Category Archives: Education

A parent’s first duty is to their child. The education blog shares important information on how to be an active participant in your child’s education from preschool to graduate school.

Some Schools are Cancelling Halloween Parties

Will your child’s school be having a Halloween party? Parents should check with the school to find out the answer to that question. Some schools are cancelling Halloween parties, for a variety of reasons. Don’t assume that since your child’s school held one last year that they will do it again this year. The reason a school chooses to cancel vary. Some have concerns about Halloween treats and food allergies, and want to play it safe. Other schools may have come to the decision that the Halloween party is a distraction, and interferes with children’s ability to focus and learn … Continue reading →

Ways to Cope with “Parent Homework”

We all know what homework is. Typically, homework is an assignment that a teacher gives to students. It requires the student to complete the work at home. Some teachers also give what has been referred to as “parent homework”. Here are some ways to cope with it. “Parent homework” is an assignment that a teacher gives – not to a student – but to the student’s parents. Not every teacher will do this. Those that do tend to be teachers of kindergarten or elementary school students. Here are some ways that parents can cope with the unexpected “parent homework.” Just … Continue reading →

Growing Up Surrounded by Books Increases Adult Literacy

How many books are in your home? A study found that immersing children in book-oriented environments benefits their later educational achievement, attainment, and occupational standing. Do your children have access to plenty of books at home? The study is titled: “Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy and technology skills in 31 societies.” It was published in Social Science Research. It was led by Joanna Sikora of the Australian National University. The findings of the study indicate that the size of a home library equips youth with life-long tastes, skills, and knowledge. Whey these youths grow up to … Continue reading →

Seattle Schools Later Start Time Benefits Teens

Seattle made a change that helped teenagers to get a healthy amount of sleep. Starting with the 2016-2017 school year, the Seattle school district moved the start times for middle and high schools to nearly an hour later. A study found that this change was beneficial to teens. The study was published in the Science Advances Journal. The Abstract reads: Most teenagers are chronologically sleep deprived. One strategy proposed to lengthen adolescent sleep is to delay secondary school start times. This would allow students to wake up later without shifting their bedtime, which is biologically determined by the circadian clock, resulting … Continue reading →

Study: Report Cards Released on Friday Associated with Abuse on Saturday

A study that was published in JAMA Pediatrics in December of 2018 took a close look at the association between report cards being released on a Friday and reports of abuse on Saturday. This disturbing finding gives parents and educators plenty to think about. The study is titled: “Association of Friday School Report Card Release With Saturday Incidence Rates of Agency-Verified Physical Child Abuse”. Authors of the study include Melissa A. Bright, PhD; Sarah D. Lynne, PhD; and Katherine E. Masyn, PhD. The researchers sought an answer to a troubling question. Are school report cards a precipitant to child physical … Continue reading →

Parents Eating Lunch with Kids at School Cause Problems

Think back to when you were an elementary school kid. Lunch time was probably one of the highlights of your day. It is one of the few opportunities during the school day where kids get to eat and to socialize with their peers. Some parents have started eating lunch with their kids at school. This is causing problems. Darrien News (Darren, Connecticut) reported that a rule change will no longer allow parents to eat with kindergarteners and first-graders at the town’s elementary schools. This rule was conveyed to parents via email. The email was sent by Interim Superintendent Elliott Landon. … Continue reading →

Harvard Graduate School has Admission Tips for Parents

The Harvard Graduate School of Education put together a report called Making Caring Common. It includes tips for parents who want to help their teenagers with the college admissions process. The Washington Post summarized the main idea of the report by pointing out that “Colleges want students who care.” The report says that most colleges want students who engaged in community service that is immersive, sustained, authentically chosen, and a powerful learning experience. Parents can help by exploring with their teenager what he or she finds to be meaningful. They may feel a passion to feed the homeless, or to … Continue reading →

Get Ready for the New School Year

The new school year might begin for your kids in August or early September. You probably are aware of the need for new school supplies, school appropriate clothing, and an established bedtime. Many parents forget about the less obvious things that come with a brand new school year. Here are a few to be aware of so you will be ready when they appear. Strong Emotions In general, children tend to experience a lot of strong emotions at the start of a brand new school year. While some kids will be excited to start school again, many will express frustration … Continue reading →

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

It has been said that kids can “lose” some of what they learned during the school year if they don’t practice those skills while on summer vacation. Summer reading programs can inspire kids to read books during the months when school is out. Your child could benefit from participating in a Summer reading program. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program This Summer reading program began in May and will end on September 5, 2017. Children need to fill out a Summer Reading Journal (which can be printed from the Barnes & Noble website in English or in Spanish). Kids must … Continue reading →

Everything Parents Need to Know About Fidgets

There’s a new fad that is taking over classrooms of all age groups. Students are playing with toys called “fidgets” while they are in class. Parents need to know that there is a constructive purpose for using a fidget – at least, for some students. Fidgets are all the rage now, but the concept isn’t new. The fidgets that are popular right now are small toys that spin. CNN described them this way: A fidget spinner is considered to be a type of fidget toy; a low profile, handheld device that people can, well, fidget with without making a big … Continue reading →