I remember geography as a subject taught with worksheets and maps pulled down in front of the chalkboard. A well-stocked classroom contained several maps to choose from – state, country, and the world. If you were fortunate, the teacher selected you to come to the front of the room to point to places on the … read more »
December 11 is International Mountain Day. The purpose of this occasion is to highlight the importance of mountains as a resource for over half of the world’s population and also recognize the damaging effects of climate change, overpopulation, and over-exploitation of resources. Although this isn’t a famous event, the purpose and issues are ones that … read more »
The day after Thanksgiving is more than just a day of shopping. It is also the National Day of Listening. This unofficial holiday began in 2008 by StoryCorps whose mission is to “provide Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds a time to record, preserve, and share the stories of their lives.” This day was chosen … read more »
The National Day of Listening is unofficially celebrated on November 24th. It was started in 2008 by StoryCorps whose mission is “to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.” The National Day of Listening was created to encourage people to interview a loved one, friend, … read more »
Do you know what the Friday after Thanksgiving is?! If you’re wondering how I’m going to tie Black Friday into a blog about education, don’t worry, I’m not going to go there! The National Day of Listening is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. It was launched in 2008 by StoryCorps, … read more »
Teen Read Week starts today and this year’s theme is right up my alley: It’s Written in the Stars: READ. During Teen Read Week, we need to encourage our teens to “hit the books” in a fun way. So many times teens only read when it is required for school. Using this year’s theme, we … read more »
September is National Library Card Sign Up Month! According to ALA (the American Libary Association) this year, Disney’s the Incredibles are Library Card Sign-up Month honorary chairs, helping to promote the value of a library card and bring attention to the many ways libraries and librarians transform lives and communities through education. Today’s Libraries offer … read more »
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King’s historic I Have a Dream speech in Washington, DC was crucial in bringing nation-wide attention to civil rights issues. His dream of equal rights for children and adults of all colors continues to inspire people around the world in their goal of peaceful coexistence of all people. It … read more »
When someone talks about cowboys, what comes to your mind? Maybe you think of wide open spaces where cowboys ride their horses and guide cattle toward their ranch. Perhaps it reminds you of songs with a western twang and folksy appeal. Others immediately reminisce upon childhood memories of watching T.V. westerns like Gunsmoke, The Lone … read more »
“There’s something so wonderful about writing in rhyme where it isn’t just the meaning of the words, it’s the music to the words and the shape and the sound.” Gary Ross Learning about rhyming words is one of the earliest skills taught to young readers. Exploring rhymes helps students understand how language works through sounds … read more »