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5 Things Parents Should Know About Assessment

5 Things Parents Should Know About Assessments

1. Tests and Assessments Are Not the Same

A test examines a student’s knowledge, understanding, and skills to determine what level of learning has been reached. It generally results in a numerical or letter grade.

Assessments involves gathering, analyzing, and responding to a student’s strengths and misconceptions about their learning. It includes feedback to the learner and also informs the teacher’s practice.

An analogy would be your BMI that provides a number but not a health analysis or fitness plan. Sometimes we need a test and sometimes learning requires assessment. [Read more…]

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Finding Help for Academic Needs

Finding Help for Academic Needs

For some students, the start of school is an exhilarating feeling – new teacher, new friends, new subjects to learn. For other kids, the start of school brings about dread and despair – for all the same reasons! As a parent, how can you support your kids who are facing academic challenges?

Set up a consistent place and time to do homework

Kids thrive on structure. When they know what to expect, they feel safe. Set up a schedule where they know it is homework time. Have a place for them to complete assignments, whether it be in their room or on the kitchen table while you’re setting up for dinner. If the kids are going to grandma’s home or to an afterschool day care program, make sure everyone knows that getting homework done is a priority. [Read more…]

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How to Reduce School Day Stress

How to Reduce School Day Stress

The school year has started and now you feel exhausted. What are 10 quick strategies to improve your outlook on life and get through the long weeks of driving kids to schools, coordinating activities, and helping with homework?

10 Strategies to Reduce Immediate Stress

  1. Get a handle on your life by picking up household clutter each day. Your children can share this activity as one of their responsibilities. Then you can truly relax.
  2. Do something for yourself that you enjoy. This may include hiking, playing tennis, swimming, exercising, window shopping, or reading a book.
  3. Self-Reflect on the beauty and wonders in your life. Reflective activities include meditation, journaling, walking or relaxing in a natural setting, listening to music, or reading reflective thoughts for the day.
  4. Pamper yourself with a massage or by taking the time for a bubble bath or a hot shower.
  5. Get together with friends and share life’s joys, challenges, and brainstorm solutions to daily problems.
  6. Embellish your hobby and take the time to enjoy it. This can include attending seminars, classes, journaling, and writing blogs.
  7. Pursue your dream. If you have not taken the time to complete college, take a course, change jobs, or become active in your community. Start taking baby steps to fulfill your career and self-growth dreams.
  8. Give back to the community. It is very difficult to take care of others all day long. Taking time for a purpose greater than yourself or your family can be very rewarding. Some parents become active in a school committee while others take their children with them to clean the beaches or plant a tree.
  9. Find your spiritual center through nature, religion, or a cause greater than yourself.
  10. Stay humble and always give more than you take from the world.

[Read more…]

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How to Help Your Child Use College and Career Support Services

How to Help Your Child Use College and Career Support Services

The new school year has started. As a superintendent of two public middle schools and a comprehensive high school, I have reflected on how I can change some of our school’s procedures and programs to fully support our college and career ready students. Here’s a list of changes that we will implement this year: [Read more…]

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Fall GenParenting Book Signing Events

Fall GenParenting Book Signing Events

DateLocationVenueEvent
Oct 1–9:30 AMCosta Mesa, CAOrange County Children's Book Festival - Orange County, CAThe GenParenting.com team will be selling the Yikes! twin book series and our parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 8,—2:00 PMSan Rafael, CACopperfield's BooksMeet the author, Mary Ann Burke, at this Meet and Greet Event! FREE blog resources will be provided.
Oct 14—10:00 AMSunnyvale, CABay Area Kids' Book Festival - Silicon ValleyThe GenParenting.com blogging team will be selling their Yikes! twin book series and parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 15—10:00 AMLafayette, CABay Area Kids' Festival - LafayetteThe GenParenting.com blogging team will be selling their Yikes! twin book series and parenting book with FREE resources.
Oct 22—11:00 AMOakland, CAGreat Good Place for BooksMeet the author, Mary Ann Burke, at this special story time event. She will be selling her newly published Yikes! Brandon Has Twin Sisters book series with FREE blog resources.

For more information about these events and to purchase books, log onto Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Ann-Burke/e/B001H6IXXW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0.

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