Family Engagement Specialists

Welcome to our blog! We are passionate about empowering parents and educators with the knowledge and strategies to boost and sustain family engagement goals. Our products and services are currently in 48 states and Puerto Rico and New Zealand. All products are available in Spanish. When schools and communities connect, students succeed.


Friday, December 27, 2013

New Year - Healthy Choices for the Whole Family

In a time of busy schedules outside of the home, it is important to make time for the family unit to be together. It’s a new year and a time to consider making healthy choices concerning food and physical activity for the family.

Here are a few simple suggestions that the whole family can participate in:

1. Consider adding at least one fresh fruit snack to the daily diet
2. Consider switching to whole grain cereal, pasta, and bread
3. What about play time? Why not add 30 minutes of outdoor activity 3-5 times a week
4. Consider scheduling family activities on the monthly calendar.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Evening walks
• Fitness classes
• Board game or Wii night
• Skating night, soccer game, or other sporting events.

 Make your New Year’s resolution to include family time for healthy eating, physical activity and together time. Be creative and let your child help to generate ideas for the family sharing time together.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Easy No Bake Cookies - Family Activity

Want an easy recipe for cookies that your children can help make?  Here’s an easy no-bake cookie recipe that uses the following ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups chocolate chips
3 cups slightly crushed corn flake cereal
You will also need a cookie sheet or tray and a sheet of wax paper
Wooden spoon
Optional items: ice cream scoop; cupcake paper cups;  plate for serving

 Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on low setting.  Stop and stir after one minute.  Continue heating on low and stop after 30 seconds and stir until chocolate is smooth and creamy.
 Remove the bowl from the microwave.  Spoon the peanut butter into the chocolate.  Let your child stir the chocolate and peanut butter until the mixture is blended.
Gently stir in the crushed corn flakes.  With a spoon, fold the mixture over and over until the corn flakes are covered.
With a cookie sheet lined with wax paper, scoop the cookie dough with a spoon or ice cream scoop onto the waxed paper.  Make 16 cookie balls.
Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
Cookies can be placed in individual “cupcake” paper cups or placed on a plate to serve.

These no-bake cookies are easy to make for little “helping hands” to share in the preparations.  Why not include your child in making these delicious cookies for the holiday festivities.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Holiday Greetings

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, here’s an idea that will be fun for your kids and educational, too. Start a family tradition of making greeting cards for family and friends this holiday season. This is a fun activity for children. They get to be creative and artistic to design original cards. The hand written messages will be treasured by Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and friends. Let’s make holiday greeting cards!

Materials Needed:
• Old cards that can be cut apart and recycled into new cards
• Assorted colored paper
• Makers, pens
• Envelopes of various sizes (envelopes can be made by folding plain paper)

1. Allow your child to design the cards by using materials listed above
2. Assist, as needed, in writing the special greeting on the inside of the card
3. Decide to whom the card will be sent
4. Decide if the cards will be hand delivered or mailed
5. Assist, as needed, with securing mailing addresses and postage

EXTRA: have your child make extra cards to be sent to military heroes in foreign lands. Use the following address to forward all military cards:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20792-5456

If you elect to send cards to the military personnel far from home, I’m sure they will appreciate your thoughtfulness during this special time of the year.

So spend some quality time with your child and make holiday greeting cards together. Remember to save a few as “keep-sakes” and don’t forget to put the date made on each one.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Family Fun Facts

Here are a few “family fun facts” that came from the Harvard Family Research Project (www.hfrp.org). These activities can improve your child’s education and help him/her to be successful in school.

Their research findings reported that:
• Children who eat dinner around the table with their families do better in school. Having this family time together is especially beneficial if the family engages in a conversation about the day’s events or happenings.

• Children who take family trips do better in school. These trips do not have to be long expensive vacations. Simple free trips to a local park and to the public library are just as beneficial.

• Children who are read to frequently read earlier and better. Just 20 minutes a day of reading or being read to will make a difference in your child’s reading ability.

• Children who see their parents, guardians, or caregivers read regularly are more likely to read more themselves. Reading includes, but not limited to: newspapers, magazines, books, and media devices.

• Spending 30 minutes a day with your children can help them achieve better grades in schools. By taking an active interest in your children’s school work encourage your children to take an interest in performing better in school.

• The bottom line is, children LOVE to spend quality time with their parents. So give your children extra time this holiday season and you both will see encouraging results in your efforts.

During the holiday season when your children are at home most of the day, why not begin to put into practice some of these research based practices that will have long-lasting effects on your children’s education. Take some time and give your children quality time with you, their first and most important teacher.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Day Family Fun

With Thanksgiving Day fast approaching, families can take advantage of this special holiday to give their children an opportunity to show gratitude for blessings of the past year. Even during hardships, tragedy, and loss, families pull together and grow stronger during these trials.
Here are a few ideas you can share as a family to express emotions of Thanksgiving.

Make a Thanksgiving Tree

• Use a sheet of construction paper, drawing paper, or even a brown paper bag to draw an outline of a tree with extended bare branches.
• Brainstorm a list of items for which the family is thankful for. Think of people, places, animals, and things that are meaningful to each family member.
• Next, cut leaf shape patterns from colored paper, wrapping paper, or plain white paper.
• Assist your child, as needed, to write a word on each lea from the list of items generated by the family.
• Glue or tape each leaf on the tree pattern.
• Hang the tree somewhere in your home that will be visible each day during the holiday season.
• Take time each day to reflect on the “Thanksgiving Tree”.
• As extra idea for using this tree would be to have family members to say “thank you for…” one item each day as you gather around the table to share a meal together. This activity will bring the family closer together and will instill a sense of gratitude in the hearts of your children.

Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday season bring your family blessings of joy and peace.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

National Family Involvement Day - November 21, 2013

November 21st is National Parent Involvement Day. This day is set apart to bring awareness of the importance of parent involvement and family engagement in schools. This of course is not the only day for families to be involved in their child’s education but the attention of this day can stir up ideas of how parents can become partners in their child’s school.

When families are involved in their child’s education, their children benefit in very positive ways. Research shows that children are more likely to succeed academically and are less likely to engage in violent behavior if their families are involved in their education. Research has shown that:

• These children receive higher scores in tests and earn higher grades.
• They attend school more regularly.
• They complete their homework in a timely manner.
• They demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors.
• They graduate from high school and are more likely to enroll in higher education.

The National PTA has set the following National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs:
1. Establish regular, meaningful communication between home and school
2. Promote and support parenting skills
3. Encourage active parent participation in student learning
4. Welcome parents as volunteer partners in schools
5. Invite parents to act as full partners in making school decisions that affect children and families
6. Reach out to the community for resources to strengthen schools

So use “National Parent Involvement Day” as a reminder of the importance of being involved in your child’s education. If you haven’t done so, make contact with your child’s teacher and find out how you can make a difference in your child’s academic progress. Continue to read with your child every day and talk with him/her about the importance of doing well in school. When your child recognizes your personal involvement in his/her education, positive results will be seen and you will have an impact on your child’s successful achievement.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

November is Family Involvement Month - How will you get involved in your child's school?

All family and community members are invited to be involved in schools throughout the year but in Virginia, Governor McDonnell has declared November to be “Family Involvement Month” in all Virginia schools. This is a special time set aside to nurture involvement in the education of all students. This emphasis opens the opportunity to strengthen the lines of communication between educators, family members, the community and students.

Here are a few suggestions to encourage participation in “Family Involvement Month”:
• Plan to spend some time at your child’s school this month
• Participate in planned activities and events at your child’s school
• Business partners can allow for flexible scheduling to allow employees time to visit their child’s school to volunteer or to have lunch with their child
• Community leaders can visit their neighborhood schools to observe excellence in education at work
• Show appreciation to teachers by helping your child to write a “thank-you” note to his/her teacher
• Plan to have lunch with your child during November

So during the month of November, take advantage of opportunities at your child’s school to show your child how much you value an excellent education. After November, you may find that you will want to become more involved in your child’s school as a volunteer in the classroom or on a planning committee. Either way, your child and your child’s teacher will appreciate your involvement and you will see an improvement in your child’s academic progress.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Veterans' Day Past and Present

In November 1919, following World War I, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:

“to us in America, the reflection of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

 An Act of Congress (52 Stat. 351, 5 US Code Sec 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday. This day is to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and continued to be called “Armistice Day”.

The 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans”. With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. On October 8, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veteran’s Day Proclamation.

The observance of Veteran’s Day on November 11th not only preserves the historical significance of the date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veteran’s Day: A celebration to honor American’s Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

The brave men and women who serve and protect the United States come from all walks of life: they are parents, children and grandparents. They are friends, neighbors and coworkers. They are an important part of our communities. So on this November 11th Veteran’s Day, give “thanks” to living Veterans in your community who served our country honorably during wartime or peacetime.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

November is National Family Involvement Month - Volunteer at Your School

• Do you want to help your child's school but are not sure how? Contact your child's teacher or school principal for volunteer opportunities. Let your child's teacher know you are interested in being a helper. Maybe you would like to help children read or write, or work on a computer project. You could become a tutor. Maybe you have an ability or skill that you would like to share with the class. Talk with your child's teacher to see if your talent can be aligned with the school curriculum.

• Look for "Sign-up" sheets at Open House, Parent/Teacher Conference time, or parent meetings to see if there is a need you would be interested in helping. Some schools are looking for parents who like to work in gardening to be on their "Beautification Committee" or "Building and Grounds Team". Maybe you can gather a group of parents to help with the weeding and shrub trimming; or plant a small flower garden to help with the school's outside appearance. If you have an idea, talk with the school principal or PTA/PTO president who may help to start a school project for volunteers to work together.

 • Are you a well organized person who has a niche for scheduling events? Volunteer your services at your child's school and become the Volunteer Coordinator who plans for all of the other volunteers that come to the school. This is a big responsibility and one that would be greatly appreciated by the school principal.

 • Does your school have a comfortable space for parents to work on school projects? Maybe you could help establish an area for parents to meet and help with school projects. A parent meeting room is a good way to welcome parents into the school and to help them feel they are a part of the school culture. A parent room is ideal for small meetings to make plans for volunteer opportunities and to have helpers complete project work for teachers and students.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Halloween Safety Tips

Kids love Halloween! They love the excitement this holiday brings. During the month of October, everywhere they go they see the decorations in stores, in yards, or on houses, and in school classrooms. The anticipation of October 31st is hard to contain. But there are some hard facts that parents should be aware of to help reduce the risk of injury and protect the safety of their child.

On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween as any other day of the year. So to avoid this tragedy from happening to your child, consider a few safety tips.

• Use reflective tape and stickers to decorate your child’s costume, shoes, hat (or headdress) and candy bag.
• Have your child carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and to be seen by drivers.
• Supervise your child’s choice of trick-or-treat house stops. Be familiar with the area that you visit for Halloween candy stops. Remember to check all treats at home before allowing your child to eat the candy.
• When selecting your child’s costume, choose light reflective colors. Make sure there are no tripping hazards with the costume’s design.
• If your child is wearing a mask, remind him/her to remove the mask when walking to and from the car.

