This post is sponsored by 3M but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Summer Break flew by, and it’s almost time to send the kids back to school! We’re enjoying the last few weeks of Summer Break, but we’re also starting to shop for the upcoming school year. With four kids heading back to school, we have a lot to buy - clothing, shoes, gym clothes, backpacks, lunchboxes, school supplies, and more!
The beginning of the school year can be so exciting, but then reality hits. We’re incredibly busy from September through June, so I’m definitely a much bigger fan of our more peaceful Summers, and the time spent with my kids. But as much as I’m in denial, the countdown to the first day of school is on!
Shopping for back to school can be an undertaking with 5 kids, but it helps to make a list and get it done early. Staying organized, and having a stash of school supplies for home use is the key to my sanity during the school year!
Find out which item tops my list of school supplies for home use, the five unique ways to use them, and how you can get a night out at the movies just from purchasing school supplies!
As a mom and a blogger, I go through a lot of Post-its! There are notes to write, lists to make, and important dates and information to remember. I think I would be lost without my cube of Post-its!
Here are 4 unique ways I use Post-its during the school year:
MAKE FLASH CARDS
With 4 kids in school, there’s always something to study. Whether it’s vocabulary words, addition/subtraction/multiplication, sight words, or history/science terminology, flash cards are our go-to study method. Post-its make great DIY flash cards. You can save them for later use, tape “study books” together, and store them easily!
USE THEM TO LEARN SIGHT WORDS
I have been helping my kids learn sight words for YEARS. Liam is going in to 1st grade, and has special needs, so we’re still working on his sight words. Liam learns best through play, so I’m teaching him the same way I helped Lily learn her sight words year - through Sight Word Slam!
This learning game is so simple! I write one sight word on Post-its, stick them to the floor or table, then call out one word. My kids then slap (or use an inflatable hammer) the sight word I called out. If they get it correct, I move it off the “game board” and into a discard pile. I store the Post-its in a plastic bag to use each day, then make new Post-it game cards when they move on to a new level.
HELP KIDS LEARN HOW TO STUDY & MANAGE TIME
One of Dylan’s biggest challenges in 5th Grade (it’s similar to middle school in our district), was learning how to complete homework in a timely manner and study for tests. I thought it was just a boy thing, but my star student, Lexie, went through the same thing! I found a simple way to keep them on task, and their study habits quickly improved.
When my kids sit down to do homework, I ask them what they need to accomplish that night. (I learned to verify this on the app!) We then write out the steps they need to take to complete their homework, and to study for tests. Example: Complete math homework. Study vocabulary words. Go through multiplication facts. Study for science quiz. Read for 10 minutes. We write each task on a Post-it, place them in a row on the table or desk, and when they complete a task, they can remove the Post-it from the lineup. I really think it helps keep them from feeling overwhelmed, and gives them a sense of accomplishment as they complete tasks.
USE THEM AS A LEARNING TOOL TO KEEP KIDS BUSY
I often have 3 kids trying to study and do homework while I’m cooking dinner, and they all need my help with something. I’m going to be honest - it’s a witching hour for all of us! Every so often, I need to keep the littles occupied for a few minutes, so I give them a learning game to do while I help their sibling(s). Dylan and Lexie complete their homework and study on their own now, but they still need help on occasion, or want me to quiz them before a test. Lily and Liam are the ones who become impatient, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve!
I hate being wasteful, so I like to reuse those Post-its from the idea above. I grab one from the completed task pile, flip it over to the blank side, and quickly write a few math problems for Lily to solve, or I write a long word at the top, and ask her to come up with as many words as she can using those letters. She always tries to beat the clock! For Liam, I like to give him some crayons or a pencil, and tell him to write on the blank side to work on his pencil grip!
As you can see, Post-its are a must have supply in our home! I already picked up more for the upcoming school year, and took advantage of a great offer at Walmart! Why not celebrate heading back to school with a movie night? Right now, 3M is offering a great deal! If you purchase $10 worth of any Post-it® and Scotch® Back to School stationery products from your local Walmart, you can get a $10 Fandango Promo Code* for your next movie ticket purchase!
Here’s how to enter:
Purchase $10 worth of participating Post-it® and Scotch™ back to school supplies in one transaction at Walmart stores or at Walmart.com between 7/22/19 and 9/8/19. Retain your receipt.
Take a photo of your entire receipt showing the qualifying item(s) starred.
Visit the program landing page, and enter your information and submit the image of your full receipt by 9/30/19. Submissions are reviewed within 2-5 business days. Once your submission has been validated, you will receive an email with a $10 Fandango Promo Code*. Hurry while supplies last!
I love Post it notes. They are just so fun. I should totally do that deal at Walmart, but I want to go to the movies tomorrow and I may not get my code in time!
ReplyDeleteI love post-it notes, and these are all great ways to use them during the year. I like your first photo where you wrote notes to your kids; my mom used to do that sometimes too and put it in my lunch. That post it not/fandango deal is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
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