Education

Should You Let Your Kid Quit?

Randi Mazzella,

When my son was in a tween, he asked if he could take golf lessons. I signed him up for introductory lessons with a golf pro. He enjoyed it so much I sent to a summer golf camp for a…

Most Recent

Teacher Talk: Speech Delays and Homework Distractions

Peggy Gisler, Marge Eberts,

Between 2 and 3, most children will acquire a vocabulary of about 450 words.

Music Readiness

Betsy Gurske,

Children’s experiences of singing, dancing, listening and exploring instruments from birth to age 7 shape their musical aptitude for the future.

There’s an interesting juxtaposition when a child goes to college. The child celebrates the successful culmination of years of academic pressures, while the parents grapple with a different kind of pressure: how to pay for a higher education.

Cash for College Tips

Lee Rhodes,

The College Foundation of North Carolina advises:

1. Open a N.C. 529 college savings plan. In addition to federal tax advantages, the state offers a tax deduction for contributions.

Requirements for a Rigorous IB Program

Peggy Gisler, Marge Eberts,

My seventh-grader is very bright (IQ is 148) and has been in a full-time gifted program for elementary and middle school.

Choosing a Guardian

Eve White,

Once you become a parent, you suddenly are faced with some grown-up decisions you might not have considered in the past.

Six Tips for Parenting a Disorganized Child

Joyce Cooper, Khan Dietzel, Laurie Dietzel,

Kids with weaknesses in planning and organization have trouble independently imposing structure and order to tasks and ideas.

Spelling and Social Studies

Peggy Gisler, Marge Eberts,

My son, a third-grader, has a difficult time spelling many of the words he uses in his daily work. However, he does great on his weekly spelling tests — all "A" grades. Can you explain this? How can I help him?

Reviving Letter Writing

Lynn M. Dean,

"Did I get any mail today, huh Mom, huh?" my 10-year-old asked impatiently.
"What makes you think you’re going to get mail? Did you write someone a letter?"

How Much Homework Help is Too Much?

Peggy Gisler, Marge Eberts,

My fifth-grader has never found school to be easy. In the past, he has kept his head above water because I have worked with him a lot. This year, my son’s teacher doesn’t want parents to help with homework. He can’t always handle it on his own, so I’ve had to explain some of the work to him.

Wake Up Kids' Writing Skills

Peggy Gisler, Marge Eberts,

Is there a way I can improve my 9-year-old daughter’s writing skills? She is a brilliant reader, but her writing skills are below average according to the teacher. She never is "in the mood" to write, even on my laptop.

Cursive Writing - Is It Obsolete?

Renee Roberson,

The fundamentals of handwriting are still introduced to children as early as age 3. But the progression of penmanship education — from print to cursive — is being interrupted by technology.