Susan Traugh

Deep into the cold of winter, there’s nothing as comforting as a bowl of warm oatmeal. Maybe that’s why “National Oatmeal Month” falls in January. For teens with special needs, making this meal by themselves can be a satisfying adulting skill that they can take with them into independent life. And, the ease and simplicity of this recipe makes the process perfect for introducing teens to the art of cooking. Free “Making Oatmeal” Video This oatmeal is made in a microwave in the

Wouldn’t you know that they’d make the third week of January Healthy Weight Week? It’s like they knew we’d all be looking at our resolutions and slapping that one onto the list. In fact, losing weight, getting healthier, and improving our lifestyles are all resolutions that always make the top ten of people’s desires. So, What Do We Do? Two weeks ago we discussed how to make a resolution that works. Remember: baby steps. Actionable goals. But, you can’t make a reasonable goal

After the holidays, many students are left with a desire to thank friends and family for the gifts of the season, but no knowledge of how to write a thank-you note. Expressing thanks ties in nicely with January’s National Universal Letter Writing week and lets students learn how to format an effective thank-you. Begin with a Template Too often parents and teachers ask students to write a thank-you note only to be met with the phrase, “What do I say?” Providing students with a

There’s a joke that says the most successful business in the world would be one that is a gym the first two weeks in January and a donut shop the rest of the year. That’s the trouble with New Year’s resolutions: we all start out with good intentions, but quickly lose our interest and ability to keep up. The Problem with Resolutions Too often, the problem with resolutions is that we try to take on the world. “I’m going to lose twenty pounds, keep my finances in complete order,