Secrets to What Is Going On at School

By Guest Blogger Kelly Gunzenhauser


My older son has started kindergarten. It’s been a big change from cozy preschool. I feel a little lost, and my son has done the big-kid-clam-up. He won’t tell me what happens at school! Lots of kids do this. They just lived it; they do not want to talk about it again. Sheesh, Mom, give it a rest. But I am just so darn curious. OK, nosy. Here’s how I tried to find out what really happened.

First, I learned to ask better questions. The answers for, “How was your day?” do not tell me much. Yes-or-no questions do not really work, either. (“Did you eat snack today?” “Nope.” “Did you do any math?” “Sure!”) So, I have tried to craft better questions, “What was the best/hardest/most fun thing you did today?” pulls out more detail.

Second, I pay attention to when I ask. In the car on the way home is an okay time, but we only have a five-minute drive. Dinnertime is better since we all take turns talking about our days. I try not to do it at bedtime. He’ll talk to me, but thinking about kindergarten keeps him awake. I know this, of course, because of idea #3, which is:

I listen to my kid play alone. After the second night of kindergarten, my son took his cars to bed. (That’s normal, for us. Who cares if they are hard and bumpy to sleep with?) We turned on the monitor and heard, “Who knows what a hockey puck looks like? Raise your hands. Okay, now who has seen a hockey game?” He was “teaching” his cars. This idea led to my fourth idea, which was:

I asked him to play school with me. Oh goodness. Dad, little brother, and I all got in the floor in front of the chalkboard easel. I watched my little five-year-old transform into a teacher. He explained the behavior monitoring system, which took up a huge portion of the “lesson.” He taught us how to transition to centers, how to line up for the bathroom, how loud we could be (level 1 or level 2 voices, everyone!), and then he did a letter recognition exercise. It was hilarious to see him in total control. In fact, when it was time to stop playing and take a bath, he had a hard time giving up the control—and the play—and a meltdown ensued. He is begging to do it again, though.

My little guy is still just three. I know he will spill the beans when he gets home from his first day of preschool today. And he’s that kind of kid, anyway. But hopefully, my older one will want to play school for a while. I learn as much from him playing school as he does at real school!

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Transitioning into Kindergarten

By Guest Blogger Kelly Sipe, Greensboro Day School

Robert Fulghum wrote "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Take a moment to read all of the life skills that are taught in kindergarten. And, on top of all that, children are expected to grow academically, master fine motor skills, navigate through social dynamics and make friends. These children will also have a variety of specialist teachers (art, music, P.E., etc), in addition to their classroom teachers.

Kindergarten is as big as any major life transition. Here are some things you should expect, and things you can do to make the transition succesful for both you and your child...

If your child comes home from school and expresses anxiety and/or fatigue please know that this is normal. It typically takes children a full 4-6 weeks to acclimate themselves to their new routine. Quality teachers (and programs) pace their kindergarten curriculum with this in mind.

Over the next few weeks expect that you will communicate frequently with your child's teacher to make this a smooth transition for everyone. If your child's school doesn't already offer beginning of the year conferences, you can request one. As a kindergarten teacher, these early conferences are incredibly valuable. They allow for the assistant teacher and myself to get to know the families and learn about the child. It allows parents the opportunity to begin building a relationship with the teacher and to learn first hand what the teacher's expectations are.

It will also be important to attend your school's Parents' Night. The kindergarten year is full of wonder, excitement, growth, independence and friendship. It is one of the most important and special stages of your child's life. In helping to make the start of kindergarten as smooth as possible, here are a few things you can do at home:

-Limit after school activities (even play dates should be limited or postponed for the first few weeks).

-Maintain a regular and early bedtime.

-Eat a good breakfast and send healthy choices for morning snack (protein foods are perfect!).

-Allow quiet time every day .. time for you and your child to talk about the day without the distractions of television, video games, etc.

-Help your child to articulate his/her feelings so that they can better understand what they are feeling/experiencing.

-Give lots of hugs and encouragement ... remain positive, even if you are anxious and overwhelmed yourself (I say this because I admit to being an anxious Mom myself!).

-Connect with a first grade parent, who has made this kindergarten transition with their own child in the not so distant past.

-Although anxiety and fatigue is completely normal and expected, these feelings are very real to your child. Allow your child to walk through these emotions, with adult support, so he/she will gain the confidence and the necessary tools they will need to make kindergarten the wonderful journey it is intended to be!

Thanks, Kelly, for these great tips and suggestions! I know a lot of parents are looking for advice right now. These tips were great for me, too, as a mother of a first grader - KM

What are some things you have you done to help transition your kindergartner - either this year or in the past?

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It's Back to School Week!

By Rachel H

All of us at Triad Smarty Pants hope your family had a summer to remember! Whether you are ready or not, it is time for school to begin! This week we are focusing on "Back to School" articles. We have some new blogs to share with you as well as previous blogs that we think are valuable reminders to make this school year successful for you and your children.

Today we are running a post from which we received a lot of positive feedback last year. Our guest blogger, Michelle Bostian, focuses on how you can help your children handle bullying. Be sure to check out the websites and recommended books at the end of the article for more information on this topic.


"Bullying - It's Not What It Used to Be"

By Guest Blogger
Michelle Bostian, LCSW
Lower School Counselor for Greensboro Day School


Bullying today is just not what it used to be ... We are always hearing that these days. “Well, when I was a kid we had to walk to school in the snow!” The same applies to bullying. It is not the tyranny of the big mean boy who steals lunch money. It’s the otherwise sweet girl that shares her candy with all the girls she likes in front of that one girl that she doesn’t. It’s the special clubs and exclusionary occurrences on the playground day after day. Sure, there are still instances of name calling and deliberate tripping. But now there are obvious and malicious emails intended to haunt and dominate. Today, the bullying we need to target and prevent with our children is the subtle, the covert and the as yet, uncensored.

