A Great Start
September 17, 2009 by Christine - From Dates to Diapers
Filed under Back-to-School 09, giveaway, homeschooling, sponsored post
My kiddos were eager to start lessons again and we’ve now almost completed our second week back at school. I must say that if we can maintain the momentum with which we began, this year will be lovely!
I’d like to think that my children’s eagerness to get back to school was due to the fact that they love to learn, but I’m afraid it was more because their neighborhood friends began to disappear every day. At any rate, I’m hoping and praying that this enthusiasm will continue throughout the entire year as we memorize Scripture and as some of my kiddos learn the sounds of the letters, while others study fractions and explore how the human body functions.
Now, I’m not much of a list-maker, but I’ve always benefited by writing out my goals for a new year, whether it’s a new school year or a new calendar year. While my number one goal as a teacher is to instill a love of learning, there are many things I resolve to do every day to accomplish this goal and I’ve managed to keep my “school year’s resolutions”… I know that today only marks the eighth day of our school year, with many days left to go, but it is certainly a good start, right?
One thing I need to work on is encouragement. I suppose encouragement can show itself in many forms ::
- Helping the kids through a rough problem, while ensuring them that they can indeed do it
- Providing opportunities for them to excel in an area of interest
- Allowing ways for them to encourage and uplift each other
Whatever form it takes, I need to remind myself that my kiddos need my encouragement, no matter how difficult it may seem at the moment.
There are so many great things in store for us this year…. I’m exhausted just thinking about it all! To stay refreshed and rejuvinated, I’ve finally connected with other homeschool families in our community, which was something my kids and I really need this year. We now plan to go on some fun field trips with this new group, connect with old friends who homeschool, and continue to learn about life and the world around us.
I am so excited!
Going back to school is an exciting, fun and sometimes, hectic time. To calm the butterflies and build your kids’ confidence, Hallmark has put together this great resource to encourage moms like you. Just for sharing a bit of advice, you’ll be entered to win a prize package valued at $500… Check it out!
GIVEAWAY!
You can also win a $50 Hallmark gift card, right here at From Dates to Diapers! Just leave a comment here about your kiddos’ first day, week or month of school. I would love to hear about any fun traditions you may have started this year. You may receive additional entries (up to one per day) by tweeting a link to this giveaway, using the hashtag #D2Dgvwy. Be sure you leave me a separate comment for each tweet. A winner will be chosen, and contacted via email, on September 30th.
This post and giveaway are sponsored by Hallmark. The views and opinions are mine.
9/27 tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/4419002264
Tweet
http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/4421042385
ty
anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com
(in Canada)
tweeted again:
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/4423103904
my niece and nephew are looking forward to it this year
We always do chocolate chip pancakes each morning for the first month of school…the kids love this tradition!
Thank you.
Well it’s always nice to start that special first day off in a positive frame of mind. Don’t be all rushed or this might be passed on to the kids, just relax and treat it as any day, maybe give them a little something of yours to take to school in their backpack, or pocket so they have that feeling that Mom is kind of with them the whole day, this is for the littler children. maybe a handwritten note, hanky or your favorite writing pen or pencil
skyskyaa11(at)gmail.com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/checkkers/status/4424919884
skyskyaa11(at)gmail.com
My grandchildren always come home after the first day of school all bubbly and excited. They love school, their teachers and learning. Thanks for this offer.
We always have an end of summer pool party to celebrate the start of school!
I don’t have any children, but I’ll always cherish the memory of the special way my beloved Mom sent me off to college: she spent all summer painstakingly pieceing together a magnificent, 500+-piece quilt, for me.
I don’t have any kids, but would love to win. Thanks.
9/28 tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/4443665588
Tweet
http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/4445806397
ty
anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com
(in Canada)
this year, they were asked to bring a pencil case with some school supplies. he decorated it with stickers. i think that was exciting for him, so it may be something we do every school year.
my baby started jk I cried he said to me when I droped him off Im your big boy now right mom as we walked to his class I have never balled my eyes out like that it should be an interesting year
We have a tradition that on the first day of school we take a picture in front of our front door of each child. It is fun to look back and see how they have grown over the years.
daily tweet, http://twitter.com/checkkers/status/4457918372
My daughter fist day I cried but she didn’t.
This year we started getting up just a little earlier so that we could have more time together without rushing.
It really seems to put everyone in a better mood that shows as well in the way that they act at school.
Thank you so much for the chance to win.
My little one’s only 9 months, but I heard about my niece’s first day this year. She looked super cute and was really excited about her tinkerbell backpack. She had a lot of fun, and made her first best friend-a boy.
