Given the recessionary times we've been in and are hopefully moving out of soon, I'd like to suggest a bit of a twist on the classic Back to School shopping. I'll call it Back to School Financial Checkup. Prior to setting out to buy new clothes once we realize how much our kids have sprouted … [Read more...]
Tips to Support Struggling Learners
As a parent you hate to see your kids struggle--be it physically, emotionally, or academically. Luckily for them (and you) most of these times are likely short lived and your children soon forget. But what if struggle has become part of their daily lives .. especially at school? This month I'd like … [Read more...]
Helping Children Master the Basic Facts
Do you or your child still struggle with your basic facts? Does the thought of adding or subtracting two numbers in your head make you cringe? Every teacher knows someone who still counts on his/her fingers, or guesses when asked to calculate a simple addition or subtraction question. But it doesn't … [Read more...]
Classroom Secrets: Tips to Support Struggling Learners
As a parent you hate to see your kids struggle--be it physically, emotionally, or academically. Luckily for them (and you) most of these times are likely short lived and your children soon forget. But what if struggle has become part of their daily lives ... especially at school?This month I'd like … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Nurture Improved Thinking Skills
While the teaching of content such as math facts, grammar rules, and capital cities has always been part of the school experience, there is now a greater emphasis to also focus on the development of thinking skills. After all, learning how to analyze, evaluate, and come up with creative … [Read more...]
What’s my Motivation?
Why does getting your child to do something for you one day seem so simple, yet another day seem almost impossible? The good news is that educational researchers from around the world have also wondered the same thing, and have found some answers. Just like the proverbial struggling actor trying to … [Read more...]
The Importance of Celebration
Each month countless opportunities for celebration occur in each of our children's lives, yet as parents sometimes we do not recognize them for what they are ... with December being no exception. This month your child received his/her first term report card which may have contained average or even … [Read more...]
Cars, dolls and games…Oh My!
Ah...the holiday season. Crisp snow, warm fires, fragrant trees and soft candle light and... TOYS!!! Christmas and Chanukah have come and gone and now we have a million more toys to store. Well, maybe not a million but definitely more than we had two weeks ago. Luckily, as … [Read more...]
Making Sense of Multiplication
I hated Math in school. It just didn't make sense. The teacher stood at the front of the room, drew numbers and diagrams on the board and told us to memorize the facts and formulas. For the kids who were able to intuitively "break the code" and understand what was going on, Math was great. … [Read more...]
Chatting with the Wealthy Barber
I recently had David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber, come to Toronto to speak to my clients. His message was very timely because the one main point he makes with his book is that to achieve financial success, you must always spend less than you make. This is the lesson my parents … [Read more...]