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Elementary

Summer stories for young readers

June 13, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

I asked my elementary-aged children if they remembered the books we used to read together before they learned to read on their own. That launched a fun conversation recalling characters and stories from their favorite books. We made a list of 10 favorites for moms and dads who may have first time readers of their […]

Parents really do make cents

June 1, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Whether we’re “spenders” or “savers” may be determined to a great extent by our temperament. But researchers are finding that parents have a greater influence on their children’s financial habits than we may have thought. In a recent interview with NPR, Joyce Serido, a researcher at the University of Arizona, Tucson, said her team has […]

Go play with your (active) friends

June 1, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, Middle Years

Children who hang out with active kids are more likely to be active themselves. That’s according to a new study published in the May 28 issue of Pediatrics. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee measured activity levels among children attending after-school programs in Nashville. They found that children don’t make or break friendships based on […]

Nature’s lessons abound if you look around

June 1, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Nighttime can be noisy in spring. “That sound is going to make me crazy,” I told my husband the first spring spent in our house. “What is it?” I couldn’t imagine what big scary animals lurked in the woods and around the pond nearby. “Peepers,” my brother-in-law told us on his next visit. “You’ll get […]

There’s something important for you to do.

May 11, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Wherever you live in New York state, Tuesday, May 15, is the day to vote on your local school budget and open board of election seats. It’s an important day – not only for what it means for your school district and tax bill, but also because it’s one of only a few times a […]

Catching up in the home stretch

May 11, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

With little more than a month left in the school year, kids are starting to realize summer is on the horizon. Before they check out completely, take time to check in on whether they’re at grade level academically. If they are lagging behind, there’s still plenty of time to buckle down and help them bolster […]

Ticks are not a welcome sign of spring

May 11, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Experts say a warm winter with no deep freezes and an unusually warm spring mean ticks will appear earlier – and seemingly in greater volume – than normal this year. If your kids are spending more time outdoors, playing sports or just horsing around, it’s important to be vigilant about checking for ticks. These small […]

Will Angry Birds really teach my kids principles of physics?

May 11, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

In this age of digital distraction, parents who use the apps on their smartphones and iPads to occupy their children while they are running errands, on the phone or doing any number of tasks are less likely to feel guilty if the apps are educational. This revelation comes from a small study we came across […]

Monkey bars and water balloons: Playtime exercises preschool bodies and minds

April 19, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

Your preschooler is a ball of energy, darting from one spot to the next, running from the playroom to the kitchen, skipping from the swing set to the sandbox. You wonder at times if they’ll ever stop moving long enough to sleep. Rest assured, this physical activity is an important part of your child’s healthy […]

Good nutrition is a smart choice

April 19, 2012 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

There are plenty of studies out there that link positive health behaviors with increased student achievement. So it follows that good nutrition is a good idea when it comes to doing well in school. Convincing your preteen to forego the French fries in favor of asparagus, however, is a totally different battle. How does a […]