GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

Parenting

K-8

Planning for Students with Special Needs

Planning for Students with Special Needs

I often feel very privileged to have an amazing team of teachers that I work with every day. My team is dedicated, passionate, and willing to do whatever it takes to help our students grow. My school receives recognition for the way teachers support students with special needs. Families and elementary schools recommend my school to other families because of the amazing work we do to include students with special needs in the general education classroom while still providing the supports they need to succeed.  [Read more…]

Math + Reading = Summer Growth!

Number Line

Math + Reading = Summer Growth!

Summer learning is not a new concept. Schools have always pushed summer literacy through reading challenges, summer reading lists, and regular visits to the library. But as we push for kids to not backslide during the time away from school, we often neglect a higher area of need for many students: math!

As an educator, I talk with more parents who are tentative about their ability to help their kids with math at home than those who are hesitant to push reading. In most families, parents feel comfortable having an expectation that kids read at home or that kids participate in family reading time. This is largely because parents feel more comfortable with reading than math. Reading is a skill that many students can practice independently, especially as they get older. I would never discourage any parent from having a summer reading expectation for their child. Rather, I encourage parents to make time for both reading and math practice during the summer. Here are some ways you can practice math with you kids during the summer months. [Read more…]

Avoiding the Summer Learning Slump

Avoiding the Summer Learning Slump

My brothers and I recently went to breakfast during a week when we all visited my father in our home town. As we usually do when we visit home, we reminisced about our childhood, fun events, and experiences we have reminisced many times. Since we were visiting during the summer months, we talked about summer street fairs, days spent biking around the neighborhood, playing street hockey and basketball at the local park, and cookouts in our backyard. We also discussed my mom and how she organized our summer experience.  We didn’t realize it then, but the experience she gave us is one that I have shared with countless families in my role as a school principal, as it ensured a strong balance of fun, responsibility, and learning.

How Parents Can Structure Time

One of the pitfalls of the summer is the abundance of free time kids have. As parents, we must be intentional about helping kids fill that time when they are young so they build the life habits they need to lead productive lives as teens and adults. My mom had the perfect approach that kept my brothers and me productive, but allowed us to have a healthy balance of fun. She made sure that we had daily tasks or chores to complete. We had limited screen time and we always had time and resources for reading. [Read more…]

10 Summer Outdoor Activities That Build English Language Skills 

10 Summer Outdoor Activities That Build English Language Skills

Summer is one of the most powerful seasons for growing language skills, especially for children learning English. As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how stepping outside can lower pressure, increase engagement, and create meaningful opportunities for authentic language use. Nature gives us built-in vocabulary, real experiences to talk about, and endless chances to practice listening and speaking in a natural way.

For students learning English, language grows best through real-life experiences, not just worksheets. Summer offers families a chance to build those experiences together. The best part? You don’t need anything fancy—just time outside, curiosity, and conversation. [Read more…]

Grandparenting Summer Play with Our Tween Twins

Grandparenting Summer Play with Our Tween Twins

Summer is a wonderful time to spend extended quality time with our tween twin granddaughters. In previous years, our days were filled with planned outings, free-play games, and art projects. Now that the girls are shifting their focus toward friends, we are adapting by inviting their peers along for the ride. Thankfully, our car is large enough to play “chauffeur” for the whole crew!

Summer Activities and Outings

Below is a summary of our plans for a summer full of growth and adventure: [Read more…]