October Already?!

What early elementary school parents can look forward to during the month of October.

Welcome back! Lexi here, founder of ODL. A part of my mission is to equip parents with resources that help make learning more manageable. Some resources will be used with or for students, other resources will just be for parents. This one is just for parents! At the start of the month, I will share a blog post that focuses on upcoming events and information that parents can expect to see during the month, in a way that is easy for parents to understand. If you are a planner like me, this will help you as a parent prepare for what is upcoming and know what to do to help your kid.

October is a lot of fun. From celebrating Halloween to potential volunteer opportunities in your child's classroom and school and

parent-teacher conferences, here is what you can expect:

Halloween at School:

Most schools will have a Halloween celebration of sorts.

Look for information from your school about what that will look like and if they will be celebrating fall or autumn, instead of Halloween.

If your school does celebrate Halloween, here are some helpful hints as you start preparing for this day:

• Costume Rules → Does the school allow costumes during the day? Is the costume appropriate for school? Many schools do not allow masks, scary themes, or toy weapons.

• Comfort First → Is the costume comfortable for your kid? Can your kid move, sit and learn in the costume? If not, it might be a good idea to rethink your child's costume.

• Extra Clothes → Pack a change of clothes just in case the costume gets uncomfortable or distracting.

• Label Costume Pieces → Please label your students various costume pieces if you are able. This will prevent costume chaos at the end of the school day. If something is lost during the day, this will help return the item to the correct kid.

  
  

Parent-Teacher Conferences:

The first round of parent-teacher conferences typically will be in October or November. Here is what to expect:

• Teachers will ask parents to sign up for a time slot that is typically 10-20 minutes long.

• Conferences may be in-person or virtual and take place within or outside of school hours.

• Students are typically not invited to conferences, unless specified by teacher.

• Some teachers may ask you to fill out a pre-conference form that way you can share any questions or concerns ahead of time. This helps the teacher better prepare for your specific conference and shape the conversation about what you want to talk about!

Consider this conference the first of many conversations if you have much you want to discuss. Some items may be at the top of your list to discuss, while other items could be saved for a later date.

Ways to prepare as a parent:

• Don't be nervous! Conferences are meant to be a two-way conversation about your child.

• Write down questions you may have.

• Think about your kiddo at home. Is there anything you want to share with the teacher about your kid and their learning?

• Ask about ways to support learning at home. If you need help or want more suggestions, schedule a free consultation with me or check out my at-home learning plans!

Volunteer Opportunities in your Child's Classroom/School:

October is typically when teachers begin to provide opportunities for parents to come in and volunteer at school. This could look like volunteering in the classroom during learning time, chaperoning a field trip, special event celebrations, classroom projects or larger school projects. If you are interested and are not sure about opportunities at your school, ask your child's teacher by sending a quick email. You could also ask your school's PTO/PTA for volunteering opportunities. Here is a sample email you could use:

Hi [Teacher’s Name],

I’d love to help out in the classroom if there are any opportunities this year. Please let me know how I can best support you and the students.

Thank you!

[Your Name]

October SEL Tip:

Naming and Navigating Big Feelings

Think about this: Your kids have been in school for about a month. The excitement of back to school is beginning to wear off. You and your family are settling into your new school routines. After-school extracurriculars may be starting and winter holidays are fast approaching. Your kiddos may have some school days off, which changes the routine that they just adjusted too. Sounds like emotional dysregulation, right? Keep reading for some simple ways to help if your kid is experiencing this.

Helpful Tip: Help your child practice naming their feelings by using “I feel…” statements.

For example:

• “I feel excited because Halloween is coming.”

• “I feel nervous because I don’t know what my costume will be.”

Pairing the feeling with the reason behind it helps children build emotional awareness and self-regulation.

Try this at home: Create a small “feelings pumpkin patch.” Draw or cut out pumpkins. You or your child can write different feelings on each one (happy, silly, scared, worried, proud). Each day, have your child practice naming their emotion by picking one that matches a feeling or feelings they experienced that day.

Here are some additional resources that I LOVE for learning about big feelings:

• A Little SPOT of Emotion Feelings Book Box Set

• StoryBots Emotions Video

• A Little SPOT Cartoon: Meet the Spots and Learn about Feelings Vocabulary

• Big Bright Feelings Book Series by Tom Percival

Until next time,

Lexi :)