Feb 06 2018

Helping Your Child Relax for Test Taking

Test taking is a stressful and unpleasant activity for most anyone. For a child who may not have experienced test taking before, what are some practical ways to help them relax?

Tips for Preparation

Practice a growth mindset with your children. Help them realize that test taking is a measurement of growth from one academic year to the next. For more details about growth mindset, check out the work by Carol Dweck.
Get a good night’s rest. There’s lots of brain research which shows that the mind gets rejuvenated with rest. Make sure your kids get plenty of REM sleep leading up to the test. They’ll wake up well rested and in a good mood. Starting with a positive attitude is half the battle!
Eat a healthy breakfast. The brain is a well-oiled thinking machine and needs nutrients to help it run efficiently. Have your kids eat a hearty breakfast that will help sustain energy and brain power throughout the morning.

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Jaime Koo, Encouraging Literacy

Discovering the joy of teaching while in high school, Jaime pursued her B.A. in English at Santa Clara University. She also received a teaching credential and a M.A. in Education Administration from Santa Clara University. Jaime taught English Language Arts at Rancho Middle School, motivating and inspiring young people to become effective communicators and contributors in their community. From being a Middle School English Language Arts/English Language Development teacher to becoming a stay-at home mom, Jaime is an education consultant who presents literacy workshops. Her workshops focus on a combination of her ten years of teaching expertise with tried-and-true experiences that she uses with her own children. Jaime is also a Teacher Consultant with the San Jose Area Writing Project. Jaime’s mission is to share effective reading and writing strategies with families to encourage literacy.

Jan 30 2018

How Parents Can Support Their Children’s School Successes

Providing students and staff with challenging opportunities can bolster their confidence. This can improve their desire to excel when they experience success.

Writing a Novel

Our middle school’s teachers have dedicated themselves to promoting literacy in all subject areas this year because many of our students are not reading and writing at grade level. Our 7^th grade teachers decided to have their students participate in the NaNoWriMo National Novel Writing Month last November.

Each 7^th grade student wrote an 8,000-word novel about a personal experience, hope, or dream by completing the following steps:

Research a topic.
Outline the novel’s fictional or non-fictional contents.
Write the novel in 30 days.
Peer review and self-edit through feedback.
Use the Hemingway software application for writing feedback.
Professionally assemble the novel.
Learn how to sell a self-published book at a local book fair.

Many students were surprised that they could complete the assignment. They also began pursuing more writing challenges that allowed them to be creative. [Read more…]

Yvette King-Berg, College Readiness

Yvette King-Berg, is the Executive Director of Youth Policy Institute’s Charter Schools. She was the former California Charter Schools Association Vice-President of School Development and Outreach-Southern California. Ms. King-Berg has over thirty years of experience working with teachers, students, parents, and organizations in a variety of positions including Director, Assistant Director, Curriculum Advisor, Bilingual, and Title 1 Coordinators, classroom teacher (K-12) in Pasadena and LAUSD. She has been married for twenty-three years, and is the proud mother of her son, EJ, who attends UC Berkeley.

Jan 23 2018

Wow! My College Son Grew Up!

It has been several months since my son left home and went off to college. It is only winter break! But, to me, my son now looks like a man or a grown-up college guy.

A Campus Visit

When visiting EJ at school we were without a car. We used public transportation to tour San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. San Francisco has become his city and my son now acts as my tour guide when showing me around. [Read more…]

Yvette King-Berg, College Readiness

Oct 10 2017

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

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.
Do something for yourself that you enjoy. This may include hiking, playing tennis, swimming, exercising, window shopping, or reading a book.
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.
Pamper yourself with a massage or by taking the time for a bubble bath or a hot shower.
Get together with friends and share life’s joys, challenges, and brainstorm solutions to daily problems.
Embellish your hobby and take the time to enjoy it. This can include attending seminars, classes, journaling, and writing blogs.
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.
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.
Find your spiritual center through nature, religion, or a cause greater than yourself.
Stay humble and always give more than you take from the world.

[Read more…]

Joyce Iwasaki, Early Parenting

Joyce Iwasaki has over thirty years of educational experience working with diverse students in grades from preschool through high school. Joyce’s extensive background includes teaching elementary school, serving on early childhood advisory boards, and advocating for educational initiatives as a legislative aide. During her tenure as a legislative aide, she helped create legislation that allowed incarcerated mothers to keep their newborn babies with them while in prison. Additional legislation was enacted to allow incarcerated pregnant mothers to remain unshackled during labor and delivery. Ms. Iwasaki established and served as the president of an educational scholarship foundation for fifteen years. Her foundation awarded college scholarships to emerging student leaders who provided service to their schools and communities. Joyce is active in performing arts and cultural organizations. She also provides ongoing support to her daughter and family by raising her grandson in her home.

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…]

Yvette King-Berg, College Readiness