Guidance from Quotes

Scrolling through some of my favorite quotes on Pinterest this morning, I realized many of them, regardless of their source, serve as sage advice for new-to-the-profession or new-to-the-grade early childhood/kindergarten teachers.

(Source)

Kindergarten is often the first long-term sharing experience that children encounter.  Instead of siblings, twenty strangers compete with them every time they have a question, need some reassurance, or try to explore, create or rest uninterrupted.  Some students elbow their way to the front while others attempt to practice turn-taking etiquette.  There will even be students who shy away from what to them looks like a melee, their teacher swamped by more aggressive attention needers/seekers.  See the classroom through your students' eyes, reminding yourself of how you felt at situationally similar times, and gauge how they are feeling not just by observation, but by regularly asking them to share.

As students spend the year building friendships and cooperative skills with one another and their teachers, remember that the successfully managed classroom doesn't appear to others as a well-oiled machine because of the instant creation of compliant clones.  Is there a machine that is made up entirely of copies of the same, exact component?  Diversity will exist among your students just as it exists among your colleagues, students' families, and frankly, the rest of the world.  When necessary, be brave, accepting, and educate yourself so you can make respectful decisions that promote harmony.  

Do you like to be yelled at?  Keep the Golden Rule in mind as you teach your students how to work safely, effectively and kindly with one another.  "Whoever-is-the-loudest-wins" is often the framework for attention seekers at home, which is exactly why it doesn't work at school.  Since students regularly tune out their parents who yell, there's no reason to believe it will work for you.  Your voice is an essential classroom tool, already put to the test thanks to the germs that will be shared with you daily, so don't risk additional strain to your vocal chords or disturbing other classrooms.  Props such as bells, timers, chimes, rhythmic clapping patterns, a sing-song-y rhyme and music are great auditory triggers, and flicks of the light switch or a hands-up or other body signal help students learn to attend to visual prompts.  Teach your students two or three cues during the first week of school, and be consistent in using them.  Once everyone (or most) are onboard, teach one or two more.  An added bonus?  You'll be helping your students learn that their classroom and school are not only physically safe places to be, but emotionally protected spaces too.

A kindergartner once told me, "Teacher, I'm a great imaginator," and yes, she was!  Over the course of the year you'll not only address curriculum requirements and assess your students' skill development, you'll also need to provide opportunities for independent explorations and creative innovation.  "Imagination Stations" or "Creative Construction Zone" activities allow children to not only develop and practice skills but to innovate, problem solve, express gifts, learn from and teach one another.  

Make sure to regularly step outside of your own box as well.  Take up a hobby, visit other classrooms, follow your students' lead, and find inspiration that will help you avoid teacher burnout.  Seek out like-minded colleagues at work and from around the world via blogs, wikis and videos.  Adopt successful elements from grade level partners, collaborate on creating tools that benefit students, and offer to share discoveries and creations of your own. Teaching kindergartners and working with other education professionals should be an energizing and productive experience, not an unbearable ordeal, although...

I won't lie.  There might be moments, situations, possibly days when you'll find yourself wondering:

... at which point you'll either need to remind yourself to:

... or reconsider whether working with young children is the best fit for you.  Students, colleagues, and family partners in education deserve pleasant learning and working conditions.  Though occasional disappointments can arise and uncomfortable social undercurrents can exist, as teachers work together it's always appropriate to:

Have a great year!

*****

Some kindergarten sweetness I included in a treasury on Etsy:

Repost: Kindergarten Lunchtime Tips

Repost: Here's an update to a post I blogged three years ago, with tips on helping students navigate their lunchtime routine at school.  Whether students eat in a cafeteria or remain in their classroom for meals, a little help from parents before school starts can make all the difference.  Read through to the end for links to kid-friendly lunch box meal ideas!

(Eco lunch boxes found here)

Parents, do you have a kindergartner gearing up for his or her first day of school?  It's not just time to think about tracking down school supply lists and new clothes, but to prepare for new schedules and routines that will quickly be put into place regarding snack and lunch times too.  