Bullying prevention could be called something friendlier like “friendship skills”. Or it could be called something really basic, like “empathy”. Bottom line, the emotional impact from any type of bullying is the same. The psychological scarring implicit with this behavior is well known to be a common underlying factor in a child’s history who later commits acts of violence or other socially unacceptable behavior.

So here’s the deal. All kids can be bullies, or “wear the bully hat” as author Trudy Ludwig puts it when she travels the US and talks with school age kids about bullying. When someone hurts someone else, dominates them in some way, and they know it is hurting the other person, that is bullying. Plain and simple. It’s the group of girls at lunch who scooch over and fill up the empty space when your daughter comes to sit down. Then they quickly adjust to allow the girl behind her space to sit at their table. Bullying is when your son tells you he and his friends did sit ups in a goofy way just like “that weird boy”, and everyone laughed.

You know it when you hear it. As a parent you likely get that feeling in the pit of your stomach that you just ache for your child. You want to go grab that kid in the library and set a few things straight. You want to give that kid a piece of your mind, let her know that she can’t treat your kid that way and get away with it. But you can’t. When you intervene like this as a parent you render your child powerless and at greater risk of being victimized again.

The more powerful thing to do is to empower your kids. Equip them with the problem solving skills to assert themselves. Role play with your kids. They need to practice the skills to create those pathways in their brains. They need to practice until it is as automatic as “stop, drop and roll”. Please don’t tell them to ignore it. Every kid who has ever come to talk to me about this stuff has already tried that. Teach kids first to say, “Stop”. They also need skills like walking away, changing the subject and saying something ridiculously funny. Explain the difference between telling and tattling. Tattling is to get someone else in trouble: “He took two cookies instead of one”. Telling is to protect someone from getting hurt on the inside or on the outside: “She calls me Fatty Patty every day at recess and now two other girls call me that too.”

Books your children can read to help build the skills and social resilience they need to succeed are listed at the end of this article. There are lots of books you can read, too. Equally important, there are things you can do each and every day to reduce your child’s likelihood that they will be bullied or that they will bully. It boils down to empathy. Teach them to think about their feelings and the feelings of others. Teach them that their behavior has an impact on the feelings of others. Model this type of behavior at home through simple things like sharing your “lows and highs” each day. This gives kids a tool for talking about their feelings. And it gives adults a tool as well.

In our family, on the nights we sit down together for dinner, we share our lows and highs. One person starts with “My low is that Caitlyn broke my favorite pencil today. My high is that we had ice cream after school.” Each person has a turn, even parents. It’s important for parents to let kids know that not only do they have feelings, but that sometimes relationships have difficult elements. It might go something like this: “My low is that I had an argument with a friend today and I feel sad about that. My high is that we had a good talk at lunch and we worked it out.” You don’t need to share more about the disagreement. Just share that you have them and that they don’t feel good and that you DO work them out.

Last, be sure your school has an empathy building curriculum. (At Greensboro Day School we use a program called Second Step.) Ask your school how they build a child’s empathy, perspective taking and problem solving skills. These are the skills to success. Not just emotional success, but educational success as well. When kids are not preoccupied by their social world around them they are much more focused on their school work. And guess what? They are also more inclined to follow directions at home when they are not ruminating about social drama at school!

Books for adults:
*Faber, Adele and Mazlish, Elaine. Siblings Without Rivalry
*Rubin, Kenneth and Thompson, Andrea. The Friendship Factor: Helping Our Children Navigate Their Social World – And Why it Matters to their Success and Happiness
*Sheras, Peter. Your Child: Bully or Victim? Understanding and Ending School Yard Tyranny

Websites:
http://www.bullying.org/
http://www.operationrespect.com/

Books for Kids:
Burnett, Karen Gedig. Simon’s Hook; A story About Teases and Putdowns
Cohen-Posey, Kate. How to Handle Bullies, Teaser and Other Meanies: A Book That Takes the Nuisance Out of Name Calling and Other Nonsense
Crosby, Bill. The Meanest Thing to Say
Lester, Helen. Hooway for Wodney
Ludwig, Trudy. My Secret Bully
Ludwig, Trudy. Just Kidding
Ludwig, Trudy. Sorry
Moss, Peggy. Say Something
Munson, Derek. Enemy Pie
Polacco, Patricia. Mr. Lincoln’s Way

Michelle is a counselor at Greensboro Day School and has a private practice. I want to thank her for this very informative article today. I have made the mistake of telling my children to “ignore it” many times, so I was relieved to read the alternatives she suggested above. I already Googled a few of her suggested reading materials and they can easily be found on Amazon, as well as our local book stores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble.

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Smarty Back to School Gear!

By Jen P, Charlotte Smarty Pants

Back-to-school shopping always sneaks up on us just as we're enjoying the full swing of summer, doesn't it? No worries - in typical Smarty fashion, we've scoured the web and the QC for some of the coolest finds so your little bookworm will be decked out.

Backpack & Lunchpack Guide:
Pottery Barn Kids - PBK is again top of my list with durability and fashion in one fell shopping swoop. For girls and boys alike, the Mackenzie Collection delivers. That Star Wars theme rocks for the 'lil dudes. I would recommend the small backpack ($39) for kindergartners and the large backpack ($45) for 2nd grade and up. Don't even bother with a preschool backpack yet, because many preschools require a certain bag or bucket. Check out PBTeen if you don't see a pattern that you like. Very stylish and a little more grown up. PBK & PB Teen are both offering free shipping right now.



Garnet Hill Signature Backpack Collection has very fun backpacks and they tend to be made of lightweight material. I would highly recommend the Backpack Junior ($29.50) for kindergartners since it fits a standard folder and you don't want it too heavy on their backs. The Backpack collection for $39.50 is designed for ages 7 and up. Garnet Hill is offering a free lunch pack with the purchase of a patterned backpack or backpack Jr thru Oct 5th, these retail for $16.50.

