Are hectic holiday schedules and dark winter evenings putting your family in a funk? Well, dust off Candy Land, Monopoly and Sorry because a good old-fashioned family game night may be just what the doctor ordered. This kind of quality family time promotes family bonding, creates joyful memories and decreases the body’s stress response according
The Montessori Method: Toys that Teach
The Montessori method was developed in the early 1900s by an Italian scholar and scientist named Dr. Maria Montessori. She created schools for children in Italy that fostered “rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical,” according to the American Montessori Society. When Dr. Montessori’s method
Kid-Driven Play
It took hours for us to set up the tracks for my son’s train table, and less than a minute for him to tear apart. It has been a constant battle to get him to play nicely with the tracks, and a never-ending cycle of fixing them for him only to have him destroy it
Preparing for Your Annual Homeschool Evaluation
An annual homeschool evaluation reviews your homeschooling program to ensure that it meets the requirements set by the state. Preparing for a yearly homeschool evaluation can be a stressful experience for both parents and students. However, with careful planning and organization, it can also be a rewarding opportunity to reflect on your homeschool journey and
What You Need To Know About the 504 and IEP
IEP, 504, ESE, SLP, OT, PT, oh my! Special education is so full of acronyms that we can have an entire conversation that sounds like another language. It can be overwhelming for those new to special education, whether they’re parents, caregivers, students or educators. The best educators avoid using too many acronyms and explain the
Featured Teacher: Ali Schackow
WHERE DO YOU TEACH? P.K. Yonge WHAT GRADE/AGE DO YOU TEACH? 1st Grade HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TEACHER? This is my first year WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU TEACH? All subjects which include reading, math, writing, social studies and science. Why were you inspired to teach? I have always wanted to be a teacher since
The Importance of Preschool
Did you know that having your child attend just one year of preschool before he starts kindergarten can set him up for greater success well into his elementary years and beyond? Even though play is the “work” of childhood, children attending a high-quality preschool are exposed to an environment filled with rich experiences, the opportunity
Helping Your Child Cope With the Death of a Classmate
This is an article that I am both honored and saddened to write. As a school counselor I am privileged to enjoy the wonderful blessings of happy, carefree children on a daily basis. The tremendous joy that I feel when entering a classroom of children is hard to describe. The intense delight that children bring
Featured Teacher: Jacob Van Wagner
WHERE DO YOU TEACH? Fort Clarke Middle School WHAT GRADE/AGE DO YOU TEACH? 8th Grade HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TEACHER? This is my first year teaching, so since August 2020. WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU TEACH? Gifted U.S. History and Reading & Research WHY WERE YOU INSPIRED TO TEACH? I’ve always loved history and
Have You Been Taking A Shower The Wrong Way?
Some daily tasks we feel as though we have mastered — making just the right cup of coffee, cleaning the car from top to bottom, even separating all the laundry is the most ideal way! But there’s one thing you’ve been doing wrong — taking a shower. That’s right. It seems as though many Americans