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Carol Brooks Ball

Carol Brooks Ball
Carol Brooks Ball lives with her husband, son, and daughter outside Boston.The family also includes two adored golden retrievers, Brooksie and Hazel, and one crazy cat named Marty. Brooks Ball is an award-winning journalist and editor, having received two prestigious Investigative Reporting Awards and several General Excellence Awards from the New England Newspaper and Press Association during her lengthy career in news journalism.


Providing iPads Instead of Textbooks For Classroom Learning Gets My Vote

Sep 13, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Technology, Middle School, Homework, High School, Health and Fitness, Elementary School, Back to School, After-School
I don't know about you but my house has more computers than we need. Yes, that's partly due to the fact that my son, who today works in information technology, built two of his own computers during his middle school and high ... Read more
Cell Phones For Tweens: Tips On When and Why

Sep 08, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Technology, Middle School, High School, Helicopter Parents, Extracurricular Activities, Elementary School, Cell Phones, Back to School, After-School
Both of my children have cell phones. And both phones, in my mind, were purchased for the sole purpose of keeping in touch. With me.  Them, not so much. To them, their cell phones serve the purpose of allowing virtually-... Read more
New iPhone Apps Help Parents Receive School Notices, Deal With Head Lice, and Find the Nearest Restroom

Sep 06, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Vacation Homework, SchoolFamily.com, School Volunteers, School Curriculum, Parent Involvement, Middle School, Kindergarten, Helicopter Parents, Extracurricular Activities, Elementary School, Cell Phones, Back to School, After-School
"There's an app for that." Are you familiar with this phrase? Perhaps it's one uttered by your kids on occasion (or on a daily basis). It's a phrase my daughter says frequently right before she sighs and gently gives me one o... Read more
Why is Mom the Family's Social Calendar-Carrier?

Aug 30, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Vacation Homework, Teacher Appreciation, SchoolFamily.com, School Volunteers, School Supplies, Parent Involvement, Middle School, Kindergarten, Homework, High School, Extracurricular Activities, Elementary School, Back to School, After-School
School for my rising high school junior starts in seven days, which means that in seven days, I'll be hit with an avalanche of paperwork and important dates to record. I'm already in the doghouse, however, for forgetting some... Read more
The 'Mindset' of college freshmen, for parents

Aug 24, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Parent Involvement, Helicopter Parents, College, Back to School
When my son was a college freshman, I remember dropping him off at school amid the chaos of freshmen move-in-day. After we'd helped him haul all his stuff in repeated trips up three flights of stairs in the dusty old dormitor... Read more
Back to School Books that Address First-Day Jitters

Aug 23, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Teachers, SchoolFamily.com, Kids Reading, Health and Fitness, Elementary School, Bullying, Back to School
If I had to pick a favorite book that I’ve read to my children during times when they've been anxious about returning to school, I’d be unable to choose – there are that many excellent choices. One that top... Read more
Preschooler Parties that are Over the Top

Aug 23, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Kindergarten, Extracurricular Activities, Elementary School
Have you heard about this? It's the latest garish, new, reality television show, wherein parents (mothers mostly), spend absurd amounts of money on parties for their young children. Called  "Outrageous Kid Parties," the ... Read more
Back-to-school means teens behind the wheel

Aug 18, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in Parent Involvement, High School, Health and Fitness, Back to School, After-School
My daughter isn't eligible to get her driver's license until October, but despite the two months and back-to-school period between now and then, she's champing at the bit to know if she'll be able to drive herself to school. ... Read more
Sex Education Now Mandatory in New York City schools

Aug 12, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in SchoolFamily.com, School Curriculum, Middle School, High School, Health and Fitness
   ... Read more
Welcome to SchoolFamily.com!

Aug 10, 2011 - Posted by Carol Brooks Ball in SchoolFamily.com, Parent Involvement, Elementary School, Back to School
Greetings! I'm Carol Brooks Ball and I'd like to personally welcome you to SchoolFamily.com! As the new editor of the website, I'll be adding articles, tips, how-tos, and more to help you help your children do their best in ... Read more