The Back 2 School Issue

BACK TO SCHOOL

MOMAZINE The Back 2 School issue | 2013

School is back in session

EDITORS jaime compton

&

jaime@momazine.com

lauryn crowley

lauryn@momazine.com

We are so excited to bring you our back to school online edition! Summer is coming to an end and to help get all you mommas ready for early mornings and homework we’re sharing some excellent information... Apps to connect you to school and homework, an

article by Kristen Cook, a local school psychologist, school schedules and some great printables from Anders • Ruff.

Are you ready?

It’s officially time to go

2

What You’ll Find & Where don’t get lost on the first day of school

GET APP HAPPY

pg 4/5

Preparing for Back 2 School

pg 6/7

School Calendars

pg 10/11

PRINTABLES

pg 10/11

Photography by Kristie Griggs of Pure Joy Photography models | Peighton & Parker Labagh

GET APP HAPPY We’ve hunted online for some of the best apps for going back to school. These include apps to keep you connected to school, stay organized, help your students study and

COZI www.cozi.com

COST: free | upgrade available Organizing app to manage the family schedule, shopping lists, to do lists, journal and meal planning. Available for iphone, blackberry, android, kindle and nook.

SCHOOL CONNECT www.schoolconnectservices.com

COST: free Stay connected to your child’s school with the School Connect App. This app is available on any device with a web browser, including: iphone, ipad, blackberry, windows phone, kindle fire and your home computer.

A+ SPELLING TEST itunes store

COST: free Great way to learn spelling words. Set up spelling tests, multiple play modes for practice, track progress and even submit results to the teacher instantly.

MORE APPS TO CHECK OUT

MY GRADEBOOK itunes store

COST: $0.99 track and calculate grades

WORLD ATLAS 2013 itunes store

COST: $0.99 atlas

DICTIONARY.com itunes store

COST: FREE dictionary

Preparing For Back 2School

by Kristen Cook | School Psychologist Mother of Caroline | age 6 & Weston | age 10 Summer….a time of less hectic schedules, family vacations, bare feet and bathing suits, popsicles, staying up late, and carefree spirits! In fact, it seems that the only positive thing to summer’s end is the anticipation of football season - well, football season and the start of a brand new exciting school year! (insert children’s groans of lament here).

While we hate to bid the laid-back lifestyle of summer adieu, we, as parents, also strive to ensure that the transition from summer to a new school year is as painless as possible.

Getting a new school year off to a great start can directly influence your child’s confidence, attitude, and level of success both academically and socially.

So….what can you do to promote a successful academic experience?

Here are a few recommendations that can contribute to a positive and productive school year for you and your family.

1. Re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines.

Plan to begin reinforcing the bedtime and mealtime routines (especially breakfast!) at least one week before school begins - - that initial early morning wake-up on the first day of school won’t be quite as shocking! Make lunches the night before and have older children help or make their own. Be sure to leave plenty of extra time in the morning so children – and parents – don’t feel rushed, and clear your own schedule of extraneous projects during that first week of school in order to help acclimate your child to the new routine.

2. Ensure good physical and mental health.

Schedule dental and physical checkups early in the school year and discuss any concerns you have regarding your child’s emotional or psychological health with your pediatrician. Your doctor can help determine if concerns are normal and age-appropriate or if your child may benefit from further assessment.

Early intervention is in your child’s best interest for both his academic performance and social adjustment.

4. Designate a homework area and schedule.

So important – for both younger and older students! Tasks are easiest to accomplish when attached to specific routines, and observing this daily routine can help develop habits of planning and organizing tasks, managing time, making choices, and problem solving.

Determine a location in the house where homework will be done – for younger children this should be in an area that facilitates adult monitoring, supervision, and 3. Be ready with school supplies encouragement. Set up a “homework and other materials. center” of frequently needed supplies such as pencils, pens, markers, Most of us attempt to address the crayons, glue, ruler, calculator, ever growing classroom supplies paper, etc. lists while stores are stocked and less crowded over the summer. Gather Establish a consistent homework and organize all materials before time – if possible, or a time attached school begins and be ready to eito specific days of the week if after ther bring them in during meet-the- school activities are part of the teacher day or on the first day of schedule. Build in rewards or school. Review the dress code for incentives for those children who are your child’s school and ask questions less intrinsically motivated as well as of school staff ahead of time before short breaks if necessary. Let your you purchase child do the work!!! Assist, guide, questionable items. Additionally, and provide necessary materials, but some teachers require specific let the supplies so save receipts for items product reflect their own work. that may need to be returned or exchanged. (cont’d pg 6)

5. Review backpack materials on a daily basis.

Talk about what your child did that day and show your enthusiasm for upcoming units and projects.

