Our 2016 Preps have had a couple of weeks to settle in to the school routine. There’s no question that starting school is a huge change and many of the requirements and expectations can seem overwhelming.

We’ve given some hints on managing the start of Prep (here and here) but I thought it would be good to get some tips from those who really know the nitty-gritty – last year’s Preps!

I asked them what they thought was the most important thing to know in Prep. There’s some warnings (“Don’t go past the shelter shed!”); suggestions that parents will appreciate (“Look after your hat”); words to live by (“Don’t play in the toilets”); and some practical suggestions (“You use lower case letters and full stops at the end of sentences”). I think there’s something in here for everyone –

• cross your legs on the mat
• sometimes you have to “Stop, Look and Listen”. It means you stop and look at the teacher
• don’t sit on the tables
• when the teacher claps her hands you need to clap your hands
• give it a go on your Golden words
• you don’t talk when the teacher talks
• there’s only one voice at a time
• have lots of love for the other kids and the teacher
• when you’re writing and you’re stuck in your sentence you can sound it out
• make new friends!
• you’re going to learn stuff!
• don’t be silly in the classroom
• you go with three people to the toilet
• don’t share food
• make a sensible choice on the mat
• don’t play with the tables
• when the bell rings outside you need to line up
• try really hard on your Golden words
• don’t put peanut butter in your sandwiches
• don’t play with scissors
• be very, very, very sensible!
• chunk your words
• don’t play in the toilets
• look at your Magic100 words
• put full stops in the right place
• have fun in the sandpit!
• your soccer day is Monday and Thursday morning
• maths is really cool!
• everything is good!
• on sports day you do really fun things in the gym
• be smart!
• have a good time always!
• help other people if they are stuck with stuff
• don’t go past the shelter shed
• always read every night and you will get better at reading faster
• school is fun so don’t be scared
• look after your hat
• always line up after recess
• learn to get dressed
• go to the shelter shed if you don’t have a hat
• put your hand up
• be nice to everyone
• you need to use lower case letters and full stops at the end of sentences
• keep the classroom tidy and pack up the things you use
• share and listen and be nice to other people
• have a good time and don’t leave rubbish outside
• playing on your own is okay or play with other friends
• be good and look after your school
• we play talk tiggy to help us not to speak in class time especially when we are eating our lunch and snack
• there is a book corner in the classroom where you can read quietly
• learn to do underarm throws so you can do it in sport at school
• listen well to the teachers so you can learn lots
• play nicely on the playground
• you can buy a sports top and wear it to sport
• you need to bring $2 for a muffin or $4 for a muffin and a slushie

Thank you to this year’s Grade One students for such marvelous suggestions.

(image via Planning with Kids)