MSI Press Blog

  What Makes for Good Parent–Teacher Communication Parent–teacher communication is one of those phrases everyone nods along to, but few people define. We say it matters. We say it builds trust. We say it supports kids. But what actually makes it good? After years of watching schools from the inside and the outside — as a parent, a collaborator, and a partner in learning — I’ve come to believe that good communication isn’t about frequency or formality. It’s about relationship . And relationships are built on a few simple, human principles. 1. Clarity Over Volume More messages don’t equal better communication. What families need is: clear information in plain language at the right time with the right level of detail A weekly newsletter no one reads doesn’t help. A two-sentence email that says what’s happening and what’s needed often does. 2. Respect for Each Other’s Expertise Teachers know the classroom. Parents know the child. Good communication honors both truths. It...

  I call it “cheating,” but really it’s ninja brainwork. The grocery list becomes a game: Rhymes : “Beans and greens, don’t forget the means” → beans, greens, rice. Stories : The cat drags a loaf of bread while juggling apples → bread, apples, cleaning supplies. Journeys : Milk waits at the top of the stairs, carrots line the hallway, tea sits at the table. Chunks : Produce in one hand, dairy in the other, pantry items balanced like weights. Every list is a kata — rhythm, imagery, and recall. My brain stays limber, my memory sharp. The dojo isn’t just the kitchen or the stairwell; it’s the mind itself. Visual created with AI; text AI used at times in editing. Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary  is the inspiring true story of a septuagenarian grandmother who dared to dream big—by training for  American Ninja Warrior . Teaming up with her coach and trainer, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting f...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately  by Boris Shekhtman, which reached  #6 in study and teaching references . the successful practices of diplomats and international journalists now available to any language learner Book description: This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools in their own columns. "This book provides the most ban...

  What Does It Mean to Be Alive? Not “to survive.” Not “to function.” Not “to keep going.” But to be alive. It’s a question that slips past the medical charts and the calendars. It doesn’t ask how many breaths you’ve taken. It asks whether you’ve felt them. To be alive is not just to exist. It’s to respond. To notice. To choose. It’s the difference between a body and a presence. Between a schedule and a soul. Aliveness is not performance. You don’t have to be busy, productive, or impressive to be alive. You don’t have to be cheerful or strong or “doing great.” You just have to be here. With your senses open. With your heart engaged. With your mind not numbed by habit or fear. Aliveness is not constant. We drift in and out of it. We lose it in the rush. We find it in the quiet. We forget. We remember. Sometimes we feel most alive in grief. Sometimes in laughter. Sometimes in the moment we stop pretending. Aliveness is a practice. It’s in the way you greet ...