Five children, ranging in age from two to 13 years old,died in a horrific car accident on the way to a water park yesterday. They were riding in an SUV crammed with ten children total and two adults. There weren't enough seats for all 12 passengers. And it pains me to add that there were no car seats, either. Not even for the two-year-old.

More from The Stir: 2-Year-Old Flower Girl's Deadly Fall Is Tragic Reminder to All Parents

The SUV rolled several times on its way down an encampment and nine of the children were thrown from the car. These kids piled into the car at the beginning of the day, looking forward to a day of fun. And they trusted the adults to get them to the water park safely. Those adults failed them -- tragically.

I can see how all this must have happened. Lord knows I traveled this way a time or two when I was a kid. You, too? I think seat belts and child seats and car safety in general was popularized sometime in the 1980s. Before that, it was practically a

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Paige Zimmer was so proud of one of her third-grade students - the boy had saved up his allowance to buy books at the book fair - that she decided to contact his parents and tell them. The task should have been easy, but it wasn't. Why? "Because parents always get so nervous when they hear it's me," says Zimmer, who teaches in Elkridge, Maryland. "I do sometimes call with good news. I wish parents knew that."

What else do teachers want you to know? And what do they need you to do? Good Housekeeping went into classrooms at schools around the country and talked to the teachers who spend their days with your children. Here's what they said about how you can help them help your kids:

Related: How to Communicate with Your Child's Teacher

1. Don't be a stranger!

Talk to your child's teacher early and often. Back-to-school night shouldn't be the only time you connect, says Tracy Weinberg, associate director of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented in Austi

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Whether it's a day you and your children have been anxiously awaiting or quietly dreading, summer is drawing to a close and the first day of school is upon us. It's almost time to charge up your camera and begin thinking about how best to capture your child's first day of school. Whether it's their first day of kindergarten or their last first day as a high school senior, these are memories you will want to treasure forever. Here are a few ideas and tips to ensure you capture a snapshot worthy of a frame. - By Amber Doty

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15 vintage back-to-school ads that should've been banned

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Guest Blogger: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

If you're the parent of a student, you may be looking forward to back-to-school season - and dreading it as well. You're looking forward to it because - let's be honest - you want those kids out of your hair and you can't bear to hear them say "I'm bored!" one more time.

At the same time, though, you probably have a sense of dread about all that money you think you'll have to fork over to get the kids ready for school.

1. Clip Those Coupons

Don't miss out on great coupon deals - typically from 10% to 50% off - from local and national retailers alike. Some coupons come in circulars in your mailbox and often feature sales on clothing, shoes and other back-to-school items - all from merchants right in your area.

A quick web search of the phrase "coupon" or "coupon code" and the store or product you want should yield a coupon that will save you money.

2. Use A Daily Deal Site

Daily deal sites can lead you to some te

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The process of transitioning back to school at the conclusion of summer vacation can be very difficult for children. There are many different aspects to this transition, some of which tend not to get the attention they deserve. As adults who focus on teaching the whole child, we want to take a comprehensive, thoughtful approach to making this transition as smooth as possible.

1. Encourage your child to view the start of the year in positive terms. We want the beginning of school to be a time to which kids look forward, not dread. Emphasize all the great things that a new school year brings, such as the opportunity to make new friends, meet new teachers, learn interesting new content, and participate in new after-school activities.

2.Re-establish school bedtimes a few days in advance. Waking up early on the first day of school is a mighty tall order for kids (and teachers) who have been sleeping later during the summer. Gradually returning to school bedtimes over a period of

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