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!

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…

Sending a Smart Kid to Kindergarten

Here are some commonly asked questions and a few thoughts on ways to help make your kindergarten year even more successful.

Q: My kid knows all their letter names and letter sounds. They are reading already.  Won’t they be bored when the teacher is teaching the letter names and sounds?

A – Yes, your child will be bored while the teacher is teaching the letter names and sounds. Sorry. There will be times when your smart kid will be advanced in what the teacher is instructing.

In most kindergarten classrooms, the teacher will begin the reading instruction time with a whole group lesson. This is the time when the children sing songs, participate in shared reading experiences, and learn academic concepts.

The curriculum builds in focus areas for children to develop phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension skills, fluency, and vocabulary. While your child may be a strong reader already, the good news is that there are so many other things that children are also learning at the same time. These lessons will reinforce what they already know.

Additionally, there are numerous other things children are learning during whole group reading instruction time including:

• being respectful of peers
• waiting for turns to answer questions
• participating in group activities
• asking questions for clarification
• listening skills
• staying in your own space

What you can do:

1. Talk to your child about learning. Remind them that all children learn to read at a different pace.
2. Explain to them how to be a kind-hearted, respectful learner.
3. Model how to give positive encouragement to others when you can see they are trying their best.
4. Give specific praise to your child on effort and being able to navigate difficult tasks.
5. Ask the teacher how your child will be challenged at his or her own level. Keep an ongoing dialog with your child’s teacher throughout the year.
6. Attend all parent-teacher conferences.
7. Remember that there is more to kindergarten than learning to read!  Focus on a different area of learning that you would like to see your child become stronger in: writing is always a good one!

Disclosure Affiliate links used to Amazon. 

Q: If my child already knows everything on the kindergarten standards – how will they be challenged?

A – There are a few schools that have ability grouping for kindergarten or gifted programs. These programs pull academically gifted children out during the learning day for a small period of time. Traditionally, most kindergarteners are not screened for giftedness until the end of the kindergarten school year.

Most kindergarten classrooms however use small group instruction to meet the needs of different ability levels. That means, that during the children’s work time, the teacher brings small groups of students to a work area and instructs them on a topic that is at their instructional level. One group may be working on letter sounds while another group is working on reading sentences.

If you want them to be “challenged” I would strongly recommend enriching the school curriculum with learning activities after school.  Your child can have an amazing teacher, but there is just honestly not enough time in the day for them to do it all.

What you can do:

1. As the school year begins, give them little daily challenges on your way to school such as: find a word around your room that you didn’t know. Sound it out and tell me what your new word is when I pick you up.
2. Plan an educational field trip each week with your child. Visit the museum, zoo, park, botanical gardens, inventors museum, grocery store, local event, or art fair and learn within your community.
3. Schedule in science, engineering, and art challenges into your child’s day.  Start an art journal and explore famous artists through a variety of mediums, set aside one day of the week for super cool science.  Bake or sew with your child.
4. Hire a tutor or enroll them in an afterschool program that will enrich their daytime learning.  Maybe they can learn French? Delve into coding? Play chess?

Q – How can I keep my smart kid from seeking attention through negative behaviors? 

A –  This is a tough question and takes careful planning and teamwork between the teacher and parents. There are really two issues at play in this question, keeping the child intellectually challenged and socially navigating the classroom dynamics when there is no challenge.

I have had some awesome kids in my classroom that were highly intelligent but quickly became disruptive, attention-seeking students.  They were the students who craved a brain challenge to maintain intellectual stimulation throughout the day. As with each student, a teacher’s job is to find out what their needs are and how to best meet those needs within the classroom.

Think about the strategies that you use at home to help your child navigate the world. Are there special challenges (Sudoku? Chapter books? Riddles?) your child enjoys?  If so, let your teacher know this.  Ask the teacher if they would mind if you purchased and sent in some extra challenges for your child to have available when they completed their classwork.

Communication between school and home is vital to coming up with a good solution to attention-seeking negative behaviors!  Make sure to be open to new ideas and approach each day with a positive attitude.

What you can do:

•  Ask the teacher to meet before school begins (or within the first few weeks) to discuss ways that you both can work together to enrich your child’s education. E-mail or phone calls work good as teachers are really busy during back-to-school time.
• ALWAYS send your child to school with a book to read.  My daughter always had a chapter book in her backpack.  Encourage them to read when time permits.
• Purchase a workbook that is at your child’s independent reading or math level that will provide them with intellectually challenging work when needed. Keep this in a desk or work area.
• Come up with a plan for how a child can receive positive attention. This may be a little hand signal, a picture cue card or a special place in the room.

