Teachers need so many things in their teaching backpack to provide the best education for their students. Then they need to put this all into action. To do this they stock up on traditional teaching tools – paper, pencils, markers, and books. Today they also stuff in digital cameras, tablets, and more. Before you do so, become […]
~A Great Opportunity ~ Recently we were asked to spread the word about a new grant opportunity. At this time it is only available in Broome County, New York. But we hope that it will become a model, available to socially conscious teachers everywhere. We already know of efforts happening around New York State to […]
~ Why form teacher peace groups in our schools? ~ Teachers are confronted daily with the challenge of forming a group of diverse students into a peaceful cooperative classroom where everyone can learn and thrive. This is not easy to do in a world in which the media glorifies violence and nations settle differences by […]
~ Giving More Than One Can Bear ~ What is an Altruist? Being an altruist is when we give of ourselves to someone even though it may require us to sacrifice more than we can afford, perhaps in some situations, even our lives. According to Kristen Renwick Monroe, people who display altruistic behaviors see themselves […]
~ The Anti-Bullying Quilt ~ Objective: To learn about bullying and what to do when it happens Grade Level: Kindergarten and up Preparation: Have scissors, markers, glue, and a long sheet of mural type paper. Introduction: Bully Proofing Yourself and Others Learn about bullying. What does it look like? What does it feel like? Read some of […]
*Peace Education Lesson Plan by Barbara Lake* Purpose To instill in students the concept of peace and how we can achieve it. Early Kindergarten, Special Education, and Kindergarten Introduction. Hold up your fingers in the V sign for peace and ask children if they know what it means. Clue them if they do not. Then […]
If someone told you, we learn more from asking questions than finding answers, would you believe them? According to the ideas of Socrates as passed down to us by Plato, it is only through continual questioning and refinement of our ideas and thoughts in discussion with others that we discover the true nature of what […]
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges Six-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first black child to integrate an all-white public school in the south. Day after day, escorted by U.S. marshals and her mother, she braved spitting, hissing, cursing crowds of white people throwing things at her in […]
Robert Emmons in his book Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier cites research that shows that thinking about being thankful can raise happiness levels by 25% and that writing thankful thoughts in a journal leads to better sleep habits and an increase in energy. Wow! Let’s share that happiness with our children. The […]
The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, is sponsoring Screen Free Week for April 29-May 5. Young children now spend 32 hours a week in front of screens – TVs, computers, iPads, and cell phones. Recent research on the effect of the overuse of computers and hours spent indoors on the vision of children strongly suggests that screen exposure […]
Last weeks’ post was a harsh one. It is so hard to believe that any American would condone torture of any kind. Tom Engelhardt in his post “What if Iranians Waterboarded an American” turns the issue on its head. What if it were an American being tortured he asks. What if it were someone we knew? Would […]
Wake up America! Which do you love more your guns or your children? Yesterday I received an e-mail from Teaching Tolerance an organization that provides wonderful materials for teachers to use in helping to create positive peaceful learning experiences for children. Here is the beginning of the letter: December 16, 2012 Dear Friend of Teaching Tolerance, When […]
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