Kids and Manners

I often hear adults discussing how our society is now void of manners.  We live in a time in which basic common courtesy seems rare.  Many of us long for an environment where simple respect and human decency are not oddities.  As parents, we can certainly help create a culture that is more mindful of manners. We can raise a generation in which basic manners are the cornerstone of building earnest compassion and empathy for others.  After all, compassion and empathy are the traits that will inspire us as a society to thoughtfully solve large scale problems.  Please enjoy the following article that provides practical ways to help children develop mindful manners.

Teaching Manners--It Still Matters: How to Teach Good Manners

What Makes Students Like School?

What are some of the key indicators that a child will like school?  A football field with astro turf? A state of the art theater?  Brand new text books?  An extensive hot lunch selection?  It turns our that children are much more emotionally sophisticated than to be pacified with the material aspects of a school.  Instead, students long to be heard.  They want to be at a school in which teachers, peers and administrators know them personally.  Children long to be a part of a school in which they feel connected and they are allowed to speak freely and be heard.  Giving students a voice is truly what makes ULS shine!  Read more here about what makes kids actually like school.  

Why Kids Like to Go to School and Why the Don't.

Integrated Studies

During the 2016-17 School Year, ULS has incorporated an all school integrated study unit about water. The study includes examining water through a scientific and environmental lens, in addition to looking at the symbolism of water in poetry and literature and visual art.  Integrated studies have been an educational approach for a long time, but the small size of ULS makes them especially robust. Enjoy the attached article that outlines some of the basic principles of the integrated studies strategy.

An Introduction to Integrated Studies

Kids and Curiosity 

Curiosity is a nebulous trait.  Unlike tangible skills such as mastery of multiplication facts, curiosity is hard to quantify and measure.  Regardless of its' ethereal nature, we know curiosity is one of the key ingredients to cultivating life long learning. Fostering curiosity in all students promotes a society of on-going innovation and improvement as students become adults.  At ULS, this understanding of the importance of curiosity is at the core of our curriculum and teaching methods.  Our teachers are experts at flaming the fires of curiosity in ULS students.  Read  more about the importance of cultivating curiosity  in this PBS article.

Let's Find Out! Three Tips to Raising Curious Kids.

ULS Parent Book Read, " The Soul of Discipline" by Kim John Payne M.Ed.

As parents we often struggle with what approach to use to "discipline" our children.  We aspire to raise respectful and well behaved adults but we do not want to come down on our children as authoritative tyrants.  "The Soul of Discipline" outlines parenting techniques that meet children at their developmental stage.  This book by Kim John Payne is the current ULS Parent Book Club selection. See the attached summary of this thought provoking book and be inspired to read this practical parenting book.

The Soul Of Discipline

We all know it is important to foster independence in our children if we want them to be productive and happy adults, but often times our fast paced lives interfere.  Read this article for some practical advice on how to promote your child to be more independent.

Teaching Kids to Be More Independent

What are the 6 + 1 Writing Traits?

The day prior to Thanksgiving Break, a group of recent ULS alumni visited campus to share with our 7th through 12th graders how to best prepare for college.  This is a really powerful tradition because our students can relate to the young adult college students and they genuinely listen to these role models.  One of our recent alumni discussed how well prepared she was to write collegiate level papers.  She felt her writing skills were developed to a high degree from the 6 + 1 Trait process taught at ULS.  So, what is the 6 + 1 Trait process?  Why is it so effective?  Watch the following YouTube video made by a North Carolina school teacher that outlines the effective strategy.

6 + 1 Writing Traits