Write Away

April 28, 2016

Who Was X in Your Family?

On the day I received my bachelor’s degree in music, my father told me that I was the first person in his family to graduate from college. It was a fact I’d never known. Years later, while digging into genealogy, I learned that my paternal grandparents–the generation that emigrated to Boston–received only a few years of schooling. Continue reading

History and Social Science, Relationships, Storytelling, Teaching and Learning

ancestor literacy, family stories, immigrant literacy, literacy
April 27, 2016

William Shakespeare for Parents

I bet you’ve never thought of looking to William Shakespeare for parenting help, but I have. When one of my daughters was a teenager, she fell in love with Shakespearean sonnets. Sonnet 116 was one of her favorites: Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters Continue reading

English Language Arts, Teaching and Learning, Teenagers

family conflict, parent help
April 26, 2016

Venus in Music and Art

Your child read the book, did the research, wrote the report, and made the model of the planet now exhibited in the hallway. What’s missing? The art and music that the planet inspired, of course! And it’s not limited to the composer Gustav Holst, whose composition The Planets consists of familiar melodies to many people. You Continue reading

Arts, Social and emotional development, Speaking and listening, Teaching and Learning

arts and science integration, astronomy and art, interdisciplinary learning for parents
April 25, 2016

Understanding “Politically Correct”

In our homes, what we say and how we say it matters. Children hear everything and understand more than we think they do. We’re the ones who help explain the world for them as they grow. And there is plenty to help them understand during this election season. In school, your child learns to understand today’s politics Continue reading

English Language Arts, History and Social Science, Social and emotional development, Speaking and listening

political correctness explained, politically correct, teach kids politics
April 23, 2016

The Art of Tinkering Teaches Thinking

It’s Saturday morning and you have a list of chores to complete. One of them is to fix part of the backyard fence. The wear of winter snow tore away some lengths of wire from the wooden posts, which are somewhat rotted. Your child tags along. You talk to her out loud as you poke around in your workbench Continue reading

Interdiscipinary learning, Relationships, Speaking and listening

problem solving, Teach child tinkering, Tinkering

Who Was X in Your Family?

William Shakespeare for Parents

Venus in Music and Art

Understanding “Politically Correct”

The Art of Tinkering Teaches Thinking