By COLLEEN ALMEIDA SMITH Staff Writer on Aug 21, 2012, at 1:44 PM Updated on 8/22 at 8:06 AM
See how they grow: photos from the first day of school 2010 and 2012.
BECAUSE I SAID SO
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This is my favorite time of year on Facebook. Every time I log on I find another back-to-school photo.
They are often better than official "picture day" photos. Most of the kids are happy, dressed in their favorite outfits and looking forward to seeing teachers and friends.
As moms and dads whip out the camera before the first day of school, the hair is still in place and the smiles are genuine. Soon those shiny faces pop up on my computer screen from around Tulsa, from Alaska, from India.
I'm no different. The ubiquitous back-to-school photo was the first thing I posted on my Facebook yesterday. It is a chance for friends and family from Washington state to Washington, D.C., and from Mexico to Australia to see my growing girls.
A new school year is also an opportunity for a new start. Each year gives children a chance to move past last year's mistakes and move toward being a better student. As parents, we can do a lot to help with that process.
A list of "10 Teachers' Tips for Kick-Starting the New School Year" from Scholastic Parents offers timely advice.Some of the best tips include:
Get involved with school activities. As a PTA secretary this year, I know that volunteers are always needed, and joining the PTA and attending meetings are some of the best ways to learn about what's happening in your school.
Keep your eyes and ears open for changes in your child. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, so watch for changes in diet, study habits and social behaviors.
Read, read, read. After years of reading to my girls, I enjoy having them read to me now -- especially while I'm cooking dinner or doing some other menial task.
Here's to a great school year for all the students out there. And keep those first-day-of-school pictures coming.
Colleen's previous blog entries:
Aug. 14: Duran Duran's concert has me feeling like a teen againAug. 13: Hunt for school supplies is almost overAug. 10: My attempt at getting a cool new lunch box fails miserablyAug. 7: Being a cheerleader for your childJuly 31: Grocery shopping is cereal decision-makingJuly 24: Violence is a tough topic of conversation with childrenJuly 17: Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Young Mystery ReadersJuly 10: Tooth fairy = kid cashJune 27: Don't be afraid to hit the road with your kids this summer
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