Choo Chooo... Jacksonville trains are coming through! I haven't met a kid yet who wasn't fascinated by the sight of a train. Thanks to my son's extreme fascination (obsession?) with them we are always on the lookout for more...
My son started sixth grade this year and attends a middle school in St. Johns County. We are newer residents to the county, and so we weren’t all that familiar with school start times. I started asking around about...
Last year, when my son was in 3rd grade, we hit a milestone familiar to most parents in Florida. It was time for him to take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). There’s been a lot of controversy about this standardized...
Ask your young child what his or her favorite part of the school day is and you’ll probably hear “lunch” or “recess.” For parents of children with allergies, however, those are the times of day when their children may...
Who are these gifted kids and teens? These are kids who enjoy expressing themselves through the arts, academics, or in other ways. I consider all children gifted, as every child has unique talents, skills, or other characteristics that they...
Now more than ever, our kids are learning about those who are making a difference in our world and how we all adapt to change. Doctors, nurses, scientists, first-responders, innovators, community and business leaders, teachers and beyond — and...
As a mom, it is never too early to get familiar with schooling options in Jacksonville. I think many moms-to-be quickly learn what schools they are zoned for and what grades the schools have earned. If you haven't, it is easy...
Last week there were two occasions where I overheard some moms discussing how horrible our public schools are. The second time it happened I couldn’t stop myself, I had to say something. But when I asked them specifically which...
"I'm not sure what I should be teaching our son," I recently said to my husband of our 18-month-old son, Archer. "He can say all of 12 words. Isn't it a little early to be teaching him numbers and...
Like every other parent in the area, this past spring I heaved a huge sigh of relief on the last day of school and patted myself on the back for completing crisis learning with my Kindergartener and 2nd grader....
This past summer, we decided to give homeschooling a shot for the upcoming 2022–2023 school year. I've gotten so many questions, like, "What led you to this decision?" and "What are the main reasons you chose to homeschool?" And...
I remember vividly the day that my oldest daughter began preschool. She did not separate well — she never had! Her preschool teacher (thanks, Miss Amy!) was so patient, and my daughter was going to be fine. Why then...