New Year’s Resolutions for Children

My grandchildren asked me what my New Year’s resolutions would be for 2017. I explained to them that each year I review my life’s challenges and accomplishments and journal the next steps in my life’s goals. My typical resolutions focus on keeping my life balanced in the areas of spiritual growth and family play. I also make resolutions to manage my exercise and financial planning. Finally, each year I aspire to increase my knowledge and skills in a new area of interest. Recent learnings include technology applications, blogging, watercoloring, and creating innovative curriculum. [Read more…]

Mary Ann Burke, Digital Education Expert

Mary Ann Burke, Ed.D., Digital Education Expert, is a substitute distance learning teacher for Oak Grove School District in San Jose, California and the author of STUDENT-ENGAGED ASSESSMENT: Strategies to Empower All Learners (Rowman & Littlefield: 2020). Dr. Burke creates digital language arts and substitute teaching K – 12 activities for teachers and parents. She is the Cofounder of the Genparenting.com blog. Burke is the former Director II of Categorical & Special Projects for the Santa Clara County Office of Education that supports 31 school districts serving 272,321 students in Santa Clara County. She is also a previous Director – State & Federal Compliance for Oakland Unified School District, the former Director – Grantwriter for the Compton Unified School District, and was the initial VISTA Director for the Community Partnership Coalition in southern California. Much of her work focuses on creating innovative digital trainings and partnership programs for teachers and families to support students’ learning. These programs were featured as a best practice at a National Title I Conference, California’s Title I Conferences, AERA Conferences, an ASCD Conference, the NASSP Conference, and statewide educator conferences.

How Can I Support My Child Academically?

Today we will discuss how you can support for your child academically in the new Common Core environment.

Scenario: Your child comes home from school with math homework. She needs help. You look at the worksheet and it looks like Greek to you.

Has this happened to you? It has been a common occurrence as the Common Core standards have been implemented. Many parents throw up their hands and blame the new standards for their frustration. [Read more…]

Rosemarie Perez, Parenting

Rosemarie Pérez has worked with English learners and their families in public education for more than twenty years. She has served as a bilingual teacher, professional developer, and district administrator. Administrative roles included serving as the Director of English Learners for an elementary school district and as a Coordinator of Reading and Language for the San Mateo County Office of Education. Rosemarie continues to work with families as she leads the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Parent Engagement Initiative during the past three years. Ms. Pérez provides expert guidance to teachers, school site staff, and school administrators in creating culturally sensitive parent training modules and academic curricular units. She facilitates parent education and Common Core Standards workshops. Engaged parents are further trained to become parent leaders and advocates. Rosemarie is the mother of five adult children and three grandchildren.