Back to School Checklist...

There are many ways to get the children ready for school.  Right now the stores are packed with parents buying school clothes, knap sacks, lunch boxes, school supplies, and computers to aid their children in learning. 


What should you do to get your child ready for school?

Look ahead with the year in mind! You can either have a family meeting, depending upon your child's age, or you can think about the following ideas, and plan accordingly.

I reflect upon the year ahead of us with the family.  Since my sons are old enough, we have a meeting that includes their ideas.  A Family Meeting!  These are the things we address.

1.  Appropriate bed time.  For all students, this is so IMPORTANT.  Students need more than 8 hours of sleep; students need 10-12 hours.  We talk about a firm bed time, and then we count backwards:  bath or shower time, reading before bed, and we chose a time to start the bedtime process.  Ours usually begins at 7:30 pm with lights out at 8:30 (I have a 10 year old and an 8 year old).  I give them an hour, to leave time to have our bed time discussions....do you like this book I am reading to you?  What was the good thing about your day at school?  Was there anything that made you laugh? Bedtime discussions are my "check in" times with my kids.  Usually they are quieter and calmer, and are ready to talk about their day.


2.  School routines. If you do not know your child's school schedule, that is okay, but it is important to figure out all the necessary things like how the kids get to school, who picks them up, do they have to take a lunch, and so forth.  You need to establish a wake up time, how breakfast will be organized, the packing of knapsacks, lunches, is it a Physical Education day and the kids need appropriate attire?  Is there a fieldtrip?  Are any notices due?  It can be extremely overwhelming, but it is good to establish who does what and when.

For example, this year, my kids are responsible for:
1. homework done
2. knapsacks packed
3. coats and shoes ready
4. teeth brushed
5. knowledge of whether or not they need to bring gym strip that day, and have it packed in knapsack.

My husband or I will make breakfast and their lunches, but our goal for our sons is to learn to be more independent and responsible.


Now, if you have younger children, you will have to figure out and plan "getting ready" for school. Thinking through it all, and having a plan makes the mornings  much more easy and smooth. 


3.  Computers, social media, gaming systems.  As the year begins, make decisions about television time, computer use, and gaming time.  Will you allow television during the week?  How about surfing the web....is there a time limit? Or Playstation or DS or Wii?  Can your child play these games during the week?


It is important to have clear guidelines from the beginning.  For our family, we don't have cable (yah!!!) so we don't have the TV to worry about, but we have Netflix and Apple TV, so our goal is to establish if and when there is any movie watching during the week.


As well, with computer use, establish if you will allow this and when. What can your kids view?  Where is the computer and are there parental controls?  For our family, the rule is that the computer is in a room with adult supervision, and we allow a bit of free time after homework is done. We haven't put any parental controls on our computers, as we are experimenting with the kids deciding what is appropriate or not, and having conversations about this. 


Finally, with gaming systems, establish when or if your child will be able to use during the week.  With the Playstation, we don't allow gaming during the school week; only on Friday afternoon and Saturday after we have outdoor and personal interactive time.

4.  Homework.  Some students have it and others don't.  My kids have homework usually Mon-Thurs.  I have them do their homework after school before dinner.  Usually they come home, have a snack, and read for 30 minutes, and then begin their homework.  Reading is mandatory, so either it is done after school or before bed.

Having set routines and guidelines established will help avoid arguments, and will let your child know that there are clear expectations for learning and how the school year will unfold.  

Back to School Checklist...

There are many ways to get the children ready for school.  Right now the stores are packed with parents buying school clothes, knap sacks, lunch boxes, school supplies, and computers to aid their children in learning. 


What should you do to get your child ready for school?

Look ahead with the year in mind! You can either have a family meeting, depending upon your child's age, or you can think about the following ideas, and plan accordingly.

I reflect upon the year ahead of us with the family.  Since my sons are old enough, we have a meeting that includes their ideas.  A Family Meeting!  These are the things we address.

