back to school
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Back to School Clipart
I’m furiously working on a new set of school supply clipart for this year (and they are SO cute), but until I get them up, here is last year’s set. It’s still available in my TPT and Etsy stores if you’re feeling the buffalo plaid vibes!
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Friday Freebie – A gift for new kindergarten families
I designed this First Day of Kindergarten gift to give to my preschoolers and their families when they head to Kindergarten for the first time, but it is also perfect for Kindergarten teachers to share with families at back to school night, or on the morning of the very first day. The freebie includes notes to families in a variety of colors, a list of things to include in the treat bag (which correspond with the note), and a template for little felt hearts. The note explains that the parent gets a felt heart to keep in their pocket, and so does the child, this way if they feel lonely throughout the…
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Stress Relief for Back to School
This time of year can be soooooo stressful! The calendar is packed with end of summer celebrations, meet the teacher nights, sports practices, and all of the to-do lists. It might not be the perfect time to squeeze in a little self care BUT you can definitely pick up a few stress-relieving products now so that when there is a free moment it’s really easy to put them to use. Self care is not one-size-fits-all, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite products to offer a little inspiration. All links are affiliates! Lavender eye mask – This brings all of the sensory input. You get the aromatherapy,…
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Personalized Back to School Gift for Teachers
I’m so happy with how this year’s teacher gifts turned out – and so glad that I’ve got them done a little early (one less thing to worry about)! My daughter’s school is opening a brand new building this year, so a key ring felt like a fitting gift to start the year with. These would be perfect for your child’s teachers or your own co-workers if you’re a teacher too. Here are the items that I used to put these together (all links are affiliates). I went with these black beaded tassel keychains, but I also love this silicone option (I have one of these for my own keys).…
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Back to School Wish List
I know, I know, we’ve hit that point in the summer where we’re closer to the start of school than we are to the end of the school year… I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’ve already bought my daughter’s school supplies, she doesn’t start until September but if I wait until then to look for school supplies, all I’ll find is Christmas decorations. One thing that I love to do is buy a few extra items to throw in for her classroom. At this point in the year things are so much cheaper, so an extra box of crayons or tissues doesn’t add to much to my…
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Buffalo Plaid Clipart
If you’ve read my post from Monday, then you know that I am feeling ALL the fall vibes. Working on this clipart set definitely added to that! Nothing says fall quite like buffalo plaid, so buffalo plaid school supplies felt like a natural fit. Now that these cuties are posted in both my TPT and Etsy shops, I’m giving myself full permission to lean into all things autumn – you should too (after you snap up this set of course)!
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Goodbye Summer!
I’m definitely looking forward to the structure of the school year (and I might be ready for pumpkin spice season…), but it’s always hard to say goodbye to summer! I put together a really easy craftivity that you can use in the classroom to help children focus on the very best parts of their summer as you all move into fall together. It would be the perfect activity for a last day of summer party, just like the one I shared on Wednesday. Click HERE to download the Goodbye Summer Sunshine Freebie!
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Expectations for the first week of school
TPT shared this image on their instagram this week and it really stuck with me – probably because it’s exactly the kind of reminder that I always need during the first week. There’s so much pressure to jump back into a full-on routine and do all the things, but that’s not healthy for us as adults, and it can create a lot of stress for our students. Setting realistic expectations for the first week of school makes such a difference! I’m a planner, you know that, so for me this looks like getting out my calendar and really assessing what each day will look like and what I can actually…
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How I prepare for back to school
The majority of my time in the classroom has been with year-round programs, so back to school season has always been more of a mindset than an actual period of time. In my experience, shifting from summer to “back to school” involves a lot of emphasis on routines (see Monday’s post!), classroom environment, and welcoming new families. Here are some of the things that I do to transition my mindset and refocus for the school year: What helps you get in the back to school mindset?
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Back to school, back to a routine!
We had a whirlwind week at our county fair last week, all work and routines were thrown out the window! Now we’re home, getting all of the laundry done and SO READY to get back into a routine as we prep to head back to school. We still have a month before my daughter’s first day, but it’s never to early to start easing into those daily rituals that are part of the school year. If you’re teaching, helping a group of preschoolers ease into the school year, or preparing your own children for this schedule shift, here are some tips to make this transition a little easier! We’re personally…
