Monday, August 12, 2019

Back to School Activities and Tips for Teachers and Parents

It's back to school time again! When I was in school, we didn't start back until after Labor Day, but these days, some kids go back by the end of August. In fact, some school systems are already back in session. With so many kids going back to school so early, the time can creep up on us before we're ready. I mean . . . it's still summer! Oh well, whether we like it or not, when it's time to go back to school, it's time to go back to school. Here's a list of back to school activities and tips for parents, teachers, and students. I hope this makes your transition into a new school year a little easier.

Back to School Activities and Tips for Teachers and Parents

Let's start out with The Ultimate Back to School To-Do List for Busy Moms. Here, you'll find shopping tips for new clothes and school supplies. You'll find advice for updating health and personal care records, important paperwork, preparing for before and after school care for your kids, and getting ready for that very first day. There's lots of good stuff in this post so head over to Productive Pete now to read the full article.

Use this free back to school printable from Paper Trail Design at home to get into the mindset of going back to school. If you're a teacher, you can use this as an in-class activity for the first day of school. Go grab your I Spy Back to School free printable here.

Handprint and footprint keepsakes were always some of my favorite activities when my kids were growing up. This handprint apple and footprint school bus are perfect to mark the back to school occasion. I personally LOVE the footprint school bus. Check them out here at i heart arts n crafts.

OK Teachers, this one is specifically geared toward you. Kacie Travis over at Managing and Motivating Math Minds has compiled an important list for your new school year. She lists 8 important things that should be at the top of teachers's to-do list for the beginning of the year. I read them all and they are good tips. Head over there now and make sure you're doing these 8 things.

Here's a cute little free printable for preschoolers. This can be done at home with a parent or at school on the first day with a preschool teacher. I would do this on the first day and then again on the last day. It's always fun to see how children progress from day one to the last day. This printable is courtesy of No Time for Flash Cards. Go get it here.

Here's another one geared toward school teachers, but I think this is good for homeschool settings as well. Here's a list of what NOT to do on the first day of school. Head over to Teach for the Heart to find out what not to do.

(I would like to take a moment to insert my own piece of advice here. I was a public school teacher and also a homeschool teacher/parent. I often hear my homeschool parent peers talk about having class in their pajamas or staying in their pjs all day long. Please don't do this. I made my daughter get up early, dress appropriately, make her bed, and be ready to start class by 8am every day. It's just my personal opinion, but I believe allowing too much flexibility fails to adequately prepare our kids for adult responsibilities later on. Don't wait until they are teenagers to start preparing them. Start early. Train them up for a lifestyle of responsibility. Get up early yourself. Teach your kids to set an alarm and get themselves up. Train them to get dressed for the day. By having them make their beds, you are setting them up for a more successful day. I know it might sound like a little crazy but it works. If you do this, then they will have already accomplished several tasks successfully by 8am. They are set up for success. When they sleep late, fall out of bed, and stumble to the table only half awake, they are not ready to start a school day. Trust me on this. OK, I'm done. Now, on with more back to school activities and tips.)

Do you need a bulletin board idea? This one is a cute one for grades 1, 2, and 3. The theme is "We've Got a Bright Year Ahead." This is a digital download from Stephanie Trapp's Teachers Pay Teachers store.

I'm placing another list on this list. Here's a list of 25 Amazingly Fun STEM Activities for Back to School. Hop over to Steamsational to check out this great list.

I love this idea from i heart CRAFTY things. Put together a Back to School Time Capsule. It's a mason jar craft and it's so cute. If you don't want to use a mason jar, you can use a box. Head over there now and get complete instructions for putting one together for your child.

Young children love to trace and color things. Tracing and coloring is important because these activities help develop those small motor skills. Hop over to Totschooling to download a Back to School Tracing and Coloring Activity.

Do you teach 2nd grade? Here are several ideas for the first week of second grade. Kristin over at School and the City is a second grade teacher who shares her ideas. Hop over there and see what she's doing.

Britni over at Play.Party.Plan has compiled a list of 17 Back to School Games. Who doesn't love a beach ball game on the first day of school? She has a scavenger hunt, a relay race, a bingo game, and many other fun ways to start the school year whether your child is in public school, private school, or homeschool. Hop over to Play.Party.Plan to check out the entire list.

Here's another list of back to school activities. I found this article because I liked the Bingo game, but there are so many other fun things on this list. There's a Scattergories game! I haven't played that game in years. There is a cootie catchers game. The list of 20 activities is compiled by My Life and Kids. Head over there and check it out.

Here's another cute one from i heart CRAFTY things. It's a school bus photo frame. It's just simply adorable. Hop over there now to check out this cute school bus photo frame idea.

Do your kids love jokes? Here's a cute paper joke teller activity. We used to make these when we were kids a long time ago . . . a very long time ago . . . but kids still love to make these fun paper activities. Hop over to BrenDid to learn how to make the joke teller. I think you get it for free if you subscribe to her site.

Preschool Teachers! You will not want to miss this one. Jackie over at Pocket of Preschool offers you lesson plans for the first ten days of school. You'll get center lessons, all about me lessons, routines, class rules, fire drill routine, playground rules, blocks, discovery, and more. This looks like a treasure for preschool teachers. Hop over to Pocket of Preschool to get your lessons.

Many teachers like for their students to wear name tags on the first few days of school. Why not let this be a STEM challenge activity for the kids? For the Love of Teachers Shop at Teachers Pay Teachers has a free download for a Name Tag STEM challenge. Students must create their own name tags by following the instructions in the STEM challenge. Get it here!

All About Me theme activities are popular during the first few weeks of school across many grade levels. Here's a different spin on this popular theme. Hayley over at Activity After Math with Haley uses a Math All About Me activity. Go see her here to get yours.

Our last back to school activity is a great one by Pink Oatmeal Shop. It's a back to school fine motor package. There are lots of other fine motor activities and various packages in this shop. I believe there is an option to buy a lifetime membership for all your motor planning resources. Head over there here to check it out.

Well, if you check out all the back to school activities on this list and then you check out all the back activities on the lists that are on this list, you have a LOT of ideas to start off your school year. I hope this helps.

If you are a teacher or homeschool parent who has an activity idea or special tip to share, let us know in the comments. Feel free to add to the list!

Have a great school year everyone!

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