*Soggy sandwiches aren't fun to eat, so try coating both pieces of bread with peanut butter with some jelly in the middle to avoid jelly-soak-through.

*Orange chips stain clothes. Yes, kids still wipe their hands all over their shirts and pants, ignoring the cute napkin you included in their lunchbox. Lunch time is a social time so kids are too busy chatting, visiting, and listening in on conversations to remember the good manners you taught them.

*While packing lunch, check to see if there's a slit cut into the straw wrapper for your child's drink.  If there isn't, make one so that your child doesn't resort to ripping it apart with his or her teeth.  Juice boxes tend to be easier to punch straws into than the pouch style drinks.

*Though teachers and lunch aides discourage it, food bartering/swapping still takes place at lunch or snack time. Please remember that some students have food allergies, occasionally severe. It's important that your child knows being a good friend doesn't require the sharing of food or offering "just a taste" of some other treat with classmates.

*If your child likes to save leftovers for a snack later in the day, please practice fastening those plastic storage lids or baggies now, or be prepared for very messy spills and mountains of crumbs coming home to you in backpacks or lunch sacks.

*If you send a thermos with lunch, make sure your child knows which way is "up" and how the lid should be level when twisted back on.  Leaks and spills are messy, especially if your child shares a locker or cubby with a classmate.

*Not every classroom has a refrigerator available, so if you live in a hot climate, plan on skipping the mayo and milk.

*Snack packaging (the wrappers on cookies, chips, graham crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, etc.) isn't always easy for little hands to open. Cut a small slit in the top of each to help ease your child's frustration. The same goes for the tips of bananas, or the peels on oranges. BTW, few teachers, lunch aides and custodians will appreciate it if Dad insists on teaching your kindergartner how to "pop" chip bags open.

*We're happy to help your young ones learn how to open milk cartons and lunch wrappers, but children feel such a sense of accomplishment, independence and helpfulness when they can do it on their own and teach their friends the tricks of the trade as well.  Small milk cartons are available at most grocery stores if your kindergartner would like to practice before school starts.

*Not every child knows that you'd rather not open a lunchbox full of wrappers, banana peels, or used juice straws at the end of every day. Additionally, kids don't always know that you might want their plastic containers returned home! Decide and discuss which food wrappers or containers are disposable trash, and which aren't. You'll keep a lot of your Tupperware collection intact if you address this sooner rather than later. Ditto for silverware!

*Make sure you write your child's name on that lunch box or lunch sack, because there's always at least one classmate who will have the same one, or one similar looking enough that mix-ups will occur.

*If your child will purchase lunch at school each day, make sure you find out the routine in advance and see if you can prepay so your child won't panic or experience a meltdown if lunch money has been lost on the playground.  Prepaying also enables the lunch lines to move more quickly.

*The teacher might ask that all students bring a snack (or two) each day or might ask parents to sign up to provide snacks for the entire class one day each month.  Make sure to ask if there are any food items that cannot be shared due to allergies or cultural food preferences before preparing snacks for your child or classmates.

*Eating surfaces are also learning surfaces in classrooms, so your child will need to clean crumbs and spills before beginning a new activity.  To many children, "cleaning" means brushing crumbs from the tabletop to the floor or soaking up spills with sleeves or shirt hems. Thank you for teaching your child how to wipe down and dry a surface and to throw wrappers away in the trashcan.

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Do you have any tips or helpful hints for how to handle lunch and snacktime at school?  Please share by commenting~

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~ Wendy Copely shares Lunch Box Ideas for Back to School

~ Tina from Mommy's Kitchen has lots of great photos of Back to School Lunch Ideas from Walmart

~ ... and Moms by Heart feature printable lunch note freebies here.

A Gift to Myself: Erin Condren Planner and Desk Pad

The founder and employees of erincondren.com did not ask me to promote or share any information, links, or photos of their web page or products, nor have they offered compensation to me in exchange for blogging about them.  That being said, I'm not about to keep this discovery of a gem to myself!  Read on:

After spying an awesome day runner/planner and desk pad in the classroom of one of my fabulous colleagues in May, I promptly ~insisted~ she tell me where she got them.

