The Dime Imperative, LLC

One of the best gifts we can give our kids is not to tell them what to think, but to teach them HOW to think. If we prevent them from an opposing viewpoint, we're preventing them from strengthening their own argument. Kids need to learn what it is they think about a topic, understand the opposing side, then formulate a response that validates and supports their position. In doing so, we're fostering thoughtful students and ultimately thoughtful dialogue. Let's develop their courage and confidence.

Summer Work Blues?
Do you have summer reading to do and don't know where to start?
Do you have AP Social Studies coursework to do before the fall and are stuck?
We can help! We can develop a timeline, break the work up into manageable tasks, and analyze the information assigned together to aid in comprehension. You don't have to do it alone! Call us and we'll schedule an intake to get you started!

It's never too late to join The Dime Imperative! With schools and school boards not adjusting to the numbers along with the rest of society, we know families are getting more frustrated. We can help you move to homeschooling, acquire materials, and formulate a calendar and unit and lesson plans. It's doable. Join us!

As we inch closer to the end of the 1st Quarter of the school year, ask yourself: Are your kids happy at school? Are they picking up on the back and forth among the adults in education? Would you like for them to focus on learning, and JUST learning? Or maybe you feel they aren't quite caught up on the learning they missed out on the past year and a half and feel they could benefit from content or study skill development.

The end of the marking period is a good time to take stock and determine if you want to continue to go forward with the school year as it is, or elect to homeschool with 1:1 support for your child and YOU!

The Dime Imperative can help, with individualized lesson plans, unit plans and calendars and a focus on mindset management and skill development.

DM or email me at [email protected] to schedule a free 30-minute consultation and let's get started!

Kids working with The Dime Imperative also do this.....

I've heard from lots of families who are concerned about their kids' academic skill development given how wonky the last 2+ school years have been. I hear you. At the Dime Imperative, we can work together to gauge which skills could use a boost, be they content specific or general study and organization skills. And we can use your child's current curricular content so they don't feel overwhelmed. PM or email at [email protected] to schedule a free 30 minute consultation. We're here to help!

This is exactly what I've been talking about. We don't want to admit our kids are struggling, because it's painful and it flies in the face of the narrative we've built for ourselves. But our own fears are hurting our kids. So we can say the internet is full of false information and roll our eyes, but what are we going to do now, with one of the leading children's hospitals in the nation admitting there is a major issue? This wasn't hard to see coming. But a lack of "medical expertise" leads folks to assume anything contrary to the narrative is wrong, or irresponsible.

I was in education for over 25 years. And in the last few years, I've seen, with my own two eyes, the struggles of students and their families. If you no longer want your kids to breathe in germs that a children's hospital is admitting is more dangerous to kids than that which is leading schools to require face coverings, if you want your kids to have an alternative path educationally to preserve their mental health, I can help. I'm working with families to not only navigate homeschooling, but to thrive and succeed. Kids are learning and enjoying. They are succeeding. It's not too late. You can start any time. Let's do this together.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/chop-record-high-occupancy-pandemic-drives-rsv-mental-health-cases-20210930.html?fbclid=IwAR02QNTUdkpkpHGaVqufxF_2Il5ZIA85taMIUp8muhxZbleexssbTBE7n4c

CHOP’s beds are overflowing, but not because of COVID-19 Pandemic fallout continues to play out in unexpected ways.

"Dave and I finally met Mr. Silva at an IEP meeting for our oldest daughter. Her first weeks were overwhelming and having transferred in as a sophomore, she felt that she was light
years behind her peers. Mr. Silva was able to connect with her on that level, being in only his second year there, and worked together with the IEP team to provide her with meaningful and appropriate supports. Mr. Silva did not disappear between meetings. He made it a point to check-in with E, both to reassure her that she was not alone and to reinforce that she was making great progress. Throughout E’s three years, Mr. Silva was her biggest cheerleader, and we are immensely grateful for his personalized approach and tireless dedication to his students. Our family has been truly blessed to have Mr. Silva be a cornerstone in our daughters’ education. We can only hope this opportunity is afforded to other parents and their children." Neely S., Parent

Hi, All - Below is a parent testimonial. If you are ready for an alternative to the stressful educational environment in which your kids find themselves, I am here to help. Kids deserve to learn stress-free, and I can help take the stress of homeschooling from parents too! I work with families to coordinate a homeschooling plan that satisfies state standards and takes the work off parents' plates. More importantly, your child will be working with someone who gives them the time, attention, and respect they deserve. Email me at [email protected] to schedule your free 30 minute consultation.

