No matter what holiday you’re celebrating at this time of year, there is a time-honored tradition of exchanging gifts with others.  Perhaps you’ve even purchased a gift for yourself after returning those things you received that you really didn’t need. Today, at this point in history, there’s a good chance that one of those gifts…

We’ve become a nation accustomed to top-line data and headline news.  In-depth investigation and reporting on why issues arise are left to those who want to dig deeper themselves.  After all, they can do so by accessing the Internet. Because, as you know, everything on the Internet is truth. (Yes, the sarcasm is intentional). If…

For at least the past ten years, research has shown that learning cursive writing has a positive effect on brain development, helps to ease difficulties associated with dyslexia. Yet, keyboarding is taught while writing is dropped. The U.S. Postal Service recommends addressing cards in block letters to facilitate delivery (i.e., so it can be read…

Oh, yes there is!  There are at least three times it happens: Students do it in school, albeit privately, right before a test; The school community does whenever there’s a tragedy – a death, a shooting, an act of terrorism, etc.; and Teachers do it every day, since, oftentimes, it’s all they can do for…

Why is knowing about The Millennials important?  After all, the children in school today are digital natives, right?  They’re the next generation, and that’s who we’re educating. Almost right. If you look into any of the research regarding the generations, you’ll see a comparison of traits, and the traits of generations are similar across all…

…hey, I said listen…listen to me! (With apologies to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow). And then, the screaming starts. There are some memes out there today that propose that yelling is the new spanking, and one that states, “Don’t yell at your kids, whisper.  It’s much scarier.” In public school classrooms today, it’s not necessarily the pedagogy…

Now before you think this is an all “doom and gloom” article regarding faith-based schools, let me say that there are a number of faith-based schools across the country that are doing things “right,” evidenced by their continued growth, vibrant parent community, excellent work atmosphere, healthy support from donors and alumni, and phenomenal students that…

In 2009, Simon Sinek published an excellent text titled, “Start With Why.”  The premise is that in our world today, “What” is still emphasized, forcing customers to evaluate features rather than benefits. Prior to 1990, “features” were the reason that consumers made economic decisions.  “Let me show you what this car can do!” “What do…

(Photo credit: NPR) Common core curriculum and stringent standardized testing have become two of the most widely discussed topics in education today (besides masking and other safety issues).  Standardized tests are indeed important, but for pre-assessment evaluation, to see what needs to be done; not for post-learning assessment to see how well students are achieving. …

Business consultant, author and speaker Patrick Lencioni has written an excellent book titled, “The Advantage.”  It speaks to what gives a company their “advantage” over their competitors in the marketplace today.  The answer, while it sound simple, is actually quite complicated, and can’t be identified through metrics, strategies, and all that left-brain stuff that most…