I didn't ask, and if I remember correctly, I didn't use manner words either.  Despite my lack of professionalism and ~not~ walking the walk, she graciously emailed me a link to the website for Erin Condren's personalized note cards, stationery, labels, wrap and more.  She insisted that I would LOVE IT, and folks, she wasn't wrong.

Check the left side bar- there's a tab for teachers!  And when you click on it, lesson planners, clip boards, desk pads, notepads, etc. can be found.  As I use a computer template for my lesson plans, I decided to purchase a desk pad and life planner, and oh yes, they're customized.

Clicking on the 2013-2014 Life Planners tab, I thought I'd check out the "Classic Life Planner" designs, and that's where I found the flower garden of my dreams, at the bottom right:

I was a little apprehensive about the steps it might take to customize a day runner that I'd be using primarily for work plans, professional development dates, events, curriculum map and reminders but the web site made it very easy to do, from selecting a cover, deciding whether or not I wanted a bookmark/ruler, choosing how many months I wanted to include, and customizing stickers (though birthday, appointment, game, vacation, sale, and concert stickers are already included, along with two pages of blanks that you can fill out on your own).  I added custom notepads, but didn't order colored pens or a band to keep the cover closed (I'm crafty, and know how ribbon or colored elastic works), and I decided to put my name, position, and school's name on the front cover.  I deserve this, I told myself as I submitted the order.  After a wait of several weeks (the planners are assembled by hand), I came home from the grocery store to find a lovely box waiting for me:

As a teacher who regularly scours thrift stores, yard and garage sales for classroom manipulatives, games, and center materials, this planner is a splurge.  A big splurge.  Becoming a member of erincondren.com lets me in on updates, sales and discount codes for future purchases, but oh yes, this is one of those items that I probably wouldn't have purchased for myself if I didn't know that it would become a part of my daily life.  While friends and colleagues regularly use the calendar on their iPad or phone, I'm a throwback to the days of beautifully bound address books, planners and journals: I like to use a pen and write.

This is the life planner, NOT the lesson planner.  There are styles that include the option of uploading family photos that will be printed onto your cover, and there are other products that can feature your favorite pictures as well.

I ordered notepads that arrived in a two-pack with adhesive backing that can be added to the inside back cover of my planner.  I forgot to mention that the cover features thick laminate.

These are the custom labels I made to include staff meetings, technology committee meetings, and stickers for our kindergarten PLC.  I also wanted conferences, the first and last days of school and other special staff related events, which were very easy to add.



There are pocket pages and a clear pouch included in the day runner/planner, which will certainly come in handy!



A freebie sample pack of customized gift labels was included- what a treat!



And finally, the deskpad has 48 pages with a calendar top sheet for each month that is followed by three pages for doodles, notes and lists.  The colors on the style I ordered change with each month.

I am ~beyond~ delighted with this present-for-myself, and would strongly suggest a gift card to erincondren.com to those of you seeking out the perfect gift for your favorite teacher, colleague or friend.

He or she will love it.

*****

Summer Prep: Classroom Vignettes and Special Sentiments

Dusting off and rearranging teacher appreciation gifts from former students and their families, wonderful memories wash over me as I continue to prep my classroom for August.  Figurines, stuffed animals, ornaments, shadow boxes and of course, mugs, serve as affirmations that keep me going on tough days.  The sweetness and thoughtfulness of each keepsake help me remember the stories, silliness, obstacles, puzzles, joys and successes of my students and the growth I've experienced in this profession.  They're displayed above closet cabinetry near my desk:

One of my Super Stars created a wreath for me this past year out of fluffy white yarn and patriotic red, silver and blue gem stars.  A month before school let out, I used bonus points to order a Pete-the-Cat stuffed animal, and the two were accidentally set together during our end of the year celebration.

Turns out they were the perfect match for one another:

Whether your room is spacious or small, consider creating a vignette of special items that help to tell your story, and collect and display favorite characters that will help your students tell theirs as they explore and engage with the adventures that wonderful kindergarten literature provides.

