It’s no secret that when schools make a concerted effort to foster healthy, strong relationships with families, students benefit in a number of ways. Studies suggest that parental involvement and communication can lead to academic gains for students: higher grades and test scores, improved social skills and time on task, better attendance and participation, and decreased behavioral problems in the classroom. But parent-teacher communication can be challenging, say teachers. In 2006, 50 percent of participants…
Have you heard about Barnes & Noble’s summer reading challenge? Read any eight books and get one free! This summer, kids in grades 1-6 earn a FREE book through the Barnes & Noble summer reading challenge. Read any eight books and record them in your Summer Reading Journal. When you’re done, bring it to a Barnes & Noble store and choose your book. This reward is redeemable through 8/31/24, so you still have time to…
If you’re like many digitally savvy Americans, it has likely been a while since you’ve spent much time writing by hand. The laborious process of tracing out our thoughts, letter by letter, on the page is becoming a relic of the past in our screen-dominated world, where text messages and thumb-typed grocery lists have replaced handwritten letters and sticky notes. Electronic keyboards offer obvious efficiency benefits that have undoubtedly boosted our productivity — imagine having…
From formative and summative assessments to criterion-referenced and benchmark assessments, all types of learning assessments have unique function. But what are the types of learning assessments, and more importantly, when should you use them? If curriculum is the “what” of teaching and learning models are the “how,” then assessment is what challenges our assumptions about the what and the how. Assessment is commonly referred to as formative assessment–that is, assessment designed to inform instruction. Below,…
There are many fun activities for families to enjoy in the Boston area in the month of August. Check out our list of August activities and events happening in the Boston area and have a great month! August Adventures with Highland Street Foundation When: daily in August 2024 Where: various locations Age: kids, teens, adults Cost: free 31 days, 31 events, 100% FREE! August Adventures 2024 provides access and opportunities to new and old partners…
Even after years of intensive intervention and tutoring, dyslexic students can continue to struggle with reading and writing. That’s why advances in technology tools have been invaluable to students who read and write slowly. Dyslexic students are finding they can complete assignments faster when they employ special features on a laptop or iPad that help work around their dyslexia-related issues. In order to fully maximize how technology tools can help students with learning differences, educator…
Immerse yourself and develop stronger reading skills with Boston Public Library’s summer reading program for youth 0-17 years old. The program runs from June 17, 2024 to August 25, 2024. This year’s theme is Adventure Begins at your Library, developed by the Collaborative Summer Learning Program. Check out these incredible options available at the Boston Public Library for their summer reading program: Want personalized reading recommendations? Fill in the Shelf Service request form, and one…
When Celeste Gravatt first heard about a data breach in her kids’ school system in February 2023, it sounded innocuous. “I didn’t really think anything of it at first,” Gravatt says. Officials at Minneapolis Public Schools called it a “system incident,” then “technical difficulties,” and finally, “an encryption event.” She says it was only when she checked social media that she realized the true extent of the attack, and what it could mean for her…
Counslr is a text-based mental health support application that provides unlimited access to live texting sessions with licensed professionals, 24/7/365. Users can access support on-demand within two minutes of opening the app, or by scheduled appointment. Through real-time texting, users enjoy one-on-one, private communication with a licensed counselor that can be conducted anytime, anywhere. Counslr was designed to help individuals deal with life’s day-to-day issues, empowering individuals to address concerns while they are “small” to…
Children look forward to the summer months when a break from school gives them a chance to enjoy the outdoors, travel, and relax with friends and family. However, it’s important to ensure children’s safety while they’re having fun in the sun. Specialists from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offer seven recommendations for keeping kids safe this summer season. 1. Keep children away from burn hazards. Fireworks can be extremely dangerous…
