Use the program with your homeschool curriculum or to supplement classroom lessons. They even have a money back guarantee. Plus, save $10 on your order when you use coupon code CNKB2S10 through 10/31.

There seems to be a growing trend to add classroom cleaning supplies to the back to school supply list.

I thought it was odd, when our oldest hit kindergarten, to see tissues on her school supply list. I seem to remember horrible, scratchy tissues supplied by the school when I was a child. But, I dutifully send them in.

A few years later, wet wipes & anti-bacterial lotion appeared on the list, too. Huh?

Now that my girls attend a Montessori school, I would actually find it much more appropriate. Life skills lessons are an every day part of the curriculum, especially in the preschool classrooms. It is the children who dust, wipe tables & place chairs.

They are assigned daily & weekly chores—and excited about completing them! I was once told to be late for school pickup because it was my daughter’s turn to vacuum the classroom, and she had to wait for everyone to leave.

But, at a public school, with a staff of janitors & a taxpayer-funded budget, I don’t think it’s right to expect parents to fulfill their needs. On the other hand, if the needs aren’t being met, I do appreciate the teachers still attempting to control germs in the classroom.

Sixty percent of teachers surveyed by Seventh Generation said they request parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. I guess, then, I’m torn. What does your school supply list look like? How do you feel about sending cleaning supplies with their crayons?

Tell us in the comments for your chance to win a green cleaning supply gift pack from Seventh Generation!

This back to school kit from Seventh Generation features environmentally friendly paper products, made from recycled materials, and cleaning supplies that feature natural ingredients, like thyme, to disinfect. It has everything you need, whether you’re fulfulling a school supply list or just trying to keep kids healthy at home.

To enter, leave a comment here, and tell us your opinion on school supply lists & cleaning supplies! You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site
• Following Seventh Generation and Back to School Resource on Twitter
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a Back to School cleaning kit from @SeventhGen & @BTSresource! {link}

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until 9/7/10 at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on 9/8/10 and receive a Seventh Generation cleaning, including a back pack, tissues, paper towels, disinfecting wipes & spray. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I received a Seventh Generation cleaning kit from My Blog Spark for hosting this giveaway, but all opinions are 100% mine.

That’s why I have compiled this list of our favorite tools for packing a lunch—these products will make your job faster, easier & greener!

1. Easy Lunchboxes: With a one-piece base & colorful lid, these lunchboxes are, well, easy! You have 1 large compartment to easily fit a sandwich, and 2 smaller sections for fruit & veggies. It’s a simple, inexpensive version of a Bento box, but still sturdy enough to last.
2. Laptop Lunch: If you need something with a little more options, the Laptop Lunch bento boxes are a fun choice. Each laptop container includes 3 containers, 1 lidded container and silverware. It’s everything you need to pack a full, healthy lunch without a single bag or wrap. The lid snaps shut, and kids love the colorful options!
3. Thermos Lunch Sack: The Thermos Lunch Sack comes in Hello Kitty or Scooby Doo and is only $7.49! It’s an insulated tote for your lunch containers that opens flat to act as a placemat. Tote reusable containers (think butter, sour cream, etc) to school, then wipe clean each night.
4. Reusable Baggies: This has to be the most genius thing I’ve ever seen! Don’t want to buy plastic baggies? What if they wipe clean or go into the wash? There are zippered baggies, velcro baggies, plastic wrap-style baggies and all in a variety of colors & designs. It’s like choosing the backpacks all over again. I like the 5-pack from Kid Konserve, but check Etsy if you really want a selection!
5. Thermos Foogo Containers: Not only is this container made from stainless steel (read: BPA free), but it will keep foods cold for up to 7 hours & hot for up to 5. Plus, it’s technically designed for the diaper bag so it’s leak-proof & kid-friendly. Just don’t mention to your third grader that it’s made for babies.

What did I miss? I’m always interested in adding to our school lunch arsenal so please leave your favorites in the comments below!

While they have operational hours of a daycare (6:00a-6:00p), they were quick to make it clear to us that they are not a daycare, but an educational institution and from the hours of 8:00am-4:00pm, the children would be learning.

For some parents, the thought of thrusting your 3 year old into the rigid daily routine of school, at such a young age, seems a little harsh. However, when we learned what their schedule would entail, it began to give us the hope that this extra bit of structure may actually help our daughter flourish. Her particular school operates year-round for preschool aged children through the second grade. As it has rolling admission for 3 year olds to enter the program, her “first day of school” was our choice and we had to prepare for it in special ways.

