Jill
Jill is a born and raised Wisconsinite. She grew up just outside of Madison before heading to northern Michigan for college. Afterwards, she returned to Madison where she married her high school sweetheart, Micah, and earned her PhD in Educational Psychology. Micah and Jill live just outside of Madison with their two children, Levi (5 years old), and Alice (3 years old), and they all love sports and being outside. When Jill isn't enjoying the local Madison parks and activities with her family, she loves to play board games, and relax at home with family and friends. Jill is a busy mom, an active member in her church, and enjoys her job as an Associate Professor of Psychology for a small liberal arts college.
Weekend Trip: Indiana Dunes National Park
Looking for a quick get away? Only three hours from Madison is Indiana Dunes National Park. This park is one of the most biodiverse national parks, which makes it an excellent choice for elementary...
Road Trip from Madison, WI: Toronto, Canada
This spring we were looking to take a summer vacation, but we were limited on the number of vacation days and we wanted to be able to drive. After a lot of searching, we...
Luisa: Our Family’s New Favorite Disney Character
“Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that’ll never stop…” Isn’t that the truth. We all feel it, parents and kids alike. But, we don’t always talk about it.
The first time we watched Encanto,...
Embracing our Imperfections
Kids grow up watching adults do everything they want to do, and doing it better than them. This can set up some pretty unrealistic expectations. Sometimes kids will start to believe that when adults...
When Did Youth Sports Become So Competitive?
My whole family loves sports. I played sports growing up. My spouse played sports growing up. We played in several leagues together before we had kids, and now our kids are playing in sports....
Go, See, Explore: Converse Park (a Natural Playground) in Marshall, WI
Ever wonder what playgrounds would be like if they were built around nature? Try a visit to Converse Park in Marshall, WI.
Location
408 Best Built Parkway - Marshall, WI
It is about a 25 minute drive...
Will We Ever Get Back to Normal?
Wow, it has been a long year! My kids were in virtual school for over a year. We have allowed them each to do a few activities (mainly sports) that we thought were safe...
Thank You Letter to My Kids’ Teachers from an Online Instructor
I’ve taught online for over a decade, although all of my online teaching experience has been with college students. I teach in-person, online, and hybrid, sometimes all at the same time. I know what...
Top 10 Ways Our Family Keeps Busy at Home
Early elementary school is a time for running and jumping and playing with friends, but in the time we are in, we have to adapt. We love play time, but my spouse and I...
5 Tips for Talking to Kids About Politics
With another election season coming up, and a very divided nation, politics are bound to come up. Kids are likely to hear, at some point, people talk about politics and political issues. Plus, kids...
Virtual Learning with a Smile: Making the Best of It
The news came down… we are starting the fall with virtual learning. I had a lot of mixed feelings, but was ultimately relieved that I didn’t have to make the decision and that all...
6 Things I Wish My Online Students Knew | From a Teacher
I’ve been teaching college students for well over a decade. In fact, part of my job has been to not only teach college students, but to advise instructors on good teaching methods, so I’ve...