Always-texting parents disconnect from kids

"Where are you going, my little one? Turn around and you're two, turn around and you're four. Turn around and you're a young maid going out of the door." Harry Belafonte poignantly reminds us how quickly kids grow. I can't believe I'm the mom of three adults and a teen when only yesterday that they were babes in arm. I didn't always have my priorities straight and there's lots I'd do differently parenting. One mistake I'm glad I avoided was spending lots of time on the phone. I'm concerned that always-texting parents (or those that always play on the computer) are missing much of their kid's childhood. Excess texting is particularly dangerous, physically and emotionally, with parents of special needs kids. Here's how.  Always-texting parents disconnect from kids

Free Printable Lessons on NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity, Back to School Lesson Plans

Houston, the eagle (well, rover) has landed. NASA's Mars rover "Curiosity" set foot on the red planet August 5, 2012, says ABC News. Here are free printable Mars rover Curiosity lesson plans. Educators, why not go back to school with a Mars party? Use these Mars Curiosity rover lessons to create inspiring, engaging science fun. These hands on activities are perfect for special needs learners. Read more Free Printable Lessons on NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity

Free Printable Handwriting Worksheets--Manuscript, Cursive Worksheets for Penmanship

One of the lessons that often gets lost in a teacher's busy school day is the teaching of hand writing skills. Arguably, handwriting is less important with the advent of computers, word processors and keyboarding . Certainly, legible handwriting is not nearly as prized as it was prior to 1990 or so, when students began to work more on computers. I can remember spending hours practicing manuscript and cursive writing. And look at handwriting of women schooled in the 1960s and earlier; they have beautiful script.

I'm not offering a debate over the validity of teaching handwriting skills. As a teacher, I'm looking for neatness and quality in work. Is penmanship necessary? If you want to help children practice hand writing, or if you feel the need to brush up on your own handwriting skills, here are links for free printable handwriting practice worksheets. You can print manuscript or print practice pages. You can also print cursive practice pages.  Free Printable Handwriting Worksheets