I hear comments all the time about restricting screen time for my young kids. They love playing video games so much that I just don’t understand what the big deal is. How can playing video games have such a negative impact on their academics? Playing video games is not in and of itself problematic. It…
There is so much debate in the news about testing in schools – the “need” for testing, the perspective that there is too much testing, and that all teachers can do now is to “teach to the test.” What, exactly, does all of this testing mean to my fourth grader? Our educational world is driven…
When I attended Parent Night for my third grade son, I was surprised when the teacher said that she would not be emphasizing math facts during third grade. She said it was not a priority of the math program they use. Why would this not be considered important? Some math programs place a heavier emphasis…
Can you explain what “PBL” means? My daughter’s new teacher has this term listed on her classroom webpage but I’m not sure what it refers to. “PBL” is an acronym for Problem Based Learning. It is an approach to education that is hands-on and student-centered. Typically, students work in groups to solve real world problems….
My daughter is so disorganized. When she heads to middle school next year and has a locker, I don’t know how she will manage. What can I do to help her? One of the keys to organization is planning, and that requires a routine. Developing a routine is very tough for many kids. Without planning…
When my husband and I went to our son’s spring conference, his teacher said that she thought my son had ADD. I just do not see the busyness in him that I associate with that. Should I have my son tested? We tend to use the acronym ADD to refer to all attention problems. However,…
My first grader brought home a slip of paper with his lexile number on it following a recent standardized test. He said that he should be reading books at that number. Can you explain what “lexile” means? Why shouldn’t he just read whatever he wants to read? Lexile is a number developed by The Lexile…
My daughter’s school has decided that it will no longer offer designated days for parent-teacher conferences but instead, just have parents and teachers work out when to have a meeting. How do I decide when to do that? Consider your daughter’s past school experiences and the challenges that have been typical for her. If the…
Can you tell me how to help my son stay motivated through a mid-fall slump? He starts out the school year so excited and ready to work but by mid-October, he has lost his drive. The excitement of a new school year, a new teacher and new classmates brings a special kind…
Some parents feel that their child will have a better chance of succeeding in school and keeping up with their peers if they wait to begin kindergarten.