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Not only do I save knick-knack treasures that I receive from my students and their families, I cannot bring myself to throw away their cards, notes and drawings.  Moving from Alaska to New Mexico, New Mexico to Kansas, Kansas to Texas and finally back to Kansas, these precious papers have experienced quite the shuffle, falling from between the pages of an empty scrapbook I never seem to have time for and out of the storage drawer and boxes to which they've unexpectedly migrated.  With classroom chores taken care of, I'm hoping to set aside a few hours this summer to either get caught up on the scrapbook or decorate a binder cover or art journal that I can keep on hand for this special collection.  I found some inspiration at:

~ Work in Progress Kits: a teacher appreciation book filled with all sorts of decorative elements

~ Tonya's Treats for Teachers on TPT: a "Teacher Love Notes" binder cover (FREE download)  

~ Aimee Salazar on TPT: Teacher Love Notes Binder Covers (another free download) with a cupcake theme on TPT

~ Home Style Cover on Etsy: wooden "treasure chest" card box, a beautiful (and sturdy) upgrade from the old shoebox many of us have recycled

Some of the cards I received in May are still hanging on a board near my kitchen, but they'll make the move to their new home once back-to-school activities are in full swing.

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Happy July 4!

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Don't forget to vote for my blog over at Circle of Moms (click on the badge) daily until July 9.  I appreciate your visits, and love to share what I know and do with other early childhood professionals, teachers and families!  Thanks for scrolling down the list, finding my smiling face, and returning the love by clicking on the heart:

~Michaele~

New Curriculum Materials and Suggested Resources? Take the Time, Make the Time

I've spent the past week looking through the kindergarten chapters in Common Core Curriculum Maps (Jossey-Bass pub., 2012), and have been putting my visual self to work creating and filling Pinterest boards as I explore each of the six units recommended for my grade. I've included links to samples of the suggested artwork, music, literature, and videos as well as to many teacher-created activities and resources, most of them offered as "freebies" at the time I pinned them.

In the case of unit 3 (Exploring with Friends in the Neighborhood), you'll find I've pinned alternate artwork in addition to the two pieces suggested by the authors.  Appreciating the fact that the unit's activities are "neither prescriptive nor exhaustive," and that teachers "can select from among them, modify them to meet their students' needs, and/or use them as inspiration for creating their own activities," I sought out examples of vibrant neighborhood/community art that would engage my students and get them talking about the friends, family, neighbors, animals, activities and professions that they encounter daily.  But why did I feel the need to seek out alternatives in the first place?

Units 1 and 2 suggested works by Picasso, Matisse, Whistler and others:

As I look at each piece, I can hear in my mind the comments and questions that my Super Stars might pose and share as they examine color and make inferences.  I can imagine their journal entries and interpretations of the artwork that they'll create at the painting easel, creative construction zone or art class.  Families might even decide that a trip to a museum or art gallery should be moved higher up on the to-do list this year.

I can also imagine the dialogue borne of not only inquiry and intrigue but of confusion and possibly fear if my students were to reflect upon all of Pieter Bruegel's Netherlandish Proverbs, 1559, one of the two pieces of artwork suggested for unit 3:

According to Wikipedia, the painting depicts Dutch proverbs of the day and includes representations of "the absurdity, wickedness and foolishness of humans."  A fascinating piece, I can imagine junior high, high school, college students and adults studying it and engaging in colorful discussions and debates over the imagery, style, humanity, complexity, economy and iconography depicted.  But four, five and six year old children?

Ew, I can see their butts!

What is she doing to that devil?

My mom/dad says that the devil can sneak into your heart and...

Etc.

Teachers can interject themselves into the conversations of their students when they feel it's necessary, but in my opinion, Netherlandish Proverbs risks requiring excessive amounts of maneuvering and redirection as students explore, reflect upon and compare their own neighborhood to the one depicted by Bruegel.  This maneuvering can further be affected by a teacher's own interpretation of and feelings about the painting, or beliefs about religion, modesty and morality, topics about which parents and families feel very strongly.  As you imagine yourself viewing Netherlandish Proverbs through your kindergartners' eyes, do you think they'll examine the painting as a depiction of collected scenes in a neighborhood/community, or do you feel their attention will constantly be divided between the separate images that for whatever reason, catch their eye? 