1.  Appropriate bed time.  For all students, this is so IMPORTANT.  Students need more than 8 hours of sleep; students need 10-12 hours.  We talk about a firm bed time, and then we count backwards:  bath or shower time, reading before bed, and we chose a time to start the bedtime process.  Ours usually begins at 7:30 pm with lights out at 8:30 (I have a 10 year old and an 8 year old).  I give them an hour, to leave time to have our bed time discussions....do you like this book I am reading to you?  What was the good thing about your day at school?  Was there anything that made you laugh? Bedtime discussions are my "check in" times with my kids.  Usually they are quieter and calmer, and are ready to talk about their day.


2.  School routines. If you do not know your child's school schedule, that is okay, but it is important to figure out all the necessary things like how the kids get to school, who picks them up, do they have to take a lunch, and so forth.  You need to establish a wake up time, how breakfast will be organized, the packing of knapsacks, lunches, is it a Physical Education day and the kids need appropriate attire?  Is there a fieldtrip?  Are any notices due?  It can be extremely overwhelming, but it is good to establish who does what and when.

For example, this year, my kids are responsible for:
1. homework done
2. knapsacks packed
3. coats and shoes ready
4. teeth brushed
5. knowledge of whether or not they need to bring gym strip that day, and have it packed in knapsack.

My husband or I will make breakfast and their lunches, but our goal for our sons is to learn to be more independent and responsible.


Now, if you have younger children, you will have to figure out and plan "getting ready" for school. Thinking through it all, and having a plan makes the mornings  much more easy and smooth. 


3.  Computers, social media, gaming systems.  As the year begins, make decisions about television time, computer use, and gaming time.  Will you allow television during the week?  How about surfing the web....is there a time limit? Or Playstation or DS or Wii?  Can your child play these games during the week?


It is important to have clear guidelines from the beginning.  For our family, we don't have cable (yah!!!) so we don't have the TV to worry about, but we have Netflix and Apple TV, so our goal is to establish if and when there is any movie watching during the week.


As well, with computer use, establish if you will allow this and when. What can your kids view?  Where is the computer and are there parental controls?  For our family, the rule is that the computer is in a room with adult supervision, and we allow a bit of free time after homework is done. We haven't put any parental controls on our computers, as we are experimenting with the kids deciding what is appropriate or not, and having conversations about this. 


Finally, with gaming systems, establish when or if your child will be able to use during the week.  With the Playstation, we don't allow gaming during the school week; only on Friday afternoon and Saturday after we have outdoor and personal interactive time.

4.  Homework.  Some students have it and others don't.  My kids have homework usually Mon-Thurs.  I have them do their homework after school before dinner.  Usually they come home, have a snack, and read for 30 minutes, and then begin their homework.  Reading is mandatory, so either it is done after school or before bed.

Having set routines and guidelines established will help avoid arguments, and will let your child know that there are clear expectations for learning and how the school year will unfold.  

Back to School and the Value of Education

I love going back to school; I am filled with fear "how am I going to do it all this year with work, family, keeping up with my field..." and on it goes; but there is something wonderful about closing summer and beginning the year.

This year is especially bright as my oldest is entering grade five.   Grade five is my special year; this was the first grade I taught, and I love the curriculum.  I love the age.  I am a classic grade five teacher and I can't wait to return to teach that grade.  The students are on their way with reading, they can write, and they have a level of independence that is so lovely.  They want to do things and take on responsibility!!!!  It is truly my favourite grade to teach.

So, as a back to school treat, I thought I would watch the documentary Waiting for Superman with my kids.  I am generally a poor documentary follower - documentaries make me really nervous for these reasons:

1.  Usually a broad brushstroke is taken to a hugely complex problem or issue
2.  It is filtered through the eyes of the documentary maker
3.  The documentary is taken as the "word of God" or the "truth" for many individuals, and all sorts of things get distorted.
Now, I know that Davis Guggenheim is highly regarded, and overall, he has an interesting idea: take on public education!  

