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Getting Ready for Back-to-School Register with ClubMom now to customize this list. Preschool--one month to one week before school:

	Spend time talking with your child about school.
	Practice separating for hours at a time.
	Read stories about the first day of school to your child.
	Plan a back-to-school shopping expedition.
	Buy or gather supplies your preschooler will likely need to bring to school.
	Buy supplies your preschooler will likely need to use at home:
	Put your child's name on her supplies, lunchbox, mat, blanket, pillow, and inside clothing.
	Teach your child important safety information and make sure she commits it to memory.
Register now to customize this list.
Preschool--one week before school:
	Whether your child will walk, ride the bus, or be driven to school, take a "dry run" of the route with your child.
	If your child will be taking the bus to school, do a practice walk to the bus stop.
	Attend an open house or get-acquainted day at school, if there is one, with your child.
	If there's no open house, schedule an appointment to take a tour of the school building with your child.
	Put your child to bed earlier each night until she's turning in at an appropriate school-night bedtime.
	Get your child used to waking up in the morning at a school-day appropriate time.
	Spend the last day or two before school starts at home with your child.
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Preschool--the night before school starts:
	Pick out school clothes for the morning.
	Tuck in your child at an appropriate school-night hour.
	Before your child goes to sleep, listen carefully to her fears and respond.
	Read a bedtime, back-to-school storybook to your child.
	Pack stay-at-school cubby supplies in a bag that can also stay at school.
	Pack your child's lunch for the next day and refrigerate it.
	Gather in one place everything that's going to school with your child in the morning.
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Preschool--the morning school starts:
	Take care of any last-minute tasks.
	Even if you can't do so every day, try to bring your child to school personally on the first day and say goodbyes there.
	Let your child get used to the environment before you leave.
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Primary school--several months before school:
	For a child, entering elementary school means entering the academic world for the first time. This brings with it a whole new set of anxieties and preparations.
	Speak to the principal in the spring or summer before school starts about what your child is expected to know by the time she enters kindergarten or first grade.
	Help her get up to speed so she can keep up academically with the rest of her class.
	If your child has any special needs, notify the school and confirm that acceptable accommodations can be made.
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Primary school--one month to one week before school:
	Try on last-year's school clothes to see what still fits.
	Go shopping for those items that have to be replaced.
	If you'll be buying a school uniform, find out from your school whether any local retailers are offering special deals. If so, you may be able to get a new uniform for your child at a discount.
	Stock up on supplies your child will need to bring to school.
	Let your child select her own lunchbox, backpack, and outfit for the first day of school.
	Stock up on supplies your child will need to have on hand at home.
	If you have a home computer, make sure it is ready to be used for schoolwork.
	Schedule an appointment with your child's pediatrician for a physical exam, if needed.
	Bring the school's medical form with you to your child's doctor appointment so it can be filled out.
	Make arrangements for after-school activities or childcare.
	If you plan to participate in any carpools, start organizing them now.
	Spend time listening to your child's concerns about going back to school.
	Sew name tags or write your child's name in indelible ink on clothing she's likely to take off during the day and small items like headbands, hats, and mittens.
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Primary school--one week before school:
	Read through and review school regulations with your child.
	Make sure all school forms have been completed and returned to school.
	Take your child to check out her classroom and say hello to the teacher.
	Attend an open house or "get acquainted" school event with your child, if there is one.
	Help your child become familiar with the route to and from school.
	Start moving bedtime back until your child is turning in at an appropriate school-night hour.
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Primary school--the night before school starts:
	Designate a place in the house for school paperwork.
	Check your child's backpack to be sure she has everything she needs.
	Go over after-school plans with your child.
	Help your child pick out clothes for the next day.
	Start the bedtime routine a bit early so your child is sure to get plenty of sleep.
	Spend some tuck-in time talking with your child about school.
	Pack lunch for your child and refrigerate it until morning.
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Primary school--the morning school starts:
	Encourage your child to start getting her morning act together on her own.
	Take care of any last minute tasks.
	Remind your child of her after-school plans.
	Even if you can't do it every day, if possible, take your child to the bus stop or to school on the first day.
	Say a cheerful goodbye and leave promptly when the bus comes or bell rings.
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Primary school--after the first day of school:
	Prepare a snack for your child, and one for yourself.
	Get your child to talk about her first-day impressions.
	Call the school immediately if you have any questions or concerns.
	Ask for--and read--any notices that were sent home.
	Purchase whatever additional school supplies and materials are required.
	Make a special dinner.
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Middle and high school--one month before school:
	Be ready to grant your adolescent some new privileges.
	Allowing your child to do her own back-to-school shopping is a good way to show her you trust her judgment.
	Take the initiative to start back-to-school preparations.
	Encourage your child to try on last-year's school clothes and see what still fits.
	Go shopping, together if needed, for those wardrobe items that have to be replaced or updated.
	If your child will need a school uniform, find out from your school whether any local retailers are offering special deals. If so, you may be able to enjoy a discount.
	Encourage your child to shop for school supplies on her own.
	If you have a home computer, make sure it is ready to be used for schoolwork.
	Schedule an appointment with your child's doctor for a physical exam, if needed.
	Bring the school's medical form with to your child's doctor appointment so it can be filled out.
