Education

Test Taking Stress Busters

By Nathalie Kunin
Nathalie KuninUSE POSITIVE VISUALIZATION. Imagine yourself succeeding. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Visualize yourself taking a test or completing an assignment with feelings of confidence. Tell yourself: “I will do well” instead of “I hope I do well”. Smile and think to yourself: “I’ve got this.” You are relaxed and in control.

TAKE MINI-BREAKS. If you find yourself losing your focus or burning out, stop for a moment and stretch. Flex your arms and feet. Take a deep breath. Use this mini-break to help refocus your thoughts and get back to work. (more…)

Health

Preventing the Flu

Tips on how to stay healthy during the flu season.

By Peter S. Waldstein, M.D. and Julia A. White, M.D.
For those of you who have not had the flu shot, it’s not too late. In addition to the flu shot, here are some tips to share with your family in preventing the flu from coming to your household.

JuliaPrevention of Influenza
Knowing how to protect yourself from illness this winter will be the most important way to keep your family healthy. People who have influenza are thought to be shedding the virus from around 1-2 days before symptoms appear to about 5-7 days after symptoms start. This can vary, however, especially in children. The H1N1 and seasonal influenza viruses spread through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Someone then comes into contact with these and touches his/her mouth, eyes, or nose before washing the hands and becomes infected. The influenza viruses are thought to be able to live on environmental objects for several hours after being deposited. (more…)

Lifestyle

Haunting Halloween Recipes

By Catherine McCord
Pizza MummiesPizza Mummies (serves 2)

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 8 mins
  • 2 english muffins, cut in half
  • 8 teaspoons pizza sauce
  • 2 mozzarella cheese sticks
  • 3 green olives with pimentos

(more…)

Education

Overcoming Learning Disorders

Does your child need a traditional tutor or an educational therapist?

By Nathalie Kunin
Nathalie KuninMany parents ask us whether their child would benefit from educational therapy instead of traditional tutoring. Each child is unique and has different needs that are addressed by different types of tutors. Educational therapists are highly trained individuals who work with students of all ages who are having difficulty learning in the traditional manner. Educational therapists have specialized training that enables them to identify and treat learning disorders and differences that interfere with the learning process. They are able to diagnose and treat students by utilizing different teaching modalities in order to improve, correct or overcome these disabilities. (more…)

Health

Relieving Mommy Back Pain

Is it sciatica or pelvic girdle pain (PGP)?

By Jennifer Posen
JenniferMore than half of all pregnant women experience some, if not, a significant degree of pelvic and lower back discomfort during their term. And when lower back pain radiates into the buttocks and thighs, it’s often labeled as “sciatica”, a condition that is actually relatively uncommon.

True sciatica, which can be caused by a herniated or budging disc in the lower spine, affects only about 1% of all pregnant women. (more…)

Education

Gain Confidence in Math

Tips on how to improve your child’s math scores.

By Angela John
Angela JohnSchool is starting and your child will be embarking on new learning adventures. Each year, as your child advances in math, the curriculum continues to build upon itself. Starting the school year with a solid math foundation is crucial to succeeding.

We believe that “mathing” year round with your kids is just as important as reading to them. Students should engage regularly in age appropriate math-related tasks to keep their computational skills and numerical fluency fresh and on point. Cooking (working with units of measure, ratio, and proportion), shopping (calculating percentages and making change) and playing math games are all acceptable activities. Get creative! (more…)