GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

Blog

You Raise Your Children to Leave

You Raise Your Children to Leave

The very best parenting advice I have ever received was simply the statement, “You raise them to leave.” As an educator I am intimately aware of the concept of beginning with the end in mind, but it seems that far too often as parents we forget exactly what that end may be. I know that in the midst of trying to parent four children that I often need to take a step back and think about this simple statement before I respond because this is NOT my natural default mechanism when dealing with my own children.

The beauty and power of this statement is that no two people reading this need to have that same end in mind. Getting your children ready to leave may look much different in your mind’s eye than it does in mine. This is where the strength of the concept comes from. This simply forces us to consider what it is that we want for our kids when we are making our parenting decisions.

[Read more…]

image_pdfmake a pdfimage_printPrint

Playful Writing Strategies for Kids (Part 3)

Playful Writing Strategies for Kids (Part 3)

When working with challenged writers, I find that an art project can generate writing recipes for success. During the weeks before the winter holiday break, I created a series of writing assignments to energize challenged writers. [Read more…]

image_pdfmake a pdfimage_printPrint

Parent’s Guide to School Communication from an Educator

Parent’s Guide to School Communication from an Educator

I have found that often times parents of all backgrounds and educational levels have difficulty in understanding how they should communicate with schools regarding their children. So, I have put together some quick guidelines that I think will improve the school – parent partnership. To be clear, I believe that in the IDEAL circumstances it is the responsibility of the school to take the lead on this. That said, I think this can be beneficial for everyone involved.

Establish Communication Protocols and Expectations

As a parent it is important to understand that your child’s teacher likely has between 20 and 150 other students that they are working with every day. That said, it is fair to expect that you receive communication from the school if and when they notice any change in behavior, mood, or performance. As a parent, I believe that this is a fair expectation to share with your child’s educators and also a responsibility to share the same communication under the same parameters with the school as a courtesy if you noticing something at home. [Read more…]

image_pdfmake a pdfimage_printPrint

How to Make Writing Fun

How to Make Writing Fun (Part 2)

Most students feel challenged to complete their writing assignments. As an intervention elementary school teacher, I love to empower students with imaginative and engaging writing assignments. For example, my second-grade students wanted to learn more about rattlesnakes after hearing my personal story about being bitten by a rattlesnake. Here is an outline of questions they asked for our writing activity:

  1. How did I get bitten by the rattlesnake?
  2. Why do snakes bite people?
  3. Where was I when it happened?
  4. What did the bite feel like?
  5. Did I catch the snake or did it get away?
  6. What did I do after the bite?
  7. Did I phone 911?
  8. Did an ambulance transport me to the hospital?
  9. What did I do while waiting for the ambulance?
  10. What happened when I arrived at the hospital?
  11. What type of medication did the doctors use to fight a venomous snake bite?
  12. What does venomous, antivenom, and antidotes mean?
  13. How is antivenom created?
  14. What types of animals help create antivenom antidotes?
  15. How long did it take to get better?
  16. Do I still have problems with the bite?
  17. What can a person do so they do not get a snake bite?

[Read more…]

image_pdfmake a pdfimage_printPrint

Let’s Be Honest: Teen Sexting

Let’s Be Honest: Teen Sexting

Let’s talk about sex(ting), baby . . .

If you are around my age (early 40s) like many parents who are reading blogs like this are, that introductory sentence immediately brings you back to a time when hearing “that” song on the radio or on MTV felt salacious. Well, I think we all know that is nothing compared to what is at our kids’ fingertips at all times right now. [Read more…]

image_pdfmake a pdfimage_printPrint