school

School Anxiety - Red Apple Reading Express

School Anxiety

Some schools are already back in session for a new year, and the rest of us will be there soon! With the reality of a new school year inching closer each day, our kiddos are probably already contemplating the transition. For some of our children, the thought of entering a new grade is exciting. Other kids might be (how should we put this?) less than thrilled. Maybe your little one falls into a third category: scared. While a little anxiety over a new school year is normal, some kids have an inordinate amount of fear. How can parents help their anxious child cope with this inevitable transition? Red Apple Reading has a few suggestions for parents of anxious students.

By Jennifer Campbell, ago
Transitioning: Preparing for Back to School - RAR

Transitioning: Preparing for Back to School

Summer vacation is a magical time in the life of a child. No school schedule or homework, long hours spent playing in the sun, and family vacations, are just a few things that make summer such a fun experience. Hopefully your kiddos have had an enjoyable vacation from school. However, summer is quickly drawing to a close and with the end in sight, we start looking ahead to the coming school year. As parents, we know it can be difficult for our children to switch back into the structured schedule of school. Fortunately, there are some simple things we can do to ease the transition back into academic life.

By Jennifer Campbell, ago
Year-Round Schooling - Red Apple Reading Express

Year-Round Schooling

As the majority of us are in the midst of our children’s summer vacation, there are a small but growing number of students attending school. Most of us have heard of the term Year-Round Education or YRE. YRE is when school systems adopt an academic calendar that has children attend school the usual number of days but with more frequent and shorter breaks. Thus, eliminating the traditional two to three month summer vacation. Whether or not you are a fan of the year-round model, it is helpful to be familiar with this system since it is gradually gaining momentum in our country.

By Jennifer Campbell, ago
Pros and Cons of BYOD - Red Apple Reading Express

The Pros and Cons of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

If you have school-age children, there is a good chance that you have had or heard discussions about the BYOD initiative for schools. This concept encourages the student to bring his or her own technological gadget to school in order to aid in the educational process. The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) initiative is gaining momentum and is already being instituted in many schools across the country. Consequently, a debate has been sparked over the positive and negative aspects such a program brings to the table.

By Melissa Maypole, ago
teacher-appreciation-week-RAR

Gifts for the Teachers in Your Life

Red Apple Reading know the difference a good teacher can make in the life of a child. Hopefully, as parents we all show appreciation for our kids’ teachers throughout the school year, but this week gives us the opportunity to thank them in an extra special way. Teaching is one of the hardest and most important jobs in our society. Since they work so hard for our little ones, let’s think about how we can show teachers some much deserved gratitude!

By Jennifer Campbell, ago
When Your Kid Doesn't Want to Go to School | Red Apple Reading Express

When Your Kid Doesn’t Want to Go to School

It is the rare child that wakes up every morning excited to attend school. Most of us have heard our kids say at one time or another, “I don’t want to go to school today!” Some infrequent, short-lived dislike of the school experience is normal, but what do you do when your child is suddenly and consistently upset about going to school? A few simple interventions could help you send your kid off with a smile on his face.

By Melissa Maypole, ago
Bullying: What You Can Do About It | Red Apple Reading Express

Bullying: What You Can Do About It

Like most moms and dads, I happen to think my children are awesome. They’re cute, funny, and smart. I can’t imagine why anyone of any age wouldn’t want to hang out with them. I certainly can’t fathom why another kid would tease them at school, but bullying exists, and like other evils, it defies logic. Understanding why it happens may be helpful for the long-term, but in the short-term, we parents need to empower our children by preparing them for the worst.

By Melissa Maypole, ago
Do Happy Kids Equal Smart Kids?

Do Happy Kids Equal Smart Kids?

Any child development expert will tell you that a child’s well-being and his or her capacity for learning are intrinsically linked. From the earliest of ages, children require a basic sense of comfort and security in order for their developing brains to be receptive to other stimuli. Most parents and educators realize this, but what many fail to acknowledge is that this prerequisite for learning continues into childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood! Enter social and emotional learning, a model advocates affectionately refer to as SEL.

By Melissa Maypole, ago
How's Your Gifted Child Doing in School?

How’s Your Gifted Child Doing in School?

Look at the title of this post again. I bet you don’t hear that question often. Most people assume that gifted children do so well in school that there’s really no reason to even ask. While it’s true that academics pose little trouble for those kids identified as “gifted,” that doesn’t mean that school as a whole is a breeze for them.

By Melissa Maypole, ago