As you are beginning to think about the new school year, many thoughts are running through your mind.  How do I set up my classroom and what am I going to teach on the first day of school?  It doesn’t matter if you teach in a public or private school or if you are a home school parent, we all think about getting off to a great start.   When I was a student, teacher, or principal, I remember never being able to sleep the night before school started.  The excitement and anticipation was beyond describable.

     From all of my years in education, I have learned many important things.  The best advice I can give you is to teach your children the meaning of your rules and expectations.  Take the time to model for them. Show them the right way and the wrong way to complete the expectation.

     Always be CONSISTANT!  Say what you mean………and mean what you say.  Children learn quickly and know when stong bounderies are and are not set.  As an adult, I know I like knowing what is expected of me.  Early intervention is the key. Teaching children to follow rules and make good choices early helps get their school year started in a positive way.

     Are you looking for a great book to read to your children the first week of school?  The ABC’s of Making Good Choices is a rhyming book that teaches children positive character traits.  Email me and I will send you a hand-out of higher order thinking questions and activities to use with the book.

Blessings until the next time!