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Middle School Supplies and Mabel’s Labels

Posted on August 25, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

While many parents have already sent their kids back to school, my boys are still home until after Labor Day. School supply shopping was finally finished over the weekend when we picked up a few odds and ends. As a parent and teacher, I know how important it is to label items brought into school. When Mabel’s Labels asked me if I wanted to try their Stylish Scholars Combo pack, I immediately said yes please!

Mabel’s Labels are not new to us. We have used them for a few years now and they stay right where you put them. The Skinny-Minis™ are able to go into the dishwasher and microwave, the Tag Mates™ may be washed and dried, and the Round Labels and Teeny Tags™ are waterproof and UV resistant. The labels honestly last the entire school year and beyond. While I knew I could get some for JSL to use in second grade, I wanted to focus on my new middle school student. Yes, I needed something for NHL to take to sixth grade and the start of his new middle school career.

Middle school is a rough time in life for kids, so I wanted to find something that was subtle and not babyish. While a hockey stick or robot may have been fine in the past, you never know what another kid may make fun of. The Stylish Scholars Combo had a dozen choices for patterns. When I saw the Camo, I knew it would be perfect for NHL. It was subtle, masculine, and his backpack also has a camouflage pattern. Rather than put his full name on everything, we opted for just our last name. Everything arrived and looks perfect. We had plenty for the supplies needed now and any that crop up during the rest of the year.

I highly recommend Mabel’s Labels and adore the back to school packages that are available now. There are a wide variety of designs available for young children, Tweens, teens, and adults (talk about a fun teacher gift).

Now please excuse me. I need to figure out how we are hauling the items shown above and more to middle school. Oh and I also plan on cherishing the last few days of our summer before heading back to the hectic school routine.

Happy 2014-2015 school year wishes to everyone as you begin another academic year.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Stylish Scholars Combo package from Mabel’s Labels in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own.

Categories:
Product review school shopping Uncategorized

The Great 2014 School Supply Lists

Posted on July 31, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Each year it has become a tradition to share what our school supply lists are and to see how they compare to others in other locations. As a teacher, I loved this time of year when I could get bargains for my classrooms. As a parent, I try to save when I can, but it is often more important to grab things when they are in stock so there is no stress later on. JSL’s second grade supply list came home with his report card at the end of June. While I waited to see if the middle school would post the new 2014-2015 list, it never showed up. This week I called and asked if I could get it sent to me so I could get started on shopping. The photo below are most, but not all of the items that JSL needs for second grade. I have not started to gather things for my middle schooler (still hard to say that), but will shortly.

2nd Grade Supply List

One plastic folder with pockets (for take-home)
4 pocket folders (1 blue, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 purple)
Pencils (3 packages, sharpened, Ticonderoga)
2 erasers
1 box of 24 crayons
2 packages of 4 Expo or Dry Erase markers
1 pair of school scissors
2 glue sticks
2 hard cover marble notebooks (1 black, 1 red)
1 zippered soft pencil case
2 boxes of Kleenex
1 package of baby wipes (unscented) refills
1 large roll of paper towels
Ziploc sandwich bags (gallon size for boys, sandwich size for girls)
2 packs of Post-Its (3×3 for boys, 2×2 for girls)
Money for Time for Kids magazine

Seems pretty standard and to compare it to what NHL needed four years ago, you can see his list here.

Now please hold me. There may have been tears when I saw the 6th grade supply list. I have a feeling this is not complete because they may need items for classes like music and art. I guess we will know more in September.

6th Grade Supply List

Reading

200 index cards
loose-leaf paper
Post-It notes
1 blue folder
2 single subject blue notebooks
blue, green, and yellow highlighter
3 required reading books (Very interesting titles that are all fiction)

Science

1 green folder
1 hard cover green marble notebook
ruler
pencils only
loose-leaf paper
roll of Scotch Tape
pack of baby wipes

Social Studies

1 red folder
loose-leaf paper
1 single subject red notebook
colored pencils

Writing

Index cards
pencils
2 hard cover yellow marble notebooks
1 yellow folder
high lighter
Post-Its

Math

folder
loose-leaf paper
1 marble black composition notebooks
pencils

In addition to this it mentions a 2-3” binder, flash/jump drive 4 GB, 3 boxes of tissues, homework folder, lots of pencils, pens, dividers for binder, and 2 pocket hole punched folders for each subject in the colors mentioned.

Did I mention I am ready to cry? It isn’t because of the list, no definitely not that. As a middle school teacher in the past it seems reasonable. I am just reminded that my kiddo is a middle schooler and ready or not it is coming our way.

So what items are on your school supply lists? Have you found any really great sales this year? Please share below. As I have said before, I really am a school supply geek.

