"Don't you mess around with me"

Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar

Hey Reader!

Most of you are settled into the new school year- so you may be seeing some issues starting. Take it from me, a former teacher, you want to jump on these things now...

🚩 Low Test Scores: If test scores and school performance suddenly drop- reach out.

Your child may have had summer learning loss and need support to relearn last year's content. You want to jump on any gaps early so your child won't fall behind.

It's also possible the teacher is judging your child against end of year goals....annoying, but also a relief. This means they are supposed to score low at the beginning of the year.

🚩 Their Confidence has Taken a Hit: Is your baby suddenly complaining that they aren't smart, not good at reading, or they have no friends? Reach out to their teacher ASAP with concerns.

Sometimes it takes a little collaboration behind the scenes. Explain your baby needs a win, and ask their teacher to give your kiddo a confidence boost. Then- follow up the next week with your observations...and if needed the week after that.

🚩 Unusual Punishments: Scratching your head as to why your child got in trouble? Reach out! Simply let the teacher know you heard the child go in trouble but you're missing part of the story OR you're unsure of discipline policies.

As a former teacher I'll let you in on a secret- I was far less lenient at the beginning of the year. If I gave a warning and the child continued, I always followed through with discipline. By being strict in September, I was investing in the entire school year. Kids (and people in general!) are always looking for ways to bend rules...but September was not the time!

Need Help Problem Solving?

What's New?

🍎 Next Week!: Will I see you at the next Kindergarten School Talk workshop? It's application season- come learn about great options in Charlotte and how to navigate the confusing process.

👟 On the run: Im training to run 10k on my birthday (Oct 3). I ran 10k in 2017, but haven't gone that far since. I've cracked 4.5 miles, and am trying to root myself on to make the full 6.2. I exclusively run outdoors. Any tips appreciated! I enjoy running, but it's intimidating.

🎥 New Vid: I dropped my newest Banned Book Video- this one discusses a scary supreme court case that could have schools purging books from their libraries. Watch and comment with the red crayon 🖍️ so I know you were there!

Things I Love

🧇 Cozy for Fall: I bought this cute waffle knit hoodie. It's cozy, it's oversized, and cute (order TTS or size down). Best part? It's under $20​

🚩 Clean your dirty water bottles: When's the last time your stainless steel water bottle had a good cleaning? Is it stained from drinking ice tea (*cough instead of water)?? Owala makes these great cleaning tablets that sanitize and remove stains from their drinks. Trust me, you need this. ​

Take care of yourself!