It’s Earth Day—time to think about this beautiful planet on which we live. This morning I received an Earth Day message from our local Food Gatherers organization that made me think about creativity. Really. Let’s start with the idea that 30-40% of the food in our communities is not eaten. Food Gatherers, of course, was … Continue reading
It is the end of the semester, I’m buried in papers to read, and the Polar Vortex is bringing below-freezing temperatures back to Michigan. I definitely needed something to make me laugh. Then James Lane’s Unkind Ravens and Murderous Crows arrived in my mailbox, and the day was suddenly a little better. Yes, it’s attached … Continue reading
What do we do when we can see that the best schools and teachers don’t exist in the places children most need good schools and teachers? This is the question Sugata Mitra faced, and his answers have led to some of the most innovative education in the world. I first learned about his work in … Continue reading
One of the dangers and delights of the web is how one thing leads to another. Last post, as I was reviewing Mystery Skype resources to share with you, I ended up exploring other Skype lesson resources as well. There were so many, I decided we needed two more posts. Skype sponsors a Skype in … Continue reading
I love a good mystery. (OK, I love a good mystery without too much gore, and with all characters I’ve come to love still alive at the end.) Anyway. I also love the idea of Mystery Skype, both for what it is and what it could become. The basic premise of Mystery Skype is simple. … Continue reading
It’s time to eat broccoli! Or apples. Or pineapple. And you (and your students) can help make it happen. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated the fifth anniversary of her “Let’s Move” campaign by announcing a full-fledged ad campaign designed to market (you guessed it) fruits and vegetables, newly branded as FNV. This is going … Continue reading
Are you interested in creativity? Do you use Adobe products (who doesn’t)? Do you wish you knew more about them? Would you like to share ideas with teachers around the globe? Adobe Edex may be just what you need. Adobe Education Exchange (Edex) bills itself as “your online hub to help ignite creativity in your … Continue reading
The small country of Wales has just done something big. The government of Wales, in conjunction with the Welsh Arts Council has issued a 5-year action plan titled Creative Learning Through the Arts: An Action Plan for Wales. It starts with a vision: The arts, and creative approaches to teaching and learning, should … Continue reading
How do you choose a movie? My husband and I don’t see many movies, but when we do, we are often influenced by movie trailers–especially those shared by friends and family. So I was interested when a recent National Public Radio (NPR) broadcast featured Mike Woolen, who has created trailers for movies including Birdman, Boyhood, … Continue reading
Play is in the air. Maybe it is because the heaps of snow are, at long last, melting from my back yard, but thoughts about play and playfulness seem all around. I had just written the last blog post citing Hilary Conklin’s commentary on the value of play in middle school, when I ran across … Continue reading
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