The Gift of Love and Words: Ruby Oliver’s Legacy
Her mother would whisper into her ear, “You’re smart. Exceptionally smart.” She’d whisper these words into the child’s ears so frequently that Ruby started to believe her mom. Her grades improved, and her belief in herself blossomed, too. At age 23, when others told...
The Sweet Taste of Tradition
As we gather in the kitchen, lounge in the family room, or watch football in an adjoining room, those moments may flash through our minds in which we can’t believe how quickly the year has passed, a memory of a loved one who has transitioned, or how we spent a...
A Fun Portal into the Past
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter contacted me about my grandson, Sage. She informed me that the six-year-old had a new name: Sir Sage. He was knighted during a historical reenactment. “You’ll be pleased to know that he greets people and shares history tidbits,”...
Drop Everything And Read: A Habit That Lasts a Lifetime
Even after two decades of teaching, one of the most cherished times at school was DEAR time – Drop Everything And Read. When I started as an educator, I was mindful to schedule this activity right after lunch as part of the classroom routine. After settling down,...
Igniting Your Child’s Genius
Nine-year-old Cassandra sat in the Auditorium Theater in downtown Chicago alone, waiting for the thick maroon curtains to open. On an ordinary Saturday afternoon, she would be busy cleaning her room, watching television, or fighting with one of her four siblings. But...
Tiny Travelers, Big Adventures
Traveling with children can be costly, but it is a great investment in exposing them to different and diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. Traveling improves a child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills and provides opportunities for hands-on...
A Lesson from a Goose
The sun beamed across the thick green grass on this perfect summer day as my son-in-law and daughter walked their four children through the zoo. Mikayla was a toddler in a stroller. A goose came up to her and just stared at her, and she stared back at the goose. In...
Creating Superheroes and Butterflies
Superman, Wakanda Forever, Batman. Kids love superheroes. Have you looked and searched for the superhero in your child? What are his strengths? What are his superpowers? Focusing on another’s strengths helps them to amplify it and sometimes even places it on their own...
Financial Literacy for Children
What if you were told that 70% of American children are not literate? You would probably snap back, “That’s not true! Unbelievable!”But it is true if you consider financial literacy. According to experts, as many as 53% or more of American adults are financially...
Sound It Out: Giving the Gift of Reading
In first grade, a young girl was learning to read but feeling helpless in front of all those squiggly lines and shapes. The teacher had introduced her to the alphabet, phonics, sky letters like b’s, f’s, l’s, h’s, and t’s, and underground letters including g’s, p’s,...