Make sure the eye holes are large enough for your child to see clearly. Halloween celebrations offer an opportunity for family bonding. Engage your child in designing his/her own costume from old clothes, hats, wigs, and make-up. Let your child be creative with his/her design and have fun creating a costume that is scary or funny. No matter how your family celebrates this Halloween, remember to keep safety as the main priority for trick-or-treating and bring your child safely home.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Pumpkin Carving Tips for Family Fun

Pumpkin craving is a great project for parents to do with their kids. Let your child design the Jack 0’lantern face. The adult can do the carving and the child can help to clean out the pumpkin.

Here are the steps to create your Jack 0’lantern:

 • Place the pumpkin on newspaper for easy clean-up.
 • Cut a circle around the stem and remove the “hat” of the pumpkin.
 • Use a long handled spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp. Kids will have fun reaching inside the pumpkin and pull out the seeds. (the seeds can be washed, dried, and roasted in the oven for a healthy snack).
 • Before making the face on the Jack 0’lantern, turn the pumpkin around to fine the side that is smooth and clean for drawing the face.
 • Let your child design the face on a sheet of paper. You can show or give examples of shapes you can cut on the pumpkin but let the child made the decision as to how the Jack 0’lantern should look.
 • After the face has been designed, follow the pattern and draw the eyes, nose, and mouth onto the pumpkin.
 • Using a sharp paring knife, cut out the designs. Remove the cut-out pieces by pushing them out from inside of the pumpkin.
 • The finished result is ready to be lit by placing a small “t-light” candle inside on that special spooky night.

For Halloween craft and recipe ideas, visit www.kraftrecipes.com

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Columbus Day Facts

Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. It is named for the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus who is credited with discovering the New World.

Christopher Columbus became convinced of the possibility of reaching Asia by traveling west. He tried to get support for his adventures from many sources, including the King of Portugal. But in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain finally approved his voyage and provided him with three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

On Columbus’ famed 1492 voyage, his flagship Santa Maria ran aground and sank. He was supposed to return to Spain loaded with spices and other valuable goods and knowledge of an important new trade route to Asia. Instead, he returned empty handed and without the best of the three ships given to him by the Kind and Queen of Spain. They were still grateful for the new lands Columbus has discovered and decided to fund a second voyage that included 17 ships and over 1,000 men. Also included in this journey were European domesticated animals: pigs, horses, and cattle. Columbus’ orders were to expand the settlement on Hispaniola, convert the natives to Christianity, establish a trading post and continue explorations. Columbus was assigned the responsibility of being the governor of the new world. The fleet set sail on October 13, 1493 and spotted land on November 3rd.

The island first sighted was named Dominica by Columbus, a name it retains to this day. Columbus returned to Spain in March of 1496 to obtain supplies to keep his starving colony alive. He returned to the new world in May, 1498. He sent half of his fleet to resupply Santo Domingo and continued to explore the north east part of South America. As governor, Christopher Columbus was despised by the people. He and his brothers were bad administrators. Spain sent a replacement governor, named Francisco de Bobadiela who arrested Columbus and his brothers and returned them to Spain in chains in 1500.

Columbus convinced the Spanish crown to finance one more journey. He left May, 1502 and stayed two years in the Caribbean, Central America, and Jamaica before returning to Spain. Columbus never accepted that he had not found a water route to Asia, even though the rest of Europe was convinced that the Americas were definitely the New World.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Fire Prevention Awareness Tips

October is Fire Safety Awareness Month. There is peace of mind that comes from knowing what you and your family can do to prevent or escape a fire during an emergency. Protect what matters to you the most by being aware of these fire preparation and prevention tips. Contact your local fire department for more fire safety tips.
1. Install a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm on ceiling on every level of the house and in every room used for sleeping.
2. If your child invites friends to spend the night, it’s important to review fire safety procedures.
3. Never use candles in bedrooms.
4. Keep lamps free of flammable materials.
5. Don’t run electrical cords under rugs.
6. Don’t overload electrical outlets with cords from too many appliances.
7. Keep flammable materials away from space heaters.
8. Keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher in a place where it is easy to access.
9. Maintain a three-foot “kid-free” and “pet-free” zone around the kitchen stove, as well as, fireplace, wood stove, and space heaters.
10. Clean dryer filter after every load.
These tips are a guideline for keeping your family safe. Having a plan in place for fire prevention and fire escape will prepare your family in case there is an emergency. Do a walk-through your home and look for potential fire hazards in each room. Make the whole family aware of fire prevention actions and keep your family safe from fire hazards.

Friday, September 13, 2013

September is National Child Safety Month - Child Proof Your Home


September is National Child Safety Month. This will be the perfect time to check around your home for potential safety hazards. You can begin by “viewing your home” from the eye level of your child by getting down on the floor and taking a “crawling tour” of your home. By seeing what your child sees everyday will give you a better perspective of potential safety hazards for your child. Making a home safe for children is a critical task for any parent of young children. You will want to look for sharp corners on tables, electrical cords and sockets, and cleaning supplies that could be poisonous for your child.

As you take your tour of your home on your knees, think about how many places your child will end up in the course of the next three years. Sooner or later, your child will find his way to every corner of every room in your home. The more remote the corner, the more likely it will be out of your sight but directly in the sight of your toddler. A book shelf looks like a good place to climb but could be very dangerous for a young child and topple over on him. Table cloths look like something to pull on or to tug on but whatever is on that table will fall onto the child. These are things that grown-ups don’t think about as being a safety hazard, but remember you are looking for trouble spots at your child’s “eye level”.