Here are some of the books we have used in the past. Why 1st grade? because K is probably too easy for your smart kindergartener.

Your child may also enjoy these activities…

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 all have feelings. Now’s the time to bring them out, talk about them, and address the excitement and fears (both yours and your children’s)

It doesn’t matter if your child will be preparing for School Brings Mixed Emotions for both Parents and Children

• starting preschool for the first time,
• is headed off to their first day of kindergarten,
• or will be starting their homeschool curriculum.

Preparing for school sets off a mixture of emotions for both parents and children. Know that your emotions during the preparation for back-to-school time may run on overdrive. Reach out to family members and friends to share your excitement and discuss any concerns you may have. You are not alone!

My friend said it best: “I am excited and sad at the same time”

The kids may be feeling some of the same emotions. Make time as you are preparing for school to address these feelings together.

Where we are this year:

This year, my almost 3 year old will be going to a traditional preschool classroom 2 mornings a week. I’ve never had any of my babies go to school this young, but we are butting heads big time and our family has decided 2 mornings a week with other kids may be just what he needs. The rest of the time he will be with me, doing “mommy school.”

My 5 year old will be attending kindergarten. He is thrilled to be going to school at the same place as his big sister. We keep reminding him that they will not see each other during the day. He says, “don’t worry, she will bring me to my classroom every morning.”  <tear>

My 9 year old will be entering 4th grade. Oh where did the time go. I’m already hearing the buzz about middle school. She’s a voracious reader with an advanced vocabulary and a thirst for knowledge.

I am not a homeschooler. We afterschool. Meaning, when my children come home from public school we play board games, do science experiments, go on educational field trips, sew, garden, read, write letters and do all the academic and life lessons we feel may not be covered to the full extent during the classic school day. 

For us, it’s the best of both worlds. We have friends who send their kids to public schools, private schools, homeschool, and even ones that unschool. No matter what school you have chosen, we hope you are finding it a good fit for your family.

Preparing for school can be exciting.

Yes, starting school is a new and exciting adventure for you and your child.  It’s O.K. to be giddy happy as you see what an amazing person your child is growing up to be and all the possibilities that the world holds for them. Preparing for school brings out new clothes, new backpacks, and new supplies. It’s an exciting new beginning for both you and your child.

We just got back from Target and my 5 year old picked out his own “big boy” backpack to use for the next few years. His little brother (2 1/2 latched on to a Paw Patrol backpack) He put it on and said it was his new back-pack for school.  My heart got so warm seeing them running through the isles all smiles for school and learning.

Share the excitement together.  Smile.  Talk about the new adventures your child will go on.

– I’m looking forward to helping you learn your letters this year.

 -This year will be a great opportunity to make some new friends.  Let’s make sure to plan some park playdates!

– You can draw a triangle, but I bet you will be able to draw even more shapes by the end of the year.

– My favorite class at school was math.  I can’t wait to see what your favorite subjects to learn will be.

Tips for children

• Ask your child what they are excited about.
• Let them select their own water bottle or backpack.
• Have them draw a picture of how they are feeling.
• Make up and sing a silly song:

Back to School Song

by Amanda Boyarshinov

To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb

Fill your child’s name in for Sarah.

Change the backpack color if needed.

Switch the school supplies for additional verses.

Sarah had a blue backpack, blue backpack, blue backpack.
Sarah had a blue backpack she brought with her to school.
She filled it up with paper and pencils, paper and pencils, paper and pencils.
She filled it up with paper and pencils and took them all to school.

Really LISTEN to what they have to say.  Respond to their excitement. (Maybe even write it down, because that’s the stuff that you really want to remember when they are older, but may forget the exact way they said it. Here is the interview and writing prompts we use every year. )We also like to have a space to feature our children’s school work.  This display hangs up year round and helps us to keep the excitement going. Now would be a great time to set up this area with your child.

Preparing for school can be sad and nerve wracking.

For Parents:

I missed my child SO VERY MUCH the first day she went off to kindergarten. It was the first time we had been away from each other for more than 3 hours. She was the excited one, and I was the one missing her. She’s headed off to 4th grade and I STILL MISS her like crazy every day she is in school. Helicopter parent? Nope, I just love her from the tips of my fingers to the bottom of my toes and look foward to seeing her smiling face when she returns.

Now that my middle child is heading off to kindergarten, I’ve got the worries again.  Will he make friends. Will his teacher be kind and caring? Will she be patient and explain the same thing over and over until he gets it? Will he be happy?

