âYou donât have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.â — Ray Bradbury Reading opens the world to dreams and make-believe, to struggles and adventures. It awakens the imagination; it brings satisfaction to the mind. Oh what a phenomenal gift it is when someone helps a child develop…
Details
With the holidays upon us, we look for that perfect gift to give our children. What special present will bring squeals of delight on Christmas morning an American Girl doll, Legos, a drum set, an iPad Pro? Giving gifts can be great fun for both child and parent, but we must never lose sight of…
Details
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.” Harriet Tubman Imagine a city where common annoyances are nonexistent. Instead of standing in long lines, you take a number and a comfortable chair waits from which to make a phone call, write an overdue letter or enjoy some pleasure reading. Traffic flows; gridlock is ancient history; parking…
Details
You may not write worth beans, or rice for that matter, but you are a storyteller. While your tale is shaded differently from all others, there is a constant, as unwavering as the sun, moon and stars. It is that simple truth that you hold life in your hands. For each man pens his own…
Details
When we consider education, it is best to know something of the word’s history. By knowing it derives from Latin, meaning to bring out; to draw forth we better understand the method of teaching offered by Greek philosopher Socrates1. He believed true knowledge resides within each of us and with proper teaching we can realize…
Details
When you were a child, were you ever in the embarrassing position of having another person make fun of you in front of your friends? Were you ever the butt of a joke? Did you ever suffer the agony of knowing kids were laughing at you? I sincerely hope not. Such dark memories were, however,…
Details
Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. — Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, author of The Scientist Speculates In our high tech society the ability to research is vital to success. Yet many schools never teach it and even when they do, they usually overlook the simplest and most primary undercut:…
Details
Students must be given an opportunity to explore their own passions — for passion and desire are vital components of education. And students should always be encouraged to tap into their own ingenuity. This is the way to awaken or keep alive that love of learning that resides deep within us.
What value do students get from doing homework? According to Kathy Seal, co-author of Motivated Minds: Raising Children to Love Learning, most homework does not advance the education of elementary school children. On the contrary, stuffing a great deal of information into their heads makes it harder to retain the data and can even damage…
Details
His little hand squeezes mine As we venture into the darkness To gaze up at the sliver of a moon And try to count a zillion stars Feeling gone “forever” reappears Awe and wonder for that night When first I counted heavenly Stars with my own dear father By Carlynn McCormick Home education(1) can have…
Details