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What kind of community artwork do I think is appropriate for young children?  Todd Berman has created collaborative neighborhood art full of colorful characters found here:

Angela De La Torre depicts colorful architecture in Buffalo the Beautiful:

Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach art quilt and story (link to Amazon.com):

Reading the foreword and introduction in Common Core Curriculum Maps, I was unable to find a statement contributed by an early childhood/kindergarten teacher, though the Maps were "written by teachers for teachers" in the public school arena.  Hoping to find an explanation about the consideration and final selection of Netherlandish Proverbs, and provide my two cents regarding suggestions for future fine-tuning of the Maps, I checked online and found that commentary and suggestions can be shared only if an educator becomes a member ($25 fee) of the Maps site.  As I've already purchased the book and am comfortable tracking down resources and activities to supplement each theme, I won't be spending the extra money, though I'd love to hear from any of you who have decided to access the Maps and the additional bells and whistles online. 

Teacher Tip: Whether you're an experienced teacher or one new to the profession, always take the time to look over curriculum materials suggested to you or utilized by your district.  If you're swamped, make the time, as no one knows your students like you do, and your professional judgement must be utilized for their benefit.  

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Links to artwork suggested by the Maps can be found in a PDF Art Guide available here.

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Don't forget to vote for my blog over at Circle of Moms (click on the badge) daily until July 9.  I appreciate your visits, and love to share what I know and do with other early childhood professionals, teachers and families!  Thanks for scrolling down the list, finding my smiling face, and returning the love by clicking on the heart:

~Michaele~

Common Core Curriculum Maps, Zoo Phonics, and Pinterest, Oh My!

I've been "off work" for the summer since the end of May.

This means I've been...

1)  ... in my classroom six times, moving furniture,  re-papering bulletin boards, and planning changes.  Oh, and killing ants.

2)  ... attending professional development regarding K-12 science education.

3)  ... catching up on my education-blog reading.

4)  ... familiarizing myself with this book:

A quick-scan of units 1-6 in May had me a bit perplexed.  While I appreciate thematic units with art, music, and science integrated, I couldn't find phonics-specific information, and wondered why suggested stories/literature weren't more current.  Part of me is a traditionalist, so Mother Goose and her nursery rhymes have always been included in my class library, but there is a wealth of newer poetry, artwork, literature and music for children available too that teachers shouldn't ignore (I've got your back, Pete the Cat).  New-to-service or new-to-district teachers who follow these ELA maps will need to ask their grade level partners if they'll follow a letter-per-week model,  c-v-c unit instruction, or complete immersion.  Traveling around thanks to Uncle Sam (Dear Husband has retired from the Army), I'm flexible with change because I've had to be: despite state standards, NCLB, Race to the Top and the Common Core, no two districts have been cookie cutter in their implementation of curriculum.  My suggestion to new teachers?  As you swim through materials or create your own bank of resources from scratch, ask questions.  Lots of them.

With all of the relocations, I have had a trusted stand-by, thanks to a former colleague in Alaska.  I've used Zoo Phonics (since the 1990's) in the four different school districts which I've taught, because it's a program that works well to not only teach letter sounds but to help differentiate for the needs of my students.  Many children enter kindergarten with letter name and sound knowledge, so slogging through twenty-six weeks' worth of the alphabet can be boring and redundant.  For those kiddos with little to no print awareness and/or low phonemic skills, Zoo Phonics is an engaging introduction to letter names and sounds that includes a body motion to help facilitate whole brain/body learning.  Students at all levels of phonemic awareness enjoy the fun factor, and are able to employ the elements of animal identification, story, sound and motion in the first two weeks of school and as they develop their reading and writing proficiency throughout the year.  Watching strong readers and their early-emergent classmates interact, share, and choose to partner with one another when writing, exploring word work activities or enjoying books in the class library using their shared Zoo Phonics references is a strong affirmation for me as a teacher as I work to create an inclusive environment where students learn not only from me but from one another. 

