This past weekend, I was in my home reading alongside my older children — one of the great delights of my older daughters’ entrance into middle childhood with its blessed ability to read independently — and I pulled one of Crystal’s old books off the shelf: the late Kate Spade’s Manners. As I often do […]
Uncategorized
“Elementary Children Are Primarily Interested in Subjects that Relate to Their Lives”: Busting a Damaging Myth
In the state where I work, the social studies standards call for the following grade-level emphases: Kindergarten: Myself and others Grade 1: Families and Schools Grade 2: The Local Community Grade 3: Michigan Studies Grade 4: United States Studies Grade 5: Integrated United States History Grade 6: World Geography Grade 7: World History and Geography […]
When I Do, and Don’t, Get Stressed
I get really stressed about perfection sometimes. In my own life, I find this happens in several areas again and again: When I’m prepping for a speaking or professional development engagement When I’m prepping for the first day of school (which, for me, is today) When I mess up as a parent Conversely, there are other […]
This Year, Make Better Choices with Warren Buffett’s 25-5 List Technique
Like many educators, I have Yes-itis: the tendency to say Yes to good things, which often disables me from doing great things. So let me ask you some questions: When you get that email about a new opportunity — how do you decide whether or not to take it? When your boss says, “Hey, great news: there’s an […]
“Marly Attacks” and The Power of Expectations
Our third daughter, Marlena Grace, is a miniature tank with the face of an angel. Of our three girls, she’s been by far the quickest to upgrade her mobility skills, learning to crawl by six months and walk by nine months. (We aren’t the Parents Who Want Our Kids to Be First, either — Marly just […]