Back to School Guide: Grades K - 8

Kids form valuable life, social and study skills from kindergarten to the end of middle school. This is the pivotal time when kids learn how to study for tests, how to make new friends, how to be organized and how to keep a busy schedule. Parents and teachers can be most involved with their child's education during these school years.

This is a helpful guide for finding the right back to school items. There are suggestions for writing tools, backpacks and gadgets. There is also a section about encouraging a child for school. All of these things can be found on this page of Become.com!

Back to School tips for K-8

Students are looking for budget-friendly alternatives to expensive back to school supplies. It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and it’s time to start thinking about school again. At the end of summer students might be getting excited for another year of learning. Whether these kids can hardly wait to start or can’t stand the thought, this guide can help to get them ready for another year. Here are some tips and items to help students get ready for another school year.

Shoes:

There’s no better way to get kids excited about the new year like a new pair of shoes. Students can pick out a new pair of shoes in their favorite color or with their favorite cartoon characters. The first day of school can be daunting for many children. Having a new pair of shoes can boost their confidence and help them make friends. There are tons of tips on how to pick the best shoes for a child. Be sure to check out the Shoe Tip Center for more information and ideas on finding the perfect pair of shoes for their first day of school.

Lunch box:

If the young student's lunch box or lunch bag is starting to look a little worn or smell a little funny, perhaps it’s time to think about a new one. Students can move beyond the brown paper bag and use a cool insulated kids lunch bag. Not only will students be able to save a few brown bags but they can also prevent food from spoiling by using an insulated bag.

Help with homework

Elementary and middle school are where great childhood memories are formed. Parental involvement is key to a child's success. Students should be encouraged to get help with their homework and book reports from time to time. Parent-teacher conferences are a good way to be involved in a child's curriculum as well.

Crayola:

A new school year means it’s time to get a fresh box of crayons and crisp new notebooks and binders. Make sure each little student has the latest crayons and markers from Crayola including washable markers, fine tip markers, bold-colored markers or scented markers. Whichever makes them happiest!

Composition notebooks:

Students might want to stock up on plenty of lined paper, binders and composition notebooks for the upcoming school year! Composition notebooks are great tools for taking notes, studying for tests or planning the day.

Notebook planner:

To help keep organized, the student can use a notebook planner. Planners will help kids remember when homework is due. Students can use a planner with a place to write down any goals for the year, which can help her/him reach these goals!

Back to School 2009-2010 top products

Students are curious about what's cool for school! They can check out these popular products and become the most popular kids in school!

Hannah Montana lunch box:

She's the hottest product from Disney. Anything featuring her is instantly cool. The Hannah Montana Lunchbox will be perfect for the little rockstar student! Find a matching pencil case to pair with the lunch box.

G.I. Joe backpack:

Rise of Cobra is a box office hit! This student can go off on a mission of learning with a cool G.I. Joe Backpack. With this backpack, learning is a battle that any child will surely win.

Rolling backpack:

Rolling backpacks are cool, functional and won't strain a kid's back with too many books and textbooks. A rolling backpack will prevent irreversible back injuries and be a conversation starter among other kids. This bag is also great for carrying overnight supplies for sleepovers with friends!

Personalized pencil case:

Students will never lose their pens and pencils again with a personalized pencil case. Each child will be happy to carry this personalized item around. Have the child's name sewn onto the bag or have a photo of the child's pet placed on the case for a completely unique pencil case.

Thermos bottle:

A thermos bottle is a great way for students to transport water and soups. Give each child healthy lunches like soup in a handy thermos bottle. This little student can stay cool in the warmer months by preparing healthy chilled soups for lunch.

Backpack supplies from kindergarten to high school

Be it kindergarten or high school, students should carry all the essential supplies in their backpack. Of course, the backpack supplies for kindergarten, middle school and high school keep changing. While a student needs crayons in kindergarten, s/he may not need them in high school.