One of the most common causes of child death is choking. Smaller objects must be kept where your child cannot reach. Remove small objects from tables, floors, and areas your child can reach until he is over three years of age. Brittle, breakable and chewable food items are also dangerous at this age as they too can become a choking hazard. Another frequent cause of child death is strangulation from cords on lamps, TVs, computers, or curtains. The best ways to prevent cords from getting wrapped around your child is to shorten them to no more than 6 inches or to tie them up out of reach of your child.

No child under the age of three should be left unattended and free to wander the house for even as little as five minutes. No matter how careful you have been in baby proofing your home, your child can find the one thing you left undone. Be cautious around radiators, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves, as well as, around buckets of water or tubs. You can give your child more freedom to move around your home if you follow the suggested safety precautions and monitor your child as much as possible. It is impossible to prevent all accidents and falls of small children but being mindful of the areas your child will be crawling or walking into will help to monitor potential trouble spots. Have fun with your little one and enjoy these early years watching him grow and learn about his world.

Home Safety Tips for Parents in the Fall

Now that summer is coming to an end, families are thinking about getting their home safe for autumn. Autumn can be an enjoyable time of the year with holidays approaching and colorful changes in the foliage. But it is time to think about the possible hazards around your home that need to be addressed so your family and neighbors will be safe in your yard and in your home.

When the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the hard work begins to remove them from the sidewalk and yard; don’t forget the porch steps and porch itself. If the leaves become wet from a rain shower, they can become slippery and pose a safety hazard. Consider helping older family members up and down the outside steps and walking along wet sidewalks to help prevent injuries.

Raking leaves is a chore that children can have some fun with as they help to clear the yard but you will want to remember the safety rules to keep everyone safe.
1. Wear lace-up shoes and socks to protect your feet and legs.
2. Wear gloves to protect against splinters and blisters when handling the rake.
3. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from blowing debris from the falling leaves.
4. Lift heavy bags with care by using your legs to lift rather than bending your back.

Another point to remember as fall approaches, natural daylight is shorter in the evenings. When the sun was setting at 9:00 PM in the summer, it is now very dark at that hour. So for safety with your family, carry a flashlight in your car in case of an emergency and carry a small flashlight with you at all times. It would be helpful to leave a porch light on or have a night light plugged in near the sidewalk or porch steps. By planning ahead with these safety tips, you will keep your family free from accidental falls or injuries.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Children's Safety Tips for School

The start of the school year is full of exciting new experiences for your school age child. It is also an opportunity for your child to discover new dangers. As a parent, you will want to make sure that your children know that the rules you enforce at home are also to be applied in school; along with addition safety rules that the teacher may announce. The number one rule you will want your child to put into practice is: if he/she feels threatened or unsafe, always seek out a trusted adult (teacher, parent, family member, principal, guidance counselor) to whom he/she will discuss any worries or concerns.

Here are a few tips to consider for guidelines for your child’s safety at school:

1. Classroom rules: children should pay close attention to all classroom rules that the teacher announces or posts. As a parent, explain to your child the importance of following safety rules at school. The school rules are designed to keep all children safe and should be supported by the home. Parents and teachers need to become partners in keeping children safe at school and supporting the school rules is a good place to begin this positive collaboration.

2. School Bus Safety: Traveling to and from school requires students to follow special safety guidelines on the bus. Students should remain in their seats while the bus is moving. They should avoid throwing items or placing their arms or heads out of the windows. When boarding the bus and waiting or exiting at the bus stop, students should avoid running and shoving each other. Always cross in front of the stopped bus when the driver can see that it is safe for students to cross the road. Talk to your child about the importance of being quiet on the bus and to listen carefully to the bus driver’s directions. Stress the importance of school bus safety so your child can commute to and from school safely.

3. Avoid Physical Confrontations: Teach your child not to get into a physical fight with another child. Instead, he/she should find the teacher or another trusted adult and ask for assistance in settling the argument. If another child asks your child to do something he/she feels uncomfortable doing, he should alert an adult or teacher immediately. Teaching your child to talk things out with an adult present can teach him/her that arguments can be settled without physical confrontations.

These three tips will help to keep your child safe at school. Remember to communicate with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about your child’s safety on the school bus or at school. Building a strong relationship with the school will bring a positive influence on your child’s success during the school year; so don’t hesitate to talk with the teachers, principal, or guidance counselor when you have questions or concerns about your child’s safety or academic progress.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Labor Day Family Activities

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States. The first Labor Day was held in 1882 to create a holiday for workers of the Central Labor Union. It became a federal holiday in 1894. It was originally intended that the day would be filled with a street parade to allow the public to appreciate the work of the trade and labor organizations. Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday in September. One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September was to add a holiday between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Since Labor Day is a federal holiday, all government agencies, schools, organizations, and many businesses are closed so families can take advantage of the holiday weekend.

Labor Day gives workers a day of rest and it celebrates their contribution to the American economy. It was originally organized to celebrate various labor associations’ strengths and contributions to the United States economy. It is largely a day of rest in modern times. Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and the last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events with the family.

In some neighborhoods, people organize fireworks’ displays, barbecue picnics, public art shows, and sporting events. Labor Day marks the end of the swimming season; so many public pools have their last open day on Labor Day. The football season starts and many teams play their first game of the year during the Labor Day weekend.

