One look at a child, and you know she is meant to be a body in motion. Why then did schools begin reducing recess and physical education time? Many blame it on standardized testing, as the need to demonstrate good scores affected the prioritization of academics at the...
We are coming up on STAAR test season once again. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, tests are administered to all Texas public school students in grades 3-12 in the spring of each year. State-developed curriculum standards guide educators...
Most parents have heard of Montessori schools and might have a basic understanding of how they operate. If you’re like me, however, you haven’t thought about incorporating Montessori practices into your home, especially if your child doesn’t attend a...
Our childhood classrooms, with their long rows of stationary desks, are gradually disappearing. They’re being replaced by rooms thoughtfully designed to incorporate more movement into the daily student experience. Teachers are also working to include kinesthetic...
This year for the first time, our school district offered a dual language program, and my husband and I strongly considered enrolling our twins. We ultimately decided against it for several reasons, including that it required a change of campus and our children being...
I’m revealing my age by saying that I can remember getting our first black and white home computer, which took pride of place in the dining room for the whole family to use. My first cell phone didn’t come until college, when social media was non-existent. Our...
Saving for college can be overwhelming – the savings options alone can make your head spin! The 529 plan is arguably the most well-known college savings vehicle. This overview will give you a better understanding of the popular plan and can help you make the...
It’s hard to believe summer is almost over and our kiddos will soon be heading back to school! I still remember those final summer days when I nervously waited to learn which teacher would be mine and which friends would be in my class. Now that I’m a...
You can’t read a parenting magazine these days without coming across the acronym STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We all know it’s important to expose our children to these disciplines, but do you ever find yourself feeling a little intimidated...
Summertime in Austin gets H-O-T. Usually around mid-July, I struggle to come up with things to do with my kids that don’t involve water or dark movie theaters. Determined to enter this summer with a plan that both shakes up our lackluster routine and sneaks in some...
Transitioning from one level of school to the next can provoke mixed feelings in children. They’re excited about graduating to the next stage, yet the accomplishment brings with it uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Mix in a little parental pride and anxiety, and...
At one time or another, you might have wondered if your child is gifted. Maybe your son can identify all the birds in your neighborhood. Or maybe your daughter is already reading at age 4. How can you know for sure if your child is an exceptional learner? The...
