Parenting

For over a decade, a special person smiled in the second row at Rossman’s annual Grandparents’ Day concert. She was not the grandparent of a student but of a teacher! How many people get to bring Grandma to school for thirty-five years?

This Friday will mark the first time my grandmother doesn’t accompany me to Grandparents’ Day at Rossman. After losing her two weeks ago at the age of 97, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on our relationship and time together. What stands out to me are not the extravagant events like family trips, graduations or weddings but small, seemingly...Read more

One of the most gratifying experiences over my seven years at Rossman has been greeting students at the front door of the school each morning. It is a perfect place to be situated to recognize the children’s differing characteristics and idiosyncratic behaviors as they start the school day. 

The way they look, act and speak are distinctive and age appropriate due to their gender and personality. My brief morning greeting and the opportunity to hear a snapshot of their sports team, music recital or a family activity connects me to them and fulfills my goal to show Rossman cares about...Read more

Thousands of years ago, humans started out as hunters and gatherers, often moving up to 14 miles per day. The relationship between food, physical activity and learning has always been hardwired into our brains. Over the course of time, the parts of our brain have changed and developed differently to accommodate our lifestyles. One thing that has diminished over time is the amount of physical activity we get. The “screen” era has really taken its toll on exercise.

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What is fluency?

Reading fluency is the ability to read a text at a steady rate, with expression and accuracy. Fluency has a direct correlation to reading comprehension, and can often be an indicator of your child’s understanding of a text. A common misconception associated with the term “fluency” is that a fluent reader is a quick reader. Children who read too quickly often insert or omit keywords, are unable to recall important details and read through punctuation.

Is your child ready to work on fluency?  

Students who are still...Read more

“Watch children play in natural environments and you’ll see spontaneous expressions of joy and excitement. Observe children running through a pile of leaves with total abandon, dancing and spinning when they feel the wind blowing through their hair and laughing out loud when they see a toad hopping from place to place. You’ll see unbounded exuberance...Read more

Not all kids are voracious readers, but those who aren't can be convinced it is a worthwhile experience. You may have two or more children in the same family with different attitudes toward reading. I did! One read in the bathtub, at recess and walking the dog (all bad ideas). Every spare minute of her day was filled with reading. My other child was more hands-on with learning and worked well on projects and building. Very different! Parents often have to adjust and adapt and make reading fun!

In her article...Read more

“Thank you.” These magic words, said frequently, are so simple yet so powerful. They can make a world of difference and go a long way in everyday life. Kids utter these words after they are given a cookie, a cup of juice, a toy or help up from a fall. Teaching our children to be thankful and show gratitude for both big and small gestures is imperative to raising a whole, well-rounded individual.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” These wise words by Oprah Winfrey underscore the...Read more