Dr. Jean Wright

Physical activity-a requirement, not just a reward. Mental Wellness Check-Ins You Can Build Into Your School Day Academic success and mental wellness are not separate goals — they are the same goal. A child who feels emotionally safe, seen, and supported learns better, retains more, and shows up more fully every day. This is not soft science. This is what the research has confirmed, and what every experienced educator already knows. Here are three simple wellness practices you can start...

Grades and test scores are only part of the picture. How to Know If Your Child Is Thriving — Not Just Passing Grades and test scores tell you what your child knows. They don't always tell you how your child is growing. After 35 years in education, I can say with confidence: the most important signs of a thriving student are often the ones we can't put a number on. Here is what to look for beyond the grade book: 1. Watch for curiosity, not just compliance. A child who asks questions outside of...

Community Resources can "Spice it up." Community Learning: Taking School Beyond Your Four Walls One of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is this: the world is your classroom. Libraries, parks, fire stations, courthouses, community gardens, local businesses — they are all ready to teach your child something a textbook never could. Real-world learning builds the kind of knowledge that lasts a lifetime. Here are three ways to make community learning part of your routine: 1. Connect every...