When I was young, if I wanted to play math games on the computer, it was Math Blaster. Remember him? These days, there are enough online math games at PBS.org, Math Playground, and other educational websites to keep kids busy for weeks. While online games are fun to reinforce skills, nothing beats real, live, interactive […]
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I was in junior high, my Spanish teacher would lean out of his classroom at lunchtime and angrily scream “SACAPUNTAS!” at kids passing by. If you speak Spanish, you know that “sacapuntas” means pencil sharpener. If you don’t speak Spanish, you might have thought it meant “You kids are in such big trouble!” I […]
My dad is a lawyer, and when I was young he brought me a pencil from work that was shaped like a gavel, with two erasers on top. That was the coolest pencil I’ve ever owned, and even when it was too short to write with comfortably, I couldn’t bear to part with it. For […]
The best thing about having Facebook friends with small children is getting inspired by the pictures they post of all the fun crafts they’re doing this holiday season. Fortunately, you don’t have to have kids to get crafty with holiday decorations. The following are a few of my favorite holiday craft ideas for this season. […]
When I moved across the country for grad school, there were two people I was very afraid of losing touch with. They don’t have Facebook, so I can’t post on their wall. They don’t have cell phones, so I can’t text them. They don’t have email, and they don’t have iPads. Plus, they’re only seven […]
How Did We Get to Sesame Street I’ve always wondered – just how do you get to Sesame Street? Google Maps has several suggestions, but somehow I don’t think you’ll wind up on Big Bird’s doorstep if you take them. One person who may be able to tell you is Joan Ganz Cooney, co-creator of […]
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. As a kid, I loved dressing up and getting free candy. As an adult, I love dressing up and giving free candy. The best part has always been the costume. Who doesn’t love having the opportunity to be someone (or something) else, wear something ridiculous, and go out […]
If creativity was a play, the pencil would be the assistant director. The pencil works behind the scenes as a vehicle for creativity to move from the mind to the page. It brings sketches, drawings, stories, and poetry to life and watches them live and breathe on the stage while waiting patiently in the wings. […]
I am not a Twi-hard. While I applaud Stephanie Meyer for her creative re-imagining of vampires, that’s about all I can applaud her for. I mean, come on – the sparkly bad boy who took off without a word gets the girl while the supportive good guy gets friend-zoned? Please! There have to be some […]
What Are Folktales For? Even if you’re not very familiar with Native American folktales, you’ve probably heard of Coyote. He’s the sly, cunning trickster figure who outwits the other characters in Navajo mythology. Crow is his usual victim, but not his only one. Perhaps Coyote’s biggest feat of all is being present, in one form […]
