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Tag: parenting

Moving up to middle school can cause butterflies

June 24, 2015 | Posted in: Elementary, Middle Years

The students filed excitedly into the cafeteria, choosing seats near friends as they waited for the presentation to begin. The end of school was just around the corner, but that’s not what had these fifth graders abuzz. They were about to hear a preview of next year – the start of middle school. They had […]

Picking the ‘right’ preschool

June 24, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners

It’s your child’s first foray into the “school” world, and you’ve got mixed feelings. On one hand, you’re excited to watch her learn and grow. On the other, you feel tremendous pressure to pick the “right” school. Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming experience with so many options/approaches available: teacher-led, child-led, Montessori, Waldorf, co-operative, […]

Why should I vote on my school district budget?

Why should I vote on my school district budget?

May 14, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Few people argue against the value of a good education, and when it comes to the local school district, almost everyone has their opinion. Yet, in just a week, news media will likely report the record-low voter turnout for the annual school budget vote and school board elections. Statistics from the New York State Board […]

Learning opportunities are around every corner

May 14, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

The question sounded like the lead-in to a bad punchline. “What do you call it when a starfish loses its leg and it grows back?” asked our 17-year-old, who was sitting in the back seat of the car with her two siblings. We had taken a wrong turn that would get us to our destination […]

Is your child ready for kindergarten?

April 1, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary

The following story was first printed in Parent Today in March 2013. When our daughters were young, we had no questions about kindergarten readiness. Both girls were born in March, and my husband and I knew that by the September following their fifth birthdays they’d be more than ready for the half-day program offered in […]

Is it the time spent with children, or what we do with the time that really counts?

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

A brand new study from the Journal of Marriage and Family seems to challenge some long-held views about the amount of time mothers spend with their children. The study says the number of hours a mother spends with her children is not as important as the mother-child engagement during that time. Research involving 1,600 children […]

The important stuff not found in books

February 23, 2015 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Some of the most important lessons students learn aren’t found in textbooks. They come from life experiences – in the classroom, with family and out in the real world. As parents, we want our children to succeed. Equipping them with life skills now will better prepare them to navigate their school years and beyond. Which […]

The power of meaningful praise

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

“You did a great job!” you say, excited by your child’s test results. “You’re so smart!” As parents, we are delighted when our children do something that we believe is wonderful. We want them to know we think they’re amazing – whether it’s in school, on the playing field, in a music lesson or in […]

Focus on learning over results promotes academic integrity

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

A story about cheating at Dartmouth College provides an opportunity to discuss with school-age children the importance of academic honesty. The Ivy League school in Hanover, N.H., often described as one of the nation’s elite private colleges, has accused 64 students of cheating in a sports ethics class. The students, many of them athletes, allegedly […]

Gratitude takes time to nurture

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

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 […]