Next Saturday, Dec. 5th is International Volunteer Day. Make a plan to volunteer in support of others. Whether it’s a soup kitchen, a food bank, shopping for a home bound person or helping in schools make it happen. As 2016 approaches, find a way to work in 1-2 hours a week as a volunteer. Send… Read More »
Remember them? Venn diagrams are still an effective way to compare and contrast information. The two overlapping circles you create set up 3 areas to record your information. For example, think of apples and oranges. Use the far left section of the circle to represent distinct apple characteristics, the far right to represent distinct… Read More »
The following is part on an article from Search Institute: Character strengths can be hard to talk about in the abstract, so here are some provocative questions and examples that stimulate hypothetical conversations that unpack character strengths and how young people think about them. These can be used as icebreakers in classrooms or groups, during… Read More »
When spare minutes arise during a task, this type of activity fits in easily. It requires no paper, pencil, pen or book. All you need is creative thinking. Ask one question. Use wait time to encourage better answers. Start a discussion. Examples: 1. A. Which is the most interesting animal and why do you think that: a… Read More »
Class lists of spelling words can often feel like a struggle of epic proportions for families. In addition to discussing the words, spelling them aloud, writing them down and using them in sentences, how can you do to help kids LEARN the words? 1. READ every day. The more a child reads, the more opportunities… Read More »
I have a passion about the value of volunteering in schools. I’ve written the book, made a desktop flipbook and written a workbook to that end. The materials are sound, easy to implement and worthwhile. My challenge is finding a wider audience to share the ideas and then help educators, classroom assistants, parents and community… Read More »
Education Week published an article on parent-teacher conferences (9-30-15) entitled Parent-Conferences Get a Makeover and written by Sarah D. Sparks. In the article she shares how districts have changed their format to academic parent-teacher teams (APTT). The idea is to create meetings where parents and teachers meet and share what they know about the… Read More »
Today begins Teen Read Week. It’s a time to look at what teens read as well as encourage the teens in your life to read, read, read. It part of a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. Each year it is held during… Read More »
“Doing good does more than give you a warm glow – new research shows that volunteering can actually add healthy years to your life.” The opening quote came for an article in The Costco Connection dated June, 2015. The article goes on to say that volunteers live longer, healthier lives and reduce their risk of… Read More »
Do as I say, not as I do is NOT the best way to share yourself with kids. Instead, it’s important to model behaviors you want your children or children in your care to emulate. So, what are those behaviors? (1) Manners How we treat others says a lot about who we are. Kids are… Read More »