Tag: Teaching

3 Ways You Can Prepare Your Preschooler for College

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Education4 Comments

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When is the best time to prepare your child for college?

Today.

If you are parenting young children, you have an incredible gift: time. There is still time to read. There is still time to play. There is still time to develop a healthy emotional, social, and diverse learning environment for your little person.

And, perhaps best of all, there is still time to save for college. 

From the halls of higher education, I glean insights daily from those students who successfully made the leap – including what their parents did or didn’t do.

Here are 3 ways you can prepare your preschooler for college:

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3 Ways You Can Prepare Your High School Senior for College

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Education8 Comments

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Is senior year too late to prepare your teen for college? The short answer is no.

But if you want your child to be ready, here are three practical ways you can assist them in the often-challenging leap to college:

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How We Can Prevent Suicide

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Health8 Comments

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Is there a Millennial who survived teenage angst without Linkin Park?

The world is currently mourning the loss of the talented Chester Bennington. I am, too. And, ironically, last week I completed suicide prevention training.

The question feels as urgent as ever: How can we prevent suicide?

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Working Hard for No Money

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Career, The Gratitude Gospel2 Comments

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The Gratitude Gospel: Day 9

Lately, I’ve been thinking about jobs.

Our rental has become a bit of a fishbowl in recent days. A deck is being built outside. Shirts, as we have learned, are optional.

The whole environment is strange until you consider that the beings clanging around our home are humans. They have families, too. And when they work long hours after a long day of work, they leave them behind.

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Vacation Bible School Teachers

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Faith, The Gratitude GospelLeave a comment

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The Gratitude Gospel: Day 3

Vacation Bible School teachers, I am in awe of you.

It’s summer and the last thing sane individuals want to do is chase after small children, but you do – with your crafts, and your games, and your smiles.

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Second Chance Love

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Education, The Gratitude GospelLeave a comment

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The Gratitude Gospel: Day 2

“You saved me from the streets.”

It’s not something I like to discuss – the horrible things my students have encountered in their lives. But my teaching always seems to bring it out.

Drive-bys. Drug rings. Gut-wrenching poverty.

If college is designed to prepare young people for the real world, I think it falls short in doing so for inner-city youth. It takes several class periods before they even feel comfortable removing their backpacks, if it happens at all.

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You Can Do This

On By Lauren FortenberryIn Marriage5 Comments

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“You can do this.” It’s become a mantra in our relationship.

First, it was sweet encouragement my husband and I whispered to one another during our tenure in graduate school. Eventually, we walked across the stage – just minutes apart.

Next, it was yelled by my husband over intense labor pains. Truthfully, I thought our children might be stuck forever. Eventually, two little people entered the world.

And, just this weekend, I found myself mentally replaying the words.

For the first time, we trusted a non-grandparent caregiver to put both children to bed.

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