These are my thoughts after watching:

1.  Yikes, is this the state of education in the USA?  Or parts of the USA? And this is precisely the way the writers want me to think....is it all really that awful?  I know that it isn't and I know that there are fantastic schools; so why am I starting to think in "broad brush strokes" like this?


2. Poverty and the American dream....diametrically opposed yet so intertwined.  I found the sequences with many of the struggling families universal:  wanting a better future for their children, working hard to make this happen, and yet, so far away from their goal.  


3.  Where is the dignity of the individual?  I found watching the end sequence, where families and their children were waiting to see if they made it into a charter school, and their names were called out it public, very very very sad.  My sons asked, "Mommy why are you crying?"  I was crying for each of those families not able to get into the school their child needed, and in a way, being publicly shamed because they were not chosen.  How awful.  Was I watching a documentary or a horror film?

Did I like it?  Not really.  I didn't feel uplifted by the social message.  I visited the website.  We can do it...we can make education better.  And yet, I don't think the problem is really a problem of education.  It is easy to target.  Just like health care, or taxes, or the state of the economy.  

I think our education system mirrors who we are, and what we value, as a society.  So I will leave it at that (yikes, another brush stroke!!!). 

Do you value education? Does the country you live in value education? What about the city you live in? The community?  Your family?

Back to School and the Value of Education

I love going back to school; I am filled with fear "how am I going to do it all this year with work, family, keeping up with my field..." and on it goes; but there is something wonderful about closing summer and beginning the year.

This year is especially bright as my oldest is entering grade five.   Grade five is my special year; this was the first grade I taught, and I love the curriculum.  I love the age.  I am a classic grade five teacher and I can't wait to return to teach that grade.  The students are on their way with reading, they can write, and they have a level of independence that is so lovely.  They want to do things and take on responsibility!!!!  It is truly my favourite grade to teach.

So, as a back to school treat, I thought I would watch the documentary Waiting for Superman with my kids.  I am generally a poor documentary follower - documentaries make me really nervous for these reasons:

1.  Usually a broad brushstroke is taken to a hugely complex problem or issue
2.  It is filtered through the eyes of the documentary maker
3.  The documentary is taken as the "word of God" or the "truth" for many individuals, and all sorts of things get distorted.
Now, I know that Davis Guggenheim is highly regarded, and overall, he has an interesting idea: take on public education!  

These are my thoughts after watching:

1.  Yikes, is this the state of education in the USA?  Or parts of the USA? And this is precisely the way the writers want me to think....is it all really that awful?  I know that it isn't and I know that there are fantastic schools; so why am I starting to think in "broad brush strokes" like this?


2. Poverty and the American dream....diametrically opposed yet so intertwined.  I found the sequences with many of the struggling families universal:  wanting a better future for their children, working hard to make this happen, and yet, so far away from their goal.  


3.  Where is the dignity of the individual?  I found watching the end sequence, where families and their children were waiting to see if they made it into a charter school, and their names were called out it public, very very very sad.  My sons asked, "Mommy why are you crying?"  I was crying for each of those families not able to get into the school their child needed, and in a way, being publicly shamed because they were not chosen.  How awful.  Was I watching a documentary or a horror film?

Did I like it?  Not really.  I didn't feel uplifted by the social message.  I visited the website.  We can do it...we can make education better.  And yet, I don't think the problem is really a problem of education.  It is easy to target.  Just like health care, or taxes, or the state of the economy.  

I think our education system mirrors who we are, and what we value, as a society.  So I will leave it at that (yikes, another brush stroke!!!). 

Do you value education? Does the country you live in value education? What about the city you live in? The community?  Your family?

The Pithy Python

I found a great new blog that is inspiring called the Pithy Python.
I just read a great entry called a Tale of Two Nine Year Olds.

Please read as it is very meaningful.  This is what I have being saying to parents again and again:  read to your child, inspire them with literature.  It will make all the difference in their lives!

A great blog to follow! 

The Pithy Python

I found a great new blog that is inspiring called the Pithy Python.
I just read a great entry called a Tale of Two Nine Year Olds.

