Parenting resources for all who love and care for children
Here in California, we live in a very diverse society. According to Wikipedia, “No single racial or ethnic group forms a majority of California’s population, making the state a minority-majority state.” Our children attend school with children who are racially and ethnically differently than they are. This creates an opportunity for an enriching experience for our children. [Read more…]
Joey just came home from school. He was crying that he no longer wanted to go to kindergarten because he did not have friends. Joey complained that the teacher put him into timeout again for disrupting the class. He suddenly had a stomach ache. Mom was beside herself. This was not the first time that Joey complained. It was becoming a weekly and sometimes a daily event. [Read more…]
How many times have you lost your mind when your kids fight? Sadly, I find myself regularly trying to keep the peace only to have the children fight me in the process.
One day, I finally changed my approach. I told the children that when they fight or hurt each other, all of them would have to take a timeout! The children resisted. They could not understand why they would be punished if they did not start the conflict. They questioned me for not being fair. Then they challenged my ability to take the time to understand the conflict and make a judgement about who was right and who was wrong. [Read more…]
IEP (Individualized Education Program) and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Parent Teacher CollaborationSome of our newly confirmed leaders are unfamiliar with IDEA, the key federal law involving students with disabilities IDEA. Given the current political reality, if you are the parent or grandparent of a special education student, it is critical that you learn how best to advocate for your child.
What is IDEA and how does it affect special education students? [Read more…]
How can parents comfort their children in times of trouble, when they themselves feel uncertain? How can they provide security, when they feel insecure?
Since the presidential election, fear and uncertainty have presided in the immigrant communities in which I work. This fear is impacting attendance at schools. Children of immigrant parents are asking, “Will we have to move?.” School personnel are making great efforts to reassure students and families that school is a safe place, but many children continue to feel insecure. This insecurity impacts their attention and participation in school activities and most importantly, their learning. [Read more…]
