Getting ready for school

I didn't adopt from Poland, but I'll jump on in and answer anyway, if you don't mind.My son is in his 3rd week of school. I am much happier with this school than the one he attended in TX because here he can go at his pace (yeah) rather than be bored.I buy the crazy list of school supplies to get ready. Clothes wise this year he just needed new shoes. They have uniform code so we already had his clothes. Thankfully he didn't out grow them over the summer (I always buy as big as I can get away with).The beginning of school to me means I miss my baby! I also end up missing teaching. I have decided when my little one goes to K next year I will sub in their school. I miss teaching yet I want to be available for school parties and field trips so I won't go back full time until they are older.

School for us starts Monday. Some years I get pictures and some I don't. It seems the more kids that are in my house the less I get done, LOL. Last year I had six kids to get ready for school and getting them out the door was all I could handle. I have the last several years gone out to breakfast with friends on the first day, don't know if that will happen this year. School starts Monday and I have the supplies for the younger ones. The older ones don't know what they need other than pen and paper till the first day.

Great topic! Well...no kids in our home yet...but they are coming soon (we hope!). We have been busy researching school, preschool, daycare, etc. options in our city. It is fun to see all the possibilities out there. Looking forward to doing school shopping and having crafts coming home!!

Monday will be our first day with "real school" as my son puts it, since he will take the bus. We haven't yet started any traditions. We have gathered most of the school supplies -- I was shocked by the laundry list from the public school! In addition to personal supplies we had tons of classroom supplies. I'm sure we'll take lots of pictures, I'll cry after he gets on the bus and then the little princesses and I will go home for a relaxed breakfast while I cry some more and they wonder to where their favorite playmate disappeared ;)

I don't remember the list being so long when I was a kid. Anyone else remember long lists when we were kids?

[FONT=Arial]Were kind of the enigma around here so our routines are quite different than those who are involved in the government schools.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]What do we do to get ready?[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]As the schools are getting ready to start, we are getting ready to finish our academic year. We stock up on the few supplies we need after everyone else has come and gone and the stores have restocked. Back-to-school also signals that itҒs time we fine tune our decisions as to what curriculum to use for the following year.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] We order in October after the companies are past their busy season and have our books and things delivered by November. Upon arrival we peruse and drool all over them with anticipation, getting excited for the new year coming. Books then get shelved into our library while we continue to enjoy our holiday season.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]First day traditions?[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]The first day of our academic year is always fun. After a special breakfast the girls and I sit down with everything they are going to use in the year. We talk about our goals for the year for every area of life (academic, character, spiritual, etc.) and write a prayer incorporating those goals. (We then pray this every morning before starting our work.) Then I show them what they need to do and turn them loose to plan how they are going to get the job done. When their plans are penciled out they let me know and we talk about the strengths and weaknesses of their plans. After the consultation they firm up plans and get to work.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]As for the boys, theyll continue working through our usual break. WeҒve been working slowly and steadily, spending a lot of time learning about other things like character, hymns, bible verses, protocol, managing fears, common sense, etc. They are also continually working on their alphabet books and very simple math concepts. In January well start teaching the boys to read.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]What does the new academic year mean to us?[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]The beginning for the government schools signals to us the end of our year. ItҒs a time that we look back and make note of where we succeeded and where we need to do a better job. Its a time of reflection, and question asking. Where do we want each child to be in a year? How are we going to get them there? By January weҒve got a plan and attack the new academic year with excitement and drive.[/FONT][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][FONT=Arial]Just thinking about it is exciting![/FONT][FONT=Arial][/FONT] [FONT=Arial]As for those laundry lists of supplies - Ick! I saw a few lists and mother's looking for the items at the store the other day. I had NO list growing up and am thankful that we don't have to do that! We buy about $25 worth of supplies every year and that's it.[/FONT]