There has been a lot of negative press surrounding the much maligned “homework” recently. In fact, it has been getting a bad rap for decades. Everyone is touting studies that show little or no correlation between performance and homework, while others say that any evidence that does exist between improved achievement and homework lacks a… Continue reading Raising Homework From the Dead: 5 ways to make it alive again
It is almost Easter 2016! And that means spring is officially here… 🌱
Last month I wrote a piece on Toddlers vs TV: Less is best, but not necessarily realistic. One of my most popular posts to date, it generated some great on-line conversations amongst parents and caregivers on exactly how much TV is “too much”. It also highlighted the fact that, for some parents, avoiding screen time altogether was impossible and… Continue reading My Top 10 Educational TV Shows for Kids!
For this post, I will be channelling my inner nerd. 👓 I really am a geek at heart. Most of my family and friends already know this about me. I love libraries and second hand book shops, travelling, taking photos, nature, watching documentaries and exploring the environment around me. My two favourite subjects at school have… Continue reading Inspiring Kids with Science (and a Gummy Bear Investigation)
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! This is my first V-day with a preschooler and we wanted to do something fun for her class. Although baking is a favourite bonding activity of ours, my daughter has a tree nut allergy and her preschool is a nut-free facility so food was not an ideal option.… Continue reading Easy Peasy Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids!
The temptation to interact with screens around the home is inescapable. They are everywhere; in our kitchens, our living rooms, our playrooms and even in our bathrooms and beds. With the convenience of digital streaming programs like Netflix and You Tube and the portability and accessibility of iPads, Smart phones and Smart TVs, we are… Continue reading Toddlers vs. TV: Less is best, but not necessarily realistic
While studying for my teaching degree in London, England, we were re-educated on how the “empty vessel model” of student knowledge acquisition was no longer valid or relevant. Historically, students were perceived as empty glasses or “vessels” and it was the job of teachers to “fill” them with “knowledge”. Lessons involved a scripted delivery of… Continue reading Student Learning Styles: One size doesn’t fit all
One flu, two flu, Me flu, you flu. We’ve all got it, woo hoo! One sick, two sick, Me sick, you sick. Everyone has been bloody hit! One spy, two spy, I spy, you spy. Now Daddy’s got blinkin’ pink eye! Is it summer yet?
It’s true. I don’t want my daughters to be popular at school. And here is why. It is something I have been debating internally for years now, even before I became a teacher or had kids of my own. I used to daydream and wonder, if I had kids, what would their personalities be like? Would they… Continue reading I Don’t Want My Daughters to be Popular at School
Parents are constantly bombarded with safety warnings on toys, information on child-proofing your home and recalls about kid-related products. In fact, it can often be overwhelming. Scouring the internet for safety tips, watching the news about updates in toy safety, researching product reviews and recalls is time-consuming. The rise in social media and the Web… Continue reading Button Batteries are Bad News for Our Kids
