Report Cards Came Out Yesterday – Publicly. Do Students Have a Right to Privacy?

Okay, so I need to say a bit more about grades. After my last blog about Katie’s addiction – which has been tempered, sorta   – I find I am still stuck on the subject after watching a disaster in the making yesterday! I arrived at school a little early and decided to wait for Katie… More Report Cards Came Out Yesterday – Publicly. Do Students Have a Right to Privacy?

Students Helping Students: They Can Lift Each Other Up (Academically)

The coolest thing happened yesterday. I didn’t expect it to be cool. I thought it was going to be a nightmare. But man, it turned out awesome. Imagine, it’s Monday: the day after Halloween (where we somehow picked up two extra kids along the way who ended up back at our house to watch the… More Students Helping Students: They Can Lift Each Other Up (Academically)

Restore Sanity to Halloween: The Ultimate Socialist Holiday!

I love Halloween. It’s colorful, creative and usually good fun. But there are weird conversations going on this year about making rules for how old kids can be who want to trick or treat – like no one over 14 should be allowed to go house to house (can you imagine being the cop who… More Restore Sanity to Halloween: The Ultimate Socialist Holiday!

First Middle School Dance Comes with Instructions! You Gotta See This!

While I was watching the Giants take game three last night, Katie was focusing on “groking” what she had learned in PE this week in preparation for Friday’s big (first) dance! At the commercial break, she dragged me into the office where she had laid it all out on our white board (they are closet… More First Middle School Dance Comes with Instructions! You Gotta See This!

Tween-age Grousing: This Strange Behavior Has Hidden Meaning

Ever since school started this fall, Katie has come home with weird stories about new behaviors she’s experiencing now that she’s in middle school. These are things the kids didn’t do before middle school (well, maybe a little but nothing like what’s happening now). It goes like this: Katie opens her lunch her friend immediately… More Tween-age Grousing: This Strange Behavior Has Hidden Meaning

Working Hard for Smart Teachers Makes the Whole Difference

We are a month into school and Katie is humming, almost purring, with the challenge. Sure it’s been a lot of work but as she said, “Mom, I don’t mind working hard for smart teachers!” No truer words have been spoken. For the first time since third grade, Katie has teachers who are actually “into… More Working Hard for Smart Teachers Makes the Whole Difference

We Enter the World of Queen Bees and Wannabees (and Bullies)

Ahhh, bullies. We have managed to get through six years of school with very few incidents of bullying. But now Katie’s in middle school and the landscape has changed. Thankfully, we started reading Queen Bees and Wannabees together just before school started. What a great book. We are only about half way through (homework is… More We Enter the World of Queen Bees and Wannabees (and Bullies)

I’ve Got the “Oh Crap We Are Back in Public School” Blues…

The “Study Nest” where it all happens! I know it’s temporary, it will pass, but today I got a kick in the teeth that reminded me of why I pulled Katie out of public school in the first place: she came home defeated. She worked really hard on some homework, I checked it, it was… More I’ve Got the “Oh Crap We Are Back in Public School” Blues…