I am busy mom of two with a husband and a big dog to take care of as well! My love of other countries and cultures prompted me to become a language teacher - first German, then Spanish and ESL/EFL. After completing my masters degree, I spent five years in Madrid, Spain, teaching everyone from kindergartners to corporate CEO's and scientists. I ran a language school there and gained invaluable language skills, made wonderful friends, and developed a deep love for all things Spanish, hence my Spanish husband! Stateside, I have taught middle school through college, to students from 12 to 72! When my kids were born, I took time off to stay home with them, during which time I co-authored a college business Spanish textbook program. The workaholic in me keeps me busy writing online, chairing PTA committees, being team mom, and doing all the things moms do! (and that's a lot!) When my littlest gets older, you'll find me back in the schools in some capacity! My Helium articles ordinarily revolve around teaching, learning, parenting, and creative endeavours, all things I love and feel I have some insight into.

My passion is ...

experiencing the world

My parents always told me ...

I had the capacity to do anything

My childhood ambition ...

was to be a scientist

Why I write ...

to keep my brain stimulated in the midst of Spongebob and Diego, both of whom I secretly like so no offense

Education > Early Childhood Ed Kindergarten readiness: Should I hold my child back?

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The leap to kindergarten is a monumental one, whether your child has been to preschool for years or has never been involved in formal education. Given the choice to hold your child back or not, you must take into consideration not only the educational strengths and weaknesses of your child, but, perhaps more importantly, the emotional strengths and weaknesses of your child. Consider this: In Scandanavia, many children do not begin any formal education until age 7 and, yet, their students are considered some of the best-prepared in the world. Thus, timing is not as important as the learning ...

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