Literacy and Reading: Just 20 minutes a day will set your child up for success
By Josh Eagan | Sep 14, 2020
by Sara Howell, Kids Soar Three out of every five children grow up struggling to read. They fall behind in school making them more likely to drop out of high school, hold a low paying job, and live in poverty as an adult. Kids Soar, a local nonprofit, provides an after-school literacy program so that…
Star City Mini Library presented by Hometown Bank
By Josh Eagan | Sep 5, 2017
Find a Star City Little Library at: Hometown Bank – 3521 Franklin Rd SW -Roanoke, VA 24014 Hometown Bank – 4225 Colonial Ave – Roanoke, VA 24018 Roanoke Ballet Theatre – 1318 Grandin Rd SW – Roanoke, VA 24015 Launching Pad – 1300 Intervale Dr – Salem, VA 24153 Lewis Gale Medical…
Teacher of the Month March 2017: Kimberly Slater
By Josh Eagan | Mar 16, 2017
How long have you been teaching? 2 years What made you decide to become a teacher? Ever since I was in elementary school I have loved learning and wanted to be a teacher. Playing "school" was a typical activity growing up with my friends. I have always enjoyed working with kids and delight in helping…
Teacher of the Month February 2017: Michelle Johnson
Tell us about your family: I live with my husband; Sheldon Johnson and our adopted one-eyed Shih Tzu named Song. Which grades or subjects do you teach and at which school? String Orchestra: 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade in Stonewall Jackson Middle and Lucy Addison Middle Schools How long have you been teaching? This is…
Vroom Into the Star City
By Josh Eagan | Jan 16, 2017
Did you know that the first five years of a child's life are the most important for her brain development? 90% of a person's brain forms before age 5. The connections children's minds make at a very young age set the foundation for their futures. Babies and young kids are constantly learning from everything they…
So, What is Montessori Anyway?
By Tracy Fisher | Sep 2, 2016
Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy. She graduated from the University of Rome as one of Italy's first female physicians at a time when many women never made it past grade school. She became the director of the Orthophrenic School for developmentally disabled children in 1900, where she began to extensively research…
7 ways to keep your child learning this summer
By Tracy Fisher | May 19, 2016
(BPT) – When school dismisses for the summer, parents across the country worry about how much their children will forget over the vacation months. Will all those hours helping them with math and reading dissolve with the carefree hours spent at the pool or playground? "While a break from the long days of school is…
First Night on the Job: Everything a Babysitter Should Know
By Rachel | Jan 21, 2016
The first night babysitting for a new family can be nerve wracking since you're not sure how the kids will react or behave once their parents have left. To help calm the jitters, here are a few questions you should ask before the parents leave. Most kids are sneaky, and quite clever,…
Babysitter Tips for Parents
When looking for a babysitter it is a good idea to start by asking for recommendations. Asking friends, family, coworkers, parenting groups, or from local churches are all good places to start. Ask about the recommended person's gender, age, and experience. Also, it's good to know how the recommending friend knows the babysitter, how long…
R3: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
A lot of families try to switch to more environmentally friendly companies as their share of taking care of the Earth. However, this isn't enough to solve earthly ills like deforestation, global warming, and light pollution. There are a variety of creative ways families can help to decrease our carbon footprints. Reducing the…