Blog
Art Projects to do at Home with Kids
Do your kids have a little extra time on their hands right now? Here are some fun ideas for art projects to put those little hands to work! I have included ideas that will work with all ages, from toddlers to teens. These are all projects that I have done at home with...
Google Translate User Error: How to Use Bilingual Dictionaries Wisely
Several years ago in my Spanish 2 course, I gave a writing assignment. The students were to submit a simple recipe using the command forms and the food vocabulary we had been practicing in class. The students turned in how-tos on preparing sándwiches de queso fundido...
Should Mathematics Be Included in Chemistry?
The Role of Mathematics in Chemistry: A Critical Examination The debate between excluding mathematics in science and including it in science classes is becoming more prevalent as students specialize in high school based on their current interests. There are several...
Want to be More Creative & Successful? Take Screen Breaks!
Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Screen Breaks How did a guy like Leonardo DaVinci get so good at so many things? As our kids read classic books and study history and literature, the people they learn about and learn from amaze us. It wasn't unusual for influential...
What is an Executive Order and What Does it Do?
For those of you who follow politics, it seems the term “executive order” has been heard often over the last several years. Whether executive orders are authorized by the Constitution and how many executive orders have been issued by a presidential administration are...
Why Should My Student Take World Literature?
Students often take four years of English classes in high school. An introductory course to literary analysis, American literature, and British literature can be found in most schools across the country. World Literature is often underrepresented, however, and it is...
The Importance of Doing Lab Work in Science Classes
Enhancing Science Education: Integrating Hands-On Labs and Virtual Experiences? Science is all about asking questions and making observations. Learning science should involve seeing, handling, and manipulating materials. This is what I loved about science as a...
Why Teen Authors Should Build a Writing Portfolio Before Self-Publishing
The publishing industry is changing, and that is a beautiful thing. Voices are emerging from cultures that have previously been silenced in print. Stories are no longer squelched by industry constraints. Genre-specific niches have a pedestal and are flourishing. With...
Design Thinking: A New Way of Thinking or a Public Resurgence of an Ancient Idea?
Harnessing Design Thinking: Modern Strategies for Innovation You may have heard the idea of Design Thinking batted about on the internet. This is the “new” way businesses are working on being more innovative. The great thing is that graphic designers have been...
30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall – November 9, 1989 (Pt. 4)
Legacy of the Berlin Wall: Reflections and Challenges 30 Years Later I ended part 3 with a quick mention of the Solidarity Tax. The Solidaritätszuschlag, the Solidarity Tax, that was instated to rebuild East Germany is still being levied, which many people in the...
30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall – November 9, 1989 (Pt. 3)
Reflections on Reunification: 30 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall On another visit to Berlin, I stood at the Berlin Wall, along with others, chiseling away and collecting souvenirs of what amounted to chunks of mortar with gravel and splashes of paint. Did we...
30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall Pt. 2 – November 9, 1989
East vs. West Berlin: Contrasts and Challenges After the Wall Fell Even though the Berlin Wall was open, the situation in East Berlin was still extremely tense. Shortly after the Berlin Wall was opened, I visited friends in East Berlin for an extended weekend,...