So much of parenting is about teaching our kids, whether directly or indirectly. It’s something you’re never NOT doing, and we all have wins and fails. There are the big things—respect, safety, responsibility, gratitude, kindness—and then the little things, like teaching them how to make a bed or … [Read more...]
Mommying Through The Chronic Pain: What It’s Like To Parent With The Disease
My joints hurt. I'm literally always uncomfortable. Some days are better than others. Some days I can do gentle yoga. Some days any movement hurts. I recently received a special care package of soft and warm things to make living with pain more comfortable and I'm so thankful for how much easier it … [Read more...]
Life Lessons From An 8 Year Old
I know I'm supposed to be the one teaching my son everything about life, but there's so much he teaches me. Even just over the course of the last weekend, I learned so much from him. Not yet jaded by life, he brings a fresh perspective full of optimism that I cannot match. These were his life … [Read more...]
The Importance Of Reading, Writing And Arithmetics
While I am a fan of the arts and sports, I believe in the basics and have tried to instill a love of them into my son. Reading, writing and arithmetic are things I live for in a geeky way and I wanted to share that weird love with him. He has been somewhat reluctant—until recently that … [Read more...]
#IWishMyTeacherKnew: Students Share Heartbreaking Notes
Kyle Schwartz is a third grade teacher at Doull Elementary in Denver. She has been teaching for three years. While she loves her job, she admits to having one main obstacle in her teaching: relating to her students. “Ninety-two percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch,” Schwartz … [Read more...]
Ongoing List of Things to Be Learned
There are plenty of things I have taught my boys over the years; things like manners, how to land the perfect high five, and of course pull my finger. There are plenty of things, as a parent, I still need to teach my kids. You know, things I need to teach them to be successful, upstanding young men; … [Read more...]
‘Rithmetic
As a teacher I often get asked questions from my layperson friends about their children's school lives, and honestly, I'm happy to help out when I can. And perhaps it's not that surprising, but the two most common themes I get consulted about are: Reading Math Times change and schools … [Read more...]
Meet the Parents
No, not that meet the parents (although I will admit it is one of my favourite funny movies). No, this is about an altogether different kind of Meet the Parents. It's the time of year when school boards across the country organize the first Parent-Teacher Conference of the year, formerly … [Read more...]
This teacher needs your help:
Believe it or not, we teachers do not know everything. Whether its how to solve that really, really confusing math problem or how to solve a really, really silly fight between two best friends. We rely on plenty of other resources to help us out. For that math problem? … [Read more...]
Do You Remember?
I know this time of year everyone's excited for (and sometimes overwhelmed by) Halloween. But we have another holiday coming which I sometimes fear stands the risk of being forgotten. Do you remember what it is? Bestselling children's author Linda Granfield certainly does. … [Read more...]