Parenting

Year after year, we witness fourth graders burst with excitement when participating in our service project, supporting the Humane Society. It’s easy to see how much children love animals. More recently, we’ve noticed this affection in our fourth grade Zoom meetings. During any given virtual gathering, you may see dogs, cats, hamsters and other beloved family pets pop on the screen while hearing a collective “awww” from the class. While many of us feel a deep connection with animals, children in particular form especially strong relationships with our furry friends. The best part is that...Read more

When I was 12, I had a piano teacher named Ruth who did something curious. I loved playing music by ear and was developing a patience for reading music, but I had yet to begin appreciating technique. I didn’t want to practice scales and consider the angle of my wrist. I wanted to play the Maple Leaf Rag as fast (and sloppily) as I could. But she was wise and she could tell I simply didn’t understand the value of holding my hand at a precise angle, letting my wrist drive my fingers up the scale. 

Discovering a Difference

So one lesson, she didn’t take her...Read more

None would argue that reading is essential to a child’s success. Visiting your public library and arming your child with a library card will help prepare and support your child both in school and in life.

Taking your children to the library allows them to see reading is important to you as parents and invites them to be a part of a community of readers. Surrounding your children with readers lets them see and develop good reading habits. Libraries are full of book-lovers. Exposing your children to a large reading community will help guide them on the path to becoming a lifelong...Read more

January 1, 2020. A new year. The dawn of a new decade.

The magnitude of this significant day was not lost on me. I love New Year's, not the eve spent watching the ball drop in Times Square, but the wee hours of the new year's first sunrise.

Like most years, I welcomed this new year in the small beach community our family loves. Waking before the moon retired, I tiptoed through the hushed house, hopped on my bike and pedaled the few minutes to the ocean. In either direction, the white sand beach was completely barren. This is my new year tradition, a solo...Read more

As a young educator, I had the privilege of spending time in Cape Town, South Africa. I was there not long after apartheid ended and a new democracy was developing. Along with this new democracy came many changes in education, especially for people of color as adequate education had been denied them for many years. Many injustices, due to a corrupt government and a racially segregated population, prevented an entire generation from reaching their substantial potential. People were forced to live in township squalor, and education was minimal at best. While there, I worked with teachers...Read more

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

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