L.L.Bean has had super cool backpacks for as long as I can remember and their Junior Original Book Pack for $18.36 will not disappoint and what a bargain. This bag is perfect for K-2. The Original Book Pack for $22.36 is perfect for ages 7 and up and the Deluxe Book Pack for $31.96 is good for 10 and up.

Lands End has been the backpack headquarters for some time now too, rivaling that of L.L.Bean. Their ClassMate line is what I would look at for elementary school kids. The ClassMate SmallHaul backpack for $24.50 is perfect for K-2. You can promote your kids to the ClassMate StudyHaul backpack for grades 3 and up. By this age, your kids will want to throw everything they can in their backpacks so it's important to have a little extra room. Lands End lunch boxes range from $14.50 to $19.50. I tend to think Lands End and L.L.Bean have a good boy backpack selection.

Go Green and Reuse:
Again, I'm loving PBK this year! They are now offering Klean Kanteen water bottles to match their backpack patterns. They also have cool Hot-Cold food containers. All of which you can get monogrammed so they don't end up in lost and found. Last year I was excited about the Crocodile Creek water bottles, but I was not impressed with how they held up. I'm never a fan of any children's item that requires hand-washing - I tried hard to stick to that rule, and they still peeled off.

I'm also digging the customized Sigg bottles at Cafe Press. Sigg is still my favorite reusable water bottle - the only thing that bugs me is the lid is too small to add ice. But my kids like everything room temp and that aluminum keeps your drinks naturally cold anyway.

Garnet Hill also has super cute personalized water bottles. Love their mono the best:-)

Peep this presh & Smarty reusable and washable snack bag from Itzy Ritzy - so cute and green too!
Happy shopping, Smarties and please, please, share your back-to-school tips!

Don't forget to register for our August Giveaway! You could be one of five lucky readers who will win a $20 gift card to Boutique of Couture in Winston-Salem. Think new fall clothes!!! Just click here to take a short survey. You must be a TSP newsletter subscriber to win. This giveaway promotion will run through Noon on Friday, August 13. Winners will be immediately notified and announced on TSP a few days later. Good luck, Smarties!

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Smarty Sponsor: YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses

By Guest Blogger, Andrew Plyler, Director of Adventure Guides

YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses is all about “fostering the father/child relationship.” No gift you give your son or daughter will mean as much as the time you spend with them. And you will find that you will treasure those moments as well.

YMCA Adventure Guides (formerly known as Y-Indian Guides and Princesses) is a father/child program opened to dads and their kids beginning in Kindergarten. Started in 1926, Adventure Guides is the oldest parent/child program the YMCA has offered. Dads and their kids form tribes that meet once a month in a member’s home where they sing songs, do crafts, and tell stories. In addition to the monthly meetings, participants go to Camp Hanes in the fall and spring for a weekend of archery, canoeing, Zip Lines, and more!

Each winter, the Guides (boys) come to the William G. White Jr. Family YMCA for a Lock-In and Princesses attend our Daddy/Daughter Valentines Dance, the largest Daddy/Daughter Dance in the Triad. By focusing on the formative, younger elementary ages, Adventure Guides seeks to foster and strengthen the bond between a father and child.

“To this very day, over 30 years later, I still have such fond memories from my time spent as an Indian Princess. From the meetings at my teepee, to the weekend outings at Camp Sea Gull, time that I spent with my dad was one of the most precious gifts that I would ever receive. I believe that the bond we formed between us during those years is the foundation for the friendship that we share today. And now that I am a mother myself, nothing makes me happier than to see my daughter and her dad experiencing the magic of the Adventure Guides Program together. I know that they are making memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.”
~Amy “Little Butterfly” Rabold, Former Y-Indian Princess, Current Adventure Princess mother


“I love Adventure Guides on many levels - the kids love it, we are making memories together, mom gets a break, I hang out with other dads, etc. Each tribe can really shape the experience based on the personalities of the kids and the dads. The forums and the venues are great - meetings and games in family homes, camping in some great places like Camp Hanes and Camp Cheerio ... there are few other great ways to get started with the outdoor activities and other small group activities that really build the self-confidence of the child. I have a daughter and a son that both love the program - and I admit that I wouldn't "naturally" do some of the great stuff we do together if it weren't for Adventure Guides. The gender differences are interesting and the kids get different things out of it - but both are quick to ask "When is our next Adventure Guides meeting?" and "Dad, when do we go camping again?" They tell me that they enjoy spending time with me and that we don't get to do it enough. Dig it hard before they get to be surly teenagers. This is the good stuff.”
~Steven "Blue Fish" White, CIO, Optcapital - member of Piedmont Prancing Ponies and Hilltop Newts

If you are interested in joining Adventure Guides, it is simple to start your own tribe. Click here to find out how! We hope your experience will be truly rewarding for your family.

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Smarty Sponsor: Summit School

By Guest Blogger Katie L. Grubbs

“Can I go to school tomorrow?” was the question from my son. I responded that school wasn’t open on Saturdays and the doors would be locked. “Can’t we break in? I know my teacher wouldn’t mind!”

Junior Kindergarten at Summit School was a magical year for my son. It started with his one hour visit to determine his readiness and fit for the program. I didn’t know if he would separate well or pitch a fit. When my husband and I walked out of the room and he quietly stayed where he was, engaged in play with a teacher, I was amazed...

My son will tell you his favorite things about Junior Kindergarten were baking gingerbread men and making dinosaur pillows. (He also wanted me to note that he enjoyed playing in the block area and in the balcony but not as much as making gingerbread men.) My list is a bit different, though. I was impressed with how he learned to make friends. Many of his new friends weren’t even in his class…they were fellow Junior Kindergartners he’d met on the playground!
I still do not know if that was a culture the teachers created intentionally or not, but I was and remain grateful for it. He also created countless art treasures, dressed up and boarded the Mayflower, learned to write his letters and taught me about recycling and going green!

