By Joyce

July 17, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

Although this school year will be my first experience, I already have started to implement a couple of routines to make school mornings less hectic, hopefully. I know when I was a teacher, I usually tried to get into my getting-up mode a couple of weeks before pre-planning started, so I figure the same kind of idea will work for a kid too.

Currently, my son has to get dressed and have his bed made before sitting down to breakfast. Sometimes I help him a little with the bed, but I keep reiterating that once he’s in “Big School”, he’ll have to do it all by himself while I get everything else ready.

By Jesse's Girl

July 17, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this

Best tip? Start getting putting the kids to bed and getting them up on your school schedule now. My kids like to sleep in…so we started yesterday. They are not happy….and neither am I. But it is a neccessary evil to ensure that they don’t get blind-sided with a 6 am wake up call the Sunday before school begins.

By decaturparent

July 17, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

Oh puhleeze… let them enjoy summer!! I have never gotten sucked into the whole “wake them up early” the week before school starts thing. Why? I mean, really… why?

It’s not like they are learning anything the first week or so of school. It’s all boring routines and review anyway. My kids have always been a little beat and crabby on about the third day of school (after the adrenaline wears off). After that… they are fine.

However, they adjust to going to bed early as a necessity of “survival” pretty darn quickly - I don’t even hear much complaint on the night before the first day of school. Any kid with a little common sense knows that they need to go to bed early if they will be getting up early for a big day.

I prefer to let my kids squeeze every tiny second out of summer that they can - it won’t be long before they are in the year around grind!! We have bedtimes schedules during school, and even in the summer… but I don’t like to hover and impose needless rules. You lose credibility that way!

By Nate

July 17, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

I think the best thing is to get your kids to get their things together the night before which works for parents too. Like I make my daughter’s bottles @ night before I go to bed and I ensure that both my sons clothes are picked out and ready to go for them the next morning..I do agree with the time schedule thing that Jesse’s girl mentioned previously…sometimes I feel like I have to be incredible hulk to wake my boys up out of their sleep…he he

By Jesse's Girl

July 17, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this

decaturparent…..there is nothing about summer that my kids cannot fully enjoy between 6 am and 8:30 pm. Getting them acclimated to a new schedule is important to their father and me.

By PTAPrez

July 17, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

“It’s not like they learn anything the first week or so of school”???? All I have to say is… wow.

How about learning the expectations of their teacher, new rules, getting aclimated to new people and surroundings?? Oh! I know… how about learning how to act like a student and not a sassy mouthed heathen?

Now decaturparent, I’m not saying your little darling(s) are unruly or sass-mouthed, but they learn PLENTY in the first “week or so” of school.

Last year, my sons teacher said they were expected to write in PEN ONLY in her class and if they made a mistake to simply cross one line through it and continue. She said it continually over the first week. After that she never said it again and returned papers done in pencil, with eraser shavings, or trace of eraser on it with a big “RE-DO” on it. What did the kids say?? “She never told us!” “I never heard that!” “She’s just picking on me because I’m new!”

I say BRAVO Mrs. Mason!!!! She set an expectation, gave them plenty of time to “get it”, and expected them to follow it.

PLEASE decaturparent… help your student show up ready to rock the first “week or so” of school.

By Joyce

July 17, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

OK, my stress just went up. We just did a clean-out/inventory of clothes in my son’s dresser, and he needs multiples of just about EVERYTHING! And I’m not even thinking about the school supply list yet… :(

By Lisa

July 17, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

Not learn anything the first week of school? Maybe where you are, but not at my kid’s schools. My son who will be a junior in high school is taking AP American History and he is currently reading a 600 page book and has a report due on the first day of school. last year my daughter had a vocabulary test the first week of school. They jump into it with both feet and keep on going.

We start back on August 13th so as it gets closer, we gradually go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. I’m not about to drag teenagers out of bed at 7:00 a.m. right now, it’s not worth it. But if I had elementary age, I’d start with 15 minutes earlier, then 30 minutes, etc.