Whether your family participates in the organized events of Labor Day or not, why not take this opportunity to make this day a “family day” of fun and relaxation. If you decide to stay at home, you can have fun with your kids playing games in the yard like: kickball, hopscotch, dodgeball, tag and hide-go-seek. Many of these games of the past can entertain kids of all ages. What a great way to engage the whole family in physical activity and fun. Plan to have a picnic in the backyard and grill your favorite foods for sharing a delicious meal together. This special time together will bond the family unit and give you lasting memories to treasure. So enjoy your Labor Day and make this day special for your family.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tips to Help Motivate Your Child to Be Successful in School

Many children express a desire to do well in school but my lack the proper motivation to complete the level of work necessary to succeed. Here are a few tips that may help motivate your child's academic learning:

 1. Authentic Learning -  What is your child currently learning in school? Link the skills learning into every day life experiences. For example: use math skills to plan a vacation budget or balance a checkbook with the bank statement. When shopping for summer clothes, let your child figure out the "sale prices" by using percentage discounts. This type of authentic learning helps your child see the value of learning the skills in
school so they can be used in real life situations.

2. Interest Learning -  What is your child most interested in learning more about? Is it art, music, mechanics, or sports? Use this interest to improve in reading skills and broadening research strategies through internet searches. When your child is interested in learning about what he/she really cares about, reading becomes a pleasure instead of a chore. So find out what your child really loves and broaden his learning through special reading opportunities.

3. Making Choices -  Give your child some control and choices in the daily routine. With your guidance, your child can gain improvement in organization skills and study habits. Direct your child's attention into making a choice between two areas instead of "telling him" what to do, or what to wear, or what to select. You will begin to see an improvement in your child's maturity level when given an opportunity to make decisions about daily routines and schedules.

4. Share Learning Experiences -  Encourage your child to share with the family what he is learning about in school. Encourage him to celebrate his accomplishments and successes. When the family can celebrate the successes, the child can be encouraged to establish strong work habits that will improve the academic success and motivation for learning will be improved.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Pack a Punch with a Healthy Lunch



When it’s time to pack your child’s school lunch, think about this: What you decide to include on their lunch menu can make or break their learning potential.  Offering up colorful, tasty and nourishing meals to your children - especially at lunch- will keep them fueled and attentive for the classroom and after-school activities.  Below is a list of useful tips to make packing a lunch easier.


  1. When it comes to preparing a healthy lunch, be resourceful and use dinner leftovers.
  2. Plan for the week ahead.  Take some time over the weekend to plan your lunch menus.
  3. Ask your kids to help plan the menus.  This will put them in the driver’s seat and you could get some good ideas.
  4. Advance meal prep can be helpful by saving precious time with your busy schedule during the week.
  5. Stock the essentials.  One healthy cooking essential is canned tomatoes, as they are perfect for making pastas.  Peanut butter and canned tuna make for quick and healthy sandwiches.  Frozen vegetables fit in with numerous recipes.
  6. Develop a master list on you computer of all different food groups.  Keep this list in a visible location like on the refrigerator door, where your family can add items as needed.
  7. Make your kids chefs.  Children will be more willing to try new food when they plan and prepare their meals.
  8. Prepare a lunch that is adventurous.  Try a new recipe from the Internet or a cookbook, like a crunchy vegetable and turkey tortilla wrap or turkey and bean chili.
  9. Mix it up by combining favorite foods with colorful, unfamiliar ones.  For instance, mix peas into macaroni and cheese, or add carrots to spaghetti sauce and lasagna.
  10. Make a healthy pizza.  Use a bagel or English muffin and add tomato sauce, cheese and pieces of pineapple and spinach.
  11. Prepare mini meals, which are always fun for your children.  For instance, offer mini whole grain bagels as sandwiches.
  12. Serve the same food in different forms.  For example, pair up raw carrot sticks with cooked carrot coins.
  13. Start a family garden if space and time allow it.  A garden can teach your children about new foods.
  14. Keep in mind that kids need to taste a new food about 10 times before they learn to like it.  Also, the most important message you can give your children is that food is FUN, and learning about food is fun, too!

Written by Ximena Jimenez, a licensed and registered dietitian and currently acts as a National Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Transition Time


If your child is making the transition from elementary school into middle school or from middle school into high school, take advantage of orientation opportunities offered by your school district for students. Transitioning into a new school level can be very scary for your preteen or teenager. They worry about not knowing anyone or what to wear or if their friends will be in their classes. These are legitimate concerns and going to the orientation sessions before school begins, will ease some of the anxieties your child may be exhibiting.
During the orientation, here are a few activities that your child can participate:
1. Meet administrators, teachers, and guidance counselors. It helps to know the school personnel before school begins.
2. Receive class schedules and become familiar with the procedures of a regular school day.
3. Follow an abbreviated daily bell schedule to become familiar with the school building and to navigate between classrooms.
4. Receive locker assignments and have an opportunity to practice the combination lock.
5. If transportation is a concern, many school districts will run their school buses so check with your district’s transportation director.
Once your child has gone to the orientation planning session, he/she will see other students who have the same worries and anxieties and this will help to calm the nerves a little. This is also a good bonding time between parent and child as you share in the abbreviated bell schedule system. You can help your child learn to navigate the school plant by pointing out reference spots to identify where classrooms are located. Point out the bathrooms, cafeteria, gym, nurses’ office, and the main office as references for future needs. The orientation experience will benefit your child in making the transition between elementary and middle school or into high school.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Communicating with High School Parents

When students enter high school, communicating with parents can become a challenge that teachers have to overcome. Teachers can begin by establishing rapport with parents of high school students. Teachers have the responsibility of establishing an open dialogue with parents through frequent communication. Teachers can start the school year off by informing parents of student expectations in curriculum studies and classroom behaviors. During orientation sessions when parents and students are visiting in classrooms, teachers can model the classroom experience so parents and students have a better understanding of expectations. Teachers can give an overview of the curriculum and share goals for student participation.

