06

I recently read John Medina’s Brain Rules. I’m fascinated by brain research and learning more about how our brain learns and processes information. In Brain Rules, Medina discusses 12 brain rules, including: survival, exercise, sleep, stress, wiring, attention, memory, sensory integration, vision, music, gender and exploration.  All of these “rules” certainly can impact a child’s desire and ability to learn to read, however, I’d like to focus on sensory integration. In his book, Medina discusses

October

2018

18

I have done a lot of reading on the topic of mindfulness.  Overwhelmed by the craziness of our busy everyday lives, I needed something to help me slow down, quiet my mind and take a deep breath.  You can Google mindfulness and see a number of definitions. To me, mindfulness means being present in the now; what’s happening in this moment.  Some many times, I have found myself making to do lists, worrying about things/people, etc. that I really have no idea what’s happening in the current moment.

September

2018

30

This morning, while eating breakfast, my daughter noticed a mosquito flying around a window outside our home.  Remembering a book I had read with my fourth graders a few years ago, I asked my kiddos, “Do you know why we get red itchy marks when a mosquito bites us?”  Both of my kids looked at my a little funny. So, I walked over to our library and retrieved Venom, by Marilyn Singer.  I spoke out loud as I used the index to find the page I was looking for.  “Mosquito, page 24!” I turned to the

August

2018

23

So my son, Alex, started Kindergarten last week.  I’m pretty sure I felt every emotion possible. Excitement. Fear. Relief. Sadness. Joy. Pride. Guilt. Anxiety. You name it, I probably felt it!  BUT, the important thing is, we survived. I honestly think the transition was harder for me. I knew he was academically and socially prepared (he actually went to a private Kindergarten last year because he was too young to go to Kindergarten at our local public school), however, a part of me struggled

August

2018

09

Watching my kiddos grow and learn has been one of the many amazing rewards of being a parent.  From discussing their favorite books, learning the alphabet, letter sounds and sight words; each milestone is remarkable to watch and be a part of.  My son, Alex, will be in Kindergarten next school year and has begun to tackle something new; becoming an author! It started with drawing pictures of characters from his favorite books.  Immediately after reading a story, he would run to get a piece of

July

2018