	Talk with your child about after-school activities she'd like to participate in and make the necessary arrangements.
	If you plan to participate in any carpools, start organizing them now.
	Try to take your child to school ahead of time.
	If your child has any special needs, notify the school and confirm that acceptable accommodations can be made.
Register now to customize this list.
Middle through high school--one week before school:
	Address any concerns your child may have about going back to school.
	Familiarize your child with her new school-year schedule.
	Read through and review school regulations with your child.
	Make sure that all school forms have been completed and returned to school.
Register now to customize this list.
Middle and high school--the night before school starts:
	Remind your child to pack her book bag.
	Designate a place in the house for school paperwork.
	Spend some time talking with your child about school.
	Try to get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.
	If your child lets you, pack her lunch or snack.
Register now to customize this list.
Middle and high school--the morning school starts:
	Make sure your child wakes up in time for school.
	Prepare a special breakfast.
	Go over after-school plans.
	Let your child know where you'll be all day and how to reach you.
	Say a cheerful, confident goodbye.
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Middle through high school--after the first day of school:
	Try to be there when your child arrives home from school the first day.
	Prepare a snack for your child, and one for yourself.
	Get your child to talk about her first-day impressions.
	Call the school immediately if you have any questions or concerns.
	Ask for--and read--any notices that were sent home.
	Purchase whatever additional school supplies and materials are required.
	Make a special dinner.
Register now to customize this list.
Back-to-school resources for parents:
	"A+ Parents: Help Your Child Learn and Succeed in School" by Adrienne Mack (McBooks Press)
	"Off to a Good Start: Launching the School Year" from The Responsive Classroom Series, #1 (Northeast Foundation for Children)
	"Smart Parenting: An Easy Approach to Raising Happy, Well-Adjusted Kids" by Dr. Peter Favaro (NTC/Contemporary Publishing)
	"Smart Start: The Parents' Complete Guide to Preschool Education" by Marian Edelman Borden (Facts on File)
	"Adolescents' Worlds: Negotiating Family, Peers, and School" by Patricia Phelan, Ann Locke Davidson, Hanh Cao Yu (Teachers College Press)
	"Helping Your Child Start School: A Practical Guide for Parents" by Bernard Ryan, Jr. (Replica Books)
	"Kids Who Start Ahead, Stay Ahead: What Actually Happens When Your Home Taught Early Learner Goes to School" by Dr. Harvey Neil with introduction by Glenn Doman (Avery)
	"Helping Your Child Get Ready for School" on the U.S. Dept. of Education's Web site
	"Your Child?s First Day at School" from MetLife Online
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Back-to-school books for preschoolers and primary schoolers:
	"Clara Goes to School" (Let's Start! Series), (Silver Dolphin)
	"When You Go to Kindergarten" by James Howe (William Morrow)
	"My First Day of School" by P. K. Hallinan (Hambleton-Hill)
	"Bumble Bear" (School Zone Start to Read Book) by James Hoffman, et al (School Zone Publishing )
	"First Day of School" (A Giant First Start Reader) by Kim Jackson (Troll)
	"Kitty from the Start" by Judy Delton (Houghton Mifflin)
	"Let's Go to School" (First-Start Easy Reader) by Michelle Petty (Troll)
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Back-to-school books for middle and high schoolers:
	"101 Surefire Ways to Start the School Year" by Joan Novelli, Susan Shafer (Scholastic)
	"Summer Start: How to Organize Your Best School Year Ever" by Pat Fellers, Kathy Gritzmacher (Tops Learning System)
	"Jump Start: How to Succeed in School and in Life" by Rafael Beer (Jump Start)
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How To Prepare Your Child For The First Day Of School  SavePress Magazines If your first child is about to start school this year you may be wondering who has more anxiety about it - you or your child. The first day of school is significant in so many ways; your child is growing up, you are not personally planning their days and you know, even if your child does not, that it is only the beginning of a long stretch of firsts. If you or your child are feeling anxious about the coming school year, what steps can you take to ease the transition and develop a healthy sense of expectation and challenge instead of fear or loss? GIVE YOUR CHILD PRACTICE If you have been the sole caregiver for your child it is quite possible that your child will have more anxiety about spending the day with people he or she doesn't know than a child who has been in a public day care environment before. During the summer, before the big day, you may wish to enroll your child in preschool even if it is only one or two days per week and only two hours at a time. This gives both you and your child the chance to experience the separation without the overwhelming challenge of full time school. If your child is not ready for a typical preschool environment, try group play activities such as a music class or book reading that involves following the teacher's instructions and spending time with a group of children while parents stay close by. SPEAK POSITIVELY ABOUT SCHOOL As hard as it may be, try to remain positive about the school experience. Even the boldest child may be put off going to school if they sense their parents' apprehensions about it. Talk to mothers of school aged children. You may find your concerns to be commonplace, but you'll quickly adapt to the routine and may even find time to enjoy it. Find out if you can visit the school before the new school year starts. Some schools have days when children planning to attend the following year can come to a library reading one day a week as a means of getting accustomed to the school environment. Taking your child 'school shopping' can also create enthusiasm. New school clothes, shoes and even a 'big kid' book bag are all ways you can foster excitement about going to school. GET INVOLVED It may be possible for the school to put you in touch with other parents who have children starting school at the same time as yours. Meeting other children before the school year can ease nerves and create a supportive bond. If your school doesn't permit that information to be shared you may request that an invitation be given to parents who would like to meet, or post a notice on the bulletin board. Once school has started stay involved with your child's progression. Discuss the activities of the day, read books brought home from school and volunteer to help in the classroom or on trips if you have the ability. All of these steps show your child that you are participating even though you are not there with them. Soon enough you'll find your little one getting the hang of it, maybe even before you do! About the author: Get tips on over 60 popular subjects at SavePress Magazine Articles. Free articles, easy to navigate and fun to read! Take a tour: http://www.savepress.com