When we graduated to Kindergarten this year, I was as nervous as my son. However, I immediately
felt better when I realized that at Summit, Kindergarten is still Kindergarten! It is a developmentally appropriate environment where the academics are geared to each child’s ability. If a child is reading, they will be supported and encouraged. If they are not yet reading, that’s fine, too. No one panics. It’s very refreshing to know the teachers support and teach children on many levels of the academic spectrum and everyone is considered developmentally normal.

Also, the Dining Room for Young Children, where children in grades K – 2 eat lunch, rivals something you would see on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution! Chef Susan Pfaff serves nutritionally balanced meals that satisfy all palates, while serving a few things every day that ensure everyone can find something to enjoy. To Chef Pfaff, courage is tasting the vegetable before making the face. The children do not have to love each dish they are served, but they are asked to try a “kindergarten bite” of it. To my surprise, my son now enjoys veggie dogs and Chinese dumplings!

Thus far, my son’s favorite things about Kindergarten are playing on the balcony and hanging out with his Big Friend, a fifth grader who is his mentor and buddy for the year. But don’t take his word for it. If your child is a rising Junior Kindergartner or a rising Kindergartner, please join us for our “Come Take A Peek” experience on Sunday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to experience a condensed version of a typical day, including classroom activities, music, P.E., and storytelling time in the library. As a parent, you will have a chance to observe your child participating in the magic of Summit School! (Contact kmemory@summitmail.org to register for Come Take A Peek.)

Smarties, don't forget TODAY is the last day to register for this month's give-away with Whitebox Photography. Just be sure you are a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber, then click here to enter your name in the giveaway! We will choose a winner through Random.org on April 9, 2010 and will contact you that day!

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Kindergarten Registration for Guilford, Forsyth and Randolph Counties

By Rachel H

The time is near! Kindergarten Registration is just around the corner. Those of us here at Triad Smarty Pants know it can be a stressful time, but we hope to make it an enjoyable time by supplying you with the information you need to know. Below we have posts from representatives with the Guilford County School System, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system, and Randolph County. We truly appreciate them taking the time to share this much-needed information with TSP readers so that your child can have a smooth transition to Kindergarten!

Guilford County Schools - By Haley H Miller, Media Relations Manager, Guilford County Schools


Guilford County Schools (GCS) encourages families of 4 and 5-year-olds to prepare for kindergarten registration early. We want our youngest students to have an easy transition this fall. Understanding the qualifications and gathering the required materials in advance will save families time and stress.

Kindergarten registration begins Monday, March 1. Children must turn 5 years old by Aug. 31 to enroll in kindergarten. In order to register your child, please provide the following items to your child’s assigned school:
1. Certified copy of your child’s birth certificate
2. Fully completed Kindergarten Health Assessment Report
3. Immunization (shots) record from your child’s health care provider
4. Proof of residence showing name and address of parent(s) or court-appointed guardian/custodian

Check out the district’s Web site for more information. Don’t know where your child should attend school? Parents can find out their child’s school assignment by using our GCS School Locator or by contacting the Student Assignment Office at 336-370-8303.

At GCS, we also have a number of magnet school programs, ranging from Spanish Immersion to fine arts to Montessori. To learn more and decide what program might be right for your child, attend the district’s Magnet Fair coming up on Feb. 13 at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion. The fair will take place from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For more info, visit the Magnet Schools Web page.

GCS and community partners will host a “Kickoff to Kindergarten Parent Day” on Monday, Feb. 22 at the Greensboro Children’s Museum, 220 N. Church St., Greensboro. The free event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., will inform parents about resources available in the school district and greater community. The district also held a similar event in High Point on Jan. 25.

For families with children who turn 5 after Aug. 31, there are a number of free pre-K programs within GCS and the community. Applications for GCS pre-K programs will be accepted through Friday, April 23. In addition, gifted 4 1/2-year-olds who are functioning two to three years beyond their age may be eligible to enroll in kindergarten early. Parents with questions about qualifications for early kindergarten should contact the principal at their child’s assigned school.

If you have any questions, the GCS pre-kindergarten office will be glad to help. Please call 336-370-2362.


Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools - By Theo Helm, Director of Marketing and Communications

Enrolling your child in kindergarten is an exciting time, , but also one filled with questions and decisions. Remember that our schools are excited to meet your child. Teachers are called to the profession for many reasons, but they share a devotion to children. Beyond that, many are parents themselves and understand your anxiety. If you’re confused, ask questions. All of us want to make the transition to school fun, so that you and your child can’t wait for school to start.

Often parents ask how they should pick a school. This is a decision that’s as unique as your child. The N.C. School Report Cards have a wealth of information, including test scores, teacher qualifications and safety information. Test scores often seem like the easiest way to evaluate a school, but we urge you to look beyond these. We don’t believe children should be judged solely by test scores, and we feel the same way about schools. The best way to determine the right school is to visit. Talk to teachers and parents, and look at the classrooms and students. Is the atmosphere inviting? Do students and teachers look like they’re engaged and in tune with each other? You know your child, and you’ll know if the environment is right. If you would like to learn more about the Magnet School Program, be sure to read our recent post here.

Next, it’s important to know how children are assigned to schools. Your child is eligible for kindergarten next year if he or she will be 5 years old by Aug. 31. Where you live determines your residential school, which is your home base for determining assignments. You can find your residential school by calling 336-748-3302, or by entering your address in the School Locator. This will also tell you the other schools in your zone.

You are always guaranteed a spot in your residential school if that’s where you want to go. What makes WS/FCS unique is our Choice period, a two-week period held every year that allows parents to choose another school in their zone. This year’s Choice period is Feb. 22-March 5. Parents fill out a Choice card and rank the top three choices in their zone. You’re guaranteed one of your choices, and we do everything we can to grant parents’ first choices. Transportation is provided to any of your choices. You’ll receive your assignment in the mail around March 22.

There’s also a time to apply to schools outside of your zone from April 7-16. Only schools with extra space will take out-of-zone students, and you must provide your own transportation. Applications are available on the Student Assignment Web site.

