Ms. Bender
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  • DIARY OF A REMOTE CLASS

Dear Parents,

Hello!

​I will be your child’s remote English teacher for the Spring Semester 2021.  I am excited to be teammates with you and your child to achieve the best education possible.  Work in my class will include reading, research, writing, brainstorming, and higher level thinking. 


Please feel free to drop in to our Zoom class at any time to observe. You can also reach me by phone (720.507.4027) or email to communicate questions or concerns, or to set up an appointment to talk to me. 

I am looking forward to a memorable year with your high schooler!     

Sincerely,

Aerin Bender
Dakota Ridge High School

Planner Recommendations

In the course of the last Parent Teacher conference night, I was asked about recommendations for student planners.

While students could enter assignments into their phone planners, research has shown that writing by hand promotes greater retention. 

I like the Global Datebooks planner shown to the top  right because there are both columns for dates and rows for each subject.  And there are many different cover options!

However, it also looked like they are out of stock until Sept 2, so the Artfan planner, on the bottom right, is my second choice.

(Also, in case you're wondering - nope. I don't get any kind of commission whatsoever for telling you about this. It's just truly my preference.)
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Teenagers: Love 'Em or Leave 'Em?

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I love teenagers.  

Even the two I live with. 

​Of course, it's always easier to work with the ones we don't live with. According to the Search Institute, "young people need to be surrounded by people who love, care for, appreciate, and accept them." This includes receiving support from three or more nonparent adults.

As adults, we associate adolescence with moodiness and defiance, rather than seeing the challenges that our teens face as they grow into their own adult selves.  The best advice I can give you is to be consistent in your expectations and overabundant in love and patience.  

While you are the only one who can really know what is best for your child, I'm including a list below of a few parenting books and articles I like to recommend. Of course, you should only keep what you feel works for you.
  • How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk - Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish 
  • Get Out of My Life, but First Could You Drive Me & Cheryl to the Mall: A Parent's Guide to the New Teenager - Anthony Wolf
And some articles:
  • "Quit Doing These 8 Things for Your Teen This Year if You Want to Raise an Adult"
  • "Psychologists Recommend Children Be Bored in the Summer"

last updated January 27, 2021

Dakota Ridge High School
13399 West Coal Mine Avenue
Littleton, Colorado 80127     
Phone: 303.982.1970
Fax: 303.982.1971
Attendance: 303.982.1884
Jefferson County Public Schools
1829 Denver West Drive
Golden, Colorado 80401-0001
303.982.6500