The holidays have come to an end and we have entered into a new decade. January is a great month to reflect on looking ahead to the future and making things better. As an educator, what is your New Year’s resolution? Or for that matter, what’s your New Decade resolution? Unfortunately, the latest PISA, the Program for International Student Assessment, …
The great scientist/inventor Thomas Edison knew a lot about persistence and not giving up. And still today, great scientists young and old know that sometimes you have to try and try again before an experiment comes out “right.” Did you know persistence also played a big part in getting Thanksgiving recognized as the holiday we know today? “Mary Had a …
It’s that time again! Teachers are preparing for a brand new school year. Countless hours are being spent on bulletin boards, seating assignments, lesson plans and, of course, the perfect room arrangement for students to engage in multiple activities. In the elementary classroom, centers are being thoughtfully planned out, so students can explore various hands-on opportunities for learning. The most …
When you think of July, fireworks, the Dog Days of Summer, and National Ice Cream Month may come to mind. National Moon Day, observed annually on July 20, is often overlooked. What is National Moon Day? Moon Day is in honor of the historical landing of Apollo 11 in July of 1969. For some, it seems just like yesterday we …
Isn’t May a wonderful time of year? With all the holidays in May, one might forget it’s also National Salad Month. There is nothing better than a crisp, fresh garden salad in the spring and summer. There are many interesting and fun salad facts! Did you Know? Salad comes from the Latin word “herba salta” because the greens were seasoned …
If you thought February 14 was just a day with candy hearts, chocolate kisses, rose petals, and sweet card sentiments, you were wrong. February 14 is also Ferris Wheel Day. It celebrates the birthday of George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He was an American civil engineer who made the first Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is sometimes called the Chicago …
It’s October and you know what that means? Once again, it’s time for fall festivals, hayrides, pumpkin picking, and Halloween! Regardless if you are a fan of Halloween or not, it’s a wonderful time to integrate history, math, science, and writing in to the class curriculum. Here’s some fun Halloween facts: Halloween is big business! Approximately eight billion dollars will …
While you might think of September as the month to learn about apples and Johnny Appleseed, changes in seasons and weather patterns, or to celebrate Tomie dePaola, the famous author, it’s also a great month to discover some fun and important facts about hats. After all, Fall Hat Month is an annual designation observed in September. Why Fall Hat Month? …
It’s that time of year where many are preparing for the upcoming months ahead… school time! Clothes have been purchased, locker assignments made, and teachers announced… but have you had your peepers checked? Did you know August is National Eye Exam month? It was founded in 1889 by Sears Optical and since then, most ophthalmologists promote eye safety throughout the …
We have a standard for reading, math, and writing. What about a standard for perseverance? How do we measure that? Or is it even taught in most classrooms? With all the emphasis on standardized tests and teaching the standards, are we perhaps forgetting the most important quality students need to develop? Did you know… Walt Disney was fired from the …