I believe in the power of art to create a better future for us as individuals and as a community. This is why I chose to be an arts educator — I want others to understand the power...
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School is over for the year, and that means summer reading! One of my favorite parts of the end of the school year is the day I get to present the summer reading books to all of my…
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With summer now here, children are ready for a break from the daily school routine. Many families will be hitting the road for a family vacation or taking day trips throughout the area. Although the summer is a…
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It is widely known that reading has tremendous benefits. It can enhance language development, it allows us to travel vicariously to an unknown world to learn and about different cultures, and it can improve our memory and attention…
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In a conversation with a student this month, we were discussing what she was going to do over the summer. She has a litany of activities planned, but the conversation eventually got around to what she was thinking…
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I’ve written before about my affinity for customs and traditions and their importance. They are an integral part of who we are and where we’ve come from, helping us pass on to next generations our values and beliefs….
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Last month, the 1st graders jumped on a yellow school bus to depart for a field trip to the Oakes Museum of Natural History. Before we left the classroom, I asked the students if they had ever been...
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Second grade students at Harrisburg Academy are immersed in the study of Native American tribes for three quarters of the academic year. Students learn about the Iroquois of the Northeast, Seminole of the Southeast, Sioux of the Plains,...
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After 13 years of teaching at a public high school, I left to teach at Harrisburg Academy. Since then, many of my former colleagues have inquired about my choice. Am I happy? Is Harrisburg Academy “better” than teaching…
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The title of this blog is the same title of an article I recently read that was excerpted from the book “Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why” by Paul Tough. He is also the author of “How…
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