It’s OK to be sad, nervous, and a little scared about what the future brings.

At one of the schools I taught at, the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) organized a Boo Hoo breakfast for all kindergarten parents the first day of school They knew that many would be missing their babies and be feeling a little sad. This breakfast provided opportunities for parents to connect with other families and led to longer friendships throughout the grade school years.

Even if your child’s school doesn’t organize a get together. Reach out to friends and schedule time to get together that first week of school and share your emotions.

Someways I almost worry myself to a stomach ache. Those are the days when I give my child a big hug and call my Mom or a Friend. I don’t tell my child that everything will be ok, because they are not always ok. I always reassure them that I am and will be there to help them navigate through life and that I trust they will make good decisions.

If your child is homeschooling, you may also have worries and fears too. Will my child miss out on school experiences? Will we find a group of families with similar views to share experiences with? How will I organize the year to cover everything we want to touch on? It may be harder to find time within the “school day” to find adult only time, but it’s important. Touch base with other homeschooling parents in these first few weeks of school.

For kids:

Grown-ups have sad feelings about back-to-school time, and so do kids.

They may worry about finding friends, new teachers, or even where to sit at lunch. Some of these worries are big worries and others are small. Make a point to really LISTEN to what they have to say. Respond to their fears or worries in a kid-appropriate way.

Tips for children heading off to school

• Do a routine walk-through the week before school starts.
• Pack a family picture in a backpack.
• Write a love note and put it in their lunch box. Even if they cannot read, they can see a heart or smiley face.
• Explain to them the new schedule, when and where they will be picked up.
• Show them the calendar and mark the day it is right now and when school starts.
• Give them a hug and tell them they can talk to you about anything.
• Read the Kissing Hand.

Preparing for School Activity

When I first started teaching kindergarten, we met with each kindergartner and their family prior to the first day of school. During that time, our team of teachers brought a little snack for the kids. It was a small bag with 26 teddy bear snacks 13 graham flavored and 13 chocolate bears.  We explained that the room was going to be filled with the same amount of children as there were bear snacks. With only one teacher, we talked about how to problem solve, get a teacher’s attention, and make friends.

You can do this activity with your child too.  Take any small snack that has 2 different flavors (Cheddar Bunnies have cheddar and pretzel) and count out the number of children that will be in your child’s class.  One color represents the boys and the other color represents the girls.  Thankfully, due to class size reductions, our early childhood classrooms are at 18! Although most classrooms are not an even 50:50 boy-girl mix, the little bunnies just help children get an idea of what to expect.

Once you have your small group of bears or bunny snacks:

• Count the snacks together.
• Explain that there will be the same about of children in the class as there are bunnies.
• Discuss how all the children (bunnies) would get from place to place. Line the snacks up in a single line. Yes it takes time!  It does in real life too!.
• Talk about how they might get the teachers attention if they needed help. (raising a hand is most commonly used)
• Pretend to have one bunny as another one if they wanted to play.

More Preparing For School Tips from the Early Childhood Education Team:

Back to School Tips for Parents PLUS Visual Morning Chart! by The Preschool Toolbox Blog

Starting Kindergarten-Books and Activities by Capri + 3

Make Back to School Books to Ease the Transition by Fun-A-Day

4 Back to School Tips: Preparing for School by Learning 2 Walk

Preparing for Preschool: Creative Center in a Box by Powerful Mothering

How to Plan for Preschool at Home by Mom Inspired Life

Supporting preschool learning at home by Rainy Day Mum

Setting Literacy Goals by Growing Book by Book

Preparing Busy Boxes for Preschoolers by Munchkins and Moms

Traditional Preschool or Homeschool Preschool or Both? by Still Playing School

Teaching Preschool at Home by Raising Lifelong Learner

Preparing for School Brings Mixed Emotions for both Parents and Children by The Educators’ Spin On It (HERE)

Prepare a Hands-On Preschool at Home by Life Over C’s

You may also find these back to school activities helpful…

If you are a stay-at-home mom and your child or children are off from school it means your schedule has changed quite a bit and it’s time to embrace this time together. But how do you? Summer camp? Playdates? Vacation? or do you just wing it?

After all aren’t we supposed to let our kids get bored to help build their imagination?

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Making Summer Time Memories with Your Child

The past few summers I’ve seen a quote floating around about the fact that we only have 18 summers in our childhood. I shared this image above on facebook as summer started and judging by the 800+ shares ,likes and comments I can see that I’m not alone in wanting to make sure that this one counts!