"Amy and I have often said that had you not been the person responsible for setting Will 'straight' there is no way he'd be recruited to D3 college lacrosse. He then probably would not have gotten into college at all. His life would be very different had he not walked into your office that day and you were so good and reasonable with him.
Rest assured Amy and I will always be grateful to you for how well you handled him." - Will S., Parent

There is a lot that worries me about kids and education today. They are certainly not getting the less stress, less drama version that we got. Things weren’t always rosy when we went to school - bullying, peer pressure, way too much homework, memorization vs. learning, just to name a few. We’ll say it toughened us up and made us stronger, but if we’re honest, it sucked. Schools do a better job with that stuff today than when they turned a blind eye to it in our day, so I don’t want to sound as though it’s all bad. Kids are learning more today and in a way that helps them more than we ever did. That should be recognized and celebrated.

But what kids ARE seeing today that we really didn’t have to see back then is the drama, arguing, and stress among the adults that are supposed to shield them. Masking, vaccinations, curriculum - all fair game and points worth working out, don’t get me wrong, but if we’re really honest with ourselves, it’s taking a major toll on our kids. They pay attention, they hear, they pick up on our social cues, our moods, our stress. I don’t have an answer to any of it, but it’s vital that we recognize that our kids are caught in the middle.

Here’s what I worry about the most. With that stress, that awareness that things aren’t totally ok, and that their school environment is a topic of intense debate, comes the continued message that they can get sick from their friends and teachers, or they can be the ones that get them sick. It’s wearing on them more than many of us want to admit. And for those of us who don’t believe that’s the case because, as I saw in the news the other day, “they don’t complain; it seems to be an adult problem….” I suggest the following:

Put your mask on when your kids get on the bus. For many of us, that’s 6:45 am. Do NOT take it off until 10:15 for any reason. Step outside and take it off for 15 minutes, but do NOT go near anyone for more than a few seconds. Right at 15 minutes, put your mask back on. At noon, take it off again for 15 minutes to eat lunch. Make sure you are appropriately distanced from any friends. Discourage yourself from talking to your friends too much, as it’s not safe. After 15 minutes for lunch, put your mask back on and keep it there until 3:45 pm when the bus returns. So for those nine hours, you’ll have a “mask break” for two 15 minute periods. Do that five days in a row and let me know how you feel.

I don’t say that to be dramatic - that’s the reality for kids. Teachers get a prep period and a contract-protected 30 minute lunch, sometimes back to back. Administrators can close their door and take their mask off in their office for stretches at a time. Trust me, I did the same thing. Most adults at work can do that. The ONLY group that cannot is kids.

The news isn’t totally wrong; kids aren’t complaining very much. Should they tell the teacher who keeps reminding them to put it up? Should they tell the principal who might send them home in embarrassment? Or should they tell the parent who is amped (either way) to the point of upsetting them even more? Kids aren’t stupid. They learn to keep their heads down and their mouths shut - covered or uncovered. They don’t want to be part of the drama. They just want to go to school and be with their friends.

Kids have told me how they don’t feel great at the end of the day. They tell me how they can’t wait to get off the bus to rip that thing off their faces. They tell me they’re afraid to say anything because they don’t want to get in trouble or be made to feel like a bad person. You can call me an alarmist, a bad person, a bad role model, whatever you want. But I’d be hesitant to call these kids liars. They’re not. And they’re hurting. But they’re afraid to tell you. As the adults in the room, we need to rethink what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. And we need to actually put kids first ahead of our fears. Now.