Review homework assigned and papers returned, and pay attention to items that require a signature for return to teacher. Pay attention to upcoming meetings, field trips, assemblies, other important dates and mark them in your calendar immediately – this is especially important if you have children in more than one school and need to juggle obligations.

speech/language pathologist, school nurse, school psychologist and school social worker, and reading coach as they can be valuable resources for you and your child.

7. Be mindful of extracurricular overkill.

More than likely your children are involved in at least one if not several after school activities, but often times too many is too much! Go for quality and not quantity, with one to two activities per child that are fun, promote physical and social development, and teach new skills.

When schedules become bogged 6. Become familiar with your down with overlapping times and child’s teacher and other school difficult locations, it can be stressful professionals. for you and your child and may make it harder to concentrate on schoolLet teachers know you’re interested work. Pay attention to your family in receiving feedback on your child’s schedule and personal energy level, performance and respond to queries as well as that of your child. or comments in a timely manner.

Find out individual teacher comMost importantly, be mindful of the munication preferences (e.g., email, impression you are giving your child. phone calls, notes in planners) and Avoid exposing your children to adult convey a sincere desire to partner conversations related to frustrations with them in your child’s educational you may have regarding homework, experience. Relay any specific teachers, school staff, or school policoncerns you have and provide cies and refrain from making negainformation that will help them help tive comments about teachers in your child learn. Become familiar front of your child. If school-related with other school staff including ad- conflicts or disagreements do occur, ministration, guidance counselor, set up an appointment to meet with

your child’s teacher and/or school personnel in order to foster positive home-school collaboration. Model a team approach with your child’s best interest in mind, and demonstrate

that learning and academic success are valued in your family. Have a wonderful upcoming school year – it’s going to be a great one!

Marion County Public Schools Calendar for 2013 - 2014 August 19

Monday

Students Report - First Day of School

September 2 Setpember 11 September 25

Monday Wednesday Wednesday

Labor Day (No School) Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day

October 16 October 18 October 21 October 22

Wednesday Friday Monday Tuesday

Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day End of First Grading Period No School | Teacher Workday/Inservice Day No School | Teacher Workday/Inservice Day

November 6 November 27 November 28 November 29

Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day No School | Weather Emergency Makeup Day No School | Thanksgiving No School

December 11 December 20

Wednesday Friday

Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day Winter Break Begins at End of Day

January 6 January 15 January 16 January 17 January 20

Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday

Classes Resume End of First Semester No School | Teacher Workday/Inservice Day No School | Teacher Workday/Inservice Day No School | Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February 5 February 17

Wednesday Monday

Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day No School | Presidents’ Day

March 5 March 20 March 21 March 24 - 28

Wednesday Thursday Friday Mon - Fri

Early Release | Teacher Inservice Day End of 3rd Grading Period No School | Teacher Workday No School | Spring Break

April 9 April 18

Wednesday Friday

No School | Teacher Workday/Inservice Day No School | Weather Emergency Makeup Day

May 26

Monday

No School | Memorial Day

June 2, 3, 4 June 4 June 5 June 4, 5, 6, 7

M Tu W Wednesday Thursday W Th Fr Sa

Semester Exams (grades 6 - 9 and 9 - 12) Last Day of School/End of Semester If Needed | Weather Emergency Makeup Day Graduation Dates

Private School Calendars for 2013 - 2014 Blessed Trinity | K - 8 Cornerstone | K - 8 Grace School | K - 8 Meadowbrook Academy | K - 12 Ocala Christian Academy | K - 12 Redeemer | K - 8 St. Johns | K - 12 Trinity | 9 - 12

PRINTABLES &

crafts Oh My!

JAIME SHARES A

FEW OF HER FAVORITE BACK 2 SCHOOL PRINTABLES FROM ANDERS • RUFF

You may have noticed that at Momazine we have a slight love affair with printables and all things crafty. We are always finding ways to bring the whimsical into our homes and one of the easiest ways is through pre-designed printables. Jaime is so excited to share a few of her favorites from Anders • Ruff so you can do the same!

TEACHER GIFT | pencil holder & labels andersruff.com Tutorial and FREE Printables for converting a can into a cute pencil holder with labeled pencils.

TEACHER GIFT | notecards andersonruff.com Tutorial and FREE Printables for classroom notecards for the teacher.

BACK 2 SCHOOL KIT | collection andersruff.com $9.50 for kit of Back 2 School printables.

(SAMPLE AT LEFT) Includes labels, alphabet pennants, papers, notecards, party flags, book plates, blank labels, name tags, etc.

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