school

Madonna adopted her son, David, from an orphanage in Malawi (where his father left him after his mother died in childbirth), and while she gave him a better life, she wasn’t done helping the people of that country. Her plans to build a girls’ school in Malawi are moving forward, with a task force of four prominent Malawians already on board.

Madonna’s project is said to be on par with what Oprah Winfrey has done in South Africa. It will most definitely be a multi-million dollar project, but I don’t think any of us have any doubts as to whether Madge can foot the bill.

The pop superstar has been involved in other Malawian projects, as well. She produced and narrated a documentary called I Am Because We Are, highlighting the plight of several Malawian children whose mothers died of AIDS. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Madonna said the documentary carried the message that “We are responsible for each other and that if we can help in any way, shape or form, we should.”

Regarding Madonna’s adoption of Malawian-born David Banda, the Malawian courts are expected to rule in her favor today.

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is getting ready to begin a new TV series in which he brings home cooking back where it belongs — in the home. And, he’s starting in Rotherham, which is where he “faced serious opposition to his school dinners campaign from mothers who passed junk food to their children through the school railings.” Were you aware of this controversy? I wasn’t, so let me fill you in:

Oliver has campaigned for more nutritious school dinners for some time now, using his fame (and a TV show) to influence the British government into making changes. He was met with some serious opposition, partly in the form of Julie Critchlow, who has a child in high school, and who says, “No matter how healthy it is, if kids don’t like it they’re not going to eat it.” She and another mother actually went to the school and sold junky fast food options to the kids through the fence so they wouldn’t be forced to eat anything that was actually good for them. Keep in mind, students at this school are also allowed to brown bag or go home for lunch. She was also angry that Oliver was teaching her kids to be more picky about their food.

Anyway, now that Oliver has won the healthy school lunch battle in Britain, he intends to send his message home, teaching people how “to cook simple but delicious food, from scratch.” He’s hoping that folks will realize it can be “quick, cheap, and easy — as well as rewarding,” and families will be ready to toss their take-out in the trash. Oliver realizes that folks are busy and they’re on tight budgets, but part of the problem is that not everyone has really learned to cook. He hopes that by showing people how to go back to basics, they’ll appreciate what they’re putting on the table and begin to live healthier lives.

Thanks, Jamie, for encouraging people all over the world to live healthier lives.

Photo courtesy of starpulse.com

Everyday I get the privilege of seeing how tirelessly teachers work for students. I am often taken aback by the genuine love, dedication and commitment that teachers make on a daily basis. They do things that are so subtle, yet so powerful…things that mold the soul. Teachers of today are caregivers that truly keep the moral compass of our society on track. On a daily basis when I hear my daughter tell stories of how funny and helpful her teacher is, coupled with her knack for bringing learning to life, and I see my daughter eagerly completing assignments and “taking it up a notch” because she wants Mrs. Nixon to be proud of her, well, my hat is off to Mrs. Nixon.

Inevitably, in these days of extreme cutbacks at schools, every teacher spends money from his/her own pocket to go above and beyond for children. I am humbled by the extraordinary nature of teachers. In this mixed up world where we honor someone who can sing more than we do a teacher, maybe this Valentine’s Day would be the perfect time to share the love with your child’s teacher. Speaking from “the inside,” most teachers have more mugs than they know what to do with, and they can’t eat 20 boxes of chocolates. So what about doing something unexpected? A handwritten thank you card from you and your child would be so appreciated, as this personal touch would let her know how much you both care. I still have thank you cards tucked away from my days as a teacher, and occasionally I get them out. They make me cry, and smile, thinking back on a particular child. They also remind me why I got into this business in the first place.

In addition, I plan on tucking in a bottle of Lovely Body Lotion because I love the product, the packaging, and the way it says, “Indulge in something special for yourself! You deserve it!” I can’t imagine a teacher who wouldn’t be tickled pink!

We are living in a time where most students, as young as kindergarten, have homework every night, so what is a parent to do? I often have parents ask me about homework tips. Here are some simple guidelines:

1. Reading should be the MOST important “homework” a child does every evening. Depending on age, children should read a minimum of 20 minutes per evening up to 30 minutes (or more). If your child is a struggling reader, this time can include mom or dad reading a page aloud and the child reading a page. The goal is to instill a love for learning, so seek out books that are interesting and not overwhelming.

2. Keep homework stress free by establishing consistency. Have your child complete his/her homework in the same designated spot each day. Having a good work space stocked with necessary supplies helps children stay focused while working.

3. Establish a consistent time for homework. After a short snack/play break, homework should be the first thing completed at home. If homework is left until after dinner or right before bedtime, it can be a struggle due to fatigue and lack of interest. Many children have sports or other activities right after school, which can make the evening a little more difficult, so plan ahead to get larger assignments out of the way, and start homework right when you get home.

4. If your child is struggling with a particular assignment that seems to be taking too long, or is causing tears/stress, write a note to the teacher at the top of the page and have your child arrive to class a few minutes early to explain the problem and ask for help. Teachers don’t want children working on assignments until all hours of the night, and want to know if a particular problem/assignment was too difficult.

Stay calm while you help your child complete homework and allow your child to do the work. Don’t allow homework to create tension at home, and if it does, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Desk available at Pottery Barn Kids.