Honestly, although I’ve always loved summer vacation, I never really thought about it until my son was off at college about to graduate and was moving away permanently to his new job in a new state. It hit me that summer would forever be different with my first born.

Doing the math I realized that his sister wasn’t that far behind him even though she just finished elementary school and our youngest just finished Kindergarten. I’m saying this not to create stress that no one needs in their lives but as a way to press pause for a moment and truly realize how quickly childhood has the potential to be over so quickly.

I’ve noticed a trend of bloggers with very young children that want to share advice about parenting. Many of it is truly beneficial but sometimes I have to pause for a moment and realize that I’ve been parenting for 30 years there are some experiences that I’ve been through quite a bit more than others in my same shoes with little ones at home.

So with this thought and my experience, I want to share with you to embrace your summers. 

After having one child move away… 

I want to shout to everyone I know that’s a parent that summers are a true gift with your child. Even when you’re in the midst of sibling fights, backseat complainers, disorganized rooms from all that extra playtime or even digging through wet swimsuits and towels to discover that the screen lid was left open in your swim bag {yeap true story… our experience this past weekend} cherish your summer moments with the kids.

Summer can get crazy and a hot mess at times but at the end of the day when your head hits the pillow reflect on what mattered most during your day… your parent and child connections.

Take time this summer to really get to know your child the age that they are right now.

GRAB OUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST

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Ways to Make Summer Memories and Connect

There are lots of ways to connect with your child and yes these are work during the school year but I know our schedules get a little busier and summertime honestly fosters this time for connecting and building stronger relationships.

Here are a few quick summer activity ideas to get you started below…

Visit the Library OFTEN 

A trip to the library can be a window into their interests. Give them time to explore the shelves and find what they’re really interested in. If it’s too overwhelming start with the online version of your library and ask them to type in keywords they are interested in and see what comes up in search.

Here are a few tips for using the library with kids this summer.

Plan a Local Visit to a Park or Museum 

Do you know what their favorite thing is to do in town? Ask them to help you plan out summer by choosing a few places they want to visit. If they are old enough you can even share a google calendar with them and see what their ideal schedule is. Plan it out!

Start with your local museum.

Start a Journal

Take advantage of sneaking in a little bit of handwriting and create a special journal together during the summer. Sometimes parenting is just in the little things that are running through your child’s thoughts. Or just buy this one to get started.

Get starting with our First Day of Summer Vacation Interview (Printable)

Use All The Photo Features on Your Cell Phone

Your cell phone has so many fun features on it from Time Lapse to Slow-Mo to video and photos there are so many unique ways to capture your summer memories. Facebook Messenger or Snapchat has some cute overlays too to up your digital edge with silly photos. I like to use an app like Prisma to turn a few of our photos into artwork too.

• Take some selfies with your child, you’re older self will be grateful that you did when they were so tiny.
• Make a memory book together! Print out some of those photos on your phone and create a super simple memory book like this one.

Let Them See You Be Silly

Whether it’s a backseat dance party or a pool time adventures find little ways to just be a kid again with your child. I bet you have a killer cannonball that you haven’t shown them yet!

See if they are up for a challenge with a ball? Try a brain teaser game!

Make a Science Lab

Summers can be the perfect time for your little scientist to explore their world. Here’s some of the best summer science experiments to explore together.

Host your own STEM Camp with your child or friends.

Watch a Sunrise and Sunset 

One of our traditions is to wake up early and go see the sunrise at the beach.  It’s a special time to reflect on our blessings as a family and capture so many moments of nature from the sun and waves to the little creatures still roaming around and looking through the shells that were brought in from the tide overnight.  

Step back a few steps and capture their shadows, you’ll be glad you did 10 years from now.

Take a Class Together 

My daughters and I are working on a chalk pastel course this summer together as they both wanted to learn how to draw and paint more.  It’s been fun to see how similar they can both be yet different in so many other ways through their creativity.

Go On a Road Trip

Road trips are one of the funniest ways to make a memory as a family.  It’s also a great way to talk with your kids, no matter how old they get.  As much as I love taking technology with us on our longer trips, I sure do treasure the times together playing car games or just having really deep conversations about things.  

Day trips or overnight trips are easy to play out. We’ve done quite a few long road trips and they are to do date some of my favorite memories.

You can take a peek at #vijfamilyroadtrip on instagram.

Take a Virtual Summer Field Trip

When it’s not possible to travel, you can consider taking your child on a virtual summer adventure. We’ve put together this collection of Summer Virtual Field Trips for kids! Explore the ocean, amusement parks, outdoor adventures, watermelon farms, and more with these kid friendly summer virtual tours.

