Really??? No Backpacks in the Classroom?!?

My kids never had a problem with it. They just take out what they need for each class before they go into the room and put it back when they are done.
I think the backpack has replaced the locker. I know I always went to my locker between classes to get what I needed, but I know not all school use lockers anymore, hence the overloaded backpacks!
And if you're wondering, there are MANY reasons teachers don't want the backpacks in the classroom (phones/tech devices, cheating, distraction, physical space/safety, etc.)
I was worried about my kids being "responsible" when they started middle school too, but don't worry, they manage!

My daughter is only in 1st grade so we don't have this problem yet but I am confused about one thing. Way back in the day when I was in school no one ever took their backpack to class, just the books and supplies we needed for each class. I guess I don't see what the big issue is.

OK, this was a really long time ago, but when I was in middle school and high school we only used our backpack to take homework home and back. We kept all of our books in our locker, and went to our lockers between each period to get what we needed for the next class. I assume they still do it this way.

What supplies does she want to bring to class?

I teach middle school and our school has the same rule. My previous school didn't, but there were no lockers, so they kids had no place to leave unneeded stuff (jackets, lunches, book etc.). If she has a locker, she will have no need for a backpack in the classroom.

Get her a large three ring binder and pocket folders to put in it. Get a canvas, zippered pencil bag to go in the binder to keep pencils, pens, and maybe a highlighter.

Beyond that, she shouldn't be bringing many supplies to classes. If she has more supplies than will fit in the zipper pocket, she is bringing WAY to much to class! I know middle school girls love to bring colored pencils, and markers, and stencils and all of that, but I promise you they are not only unnecessary but actually pretty disruptive to the classroom. If the classroom activity calls for them, the teacher will have them available, I promise.

HTH
T.

PS The no backpack thing is about more than weapons, I'm sure. Not having a bunch of personal stuff in the classroom cuts down on all kinds of distractions and actually keeps kids MORE organized because they aren't just shoving things in the bottom of their bag every day.

This is very typical.... our middle school doesn't allow backpacks during the day, either.

The "weapons" argument is one, but they are also a MAJOR trip hazard... if kids have to evacuate a classroom quickly, you don't want them all stumbling over backpacks in the aisles.

The kids carry a notebook with a pencil bag.... in the pencil bag they often have markers, colored pencils, pens, and pencils. Most of the classrooms have large supplies of markers and colored pencils, since most of the supplies are given to particular classroom teachers (for the purpose of having classroom sets, so they all have the needed supplies to do their work).

Most kids also stop at their locker between each class to get the next class supplies, if they need it. Our school issues textbooks to go home and stay home... they then have a "class set" of the textbooks for the students to use in the classroom each day.

BTW... I work in a local middle school as a Paraprofessional, so I see this every day.... the kids learn to adapt.

I never used a backpack in middle school. We had a large school as well, 500 per class. I just went to my locker after each class. Pretty sure my son is doing the same. He has a small pencil case he can grab and take with him.

Just to add the son I speak of has ADHD and PDD. Really if he can do it anyone can do it.

Don't they have lockers?

We also weren't allowed to have backpacks or purses. If I needed a tampon, I slipped it into my pocket or sleeve when I was at my locker.

Our middle school has the kids have the cinch packs - like this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIKE-CINCH-SACK-BACK-PACK-ORANGE-...

the backpack thing is because most classrooms are getting too crowded and there is no place to hang the backpacks without someone tripping over it. Especially since there are SOOO many different styles of backpacks...rollers, handles, suitcases - I mean - it's out of hand.

the kids have 5 minutes to get to their locker and get the next book they need.

My son wasn't allowed to carry his backpack to class in middle school, either. It didn't seem to be a problem. My son has ADHD, Autism and allergies and logistical issues are not his strong suit. But even HE figured out how to get his supplies to class. All 270 of his classmates figured it out pretty quickly, too. I'm pretty sure your daughter won't have a problem with this either.

Tip: large enough pencil pouch to fit in the calculator, pencils, pens, sharpies, rulers, etc. And make good use of the 4 - 5 minutes between classes by visiting your locker often.

Will your daughter carry a purse? A lot of girls do in middle school because of having pads and tampons handy. A pencil case, calculator, etc., will easily fit into a purse. If not, there are small pencil bags that fit inside three ring binders. We never carried backpacks in school when I was a kid, many a decade ago, even in high school.

Our middle school did not allow it either. The highschool they are allowed. I never thought too much about it. I think they give them a few locker stops a day to switch books. It is kind of a blessing in disguise, the schoolbags are so heavy :(

What supplies does she need to take besides paper, pencil & book? is there something new that they are carrying to class?
As far as the purse that is crazy! When I was in middle school I would carry a purse to school for one week out of the month if ya know what I mean, so whats a girl suppose to do about that?! I guess go to her locker and get it and then...oh that is too much trouble...

The backpack thing is probably alsofor space. There are no backpacks in the classes for some of the teams at our middle school because the kids leave them in the aisles, there's no room for them, they get tripped on, the teachers can't move around the classroom, etc.