I teach preschool and I can speak for all of us, please make sure your kids get enough sleep. It’s really hard to teach a cranky child anything!

By BigB

July 17, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Okay, every generation or so people get a new idea that is supposed to make things easier on everybody. I never was made to wake up early during the summer in order to get used to it and I won’t make my kids do that either. They will get used to the new schedule no matter what. The first few days of school are hectic, but making sure they don’t get enough sleep for the month previous isn’t going to help matters all that much. If you had one month left before you had to go back to work would you wake yourself up early just to sit around, or would you capitalize on your last bit of freedom to get some rest? The time will come in their lives when their weekday routine will prevent them ever sleeping in more than 15 minutes (I’m just getting there myself) and there is no need to hurry that process along. Let them sleep!

By Jen

July 17, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Well…since both my husband and I work full time we’ve had our son in summer camp. So, it’s like he never got out of school.

The month of June was Emory’s sports fitness camp. That meant he spent the day swimming, playing soccer, performing track and field events (you should see a bunch of 6 year olds trying to high jump…it’s hilarious), basketball, tennis….he loved it. Mostly because he got to swim 3 times a day. The first swim was a lesson and the others were free swim.

And this past month he’s been doing an artist camp where they go out to Piedmont Park and they each get a disposable camera to take pictures of stuff, and other fun craft things.

There’s 2 weeks in August before school starts where he’s not involved in some structured activity. We’re going on a week’s vacation for one of those and the week before school starts he gets to kick back at home with Grandma.

So, when it comes to getting him prepped to return to school I don’t think they’ll be a problem.

However, I imagine it will be slightly hectic getting school supplies together and maybe some new clothes that don’t have holes and stains.

By it's your fault

July 17, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

You’re part of the problem!

You’re freaked out that Target’s got it’s back to school stuff out…the Health section’s doing it too…shame on them…Who else is doing it?? Oh yeah, unoriginal Theresa!

If you don’t like it, don’t do it!!

And now I’m going away from this boring computer to go enjoy the summer with decaturparent….bye bye, stuffy people!

And Lisa, you’re kid’s not smarter than everyone else’s! It’s just that everyone else’s has some fun!

BYE

By mom3boys

July 17, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Here’s what I do that makes life easier: Start accumulating supplies now…don’t wait for the list…you know they need paper, pens, pencils, composition books, highlighters, markers,tissue, and paper towels. You can get more specific stuff later…the other stuff is on sale at uncrowded stores now (I got two big bags of stuff for $3 the other day!). Make sure your kid did his/her summer reading. Go to mealpay.com and load up the lunch account. Buy a few new things to freshen the wardrobe…wait to see what “they” are wearing…unless your kid is “they.” Get your dental and doctor appointments now. Find your shot records and be sure they are current..bring a copy to registration. Buy book covers while they are plentiful and on sale…Gwinnett is getting a ton of new books and you’ll need these. Give your kid some time to think…some of them haven’t used a brain cell all summer. Spend some great, fun time with your kid…before long, they are leaving for college!

By Jesse's Girl

July 17, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Sorry guys, but I fail to see how having young children on a semi-schedule is being a bad, credibility losing parent….I actually laughed at that one. Our kids have very full days of just flat out playing and running around. We shoot for an 8:30 bedtime. If something cool comes up….we adjust. Getting your kids mentally and physically prepared for another year of early rising is just another way of being a good parent.

By mom3boys

July 17, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

As a mom and a teacher, my comment is that kids desire structure and limits. It really is ok to set rules and then follow them. If you want early bedtimes 4 weeks before school starts, go for it. You know how long your kid takes to adjust the internal clock. My parents did the same thing, but only a week before the start. That’s when I did it, too…now the kids are older, and it doesn’t matter so much…if they stay up late, they have themselves to blame for the grogginess the next day. It’s not a competition, everyone; we all do the best we can and hope they turn out well in the end.

By ???????

