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Tag: parenting

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 […]

Summer learning: Make it part of your family’s summer routine

Summer learning: Make it part of your family’s summer routine

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

“Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do But there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.”  -Eddie Cochran From the time my kids were little, our family took part in a special tradition and implemented it faithfully each May, until the children got to the age when they were working or simply too busy. I […]

Schools identify creative ways to address student conflicts

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

When my kids come home from school, they often share stories of arguments and conflicts they saw in the hallways that day. These clashes are nothing new, but the ways some schools are addressing them are. According to the National Bullying Prevention Center: One out of every four students (22%) reports being bullied during the […]

Does my child need special education services?

Does my child need special education services?

January 28, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

When my brother and sister-in-law learned that their daughter, Amelia, could start pre-kindergarten in September, they were elated. She was only 3 at the time, but very bright. I have the personal bias of a loving aunt, but when I was 3, I couldn’t count to 100, write my name, or tell a hexagon from […]

How to make the most of parent-teacher conferences

January 28, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Does the thought of sitting down with your child’s teacher make you squirm in your seat like a second grader? It shouldn’t, but it is surprising just how many adults find the face-to-face meeting with a teacher an uncomfortable experience. The purpose of parent-teacher conferences is to inform parents about their child’s progress and to […]

Learning: It may be a matter of style

January 28, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

“This is … Ancient Greece Jeopardy!” my son announced from the back seat, kicking off an unexpected but entertaining 6th grade social studies lesson. We were returning home from a weekend visit with family in Connecticut, and the three-hour car ride provided ample time for him to complete the study packet for an upcoming test. […]

Coalition to offer online, collaborative approach for building college-application portfolios

January 28, 2016 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

In a move some of the nation’s top colleges and universities say will help students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds apply for college, a new “Coalition Application” is set to launch in April. Similar to the Common Application, which allows students to apply to several colleges at once through a single portal, the Coalition Application would […]

Holidays are not happiness and cheer for everyone

Holidays are not happiness and cheer for everyone

December 12, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

For most of us, the holiday season represents fun celebrations and warm memories. From school vacation to family get-togethers, holiday traditions to special treats, the weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day are usually an exciting, and happy, time. For some children and families, however, the holidays can be stressful and difficult. Complicated by divorce, […]

Keep talking about drug use and addiction: You’re never too late for ‘right now’

December 11, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

I’m late. As with most things in my parenting life, I am woefully behind schedule. On November 19, families throughout the country took part in the National Night of Conversation, an event designed to facilitate discussion about drug abuse and addiction. My family, however, was knee-deep in social-studies projects, multiplication tables, and various sports practices. […]

You got WHAT on your report card! Parent portals ‘spoil’ the surprise

December 1, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

I don’t like surprises. Not for birthdays or anniversaries, and especially not when it comes to my children’s report cards. Luckily, parents no longer need to be taken by surprise by the grades and comments on the quarterly report from school. Today, there are many ways parents can keep track of their children’s performance on […]