Let Them Get Bored

Yes, I said it, take away those screens as much as you can stand and give them time to get bored. You’ll be amazed at what they can come up with with their imaginations when given the time to do it.

• Books become windows to new worlds.
• Games become entertaining.
• Playgrounds and backyards become irresistible.  
• It will take some grumbling but it will be so worth the memories.

Find Fun and Easy Summer Activities at The Educators’ Spin On It. (Click to download our Summer Calendar)

At the end of the summer as Labor Day approaches ask yourself what are 3 things I learned about my child this summer that I didn’t know at the beginning? 

Trust me your heart will be overflowing with the connections you’ve made and the memories you’ll want to cherish forever.

How will you Make this Summer Count?

Still wondering what do I do all day this summer with the kids?

If you need some ideas for what to do this summer at home, we’d love to help you out with ideas.  It’s what our website is all about at The Educators’ Spin On It.  Sign up for our Newsletter and we’ll share with you thematic summer activity ideas that will help out.

Here are a few guidelines and a sample classroom placement letter to get you started.

I believe that it may or may not help in making your next year’s teacher a better match with your child, but it is worth the chance. So, as the time is now for most schools, how should you write a placement request letter?

Disclosure: Amazon affiliate Links Used in this Article

Tips for Writing a Placement Letter Request

Grab your pens and paper, now’s the time to sit down and write a placement letter request. There really is no one right way. This is just the format that I use every year with my own children. Call your school first to find out if they accept placement letters, the date they need the letters by, and the specific guidelines for your school.  Some principals allow preferred teachers to be named others do not.

Placement Letter Request Format:

1. Start by stating your child’s current grade level and teacher. I always include a picture of my child somewhere in the letter as well.

2. Write about your child’s strengths – academic and social.

3. Write about your concerns for your child. This is the place to include any special needs or personality traits that may need extra attention.

4. Write about the type of classroom or teacher traits that you feel your child would do best with.

5. Thank the team for considering your request.

Read the article: Getting the Teacher You Want

Sample Classroom Placement Letter

RE: 2024-2025 Classroom Placement Dear “School” Team,

We are writing this letter on behalf of our daughter “name”. She is currently in “teacher” “grade level” class and excelling in all areas; social and academic. “Name” is a very bright and enthusiastic learner. She reads at a much higher decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension level than her current grade. In fact, she reads 1-2 chapter books and multiple picture books every evening and is able to discuss with higher-order thinking, challenging concepts. She reached over 100 AR points, made it to the 5^th level in Ticket to Read, and has read almost the entire collection of chapter book series in the school library this year (and she is only 6 years old). In addition to reading, she enjoys science and has become a citizen scientist collecting data for a project called Monarch Health. Her one complaint about school is that she wants to learn more than the material presented. We are currently providing her with enrichment activities at home.

She is also a very thoughtful, kind-hearted child. I have seen her give up her space for others, allow them to go first, and help solve disputes using kind words and effective problem-solving. She responds well to compassionate adults with fair rules.

It is amazing to be parents of such an inquisitive, thoughtful child. When she was younger, we were worried she would have trouble learning as she has vision issues. After patching for several years, multiple eye muscle surgeries, and therapy, she has improved her vision. Glasses are essential for her and she is never without them. She also relies heavily on her other senses and benefits from consistent classroom routines.

We feel that she would do the best in a classroom that is not only organized, with consistent routines but also has a teacher who is willing to challenge and enrich the grade level material. “Name” would also do well with a teacher who routinely uses multi-sensory lessons, rather than one who primarily leans towards providing visual cues and presentations.

Last, but not least, we feel that it is important for her to be placed in a classroom that supports and challenges her in a safe and loving way, for “name” to feel worthwhile and appreciated in her learning environment.

Thank you,

“Parents Names”

Need tips for writing a First Grade Classroom Request Letter?

As a Parent of a Grade School Child, you may also enjoy these resources:

• The Parent Backpack for Kindergarten through Grade 5: How to Support Your Child’s Education, End Homework Meltdowns, and Build Parent-Teacher Connections
• Smart Parenting for Smart Kids: Nurturing Your Child’s True Potential
• Raising a Gifted Child
• Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids
• Different Learners: Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Your Child’s Learning Problems
• Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents
• The Learning Habit: A Groundbreaking Approach to Homework and Parenting that Helps Our Children Succeed in School and Life
• The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade

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!

