A friend of mine has been working to improve her middle school math students’ listening. They are focusing not just on “paying attention,” or listening to the teacher, but on listening to one another as well. It is challenging and important work. Listening is not just a matter of good manners and a calmer classroom … Continue reading
By now some who have followed this blog for a while have figured out that in our house, a perfect date night may well include dinner and browsing in a book store. Recently I did just that, armed with a discount coupon for a book of choice. I had a hard time deciding, so after … Continue reading
Can you solve this problem? If you looked at it and thought, “Well, sure, that is easy,” you might be feeling the way some students do when first introduced to emoji math. Emoji math is exactly what it sounds like—mathematical equations to be solved using the familiar icons in place of traditional variables. It’s algebra … Continue reading
When I look out my office window, there’s a pretty limited selection of wildlife. But always, even in a Michigan winter, there are birds. Birds are part of virtually every global ecosystem, and in urban landscapes they are one of the most visible evidences that even amidst concrete, the cycles of life continue. They also … Continue reading
Last week I wrote about my hope that helping students see the variety of historical perspectives—and the conflicts that ensued—might allow them to more readily navigate today’s often-gridlocked perspectives on multiple issues. One source for doing so was the Stanford History Education Group’s website, Reading Like a Historian. In the February 2017 issue of Educational … Continue reading
It takes very few conversations these days to understand it is very hard for individuals who view the world from one perspective to hear, understand, and appreciate an alternative point of view. Increasingly, we watch different news sources, read different publications, and have a hard time agreeing on what is “fact” versus what is “fake.” … Continue reading
I can’t decide if I should begin, “Oh my, is January half over?” or “Really? Is January only half over?” It seems the time since the all-too-short holidays has flown by, but I’m already pretty tired of sub-zero wind chills and, seemingly, half the people I know having the flu. Good grief. What should we … Continue reading
Recently, several friends posted a video on social media depicting a imagined text conversation among Harry Potter, Hermione, Ron, and others from the Harry Potter world. It is not a literary masterpiece but it did make me chuckle. One of the things I noticed was that without familiarity with the characters, the video was much … Continue reading
How can a photograph be transformed into a work of kindness? Sometimes, when it becomes a portrait. This is a time of year when many of us try to think about doing good. Perhaps that is why I was so intrigued to learn about the Memory Project—a chance to be creative, raise awareness, and do … Continue reading
Some books make me chuckle. Some make me chuckle over a period of years. Judi Barrett’s Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing is one of those. In the unlikely event that you are a preschool or primary teacher who is not already familiar with this book, it is time you became acquainted. If you know … Continue reading
