Education With TSB

🚸 Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Let’s Talk! 🚸

Kindergarten readiness isn’t about memorizing letters or counting to 100—it’s about developing the social, emotional, and motor skills that help kids succeed in a classroom setting.
✅ Can they follow simple directions?
✅ Do they play and interact with other kids?
✅ Can they express needs and handle small tasks independently?

If so—they’re on the right track! But if you have concerns, don’t wait. Early childhood screenings and support can help close developmental gaps before they become challenges in school.

💬 What questions do you have about kindergarten readiness? Drop them below! 👇

🚨 Just Because a Child “Seems Fine” at School... Doesn’t Mean They Are. 🚨

Some students follow the rules, stay quiet, and seek approval—but beneath the surface, they may be masking anxiety, executive function struggles, sensory overload, or emotional exhaustion.

This is why behavior isn’t always the best indicator of a child’s well-being. Some kids hold it together all day and then melt down the moment they get home. Others experience school avoidance, physical symptoms, or extreme fatigue.

💡 As educators and parents, we need to look beyond compliance and ask:
🔹 Are they truly thriving, or just surviving?
🔹 Do they seem exhausted, irritable, or withdrawn at home?
🔹 Do they express distress about school in subtle ways (headaches, stomachaches, avoidance)?
Masking is not a sign that a child is “fine”—it’s a sign they are working extra hard just to keep up. The more we recognize this, the better we can support all students.

✨ Drop a ❤️ if you’ve seen this in your students or your own child.

The Seder is all about asking questions. 🤔✡️

Why do we recline? Why do we dip twice? And of course… why do we break the middle matzah into two "halves" and somehow end up with a bigger half? 🍞➗🤨

Mathematically, it doesn’t make sense. But tradition isn’t always about logic—it’s about meaning, memory, and connection.
As educators, we teach kids to think critically, to question, and to seek answers. But we also help them understand that some things—like culture, tradition, and family customs—don’t always fit neatly into a lesson plan.

At the Passover table, we embrace both: asking questions AND honoring tradition. Have a joyous Passover!

🧠 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 = 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. But too often, kids are pushed to memorize facts before they truly understand numbers.

🔢 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲?
It’s a child’s ability to think flexibly about numbers—understanding how they work, relate, and can be manipulated. Without it, even kids who memorize facts may struggle with real problem-solving.

🚩 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲:
- Counting on fingers for basic facts (even after lots of practice).
- Difficulty estimating reasonable answers.
- Trouble seeing number patterns (like 5 + 3 being related to 50 + 30).
- Struggles with place value & understanding how numbers fit together.

💡 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲:
✔️ Use number talks: Ask, “How many ways can we make 10?”
✔️ Encourage mental math strategies over rote memorization.
✔️ Play with numbers—ask “What happens if we add 1 more?”
✔️ Use games with dice, ten frames, and number lines to make numbers visual!

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗱—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁! Drop a ✖️ or ➕ in the comments if you’ve seen these struggles in your child or students!

The Passover Seder is designed to engage everyone at the table—through stories, questions, songs, and hands-on traditions. Sound familiar? That’s because𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴!

One of the most famous parts of the Seder is the 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, each representing a different type of learner:
👩‍🎓 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 – Asks big, thoughtful questions and wants to dive deep.
🤔 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 – Pushes back, needs to know why things matter.
😊 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 – Learns step by step and benefits from clarity.
🧸 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘀𝗸 – Needs extra support and guidance to engage.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: Every child learns differently, and it’s our job—whether as parents or teachers—to meet them where they are. Some kids thrive on deep discussions, while others need small steps. Some challenge everything (and that’s okay!), while others need help finding their voice.

At the Seder table and in the classroom, the goal is the same: 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱.

💬 Which “child” were you growing up? And which do you see in your students or kids? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️✨

As Passover approaches (T-1 week!), I'm sharing a few of my favorite children's books that bring the holiday to life—through humor, heart, tradition, and even a curious little mouse. 🐭💫

Each of these stories offers something unique:
➡️ A reminder of the importance of every child’s voice at the Seder table
➡️ A behind-the-scenes peek into how matzah is made
➡️ Tales of family traditions, chaos, and creativity
➡️ Conversations about empathy, freedom, and community

Whether you're reading with your own kids, students, or just revisiting old favorites, these books help spark meaningful connections—between the past and present, between Jewish identity and everyday life.

Which of these have you read? What stories are part of your Passover tradition? Let me know below!👇

🚨 Big Changes in Education—What You Need to Know 🚨

In recent weeks, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and shift power back to states. While Congress must approve a full shutdown, this move marks a major shift in federal education policy—and it has big implications for students, teachers, and families.

📌 What This Means:
🔹 States will gain full control over education policies, funding, and curriculum.
🔹 Federal oversight of special education, civil rights protections, and funding programs could shift to other departments.
🔹 DOE funding can no longer support DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives or policies related to gender identity.

💡 Why It Matters:
This could change how schools operate, impact special education services, and alter who enforces education laws at the federal level. The role of state and local governments in education just got even bigger.

💬 What do you think about this shift? Should education be a state decision, or does the federal government play an important role? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

A school should be more than a building—it should be a haven. Every student deserves a safe space to learn and grow, free from fear or discrimination. Let’s keep advocating for schools that welcome and protect all children.

If you’re wondering, “Should I get my child evaluated?”—this post is for you.

Trusting your gut as a parent is important, and so is trusting the expertise of educators when they raise concerns. Evaluations don’t mean labels or lifelong struggles; they mean understanding. The earlier you identify a challenge, the sooner you can provide the right support—and the more confidence your child can retain.

Waiting too long can widen learning gaps and impact self-esteem. It’s not about rushing into an evaluation at the first sign of difficulty, but also not brushing concerns aside. If a teacher suggests digging deeper, it’s not about finding something wrong—it’s about finding the right tools to help your child succeed.

💬 Have you ever hesitated to get an evaluation? What helped you decide?

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹—𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽

✋ Raise your hand if math ever made you anxious as a kid. Now imagine that same feeling, but in a high-pressure test or fast-paced lesson. 😰

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿. And when kids feel anxious, their brain literally shuts down the ability to problem-solve. That’s why it’s so important to help kids build math confidence early.

🚨 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆:
Avoiding math or saying, “I’m just bad at math.”
Freezing up or panicking during tests.
Getting stuck on small mistakes & feeling overwhelmed.

✅ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽:
✔️ Normalize mistakes: “Mistakes help your brain grow!”
✔️ Avoid timed tests—speed ≠ understanding.
✔️ Use hands-on visuals to build confidence (manipulatives, number lines).
✔️ Talk about math positively! Kids pick up on our attitudes.

💬 Have you seen math anxiety in your students or child? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

🎤 Yesterday at the Everyone Reading Conference, I had the amazing opportunity to present alongside Ibijoke Akinola on thinkSRSD and how it pairs seamlessly with High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIMs).

💡 We shared how ThinkSRSD builds writing confidence, enhances HQIMs, and is research-backed to help students write more and write better! Seeing educators excited about bringing these strategies into their classrooms was incredible.

👏 Plus, it was such a treat to see Judy Boksner and Faith Borkowsky from The Literacy View Podcast—it's always wonderful to connect with like-minded educators who are just as passionate about literacy!

📖 Have you used ThinkSRSD in your teaching? Let’s chat in the comments! ⬇️