"And if at first you don't succeed,
Then dust yourself off and try again"

Try Again by Aaliyah

Hello Reader!

💕 Wishing all my subscribers a very happy, belated Mother's Day! 💕

I had an interesting conversation with a parent the other day. Their first grader was doing well in school all year, no signs for concern.

Two weeks ago, they took their NWEA/ MAPs test and BOMBED IT.

Now the parents are stressed. Is there child actually ready for second grade? How can an average student perform so poorly on a test?

This happens all the time. And unfortunately, takes away credibility of teachers and tests everywhere.

Upon further investigation, here's what we learned

• Yes, the child has a few weak spots in math. Nothing some review can't fix
• No, the child is not failing first grade math. We looked back on report cards, other tests, and sent an email to the teacher to confirm this.
• Their child can't use a computer. We found out the test was given on a laptop, and the child had to use a track pad for the first time. He explained how frustrating the test was because he couldn't figure out how to move the mouse and click to tiny multiple choice buttons. It seems he clicked a ton of wrong answers out of frustration. He asked the teacher for help, but she isn't allowed to put in the answers.

You're about to get a ton of data back about your child from standardized tests, report cards, and conferences. As you analyze it, try to look at the big picture and be very suspicious of any "extreme" scores you weren't expecting.

Would you like a 1:1 call to go over your child's test scores or prepare for next year? Just respond to this email for rates and scheduling!

let's just do crosswords instead

What's New?

🎥 Summer Gift Guide: My summer break teacher gift guide is up! I answered common questions like can you buy a teacher alcohol? and how much money do people spend on gift cards?

🖍️ Prepare for Kindergarten: Enrollment is open for the Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten course! This course is ideal for parents with children starting kindergarten this year or next year. It's only $100. If you enroll, I'll give you a free 1:1 call to use now or later. Make sure to reach out if you enrolled.

Things I Love

🛋️ so soft: I bought new throw blankets for my couch and they are soooo soft. This brushed woven throw comes in 5 colors (I got alabaster).

👑 cute storage solution: I got my friend this pretty rattan jewelry holder for her birthday. Such a creative use of rattan and looks great with her aesthetic. Great for small spaces!

🥵 hydration station: now that the weather is heating up, I've stocked up on my fav hydration supplement. When I work out or spend time in the heat, I always have one. Total game changer!

Have a fabulous week friends!