Puppets in the Classroom

You might be surprised how puppets can add to a classroom. When looking for school supplies for teachers, do not only stick with the pen, paper and maybe some posters. Get a puppet. Younger children love them and older children will laugh at them and at you. You will be surprised how they remember what your puppet says!

Try pulling out a crazy looking puppet to convey rules, to sing a silly song to help them remember something, to teach social behaviors where the puppet does everything wrong. You do not have to be a great ventriloquist, just talk and use a silly voice. I used a puppet this past year, Tina, and she was loved by all. It is a great school supply for teachers and it doesn't have to come out very often. I chose to have her help me with the calendar and with letter of the day. She was funny and the kids asked to see her all the time.

Some tips when using puppets:

(1) Make sure you have a "home" for the puppet and never let the kids play with or take him/her out of its home because it remains real and a mystery for them.

(2) Don't let kids touch him or her.

(3) Use a silly voice.

(4) Have fun!!

Find ways to incorporate the not so normal school supplies for teachers and your classroom will come to life!

Starting High School

My child is starting High School, do you have any advice on how to make this an easy transition?

Start off the year communicating with teachers. Know your child's schedule. Pay attention to when they have certain classes. Most teachers have websites now and you can easily access them as well as email them. Let them know that you are paying attention to their schedule and your children will see that interest and know if you are interested, they will have a bit of accountability. Granted, your child does need to take some responsibility but it is good for them to see mom and dad showing an interest.

Also, take your high schooler out to eat before they are starting high school. Talk through some of the expectations for the year. For example: talk about what they desire to do this year in terms of activities, talk about when they will do homework, jobs, allowances, friends. You can also use this time to discuss your expectations. This is a great idea to give your high schooler and you a chance to come up with a plan together. You will be surprised how the plan works a bit better when they help come up with it.

Enjoy - High School is a fun time! Don't be scared of it!

Starting the School Year

As teachers, do you have any advice for me as my children get close to starting the school year?

Well the best thing you can do is keep your child's brain active. That can be done in many ways but mostly with reading to them and discussion about things they are doing or seeing throughout the summer. 

Another good idea is to get your children on a schedule as the school year approaches. Starting the school year can be a bit hard when you have to get used to getting up early. Try to wake them up at the same time, get them to bed a bit earlier and maybe even doing a bit of "homework" with them. It could be as simple as writing what they did this summer or even a thank you note to someone. 

For younger children you can get their hand muscles in check and tuned up before school starts. Make sure you give them opportunities to cut, write and squeeze things so that their little hands will be strong enough for all the school activities that will be required of them.

Most of all play with them, have fun, pray for their teachers, friends and make school coming an exciting thing for them. Starting the school year can be an easy, fun transition if we do simple things to make the school year start successfully.