To keep the lines of communication open and frequent, parents can share the means of communication that best meets their needs. Parents and teachers can have two-way communication through electronic means, such as: on-line grading portals, emails, school web-site updates, and phone calls. Teachers can keep available student data and behavior logs that can be shared with parents during conferences and parent meetings. Teachers need to keep true to the plan for communicating feedback that is accurate, specific, and in a timely manner. Parents will be appreciative of the attention to detail teachers share concerning their child’s education. The collaboration between the parent, teacher, and student will result in a productive learning environment that will improve student performance and parent participation in their child’s education.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Building Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Good communication means sharing good news with parents and families concerning their child’s academic progress, citizenship and character behaviors, and overall successes in school. As the new school year begins, teachers can take the first step in establishing a positive rapport with their students’ parents and families through good communication. This can be done through notes, cards, letters, or phone calls.

Here is a list of ideas that can be used to initiate the positive communication with your students’ families:
 • Introduce yourself and the new teacher
 • Tell the parents a simple overview of the curriculum
 • Invite them to Open House or Back to School Night by giving them the date and time
 • Comment on how you are looking forward to having their child in your class
• Inform them of any special incentives you may be using in your class for “good work” or “attendance” or “behavior awards”
• Let the parent know you are interested in learning about their child’s strengths and weaknesses and are willing to work together to help their child have a successful school year.

This is the beginning of a two-way communication technique that can be useful throughout the school year. Make sure to share good news instead of only bad news. When and if there is an occasion to talk with parents concerning disruptive behavior, they are more than likely, willing to work with the teacher concerning a plan of action to improve their child’s negative behavior.
Teachers will see an improvement in student achievement, improvement in student’s self-image, and a reduction in disruptive classroom behaviors when the parents and teachers form a partnership through good communication.

Friday, August 16, 2013

New Teacher's Survival Guide

Starting a new career as an educator can be an overwhelming experience in the beginning. You may have to be getting acquainted to, not only a new school environment, but new people and new community, as well. This only adds to the stress you may be feeling concerning getting ready for the first day of school. Here are a few tips to help you get settled into your new routine and feel a little more comfortable about starting the new school year. You can beat the “first day jitters” by:
1. Know the school policies and procedures well; such as: opening and closing hours, attendance procedures, fire drill regulations, lunchroom regulations, and nurse and guidance services.
2. Familiarize yourself with the building layout. Know the location of the main office, gym, lunchroom, nurse’s office, supply room, teacher’s workroom, and restrooms.
3. Meet the teachers on your hall. Introduce yourself to custodians, cafeteria personnel, and school secretary. A little friendship can go a long way when you need a helping hand later in the year.
4. Decorate your classroom and have the room ready for guests when parents and students visit during orientation time. You will want the room to be warm and welcoming. If you have younger students, having their name around the room will help them to feel a part of the classroom community.
5. Arrange the classroom desks in a way that allows for flexible grouping and movement.
6. Have your materials ready for the first day of school. Get to school early on the first day and be prepared for the “unexpected” happening, like an emergency meeting or phone call.
7. Plan, plan, plan- create lessons for the first day that set the tone for high expectations in learning.
8. Greet pupils with a friendly smile and welcome.
9. Establish classroom and school rules on the first day.
10. Get plenty of rest during the first week of school and plan for a relaxing weekend that will rejuvenate you for the following week of school.
There are so many rewards in teaching young boys and girls. You are a vessel of knowledge and inspiration for the next generation. Embrace your time with these students and give them the best of you everyday. They deserve the best teaching and you will reap the rewards in years to come. Congratulations for accepting this challenge and best wishes for a successful school term.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Beach Time Memories with Seashells

Maybe your family had a vacation trip to the beach recently or are planning to go before summer's end. Either way, seashell collecting becomes a tradition that spans all age groups. You may even have boxes, bags, or jars filled with shells collected from prior trips to the beach. You may have even said, "These shells will make beautiful crafts someday," but just haven't found the time to make anything with them. Why not consider having some quality "family time" using your collection of seashells to make a few decorative crafts for your home or gifts for family members. MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED • small, flat, wooden picture frame • small wooden or cardboard boxes (vary the shapes and sizes for multiple crafts) • jelly jars, baby food jars, and/or canning jars • small clay pots • white glue and/or glue gun (only under adult supervision with small children) • varying sizes, colors, and shapes of seashell collections • craft supplies, such as: wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, fuzzy balls 1. Large SEASHELLS • A large seashell can be transformed into an imaginary creature by gluing wiggly eyes, fuzzy ball for nose, and making antennae and legs out of pipe cleaners. Glue smaller shells to the pipe cleaner legs for little feet. • If you have a large conch shell, it is beautiful by itself and can be displayed on a shelf or table for others to view. 2. Medium SEASHELLS • Using the flat, wooden picture frame, glue the medium shells around the perimeter of the frame. Use smaller shells to fill in the spaces between the shells to completely cover the frames' surface. The finished product will be the perfect frame to display a family portrait of your recent beach vacation. 3. Small SEASHELLS • Using the wooden boxes, glue the smaller seashells to the sides and top of the box. This decorative box will become the perfect storage place for jewelry, coins, and other small treasures. 4. Combination of ALL Size SEASHELLS • Use the jar collections to display your varied sizes, shapes, and colors for the remaining shells. Display the jars throughout your home to remind you of the fun time you experienced at the beach with your family. Which ever craft idea you and your child decide to make doesn't matter. Just take advantage to this quality time spent with your child to enjoy seeing his/her creativity blossom with theses shells. Reflect on your beach vacation and share memories that will form lasting images in your child's mind. The seashell crafts will become a reminder of wonderful days spent at the beach with your family.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Safety Tips for Extreme Summer Heat

