Using Email Etiquette
I am currently preparing to teach my kids the basics of email etiquette. My oldest son has an email account and at some point, he may need to send an email to someone besides a close friend or relative (for example, a teacher). Considering email was new technology when I was in college 15 years ago, I am not sure if email etiquette is even taught in school now. However, it's useful knowledge, especially if you plan to work in a professional business environment.
Hothoused Kids
Here is an interesting concept. It's been around awhile, but I first learned it last year. It is called Hothousing.
Hothousing is basically something that parents do in early childhood to get their kids ahead. It is the strive to have a super baby. They buy flashcards. They play classical music. They get their kids early music lessons. They make sure their children are in the best academic preschools. These kids are usually overscheduled with activities that parents think their kids need later in life. So by the time these kids are in grade school, they are way ahead of other children.
If you ever hear anyone in an educator role say that a child's intelligence "evens out" by third or fourth grade ... this is what I think they are referring to. Apparently, according to what I've read and the people I've talked to, some of these kids who are pushed ahead by parents at a young age do "even out" by third grade. Their early education does not have a lasting effect, other kids eventually catch up, and intelligence essentially "evens out" .
Unfortunately, kids who are truly cognitively ahead at a young age, fall into the same category of these hothoused kids - and their high intelligence is not addressed until at least third grade.
Every Parent Has a Skill They Can Teach
When I was young, our grade school in South Milwaukee actively looked for parents to help with a school idea - a project. Parents, for a certain amount of time, came in to our small school and taught us about their hobby or unique skill.
Loud Christmas Gifts
Since we've met - my husband always has had problems sleeping. He likes complete darkness. No noise. Stillness. He wants complete silense.
Of course, over the years, he has learned, that with two boys and a wife in the house, he may not get this. But this is what he wants. And even though he has realized that complete silence is impossible if you have kids (or a wife) - he foolishly tries to obtain it anyway.
Different Types of School Board Meetings
Back awhile ago, I was confused between the different types of school board meetings on the Cudahy school board calendar: Committee of the Whole meetings and the Board of Education meetings.