Although many schools discourage parents from requesting a particular teacher by name, they do allow parents to write a teacher request letter. As a former kindergarten and first grade teacher, now mom to a soon-to-be first grader, I too am writing this letter for my son. Affiliate links.

Finding the BEST Classroom Fit for First Grade

First grade is a big transition from kindergarten in terms of time on task and expectations for learning. Our kids are getting bigger, more independent, and learning more each and every day. I believe that their early classroom years set the stage for a successful lifetime of learning. If kids are excited about going to school, there is a good chance; they will be excited about learning to read too! So how can we find the best classroom fit for our first graders?

Writing a teacher request letter “MAY” help your child get into the right classroom fit.

I add quotation marks in the word may, because placement letters

1. May not be read. Yes, this is a chance I am willing to take.
2. Do not have to be granted. Many factors are involved in building classrooms, from current teachers opinions, learning styles, student needs, and a mix of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Parent request letters are just a portion of things considered during a child’s school placement.
3. May work in the ideal world, but not be the right fit in reality.

Tips for Writing Your First Grade Teacher Request Letter

As with all classroom placement letters, I tend to follow the simple sandwich rule. That means, I start with something positive about my child’s education, then state the “need” or “issue” that concerns me, and end with a positive. I sandwich the concern for my child’s education in between the good stuff. As a parent, I have a lot of needs for my kids, so I try to pick one or two of the most important ones.

Start with a Positive

Add the Concern

End with a Positive

Another piece of advice for writing placement letters is to skip the flowery writing and be short, sweet, and to the point. Often, the principal or curriculum director is reading a TON of placement letters. The schools that do allow parents to write these often times DO take the time to read each and every one. Make sure that your voice is heard.

Be consistent, clear, and kind. Even if you do not like your child’s current kindergarten teacher, this placement letter is not the place to discuss it.

If you do not know where to start, consider asking your child’s current teacher. He or she may provide valuable insight into the type of classroom environment that may be best for your child. Other family members may also be invaluable in helping to write these letters. I will often times bounce ideas off my mom because she knows my kids and the education world.

Sample First Grade Teacher Request Letter

Dear NAME OF SCHOOL team or PRINCIPAL,

I am writing on behalf of my kindergarten son, _____ in regards to his first grade classroom placement. He is currently in Mrs. ____’s classroom. We appreciate how hands-on her math lessons are and how she incorporates movement throughout the children’s learning day.

My son LOVES to take things apart and build and home. He is curious about the world around him and likes doing science experiments. I believe that he would do well in an experienced teachers classroom that has consistent routines and procedures in place, but is also sensitive to his feelings and gives positive feedback often. He loves SMILES! In the ideal world, I would like him to be in a classroom that uses music, art, and hands-on stations for learning as well (with lots of recess!)

I appreciate your team’s consideration and look forward to another successful year at ____ Elementary.
Please feel free to call me or e-mail with any questions.

Phone Number
E-mail
Name
< I usually add in a picture of my child’s smiling face at the bottom of the letter>

First Grade Teacher Request Letter Format

So, in a nutshell, make sure to include the following information in your parent request letter for your child’s first grade placement.

• Greeting:
• Say who you are, what grade your child is in, and one nice thing about their current classroom / classroom teacher.
• Explain 1 good thing about your child. Tell about their needs and what type of classroom environment they would do best in.
• Thank them for considering your request.
• End with all of your contact information.
• Child’s picture, optional

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!

Here are some ideas for getting the teacher you want for your child in the upcoming school year.

Affiliate links

Getting the teacher YOU want.

1. Really get to know the teachers.

Many of us have attended school events to get to know the teachers. Yes, the school carnival is a great way to support my child’s school, but also a good time to see all of the teachers and how they interact with the kids and families. I like knowing that my child’s school has teachers that care enough about their students to spend time outside of their contracted work day to engage with families.

To me, this shows that the teachers are dedicated to their profession and their students. I don’t know all the teachers in the next grade level up, but I do know who the “favorites are.”

They are the teachers at these extra events. The ones kids run up to and give high fives and hugs. The ones all the room parents know by first name. You know, the teachers that every parent wishes their child would make it into their classroom.

2. Write a well-crafted placement letter.

Most schools that allow parents to write a classroom request letter. If your school allows it, grab your pen and paper and ask nicely for the teacher you want. If your school does not allow for specific teachers to be named, write about the positive qualities of that teacher. When you are writing your letter, think of the things that the specific teacher you want does and how those things meet your child’s learning style. I taught with a kindergarten team of teachers that were amazing.