Categories:
school shopping

Saying Goodbye to Elementary School

Posted on June 26, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Watching your child grow up often comes with mixed emotions. This week has given me so many of those moments all at once. Monday morning, I cried driving the boys to school.

Why?

It hit me on the ride over that it would be the last Monday I would ever be taking both boys to the same school. NHL and JSL will never be in the same school again. This was the last year. The kids saw that I had tears in my eyes and asked why. I was honest and told them. They were so sweet and held my hands on the way into school. Clearly, they knew that Mom needed a little TLC.

Of course, more emotions were there on the last full day that both boys would be in the same school. Over the last month or so, I have watched each afternoon as NHL and JSL would grab each others hands and walk to my car. They would go ahead of me and talk about gym, lunch, class time, and homework. There was something special about this time and I will miss witnessing it.

Now, the school year is basically complete. I wanted to cherish all of this more, but living in the moment you often forget to do this. What hurts most is knowing there were days that I wanted this school year to be over, but in reality I never did. I liked knowing that the boys had each other in the same building if there was ever an emergency. I loved being able to see both of their smiling faces if I happened to stop by to help in one classroom or the other.

In September, things will be different. NHL will be off to a new adventure in middle school and JSL will continue along for the next four years in elementary school. As summer break is about to begin, my goal is to relax and enjoy the time with the boys. I want to have fun, explore, and help them to make special memories. We will try not to worry about the unknown that lies ahead of us with middle school and keep focused on summer and the next two months we have together.

Categories:
looking back parenting school summer

Moving Up to Middle School

Posted on June 12, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Moving up to middle school from elementary school is a huge milestone for children and parents alike. I still vividly recall that time in my childhood. After being in the same school from kindergarten to sixth grade, it was hard to move forward. I remember signing yearbooks, the last week of celebration with friends, and the tears because not everyone would be going to the same middle school.

I have spent additional time in middle school since I moved on to high school and beyond. As a teacher, I had an eighth grade homeroom and taught students from sixth to eighth grade. I witnessed this confusing time period from the teacher perspective. To say that it was an eye opening experience would be an understatement. I do believe it helped me a lot in my life at home.

Now, I am going to finish the trifecta of middle school milestones. My oldest will be moving up from fifth grade at the end of this school year. NHL will be an official middle school student going to a much bigger school.

Trying to get NHL ready and not scare him about the changes is the goal for this summer. We are going to make the most of the time together. He will be busy at camp for some of the days. Other times, we will frequent events at the library, museums, and other locations. The spray ground will call our names on hot days to cool off. Most important, we will all decompress as much as possible before we start this new academic adventure together in September.

For those of you who have children that have moved from elementary school to middle school, what are your tips for easing into this transition?

P.S. A huge thank you to the amazing parents at our school that made the moving up carnival this weekend. The kids had a wonderful time and it made me smile seeing them so happy together.

Categories:
milestone school

Reminder to Refuse the Tests

Posted on March 28, 2014 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

It is no secret that I am passionate about education advocacy. I am a teacher and I am not too shy to admit that for the second year in a row I will be refusing the tests for my oldest son.

My fifth grader will not be taking the New York State ELA and Math exams that begin on April 1. While the date is humorous, it really is no joke that the kids of NYS and across the country are being used as guinea pigs. This generation of students are taking high stakes testing that is tied to the new bungled Common Core Standards. Please understand that this is not about making education more rigorous for our children, and improving public education like the education reformers claim. Follow the money trail and check the facts. This is simply about the privatization of public schools and companies like Pearson, Gates, and others making BILLIONS off our our children and their data. Yes, most of this is just about data and companies hungry to make money off of it.

Please take a moment and view this powerful video from Change the Stakes. When you finish watching, remember this is the reality that all of the children in grades 3-8 in New York are going through all year long.

Do not forget, as parents and guardians, you have the right to refuse the tests for our children. There are no consequences for children, schools, teachers, or districts. Scare tactics are being sent out via the New York State Department of Education. Commissioner John King is spreading his propaganda about how the tests will help students, but it is not true. Our children are more than a number. My kids and yours deserve to be learning in a way that does not focus on tests that give us no feedback. Teachers are professionals that know how to use authentic assessment tools to let us know how our kids are doing. High stakes testing needs to end and we must move away from the theory that Common Core is a mess simply because of the implementation. That is a myth, but only made matters much much worse for the kids that are stuck dealing with this on a daily basis.

It is time to stand up tall and join the education revolution and REFUSE the tests because it is the right thing to do for your children. For more information about refusing the tests (it is NOT too late) please head over to NYS Allies for Public Education to learn more.

Previous posts about education advocacy: