Back to School Checklist for Elementary Schoolers

PEKIN, Ill.,–– In no time, school will be starting up again! The thought of school starting up again can be exciting for some kids, while others will dread counting down the days till they have to wake up early again. No matter how they feel, however, they always enjoy picking out their school supplies for the upcoming year. It gives kids a chance to express themselves and choose a style that best fits them. We've put together a back to school checklist for elementary schoolers so your 1st-5th graders can come to school prepared and stylish every day! While individual teachers have different requirements for their classrooms, this list should serve as a helpful starting point so you can have a head start on back to school shopping!

1st Grade

Make sure you and your child check these items off your list. You'll need them, especially for their first day of elementary school!

• 1 Backpack
• 1 box of 24 crayons
• 2 Erasers
• 2-3 glue sticks
• 1 pair of rounded scissors
• 1 pencil case for organization
• 12 #2 pencils
• 1 3-ring binder
• 1 8oz bottle of hand sanitizer
• 1 pack of washable markers

2nd Grade

Similar to the 1st grade shopping list, 2nd grade shopping is a little easier but you'll need some different supplies.

• 1 backpack
• 1 package of Post-It notes
• 1 package of disinfectant wipes
• 2 notebooks
• 2 3-ring binders
• 2 highlighters
• 1 pencil box
• 12 sharpened or mechanical pencils
• 2 large erasers
• 5 2-pocket folders

3rd Grade

3rd grade is the beginning of multiplication and division tables. Help your child remain ahead of the curve by providing them with math flashcards, loose leaf paper to help them learn on their own, and other supplies to get ahead of the curve!

• 1 package of loose leaf paper
• 1 set of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction tables/flashcards
• 1 package of portable hand sanitizer 
• 2 composition notebooks
• 1 box of 12 colored pencils
• 5 pencils and 5 mechanical pencils w/erasers
• 1 package of portable wipes
• 1 yellow highlighter
• 2 erasers
• 1 12" ruler

4th Grade

Around the 4th grade, students begin to learn how to edit their own work and the work of others with red pens. Getting them started on organization with folders, notebooks, and binders will improve their editing and writing abilities.

• 2 3-pronged pocket folders
• 4 spiral notebooks
• 2 red pens
• 1 box of 12 colored pencils
• 1 pair of scissors
• 2 - 12 packs of #2 pencils
• 1 pair of PE shoes, shorts, shirt
• 1 package of scotch tape
• 1 stick/bottle of glue
• 1 school supply bag/pouch/pencil case

5th Grade

If your child's elementary school only goes to 5th grade, then this is the last year before they head into middle school. Help them pick out their supplies, but let them pick out anything they'd like to express themselves. These items should help your child remain prepared for their last year of elementary school:

• 2 3-subject notebooks
• 2 binders w/dividers
• 5 pocket folders w/prongs
• 1 package of black pens
• 1 package of looseleaf paper
• 1 set of dry erase markers
• 2 packages of Post-It notes
• 1 roll of clear tape
• 2 yellow highlighters
• 2 bottles of portable hand sanitizer

We hope this back to school checklist for elementary schoolers helps you and your child pick out supplies that will last the entire year! From 1st to 5th grade, our comprehensive list is full of options that allow your children to express themselves, from folders to backpacks to writing utensils. If you're looking for a great way to save some extra money for back to school shopping, refer to our coupons when you need routine maintenance or work done on your vehicle! Use some of our vehicle tips and tricks for additional ways to extend the life of your vehicle and save more money, too!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Great Used Back to School Buys for College Students

PEKIN, Ill., – It’s almost time to go back to school. If you’re a parent with older children, this might mean it’s back to preparing for college. While school supplies and textbooks are an important part of back to school preparations, have you considered how your student will be returning to campus this fall? At Velde Ford we want you and your family to stay safe all the time. For college students, a reliable car with plenty of space, at an affordable price is the best way to go. We’ve highlighted 3 great used back to school buys for college students to help you get ready for fall!

2011 Ford Focus Sedan

Our used 2011 Ford Focus is a steal for your college student at $5,997! It gets great gas mileage at 25 city/34 hwy mpg, for those drives between home and campus. With 107,950 miles it still has plenty of life ahead of it! It also features an auxiliary audio output so your student can play their favorite music through the speakers! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 221-2804 to check out this used Ford Focus!

2011 Ford Taurus

Our 2011 Ford Taurus is a great, reliable vehicle for your college student! With the low mileage of only 80,290 priced at $12,993, it will last them throughout college and beyond! It gets 18 city/27 hwy mpg and features tons of Ford safety features to keep them safe on their drives from home to school! Check it our on our website or stop by to see it for yourself!

2015 Ford Fiesta Hatchback

Our used 2015 Ford Fiesta only has 19,000 miles and is priced to move at $11,942! Its awesome gas mileage of 27 city/ 37 hwy means fewer fill ups for your student! A hatchback is a great option for college students with a bit of cargo room to get their belongings back and forth from school! Check it out at the dealership or online!