Please read as it is very meaningful.  This is what I have being saying to parents again and again:  read to your child, inspire them with literature.  It will make all the difference in their lives!

A great blog to follow! 

Top 5 Ways to Nurture Gifted Children

I came across this handout I give to parents. It has been adapted from Carol Bainbridge who offers advice to parents of gifted children.

1.  Follow Your Child's Lead

What does your child enjoy?  What does your child seem to be good at?  Provide opportunities for your child to work with things he or she enjoys or is good at.  For example, if your child loves dinosaurs, get books about dinosaurs, fiction and non-fiction.  Get games and puzzles about dinosaurs.  Go see dinosaurs at museums.  If your child is good at music or a sport, provide opportunities for him or her to learn an instrument or play a sport.

2.  Expand Your Child's Interests

While it's important to provide opportunities for your child to work with his or her interests and strengths, it is also important to expose your child to new things.  Children only know what they have been exposed to, so if they've never been exposed to music, they may not know whether they like it or are good at it.  Children need not be forced to try new things, but they should be encouraged.  It is not forcing a child, however, to insist that they not quit something after two days. 

3.  Be Creative and Ask Questions

This may seem as though it's easier said than done, but once you start thinking "outside the box" it gets easier.  Gifted children love to think and solve problems, so provide them with ample opportunities for doing so.  Write daily notes in their lunch box!  Cook together and ask questions about why vegetables get soft when cooked; or why cakes rise when baked.  Go for a walk and ask about why the sky is blue, what are the different types of clouds.  In the swimming pool, ask why they don't float but will sink to the bottom of the pool.  Asking questions will help them to think creatively and soon they will be asking the questions, if they are not already doing so!

4.  Look for Outside Activities and Networks

Many communities offer classes for children as do museums, zoos, community centres, and many universities and community colleges.  Some communities also have botanical gardens, planetariums, and other places of interest.  In addition, there are parent groups for gifted children, homeschooling opportunities, and a vast amount of online resources for gifted children and their parents. Make connections to make your lives easier!

5.  Keep a Variety of Resources at Home

These resources need not be expensive or elaborate.  They just need to allow your gifted child to develop his or her interests or get exposed to new ones.  For example, to encourage artistic talent, all you need initially are simple paint brushes, paint, white paper, crayons, and other supplies.    You can have a recycling box where your child can build and create sculptures from recycled materials.  An area, such as the dinning room table, is a great place for your child to spread out and work at!

Top 5 Ways to Nurture Gifted Children

I came across this handout I give to parents. It has been adapted from Carol Bainbridge who offers advice to parents of gifted children.

1.  Follow Your Child's Lead

What does your child enjoy?  What does your child seem to be good at?  Provide opportunities for your child to work with things he or she enjoys or is good at.  For example, if your child loves dinosaurs, get books about dinosaurs, fiction and non-fiction.  Get games and puzzles about dinosaurs.  Go see dinosaurs at museums.  If your child is good at music or a sport, provide opportunities for him or her to learn an instrument or play a sport.

2.  Expand Your Child's Interests

While it's important to provide opportunities for your child to work with his or her interests and strengths, it is also important to expose your child to new things.  Children only know what they have been exposed to, so if they've never been exposed to music, they may not know whether they like it or are good at it.  Children need not be forced to try new things, but they should be encouraged.  It is not forcing a child, however, to insist that they not quit something after two days. 

3.  Be Creative and Ask Questions

This may seem as though it's easier said than done, but once you start thinking "outside the box" it gets easier.  Gifted children love to think and solve problems, so provide them with ample opportunities for doing so.  Write daily notes in their lunch box!  Cook together and ask questions about why vegetables get soft when cooked; or why cakes rise when baked.  Go for a walk and ask about why the sky is blue, what are the different types of clouds.  In the swimming pool, ask why they don't float but will sink to the bottom of the pool.  Asking questions will help them to think creatively and soon they will be asking the questions, if they are not already doing so!

