Category Archives school

School Supply List 2010

Every year, parents of school aged children brace themselves for the great school supply list. Last year, I wrote about my son’s first grade list and asked other people what was on their list. One week ago, NHL came home from school after his last half day. Inside his backpack were several items. In addition to his report card, the manila envelope contained the name of a teacher that NHL likely will have for second grade. What does that mean you ask? The exact words on the paper "Your child has been tentatively assigned to ___________ for the 2010-2011 school year. Please be aware the assigned classroom is subject to change." Not too sure what that means since there was NOT anything like that last year. Also tucked into the papers was the 2nd grade school supplies. I guess we shall see.

As far as the school supply list goes, it seems pretty reasonable. Here are the items:

  • pencils – 20 plain yellow wooden pencils
  • eraser – large pink
  • scissors
  • 6 LARGE glue sticks
  • plastic pencil box (2 1/2 x 5 x 8 inches)
  • one box of 24 crayons – no larger!
  • a red pen – for correcting
  • 2 marble composition notebooks
  • 1 plastic pocket folder, labeled with your child’s name
  • a book bad (no wheels please; they are unsafe on the stairs)
  • 1 LARGE box of tissues to be shared in the classroom
  • 1 LARGE package of baby wipes (to clean desks and hands)

I do have some of the items at home already thanks to great sales last year and teaching supplies that I still have on hand. We will keep an eye out for the back to school sales, which will begin next week (typically after July 4th). I am intrigued with the correcting pen. I really like that they will be editing their own work and hope this will address my concern with inventive spelling.

Another item in NHL’s backpack was the pencil box from first grade. Here are the items that I found when I opened it up:

Post 1st grade supplies

The pencils and crayon bits are now tossed, but the box is still in pretty good shape. I still have to see if the glue sticks are dried out or can be used for summer projects.

My next thought is whether or not we will need to get anything for JSL. *gasp*. . . my baby starts nursery school in September. Of course, right now the biggest item on my supply list for him is to get underpants on him. The two of us are still working on the power struggle that is potty training. At just three years old, I do not want to push him too much, but I KNOW he is ready. Oh well, that is a story for another day.

If you have school aged children, what is on your list this year? 

As a parent and former teacher, I am always curious to see what the lists look like at different grade levels.

TheAngelForever

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My new second grader

Dear NHL,

September seems like such a long time ago. You went into school at the start of 1st grade and were nervous. You had a new backpack that seemed so big at the time. You did not know your teacher and were anxious to see your friends.

Looking a little worried

Fast forward to June, last Thursday to be exact. That afternoon it was official, you are now a second grader! It is hard to believe that you are finished with the first grader and moving on up in elementary school. You have learned so much in the last year and have made us so proud. In the last year you have read well over 200 books and counting. That scared little boy that you see above on the first day of school is no longer here. You are so much more confident now. Here you are on the last day of school as you learned who your 2nd grader teacher will likely be.

New Second Grader

That last bit of my little boy is gone since you have grown up so much this year. I really hope you know how much I love you. I am so excited that you will be going to camp this summer. I think you will have a lot of fun running, playing and exploring all that they have to offer. Of course, the days that you are not at camp, JSL and I will have adventures with you. We will do crafts, bowl, go to the park, swim, dance, sing and be silly together. I want your summers to be as memorable as I recall mine being.

Love,

Mommy

_______________________________________

If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Dear Kid
Saturday

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Summer fun at the library

Wednesday was a miserable and rainy day. JSL was going stir crazy and kept asking to get out of the house. Eventually, I asked him if he wanted to go to the library to get some things and play. Yes, I said play at the library. They were open at that point and I knew they had just gotten some puzzles for kids and had a LEGO table with several types of building blocks. I also thought about taking his library card so he could use their computers to try some things on kid websites.

When JSL and I arrived at the library, it was pretty empty. First, we went to get some DVDs and then settled into the kids area. JSL took out a puzzle and then decided he wanted to check out the blocks and build some items. He was playing very nicely all alone. I will spare you the details about what happened when two girls suddenly arrived without any adults. Thankfully, JSL kept playing and was letting the girls take a ton of the items away from him.

Fun time at the library.

As JSL was using his imagination, I sat next to him on the floor and was knitting my current small project. It was nice and quiet, so I could knit and watch the little guy play.

Time for some knitting

While there, I also realized that in just a few short days both of the boys will be home for the summer. NHL will be going to camp part of the time, but JSL will be home with me until he starts nursery school part time in the fall.