During the extreme heat conditions of summer months, it becomes advisable to take precautions to protect your family from heat related illnesses. The American Red Cross offers tips for your safety during the extreme heat wave. They stress to never leave a child or pet inside a vehicle on a hot day. The temperatures inside vehicles can reach 120 degrees even with the windows open for fresh air. This heat can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, both very serious conditions for children or pets.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea and dizziness. Medical attention is needed immediately. Move the affected person to a cooler area, loosen tight clothing, and apply moist towels to help regulate the body temperature. You can also fan the person and offer water to drink. Call 911 if the person is unconscious.

If someone is experiencing heat cramps in their legs or abdomen, move to a cooler place and stretch the muscles. Also drink fluids that will restore the electrolytes, like Gatorade or Powerade drinks.

The American Red Cross offers tips to help avoid any of the heat related illnesses that are associated with exposure to extreme heat conditions.

• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids

• Avoid extreme temperature changes

• Wear loose-fitting clothing.

• Stay indoors with air conditioning during the hottest peak of the day

• Use the “buddy-system” when working in excessive heat and take frequent breaks

• Check on animals frequently and make sure they have plenty of water and shade

• If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, open windows and circulate the air by using fans. Cover windows to keep direct sunlight out.

• A cool bath or shower can help to cool you down faster than air conditioning.

The summer month can be a fun filled time for your family but heat related accidents can spoil your time together. Take extra precautions with your children and pets and be prepared for the extreme hot days of summer.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Role of the School Principal - Keys to Being an Effective Leader


The role of the principal covers many different areas including leadership, teacher evaluation, student discipline, and several others. Being an effective principal is hard work and is time consuming. A good principal is balanced within all their roles and works hard to ensure that that they are doing what they feel is best for all constituents involved.

A school principal is the primary leader in a school building. A good leader always leads by example. A principal should be positive, enthusiastic, have their hand in the day to day activities of the school, and listen to what their constituents are saying. An effective leader is available to teachers, staff members, parents, students, and community members.  Good leaders stays calm in difficult situations, thinks before they act, and puts the needs of the school before themselves. An effective leader steps up to fill in holes as needed, even if it isn’t a part of their daily routine.

7 Keys to Being an Effective Principal:


1.       Student Discipline - The first step of having effective student discipline is to make sure that your teachers know what you are expecting when it comes to student discipline.

2.       Teacher Evaluation - A good evaluator always lets their teachers know what their expectations are and then offers suggestions for improvement if those expectations are not being met.
3.       Develop, Implement and Evaluate Programs - A principal should always be looking for ways to improve the student experience at school. Developing effective programs that cover a variety of areas is one way to ensure this.

4.       Review Policies and Procedures - A principal should review, remove, rewrite, or write policies and procedures every year as needed. Having an effective student handbook can improve the quality of education your students receive.

5.       Schedule Setting - It is probably best to create the schedule without trying to accommodate anyone. In addition, be prepared to make adjustments to your schedules once the year begins. You need to be flexible because there are times that there are conflicts you did not foresee that need to be changed.

6.       Hiring New Teachers - A vital part of any school administrator’s job is to hire teachers and staff that are going to do their job correctly. Hiring the wrong person can cause you huge headaches down the line, while hiring the right person makes your job all the more easier.

7.       Parent and Community Relations - Having good relations with parents and community members can benefit you in a variety of areas. If you have built trusting relationships with a parent whose child has a discipline issue, then it makes it easier to deal with the situation if the parent supports the school and your decision. The same holds true with the community. Building relationships with individuals and businesses in the community can help your school out tremendously. Benefits include donations, personal time, and overall positive support for your school. It is a vital part of any principal’s job to nurture their relationships with parents and community members.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Celebrate the 4th of July - Make the Holiday a Learning Experience for Your Child!

With the 4th of July fast approaching, many families are planning for a day filled with activities that included: baseball, picnics, swimming, camping, fireworks, and other family friendly events. In preparation for our Nations’ Birthday, here are a few ideas to use with your young children that will get them into the holiday mode and share with them the importance of celebrating our nations’ birthday.


Patriotic Crafts

Maybe your child would like to make patriotic decorations for the home. Gather materials that are red, white, and blue: tissue paper, sheets of construction paper, colored markers and paints, ribbons, and scraps of material or gift wrapping paper. You will also need safety scissors, glue, and a clean work space on the floor or table.

You may even have some patriotic music playing in the background, like: Yankee Doodle, America the Beautiful, America, My Country Tis of Thee, just to name a few.

1. Patriotic Wreath: use a paper plate and cut out the center part, leaving the ring for the wreath. Select red, white, and blue tissue paper and form balls by squeezing the paper in your hand. Arrange the paper balls in a colorful pattern around the ring and glue into place. Add a bow at the top and hang the wreath on a door or window. Your child can make more than one and place them throughout the house for decorations.

