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School snacks from home have a bigger role than just filling bellies

School snacks from home have a bigger role than just filling bellies

November 15, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

It’s 8 p.m. on a school night. My second- and fourth-grade sons have reached the point in the evening when they need to go upstairs, shower and get ready for bed. It’s also that point in the evening when they are tired and chaos seems to ensue. As I reach out to flip off the […]

Grow healthier eating habits: The benefits of gardening with children

Grow healthier eating habits: The benefits of gardening with children

November 14, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Recently, dinnertime has become a lot more interesting in my household. Game changer: my nine-month-old son is eating solid foods. So far, pears and sweet potatoes reign supreme, and anything green –beans, peas and avocado, is met with a refusal of shivers and gags. Children not eating their vegetables is an age-old issue, and it’s […]

Thanksgiving meal prep presents a variety of learning opportunities for kids

Thanksgiving meal prep presents a variety of learning opportunities for kids

November 9, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Thanksgiving Day meal preparation is a crash course in academics, problem solving and social skills and one that children at any age can be involved in, even during the toddler years. From meal planning to grocery shopping to food preparation, each step of the Thanksgiving Day meal involves skills related to the core curriculum classes […]

A dedicated core with a vision is a recipe for PTA/PTO success

A dedicated core with a vision is a recipe for PTA/PTO success

November 8, 2016 | Posted in: Elementary, High School, Middle Years

The first time I heard any reference to a PTA was probably when I was my children’s age. It was the song, “Harper Valley PTA,” written by Tom T. Hall and performed by Jeannie C. Riley. Released in 1968, the song inspired a movie a decade later and a television series a few years after […]

Digital equity is a concern in many communities

Digital equity is a concern in many communities

October 17, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

When I was in middle and high school, I would often meet my friends on Sundays at the local public library, where we would work on our homework and conduct research for projects. We would thumb through the card catalog, searching for books or magazine articles that we could use as sources. Now, students can […]

Keeping connected in today’s classroom: Teachers utilizing digital tools to better communicate with parents

Keeping connected in today’s classroom: Teachers utilizing digital tools to better communicate with parents

October 17, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

I can distinctly remember that yellow piece of paper with six little words, “Please call at your convenience. IMPORTANT.” “Uh oh,” I thought. Written on a pad from the “Desk of Mrs. Hinchey,” my fifth-grade teacher – poor Mrs. H wasted quite a few sheets of her personalized paper trying to get in touch with […]

Screen time for school, work and play is a balancing act

Screen time for school, work and play is a balancing act

October 4, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

I heard the sirens shortly before 6 p.m. It was as normal a Wednesday evening as you could have as the parent of a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old. I was at my desk in the backroom tinkering with an old HAM radio. The kids were watching a show on Netflix after a busy day during […]

Making friends is hard: Helping your child socially connect

Making friends is hard: Helping your child socially connect

September 19, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, Middle Years

When my son was in first grade, he would come home from school and tell me he didn’t play with anyone at recess. “What did you do?” I would ask. “Walk around,” he would reply, very quietly. “By yourself? Did you play with anyone?” “No.” “How was the rest of your day?” “Bad.” He looked […]

Mindfulness: Why it’s becoming more prevalent in schools

Mindfulness: Why it’s becoming more prevalent in schools

September 12, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Aside from an occasional yoga class, I would have never considered myself the “meditating” type. Type A? Totally. Zen master? Not so much. That was, until I was preparing for the birth of my first child and my doctor suggested mindful meditation as a way to help me be well (see: less of a stressed […]

Easing the transition: How parents can make moving successful

Easing the transition: How parents can make moving successful

September 6, 2016 | Posted in: Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Enrolling at a new school can be a challenging experience for students at all grade levels, as well as for their parents. There are new faces, hallways and classrooms and often divergent approaches to learning from school district to school district. The organization of the school day and classes themselves, especially for students who are […]