Good News, Bad News, Progress Reports

School has now been in long enough that progress reports are going home. Some parents will be delighted by their student's success. Others will be angry and hurt.

What should you do if you have disappointing news? Here are a few steps:

• Check to see if your school offers a way for you to check grades online daily. That way you can encourage your child to complete missing assignments and limit the surprises. 
• Call the teacher. Not the counselor, administrators, or your friend who works at the school. The classroom instructor is the only one who can really tell you what's going on. 
• Don't call multiple people about the same problem. If you haven't heard back in 48 hours, call an administrator. If you call many staff members at the same time, we begin to think someone else will take care of things. It delays our actions. 
• Hold your child responsible. If there are zeros or incomplete assignments, take away privileges until grades improve. A student suddenly without a cell phone is highly motivated to work. 
• Work with the school to get your child to tutorials. If you need to ask a neighbor or family member for transportation help, do so. 

Thanks!

It's the beginning of a new school year. Anxious parents express concerns that their children won't have the support they need to be successful in school. They make phone calls, send emails, and even visit the school in person to make their worries known.

One word is often left out of these communications.

Thanks.

Teachers often attend classes during their summer vacations to improve their teaching for the upcoming school year. They also spend countless hours of their own time to obtain and prepare their materials. They want everything just right for the beginning of school.

These educators will also provide food to families, make sure kids have glasses and other medical support, help them do their homework, give out school supplies, and provide a listening ear to lonely children. They do this for the love of these little ones.

What keeps them going? A word or two of thanks. Let's set the tone for the year right, with appreciation expressed where it is due.

Book Review - "The Lost Stones" by Paul Rimmasch

Ammon has been researching alternative forms of energy, which attracts some unwanted attention. He has also long been fascinated by the stones created by the brother of Jared and made to glow by the finger of God. He joins forces with John and his beautiful daughter to follow the archaeological clues to find the stones. Will they find the stones? Will they survive natural and man made challenges?

I enjoyed the interaction among the characters in this book. The complex plot keeps you reading, but is not too convoluted. If you're looking for an action-packed adventure fit for the whole family to read, give "The Lost Stones" by Paul Rimmasch a try.

Available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Watch the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTqTSdiXpZU

Learn more about this title at http://www.loststonesbook.com/ and

http://www.facebook.com/theloststones

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Bonneville Books (November 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599558874
• ISBN-13: 978-1599558875