July 17, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

Now I’ve heard it all!!! There is no way in hell Im making my son go to bed early on July 17th. to prepare/simulate/acclamate for anything thats still 2 weeks away. Thats control freak, insane, mombie garbage and your kids will resent the hell out of it. now I’ve got a worm to drown with my 9 year old. Back to school wouldnt be an issue for some of you if you didnt send your 2 year olds to “school”, why bother having kids if all you want them to do is grow up?

By wow

July 17, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

You’re stressed out? Wow. I’m sure there is a prescription for that.

By Fulton County Mom

July 17, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

I went through fall/winter clothes in June and purged whatever was wornout or could not possibly fit this October…I will reassess that box Labor day weekend.

School supplies started getting stockpiled at the beginning of July. I had the list in hand and got most everything for one child in one trip. Backpacks are also up on the shelf awaiting FDS.

As I do the wash I run a few piles….Saturday/Camp clothes. Saturday/School clothes. Goodwill. Trash. I think with a few key items we will be ready for FDS on that end…each will get a brand new outfit for FDS—no matter how much clothes we have.

I am breaking down and doing the shoe run this week. I hate doing it so early but camp has really had them running (literally) so their sneakers aren’t going to make it.

Am I just overzelous? Nope. I am on a very, very rigid budget and if I did not pick up a few things here and there (I got 2 sweaters on Sunday for 70% off) then I would never be able to do it at all.

As to the bedtime stuff…we do that pretty much too. Bedtime has been scaling back from 9 to 8 at a steady rate.

By Jesse's Girl

July 17, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Who said anything about sending their 2 year old to school? We go back to school the first week of August…I really don’t see how getting them ready a couple of weeks ahead of time is being a control freak mombie…whatever the hell that is. But you have fun with that worm….its takes all kinds.

By Angie

July 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

This is the one time of year that homeschooling is a greater stress than when my kids were in school. While I don’t have to buy them new clothes and lengthy items from supply lists, I have to plan and finish purchasing their entire curriculum. Some of it was taken care of at the end of last year, but this is the first year that I’ll be teaching two at home…so there’s much more planning involved.

FWIW, my mom never made us acclimate to the school schedule ahead of time. As she always said, you’re too excited to go to sleep early the night before the first day regardless of when you’ve been going to bed in the weeks prior. (Don’t get me wrong: she still made us go to bed at 8:30, 9:00 when we were older.) But we didn’t fall asleep until way later.

The next night, though? We were so exhausted, we welcomed our early bedtime. I always did the same as my mom with my kids. But of course, now with homeschooling, it’s not so much of an issue. We still follow a relatively structured schedule, but if we aren’t up and working until 9, it just doesn’t matter. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking foward to peaceful mornings for a change!

By Nikole

July 17, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this

I am 25 years old. My mother sent my siblings to bed early and woke us up early everyday about 2 weeks before school started. My sister, cousin and I thought it was dumb at the time, but I promise you that we don’t resent our parents or think that they lost any credibility. Also, what kind of world do we live in when parents begin to lose credibility with their kids anyway? Makes me reconsider having kids. I am sure that thought never crossed my mom’s mind. She was the parent and made decisions that she felt would be to our benefit. I may have thought some of the rules were dumb, but I never challenged her parenting.

By not again!

July 17, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this

Geez, Jen, we didn’t ask!

Did you not ‘get it’ at the end of the ‘Ridding Your House of the Lived-in Look’ blog comments?

By Jeff

July 17, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

OK, since I’m running a distinct risk of becoming a dad MUCH sooner than anticipated (a) doesn’t it ALWAYS work out that way and b) why did I sound so much like a typical TEENAGE boy a couple of months ago??), I figured I’d go ahead and give this one some thinking.

I’m thinking that we’ll ease them into it. T likes to sleep in on the weekends and doesn’t have to get up as early as me during the week in the first place. (Because she is lucky and works two miles from home, compared to my 102!) I pretty well wakes up before 7a every day, and often before 6a. So, for a couple of weeks before school starts, I’ll probably start waking them up as I head out the door - around 6:15. During the school year, this would give T PLENTY of time - I think - to get herself and the kids ready and out the door. I don’t see it as cruel at all. In fact, I see it as being prepared and LESSENING the impact of school starting back.