So my questions to you today:

1. When was the last time you went to the library and what did you do or get while you were there?

2. Aside from spending time at the park, playing outside and visiting the library, what other ideas do you have to keep two kids busy during the summer that will not break my bank?

TheAngelForever

_____________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #104

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Thank a teacher – Bing Teacher Appreciation Tour

As a classroom teacher, I spent a lot of my own money buying things for my classroom, students and beyond. It may have been a little here, and a little there, but it adds up quickly. Did I mind? Not one bit. To me it was part of my job and helped to make the classroom experience better for the kids.

My old classroom

Many people ask me why I became a teacher. It’s easy, I was inspired by my teachers. I loved how they spent each and every day trying to make us the best that we could be. They were the ones that taught me to read, write and have a fascination with the world around me. Although I am home with my boys right now, I am still a teacher at heart. When we go places, I am constantly thinking about lessons that could be taught. As I take photos, I inventory them for future use when I go back to teaching.

Right after I decided to stay home with my boys, I heard about DonorsChoose.org. This is an organization that works with teachers in the classroom to set up projects that need funding. Teachers submit plans for items that they need, you pick a classroom in need and donate money to them. DonorsChoose.org buys the requested items for the classroom with the money donated and kids and teachers benefit. One of my teaching friends, CityStreams, did a DonorsChoose.org project and wrote about it here. The possibilities are endless. Each teacher can submit an idea and donors help them to make their lesson plan a reality.

If you could take a minute to thank a teacher from your past or one that your child has now, would you? Would you do it if it meant you earned a $5 donation to DonorsChoose.org that you could put toward any project of your choice?

Bing Education

Now that I have your attention, let me tell you you can participate. Here is more about the Bing Teacher Appreciation outreach with DonorsChoose.org:

Starting on May 19th, Bing is encouraging students and parents to recognize teachers who have made a difference in their lives through a new philanthropic campaign focused on supporting kids’ education. Bing has committed to a gift of up to $500,000 and teamed up with DonorsChoose.org to provide both kids and adults with a way to express their thanks to a teacher and help another teacher or school in the process.

Visit www.bing.com/education to post a comment or share a story about a teacher who made a difference in your life (or the life of your child), and Bing will provide you with a $5 donation to DonorsChoose.org, which can be applied toward any classroom project of your choice. Each visitor can leave up to 5 comments, resulting in a total donation of $25. At the end of June, Bing will aggregate the comments and share them with each teacher in the form of a congratulations letter.

It really is that simple. You go to the Bing website, thank a teacher, and soon after receive a $5 DonorsChoose.org code to donate to any current project of your choice. So far I have sent thank you notes to NHL’s 1st grade teacher and the school Nurse Teacher. I will be doing an additional three to make sure that I get the $25 to donate by July 10.

Check out schools in your area. There are a lot in mine that are looking for donations. Right now, I am working with my son’s school to come up with a project. Why? Well, when I signed up for this Blog Tour I received a $100 code to use on DonorsChoose.org. I have donated with them before and seen projects that my teaching friends have accomplished thanks to them. I am looking forward to donating this $100 toward something that my children and others at our school will benefit from.

A big thank you to Bing for supporting teachers and all that we do in the classrooms to help the children that will be the leaders of the world in years to come. Now please do your part and thank some teachers to help classrooms that are in need. Let’s make sure that Bing donates the maximum amount to needy classrooms all over. 

TheAngelForever

Disclosure:  I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and a $100 DonorsChoose.org giving code to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a thank-you gift certificate.

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Impromptu Butterfly Poem

Kids, they never fail to amaze you from time to time. Of course, the risk is that they can also embarrass you in public places. NHL and I just got back from his school. Tonight, they had a Literacy Celebration for Readers to Leaders. The PreK kids started off with a Poetry in Motion show for everyone. Once that was over, the kids broke up into different groups. NHL went with the PreK to 1st graders to read a poem together, hear a story and make a craft.  

Butterfly craft in progress

When we were finished here, there was an open microphone poetry event. The younger kids arrived first and were ready to get up and share. The first few got up and just stood there. I watched as other parents were mortified with what their children were doing. Then, NHL stood up and went to the microphone. I assumed he knew his poem by heart. I was wrong. With a packed library of  parents, students, teachers and the principal standing, NHL went to the microphone and created the following poem on demand:

Poem on the Fly - by NHL

The plan had been to read the acrostic poem titled Worms, but it was MIA. NHL was on his toes thanks to the following inspiration:

The Butterfly with yellow antennae

The moral of the story is that kids are full of surprises. You really never know what type of beautiful, bizarre or poetic words will fall from their lips. NHL, I love you my sweet, six year old poet.

TheAngelForever

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