I don’t like sweeping statements about what to expect of children of a certain age. Most children, like most adults, like to be seen and heard as individuals; they don’t like to fit into patterns other people have in mind. As a teacher and parent, it has often been useful to know about patterns in…
I first met Eliza when she was in second grade. I volunteered in her classroom. Sandy was a teacher assigned to help include her in the class. I had very little contact with Eliza; I tried to reach out to her, but she seemed to have problems that were beyond me. She seemed very intense…
I’m Bob. To two people, I’m Daddy, and to about six hundred, I’m Mr. Blue, but mostly, I’m Bob. But that doesn’t really begin to tell you who I am. It’s just a name. Who I am to you depends on what you know of me, whether and how we’ve spent time together, what, if…
Many of us adults have learned a lot, and much of what we’ve learned has proven to be well worth having learned. Sometimes we take what we know and use it to do great things. And we avoid major problems because we can tell that they’re coming, and we’ve learned what to do about them….
When babies are born, their needs have to be top priority. And they aren’t great at letting people know precisely what their needs are, so the people who take care of them have to figure it out. That can be quite a challenge, and can be quite frustrating. But gradually, we get to know which…
There’s a girl named Helen who lives near me. I think she’s about nine years old. Her parents have decided not to send Helen or her siblings to school; they’re committed to home-schooling. And my impression, at this point, is that home-schooling is working quite well for Helen. Maybe I’ll get more involved (if Helen’s…
I have rarely enjoyed spending lots of physical energy. I remember when we were told about President Kennedy’s emphasis on the importance of physical fitness. I got the impression that the Russians were way ahead of us in the space race and physical fitness – that we were way behind in both, and what we…
Each June, teachers spend lots of time looking through catalogues, trying to imagine which items will help them and their pupils next year. They’re told how much money they’re allowed to spend, and they do their math, deciding what’s crucial, what’s important but not crucial, and what’s frivolous. Then they make sure the cost of…
When I was a young child, the parents in our neighborhood (mothers only, back then) organized a “story hour” – a time when most parents could shop, do housework, or take it easy while one parent read stories to the neighborhood children. It was a good idea. I looked forward to it, and I’m sure…
Jeannette is an outgoing seven year old girl who lives near me. She shouts out “Hi, Bob!” every time I pass by where she’s playing. And if I don’t shout back, “Hi, Jeannette!” (if I have something in my mouth, or am talking with someone else), she shouts “Hi, Bob!” again. She doesn’t give up….