This was the first week of introducing all the new systems and kicking off CRA for 5th grade! I have to say, it went really well. We were both respectful of each other's time - he realized I have to plan my time so that I …

Every year, we do this exercise to ensure that we clearly communicate on his areas of comfort and stretch for learning. The goal at CRA is that we provide ample opportunities to feel safe and comfortable but that we routinely stretch into the yellow so that …

With the start of the new year, and the closing of his Prisma chapter, we made the choice that Chestnut Ridge Academy has truly been the most successful learning environment for him over the years and is our natural choice to serve as a detox from …

This was a difficult week. We began to discuss the transition out of Big Minds and E was in less than stellar of a mood with a lot of negativity and angry words about mom in particular. View fullsize Branding Design View fullsize Its Electric View …

The first week back from a long holiday break with anxious minds now calm as Christmas passed and sadness did not occur. Yet, the complete freedom of long days with Dad and no school expectations left me fearing the worst for Monday morning. I was pleasantly …

As 2022 kicked off, I was determined to bring a bit more structure to CRA. We need to ensure that we are continuing to make progress towards math goals, engage in writing and grammar, and continue to explore great literature. Novel studies seemed to be causing …

We have been struggling with our resource for afternoon enrichments for E for some time. This is a super struggle for me because I know first-hand how critical enrichments are for E. They are the things that truly light him up - that make his world …

The Christmas morning was unlike any we’ve experienced with E. I woke up with the sunrise, fully expecting him to run in singing “Its Christmas” like he has for the past few years. But, I had time to get dressed… and put on makeup… and even …

There is pretty much no other way to state it other than “December Sucks.” The entire month sucks the joy out of our house. It sucks the energy out of us as parents. It sucks the coping strategies out of E. It becomes a mission of …

I know the pandemic is horrible. It brings great suffering to many, pain, and loss. There is no doubt about any of that. 25% of my son’s life has been restricted to the confines of his home. It is hard. But one positive thing that has …