2. Sponge Paint American Flag: begin with a white sheet of construction paper. Place water color paint into small bowls. Use a kitchen sponge and cut into three pieces. Show your child a real American Flag and discuss the color pattern of red, white, and blue. Place each sponge piece into the colored paint bowl and paint the strips and blue box on the white paper. After the blue dries a little, use the sponge to dip into the white paint to form the stars.

3. Red, White, and Blue Collage: using old magazine pictures make a patriotic collage. Start with a sheet of construction paper and randomly spread the colorful pictures all over the paper. Then glue the pictures onto the sheet to display a patriotic collection of red, white, and blue pictures. Make a wall handing that your child will be proud to display.

4. Star Rice Crispy Treats: follow the directions on the Rice Crispy box for making the treats but add red and blue candies (M&Ms or jelly beans). Instead of cutting the treats into squares, use a star shaped cookie cutter to place the treats on a platter. This will be a true patriotic treat for the family.

Celebrating the 4th of July with friends and family is a wonderful time to show appreciation to our Armed Forces for the many sacrifices they have endured to insure that we have liberty and freedoms in the United States of America. Happy 4th of July!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Getting Ready for Preschool


Getting Ready for Preschool

As a parent, are you ready to send your child to preschool?  Support for preschool has been a hot topic recently across the nation.  A Harvard University study of Boston Public Schools’ free pre-kindergarten program published in March, 2013 - reveals that children who attend preschool can acquire lifelong advantages; including learning to focus and staying on task.  And according to an Oregon State University study, your child will have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college.

Starting preschool can be an anxious time for your child and yourself.  Often parents have more trouble with the transition than the child does!  Here are some practical tips for helping you and your child have a successful start to preschool this year!

  1. Routine is king.  Practice the new routine of getting ready and going to school - before the first day.  The more prepared everyone is, the better.  Children perform best when they know what to expect.
  2. Meet and greet.  Set up a time for your child to meet her teacher and see the classroom.  Some preschools have teachers conduct a home visit or have students visit the school to explore the classroom.  Setting up a play date in your home with a future classmate is also a great way to make that first day go more smoothly.
  3. Calm fears.  Ask your child about anything she might be afraid of.  Explain that other kids feel the same way and that’s fine.
  4. Be comforting.  Reassure your child she will have fun and believe it yourself.
  5. Make your exit short and sweet.  Don’t linger once you say goodbye at the classroom door.
  6. Keep informed.  Touch base with your child’s teacher regularly.
  7. Get involved.  Participate in school functions.
  8. Be positive.  Even if your child had a bad day, find one thing she enjoyed.
  9. Have a routine.  Preschool helps regulate schedules for naps, bedtime and wake-up times.
  10. Have a backup plan.  Prepare to have a child who cries or melts down at preschool.  Ask your teacher if it is OK to bring a comfort object.  Inquire if there is a quiet space in the classroom for your child to go to if she needs to calm down.
  11. Get those shots.  Licensed preschools follow state vaccination requirements.  Be sure your child’s shots are up to date.

Information provided by Ari Brown, M.D., FAAP 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Summer Writing Fun for Kids

Let's make writing projects a part of the summer break. Start by creating a "writing box" to gather supplies for the projects. Use a shoe box or other similar box with a lib. Your child can use colorful wrapping paper to cover the box and decorate the outside. In the box, place pencils, colored pencils, colored markers and crayons, index cards, note pads, and assorted sheets of paper. This handy box can be taken in the car on road trips and will be a special collections tool on vacation or visits to relatives during the summer.


Here are a few writing ideas you can try with your child to encourage creative writing experiences during the summer.

1. Making signs to identify rooms in your house (bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc)

2. Making labels to identify items around the house (table, sofa, chair, stove, chest, etc). This activity will aid in vocabulary development and help with spelling.

3. Allow your child to use inventive spelling when writing stories. This gives your child practice in using spelling skills by "sounding out" words and will encourage his writing to be more creative. For older children, show them how to edit their writing by making spelling corrections. This is a great opportunity to introduce the dictionary if your child is not familiar with using this reference book.

4. For younger children, they can dictate stories and you can write the words for them. Have your child illustrate the story and help him to read the story back to you in his own words.

5. There are many different kinds of writing. Have your child try a few of these:

• writing letters to family members or to friends

• write notes such as: Thank you notes for gifts or invitations to a family cookout, also let your child write the grocery list as you dictate the items to him


The most important thing to remember about summer writing activities, is to make writing fun and entertaining and not a chore. You want your child to gain a love for writing that becomes a lifelong, joyful experience.

Summer Reading Ideas for Kids

Now that school is out and your child has lots of free time, it is important to include time for reading every day. Research has shown that if students do not read during the summer break from school, they will return to school reading below grade level.


You can make reading a fun part of the summer by taking advantage of the reading opportunities on the computer and at your local library. You can find summer reading programs that will engage your child in many different reading experiences, that include: theater, drama, puppetry, singing, and the arts.

At home, you can make reading a daily priority. Here are a few guidelines to help;

1. Create a reading plan by using the calendar to document weekly reading opportunities.

2. Set a reading time each day that meets the varied schedules of the family.

3. Select different types of reading that include books, magazines, iPod, Kindle, Nook Readers, or other electronic devices.

4. Select different types of books from the library to entertain and educate your child.

Another point to encourage your child's reading experiences, is to see YOU actually reading for pleasure or for information. If reading is important for your child, you must show that reading is important to you, as well. By establishing a positive role model for the enjoyment of reading, your child will learn to follow your example and engage in reading opportunities. So make reading a priority in your home this summer and help your child gain a love of reading before school begins in the fall.