9 Tips To Make Back-to-School Shopping a Snap

 Pat Brill

Copyright 2006 Pat Brill

It barely seems as if the final school bell rang, and already
it's time to get the kids ready to head back! With everything
else you have on your plate, the idea of back-to-school shopping
can be, well, less than thrilling, and just a little
overwhelming.

Relax! These nine tips will help you get organized and make
back-to-school shopping a breeze.

1. Make A List. Consider what each child needs most and place
those items at the top of your shopping list. Prioritizing needs
will help you shop early for the necessities, and you can leave
the unessential items until later, when you have more time--and
money.

2. Create A Budget. Knowing how much you can afford to spend on
clothes and electronic items, for example, can cut a great deal
of time out of your back-to-school shopping. You'll know exactly
which brands and products are within your spending limits -
which means you won't waste time listening to that sales pitch
for a high-priced computer that you know you can't afford. Be
sure your kids know the limits before you head out to prevent
future hassles with them over what you will and won't spend for
certain items.

3. Use Cash. After you've made your budget, use cash to make
your purchases. When you only have a limited amount of money in
your pocket, you're not as likely to give in to the desire to
splurge on things your children may not really need - or that
you can't really afford. This will save you huge headaches down
the road when the credit card bills would be rolling in.
Instead, you'll be patting yourself on the back for being such a
savvy shopper.

4. Plan Your Attack. Knowing when to shop is half the battle.
Choose times when your children will be feeling their best. Time
your shopping to beat the crowds. With gas prices the way they
are, you'll want to map out your strategy ahead of time. Plan
your route and hit all the stores you need to in an orderly
manner - and save money at the gas pump as well.

5. Shop Alone When Possible. Sticking to a budget and dashing in
and out of stores is so much easier when you're by yourself.
Plus, you won't have the extra guilt that comes from kids
begging for impulse items that you have to say no to. Shopping
alone may not always be practical, but do it for as many items
as possible. You'll save a lot of wear and tear not just on your
wallet but on your nerves too!

6. Click It. Online shopping has to be any busy mom's best
friend ever! You can find anything you need online and have it
delivered right to your door. That means no filling up the car
with kids and gas, driving all over town, and ending up back at
home with your nerves frazzled and your credit card smoking. You
can shop online while at the office or at home when the kids are
napping or have gone to bed for the night--or any other time
that's convenient to you, for that matter. Also, shopping online
may save you lots of money, as you can easily shop around for
the best deals and all from the comfort of your favorite PC.

7. Buy Quality. When it comes to buying things such as backpacks
and other school supplies that will be used on a daily basis,
you'll want to buy the highest quality you can afford. Remember
a bargain isn't a bargain if an item falls apart in a few weeks
and has to be replaced. So for items that are going to need to
withstand a lot of wear and tear, buy quality. Believe me, you
won't regret it.

8. Shop During Tax-Free Weekends. If your state has a tax-free
weekend, be sure to take advantage of it. This is especially
true when you need to purchase large-ticket items like
computers. You'll be amazed at the amount of money you can save
by shopping during this time.

9. Delegate. If you're time-starved, send Dad to do the
back-to-school shopping. After all, who said shopping has to be
just Mom's job? This is a great way to divide and conquer. You
take half of the shopping list and let him take the other half.
Neither of you will feel overwhelmed by the list of items to be
bought, and sharing the shopping responsibility lessens the
burdened too. (Actually, this would be a great time for you two
to make a date to meet for coffee after the shopping's done and
work in a little of that oh-so-important couple time!)

About the author:
Pat Brill is co-founder of http://www.SilkBow.com which supports
Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the
challenges of motherhood. SilkBow is the perfect place for the
perfect gift. Pat can be reached directly at: pat@SilkBow.com 

 BY MT FOWLER

A New Challenge for Teachers: Encouraging Girls in Science, Math and IT Related Studies and Career

Valerie Giles©

"One key challenge educators face is the importance of encouraging girls to excel in math, science and computer science studies. As technology continues to drive the world of business, those challenged or generally disinterested in science and math will be left behind. In fact, that's exactly what's happening."

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