Rewriting Smart

 
 
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

The Homework Battle: What's Really Going On

It's 7:15 on a weeknight. Your child has been sitting at the kitchen table for 45 minutes. The worksheet in front of them is still blank. You've asked, reminded, encouraged, and finally raised your voice. They're slumped in the chair, and you're standing over them wondering how one page of math turned into the longest part of the day.

It's easy to read that scene as defiance. But more often than not, something else is going on…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Setting Up Systems That Actually Stick

Every September, it's the same hopeful ritual. New backpack. Color-coded folders. A planner with a satisfying blank grid, waiting to be filled in with good intentions. There's a real optimism to it — this year will be different. This year, homework will get done without a fight, mornings will run smoothly, and nothing will get lost in the bottom of a backpack.

 And then week three happens.

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Summer and the Family Calendar

I love the anticipation of summer break. Counting down the days is akin to New Year’s Eve, when we have a built in opportunity to reflect and plan for the future. Despite this natural transition, many families opt to “wait until the fall” to start new routines when it comes to organization and time management. This is actually an amazing time to finally jump on creating that family calendar…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Summer Learning Slide isn’t Just for Elementary School

When people talk about the “summer slide,” they’re usually thinking about elementary school students practicing reading and math facts. But the truth is that skill loss over the summer doesn’t stop at third grade. Middle schoolers forget routines, high school students lose…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Executive Functioning to Survive the Long Haul to Spring Break

The stretch between winter break and spring break can feel unbearably long for students. The novelty of the new year has worn off. The weather is often gray and cold. Academic expectations ramp up. For many kids, especially those with executive functioning (EF) challenges, this time of year can be one of the most difficult to navigate. Considering…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Communicating Effectively with Your Child’s Teacher

If you’ve been following our monthly blog, you know that part of our focus over the Thanksgiving holiday and Winter Break has been on comfortable communication in family and school settings. Much of our advice has been geared towards teaching our children to communicate effectively. But sometimes, particularly…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Out With The Old, In With The New

The new year is traditionally a time for reassessing past goals and setting new ones. For those who are still in school, goals for each new year often look the same as the old: sharpen study skills; practice executive function strategies; succeed in school. So why haven’t they worked? Maybe…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Evaluating Last Semester’s Mistakes and Moving Forward for Success

Are you welcoming home a college freshman this winter break? It’s an exciting time, and also a time for adjustment. For sure there will be adjustments in transitioning your relationship from parent/child to parent/young adult. And depending on how successful or how challenging the first semester of college was…

Read More
Kathryn Essig Kathryn Essig

Comfortable Communication

What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Is it turkey? Or maybe travel? No matter what you eat or where you go, Thanksgiving brings families together at the table. And that can bring some uncomfortable conversations to the forefront.

Read More