4.  Look for Outside Activities and Networks

Many communities offer classes for children as do museums, zoos, community centres, and many universities and community colleges.  Some communities also have botanical gardens, planetariums, and other places of interest.  In addition, there are parent groups for gifted children, homeschooling opportunities, and a vast amount of online resources for gifted children and their parents. Make connections to make your lives easier!

5.  Keep a Variety of Resources at Home

These resources need not be expensive or elaborate.  They just need to allow your gifted child to develop his or her interests or get exposed to new ones.  For example, to encourage artistic talent, all you need initially are simple paint brushes, paint, white paper, crayons, and other supplies.    You can have a recycling box where your child can build and create sculptures from recycled materials.  An area, such as the dinning room table, is a great place for your child to spread out and work at!

Summer Reading for Gifted Learners

What does a dead hippo, Asperger’s syndrome, a nuclear power plant,  homelessness, pirates, and war in the Middle East have in common? 

My summer reading list for kids!  I have spent the last week at Pender Island with my family, reading and previewing exciting new books for my reading program this year.  There are some great reads.

1.     Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

    A girl who as Asperger's and must deal with the loss of her brother who was killed in a school shooting.  Cailtin must have "closure" around this tragedy and move forward in her life.  The book really gets into the social reality of a child with Asperger's.  Also, the book makes reference to the famous "To Kill a Mockingbird" novel and movie and draws parallels.  From a teacher's perspective, I loved this book and was crying through many parts. This is not an action packed book, but rather one that gets into the "head" of the main character and the reader feels the experience deeply.  An exceptional and moving book.

2.     Island of the Unknowns by Benedict Carey

A very different book; a mystery that needs to be solved using math. The main characters live on an island called Folsom Adjacent that houses a nuclear power plant; people go missing, and Lady Di Smith and Tom Jones must solve the mystery. I enjoyed it because I liked how the author brought math into the story line, and students who are passionate about math will enjoy this aspect of the book.  I liked the characters, and enjoyed how they were "misfits".  A great deal of the story took place with the main characters crawling around underground, and I found this quite suspenseful.  The math is high level, and there is a great activity guide at the back that explains the math concepts:  pythagorean theorem, and the magic of pi to be exact!

3.     Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

 A fun mystery and a good read; the main character, Teddy,  lives at Funjungle - a super duper zoo theme park!  The main attraction, a hippo, dies, and Teddy finds out he is murdered, and the adventure begins.  I liked the characters and pace and the way Funjungle was presented as a mirror to theme parks that exist today.   I would use this book as a discussion point about the value of zoos and whether or not it is right to have animals in captivity.  I would also discuss the value of theme parks (money making ventures?) and whether or not they have any value in our world (think Disneyland and all of THAT).

4.     How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor

Is it ever right to steal something that is not yours?  I liked this book because the main character makes a big decision in order to help her family. Is it the right decision? Georgina plans to steal a dog to make money so that she and her brother and mother can rent a home and not live in their car -  a temporary situation after their father leaves and they can no longer pay the rent.   I found this book well written and this would make a fantastic read aloud to kids, at home and at school.  There was a fantastic quote in this book that I though was very powerful "Sometimes the the trail you leave behind you is more important than the path ahead of you" and it made me think about the importance of treating others well.  A profound novel about homeless, love, and caring for others.

5.     Camel Rider by Prue Mason

What I liked about this book was two boys coming together from very different backgrounds to work together to survive.  I liked how the book was written from each boy's perspective.  A good book to use to discuss different cultural values.  The book takes place in Abudai, a fictional city, which is typical of "many oil-rich states in the Arabian Gulf" states the author.  I enjoyed how the main character begins the novel as a "compound kid" who only cares about surfing - he is self absorbed and spoiled ex-pat.  Through the course of the novel, he changes, and comes out the other end as a more thoughtful person. 

I would also use this book with the fantastic Breadwinner series by Deborah Ellis which I thought was far more powerful and brilliant!  You could have a great literature circle theme around war and the aftermath and destruction it causes.

