Snack well – New guidelines affect food in schools
By Jennifer VanBuren You may have noticed the disappearance of junk food, including sugary drinks, from school vending machines. As of July 1, this will not be the exception but the rule. Nearly 31 million school children benefit from USDA-supported meal...
Adding it up, Parents’ guide to the hows and whys of math
Parents are keenly aware of the importance of reading to their children, but what about incorporating number-sense into the family routine? With a positive attitude and an emphasis on math in our every day world, parents can get their kids off to a great start. ...
A Closer Look at Sight Words
Sight words are words that appear frequently in text children read, but are difficult to sound out. Children are encouraged to learn these words “by sight.” Once a child learns to recognize and identify words on a sight word list, they will be able to read about 75...
Sneak Peek – Getting the most out of your college visit
by Jennifer VanBuren It’s often one of the most exciting, terrifying and life-changing experiences between parents and children: the campus visit. Determining which institute of higher learning will be your teenager’s new home for the next four (or five) years...
Bring your own device – High tech options in the classroom
Are we preparing our students for the world with skills that will help them be successful in today’s work environment, or are we pressing for skills needed for a time gone by? Today’s world is constantly evolving and changing. Adults who wish to remain relevant must...
Beyond the bachelor’s degree Alternate paths to success
What do George Lucas, Walt Disney, Ross Perot and Tom Hanks have in common with Eileen Collins, the first female commander of a space shuttle mission and Dr. Craig Ventner, the scientist who sequenced the human genome? They all got their start at a two-year community...
Testing the waters of school climate
If you were dropped into a random location on Earth, you would be able to determine the climate pretty quickly. Is it hot or cold? Rainy or dry? Is it a place you would like to stay, or is there 90% humidity and poisonous snakes twisting in the trees? Perhaps you...
Ho hum, homework
Ho hum, homework 2013-10-01 Author: Jennifer VanBuren Who really likes homework? While there are conflicting reports on the effectiveness of homework, most kids would rather be playing and parents would rather not be decoding “new math” while making dinner....
Big man on campus
Big man on campus 2013-08-31 Author: Jennifer Van Buren Men make up 10 percent of national PTA membership, but this is only one indicator of school involvement. The numbers may actually surprise you. The Institute of Education Science completed a study entitled...
Online all the time?
Online all the time? 2013-07-29 Author: Jennifer VanBuren Last month’s column discussed the Texas Virtual School Network, a specific network of approved online courses that high school students can take as a part of their traditional face-to-face education. Students...
The virtual reality of online education
The virtual reality of online education 2013-06-27 Author: Jennifer VanBuren It may sound like something from a science fiction movie, but virtual schools have been with us in Texas for years. From private and charter schools held almost exclusively online to informal...
Learn to serve, serve to learn!
Learn to serve, serve to learn! 2013-05-29 Author: Jennifer VanBuren Canned food drive! Coat drive! Blue Santa! Students are offered plenty of opportunities to give, but can service be transformed into a more valuable learning experience? In service learning,...
