America’s schoolchildren spent less time in the classroom last year than ever before in modern history. Now teachers are scrambling to fill in the gaps.
Kids deserve a real break, especially this year. But they shouldn’t avoid academic reinforcement entirely.
Each child will process this time differently, and adults can help kids find opportunity in the life that awaits them.
They need time to recharge. But taking a break shouldn’t mean ignoring academic skills altogether.
I feel like it’s my annual performance review, but with my son.
Is the school responsible for helping?
He works hard, but the system is working against him.
Most of the teachers and parents I talk with just want school to be school.
If adults don’t set the same expectations, children can get caught in the middle.
She gets overwhelmed every time—but breaking down the assignment into smaller steps could help her manage it.
My son does an average of five or six hours of homework every night. Is this normal?
She says she’s done her work, but her teacher tells me she hasn’t. What should I do?
Transitioning back to in-person school will be a profound shift. How can I help my son prepare?
Are there memory tricks he could be using?
She’s always been a perfectionist—but in the pandemic, this tendency has gotten worse.
Online learning hasn’t been easy for them.
How do I know that he’ll be able to work independently when he gets to college?
Focus on prioritization and process, not the assignment itself.
One of my daughters can’t bear to put her book down. The other only wants to play dress-up.
I’ve told her that Ms. G is struggling with her own issues in the pandemic. But getting her out the door is still a nightmare.