A place for those who find and create meaning through words
The cherry tree outside our window is covered in blossoms creating a white and pink cloud glowing in the sun. This is the first time Judy and I have been able to enjoy the tree’s peak bloom since moving to Rehoboth Beach. I can think of few better promises of summer, and I feel a... Continue Reading →
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, a French inventor, created the oldest surviving photograph in 1826 or 1827, a view through the window of his home. Niépce used a lens to focus light onto a pewter plate covered in Bitumen of Judea, a naturally occurring light-sensitive petroleum. Little did he know his camera would have a considerable impact... Continue Reading →
Here are two recent children's book recommendations I made at Browseabout Books. For our teacher friends, these would make excellent additions to your classroom libraries. Ilona Holland’s children’s book George Washington’s Remarkable Solutions presents an information-rich look at Washington’s innovations and architectural feats at his Mount Vernon estate without shying from the issue of slavery. Holland's approach... Continue Reading →
Carpenter James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, the same year the United States defeated Mexico in the American-Mexican War and gained the California Territory. John Sutter hired over one hundred men to build his gristmill and the eight-mile race, or ditch, carrying water to the mill. He put Marshall in charge of... Continue Reading →
Judy and I visited recently The John Dickinson Plantation, a historic site located off Delaware’s Route One just south of the Dover Air Force Base and managed by Delaware’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. We wandered the grounds for about a half-hour then took an information-rich hour-long mansion tour. Dickinson earned the moniker “The... Continue Reading →
We sometimes overlook an emotional-health principle many pre-adolescents have difficulty internalizing— adversity and defeat are parts of everyone’s life. We’re a Little Like Lincoln is a mini-lesson for grades six through eight normalizing thoughts and feelings associated with struggle by examining perceptions of “greatness” and how individuals overcome setbacks. A brainstorming activity involving key words and sketches... Continue Reading →
Academic interventions are more than individualized action plans designed and implemented to improve failing grades. Mindfully and cooperatively designed interventions provide opportunities to build relationships and soft skills related to emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resiliency. Delving into some of the philosophies behind the practice of intervention can also provide educators with new insights into assessment,... Continue Reading →
Proofreading can be a habit just as much as a set of skills, and consistent use of informal writing checklists can help to foster this habit in students. Structured proofreading is an ubiquitous part of composing essays, assembling projects, and writing reports, the big summative projects occurring every-once-in-a-while in our jam-packed curriculums, but are occasional applications... Continue Reading →
We don’t give a teenager the car keys to run errands without having taught the young person how to drive, so why would we bombard students with assignments from multiple teachers without having taught them how to manage workloads? Where do they even begin? Prioritizing tasks can be difficult for adults with excellent executive functioning... Continue Reading →
A knock on your classroom’s door stops your math lesson. You look up from your book and see your teacher crossing the room. “Students, he’s here! Please welcome Dr. Gesundheit!” The special guest your teacher has been talking about for weeks bounds through the door. “Hello, everyone!” You can’t believe your eyes. Dr. Gesundheit stands not much taller than... Continue Reading →
david cooper writing 
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