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Capital Region BOCES
Middle Years
They’ve been called master architects and engineers, but they’ve never spent a day in an actual classroom. Instead, they perfect their innate talent by watching and doing. They’re beavers, an animal we became curious about when we noticed several trees down alongside a small pond near our house. They leave in their wake a telltale […]
Research supports the idea that gratitude is good for us. It helps us form, sustain and strengthen supportive relationships, and contributes to the feeling that we’re connected to a caring community. This is true regardless of our age. According to researchers at The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, “Evidence from […]
If someone next to you were to suddenly fall to the ground and stop breathing, would you know what to do? Would your children or your neighbor’s children know what to do? Most Americans would answer no. Less than a third of Americans say they know how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – a simple […]
Students of all ages are acquiring a language that will serve them well in the future: They’re learning computer code. Educators say learning code exposes students to more than technical skills; they’re gaining critical thinking and problem solving skills that will serve them well in any future job. “Learning to program opens up a new […]
You’ve visited your child’s classroom for back-to-school night, met his/her teacher and scheduled your parent-teacher conference. Now what? Staying connected during the school year is an important step in your child’s education. More than 500 studies have shown the positive benefits that result when parents get involved in their children’s education, including improved grades and […]
Your child’s smartphone or tablet ranks high on the list of potential distractions to getting homework done. But instead of viewing technology solely as the enemy, you can harness its potential to improve organizational skills and enhance learning. An application called MyHomework (iOS, Android) provides a digital calendar for students to keep track of homework […]
A new study says exercise doesn’t just benefit kids’ physical health – it gives their brains a boost too. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that 70 minutes of play per day can improve children’s thinking, particularly in multitasking. The study included 222 children ages 7-9, of which 109 met after school […]
“I don’t know what I did. Brittany doesn’t like me anymore.” The young teen’s angst was palpable. She was 12, maybe 13, and in the throes of middle school. A long-time friendship had come to a screeching halt, and she couldn’t figure out why. “Brittany’s going to a party with the popular kids tonight,” she […]
There is a stigma surrounding mental health issues that makes starting a conversation difficult. When comedic actor Robin Williams committed suicide in August, reportedly motivated by severe depression, people around the world were stunned and saddened, prompting many to post tributes to him and send supportive messages for his family and friends through both social […]
A new virus sweeping through the Midwest — and now appearing in the northeast including New York state — has parents concerned and health officials on alert. The virus, known as Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), has hit children particularly hard, sickening hundreds. EV-D68 is believed to be associated with the common cold, but symptoms can quickly […]