Looking for even more back-to-school ideas? Step to the head of the class with some additional fun school-themed layout, project and photo options.

Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper; Patterned paper, number stickers and photo-corner punch: EK Success; Ribbon: Making Memores; Letter stickers and brads: Doodlebug Design; Chipboard letters: Scenic Route; Paper clip: Li'l Davis Designs; Epoxy monogram: KI Memories; Pen: Uni-ball Signo, Newell Rubbermaid; Font: Teen.

Though her photos are fairly classic, Barb Pfeffer's quirky journaling captures her son's personality in a memorable way. Consider telling first-day-of-school story from your little student's point of view.

Supplies Binder: Sarabinders, Hot Off the Press; Patterned cardstock: Pizzazzill, Creative Imaginations; Patterned paper: Scenic Route; Rub-ons: Imaginisce (letters) and cherryArte (other); Ink: StazOn, Tsukineko; Ribbon: SEI; File-tab punch: McGill; Eyelets: Provo Craft; Flowers: Bazzill Basics Paper and Making Memories; Epoxy sticker: SEI; Quote sticker: Sandylion; Fonts: Migraine Sans and Retrofit Light.

Each school year, moms everywhere have to get organized to be able to keep track of their students' schedules. If you have multiple students at multiple schools, the process can be even more complicated! Follow Renee Foss's lead and create a directory in which to keep phone numbers, schedules and more, with tabs for each student.

Supplies Cardstock: The Paper Company; Patterned paper: Daisy D's Paper Co. and Scenic Route; Chipboard letters: Heidi Swapp for Advantus; Letter stickers, tag and brad: Making Memories; Stickers: 7gypsies; Paint: Delta Creative; Pens: Le Plume, Marvy Uchida (red and brown); Uni-ball Signo, Newell Rubbermaid (white).

It's not only students who are returning to the classroom; teachers are heading back to duty, too. Maybe this is the perfect time to reflect on a favorite teacher, like Mou Saha did. Or if you're a teacher, document your own back-to-school adventures.

Need some fresh ideas for your start-of-school photos? Here are just a few to get you going:

• Show growth by taking a photo in the same spot each year.
• Hand the camera off to get a shot of you with your student(s).
• Capture an image of your teen with his or her car or carpool group.
• Get a photo with the teacher.
• Take a series of photos to create a storyboard of your child's journey to school, getting on the bus, walking in the building, etc.

Appeared in:

September 2009