By the way, Zoo Phonics didn't ask me to promote or praise their program, no sir-ee Bob.  I've just seen it work in Alaska, New Mexico and Kansas, with general education kids, English language learners, students with special needs, and especially those who are articulation-challenged.  Watching a student who can't produce r, l, w, y, t, or s sounds verbally *still* be able to write words, thoughts and sentences by indicating a body motion or finding the necessary animal on a Zoo Phonics chart is a powerful thing to witness. Barring a hearing loss or auditory processing problem, students can hear and discriminate between sounds even if they can't produce them. 

5)  ... creating Pinterest boards for units 1-6 from Common Core Curriculum Maps.

If you'd like to take a peek at the boards (or follow them), you can find them here:

Unit I: A Colorful Time with Rhythm and Rhyme

Unit 2: Tell a Story, 1, 2, 3

Unit 3: Exploring with Friends in the Neighborhood

Unit 4: America: Symbols and Celebrations

Unit 5: The Great Big World

Unit 6: Wonders of Nature: Plants, Bugs and Frogs

I'll continue to add to them this summer.  

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Thankfully, my summer hasn't been all work and no play: today I'm going to go out to lunch with a friend!  On a Thursday!  

The little things really are the big things with teachers, aren't they?

I hope your summer has gotten off to a wonderful start!  What are your plans?

*****

Don't forget to vote for my blog over at Circle of Moms (click on the badge) daily until July 9.  I appreciate your visits, and love to share what I know and do with other early childhood professionals, teachers and families!  Thanks for scrolling down the list, finding my smiling face, and returning the love by clicking on the heart:

*****

See you back here tomorrow when I ask your opinion about artwork suggested in Common Core Curriculum Maps.

Don't Be Afraid to...

~ Re-arrange your room: try a learning center in a new spot; if possible, relocate your desk and use its backside as a new surface for anchor charts, magnetic letters and numbers, or an art display.

~ Ask colleagues for a tour of their teaching spaces: you can learn a lot about organization, efficiency, learning centers, technology tools, safety and differentiated instruction by sneaking a peek and asking questions.  Teachers are eager to share if you’ll only ask.

~ Sell, donate or recycle the old, unused, or unnecessary items in your stash: if you’ve been teaching for more than five years, it’s likely you’re beginning the subtle transformation from collector to hoarder.  Sort, assign, donate.  Trust me, you need the room and new teachers need hand-me-downs.

~ Modify worksheets and practice pages to best meet the needs of your students:  at the beginning of the year, it’s difficult for many of my students to sit and write for long periods of time.  It’s even more difficult to keep pages they’ve started and set aside from being mangled, cut, or taken home before they’re finished.  I cut my handwriting pages in half, so instead of having to practice four numbers at a sitting, my Stars only have to practice two (our pages are two-sided). 

~ Map out your curriculum plan/schedule for the year: use a monthly planner or day runner to keep track of your weekly theme, letter of the week, math concept, science vocabulary, and journal topics.  I even keep track of early dismissal days, mid-quarter assessments, grade card dates, field trips, parent/teacher conferences and other special events on my master calendar. 

~ Follow Pinterest boards and blogs: you’ll find great photos, links, ideas, crafts and tips from fellow public and home schooling teachers online.  Why recreate the wheel if you don’t have to?

~ Pick up a new hobby: it’s easy to inspire a love of lifelong learning in your students if you’re a lifelong learner yourself.  If it feels like you’re eating, breathing, walking, talking and sleeping public education, choose a hobby away from the school building.  Read a book for pleasure, attend a concert or play, learn how to crochet, sew or bake.  Take up walking or start a new exercise program.  Learn to speak a new language, and make sure to set aside “you” time weekly to recharge your batteries and smell the roses.

