MEET OUR PANEL:
MEET OUR PANEL:
Beth McCreary
Beaufort Elementary School
Special Education
3rd-5th grades
Taylor Braddy
Beaufort Elementary School
2nd Grade
MCKRE'S BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE
1. CONNECT WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER
How does your child's teacher like to communicate? What are the best times to get in touch? Be sure to get these answers early in order to set expectations for the school year! Remember, you guys are a team. Local Beaufort Elementary School 2nd grade teacher, Taylor Braddy says:
"I have a strong passion for teaching. I am looking forward to meeting my new students, their families and working together as a team to give their child the best 2nd grade experience possible."
2. ADDRESS ANY BACK-TO-SCHOOL NERVES
Coming back to the classroom after a summer at home (or off and on all last year, for some!) and starting a new routine can bring both excitement and nerves! If your children are younger, find out who is in their classes and reconnect with any friends they may not have seen in a while. Let your child know that their teacher is always on their side, and only want to see them reach their full potential! Local elementary special education teacher, Beth McCreary explains:
"I wish my students knew that I'm already in their corner. Learning isn't just about books and grades and homework. It's about the effort they put in and their desire to do their best. I see my students for who they are now AND who they can be. At the beginning of each school year, we all sign a poster with our classroom motto, ‘We will start where we are and go farther than we ever imagined.' That's all I expect."
3. CREATE ROUTINES AND SCHEDULES
While you're getting back in the groove, it's important to create a daily routine to eliminate daily decision-making and even start it a few days early — especially if your child is attending a new school with a brand new schedule such as Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade. Prepare enough time to pack lunches, eat breakfast and gather all their school belongings before heading to the bus stop or carpool. Don't neglect your own routine as well, y'all!
Beth McCreary says:
"I wish the parents knew how special their children are to me. I live for the "aha" moments, the lightbulb moments, the pride on their faces when they understand something they've been struggling with. I believe in them. I believe in their potential. And I'm going to get them to believe in their own potential as well." 5. SET THE CLASSROOM UP FOR SUCCESS
We asked Beth and Taylor what supplies their classrooms need that aren't always on the regular school supply list. Here are some ideas to set your teachers up for success this school year:
- New books for the classroom library
- Healthy snacks
- Amazon gift card for additional classroom supplies
- Soft tissues (school supplied tissues can be hard on the nose!)
- EXPO Markers
- Cap erasers – "it's okay to make mistakes!" says Beth!
Don't forget to ask your teacher if they have an Amazon wish-list to refer to for additional classroom supplies — even something as small as a box of tissues can make difference!
6. YOUR KIDS WILL BE LOVED!
Lastly, we asked Beth and Taylor what they loved the MOST about teaching and their answers did not disappoint!
"Our children accept the differences in each other and go out of their way to be helpful and encouraging. My coworkers are like family, and we all share in the responsibility for creating motivated, responsible, compassionate, and confident students." – Beth
"BES is truly the BEST!!! We are one big school family! Our main purpose is to have a strong bond between our school, our students and their families and our community." – Taylor
How lucky are we to live in a community with such amazing teachers who truly want the best for our children? We hope you all know that we are behind you cheering you on, no matter what this school year may look like!
Be sure to follow along on the MCKRE Facebook page — our 4th Annual Teacher Giveaway is launching SOON to celebrate ALL of our local teachers. We know they deserve it!
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