Ah, back-to-school shopping. Those were the days — folders and pencils plastered with whatever cartoon was popular that year, begging your mom for the shoes that everyone would be wearing and choosing the backpack that would coordinate perfectly with your first-day outfit. Even though a lot has changed, one thing has remained the same, the…
Our first official day of the new school year is Thursday. Of course, for us that just means a fun day with homemade pancakes (I think I'm going to try tic-tac-toe pancakes this year!), front porch pictures, annual interviews, and ice cream for dinner. Because we do school all year long, I'm constantly tweaking, and we…
The following post is from Jennifer, a lifelong educator: See all of the Homework Helps posts here. Homework is a double-edged sword. The time spent in additional practice gives some students the boost they need to move forward in school. That same practice, however, eats into precious family time. Complying with the teacher’s requirements and maintaining…
The following post is from Lisa of The Pennington Point: As the new school year begins, I want to get my home ready for the onslaught of books, papers and childhood artwork. Since we homeschool, we even need to keep teacher's supplies and a white board for lessons. But whether your children go to school…
The following post is from Jason & Jennifer Bruce of New Season Design: If you're thinking back-to-school (or if your family is already back-to-school), you might be thinking about how to start the year off right with your child's teacher. Teachers write a lot of notes throughout the year; why not supply your child's teacher with…
The following post is from Jennifer, a lifelong educator: Traditions communicate significance and can greatly impact a child's view of the upcoming school year. Since a positive attitude is so critical to learning, it’s important that students begin the year with healthy anticipation. Your encouragement and input can make all the difference in your family. To…
It's hard to believe it's back-to-school time already, but schools in our area start back in less than three weeks! (Those of you that still have a month or more of summer might want to bookmark this post for later.) We'll be sharing back-to-school tips and ideas in the coming weeks, and to kick us…
The following post is from Tiffany of Mommy Goes Green: As the school year ends, I'm getting ready to pack up this year's uniforms and thinking about next year's purchases! With two kids in a school that require uniforms, I’ve found a few ways to save money on what could be an otherwise expensive new…
The following post is from Jennifer, a lifelong educator: When you haven’t seen your kids all day, it’s important to arrive home in a good mood so you can more easily reconnect with your family. The way you feel when you walk in the door can help you set a positive tone that carries into the evening, thus…
The following post is from Becky of Organizing Made Fun: My two kids started school a couple of weeks ago! It's exciting to start a new school year but with it comes a LOT of school papers. Over the years I've worked on ways to overcome this source of "evil" in my home. Organizing the…