Time really does fly!

Time flies.

If you don't think so, try blogging.

Seriously, I had no idea that it has been more than six months since my last post.

Good grief.

If you are a parent, you understand.

The same baby who was just learning how to walk, is now getting ready to walk at graduation or a wedding.

Time has wings--fast, unforgiving wings. And it knows how to use them.

As summer zooms past and the school year looms all to closely ahead, it is never too early to begin focusing on how to make the upcoming school year the most successful one to date.

Consider one simple tactic--writing a letter to your student's teachers about your student. Keep it positive and include all of your contact information.

Yes, your contact information is available to your teachers from the many enrollment forms you have filled out already, but a teacher having it in hand in black and white is always a good thing.

Why do I call writing a letter a tactic? Because it is just that--a tactic to maintain positive communication between the school and the parent. Data shows conclusively that parents who are intentional communicators have students who are more likely to be intentional learners with better understanding, retention, and success in school.

Do not assume your student's teachers will contact you even if there are problems. I can speak from personal experience teachers are very busy and issues slip through the proverbial cracks. Imagine my surprise when a report card came home with a D- just this past school year?

So, join me and write a letter that will set the foundation of success for our students this next school year, but do let's do it before the summer time flies away.

A cancer lesson

We are colleagues--teachers in the same building with some of the same students. Though we are not close friends, when I read her school-wide email announcing she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and soon would be having surgery as well as undergoing treatment, I was deeply saddened.

I had several thoughts. But, you're only 37 years old. You're the picture of health. I can't believe this.What will you tell your students? How will you tell them? When is the last time I had a mammogram?

Thinking she had sent the email from home, I was surprised when I saw her leaving her classroom at the end of the day. We looked at one another and I offered a hug. She smiled and I asked her how she was doing.

She explained she was doing well. The doctors were confident. She was confident. Everyone was determined to be positive.

"I will beat this thing," she told me.

Knowing how much they loved her, I asked her how she would tell her students.

"I already have," she said. "And the best thing is many of them are taking biology, so we were able to talk about cancer and cell division."

"How did they take the news?" I asked processing that my colleague had actually turned her cancer into a biology lesson.

"Fine, though they are worried about me losing my hair, so I told them maybe I could wear one of their hats."

We laughed together. My eyes filled with tears.

"You truly have a teacher's heart," I told her. "Wow...to make your cancer into a biology lesson..."

Together we walked the span of the hallway and said our good-byes.

And I thought about what an honor it is to work with a teacher who in even her darkest moment sees clearly the importance of DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS.

A quick note about an "outloud" resolution

I hate to admit it but I am known for misplacing things--my cellphone, my keys, my purse, my shoes, my car. Yes, my car.

I have decided that 2011 is the year of NOT losing things. So, I am trying something simple and, so far, very effective. For instance, when I put my keys away in my coat pocket, I say outloud, "Keys in coat pocket." If I put my cell phone in my purse, I say outloud, "Cell phone in purse." If I park my car next to J.C. Penneys, I say outloud, "Car parked next to J.C. Penneys."

So far, this has proven very effective though I am still looking for a set of keys I put in a safe place before the holidays and before this resolution. That safe place is somewhere in my house, part of which underwent a complete overhaul with more than 15 bags of stuff going to Good Will. I am hopeful the keys are still in a safe place.

Too bad I can't rewind and say outloud, "Keys in top desk drawer." (I've looked. They are not there.)

What does this have to do with doing what is best for kids?

I challenge you as a parent or teacher to challenge your kid, who frequently becomes frustrated when he or she loses track of things, to try this method of keeping track of a cellphone, keys, or textbooks. Just imagine how much less stressful life would be if we always remembered where things were!

And less stress means doing what is best for kids!