Like so many parents we found ourselves trying to teach our kids at home with mild success and the focus spent on just keeping the kids quiet so we could work from home. It didn't take long to realize that without any experience, training or patience for teaching the only ones really suffering from distance learning were the kids.

My wife convinced me to ask for help.

In the meantime Chris was spearheading a vocational training for parents unfamiliar with education for the public charter school in Los Angeles where he serves as its principal and substitute math or language arts teacher for any class Kindergarten to Eighth Grade.

I've known Chris for almost twenty years and I always remembered he said, "in third grade, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn." Chris is a raconteur with deep practical knowledge of education and learning. He was kind enough to take my call and explain just a few basic concepts to me. I couldn't believe how much confidence that tiny little bit of knowledge gave me and helped the kids become more intrinsically motivated to learn. Like shining a light.

From practical advice like "letting the kid have a say in the background of his zoom screen, like art work on the wall or something, will give the kid more confidence and more willing to participate." to more direct instruction; "kids don't learn gradually. They learn in jumps. It's long stretches of seemingly no learning, then a light bulb moment, then boom - they get it." Mr. M has seemingly seen it all.

The Parent Partnership started as one answer for one question and has grown into a conversation about how education moves forward from here.

In this site you will find that Chris, Ahem - Mr. M has gathered some useful tools and guidelines you may find helpful. You may even find yourself cashing in on the joy of learning. But if you still feel stuck, maybe listen to my wife and ask Mr. M.