Kindergarten to second grade backpack supplies:

Start kindergarten off right with the appropriate school supplies. Generally, teachers send a list of required supplies. Ideally, the list of supplies for a kindergarten backpack includes pencils, colored pencils, crayons and markers, erasers, glue, pencil case (to store the above items) and a lunch box.

Third grade to middle school:

Students may need all of the above items along with clothes and sneakers for gym class. However, the embarrassingly big erasers and glue sticks can be replaced with trendier school accessories. With new subjects, the supply requirements also change. Bigger files and binders will replace the cute kindergarten notebooks.

Middle school through high school:

Kids can store their school supplies in lockers by the time they reach middle school. Students may not need lunch boxes anymore but will still need books, binders and notebooks. Basic stationery like pencils, calculators and lined paper are also required. High school backpacks are perfect for carrying these supplies to class.

Parent tips

Whether a child is 5 or 18 years old, it's tough to let them go. Parents can be with their children every step of the way by equipping them with the tools they need to succeed throughout the upcoming school year.

Smart software:

If the home computer is still running Windows 2000, it may be time to upgrade. Windows XP Home with SP3 OEM comes equipped with the newest Microsoft Office, which makes Excel and Word much easier to use. If the student enjoys graphic design and digital art, then Adobe Creative Suite will help cultivate that love into a masterful skill. Although the price tag may induce sticker shock, the Adobe programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator are the best on the market. In fact, they are the standard tools in all graphic design studios.

Helpful technologies:

If the student enjoys photo manipulation, then Photoshop Elements 7 is a great alternative to the complete Adobe Suite. For a very affordable price a student can get many of the same photo-editing powers as the full Adobe Photoshop CS5. If the child loves making films, Apple Final Cut is an easy and fun program that achieves near-professional quality film-editing.

That extra mile:

Remedy disorganization by using a USB flash drive that the student can attach to her/his keys. This way, s/he will have a copy of her/his school work with her/him at all times. A digital voice recorder can be used to record her/his teachers' lectures. Simply plug the device in and load the MP3 recording of the lecture onto a computer. The student can load the lectures onto her/his iPod to listen to the lectures during their walk to class. A simple zip portfolio is a low-tech option that can hold school supplies in one place.

A helpful start:

Parents want to see their child excel in school and the key to this success is to start early and get involved. Parental involvement gives children the extra encouragement they need to succeed. Providing children with educational toys and games makes learning fun. LeapFrog makes great products that will prepare children for the road ahead. The Leapfrog Interactive Book system helps children learn how to read by combining visual and audio cues using classic books. Children struggling with multiplication tables can play Mulitplication Bingo which reinforces basic learning skills.

How to encourage a child for school

Some people love school because they are popular, super smart, the head of the cheerleading squad or the star of the baseball team. Other people may not loved school and have a few reservations about starting school again. Now, helping a child become successful in school will require some hard work and planning from the parents' side. Help a child cope with school issues if they are not looking forward to a new school year.

One way to make school a better experience for a kid is to share some friends' and family's school experiences. Share a time when someone had a bad time in school and how things became better. Those who were popular can share some tips like throwing a cool party.

Here are few tips that can motivate a child and help them perform better in school:

Talk: Talk to the student. Combining parental praise with words of encouragement and support. Supporting children through thick and thin will help the child to be happy and successful in school.

Help: Help the student with her/his homework. Talk to teachers in school if they are having difficulty coping with some subjects. This will help a parent learn what the child is struggling with.

Have fun: Throw a party for the student and invite their friends over. If the student is old enough to drive, give her/him the car keys on some days to drive to school.

Praise: Reward good grades by getting a trendy backpack or a hip MP3 player for the student. Take the student to dinner and a movie to spend time with her.him. Tell the student often that school is hard but people are proud of them.

Appreciate: Appreciate their skills. If the student has a talent for painting, get them a painting set. This might encourage them to perform better at other subjects.

Hug: A hug goes a long way, so keep giving lots of them, but not to the point of embarrassing them in front of their friends!