School + Education

Dear New Teacher, This letter doesn't come easy.  I wouldn't say I'm a newbie when it comes to public school and sending my child (after all, we somehow survived pre-k.) However, this is the first year that my child will be...

  For so long, you and I have looked forward to these early days in middle school with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. As your mama, it feels like I was just in middle school a few months ago....

Between the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and piano, between the spelling tests and the student council campaign posters, the babies disappeared. Oh sure, my kids will always be my "babies", but they have not been literal babies for a...

My son is 4.5, and he's very interested in letters, reading, and writing. I'm thrilled that he's always loved reading, and lately, he's shown an interest in longer-form stories. Needless to say, I was more than ready to delve into...

The school supplies are bought, the uniforms are clean, and there is a scent of sharpened pencils in the air. While I am always a bit bummed for the summer to end (seriously HOW does it go by so fast?!) I...

Is there a subject, hobby, or activity your child is obsessed with? Well, there’s a class for that! Rose State College offers a summertime "Kids College" with weekly sessions of different interest-based classes. These niche classes include things like cartooning...

I don’t know about you, but the strain of COVID-19 on our family unit is REAL. My spouse and I had to have a long conversation about whether we should keep our 4-year-old home from Pre-K this year. The convo...

From the very moment I saw those two pink lines, I knew I had a huge responsibility ahead of me. There are SO many decisions to be made when having children. I am a planner. To the core. I choose...

Over the years, I have answered the question "Will you homeschool?" in several different ways. Never!! Are you kidding me?  I will never homeschool.  Being a stay-at-home mom was not in the plan and neither is homeschooling.  I want my kids to be...

When I began my teaching career, one of the questions asked in EVERY interview was: How do you plan to involve parents in your classroom community? Easy answer: I plan to implement an open-door policy that encourages their presence in the...

As a teacher, I often get questions from friends about what they can be doing to prepare their child for school. My usual answer is: nothing! Let them play! Children learn through play and rich experiences. But I’ve come to...

For those with kids that love gardening, any kind of science experiment, or just like to dig in the dirt, this is for you! This is the perfect time of year to start growing some seeds for the garden,...