Category Archives: School Life

Homeschool Hacks and How to Homeschool Boys (w Linsey Knerl)

April 15, 2021Guests, School Lifeeducation, homeschool, homeschool hacks, homeschooling, learning, Linsey KnerlJennifer L.W. Fink

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How DO you homeschool boys? Trying to recreate school-at-home doesn’t work for most boys — as so many families found out during the pandemic. And placing your life and career on hold while you educate your kids isn’t exactly practical either. Linsey Knerl, a freelance writer and mother of six (including 5 boys!), says it’s … Continue reading Homeschool Hacks and How to Homeschool Boys (w Linsey Knerl) →

Novel Education for Boys

April 8, 2021Guests, School Lifedistance learning, education, homeschooling, Novel Education Group, school, Tiffany SoyraJennifer L.W. Fink

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What would happen if we based our education for boys on their interests? The idea of crafting an education around a student’s interests is a bit novel in today’s world of standardized curriculum and tests. But the concept is sound. As parents (and educators) know, trying to force a child to learn something they don’t … Continue reading Novel Education for Boys →

School & Learning in the COVID-19 Era

November 3, 2020Guests, School Life, UncategorizedCOVID-19, education, Hiya Health, homeschool, homeschooling, learning, Learning Together Coaching & Consulting, Sarah Mendonca, school, school refusalJanet

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How’s school going? That’s a fraught question even when there’s NOT a pandemic going on. Now, it seems almost crazy to ask, given that most of us are dealing w less-than-ideal educational situations. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for miserable. If virtual school or online learning isn’t working for you, homeschool may … Continue reading School & Learning in the COVID-19 Era →

Back to School 2020

August 6, 2020School Life, Uncategorizedback to school, coronavirus, education, homeschool, learning, outdoor school, school, unschoolJanet

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Back to School 2020 will go down in the annals of history. The United States (and world) is still wrestling with the coronavirus pandemic. Schools are slated to “open” — whether virtually or literally or some combination thereof — in a few weeks. Some, in fact, have already opened. There’s so much we don’t yet … Continue reading Back to School 2020 →

Coaches Speak about Youth Sports

August 1, 2019Guests, School Lifeathletics, coaches, coaching, play, sports, team, team sports, travel team, youth sportsJanet

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Youth sports are a BIG DEAL. According to ESPN, 28.7 million American kids between the ages of 6 and 17 played youth sports in 2013. That number is likely low; many kids start well before age 6. Gone are the days when boys started Little League at age 10 or 11. Today, T-ball begins at … Continue reading Coaches Speak about Youth Sports →

150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad

February 28, 2019Emotional Development, Guests, Parenting, School LifeJanet

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Meet Stay-at-Home Dad, Homeschooling Dad, and Mankind Project participant and advocate, Mark. Dad of Sam, age 8, husband of Corissa, living in Portland, Oregon, Mark retraces his journey as a boy who didn’t feel listened to by his mom and dad, struggling with his identity as a stay-at-home dad, and his striving to be an … Continue reading 150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad →

149: All About E-sports

February 21, 2019School Life, sports, Videogamese-sports, school, screens, sports, teens, video games, videogamesJanet

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Competitive video gaming may be coming soon to a school near you. E-sports (short for “electronic sports”) is a $900 million dollar global industry. In South Korea, top video game players are household names, and matches are televised. Here in the United States, more than 80 colleges and universities, including Kent State and the University … Continue reading 149: All About E-sports →

131: Emails & Phone Calls from Teachers

October 18, 2018School Life, Uncategorizeddiscipline, emotional development, learning, parenting, school, teachersJennifer L.W. Fink

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How do you respond to phone calls and emails from teachers about your son’s misbehavior? Excerpts of actual emails I’ve received from my son’s teachers: On Tuesday, Sam was sitting in a chair with his legs on a stool, he was flipping it and turning the stool with his legs and feet. I made eye … Continue reading 131: Emails & Phone Calls from Teachers →

130: Homework re-run

September 27, 2018School LifeJennifer L.W. Fink

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HOMEWORK can bring out the worst in us…and our kids. We wonder if we should force them to do it (again) or if we can just stop having them do it all together because the conflict is too great. Is it really important? How do you manage – and help your son manage? In this … Continue reading 130: Homework re-run →

126: Helping Teachers Understand Boys

August 30, 2018School LifePTA, school, teachersJennifer L.W. Fink

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:34 — 31.6MB)

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A listener asked us, “How do you gently encourage/educate your boy’s teacher on what boys need and how to help them, rather than shame them, when they have gone into anger?” The short answer: It ain’t easy, but it’s so, so worth it! Many teachers know very little about the specific developmental trajectory and needs … Continue reading 126: Helping Teachers Understand Boys →