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Capital Region BOCES
Archive for 2015
We worry about our children as babies, observing every move and checking repeatedly as they sleep in the crib. We worry about our children when they’re toddlers, watching as they explore a new world with waddling, uncertain steps. We worry when they move to grade school, middle school, high school. Then, in an instant, they […]
It’s your child’s first foray into the “school” world, and you’ve got mixed feelings. On one hand, you’re excited to watch her learn and grow. On the other, you feel tremendous pressure to pick the “right” school. Choosing a preschool can be an overwhelming experience with so many options/approaches available: teacher-led, child-led, Montessori, Waldorf, co-operative, […]
Few people argue against the value of a good education, and when it comes to the local school district, almost everyone has their opinion. Yet, in just a week, news media will likely report the record-low voter turnout for the annual school budget vote and school board elections. Statistics from the New York State Board […]
We know, graduation is still several weeks away, but we got thinking about tidbits of good advice accumulated through the years that might benefit high school students getting ready to step out into the world. With all the talk about the value of 21st century “soft skills” for college and workplace success, this handful of […]
From the hundreds of thousands of parents who refused to have their children participate in standardized testing over the past two weeks in New York, it’s pretty clear that people have issues with testing. But that doesn’t mean we should get rid of standardized tests. According to most school leaders, these tests are part of […]
For many grade 3-8 students, launching into state English Language Arts (ELA) and math tests immediately after spring break may be a bit unnerving. Sharing a few helpful test-taking strategies with your children can ease anxieties and help them perform at their best. In the days before the test, help children prepare by getting a […]
The following story was first printed in Parent Today in March 2013. When our daughters were young, we had no questions about kindergarten readiness. Both girls were born in March, and my husband and I knew that by the September following their fifth birthdays they’d be more than ready for the half-day program offered in […]
A brand new study from the Journal of Marriage and Family seems to challenge some long-held views about the amount of time mothers spend with their children. The study says the number of hours a mother spends with her children is not as important as the mother-child engagement during that time. Research involving 1,600 children […]
My son loves to play Minecraft. He occasionally Facetimes (video calls over Wi-Fi) or texts friends with his iPod. With two older sisters and parents who are active on social media, he’s seen Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Vine. He’s comfortable Googling information for school, and he discovered Weird Al Yankovic videos on YouTube. […]