The kids don't juggle everything, they learn to manage their time well enough to get to their lockers periodically. I remember feeling the same way that you do when one of my kids was on a "no backpacks" team but really, hundreds of kids manage to figure this out year after year and yours will too.

Have you asked the school for suggestions?

One year our middle school required the students to have clear, see through back packs or clear bags. Those were the only ones that were allowed in the classrooms. We found some online.

We had lockers in middle school. I'm sure those have been taken out. We'd leave everything we didn't need and revisit it every few hours to change books and notebooks out.

Get a large notebook with a zipper pouch and have her keep her phone in there. I PROMISE the notebook will never get lost as long as her phone is in her zipper pouch. LOL

Our daughters middle school, would not allow the use of lockers.. The hallways were dreamy without the sounds of banging lockers,it also made pass time a lot quicker.

But they needed their backpacks to cart things around. In some classrooms, the back packs where left in the hallway during class. Just not enough room with computers, TV's desks, jackets.....the older school rooms were not built for all of the new equipment.

Will your child have a locker? If so they will need to learn what to carry with them from class to class, then leave everything else in their locker, till they can get back to it.

Ask students that have attended before how it all works out.

I know of an elementary grade teacher who fell over a backpack in her classroom a few years ago and broke her leg, she refuses to allow them in her classroom now. When you walk up to the school you see them on the ground or hanging on hooks outside the room. The junior high has lockers, no backpacks allowed in the class, so her students have it already mastered. Your daughter will learn how to deal with it.

What's the school's rationale?

Get a zippered pencil pouch like this: http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Titanium-Zipper-Pencil-Pocke...

Maybe some clear zippered pouches like this: http://www.amazon.com/Vinyl-Ring-Binder-Pocket-Clear/dp/B...

She will learn what supplies she needs for each class and I assume get it out of her locker each time. Help her organize a list in her locker. ie: MATH: protractor, pencil, calculator HISTORY: pen, pencil etc. I would assume that not much more is required for each class other than notebook, writing utensil, and maybe something for math. Maybe a textbook/workbook for some classes.

@ Lynn: good point. Geez! Way to embarass a girl! @3Girls: I would guess that your daughter will figure out what all the other girls do.

My kids are not allowed to take backpacks either partly for space and partly for safety. some kids do think a backpack is a great thing to use to hit someone. The girls can carry a small purse, like a wristlet to carry small personal things. My kids have not had any problems moving between classes. They take their stuff or 2 or 3 classes and then there is lunch,no supplies allowed, then the next classes. They have either pouches or a box to carry their supplies, then their folders and books. The items we have had missing were because someone took it, not because it was dropped.

I would help her organize her books and notebooks into blocks so when she goes to her locker, she grabs the blue notebook for the next three classes and so on. I would also get her a wristlet or other small pouch in the event that she needs a personal item during the day. She can snap it into her binder to help carry it. I also agree with the zipper pouches and maybe keep one in each "set" of binders with some pens and pencils already in it.

Yeah... we went through that with my son. It was terrible. He has allergies and couldn't keep a stash of tissues with him without a backpack. AND he is not the most organized person to start with, so we had his backpack all set up so he'd have spare pens/pencils, tissue, paper, etc. NOPE. It goes in the locker and STAYS there until dismissal. Then they are RUSHED to get what they need from their lockers and get out of the building.

My daughter is middle school this year, and I'm not sure how it's going to work for her. No backpacks still. But she now has a retainer to deal with, so she has to carry her case with her all the time, since she has to take it out to eat. I guess she'll figure it out (I hope so anyway)... and not forget to get it out of her locker at lunch time before the meal and to put it back afterwards. As it stands now, she remembers it by ALWAYS taking it EVERYWHERE with her when not at home.

It's craziness if you ask me. So they can't bring the backpacks anywhere but to their locker... so what's to stop them from taking "whatever" out of the pack at their locker and secreting "whatever" under their shirt or jacket? If they aren't going to do anything to stop them from bringing something INTO THE SCHOOL altogether, then why be so strict about backpacks being carried from class to class? I don't get it. Seems pointless.
But a real PITA. Especially kids that struggle with organizational issues. :(

ETA: The idea of a pencil pouch in one big binder (with dividers) to keep everything together is a good one. I thought so, too. Until my son started 6th grade and we realized that every one of his teachers had a list of binders/folders and supplies he needed to have/bring for his classes. And they were all different. His science teacher wanted binder "a", his social studies teacher needed binder "b" (different spine sizes), with x number of folders with prongs, plus notecards, plus the required agenda book, plus... and math needed calculator, colored pencils, etc, ... It took THREE of those zip in pouches to fit everything he needed... not including the tissues for his allergies.
Then to try to have ANOTHER item that was a 'catch all' for extra pencils/pens/erasers, etc.. it was absurd.
He would have been FAR better off with one or two big binders with dividers, but his teachers required separate binders for each subject!
Oh yeah... and they had to dress out for PE, so that was ANOTHER pack of stuff to keep in his locker (gym clothes and shoes/socks)... the lockers are only so big, ya know?

He did muddle through, but my gosh at the lost papers and the trash that accumulated in his locker. And the number of times I heard: I couldn't find it to bring it home and the teachers rushed us out of the halls...