This fall, check out all of our great used back to school buys for college students by browsing our used car inventory online! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, be sure to give us a call at (888) 221-2804 or stop by the dealership so we can assist you in your search!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Go Back to School with 5 Creative Lunchbox Ideas

PEKIN, Ill., – It’s time to start thinking about getting the kids back to school! In the midst of all your school supply and clothing shopping, you may have forgotten about packing lunches! Go back to school with 5 creative lunchbox ideas, so you can nix the boring sandwiches!

1. Breakfast for Lunch 

Breakfast is the best meal of the day, so why not have it twice? This link has a breakfast lunch box idea with a list to follow, or you can create your own breakfast lunchbox. Try dry cereal, yogurt, berries or other fruit, leftover pancakes, English muffins, etc.

2. Make Your Own Lunchable 

Kids always love Lunchables, but they aren’t the healthiest or the most cost effective. Make your own with this list, or make it up! Try including crackers, fruit, cookies, cheese, lunchmeat, carrots, etc.

3. Snack Packs 

Who doesn’t love bite-sized food? Small food items are easier for kids to eat, and you can give them lots of variety. Try this list of items to include in their lunches or go with things you know they like. Try grapes, carrots, cheese cubes, lunchmeat, cucumbers, applesauce, or anything else you can think of!

4. Wraps 

Wraps are a great alternative to regular sandwiches. This list has a few good ideas, but we especially like the almond butter strawberry wrap. Sounds more like dessert than lunch! You can always use peanut butter if you have picky eater on your hands.

5. Bagel with Cream Cheese 

A bagel is also a good alternative to a sandwich. You can use peanut butter and jelly instead of cream cheese, and include some other small snacks like crackers and veggies.

Send your kids back to school with these 5 creative lunchbox ideas! They’ll be happy not to be having a boring sandwich every day, and you can feel good about knowing exactly what they’re eating! No matter what you pack your kids in their school lunches, they’re sure to get excited about back to school shopping! Do some back to school shopping for yourself and check out our selection of great Ford vehicles! You can start shopping online at Velde Ford today!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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5 Ways to Help Your Young Child Prepare to Go Back to School

PEKIN, Illi.– Summer still has plenty of sun and warmth for us to enjoy, but there’s no denying the season is coming to a close, along with the seemingly brief vacation from school that comes with it. The month of August can be a stressful time for you and your child as they prepare to head back to school.

However, there are ways you can help your child make a smooth transition from eating popsicles under the sun to learning times tables in a classroom. We thought these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school might make that transition a bit less rocky for you and your young child. Take a look:

1. Have a talk with your child about how ready they feel. It seems the most rational place to start when it comes to preparing your child to go back to school is to simply have a talk with them about how ready they are to adjust to a school routine. What subjects are they excited to learn? Are they nervous about anything? Do they know what friends will be in their classroom? Do they know who their teacher is? Ask questions that will make them consider what a school day entails so they can begin to adjust their mindset ahead of time.


2. Attend classroom or school orientations with your child. Not every school hosts orientations, but if they do at your child’s school it would be wise to attend one with them. This will reintroduce your child to the school’s atmosphere, and help them become familiar with the premises so they aren’t totally out of their element on the first day. This is especially helpful if your child is attending a new school for the first time.


3. Make buying school supplies fun for your child. Leading up to the first day of school, one of the events that might strike fear or anxiety into your child is dragging them to the store to purchase necessary school supplies for the semester. Some children may feel apprehensive about a trip like this because those items are associated with –– gulp –– learning, homework, and being away from home for 7–8 hours a day. However, you can make buying school supplies fun for your child. Give them some freedom to pick out the items they like, just make sure they stick to any guidelines that exist from the school.


4. Put your child back on a school schedule before school starts. This one could be the hardest to implement in the last weeks of summer, but it will definitely help you and your child adjust to the school year and make the transition easier. Start putting your child to bed earlier and waking them up earlier. Tell them they need to come in from playing outside a little earlier in the evening. Doing these things will help your child prepare for a school schedule that permits less playtime or staying up late. It will prepare them for a schedule that revolves more around homework, extracurricular activities, and getting more sleep for long days. 


5. Instill independence in your child. Anxiety due to being away from their parents is one of the tough issues kids face when they go back to school. To prevent anxiety in your child, it might be a good idea to instill some independence in them so they become used to being away from you. Let them pick out certain school supplies, as mentioned, or let them choose what they want for lunch on their first day of school.

We’ve all been there and know how tough it can be to start a new school year, especially if its your first time or if you're attending a new school. Hopefully these 5 ways to help your young child prepare to go back to school give you some ideas for what you can do to mitigate the anxiety and calm the nerves that your child may experience as summer vacation closes and school draws near.  

After you drop your child off at school this fall, remember to stop in at our Morton area used car dealer to get a quick oil change or have some auto service taken care of! At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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