By Jennifer

July 17, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Sorry Teresa, I didn’t see where I could e-mail you personally … but I wanted to suggest some blog topics that have to do with homeschool. Maybe pros and cons, have people tried it or not, whether people think it’s good or bad for society, whatever. Thanks.

By Cranberry

July 17, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this

You guys are all nuts. What are you worried about? Let them enjoy their summer (while still reading their required 3 books), go clothes shopping this weekend and supply shopping next weekend….VOILA, you’re ready to go. Stick those little rug rats on the bus and you’re home free!

My kids are already anticipating the first day of school, because they get to see their friends. And my husband (Mr. Mom during the summer, because his schedule allows it), can’t wait either!

Enjoy, don’t stress!

By Stacey

July 17, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

My son has gone to day camp all summer so he is used to getting up. His / our problem is that I have allowed him to stay up later and I will have to get him back on a bedtime schedule. Last night I sent him to bed at 9:00 and he got up once (he forgot to use the bathroom, get water, give Daddy a good night kiss) but I sent him right back to bed. I checked on him before I went to bed around 10:30 and he was in bed but wide awake. My husband peeked in at 11:00 and he had fallen asleep. I plan to continue to send him to bed just a few minutes earlier so that he will be used to an 8:30 bedtime by the time school starts the 1st week of August.

By Penny Pincher

July 17, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Many year-round schools started this week. As a Mom of a student in year-round school I am glad I won’t miss out on all the great sales like I have in the past.

By Tony

July 17, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

The insanity in this blog is that ADULTS are “freaking out” about back to school! You folks need to grow up and get a life. I have never heard such ridiculous blather. I’m sorry I ventured into this discussion.

Children need to enjoy their vacation time and they need routines. If your child has difficulty with changes then conditioning is appropriate. If your child does fine with change, then go with the flow.

By It happened to me

July 17, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

I guess I am evil. I do not get all keyed up about school, I make sure we have enough supplies to last awhile, I arange all the clothes in outfits ahead of time, but no I am not going to make a federal case out of bed time.
If you do not stress out the kids won’t. They take their cues from the parents. Things in the public school system are bad enough for kids we do not have to make it worse.

By anne

July 17, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

I’m afraid (despite the heavy-handed marketing campaigns of Target and others to the contrary) that we actually don’t NEED much preparing at all. The school provides the supplies, immunization records are more or less up to date and the children can wear the same clothes they’ve been wearing all summer. Bedtimes and wake-up really don’t fluctuate that much between summer and winter in our home. And quite frankly I’m not stressed out by “worries” manufactured by retailers that I’m not buying enough of or the right stuff for our little angels.

PS: Why on earth would one think there is something wrong with a parent who gets her children physically and mentally prepared for a new school year?

By Rhonda

July 17, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

decaturparent….I totally agree with you……I say let them have summer till the last minute…..either adjust now or then…..same thing….AND like you said after the 3rd or so day they will be happy to go to bed!

By decaturparent

July 17, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Not to disappoint anyone, but my kids are straight A students and have never had a behavior problem other than the rare comment on a report card that the oldest is chatty. I guess somehow they must be figuring out the teacher’s expectations without a week or more of practice sleeping.

We tell them to go to bed at 9:00 the Sunday before school, and they do it. Of course it doesn’t hurt to spend the day at the pool so they are tired in the evening! :)

Then, we tell them to get up at 6:45 the next morning and they do it. If they didn’t, they know that there would be an appropriate consequence.

Then the night after the first day of school they are tired anyway because they had a huge day and got up early, so they WANT to go to bed at 9:00 - no problem.

Why do they need to practice that for a week or more? Maybe if they were toddlers… but why would a school age child need to “practice” going to bed when they are told to? This really sounds like a bad habit held over from toddler days.

