Mom Is Teaching

I’m still wondering if I can get some of you, homeschooling parents to tell me what “Back to School” means to you.  I have at least one homeschooling parent who is going to guest post and I would love to have more.  And, if your child goes to public or private school, wears uniforms or has to buy a long list of supplies or simply just boards the bus on the first day, tell me what “Back to School” means to you as well.

I’m looking for tips to make the process smoother.  I”m looking for ideas on how to manage bedtimes, wake up times, books, supplies, lunches, curriculums, teachers, administrators, program heads, group learning…all of that.  This is a good time to share all of your fresh ideas so that maybe someone else can pick up something that might work.

Being a newbie at the whole back to school thing, we have done it only once, I’m going to share a couple of things I heard in a chat last night about starting back to school.  Here’s what some of those folks said they did…and of course, your lucky, you get my commentary too.

1.  Start at least a week early prepping kids for earlier bedtime and wake-up.  (We started that tonight, had intentions of starting on Sunday night but the boys begged my mom into one more night each at her house and then last night was just a lost cause.)

2.  Take a “First Day of School” photo every year in the same place and compare your child’s growth.  We did take a photo last year and I plan to take one this year as well.  I think most folks will be stunned at the growth.

3.  Make breakfast on the first day of school a meal-out.  (I have considered this and many parents in my area do this during standardized testing week just so they know their kids are getting a better breakfast that what they normally prepare.)

4.  Make the night before or the first night of school dinner a special one.  Either let the child choose a place or the meal itself that’s going to be served at home. (This sounds cool and we will probably do this one).

5.  School supplies, I’ve covered ad nauseum. 

So, this is obviously a list for those of us prepping for back to school out of the home somewhere and that’s why I am asking you, my readers, to share a post telling me about your routine.  I know there are some folks out there with insight on this (Luke, that’s you dude, come on out of hiding and write me a post on what back to school meant to you as a homeschooled student).  And, anyone else, really, I am so very curious.

Here is a link to the Crayola Facebook site if anyone is interested. And here is a link to a coupon and some prizes that Crayola are giving away.  And here is a link to the coupon that you can print out.

By the way, this is not a post sponsored by Crayola, I was just part of the chat last night and had the good fortune to learn about the coupon and thought it was worth passing on.  Just FYI there in this crazy world of blogging.