In short, here’s what you need to do:
1. Gather the materials you need to register your child: his or her birth certificate, proof of your residence, (it can be a lease, mortgage statement, electric bill, gas bill or water bill) and immunization records.
2. Figure out your residential school by calling 748-3302 or using the School Locator.
3. Go to your residential school between Feb. 22 and March 5 to register and fill out a Choice card. (Even if your residential school is not the school you are choosing, this is where you will pick up your choice card.)
4. Wait for your assignment letter to arrive in the mail sometime around March 22.
5. If you’d like to apply to a school outside of your zone, apply between April 7 and 16.

Above all, if you have questions, ask a teacher, a principal, or someone in our Student Assignment office. We share your concern for your child, and we’ll do everything we can to make the start of school a smooth one.

Other helpful links:
School addresses and phone numbers: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=14830
Maps of Elementary School Districts: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=58784&catfilter=19449#showDoc
Determining if your child is eligible to enroll in Kindergarten early (i.e., if he/she won’t turn 5 until after Aug. 31): http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/education/components/docmgr/download.php?sectiondetailid=58784&fileitem=54268&catfilter=19449

Randolph County Schools

At this time, Randolph County was not able to provide a blog for us, but they invite parents to visit the District Website. If you scroll to the bottom of the home page you will find info for Kindergarten registration. This is the direct link to that page http://www.randolph.k12.nc.us/Departments/K-5/Pages/Kindergarten.aspx.

Still have questions or comments? Feel free to add your thoughts below!

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Back to School: Educational Games and Toys

By Rachel H and Allison T

Just a quick shout out to all our Smarty friends who tuned in to watch us yesterday morning on Fox 8, and a special thanks to loyal reader and guest blogger Jenni M who agreed to wake up at that ungodly hour to help us out! - KM

Although children usually do not want more work after surviving a long day at school, completing homework, and playing sports, we have some tried and true after-school activities that will help boost brain power without the kids even knowing it! These are also great ideas on how to keep your child’s brain active on snow days, long car rides, or rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoons. These have all been child tested and mother approved in our houses! We have a variety of ideas for toddlers and up. Read below for ideas to keep brains active for children of all ages without them even knowing that they are … shhhhh … learning!

Alex Little Hands Lacing Cards

These are perfect for young preschool children and toddlers who are beginning to learn to work with their hands. These lacing activities help develop the fine motor skills and are the perfect size for little hands. This developmental stage is important when children are learning about their world through their sense of touch. The lacing cards are colorful and bright and come in a variety of themes.

Leapster

I can’t remember who told me about the Leapster when my son was 3 years old, but I want to give them a big hug. My son and daughter both have their own Leapsters with age appropriate, interactive educational games. The Leapster is recommended for children ages 4-10, and depending on where you purchase it, it can cost anywhere from $50 to $60.

Brain Quest Cards and Brain Quest Workbooks

My son received his first set of Brain Quest cards for Christmas when he was four years old. I had no idea that this would be the first of about twenty sets of cards we would eventually own. This is one product that I rarely say no to when he asks me to buy him a new set. We’ve spent hours quizzing each other at night and in the car – math, reading, American and Presidential history. Also, great birthday presents for your kids’ friends! You can find them in any bookstore. We buy the sets at Costco because they are a little bit cheaper.
The Brain Quest Workbooks are equally as awesome. Though, they are more expensive than most workbooks, usually around $11, they are worth the money. They are also in bookstores, Costco and online. The age range for the cards and workbooks are ages 2 to 12.

Leap Frog Math Desk

This is a great tool for children ages 3 and up. Not only does it help children recognize numbers, but it has different levels for higher learning abilities. When my children first started to play with this, they would play the game where they were simply recognizing numbers. Then they moved on to find “what number comes before 14 and after 12”, etc. There is also a board for them to practice writing the numbers themselves. The skills build on one another. It is amazing how much my children learned from this game and it is the perfect size to fit in their lap on a car trip.

Board Games

Memory – There are so many different versions of Memory that you will be able to find one that fits the age and gender of your child. My daughter loves the Dora Memory game, which is for 3 years and up, while my son loves to play my husband’s VERY old Memory game that is for 7 years and up. This is one of my all-time favorite games to play with my children.
Boggle and Boggle Jr. - A great family game to help your child learn how to spell and search for words. Boggle is for age 8 and up. Boggle Jr. is for age 3 and up.
Guess Who – terrific for memorization, questioning strategies, and logic. Good for ages 4 and up.
Scrabble – obviously for a little older, but this is a game that is challenging even for adults, so you won’t get bored playing this with your children!
Bananagrams – for ages 7 and up. Really cute game that is fun for adults as well. Teaches spelling and vocabulary. Think Scrabble times two!

Leap Frog DVD’s

I should not admit this, but both of my children learned all their letters and sounds from this DVD! No kidding! They loved, loved, loved the Letter Factory DVD and picked up on letter recognition and sounds so easily at a very young age. (I think age 2 is where most kids will usually sit still for this.) Then we moved on to the Word Factory DVD, which teaches children to put letters together to make sounds. The next level is the Storybook Factory, which is also really cute and educational. The other one we have is the Math Circus, which teaches numbers, skip counting, and addition. I highly recommend these videos for all ages. It makes you feel a little more justified in throwing in a video for the kids.

Free Educational Web Sites
My absolute favorite – www.starfall.com, plus www.noggin.com, www.pbskids.org, and www.seussville.com. Also, check out our blog here for many more web site ideas!

Other things to keep in mind when wanting to keep brains active at home: many children learn through different senses, so if your child is having trouble learning the alphabet, have them shape a letter out of playdough or practice writing it with chalk or a wipe-off board. Also, if you have your children write letters to family members, make cards, or keep a journal, It is an easy way to practice writing skills without making it such a daunting task.

And, certainly last but not least ... READ, READ, READ!!! Make it a habit early on and stick to it!

Share some of your favorite educational toys and games below.

