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Save on Poetry Books From Powell’s in April

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April is National Poetry Month. Those who love poetry have a good reason to focus on it this month. A great way to do that is to pick up some poetry books by your favorite poets, or to check out the work of poets who are new to you. Powell’s can help you do that. You can save 15% on all of their poetry titles during the month of April. Poetry is one of those things that people either adore, or absolutely hate. In general, it seems that if your first exposure to poetry was when it was forced upon … Continue reading →

Poetry in Schools

As a poet myself, I have a natural interest in reading poetry as well as writing it. Sadly many teachers seem to do more to turn children and young adults of poetry off than to turn them on to it. By the time they’ve insisted the poem be dissected myriad times, children have lost any joy in the poem. Sometimes poems are simply meant to be enjoyed not analyzed to death. Then let the meaning and all the rest sort of sneak up on the young person, as they think about it. I was fortunate when at school in having … Continue reading →

20 Ways to Get Free Entertainment

Free Entertainment is all around us. We just have to reach out for it. 1. Free movie rentals from Redbox. Search for “Redbox codes” online. You’ll get at least one free movie rental a week when using the Redbox video machines. 2. Free Lego Build Event. Each month Lego stores sponsor free building events for ages 6 through 14. Kids can build a new Lego model each month (this month it is a log cabin) and then take it home. 3. Free video games from the library. Chances are that your library is stocked with video games for current systems. … Continue reading →

Preschool Primer Part 2 – What Kind Of Preschool Is Right For Your Toddler?

When you are trying to decide which preschool is the best fit for your toddler, keep in mind that not all preschools are created equal. There are multiple types of preschools, each with its own underlying philosophy. Here are a few examples of the different types of preschools that are out there. Montessori preschools have a philosophy that is centered around the interconnectedness of all living things and helping the child to discover his or her unique place in the world. Teachers are called “Guides” and they help each child to learn at his or her own pace. Life skills, … Continue reading →

10 Ways Parents Can Help Their Child’s Education

What can you do as a parent to help your child with their education? Here are ten suggestions. 1. The first and one of the most important is to read to them from the time they are born. Don’t stop once they can read for themselves. There’s still something great about being read to. It’s also a great bonding time. Some of my best conversations with my kids have come during that special time after a story. 2. Play counting games and rhymes with them as they get a little older. 3. Teach them basic things like colors, shapes and … Continue reading →

Learn from the Source

Many schools and colleges have discovered the advantages in having an author come in for a talk or writing workshop, or maybe a series of workshops. A visiting author can bring new idea and initiatives and processes that the usual class teacher or lecturer may not have thought of purely because they are looking from things from a different perspective. Just as teachers and lecturers have different ways of handling a class so each writer has a unique perspective on the writing process. Because an author has a specialized knowledge of and enthusiasm for their own craft, they can be … Continue reading →

Drama in Education

I’ve always found drama an effective tool when teaching children and adults alike. For some reason drama we have seen or been involved in stick in the mind long after the event. I know lines written in puppet plays written and performed around 20 years ago still come back to my husband and me at various times. That’s the power of drama in education and I saw another example of it recently. Drama, yes I know it’s usually Kyle writing about drama. But this time I want to tell you about how a drama in a church service influenced someone … Continue reading →

The Value of a Mentorship

Having a mentor can be a valuable experience and is an idea that some schools here have adopted. They bring in experts in certain areas and these experts take young people under their wing to teach, encourage and help them in their chosen path. It also works well at college age group, or in fact at any age. I have been on the receiving end of a mentorship as well as on the giving end, both in areas of writing. In each case it was a worthwhile relationship. A mentor needs not only to be someone who is further along … Continue reading →

Ethics Classes

In NSW, Australia, we have been very fortunate in being able to go into the schools and teach SRE, Special Religious Education over many years. Parents who do not want their children taught SRE, have the option to send a note saying they do not wish them to participate in the class. In this case many will spend the time in the library, on computers, or involved in some other activity. Now another alternative is being proposed. The alternative is ethics classes. In these ethics classes children will apparently be exposed to the ideas of people like John Stuart Mill … Continue reading →

Are Men Really the Weaker Sex?

I’ve been thinking a bit since reading Courtney’s blog about men being the weaker sex and trying to relate it to the men I am or have been closest too – my husband, son, son-in-law and my father. In each case I can’t see that these guys fit that pattern. As on example, last Saturday when I was launching GROW – UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS, an anthology of poems and stories for children and young teenagers, I had nothing but support from the men in my life. Mick spent a great deal of time organizing and printing fliers to send … Continue reading →