I don’t have kids in high school yet, so maybe it’s different from when I was a kid. However, from my recollection of my youth, including high school, college and law school, and from what I have witnessed recently at the elementary school level… nothing much happens the first week of school. Teachers review and set out expectations. These are important, but it’s not like they are taking the CRCT or sth. Not that it’s an issue for my kids anyway since they come to school well rested because they can go to bed when WE TELL THEM TO without practice.

Re school supplies. One school supplies them for everyone compliments of the PTA. The other, well we just get it while we are at the grocery store for the vast majority of it - you’d be surprised at how much they have and you don’t have to do the Target or Walmart rush.

By Terry

July 17, 2007 4:45 PM | Link to this

Think your stressed— check out this story - what school systems do to good moms—

http://www.macon.com/197/story/88265.html

I don’t envy the stress that mom must be feeling

By Rosemond

July 17, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

I’m with decaturparent, I can’t think of a better way to stress a child out over nothing than to start waking them up at 6:00 for no reason for a couple of weeks so they can “get ready” for the HORRENDOUS AND CRITICALLY IMPORTANT experience of the first day of school.

By fk

July 17, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

We never stressed out about the school routine. Kids adapt easily. I think that kids sense a parent’s anxiety and play off it. The last thing you want to do is make your kid anxious about the impending school year. Relax, enjoy the summer. Where did the time go? Before you know it, school will start and every minute of your day will be scheduled.

Regarding the school supplies, when my son was in elementary school, the school supplied a materials list for each teacher. It was a great help.

By Nikole

July 17, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

decaturparent, I am an adult and I love to stay up late and wake up late. I am a teacher, so the week before I have to get to work I start waking up early and going to bed early. My natural body clock does not want to do that. I am not a morning person. Quit making it seem childish to get yourself prepared physically. Lucky you that your kids don’t need that preparation.

By Star

July 18, 2007 7:31 AM | Link to this

I don’t think going to bed early in July is that necessary, although I do think kids should SORT OF stick to a routine in the summer, just maybe more lax. As for “not learning anything the first few weeks????” WOW! That is THE most important time of the year. Like someone else said…it’s a time to learn expectations. I teach second grade, and if I just skipped those procedures the year would be a nightmare for all.

Parents, don’t flip over school supplies. My list for my class is less than 15.00 total. Nothing to worry about other than putting it in their backpacks the night before. (Of course, I teach the little kids…)

By fedup

July 18, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this

I keep hearing about these complicated expectations. Is it that different from grade to grade? Other than do you homework and turn it in, stay on task, follow directions, raise your hand, don’t interrupt or talk in class, and generally behave like a tame animal… what is so complicated?

I just don’t recall having any complicated procedures that changed dramatically from year to year with the exception of starting kindergarten, going to middle school and high school. From what I recall, if I just behaved and did what the teacher said, there wasn’t a problem.

Other than those three years(K, 6th and 9th), I can’t see why classroom expectations and procedures change that much from year to year within the same school. I don’t recall that from my schooling nor have I seen it at my kids’ schools.

I think that the first couple of weeks are important to teachers because they have to get the feral kids under control. If you get it wrong during the first couple of weeks with them, you’ve lost the year. However, for your well-behaved, on-grade-level-or-above children who aren’t afflicted with ADD or a similar issue, I don’t see that the first two weeks are that important.

By Jeff

July 18, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

As far as school supplies goes:

The single most expensive thing that a student would ever truly need as far as “supplies” goes is a calculator - in HS ADVANCED math classes. And you truly can get away with buying just two in 13 yrs of school if you teach your kid to take care of his things. You’ll POSSIBLY need a scientific calc (TI-30XA or similar, currently ~$15 at Walmart) in middle school/ lower level HS classes, and you’ll DEF need a graphing calc (TI-83+ or similar, currently ~$80 at Walmart, though the more powerful - and expensive - 84 models go for ~$110+. TRUST me, the 84 is SO powerful that getting it before college is more than likely going to be a waste of your money) for Geometry and higher in HS math. Other than those two things, however, if you’re spending more than about $50 per YEAR per kid, you’re probably either paying too much or getting your kid to much.