3rd Grade Daze

Have you taken a moment to observe children under the age of five recently? What do you notice?  I had the privilege of meeting with a family via Zoom last week. They were showing me their chickens and newly built chicken coops. I observed their 4-year-old inside one of the coops with his baby chicks. His […]

How do I get my kids to…

I have received calls, texts, and emails from parents throughout the pandemic, asking me if I can help get their child to do their math, or reading, or “school work” in general. There seems to be an assumption that if my child “does” XYZ, then they will learn XYZ. However, as many of us know, […]

December Solstice

Though there are many holidays in December, one that is related to nature is the December Solstice. Solstice means “sun stands still.” The December Solstice is the time when the sun reaches the most southerly declination, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. In the southern hemisphere, the December Solstice is the longest day of the […]

What is Your Lens on Math?

What is Your Lens on Math? Often our lens on a subject or skill has more impact on our child’s learning than we think. One I hear most often from parents is math. Since math experiences exist on a continuum, from loving to hating math, getting the right match between learner and resources includes your […]

What are your Favorite Math Resources?

Parents often ask me: “What are your favorite math resources? And, I usually say it depends on the kiddo.   Usually I ask myself questions like these: What are my learner’s strengths? How does she like to learn? Does she like to:  – Follow sequences – Watch someone do something and then imitate   – Listen to […]

So What are Strengths?

So what are strengths? How are they different from talents? Don Clifton, founder and chief designer of the StrengthsFinder profile, often referred to talents as: “Any recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied.” For example, if you naturally relish competing, you have a talent in competitiveness. If you can easily […]

How Does Curiosity Foster Learning?

People ask how curiosity fosters learning? It sounds so easy to say “Watch for interest and curiosity as an entry place for learning,” and yet sometimes this can be more challenging than we expect. Along with wanting to nurture our children’s love of learning, we might have the nagging concern that they might not be […]