As the CCSS become the basis for a stronger educational base, we need to incorporate skills across the space between school and home. One way to encourage more rigor is to use common reading materials such as magazines and newspapers. Most families have access to these materials or can gain access easily through subscription, library resources or… Read More »
School breaks offer a great chance to engage in family activities. Whether those activities are home baking, sharing books or movies, or visiting local sites or relatives, they give families a chance to spend quality time together around the adults work schedules. In winter those breaks might include special activities such as playing in the… Read More »
Parenting: school years came out with an exhaustive list of lists and percentages about family issues and values. Their Tough Love (Jan., 2013, p.76) comments put me on alert. 54% insist kids finish an activity they start even if they don’t like it. 58% of kids have chores and a third of kids with chores… Read More »
Learning is a constant trial and error activity with positive outcomes as a goal. With that in mind, it becomes imperative that we, as adults working with children, provide encouragement. That includes monitoring our words and body language. A parenting magazine as well as www.kidshealth.com agree, suggesting that we think about how our split second… Read More »
Grab your blender or a few bowls and start building your children’s food experiences. You mighty be able to introduce new foods to their ‘like’ list. Blender Drinks Summer is a great time to blend up nutritious drinks. 1 cup fruit + ½ cup juice + ¼ cup yogurt + 3 ice cubes = I… Read More »
Any time is graph time. Creating a graph center at school or at home on the refrigerator is a simple way keep kids thinking. Use a variety of graphs: 1. bar graphs (vertical and horizontal) 2. pie charts 3. picto graphs 4. line graphs 5. area graphs Use them around the year graphing everything from… Read More »
Schools and families form an important partnership. What do parents/guardians want from schools? 1. Children are well cared for by the adults in the school. They are kept safe in and out of the building. Their educational needs are met whether through remedial assistance or fostering their gifted skills. They want the staff to demonstrate a strong love of… Read More »
The book, Home, School and Community Relations by Carol Gestwicki lists the following needs of children (p.65) . Food for thought: they are presented in no particular order, but families might want to create a hierarchy of their importance. 1. Feel loved 2. Feel important 3. Constructive discipline 4. Routines and rituals (predictable patterns) 5. … Read More »
When we think of giving people gifts, we often forget the most basic kinds; the gift of time and self. As families with school children begin winter breaks and have more time together, it’s the perfect time to begin a lasting tradition that has a ‘payoff. It’s the gift of a family homework hour. The payoff is family… Read More »