CONTACT THE SCHOOL 
1. Find out if any physical examinations or immunizations are required.

2. See if there are any new registration requirements this year.

3. Get copy of school policies (absence, illness, discipline, etc.)

4. Go over school rules with your child.

BE PREPARED WITH SCHOOL MATERIALS
1. Before the first day of school, make sure your child finds out what school supplies and materials are required.

2. Make sure to stock up on paper, folders, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, etc.  Take advantage of the back-to-school sales and stock up early.

CLEARING OUT THE CLUTTER 
1. Go through your kid’s closets and giveaway clothes that don’t fit.  This will help determine what they still need before school starts.

2. Make sure they have a clean room before the school year starts.  It’s good to start the year off organized.

GETTING READY AHEAD OF TIME 
1. Make lunches the night before to save time in the morning.

2. Lay out your child’s clothes for the entire week on Sunday night.

3. All items that will be taken to school or worn and taken off at school need to be labled.  Include your child’s name, address, phone number, and any other important contact information.

4. Take some time before the start of school to make sure you and your child know where to go and what to do on that first morning.  If your child walks, map out the safest route to school.  If they take the bus, make sure they know where to catch it. 

5. As the first day draws near, begin talking to your child about expectations, hopes and fears for the upcoming school year. 

MAKING BEDTIME EASIER 
1. Have a set schedule (homework, dinner, play, bath, etc.)

2. Spend 15 minutes before bed straightening up and getting ready for the next morning.

PUTTING YOUR SCHEDULE IN ORDER 
1. Set up a central family calendar in a high-traffic area.

2. Family meeting once a week to discuss each person’s schedule.

3. Be sure to block off family time at least once a week.

For Students Grades K-2

• How many and what kinds of shapes do you recognize in the ballpark
• If you had $10 and wanted to buy food, what would you buy?  How much money would you have left?

For Students Grades 3-5

• How many total feet does a runner advance from base-to-base?
• If the distance between the bases is 90 feet, what is the perimeter and area of a baseball diamond?

For Students Grades 6-8

• How much do you spend per ounce on a soda at the ballpark?
• How does it compare to buying a 2 liter bottle at the grocery store?
• What is the surface area and volume of a baseball?

Advanced Learning

• What is the average number of pitches a pitcher throws per batter?
• On average, do batters who face more pitches during the course of the game get more hits?
• Calculate each team’s batting average and on-base percentage for the game.

Source: Center for Summer Learning — www.summerlearning.org.

[See post to watch Flash video]

• Give your child small jobs and a sense of responsibility.
• Spend time reading and enjoying books together.
• Use proper penmanship when showing your kids how to write.  This includes only using capital letters at the start of a word.
• If you child uses a word incorrectly, repeat what he said and put an emphasis on using the correct word.
• Give your child as many opportunities as possible to color, cut, trace and glue.
• Work with your child on counting.  Make sure she is able to count in sequence up to 20 as use objects around the house to help.