| For Immediate Release: August 13, 2009 |
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NAEYC offers back to school tips for teachers and families
(Washington, D.C.) - As teachers head back to their classrooms and parents start preparing their children for their transition from summer to fall, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) would like to offer some tips for both families and teachers.
For Teachers:
Whether teachers are heading back into the classroom, or have been caring for our youngest children throughout the summer months, here are helpful tips for teachers that will make classrooms more welcoming and begin the new year smoothly.
- Send a letter home for families to read to children that tells them about the teachers and their new class. Mention something specific they will find in their classroom on the first day.
- Make sure to make both mothers and fathers feel welcome. Learn both parents’ names and use them. Direct all communication—phone calls, e-mails, letters home—to both parents.
- Make high-quality children’s literature about making new friends or starting school part of circle time in the first few weeks. “Big Al” by Andrew Clements and “Chrysanthemum” or “Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes are some good choices. Here are some book lists with many more ideas: Children’s Book List, Real Life Calls for Real Books, and Children’s Books about Families.
- Let families know how you will communicate with them throughout the school year. Will you be best reached through the phone, email or maybe a blog? Ask them how they prefer to communicate and in what language.
- Establish classroom rules and routines right away and let families and children know what they are. Involve children in classroom routines, such as taking attendance.
For Families:
Parents can have just as much, if not more, anxiety than their children about the first day of school. Whether a child is entering a classroom setting for the first time, or returning back to familiar territory, here are a few tips to help families get their children back into a routine.
- If possible, visit your child’s classroom before the first day. Then talk to your child about what she saw and how she feels about it. You might try to schedule a playground date with other families starting in the same class or program.
- Talk to your child about what to expect and use pretend play to go over how the first morning will go. Visit your local library and check out books such as “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn or “Will I Have Friend?” by Miriam Cohen. Stories like these will help calm any anxieties your child may have.
- Start school-year bedtime and morning routines a week or two in advance of changes in your schedule. Allow enough time on the first morning! Be early to school if possible to allow your child time to adjust.
- Lead by example. Be excited and confident! Don’t be reluctant to leave your child on the first day back to school. Give them a big hug and kiss goodbye -- don’t sneak out!
- Be clear with the child and teacher on who will be dropping him off and picking him up.
For more details on these tips and how to implement many of them, read Teaching Young Children, available online. Teaching Young Children, a NAEYC magazine for preschool teachers is distributed to nearly 35,000 readers nationwide.
Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has nearly 90,000 members worldwide. The association is the largest and most influential voice for early childhood education professionals and the field of early childhood education in the United States.
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Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential advocate for high-quality early care and education in the United States.
