Transitions can be a challenging part of life. At Rivers, we understand the importance of finishing one stage in a student’s educational journey and purpose...

In the past year, the number of teens who vaped increased dramatically: over 17% of eighth graders and 37% of high school seniors reported vaping in the past...

Thanksgiving is good for your health. The meal may leave us momentarily satisfied, but compelling research shows that giving thanks provides a long-term boos...

Growing up is an adventure with no predetermined final destination. There’s no one right way to travel through life—so it can be inspiring and instructive to...

Last Friday, I spoke to a group of Middle School parents about how to help students “work smarter, not harder.” At Rivers Middle School, we don’t just focus ...

Tonight, my third grader waged battle with a math practice test. At first, she circled around it, reluctant to engage. When she finally attacked the problems...

Did you know that the average four-year-old asks 73 questions each day? My son recently turned five, and that statistic frankly seems a little low to me. He...

During our final Middle School meeting, I shared this message with students. Years from now, when you look back on this school year, you won’t remember every...

When Janell Burley Hofmann visited Rivers Middle School to talk to parents about screens and teens, she began by surveying the landscape: “The internet is pa...

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Dr. Donna Hicks, whose work on the concept of dignity has changed my mindset about this fundamental principle. Last summ...

This week’s post is written by Rick Taylor, a seventh grade humanities teacher at Rivers. Before spring break, the seventh grade humanities classes studied t...

In his book A More Beautiful Question, journalist and innovation expert Warren Berger writes, “We’re all hungry today for better answers. But first, we must ...

This week’s post is written by Melissa Dolan ’98, our Middle School Curriculum Leader When people outside of the school community ask me what I do for a livi...

Do you remember what it felt like to wait at home while your mom or dad attended parent-teacher conferences — to know they were talking about you? What would...

I was the chess champion of the sixth grade. My grandmother had taught me how to play the game. Starting when I was in the third grade, she had patiently equ...

Feedback is a word we use a lot in school. But what does it mean, really? And, more importantly, why would anyone want to receive any? Here’s one way to expl...

Have you ever had the experience of sitting down to complete a small task, and 25 minutes later, you still haven’t finished it — but you have answered three ...

“How do I help my child develop intrinsic motivation?” It’s a common question — but not quite the right one. Children and teens are already motivated . . . h...

How do we motivate children to make good choices — from avoiding procrastination to acting responsibly with peers? This is a perennial question facing parent...

As a parent, I am always on the lookout for mentors — people who can help me respond a little more purposefully, responsively, and wisely to the ups and down...