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Back to School: Smart and Trendy School Supplies

By Katie M

Ok, it's been a loooong time since I've been in school, and wow have things changed! So in an effort to find out what's cool in school these days (even my kids don't know because they are only five and two), I did some research online and headed out to Target (everything there is considered cool, right?) to do all my shopping and chatted it up with some students who happened to be shopping there as well. Despite the fact that every county publishes lists of essential school supplies (you can find these lists online for Forsyth, Guilford and Randolph school districts), below are some other items that I think make the grade!

Big Bags
My first eye-opener with back-to-school shopping is that backpacks are definitely not considered cool for girls in high school. Big bags are all the rage, and I'm talking about the cute oversized totes we moms like to carry around! Target has a great selection (the above photo is one example) for very affordable prices. And the rising high school junior I talked to took me right to a super cute animal print canvas tote ($12.99) that she says is a typical bag you'd see in the halls of her school. Some girls, however, go for real designer bags. Regardless of what brand you choose, it has to be big enough to hold binders, calculators, pens, highlighters, make-up and other accessories. Be sure to pick ones with the reinforced gromets where the strap meets the bag so you can be sure it will hold all the weight.

Pencil Pouches
Another must have (mainly for girls) but for girls of all ages are cute pencil pouches. Target has a great selection and the pouches I picked up were each under $2. And while Target's selection might be better suited for girls in elementary school, just about any clutch would work for teens. A useful trend in pencil cases is the three-tiered version to organize and store pencils, pens, paper clips, erasers and any other items. Other stores that carry cute and useful pencil pouches include Barnes and Noble, and if you search online for "tiered pencil cases" you can find a variety in Disney themes too.

Recycled Notebooks
Notebooks and three-ring binders are a no-brainer, but have you ever considered recycled notebooks? (Recycled pencil bags and totes are popular too!). Target carries a nice selection of 3-ring binders and other notebooks in a variety of designs. You will know they are recycled because it will have the "greenroom" sticker on the notebook. The one-inch binder I picked up was only $5.99.

I also picked up a super cute notebook (not recycled, however) that has the "periodic text message table" on its cover! I love it. It shows all the different text abbreviations and what they stand for. These include "BFF" for "Best Friend Forever," or "B15" for "Back in Five," or "POS" for "Parents Over Shoulder." And here's one all mothers should take note of: "BTWITIAILWU" for "By the Way I Think I Am In Love With You." Ok - I need to devote a whole day's blog to decoding these abbreviations!

Book and Locker Designs
Target also carries a great assortment of book covers in all colors, designs and sizes. Gone are the days of covering your text books in brown paper bags; these covers are too cute to pass up and just a few bucks.

Kids not only like to spruce up their book covers, but their lockers too. I never knew there was a whole line of products devoted to locker decorations. Magnets are a hit in this category, and Target also carries magnetic wall paper and accessories (like mirrors) for minimal price too.

Pencils
Also, did you know that #2 pencils are not cool anymore? Yep, a student at Target told me that fact as well. Mechancial pencils (the kind where you can click the top of the pencil to advance the lead) are now all the rage. Why? I have no idea, but they can be fashionable! Again, you can find this kind of supply super cheap at Target. A pack of five mechanical pencils in a variety of colors retails for $2.

USB Flash Drives
Now here is an item I definitely never shopped for when I was going back-to-school: USB Flash Drives. Apparentely they are required for high school students, but luckily they are less than $5 at Target (which is good because I can see them getting lost easily) and these also come in a variety of colors. These are an important purchase too because you don't want to have to drive your student back and forth between computers (one at school, one at home, one at a friend's house) to download documents. Flash (or thumb) drives let you store all your information onto these little gadgets.

Electronic Label Makers
Another gadget that is a smart purchase is an electronic label maker. (Moms can also borrow them for labeling items around the house too!) Electronic label makers make it easy for students to stay organized by labeling notebook dividers, binders, and paper notes. You can even print in different colors and fonts for more organization. I found a Dymo Personal Label Maker at Target for just $17.90. (You also need to purchase replacement tape).

Wordlock
Finally, if your child needs a pad lock for his/her locker, you might want to check out Wordlock. These locks uses letters instead of numbers, and allows your children to select their own four or five letter password. This is helpful for kids who might forget random number codes, and they look so much cooler (see picture above) than the typical turn-style locks you are used to seeing. Target sells them for $9.79, and you can also find them at Kmart and Sears.

Calculators
(A word of note: all high schoolers are responsible for purchasing TI-83+, 84+ and Nspire Graphing calculators. These retail for about $100 at Target, but the rising junior who was so nice in helping me find a trendy tote bag says a lot of students find these same calculators at half price at pawn shops. Just a tip I thought I'd throw out there).

I am sure there are a million other smart and trendy supplies on the market worth mentioning. If you have any other suggestions, please add them below!

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Back to School: Getting Your Day Off To a Good Start

By Rachel H

I am a stay-at-home mom, so in the summertime I do not set an alarm. When school goes back, it is a big wake up call for all of us to have to get up before the sun rises on those autumn days! Today I thought I’d share a few of my tips for starting off the day with a successful, smooth start.

One of my favorite ways to save time, arguing, and stress in the morning hours, is this clothes organizer pictured above. I have one similar to this that I bought from Lilly's Kids for my daughter and another one (without the days of the week) that I got for my son at Bed Bath & Beyond. We pick out clothes on Sunday evening and fill the organizer with outfits for all 5 days of school. Neither one of my children have an opinion on what they wear, so I do this myself. If you have kids who are opinionated about their style, this organizer is a huge help, because you can let them choose the outfits for the week themselves. Then you are not watching outfits get pulled in and out of the closet a million times in the mornings. You or your child can stuff this organizer with the shirt, bottoms, underwear, socks, and even shoes for the week. It is also great because I always remember to put sneakers in there on the day my child has P.E. class since Crocs or Sandals won’t do! This simple little organizer will save you so much time! The rule in our house is that you need to be dressed before you come out of your room. We do showers the evening before, so it is easy for my children to roll out of bed, put on the clothes that are in that specific day’s cubby, and come on out for breakfast. If your child does not know how to read the days of the week, it is not a problem. They just go down to the cubby below the next each day.

