by Laurie Richardson, Educational Advocate

“My son gets special education support for reading and math and he is making progress, but he doesn’t have friends. He is often sent to the dean’s office for bad behaviors and they have warned me if he has one more dean’s referral they will send him to behavior school.”

“My daughter is constantly told she is not trying hard enough.
The teachers tell her she is smart, but that she doesn’t seem to care.”

“My daughter is 11 years old and seems to be very smart. She tells me she gets bored in class. What can I do to insure that she is being challenged?”

“When I call my school and leave a message, no one ever calls me back.”

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From its earliest days, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a big proponent of education and ongoing literacy programs. From humble beginnings in places like the Newel K. Whitney Store, whose small upstairs room held the School of the Prophets, to today’s vast campuses at Brigham Young University, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, LDS Business College and more, there is no denying the Church’s commitment to world-class education.

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by Dave Ellis

We have 2.5 bathrooms in our house. I love talking about rooms in decimal form. The problem with having that many bathrooms is that you have to clean that many bathrooms, or in my case feel guilty about not helping to clean the bathrooms, 2.5 times over. The other problem with having 2.5 bathrooms is that you have 3.0 toilets, which doesn’t make sense mathematically, but who’s to argue when you really have to go?

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by David R. Larsen

Last year you read The Book of Mormon and perhaps the Doctrine and Covenants. How much of them can you remember? Is it enough to merely read the scriptures, or do we need to remember them as well?

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by Danielle Ellis

When planning for a college experience, every prospective student and his or her parents have ideals.

Whether they include a Division I football team or a particular program, they form a basis of schools for the student to consider. For Latter-day Saint students, the social and spiritual environment is often as much a part of the decision as anything else.

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by Jeff Muir

As a parent who shares custody of my two elementary-aged children, I have faced particular challenges to motivate my kids to learn about the gospel. Because my children’s mother is a member of another faith, my wife and I have been challenged to get our kids interested in the gospel without creating conflict and without making our kids feel as though we are trying to “sell” them on our LDS beliefs. Through prayer, patience, and faith in the Holy Spirit we have been rewarded beyond our most optimistic expectations.

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by Jamie Huston

A college English professor once told me that he always knew who the religious kids in his class were because they were the students who understood symbolism, imagery, and themes. Having been raised with the Bible, these students had something the others typically lacked: years of experience studying deep literature.

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by Tina Scott

My children are reluctant readers. It seems their favorite thing to read is the TV guide. Yet, regardless of their rolling eyes and whining, each summer we read for fun (I use the term loosely). To promote literacy and learning in our home, we sign up for the library’s reading program. My children are encouraged by mapping their progress and the little prizes the library offers. They love to check out stacks of books; sometimes they read them all, and sometimes they don’t. Either way, it makes us feel literary.

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by Rekaya Gibson

Developing good study habits in high school is one of the best ways to get the most out of college classes. You will reap many benefits, in further education and in life.

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by Kara Sommer

I love to read! I read most anything I can get my hands on. Here is a super cute idea for decorating your favorite books. Or, perhaps you could encourage your kids to read too by fitting a new book with a cover made especially for them. This is also great for sprucing up a plain old journal. Add a pocket and you will always have a pen handy! Be creative by adding lots of embellishments. These make simple but great gifts.

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by LaRae Free Kerr

NOTE: This is the second of two columns describing the Ancestor Fishing Project. The first was published in the July 2006 issue of DSM. Visit our online archives at DesertSaintsMagazine.com.

Here are the websites for young people to search to find the newest information on their relatives.

The databases for the Ancestor Fishing Project are presented in this column. Refer to the July 2006 column for general instructions. This great, summer computer game requires no special sites or equipment, just a computer, a printer or disk for saving information, the names and information of people to search (a family group sheet helps) and a willing person. It is an especially good activity for the young people you love.

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by Dave Jackson

Maybe I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I told Gail I wanted to write her column this month. She said yes, so here I am. Incidentally, this isn’t Gail writing, it’s Dave. But you probably figured it wasn’t Gail already.

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By Steve Tracy, MA NAFP MFT

Question: My teen graduated from high school this year and refuses to go to college. No matter what is said or what we offer as incentives he says that he doesn’t like school and will never attend again. I know if he doesn’t he will be frustrated and stuck in a few years and wishing he had done more to educate himself. Right now he seems happy just working part time in a video game store. What can we do to encourage our son to continue his education?

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by Rachel Ann Nunes

By Morning Light (Deseret Book, softcover, $14.95) is a poignant, often humorous tale of love, friendship and heart-wrenching decisions. The book is Rachel Ann Nunes’ fourth novel about the Huntington Family. Nunes’ grasp on real-life characters and emotional connection with readers continues as By Morning Light explores the tragedy and joy of a young widow.

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by Brandon Mull

“Don’t miss the first novel by a writer who is clearly going to be a major figure in popular fantasy.” Orson Scott Card

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