6.     The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames

This is an adventure book, and is great for boys and girls who love pirates.  I enjoyed the adventures, the pirate lingo, and the story overall.  The main character has to overcome many obstacles, and is considered an outsider because of his club foot.  However, he shows bravery and courage and determination!  The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I am hopefully there will be second book. 

These books are suitable for readers  grade 4 or 5 and up, depending on the child, reading ability, and maturity. 

Happy reading.....

Summer Reading for Gifted Learners

What does a dead hippo, Asperger’s syndrome, a nuclear power plant,  homelessness, pirates, and war in the Middle East have in common? 

My summer reading list for kids!  I have spent the last week at Pender Island with my family, reading and previewing exciting new books for my reading program this year.  There are some great reads.

1.     Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

    A girl who as Asperger's and must deal with the loss of her brother who was killed in a school shooting.  Cailtin must have "closure" around this tragedy and move forward in her life.  The book really gets into the social reality of a child with Asperger's.  Also, the book makes reference to the famous "To Kill a Mockingbird" novel and movie and draws parallels.  From a teacher's perspective, I loved this book and was crying through many parts. This is not an action packed book, but rather one that gets into the "head" of the main character and the reader feels the experience deeply.  An exceptional and moving book.

2.     Island of the Unknowns by Benedict Carey

A very different book; a mystery that needs to be solved using math. The main characters live on an island called Folsom Adjacent that houses a nuclear power plant; people go missing, and Lady Di Smith and Tom Jones must solve the mystery. I enjoyed it because I liked how the author brought math into the story line, and students who are passionate about math will enjoy this aspect of the book.  I liked the characters, and enjoyed how they were "misfits".  A great deal of the story took place with the main characters crawling around underground, and I found this quite suspenseful.  The math is high level, and there is a great activity guide at the back that explains the math concepts:  pythagorean theorem, and the magic of pi to be exact!

3.     Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

 A fun mystery and a good read; the main character, Teddy,  lives at Funjungle - a super duper zoo theme park!  The main attraction, a hippo, dies, and Teddy finds out he is murdered, and the adventure begins.  I liked the characters and pace and the way Funjungle was presented as a mirror to theme parks that exist today.   I would use this book as a discussion point about the value of zoos and whether or not it is right to have animals in captivity.  I would also discuss the value of theme parks (money making ventures?) and whether or not they have any value in our world (think Disneyland and all of THAT).

4.     How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor

Is it ever right to steal something that is not yours?  I liked this book because the main character makes a big decision in order to help her family. Is it the right decision? Georgina plans to steal a dog to make money so that she and her brother and mother can rent a home and not live in their car -  a temporary situation after their father leaves and they can no longer pay the rent.   I found this book well written and this would make a fantastic read aloud to kids, at home and at school.  There was a fantastic quote in this book that I though was very powerful "Sometimes the the trail you leave behind you is more important than the path ahead of you" and it made me think about the importance of treating others well.  A profound novel about homeless, love, and caring for others.

5.     Camel Rider by Prue Mason

What I liked about this book was two boys coming together from very different backgrounds to work together to survive.  I liked how the book was written from each boy's perspective.  A good book to use to discuss different cultural values.  The book takes place in Abudai, a fictional city, which is typical of "many oil-rich states in the Arabian Gulf" states the author.  I enjoyed how the main character begins the novel as a "compound kid" who only cares about surfing - he is self absorbed and spoiled ex-pat.  Through the course of the novel, he changes, and comes out the other end as a more thoughtful person. 

I would also use this book with the fantastic Breadwinner series by Deborah Ellis which I thought was far more powerful and brilliant!  You could have a great literature circle theme around war and the aftermath and destruction it causes.

6.     The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames

This is an adventure book, and is great for boys and girls who love pirates.  I enjoyed the adventures, the pirate lingo, and the story overall.  The main character has to overcome many obstacles, and is considered an outsider because of his club foot.  However, he shows bravery and courage and determination!  The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I am hopefully there will be second book. 

These books are suitable for readers  grade 4 or 5 and up, depending on the child, reading ability, and maturity. 

Happy reading.....