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"I dreamed of a world where kids would go to good schools, right in their neighborhoods, with small class sizes and wonderful art and music and physical education programs; where methods of teaching were melded and understandable to parents, students and teachers alike. Where people could feel a part of their school community and their neighborhood at the same time. Where I wouldn’t feel sheepish when I said the name of the school that my kids go to, to my public school friends, and to the friends who hadn’t gotten into the school. I dreamed of a world where I could hold my head up high and truly believe that every kid was getting a great education, which I believe is the absolutely most important thing in life."

—by Nanci Olesen,
NOW YOU MOMbo, The School Show

Mom, They’re Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems by Michael Thompson, Lawrence J. Cohen, with Catherine O’Neill Grace, Ballantine Books

From the book: "Childhood can be a traumatic time. Kids frequently face peer rejection, name-calling, bullying, after-school fights, esteem crushing cliques, and malicious exclusion by the popular kids... this is a specific hands-on guide for concerned parents who want to give their children the tools they need to cope with social cruelty..."

Michael Thompson spoke at our school recently and I was impressed with his breadth of knowledge about school kids and their social interactions. This is a helpful book to have on hand.
http://www.michaelthompson-phd.com

"Great Schools.net"
I find this site to be a bit perplexing because of the ads that keep popping up, but I found the content to be helpful. When I was choosing a school for my child I did not have the use of the internet at my fingertips. You probably know better than I do what a HUGE and great resource the net is.... Go ahead and check out this site as you enter the conundrum of what you need to think about and know:
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/wi/93/

"Choosing a School: Considering Family Needs and Values"
Within the Greatschools.net site I found this article. I found it helpful. It is written by GreatSchools.net "content partners."
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/wi/307/improve

KidStress: Effective Strategies Parents Can Teach Their Kids for School, Family, Peers, the World—and Everything by Georgia Witkin, Penguin Books
Children today experience more stress and more feelings of vulnerability and anxiety than ever before. And as Dr. Witkin knows, when children are stressed, so are their parents. But Dr. Witkin's own studies—including a first-ever surrey of children themselves—find that parents rarely identify their children's prime stress factors or see their "secret symptoms." Her refreshing and encouraging book discusses all the major childhood stressors, from academic pressure, family issues (including sibling and parent conflict), and peer relations to media violence and children's very real fears about the world around them.

"Learning To Chill" by Susan Schindehette, Joanne Fowler, Margaret Nelson and Jill Westfall
This is an essay that appeared in People Magazine in September of 2002: Overloaded at school and overscheduled at home, stressed-out kids—with their parents' blessing—are saying 'Enough!'
http://www.hyper-parenting.com/people.htm

Drawing with Children: A Creative Teaching and Learning Method That Works for Adults, Too by Mona Brookes, Jeremy P. Tarcher, publisher
When my son was about four, I got this book. It had a big impact on how I saw and drew with him. He has always been artistic, and I think Mona Brookes’ gentle style and instruction helped us both. If you like to draw and if you like watching your kids draw, get this book!
http://www.monart.com/oldmonartsite/about.html

"I hear you if you are in a struggle to find a school that works for your family. I hear you if you are trying to understand your child’s leaning style. I hear you if you get confused by all of this. Remember to thank the wonderful teachers you know. I guess you have to trust your gut...."

—Nanci Olesen, "SCHOOL,"
NOW YOU MOMbo