework each day.  A personalized bulletin board can be a fun way to get your child excited for back to school.  Have a spot where you keep pencils, crayons, scissors, glue stick, ruler, paper. Consistency will help with homework success this school year.

9. Attend Meet the Teacher

Meet the teacher is a great event to calm the nerves of both parent and child. It is a chance to peek into your child’s classroom, meet other families who will be in class with your child, preview the curriculum and say hi to the teacher. Explore these helpful Tips for Meet the Teacher

Be sure to add Open House Night to your calendar to attend too.

BONUS TIP: Use a Little First Day of School Magic Dust 

Here’s a sweet first day of school poem that your child will on their night before school starts.  You can print it here.

It’s time for Back to School Shopping!  Are you ready?  

Back to School Resources for Busy Families

• Magic Dust for the First Day of School
• Back to School STEM Activities
• First Day of School Books
• Back to School Printable for Kids 
• Back to School Shopping Tips 
• Pencil Themed Literacy Game and Craft
• Top Ten Back to School Tips for Home and School
• DIY First Day of School Sign
• Back to School Photo Prop Ideas 
• Back to School Reading Interview Printable  
• Back to School Activities and Resources for Parents
• Back to School Quote and Magnet Idea
• Give a Teacher Supply Box
• Back to School Lunch Organization
• After School Snacks for Back to School
• Tips for Making Friends at School
• ABC’s of Open House for Parents
• 100+ Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School
• Teaching Kids How to Make Friends
• Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten
• Does Your Child’s Kindergarten List Compare?
• Preparing for School Brings Emotions for Both Parents and Children

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.

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