One particular teacher really got into thematic units (she was a real life Ms. Frizzle). Her classroom was full of learning stations that children could rotate between by choice. A parent who thought this teacher would be best, may say, “My child is very creative and thrives in a classroom environment that activates her learning through different modalities. I would like to request a placement where she is able to learn in flexible grouping and small learning stations. Self-directed children who thrive in a creative, flexible environment would work well in her classroom.

Another teacher in my team was extremely regimented to the minute. She was an amazing teacher and the kids thrived knowing exactly what was expected of them. The classroom was a buzz with talk about books and writing was integrated into the entire day. She kept reading logs and sent home detailed notes to parents with records and suggestions for enriching their academics at home. Children needing structure and routine stability, would probably do very well in her classroom.

You know your child best.  Think about the ideal classroom to match their learning style.

3. Schedule a conference with your child’s current teacher

You may consider scheduling a conference with your child’s current teacher to discuss their placement for the upcoming year. They may have a good insight into which teacher would be the best fit for your child. If your child has an IEP, Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, then you may consider scheduling a meeting with the team to discuss which teacher would best meet the needs of your child and how to get that teacher.

The last, but not least, person to consider meeting with in regards to getting the teacher you want is the school principal. They are extremely busy people, so this may not be possible, but if you are concerned about your child’s classroom placement, consider scheduling a 15 minute meeting to discuss academic success in the upcoming year.

The Do’s and Don’t of Getting the Teacher You Want.

• Do ask for the teacher or learning environment you feel would best meet the needs of your child.
• Do NOT guarantee your child a particular teacher. In fact, it may be best not to even mention your preferences, rather talk about how all the teachers are fabulous and that the next year is going to be great!
• Do ask parents of the next grade what they like about their current teachers.
• Do NOT bad mouth teachers, especially in front of children. If the conversation turns into negatives, try to change the tone.
• Do follow your schools rules and guidelines for teacher requests.
• Do NOT be pushy, rude, or demanding.
• Do know that you will most likely NOT get the teacher you want.
• Do NOT panic. There are MANY, MANY, MANY amazing teachers out there. No matter which teacher your child gets, with your support and guidance, it will be an awesome year.

You may also enjoy these parenting articles…

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!

Are you looking for ways to encourage your child to be kind? Do they easily think of others and their needs?  How do you sneak those life lessons into our busy days between school, work and commitments to after school activities?

As parents, we strive towards these goals to raise well-rounded children. However, with busy schedules it becomes harder to fit in those opportunities we want our child to have. Often one can struggle with as we become distracted by various things in our lives.

Here are simple steps to can take this month and throughout the year to ensure this focus becomes a part of your home with a Random Acts of Kindness Wreath.

Are you ready to take this challenge?

You Will Need

• paper
• colorful paper
• glue
• markers or crayons
• scissors
• wreath
• ribbon
• items to give (cookies, flowers, candy, canned goods, toys)

Random Acts of Kindness Wreath

Sit down with your child and talk about things that would be nice to do for others.  Your child will probably surprise you with the ideas that they’d like to do. Discuss which ones are truly possible and try to pick 10 of your favorites.

Then set out 10 hearts and write the finalized goals on the hearts. Then create a Wreath by attaching them with ribbon. Once complete hang up in your home as a reminder all year long of ways your child can show acts of Kindness toward others.

Need some suggestions?

Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness with Kids 

Acts of Kindness for your Family

• Surprise a family member with a note
• Offer to help with a chore
• Draw a picture for someone
• Write a sibling book Click here for Ideas)
• Create a wall of hearts with positive words on their door each day

Acts of Kindness for your Friends

• Send a special package (Click here of ideas)
• Invite a friend to a special outings
• Write a note telling a friend why they are awesome
• Give them a call just to say thanks for being a friend

Acts of Kindness for your Neighborhood

• Bake cookies for a neighbor
• Bring in their garbage as a surprise
• Give them a little “heart attack” for Valentine’s Day by filling up their front door or yard with hearts
• Have a free lemonade stand

Acts of Kindness for your School

• Deliver a handwritten thank you note to your office staff, principal, nurse, lunch staff, librarian, custodial staff and even your child art, music, PE and regular teachers
• Bring in a special treat for the teacher (Click here for Ideas)
• Offer to help with a campus clean up

Acts of Kindness for your Community

• Drop off Hygiene products at a local shelter
• Drop off Canned goods at a local food pantry
• Donate Toys to a local Women’s Shelter
• Donate to your Local Feeding America Backpack Program
• Create Handmade cards for a local nursing home
• Give a treat to the people who are checking you out at the store
• Drop off cookies or a treat at your local fire station
• Host a charity garage sale (click here for ideas)
• Support your local children’s hospital- here’s how

Acts of Kindness for our World

• Send a package or cards or treats to troops overseas
• Organize a community cleanup day
• Find a program to sponsor that supports children in another country
• Support a charity as a family

Some Final Thoughts

All of these Random Acts of Kindness are ways to encourage our children to think of others, reach out into our community and foster kindness in their hearts.

