Oct 24 2017

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…]

Oct 17 2017

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…]

Sep 26 2017

Get Your Kids Organized for School Success!

There are so many virtues of being organized but how does organization lead to school success for your kids? Here’s the connection: first, being organized helps your child to establish good habits. Completing household tasks efficiently will help your child to feel confident and accomplished. Second, once good habits are established, stress is reduced. Without distractions, your child is free to concentrate on her academic studies. So what does that look like in my household?

[Read more…]

Aug 29 2017

My Only Son Leaves for College!

My Only Child Leaves for College!

As I prepare to move my only child into his college community, I am reflecting about all the people who have helped me guide him to become the person he is today. The values instilled in EJ throughout his childhood will now be tested as I let go and release him into a crazy college life full of potential. Hopefully, the trusted values by which our family has lived should help him make good choices. [Read more…]

Aug 22 2017

Get Your Children Ready for School

How is it that summer is already coming to a close? As the first day of school gets closer, there are a few things I do to make sure my kids are ready.

Set the Alarm Clock

During the summer, I’m pretty lax about when my kids wake up in the morning. However, a 9 a.m. wake-up call is not going to cut it for getting to school on time! A week or so before the first day of school, I shift their bedtime 15 minutes earlier and also set the kids’ alarm clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier than they are used to. Each day, I set it 15 minutes earlier until I get to the desired evening bedtime and morning wake-up call. [Read more…]