EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

Learn more about current school issues and trends from Sanford School’s educational experts.  Sanford’s blog is sure to help you navigate your child’s educational journey.

Finding the Best Family Routine for a New School year

Posted by Brooke McLeod on September 3, 2021 at 2:05 PM

 

Labor Day weekend is upon us. It has long been described as the Sunday night of summer. It marks the season of change, with fall and a new school year on the horizon.

This time of the year reminds me of the summer grass. Some days dry and tired from the sun, unsure which is best: water or shade, likely both. Rest surely required, but sometimes not found. The reverberating laughter of the summer days well lived is still heard, and while days are reminiscent of the family van clad with the turtle top, there is a new quiet that enters and competes for loudest sound: catalogs with backpacks and sports apparel, new-fangled lunch accessories, latest trends and all the reminders of the outside world with hints of shiny, new schedules and adventures beyond our summer days that lure us to inch near. It is a time that is nostalgic of the sweetest summer lived and already longed for, but a constant pull to stay here and be present while planning what is to come.

 While embracing the remaining dog days of summer, it is inevitable that we need to prepare for our new schedules of the school year ahead.As parents, this sometimes is a far too daunting task. While we collect tips and tricks from trial and error like the shells once collected in July on family days by the ocean, we often forget that none of this needs to be done alone. Change is hard and adjusting to new schedules takes time and patience.

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Topics: Community

5 Tips To Tackle The High School Sports Preseason

Posted by Caitlin Brooks on August 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM

The air is heavy, the sun is beating down, and there is no reprieve from the heat. This can only mean one thing: preseason is upon us. Preseason is an exciting time in many athletes' lives. It is the time where the foundation of the season begins. You get to see your beloved teammates, coaches and compete at the thing you love most. For some, preseason may bring a bit of anxiety and fear. What are ways that you can enter this time with confidence and joy in your heart, you ask? Try the following tips listed below.

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Topics: Athletics, Parenting Tips

Ways to Sharpen 7th-12th Grade Student Math Skills in the Summer

Posted by Heather Taylor on July 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM
It's time to start thinking about the next school year. To avoid the summer slide and begin with a solid mathematical foundation for the school year, your child can spend time each week on mathematical thinking and reasoning skills to strengthen their previous skills and fill in any gaps of knowledge. By practicing, students can build their number sense, algebraic reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Below are three activities and three online resources to sharpen your middle and high school students' math skills. To help your child, you can have them complete the activities below and go to the online resources to practice math skills this summer:
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Topics: Education, Summer, Parenting Tips, High School Experience, Middle School

5 Tips To Encourage Your Child To Complete Their Summer Reading

Posted by Sandy Sutty on July 16, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Now that it is summer, It is time to start thinking about your child’s summer reading. Some schools require your child to read. It can be as simple as reading a book of choice, picking from a selection of books, or specific books. Ensure you check with your child’s school to make sure you have all of the requirements for their summer reading. Once you find out, getting them to read may be challenging. Read these tips to encourage your child to start reading.

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Topics: Academics, Parenting Tips

3 Activities to Help Your Child Engage With Nature

Posted by Patrick Martin on July 2, 2021 at 8:51 PM

Summer is here, so it’s the perfect time to explore the great outdoors. This blog from Harvard Medical School describes six reasons why it's important for kids to spend time outside. If one (or more!) of those reasons resonates with you, then take advantage of one of our activities below that will help you and your child engage with nature.

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Topics: Summer, Parenting Tips, Community

6 Fun Ways To Promote Summer Learning

Posted by Kara Fontes on June 18, 2021 at 12:00 PM

The end of the school year is here, and while that might mean lazy days by the pool or family vacations, it’s also the perfect time to start preparing your child for the upcoming school year. Here are six fun ways to promote learning and to make sure your child makes the most of this SUMMER so that they can roll smoothly into the fall.

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Topics: Education, Academics, Summer, Health & Wellness, Parenting Tips

Keeping A Strong School Community During A Pandemic

Posted by Laura Gaylor on June 5, 2021 at 12:00 PM

How do you keep a school community strong in a school year caught between virtual, hybrid, and in-person learning? It starts with school leaders and parents who have a shared vision of success. Your support and participation make a difference. Whether you choose to engage on a personal, informal, or formal level, here are a few opportunities to stay engaged in your school community during the pandemic.

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Topics: Parenting Tips, Community, Sanford School

Teacher Tips For Motivating Students During Hybrid Learning

When the pandemic impacts nearly every aspect of student learning, how can we help our children survive and thrive? Finding ways to motivate students and providing the best teaching strategies during hybrid learning is not easy. Whether children are attending class in person or online, participating in “school” is a great way to provide a sense of normalcy in their lives.

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Topics: Education, Academics, Elementary Education, High School Experience, Distance Learning

5 Ways A Summer Enrichment Program Can Help Your Child

Posted by Christine DiUbaldo on May 7, 2021 at 11:51 AM

For more than a year, children across the country have been learning in atypical school settings. Faced with remote, hybrid, and in-person teaching and learning options along with major changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, some students have fallen behind academically. In addition, many miss their typical routines, others are suffering from Zoom fatigue, and the majority are longing for social interaction.

As your family prepares to wrap up this school year and makes plans for next year, consider enrolling your child in a summer enrichment program. Strong enrichment programs, even during a traditional school year, offer many benefits for PreKindergarten through high school students. Learn about five ways a summer enrichment program can help your child:

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Topics: Education, Summer, Arts, Sanford School

Letting Go of Your High School Senior

Posted by Jan Ross on April 23, 2021 at 12:30 PM

After eighteen or so years, you may be ready to see your senior plan their departure to college and move away, or like many parents, you may be dreading it. Giving yourself time to contemplate this huge life change and to offer some useful tips to your student will make a difference. Here are a few suggestions to help you get ready:

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Topics: Parenting Tips, Community, High School Experience