Videos

Interview: Mo Green for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction

The battle for North Carolina's state superintendent has never been this intense. Democratic candidate Mo Green is interviewed by former NC teacher, Natalie Parmenter.

Newsletter

Is Pre K Necessary?

Many parents wonder: Is preschool or pre-k necessary for my child? The simple answer is no—your child isn’t required to attend. However, it’s important to ensure they still have meaningful learning experiences to help them grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Videos

Surgeon General: PARENTAL STRESS is a Public Health CRISIS | Are Teachers Part of the Problem?

The Surgeon General released an advisory on High Parental Stress. Parenting has become harder in the modern age to the point it it impacting parents' mental and physical health.

Videos

First Day of Kindergarten - What to Expect| Back to School & Parenting

What can you expect on your child's first day of kindergarten? In an encouraging video, Natalie shares how to prepare your child to prevent separation anxiety, what your child can expect from their teacher, and how parents can prepare for a great first day of school

Newsletter

How Grandparents Can Help Grandkids be Kindergarten-Ready

Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone for a young child. There are a lot of firsts which can be overwhelming for a four-, five-, or six-year-old. As their grandparent, you can take small intentional steps to help prepare your grandchild for school.

Videos

Parenting in a Toxic Election Cycle

Natalie dives into how to inform your child through this presidential election while protecting them from rhetoric they may not be old enough to understand. She explains how to move past the “boys vs girls” conversation and help your child understand the importance of this office.

Videos

Banned Books: SHOCKING. Teacher Reacts | Young Adult Novels Banned Book Week 2024 | Moms for Liberty

Natalie plays a game to find out why 5 popular YA novels were banned in United States schools during the 2023-24 school year.

Videos

Banned Books: UNBELIEVABLE. Teacher Reacts | Banned Book Week 2024, Moms for Liberty & Florida

Natalie plays a game to find out why 5 popular children's books were banned in United States schools during the 2023-24 school year.

Videos

5 Academic Hacks for Preschoolers

Do you have a rising kindergartner? Make sure they know these things!

Videos

5 MISTAKES Parents Make Before their Child goes to Kindergarten: Social Emotional Learning

When people think of social emotional learning, they often think of good manners and sharing, but it is so much more than that! Natalie breaks down 5 common skills that are missed.

Newsletter

Do Kids HAVE to go to preschool?

People ask me, should I send my child to preschool? Preschool can be a great experience for children, but it's not a viable option for all families.

Newsletter

What's Summer Learning Loss?

This is a time of year teachers dread: summer break. Over the course of 2 months, children can lose up to 6 months of learning. This is called summer learning loss aka summer slide.

Resources & Freebies

New Course! Preparing your Child for Kindergarten

A strong start to kindergarten is essential for success in school. I've teamed up with Johns Hopkins to best prepare your child for kindergarten!

Videos

May Livestream

Natalie, 10 year teacher and founder of Primary Focus: The Parent’s Guide to Elementary School answers your questions.

Newsletter

My child failed a test we thought they'd ace

I had an interesting conversation with a parent the other day. Their first grader was doing well in school all year, no signs for concern. Two weeks ago, they took their NWEA/ MAPs test and BOMBED IT.

Videos

End of Year Summer Teacher Gift Guide: DIY Card, Easy Gift Ideas | Can you give a teacher alcohol?

Natalie shares easy and thoughtful teacher gift ideas for the end of the school year. Appreciate your favorite teacher with an easy DIY Card, a Summer Road Trip Kit great for the class gift from all parents, unique gift ideas, and budget gifts.

Newsletter

😴 Do kids still NAP in kindergarten?

Kindergarten is much more rigorous than it was when we were kids. Once upon a time, kids went to half day kindergarten and it looked a lot more like preschool...but has everything changed?

Videos

Teacher Reacts: State Tests RUINED school for children | The Problem with Standardized Testing

The pressure of standardized testing on elementary school students has gone to an extreme. We are testing for the sake of testing which is leaving young children too anxious to go to school. Natalie gives advice to parents on how they can support their children without pressuring them.

Videos

Interview with ADHDDude Ryan Does My Child Have ADHD? Diagnosing and Best ADHD Treatment for Kids

Natalie interviews ADHDDude Ryan Wexelblatt on the best ways to diagnose, treat, and support child with ADHD in elementary school. This is a great guide for parents wondering if your child has ADHD or if you're always looking for the top treatments and ways to support your child.

Newsletter

Easy Tip: Stop your child from procrastinating during homework

🕵️‍♂️ Some children are so good at avoiding homework, they could be secret agents. There's one technique that could change their tune about this...

Videos

Bus Driver Appreciation Gift Guide $0 $5 $10 | School Bus Driver Card Ideas, Easy Crafts, Cute Gifts

Great gifts to appreciate School Bus Drivers!

Newsletter

🤯 2 hours of homework??

Homework has always been a controversial topic. But when it comes to homework policies, it feels like parents get left out of the conversation. So what should you do when it's all too much?

Videos

My HONEST review of the SOLAR ECLIPSE: was it WORTH IT?| April 8 2024 Eclipse Vlog

Natalie went to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse…but is it worth the hype? She gives her full review of the experience to see if it’s worth your money to see The Eclipse live. Review is broken down into planning/organization, educational experience, and personal experience

Newsletter

Target Circle Week Picks: Spring Fashion, Sandals, Patterned Rugs, and Skincare

Target Circle Week starts Sunday April 7-13. They are not paying with these mark downs! Here are my top picks for the sale starting with women's spring fashion, women's sandals, cute rugs, and skincare.

Videos

Question for the Teacher | April Livestream

Natalie hosts a livestream answering questions about preparing your child for kindergarten, teaching your child to write, and writing the perfect email to a teacher.