

Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 30, 2016
Help for your child doesn't start with special ed
Learning follows a developmental process and every child progresses at his or her own pace. All educational objectives follow a range of performance. In order to determine if your child needs instructional support, ask your child's teacher to provide you with the following information: Performance scores on universal screenings Data on classroom-based assessments Behavioral information across educational settings Request a parent/teacher conference to discuss your child's pe


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 25, 2016
Trust Your Instincts
Parents have an instinctual advantage on the needs of their children. While physicians, teachers, and therapists can all provide valuable insights, if you don’t feel like you’re being heard, or your child’s needs are being met, it’s very reasonable to seek out additional resources on behalf of your child. When your children are struggling in school, there are simple home supports that can make a meaningful difference: Teach kids that their “job” at school is to learn Disting


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 21, 2016
The Gift of "Support" For Parents
Being a parent is the largest most comprehensive job any person can ever hope to accomplish. It is a 24/7; lifetime role that begins at birth and its end point is undefined. Children come into our lives as these "possibilities" yet to be determined. Will she be a doctor, who will he marry, what college will she attend, who will their friends be, where will they live, and most important, can I give them everything that they need? As parents, we want to give our children "eve


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 17, 2016
Teach "Thankfulness" As A Part Of All Thanksgiving Celebrations
With Thanksgiving approaching, thoughts extend to the affective qualities of being “grateful". As we gather together and talk with our children about the feelings associated with thankfulness, parents and educators must consider whether their children comprehend the feelings associated with this holiday. In this complex society, it may not be reasonable to expect children to understand and demonstrate the behaviors associated with appreciation and gratitude. Some children


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 15, 2016
The "Power" of Communication
Never underestimate the "power" of your knowledge as a parent. No one knows your son or daughter in the way that you know him or her; most notably, your student's strengths and capacities for future accomplishments. As an experienced educator, I remember doctors telling my husband and myself about "all of the things that our daughter would NEVER be able to do". We chose to listen, but not to be defined by those limitations; rather, we chose to believe in the "possibilities


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 13, 2016
Plan for a Happy Holiday
Tips For A Happy Holiday Season Teach your child names of guests ahead of time: Show your child pictures of relatives and friends before the party starts. Remind children if they have met the guests before and explain their relationship. Create a schedule of events for the party: Show your child photos from last year to provide a visual reminder. Also, create a schedule that will show your child the planned order of events. He or she can even use this schedule to check event


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 10, 2016
Celebrate Student Abilities
Kids are "hard wired" to learn, but everyone learns at their own pace and has their own strengths and weaknesses. As we put away the Halloween costumes and prepare for the holidays, parent/teacher conference season is upon us. It is at these meetings that parents first learn about any struggles their children might be experiencing at school. While this information is critically important and parents must be included in the subsequent decision making to support their childr


Pepi M. Silverman
- Nov 8, 2016
Vote For Your Children's Education
As we exercise our right to vote, Bridge Educational Advocacy encourages everyone to consider the impact of government on public education. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (sometimes referred to using the acronyms EAHCA or EHA, or Public Law (PL) 94-142) was enacted by the United States Congress in 1975. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a four-part (A-D) piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided