Author Archives: Steven A. Melnick

How Was School?

It’s been a while since I have written about dinnertime conversations with your children (CLICK HERE).  Recently, particularly in light of the frequency of school shootings and cases of sexual abuse, as parents, we simply need to know more than … Continue reading

Posted in Bullying, Cyberbullying, Dinnertime, Home School Relations, Parent Involvement, Parenting, Role Model, School Quality, Uncategorized | Comments Off on How Was School?

Lollipop Bait: Never lose sight of your child

The following video was shared by a friend on Facebook and I thought it so important that I wanted to post it here.  Please watch and learn the lesson it teaches…. Lollipop Bait

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Poor schools? Parents need to step up to the plate…

by Steven A. Melnick – You can’t help hearing that our schools are failing.  All you need do is tune into the evening news, pick up a newspaper, or listen to talk radio.  The outrage is everywhere and the blame is … Continue reading

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Discipline: Yes, No, and Other Choices

Recently I attended an event with a group of friends that was family-oriented–children, parents, grandparents alike.  About 20 of us gathered for a picnic where each family contributed the usual potato salad, cheese dip, chips, crackers, along with some more substantive hot … Continue reading

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“How was school ?” and other dinnertime conversation

by Steven A. Melnick – When my brother and I were little, you could almost set your watch by when we sat down to eat dinner.  Each evening, when Dad returned from working in the steel mill, dinner was on … Continue reading

Posted in Dinnertime, Early Reading, Parent Involvement, Parenting | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

McBesity: Who’s to blame?

by Steven A. Melnick — There is no question that childhood obesity is on the rise and it has serious consequences.  Now don’t get me wrong.  I’m all for making school meals healthier.  At school, for example, children are a … Continue reading

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Why the Arts Matter…

by Steven A. Melnick — Frank was a student who wasn’t terribly interested in school but seemed to enjoy the social aspects of it and getting into a little mischief now and then.  He exuded a kind of macho persona … Continue reading

Posted in Arts, Parent Involvement, Parenting | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Fire Safety

by Steven A. Melnick — Since 2007, we change our clocks back to Standard Time from Daylight Savings Time on the first Sunday in November.  As the saying goes, spring ahead, fall back.  So on November 7 at 2:00am, the … Continue reading

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Parent-Teacher Conferences…Ask Good Questions

by Steven A. Melnick — Picture the familiar scene of visiting your child’s school during Open House or Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Open House is usually a pretty festive occasion.  Parents are walking the halls perusing the bulletin boards and displays of … Continue reading

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Be a role model…

by Steven A. Melnick — When I taught 4th grade, I used to play the piano in my classroom every day–either in the morning as the students came into the room or, most often, in the late afternoon as they … Continue reading

Posted in Parenting, Role Model, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 5 Comments