Getting the boys ready to go back to school sort of ran up and hit me in the face this year. I knew it was approaching but didn’t expect that mack-truck-at-100-mph, out of nowhere feeling.
BTW, if you’re in Ohio, the Tax-Free weekend is THIS weekend!! Friday thru Sunday. I think the last few years they’ve done it, it was the 2nd weekend…but I could be wrong. Either way, it leaves little time to shop, if you’re not prepared.
I managed to throw together a list (rather added to the school’s 4th grade list to include my oldest) and do some pre-shopping online last night. Today, I went and got some of what they needed (shirts and supplies). They still need jeans, shoes, haircuts and bookbags. If the next payday or 2 don’t account for it, they can get by with what they have, but it’d be nice to have them totally squared away.
My oldest starts high school this year. High school!! And, high school ain’t what it used to be, lemme tell you. Now, the list of classes reads like a college course catalog and Ohio offers different KINDS of diplomas – stuff like STEM Honors diploma, Arts/Theater Honors Diploma, Social Sciences Honors diplomas, etc.
They brought back Civics/Government, and Economics/Financial Literacy, which I’ve long said should be required learning before graduating. You know how many kids the last 10-20 years were completely (!!) unprepared for the real world, couldn’t manage their money, and had no clue about how to be an active, aware citizen? I’m glad these are back!
But they’re even offering things like Structural Engineering, Broadcasting, Publishing, and Ceramics. They seem bound and determined to turn kids out who are college-ready, career-ready (some courses are designed specifically for vocational-prep), and well-studied. Several of the classes on the list were ones I didn’t see till I was in college.
I only hope all this great learning is designed to be easy on a kid’s brain. Too much homework has been shown to be counter-productive. If they’re designed well, learning will be on-going, hands-on, and flow naturally. If they’re not, kids will be overwhelmed with too much information and be stressed.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the papers sent home and how much homework the kids get.
Are you guys ready for the back to school grind? What are you doing to prepare?
A Doe in the Foothills 
Here in Toronto school starts up Sept 4…. 🎵it’s the most wonderful time of the year! 🎶 Lol😉
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Right! When school’s over, I’m always glad to sleep in a little but, by the time school goes back in, I’m ready to finally get some me-time back. Mine usually go back around Aug 22-26 but this year it’s a week earlier (though they did get out a week earlier too). Not sure why it’s changed but I’m going with it, LOL
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