In a society where we share concern over our children’s well being and fear of bullying in their lives, it’s important to give our children tools to express empathy and reach out to others.  Through these fun acts of kindness they just might also find the pure joy in surprising others.

What do you think? Tell us what you would add to your Random Acts of Kindness Wreath. What ways do you encourage your child to be kind to each other?  We’d love to hear your ideas in the comment section below.

You may also enjoy these Kindness Activities for Kids…

• Kindness Books for Kids
• 40 Acts of Kindness for Mom
• Kindness Songs for Kids
• How to Spread Kindness Like Confetti
• Random Acts for Kindness Calendar
• Kindness Elves Free Printable Letters for Busy Parents
• Gratitude Challenge for Kids

Do you ever find yourself thinking about what’s in your home? I find myself running around each day trying to keep things organized. I’m trying to keep things clean but there are some times when I feel frustrated that things just don’t stay where I put them.  

Then I catch myself thinking what a blessing it is to have things to worry about and to keep clean and to be home with my kids during the day.

This is what inspired our 30 Gratitude Challenge with our kids, try it here!

Teaching Gratitude at Home with kids

It’s a balance to be working at home all day with your kids and still taking care of your house. As a stay at home mom it’s a constant battle of making sure your children are having a developmentally appropriate experience at home instead of preschool with all the materials required for that within a home.

I’ll admit I get a little jealous as my husband waves goodbye to me and the kids every morning and goes off to work.

I remember those days just 6 years ago and how my house would stay clean when I was away at work. Now that we’re home all day it gets a little crazy and messy at times. But it’s a good messy. You may see some toys on the floor when you come over.

There might be a few paint splatters at the bathroom sink or on a towel. You might spot a play dough clump or paper scrap on the floor but it’s a sign that I know my kids were engaged in their day and being creative!

I do mention to my husband sometimes he needs to remember that I’m working with the kids all day, not on the house. I think it’s important for all stay at home parents to give themselves that moment of forgiveness.

If you’re at home with your child all day, your priority is to educate your child at home and provide planned and unplanned opportunities for their development. And part of that development is learning to care for our things.

I think sometimes I have to remind myself that although we want to instill in our children organization, order and respect of our things,  sometimes it’s okay to get a little messy and have fun. 

If that load didn’t get done or the dishwasher unloaded because we were spending time together playing and laughing it’s ok at times, the world still goes on.

I am so thankful for this opportunity I have to spend with my children!

Quotes about Childhood and Messy Homes

Just in case you need some reminders of how precious our moments of childhood are here’s are some fun quotes.  I’d love to have them hang somewhere in my house to remind me that I don’t have to have it all done all the time because we are raising young children.

Image Source and Printable at Three Little Monkeys

Image Source The Imagination Tree 

Image Source and Tutorial at Simply Designing

Image Source Good Golly Graphic

Showing my Gratitude to our Home

I took the past few weeks of November to reflect on how I can show my gratitude of my home. I also wanted to include my gratitude towards my husband. I’m sure it feels really good to come home from work to a clean home. He works so hard day in and day out to provide for our family I wanted to show him how grateful I am that he provides a home for us that’s filled with love and things for our children and us.

Teaching Children to be Grateful

As we were cleaning different areas of our house, the kids and I would leave little notes for him on the areas we were working on each day. I want them to be involved too. We took a room each day to reflect on and talk about the things that we are thankful for.

We actually sat and typed these images up together afterwards so we would be reminded of our blessings.

You could very easily have your child write them too.

I want to encourage you to do the same as you’re going about things this week before Thanksgiving. Pick a room each day and purposely clean it and reflect on all the things you’re thankful for. 

I promise both you and your children will have a feeling of gratitude towards your home and the treasures inside.

The bonus is your house will be ready for company on Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season… all clean and tidy!

Here are a few more ideas for teaching gratitude in your home this Holiday Season.

Gratitude Activities for Kids

• How to Make a Magnetic Thankful Tree 
• Watercolor Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving Gift Idea 
• Acts of Kindness and Gratitude are Lead by Example 
• DIY Thankful Banner
• Gratitude Books for Kids

How will you show your gratitude for something in your home?