Back to School Supplies Good Idea or Bad Idea?

Some parents laugh at the school supplies list where others take the list serious making sure that everything on the list is the correct requirement. The question is not related as much to the school supply list as it is related to the money that is allocated for schools. I will only be addressing public schools because they were developed so that all children could have a free education. Free being the main word. I guess it is true that nothing is truly free. When you receive the school supply list for your children as a parent you must ask yourself where is the free part? You pay taxes, the teachers are not compensated for the job that they perform yet the list of school supplies grows longer each year with items that are not related to the academics in any way. Items such as Kleenex truly should be provided by the school paid for with tax dollars. Many teachers will spend their own money to make sure that the children in their classrooms have what they need to be successful.

I recognize that there are many school districts that are struggling to meet the needs of the children and they need additional assistance. Now let’s assess this for a minute. You have a struggling school located within a struggling community and you ask the parents to provide school supplies when they are in many cases trying to feed their families. To be fair the school districts that have additional funds are also requiring the parents to purchase school supplies each year. Where are their tax dollars going? Are these schools asking for supplies just because they can, and no one questions the reason behind the school supply list or the items on the list.

Stores such as Walmart, Staples, and Office Max are cashing in on the school supply list by having the list at the store. This is not for the convenience of the parents it is to get the parents into the store to purchase school supplies and other merchandise that they would not purchase if they were not in the store. So, if you are a teacher, parent, or both and you like, or dislike the idea of a school supply list let me know why. Because a good conversation helps everyone.

How to Eliminate the Chances of a Lost or Misplaced child

 

Make sure that the classroom is maintaining an accurate daily attendance.

Each child should be signed-in when they arrive in the classroom and signed out when they exit the classroom. Complete a name-to-face count of the children frequently and before exiting the classroom. Complete a second name-to-face before the classroom door is closed to ensure that all the children are present and accounted for. Of course, the name-to-face sheets will only work if they are accurate. If attendance sheets are not accurate the chances of a child being left behind or missed placed will increase.

 

If you are walking down a hallway and you are alone with the children, it is best to walk behind the children so that you can always see them. If you are alone request an additional staff person to help you by escorting the children from the classroom to the next destination. Having an extra person during transition times will help with issues that may arise such as the child that needs additional attention, the child that walks slowly, the child that is a runner, or the child that is easily distracted, and may wonder off from the group.

Do not allow the children to leave the classroom unattended (without adult supervision)

When children are allowed to leave the classroom without supervision to go to the bathroom, to go to the drinking fountain, or to wash their hands. They could easily leave the area and it would be minutes depending on what other things are going on in the classroom at the time before anyone notices that the child is missing. Children are curious by nature and many things will capture their attention causing them to stray away from where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to be doing. Keeping this in mind is most important. Because as an educator of children you will never allow children to be left alone. This will ensure that the children are always supervised.

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Preventing Lost or Misplaced Children

When are children most frequently left behind or misplaced?

Children are frequently lost, misplaced, left behind, or allowed to walk away from the group during transition times. Transition times are when children are moving from one activity to the next or from one location to another. Such as, from the classroom to outside or to the gym. It is during transition periods children are required to do the same thing to make a smooth transition. The problem is that children are not machines and they are not always inclined to do the same thing every time. When a new child is added to this equation the chance of a mistake increases if you do not have a routine in place to supervise the children. Without a routine for supervision during transition times children will stray away from the group or stay in place when the group leaves the classroom or area.

The main reason why children are lost or left behind during transition periods is because caregivers are not watching the children. An important part of accounting for each child is to complete a name -to- face of the children before leaving the classroom or area. This will assure that all of the children are accounted for. Just counting the children could provide an incorrect number especially if you are in an area with other groups of children from different classes. Having the correct number does not always guarantee that you have the correct children. Therefore, a name-to-face is crucial. For older children you can give them place cards. They will receive the card as the exit the classroom and before you enter the next location they will return the card assuring that all children are accounted for. The same will be implemented when you return to the classroom. The cards can be a second way to maintain an accurate count of the children. For younger children you can utilize lanyards.

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