Are your kids sleepy this week?

The American Academy of Pediatrics in a new report is encouraging middle and high schools to push back start times.  Students in later starting schools have less daytime sleepiness, fewer tardies, fewer attention difficulties and better school performance compared to students in early-starting schools.  Thankfully, as my daughter starts middle school she begins at 8:30 which …

Robin William’s suicide shines spotlight on mental health

The tragic and shocking death of beloved comic and actor Robin Williams has slammed us with mental health media attention. If a man such as Robin Williams could quietly suffer so desperately with Depression and addiction we should be more vigilant and aware; encouraging and affirming those who need treatment.  Mental health awareness needs to stay on the societal …

Is handwriting still important?

As our schools move ever so closer toward total technology are we actually handicapping students? Recent research suggests handwriting is critical for a child’s educational development.  Children learn to read more quickly when they learn to write by hand and can generate ideas and retain information better.  The cognitive processing involved in writing by hand is …