Another time saver in the morning is to have an area where the kids can easily hang their bookbags, toss their shoes, leave their folders, etc. If it is always in the same place, you won’t waste time looking for the lost shoe or the field trip permission slip that is due today. In the picture above, you can see that there is a specific place for shoes, coats, and folders. When they are there, it is not only easier for the children, but it is also a good reminder for the parent to check the folder, sign papers, sign the reading log, etc.

Breakfast needs to be simple as well if you are in a time crunch. Be sure to check out Deborah’s blog on healthy breakfast choices. These are terrific ideas and easy to eat on the go!

Last, but not least, is the task of packing lunches. On Thursday we will be sharing some great waste-free lunch ideas on the news and on the website. You can use these items to pre-package food for the week. Fill your little containers with grapes, pour pretzels into baggies, cut the carrots, etc. If the foods are already packaged, it is easy to toss them into the lunch boxes each morning without wasting much time. One time saver that always works for me is letting my kids buy lunch! My son loves to buy his lunch at school. No prep time for mom, and no unnecessary waste, either! Most schools have meal cards now where you can put money on the card yourself so that students are not carrying cash to school. They are assigned a number, which even Kindergartners learn quickly, and they punch the number into the keypad and scoot on over to the table to eat. Can’t get much easier than that!

I would love to hear more ideas, especially from those of you with teens who would like to sleep all day long, so please share your ideas below!

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Are You Ready for Open House?

By Rachel H and Guest Blogger Amy B

School days are just around the corner!

Most school systems in our area will be hosting Open Houses during the next two weeks. Even most preschools will have a “meet the teacher” day. Since I taught in the school system for a number of years, I have written a few words of advice to parents as they head out for the Open House nights. I also enlisted the help of my friend, Amy Beveridge, to give you some pointers on the Middle School and High School Open House evenings.

Be sure to check our Back to School Shopping Tips as well if you have not read those yet! Read below to get the skinny on upcoming Open Houses and add any of your own tips in the comments section...

For Preschool - Most schools will have individual times for parents and their children to come in and meet the teacher. You will usually have a short amount of time, so use these few minutes wisely! Most important issues will be written out by the teacher and he/she will probably give you a packet of information to take home.

The most important things to do at this time are to introduce your child to the teacher, let him/her get a feel for the classroom, and find out how you should handle the first week of school. (i.e. – Does the teacher like you to walk your child to the classroom door for the first few days? Should you always walk them to the door? Is it better to drop them off in the carpool line or let them walk in alone from the front door? Where should you pick up after school? What are the bathroom procedures? Does the child need to ask for permission to go, or can they just go when needed? Where is the bathroom located?) All of these are great questions for the beginning of the year.

Take the advice of the teacher. Most have been doing this for a long time and chances are that they have taught a child just like your own at one point in time. They will know what will work best as far as easing them into the school year. If you have any specific concerns about your child (anxiety, special needs, fears, learning disabilities, etc.) ask the teacher if this is a good time to discuss the issue or if you should schedule an appointment the following week. Remember that there is usually a parent waiting to come in immediately after you, so if your concern is warranted, you want to have plenty of time to discuss this at a later date.

On to Elementary School – the majority of schools have an Open House night where all the students and parents are invited together to come “meet the teacher”. Most times it is a “drop-in” type set up, so they will have many hand-outs and paperwork for you. (Take note that there will usually be a curriculum night within the next month or so where you can ask specific questions to the teacher and will also receive much more information on subjects taught. This is usually where they will have parents sit down in the classroom and have more of a “meeting” type format.)

If your child is in 3rd-5th grades, you may have more than one teacher to meet at Open House, so plan your time accordingly. You, along with the teachers can show your child where he will sit, and help him find his cubby, desk, or table. Show him what he will do when he enters the class on that first morning. (where to put bookbag, where to sit, etc.) Most of all have fun and show your child how much fun this school year will be! The teacher will guide you along, but keep in mind that there are an average of 25 other families there who want to meet the teacher as well, so here are a few of my Do’s and Don’ts.

Do
*Ask the teacher if he/she prefers you to walk your child to the classroom, walk to the front door of the school, or drop off in the car-rider line if your child will not be riding the bus.

*Show your child the route they will take to get to their classroom from either the bus parking lot or the car drop-off.

*If your child will be going to a separate classroom for another subject, speech class or resource class, show your child where that classroom will be as well.

*Make sure the teacher has all your correct contact information and the information on how your child will be brought to school and taken home. (bus, car, carpool, after-school care, etc.)

*Introduce your child to the teacher and make sure your student knows how to shake hands and make eye contact.

*Sign up to volunteer in the class. Most teachers will have some sort of sign-up sheet out that evening. If you do not have a lot of extra time to offer, teachers love parents who will send in any type of supplies or goodies needed.

Don’t
*Don’t spend more than a few minutes talking to the teacher. This is a quick hello, nice to meet you, move on time. Remember the 25 other families.
Your child may have special needs or concerns such as anxiety, fears, learning disabilities, etc. This is NOT the time to discuss. Tell the teacher you would like to schedule a meeting to get together with him or her and discuss these issues. Better yet – email the teacher and set up a meeting time at that point. Believe me – the teacher definitely wants to know anything like this that may be going on with your child. The teacher always has the student’s best interests at heart. Although, discussing these issues on Open House night will not prove beneficial and it is difficult for the teacher to keep all the conversations from that evening straight! If it is a major issue like a severe peanut allergy, be sure the teacher knows about this prior to the first day of school.

*If you know the teacher personally or have had a student in his/her class in the past, don’t get caught up chatting. It’s easy to do because teachers are so incredibly awesome, but respect the fact that others would like to meet the teacher as well.

