Education

In examining our Black community’s expressions of pain and suffering, abuse, neglect and abandonment, we are finding that these expressions (which show up as impatience, intolerance, being short-fused, not being able to listen, slapping, name calling, hearing about and seeing murders or other killings) are affecting our children. We are unconscious that these behaviors and […]

Managing your children’s expectations can be difficult during the holiday season, especially when many winter holidays involve giving gifts. As a parent, you may feel pressured to spend your last dollar to see a smile on your child’s face, but before you do, check out these Minneapolis and St. Paul opportunities to create wonderful holiday […]

Education and socialization in the old days, as well as the development of skills to focus the individual’s life work, was concerned with growing deeply conscious of being permanently anchored and spirituality connected to the creator’s presence in the community. Our ancestors were masters at creating practices through ceremonies, rituals and customs tying these over […]

Black children have been a major topic of many political conversations within the past two years. Usually, these conversations employ a variety of coded language. We have heard such terms as “at-risk youth,” “urban,” “inner city” and “thugs.” However, one term seldom heard is “genius.” It almost seems odd saying the phrase “Black genius” or […]

Kids with low self-esteem can find challenges to be extremely frustrating. Those who think poorly of themselves have a hard time finding solutions to problems. “I can’t” or “I don’t want to” are common responses when our children question their ability to accomplish a task or play a sport. How many times did we say, […]

What are the things your child should bring to school every day to ensure success? During the school year it’s important to help your child learn to get organized, and it’s vital to help your son or daughter be ready to focus and learn. Listed below are five essential items to have with them every […]

Going back to school can be exciting, but also nerve wracking for children and their parents. Here are a few suggestions to make the transition back to school easier on your family. Often having a plan and knowing what to expect can reduce everyone’s stress level. You know your child the best, so please tailor […]

Each child responds best to different methods Imagine a child who always assumed they just weren’t “smart enough” finally achieving self-confidence. This is what happened to a first-grader named Isaiah. Isaiah was struggling with reading out loud in class, and this took a toll on his self-esteem. When his mother came in for parent-teacher conferences, […]

Looking back over my childhood experiences with learning, I see people around me who taught me how to live a good life. Living a good life was a high priority for the older adults around me. A good life meant having enough of all that we needed in order not to be driven to steal, […]

During the first five years, 85 percent of your child’s brain is developed, making this a critical time in his or her life. Having healthy environments and positive experiences during these early years can really help your child start strong and go on to succeed in school and life. The information below has been republished […]

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “Our children do what we do and not what we say.” Well, our experience teaches us that this adage holds true not only in terms of our actions, but also in terms of how we think and what we say. Our words and actions are representations and expressions of our thoughts, reflecting a mindset we use to address any and all issues on a daily basis.

In Part 1 of “Choosing the Right School for Your Child, I shared a few strategies and ideas on what to look for when choosing a school. One key component of evaluating a school is to ask yourself the question “Am I ready to ‘SHOW UP’ at this school?

Maxfield Elementary School is one of four schools located in the Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood. The other three are Benjamin E. Mays, Jackson Elementary and the Saint Paul City. On May 10th Maxfield Elementary is celebrating its 125th anniversary.