~ Expand your mind: sometimes all it takes is listening to or reading a great thinker to help our own brains kick it up a notch.  Follow interesting people on Twitter, join group pages on Facebook, contribute to a wiki, or, if you’re an occasional insomniac like I am, watch the latest TED Talk videos.

What additional advice do ~you~ have for fellow teachers? 

Back to School Lunch and Snack Tips

Here's an update to a post I blogged two years ago.  Teachers, you might consider sharing the following tips with your students' families:

(Eco lunch boxes found here)

Parents, do you have a kindergartner gearing up for his or her first day of school?  It's not just time to think about tracking down school supply lists and new clothes, but to prepare for new schedules and routines that will quickly be put into place regarding snack and lunch times too.  

*Soggy sandwiches aren't fun to eat, so try coating both pieces of bread with peanut butter with some jelly in the middle to avoid jelly-soak-through.

*Orange chips stain clothes. Yes, kids still wipe their hands all over their shirts and pants, ignoring the cute napkin you included in their lunchbox. Lunch time is a social time so kids are too busy chatting, visiting, and listening in on conversations to remember the good manners you taught them.

*While packing lunch, check to see if there's a slit cut into the straw wrapper for your child's drink.  If there isn't, make one so that your child doesn't resort to ripping it apart with his or her teeth.  Juice boxes tend to be easier to punch straws into than the pouch style drinks.

*Though teachers and lunch aides discourage it, food bartering/swapping still takes place at lunch or snack time. Please remember that some students have food allergies, occasionally severe. It's important that your child knows being a good friend doesn't require the sharing of food or offering "just a taste" of some other treat with classmates.

*If your child likes to save leftovers for a snack later in the day, please practice fastening those plastic storage lids or baggies now, or be prepared for very messy spills and mountains of crumbs coming home to you in backpacks or lunch sacks.

*If you send a thermos with lunch, make sure your child knows which way is "up" and how the lid should be level when twisted back on.  Leaks and spills are messy, especially if your child shares a locker or cubby with a classmate.

*Not every classroom has a refrigerator available, so if you live in a hot climate, plan on skipping the mayo and milk.

*Snack packaging (the wrappers on cookies, chips, graham crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, etc.) isn't always easy for little hands to open. Cut a small slit in the top of each to help ease your child's frustration. The same goes for the tips of bananas, or the peels on oranges. BTW, few teachers, lunch aides and custodians will appreciate it if Dad insists on teaching your kindergartner how to "pop" chip bags open.

*We're happy to help your young ones learn how to open milk cartons and lunch wrappers, but children feel such a sense of accomplishment, independence and helpfulness when they can do it on their own and teach their friends the tricks of the trade as well.  Small milk cartons are available at most grocery stores if your kindergartner would like to practice before school starts.

*Not every child knows that you'd rather not open a lunchbox full of wrappers, banana peels, or used juice straws at the end of every day. Additionally, kids don't always know that you might want their plastic containers returned home! Decide and discuss which food wrappers or containers are disposable trash, and which aren't. You'll keep a lot of your Tupperware collection intact if you address this sooner rather than later. Ditto for silverware!

*Make sure you write your child's name on that lunch box or lunch sack, because there's always at least one classmate who will have the same one, or one similar looking enough that mix-ups will occur.

*If your child will purchase lunch at school each day, make sure you find out the routine in advance and see if you can prepay so your child won't panic or experience a meltdown if lunch money has been lost on the playground.  Prepaying also enables the lunch lines to move more quickly.

*The teacher might ask that all students bring a snack (or two) each day or might ask parents to sign up to provide snacks for the entire class one day each month.  Make sure to ask if there are any food items that cannot be shared due to allergies or cultural food preferences before preparing snacks for your child or classmates.

*Eating surfaces are also learning surfaces in classrooms, so your child will need to clean crumbs and spills before beginning a new activity.  To many children, "cleaning" means brushing crumbs from the tabletop to the floor or soaking up spills with sleeves or shirt hems. Thank you for teaching your child how to wipe down and dry a surface and to throw wrappers away in the trashcan.

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Do you have any tips or helpful hints on how to handle lunch and snack time at school?  Please share by commenting~