For preschoolers, the schedule-and routine of that schedule- is a big part of their total learning experience. Prior to the first day, my husband and I worked backwards from a typical workday for ourselves to decide when we would need to have for school each morning. After that was decided, we could assign a bedtime that would allow her to get enough sleep each day. For our schedules, our goal is to get her in bed between 8-8:30pm.

The structure of her day at school allows us to create a more streamlined schedule at home because her expectation level is already set. She has a daily list of tasks to accomplish before school and before bed each day. If she completes these tasks, she is awarded a sticker for the morning and a sticker for the evening. If she gets at least 8 stickers in a week (or if her inability to complete the tasks are not her fault that day), she gets a reward.

Those tasks (and rewards) would vary by child-but she loves accomplishing her goals and seeing a reward at the end. For her age, her morning tasks include: brushing teeth, putting on clothes/socks, finding her shoes, eating her breakfast. Her evening list includes: brushing her teeth, washing her face or bathing, going to the bathroom, picking out a story to read and picking up her toys in her room.

She doesn’t have homework yet, but we take the time during dinner, or just after dinner to ask about her day and what she learned; this helps develop memory and recall. With most 3- or 4- year olds, you’ll get some really creative answers! Her typical day involves stories, coloring, tracing/outlining numbers and letters, formal exercise, Spanish and Computer games. We know this because of the daily reports we get from the classroom – which include a behavior report that we can help guide her by.

For instance, my daughter is very (read: excessively) talkative. This lets us know when she’s had a more active day and may need some quiet time at home, or a gentle reminder that listening may sometimes be better than talking. Our favorite days are the ones where they have fire drills (every other month) because our evening is filled with her mapping out our “disaster plan” should there be a fire. For the curious, we have to go to our neighbors’ house and call the fireman at 9-1-1.

At the end of the day, the key is results. In 6 months, she has developed in ways we didn’t see coming. While she would use a crayon to scribble on some paper before, she’ll now color purposefully inside the lines choosing color either by creative choice or by her understanding of the reality (i.e. a green turtle or a purple dinosaur). She draws her family; sure, we all look likes potatoes with sticks for arms/legs- but it is thoughtful and creative. Last night, she drew her first picture of herself outside of her house. These moments pass too fast but with some guidance and structure, we can give our children their wings to fly and set them up for a successful future in school.

A typical schedule for our preschooler, at a glance:

6:15 She is woken up and helped getting dressed
6:30 She’s eating breakfast and watching a show of her choice—This helps her wake up slowly and keeps her focused while we finish getting ourselves (and our 8 month old) ready for the day.
6:45 Shoes on and off to school.
7:00 Arrive at school and group play until school starts. If we’ve had a late start, she does have the option to eat breakfast at school until 8am. For just a few dollars, this is completely worth it on some days if she’s had a wakeful night.
8am Physical Education
8:30am Music
9am Story of the Day
9:30am Snack
10am Phonics
10:30am Math; numbers, mathematical thinking
11am -12 noon Lunch
12 noon – 2pm Siesta
2pm
Puzzles, Games, Finger Plays, SM Motor
2:30pm Snack
3 – 4pm Independent Activities; creative play
4pm Group Activities until pick-up
5:00-5:15pm Picked Up

This is a guest post by Emily Myers. Emily resides in a historic neighborhood in Indianapolis, IN and spends her days as a Marketing Communications Manager and mother of 2 beautiful girls. She loves her geek of a husband and enjoys running and traveling.

When the Christmas wreath was put away, I started picking backpacks off the floor to hang on the over-the-door hook that was left behind. It makes a great hanger for backpacks because it is sturdy, out of the way and right at the front door where you need it every morning.

It can be matched to your everyday decor or blend into the door. They are inexpensive to purchase, but you probably already have one with your holiday storage. Or, buy a double hook so you can display a sign or seasonal wreath on the front of the door too.

You’ve got your fancy label maker or ordered custom labels just for your child.

But, wait! Does your child get to keep her supplies? Or, will the classroom teacher lump them together for community supply bins?

This is becoming a much more common practice. On the one hand, it’s so much easier for a teacher to handle if one child can’t afford supplies. It also makes the supplies more affordable for each family if you can, say, buy 10 plain blue folders for $.10 each as opposed to fancy, character folders for $1.25.

But, the child misses out on the fun of choosing & caring for his own carefully selected notebooks. Not to mention all the waste time & effort for the families who had no idea each crayon didn’t need to be labeled. Consider this a PSA for first-time school parents—ask about community supplies before you spend time & money on the cool stuff.