November 9-13 is the National Association of School Psychologists annual School Psychology Awareness week. The theme this year is Connect the Dots and Thrive. To kick off the week, we at Families on the Home Front feel it is important for parents and educators to understand the role of the school psychologist as it pertains to military-connected students. Becky Harris, NCSP and Managing Partner at Families on the Home Front, shares her perspective on the role a school psychologist plays in a … [Read more...]
Six Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day with Children
For many, Veterans Days is just another holiday on the school or work calendar. But for those who serve and have sacrificed (and their families), it’s more than a day off work. It’s important for those – especially children – outside the military community to connect with this meaningful and symbolic day. Children’s perspectives and cognitive abilities are limited. They are unable to understand the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women or the concept of risking one’s life to voluntarily … [Read more...]
ParentCamp USA: Through My (Mom of 2 Military-Connected Kids) Lens
When I received an email about ParentCampUSA from my Managing Partner with the subject line “GO TO THIS,” I RSVP’d immediately. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to go to a camp for parents at the Department of Education? As I read more about the objective for ParentCampUSA, I realized I could not pass up the opportunity to go to a conference dedicated to helping me become more engaged in my children’s education. Really? Someone out there besides me thinks I should be engaged with the system that is … [Read more...]
Nurture These Character Traits In Your Child To Prevent Bullying
A parent can play an important role in preventing bullying by nurturing character traits in their child. A child of character who exhibits moral character, behavior which influence one’s conduct regarding their treatment of other people, demonstrates respect, empathy, fairness, generosity, tolerance, kindness, and integrity toward other people. Remember, on your parenting journey what you say and do matter immensely, and you play a significant role in your child’s character … [Read more...]
Scare Up Some Friends, It’s Time to BOO!
A perfect way to get your neighborhood in the spirit of Halloween! I’ll never forget my first time. It was the witching hour in my home – bedtime with toddlers. I had just finished giving my Irish-twins their bath when my doorbell rings. My spine stiffened. My husband was still at work in the black hole we called the Pentagon. I don’t know anyone in my neighborhood; I just moved here a few months before. Why is someone ringing my doorbell? Don’t they know it’s 7 pm – that’s so close to … [Read more...]
Parents Need to Know the Military-Connected Children’s Educational Bill of Rights
Military-connected children have educational rights. They may not be called educational rights in any law or policy, but the intent behind the Military Children’s Interstate Compact Commission (MIC3) is the same – a fair treatment of military-connected kids in public schools. See the full Compact here. Our military-connected children encounter a plethora of challenges and obstacles when transferring schools. The Compact provides for the uniform treatment of military children transferring … [Read more...]
4 Ways Parents Can Prevent Bullying
As a school psychologist, Bully Prevention wasn’t relegated to a month of awareness. It was a topic we addressed all year long. As a professional it was a frustrating topic because although we could implement effective school wide strategies it always felt we were a few steps behind intervening. As a parent it is heart breaking reading the stories from victims of bullying. That being said since MY children weren’t bullies, and MY children weren’t victims I haven’t thought much about the topic … [Read more...]
Top 8 Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferences
The first quarter of school is quickly coming to an end and with that will be Parent-Teacher Conferences. At my kids’ middle school, they have something called “Touching Bases.” It's a three-hour block of time where all the teachers gather in a giant room, and all the parents run from teacher to teacher getting their “conference” about their child. I have two kids with six teachers each; that’s 12 teachers I will meet with. I have no idea what to expect. It sounds like speed dating; it sounds … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know: The Military Student Data Identifier
What is the Military Student Data Identifier? Currently, there is no reliable and consistent data available on the academic well-being of our military-connected children. Although the Department of Defense tracks military-connected children in other ways through deployments or physical exams, there is no data available to track how well our children are doing in school. In 2014, the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission made sweeping recommendations for changes … [Read more...]
9 Easy Ways to Welcome a New Military Family
Welcome Neighbor! The moving truck is gone; there are signs of life coming from the house down the street. It could be another military family or maybe it’s a civilian family. Regardless, as a military spouse, we know what it feels like to be the new family on the block. So, why not build some good karma and be the first to welcome them? Make a difference to a new family by giving them a little welcome to the “hood” gift. Here are nine simple, creative and inexpensive gifts and gestures … [Read more...]
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