“What are you doing here?” Unclear, I responded “Waiting for math class like everyone else.” “But what are you doing HERE?” he asked once again. Confused, I repeated the same answer. Now visibly upset and frustrated at my lack of understanding, he speaks much slower and in an exaggerated tone and asks, “No, but what did you […]
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In French class this week Madame Shetter brought in a bowl full of snow and the students followed directions in French in order to cooperate and build a Bonhomme de neige right there in the classroom!
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As the Head of an Elementary School, parents of elementary students often ask me questions such as: “We are consistently tardy for school. Why is it so challenging for my child to get out the door on time in the morning?” and “They are taking so long to complete homework at night and causing stress for […]
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Coming out of several years of a pandemic has certainly indicated a greater need for mental, emotional, behavioral, social, and overall psychological support. As we search for effective ways to help ourselves, our students/children, and our family members navigate increased stress, depression, and anxiety (to name a few), there is a wonderful tool at our […]
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In 2007, former Middle School Head, Scott Alexander, completed the final steps to make the BCD Middle School an approved International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) World School. At the time, IB MYP schools were relatively uncommon, especially in the Boulder area. While the roots of IB can be traced to Europe, today there […]
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American history has disproportionately reflected the experiences and achievements of those belonging to dominant groups within our larger American society. Within the last century, the efforts of many, including human rights and social justice advocates have led to gained recognition for various underrepresented groups through the establishment of events and celebrations that honor and promote […]
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In BCD’s Athletics program, students develop athletic skills, build self-esteem, and learn team leadership skills. They also explore the meaning of discipline, commitment, resilience, and hard work. The supportive team environment encourages students to be themselves and to take risks, powerful lessons that easily translate off the court or field. “Athletics, in general, has shaped […]
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Most importantly, remember and acknowledge that your kids are experiencing their middle school years in the midst of a pandemic. They have not had a normal school year since 2018-2019. For our 7th and 8th graders, that was in 4th and 5th grade, respectively. For some, the anxiety of just being around other people has become a normal way of life. There may still be some trepidation in getting together with friends and socializing like we did in 2019, and that is okay. We are extremely lucky to have been in person last school year, and we have had a successful opening to our current school year. Some students may still be adjusting to a more normal school year. It is helpful to create opportunities for conversations about day-to-day experiences to help them through this time in their lives. It is also important to know when to push the pause button and give ourselves and our kids the time they need when life becomes too overwhelming. We often hear that kids are resilient. As adults during this pandemic, our resiliency may seem to have waned from time to time. If this is true for adults, how can we expect our kids to be resilient? Resiliency is something that is taught. It is more than opening a math book and memorizing the times tables. It is being aware of the needs of your child. It is talking with your child about his/her needs and how to overcome them. With time, they begin to recognize and use those strategies on their own. There is no set curriculum to teach kids how to be resilient but continue to be patient and do what is best for your child. With time, our kids will not only learn to be resilient, they will thrive.
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I had the opportunity to welcome all of our Middle School students back yesterday, and it was absolutely wonderful to be with them. Our literal circle always feels like family, and just standing in it is incredibly grounding.
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As summer break approaches parents often ask what are some ways they might support their child to stay engaged in their learning? Helping your children to master their basic math facts with automaticity is a practical and effective strategy to enhance their overall success in math. Basic math facts are the sums and products of […]
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