1. We cannot wait to meet your child! Teachers are looking forward to meeting your child just as much as your child is excited to come to school (and possibly even more)! We love kids and want them to feel welcomed, loved and develop a love of learning!
1. Backpack size. Make sure the backpack is big enough to hold their lunch container, a mail bag, a large sized library book or possibly two (they are always a hit) and a large bag of soiled clothes! I find many children's "cute" backpacks are never large enough and children are awkwardly carrying home numerous bags just to make sure that their creations and/or belongings get home safely.
2. Buy Velcro shoes and set your child up for success! Teachers are very busy during the day. We wish we did have time to constantly tie laces that are constantly coming apart, but we don't. This will allow us to spend more time connecting, caring and teaching your child (socially, emotionally and academically) rather than with trying to teach your child independence.
3. Teach your child to put their shoes on independently before they come to school. We don't expect that they have mastered the skill but when you have 30+ students in your class we greatly appreciate it when your child has some independence. The pure joy children have when mastering putting on their shoes is wonderful experience to see. Your child will beam with pride! It is a huge accomplishment to learn. Click here for tips on helping your child learn how to be independent with their shoes!
4. A large sturdy water bottle is a necessity! Many classes do not have sinks that are easily fillable by students with small water containers. Having one realistically large enough to last for a good portion of the day will help your child immensely.
5. Please leave all personal belongings at home. Likely no, that Pokemon card that your child came home with was not traded for something else with parent consent. Many things get misplaced by little ones. When something gets lost it is devastating for us to see how disappointed and sad your child is. Please help prevent these mishaps and keep treasures, no matter what the size, at home.
6. Start the year with a spare change of clothes in a labelled ziplock bag. All students have accidents at school. This is normal. It may be a painting accident, a mud puddle or even a bathroom accident. We are used to these and are not upset when they occur. But we need a spare change of clothes to help your child.
7. Develop some independence in the washroom. Schools do have Educational Assistants who help toilet students with special needs but teachers can not enter the washroom to help your child. Practice these skills so that it is not something new. They do not need to be masters of it, but should be familiar with the routines (aka, know how to wipe and flush). A nightly bath routine will help ensure cleanliness! Knowing how to take clothes on and off is an important skill for them if they have had an accident.
8. Please label all of your Childs belongings. Backpacks, shoes, hats, mittens, pants, shirts, underwear, socks, snow suits and sandwich containers. The list goes on and on. Basically everything you send to school! You will be shocked but schools have a HUGE pile of lost and found because children often do not recognize their own belongings or are embarrassed to admit it that something which was lost is theirs. Label using your last name to save your sanity if you have multiple children!
9. Practice cleaning up at home. You may be shocked but by the end of the school year your child will be an expert tidy upper and helper of others! Start with some simple jobs like taking their plate to the kitchen sink at home. It might be a "grown up" activity that they look forward to doing instead of being reminded to always pick up after themselves after playing.
10. We are here for you! Have a question? We want to answer it! Don't be afraid to ask your teachers any question you may have. We are here to help.
Posts
No comments