*One other idea for a child entering a new school is to take your student over to the school a few times during the summer to play on the playground, walk around the school and just talk about how fun the first day at the new school is going to be.

Middle School and High School Open House:
*Each middle and high school runs their Open House night differently. Some have a drop in at your convenience schedule, others have parents pick up their child's class schedule and run bells like a normal day. Either way, both are equally important for you to put a name and face with who will be teaching your child this year.

*Teachers might be seeing up to 130 kids a night, plus their parents, families, little brothers and sisters. Use the time you have with the teacher to put name and face with the class and to gain all contact information. If the teacher has a handout about the class or list of supplies, make sure you grab one of those. Another idea is to leave your contact information with the teacher---better to have the information straight from the parent and not the student.

*Open House is NOT the time to address special concerns of your child. Teachers will be more receptive to listen and even remember your information when you contact them one on one. Usually the most effective way to contact high school & middle school teachers would be through email, so make sure you have their correct address (and even webpage address) on hand. If needed, set up a parent conference before school starts if you have specific concerns that you'd like to discuss with your child's teachers.

Other tips for HS and MS:
*Bring your school supplies, don't forget your own pen and paper for the night.

*There are **BIG** changes this year with high school schedules. The seven period class day and four period class days are combined for a new hybrid schedule. Your child might have three 45 minutes classes that last all year and then two 90 minute classes per semester. Ask questions and make sure you understand what works best for your child since classes are randomly assigned.

*Check the class levels! This seems to be the most common error. If your child struggles in English, but you find that they were incorrectly placed in honors English class by mistake, it's best to change the schedule BEFORE school starts. Most students are reluctant to change after classes begin and they find out how many friends are in their class!

*If your child is embarrassed to hang with Mom and Dad for Open House -- AS IF -- don't worry, feel free to run the schedule by yourself. They'll receive all the information again on the first day.

*Open House also provides info on bus routes, and for high school you can find out about parking--you can even buy your child's parking sticker that night (over $100!!)

*Check into traffic patterns--where the buses drop off at school, where you'd pick up your child after school and if your teen will be driving, make sure they know where the parking entrances are located, policies for campus parking and routines.

*Ask if the teacher updates their webpage, that way you can keep up with assignments with your student.

Be sure to bookmark TSP as one of your “favorites” because for the next two weeks we will have Back-to-School Bonanza Blogs with tips and ideas for all age levels. Good luck to all parents and students!


And don't forget to register for your chance to win one Floor Nanny with a complimentary slip cover of your choice! This promotion ends at Noon TODAY! All you have to do is click here to take a short survey and you’re registered. You must be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber to enter, so be sure to sign up if you have yet to do so. The winner will be announced on Sunday, August 16. Good luck!!

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Backpack Bonanza!

By Jen P, Charlotte Smarty Pants

Holy backpacks, I never knew there were so many fabulous flavors to choose from out there! I did some Smarty research for you to compare costs and designs for your shopping pleasure for the 2009 back-to-school season. Following are my top picks for backpacks this year:

Garnet Hill Signature Backpack Selection is top of my list this year, mainly because of the ponies theme since my kindergartner is obsessed with horses! I'm also loving the orange camo theme for boys. I would highly recommend the Backpack Junior ($29.50) for kindergartners since it fits a standard folder and you don't want it too heavy on their backs. The Backpack collection for $39.50 is designed for ages 7 and up. Garnet Hill is offering a free lunch pack with the purchase of a backpack through July 28th, these retail for $16.50. Shipping is free right now too. Can't beat that.

Pottery Barn Kids - wow, this is an impressive collection! That pink & green polka dot Mackenzie Collection is the CUTEST I have seen! I bought Ansley's first backpack 3 years ago from PBK when she was in kindergarten and that bag is in perfect condition and still going strong. I would recommend the small backpack ($39) for kindergartners and the large backpack ($45) for 2nd grade and up. Don't even bother with a preschool backpack because most preschools in Charlotte provide their own bags. FYI, their lunchbags are $19. PBK is also offering free shipping right now.

L.L.Bean has had super cool backpacks for as long as I can remember and their Junior Original Book Pack for $22.95 will not disappoint. This bag is perfect for K-2. The Original Book Pack for $27.95 is perfect for ages 7 and up and the Deluxe Book Pack for $39.95 is good for 10 and up.

Lands End has been the backpack headquarters for some time now too, rivaling that of L.L.Bean. Their ClassMate line is what I would look at for elementary school kids. The ClassMate SmallHaul backpack for $24.50 is perfect for K-2. You can promote your kids to the ClassMate StudyHaul backpack for grades 3 and up. By this age, your kids will want to throw everything they can in their backpacks so it's important to have a little extra room. Lands End lunch boxes range from $14.50 to $19.50. I tend to think Lands End and L.L.Bean have a good boy backpack selection.

My super-hip sister-in-law in NYC recommends the School Mood collection on luggage.com. These backpacks are pretty pricey, but so well made they will last forever. They are German-designed and totally awesome with eight zillion compartments to store all the cool stuff your child needs!

One other item that I would HIGHLY recommend to go in your backpacks and lunchboxes are the new Crocodile Creek stainless steel drinking bottles for under $10 (yay, now we don't have to pay $25 for our Sigg bottles!). You can find a huge selection of these locally (we should ALWAYS shop locally when we can:-) at Toys & Co. in Cotswold. These are the perfect size for lunch boxes and you'll live better knowing that you are saving the environment!

One last Smarty tip. Don't ever buy backpacks with wheels because most schools don't allow them - they are heavy and bulky and dangerous in the halls of the schools.

Happy shopping, Smarties and please, please, share your back-to-school tips!

Don't forget to register for your chance to win one Floor Nanny with a complimentary slip cover of your choice! All you have to do is click here to take a short survey and you’re registered. You must be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber to enter, so be sure to sign up if you have yet to do so. This promotion ends at Noon on Thursday, August 13, and the winner will be announced on Sunday, August 16. Good luck!!

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