I once read a card, on an art teacher’s door, that said “Art is the only way of running away without leaving home.” While I agree with part of the message, I don’t think the message applies only to art. It’s true of music, too. And dance, writing, reading, math, science, and probably other fields…
It’s difficult to teach children about what is now called “personal safety” – speaking and behaving in ways that help prevent abuse. We don’t want them to think adults are out to abuse them; we want them to be able to think of all strangers as potential friends. At least until strangers give evidence that…
I once had a chance to see several people I’d known as children, all in the same room on the same evening: my sister, who is seven years younger than I am, my daughter, who is now a full-fledged adult, people I’d taught as children and are now teenagers, children I’ve come to think of…
Shakespeare wrote, “It is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are thus and thus.” I try to agree with that, and I try to take both credit and responsibility for who I am. But if I don’t want to, there are many ways available for refusing that credit and ducking that responsibility….
Parents sometimes worry about what influences other people have on their children. They try to instill certain values in their children, and protect their children from harm. Sometimes they try too hard, insisting on values that aren’t appropriate for their children, or protecting their children too much. After all, there’s only so much we can…
There are children who tend to tease, and children who tend to get teased. Sometimes teasees are also teasers. Adults do both, too, but the word “tease” tends to mean something different among adults; adults aren’t usually hurt as conspicuously as children are by name-calling and similar put-downs. Among adults, teasing can be good-natured. It…
Two is an important number when it comes to human beings. People start out as one, of course, but they very quickly try, with all their might, to find a way to be two. Most people start out relying on a parent to provide the twoness, but that doesn’t last. So there are best friends,…
For many teachers who care a lot about their work, lesson plans are pretty important. Such teachers really hope to be able to carry out their plans. They may also have alternative plans, just in case one idea doesn’t seem to be working. Some think about their plans when they could be sleeping, when they…
School can rely too heavily on worksheets. I’m not saying they should save trees instead; that’s important, too, but that’s not the main reason to avoid giving children lots of worksheets to do. Worksheets are often created by corporations that aren’t in tune with the teachers and children they serve. And besides, they’re usually not…
I can’t believe I’ve come up with five hundred subjects for articles! And the ideas are still coming. I think I’ll write this one about how I come up with ideas. I know that some people who have to write are sometimes (or often) stuck trying to come up with ideas. If that’s a problem…