Education

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Touchstone ABA. Back to School Yields Different Challenges For Parents of Children With Autism With COVID-19 at the forefront of everyone’s mind and back to school procedures being discussed across the state, parents are nervously anticipating what the upcoming school year will look like. Parents of children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (a disorder characterized by deficits in social skills and communication skills and excesses in restrictive and repetitive behaviors) or other developmental differences may have additional concerns. Tips for successful distance learning: Many schools are beginning the school year with a hybrid of in-person and online instruction. Some families may utilize online instruction more frequently in the fall. Here are a few helpful considerations to enhance...

It wasn't that long ago that I first found out I was pregnant with her. Not that long ago that the doctor told us, "You have to have this baby today." Not that long ago that I stared into the baby bassinet in the hospital room overwhelmed with love and sleep deprivation. Not that long ago that I brought all 7 pounds, 7 ounces of her home. Kindergarten was the furthest thing from my mind. Instead, I was wrapped up in worries about baby-proofing, bottles, diapers... But just like that, she's five. And she's ready to start kindergarten this year. And we've had our share of jitters just thinking about it. Will she cry during drop off? Will she make friends easily?...

Are teachers harder on boys than girls? If you’d asked me this question a few years ago when I was a classroom teacher, I’d say, “No indeed. In this classroom, all students are treated equally.” However, if you ask me as the parent of a boy, I’d say, “Absolutely! Boys are definitely disciplined harder and more often than girls.” In many cases, for reasons I can’t explain, when it comes to behavior, it seems that boys are held to a higher and much stricter standard than their female classmates. Gender bias in schools really hit home for me one year when I felt my son was issued the raw end of a very bad deal. Now, let me pause here...

Disclosure :: This post was sponsored by the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Planning for Success in the 2020-21 School Year The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is focused on adapting the educational landscape to overcome the unique challenges presented by the pandemic. Innovative changes will be made to create an environment where every child can succeed no matter the circumstance. By prioritizing student safety and quality learning environments, we’re continuing to look forward and make adjustments together for a successful 2020-21 school year. We look forward to involving you in the process and hearing your feedback on the developing plans for the school year ahead: Learn From Experience - At the end of the 2019-20 school year, the district...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by The Dunham School.  Preparing Students for Academic Success Amid COVID-19: Tips for Parents With the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, schools across the country shut their doors and transitioned to a new mode of teaching and learning. Over the course of a few days, parents became homeschoolers and family rooms became classrooms as distance learning became the new normal. To be sure, experiences varied from school to school, with some parents reporting a high degree of satisfaction with distance learning and others concerned their children didn’t have a quality experience. While it’s safe to say that everyone—parents and students alike—are ready to enjoy a much needed summer break, the tips below may be helpful...