My kids are babies. I would love to read the other ideas. My family didn’t do much for the first day of school. We did go school shopping (which was mostly for clothes) and planned out our outfits, just like that Target commercial but with less outfits.
9/29 tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/4470836845
Setting up an organizational system with the kids’ papers from day one sets the precedent for the year, and works out beautifully!
We’ve started doing something fun in our home to make homework time more enjoyable — we cap off each homework session with a show-and-tell, during which the kids get to show off what they’ve learned in as creative a fashion as they possibly can — poems, songs, skits, anything that demonstrates what they just worked on or learned. It gives both us and the kids something to look forward to, and so far at least it’s upped their motivation to turn off the TV and hit the books for a few hours each evening!
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/4472314935
Tweet
http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/4472875463
ty
nancyrobster@gmail.com
(in Canada)
I always loved having a new outfit to wear on the first day of school
This year we had an end of summer/kick off school pool party. It seems to set the mode for an end with summer friends and a way to celebrate the start the start of making new ones.
On the first day of school, we always take photos by the front door. It’s great to see how they grow and change from year to year!
This year, we’ve started getting up 20 minutes earlier than usual and we use that time to talk about what we’re all looking forward to that day. It can be something tiny or big…but it puts everyone in a positive mindframe for the day.
Thanks for the giveaway!…I would love to win… =D
tweeted http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/2009/09/a-great-start.html
My son smiled on his first day because we were together. He is homeschool.
Back-to-school is fun except getting back in the early to bed/regular schedules that we have to have that we don’t in the summer! But everything i working out! Fingers crossed! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
tweeted again:
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/4485383378
There is always soemthing magical about the first day of a new school year, everything is so new, the possibilities are endless!
daily tweet, http://twitter.com/checkkers/status/4488407242
My son’s first day of school is always crazy because he has such a nervous tummy that he always throws up…you can count on it!!
My boys are only 3 and 2. But the oldest started AWANA and he loves it
He was so excited to learn his cubbie MOTTO
My kids have decided that they are old enough to make their own lunches–I can’t help but check them–and I like to add goodies–to brighten their day.
I like to dress my kids up for the first day of school. I go all out. This year I had my 12 year old wear a tuxedo t-shirt and a Scottish kilt. He was all the rage at school. He was so popular that the teacher sent him home. The next day he wore a power rangers outfit. He was the pink ranger. I also like to drop him off at school while blasting Kenny G as loud as my Geo Prizm speakers can handle it.
We try to prepare everything the night before so tht we don’t have to rush for school and can spend some extra time together.
We start going to bed earlier about a week or two before school starts. My daughters get their clothes and backpacks ready the night before each school day, too.
tweet
http://twitter.com/Mtlgrl4evr/status/4499123601
Final Tweet
http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/4499742647
ty
nancyrobster@gmail.com
(in Canada)
My youngest started Kindergarten this year and she loves it. She’s having so much fun playing with new friends and learning from her super nice teachers. My oldest started 4th grade and has been accepted into the gifted program. I’m so very proud of her.
9/30 tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/4499856150
A tradition my mom started – making chocolate malt-o-meal with marshmallow/raisin faces!
I home school my daughter and the first week back to school we slowly get back into the book part of school. I have her do an about me book so when she gets older she can see how much she has changed within the year.
my son started K this year,he loved his first day,when he came home he was soo excited to tell me about it!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
tweeted What are you doing?
140 Latest: http://bit.ly/gf8JRless than 5 seconds ago
Biggest frustration this year was the mixed up schedule. It seems like school starts at a different time every day and everyone plays by ear. Getting better now though.
Of course they were nervous, but it went really well. They knew what they were going to wear, were up on time, and to the bus stop in time.
Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/4505475667
They were so excited and looked super cute, I mean, cool. The first day was great getting to see old friends.
The first couple of weeks of school the kids are getting their homework done early and they seem to like their teachers. We are trying to get to bed a little earlier though.
http://twitter.com/kngmckellar/status/4506425487
tweeted
He hated the first day of school because he started a new school but by the end of the week he loved it.
My son is having a wonderful school year! He loves his teacher,class, and the new friends. Thanks
tweet.
http://twitter.com/ccboobooy/status/4509941053
I always walk the kids 2 their classes the 1st day of school, this helps them 2 not B so nervous about the 1st day of school
Daily tweet, Win a Fabulous $50 Hallmark gift card!!! http://bit.ly/gf8JR #D2Dgvwy
My daughter likes picking out a new outfit for her first day of school. She loved showing it off.
my youngest started7th grade and he loves having many classes
This was our first year for 4K, and I took a picture of my son in front of the school. Which I plan on doing every year from now on!
We had a fun first day – he helped pick out his clothes and lunch and liked it
Taking a pic on the first day of school