Opinion Darke County News Online

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Education Dive… Breaking down complex material can make high school curriculum digestible, Lauren Barack - May 27, 2020 - Dive Brief: High school literary analysis and theory can be more engaging if the reading material is changed from complex literature to basic stories, 12th-grade English teacher Crystalee Calderwood writes for Edutopia. While she typically used texts from Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allan Poe, Calderwood flipped to children's books and fairytales like... read more.

Education Dive… Poll: 20% of teachers unlikely to return in fall, Shawna De La Rosa
May 28, 2020 - Dive Brief: One in five teachers surveyed in an USA Today/Ipsos poll said they will likely not return to the classroom in the fall, USA Today reports. A majority of the teachers surveyed (83%) said they are struggling to do their job while schools are closed, 76% said remote learning is causing students to fall behind, and half were “very” worried about their students... read more.

Education Dive… High expectations for summer programs as learning gaps predicted to grow, Linda Jacobson - May 28, 2020 - With experts predicting and school leaders expecting significant student learning loss because of school closures, advocates, researchers and others stepped up efforts this week to emphasize the role that out-of-school-time programs play in minimizing the damage. On Thursday, for example, the Afterschool Alliance, the Boys and Girls... read more.

District Administration… How Miami-Dade aims to tackle the ‘COVID slide’, By: Matt Zalaznick
May 27, 2020 - Personalized learning in summer school and an early start to the 2020-21 academic year anchor Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s equity plan to close achievement gaps caused by the coronavirus. “It is our goal to turn what has been a very disruptive health crisis into an academic opportunity,” Carvalho tells District... read more.

Teachable Moments from Prevention Action Alliance… Know! You Are Not Alone
Summer fun for youth typically includes packed pools, backyard camping, fairs and festivals, sporting events, and lazy days spent simply hanging out—with their friends. This summer is unfortunately going to look and feel different for them and for us. Depending on where you live and the personal choices you’re making for your family, you and your children may fully be experiencing a... read more.

Education Dive… Reports: Early inclusion strategies shape students' perception of math, Shawna De La Rosa - May 27, 2020 - Dive Brief: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics on Tuesday released two new "Catalyzing Change" reports focused on identifying better policies and approaches to equitably teaching mathematics in early childhood as well as elementary and middle school math. The reports highlight studies showing how a student’s grasp of math at age... read more.

Along Life’s Way… LOL ? Not Me! By Lois E. Wilson
I do not do texting. Since I first saw the letters “LOL,” they have not meant “Laugh Out Loud” to me. They mean “Little Old Lady.” Therefore, I thought of LOL as an appropriate description of myself. One day my daughter-in-law accompanied me on a visit to my family doctor. She told the doctor that I was “tough.” I considered it as it was intended –a compliment. I decided that instead... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Takeaways from research on tutoring to address coronavirus learning loss, By Jill Barshay - May 25, 2020 - Many educators and policymakers are worried about low-income children falling woefully behind in math, reading and other subjects while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. One proposal is to give them personal tutors. Normally, the idea of giving every poor child a professional tutor would seem too expensive but extreme... read more.

The Daily Signal… 10 Key Education Recommendations for Reopening the K-12 Classroom, Lindsey Burke - May 25, 2020 - Homeroom has taken on a literal meaning over the past two months. Parents, while always their children’s first and foremost educators, have had to fully embrace homeschooling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And although that has been working great for many families – some 40% now say they’re more likely to continue... read more.

Letter to Governor DeWine regarding high school graduation, State Senator Stephen Huffman
Governor DeWine: At your press conference on Tuesday, April 28th, you stated the following concerning high school graduation: “Everything always comes back to distance. As far as I’m concerned, if the schools can figure out how to properly distance, they can certainly hold graduation. It is up to the school. It is driven by how many students they have, what facilities they have, etc. It has to be... read more.

Education Dive… National parks offer students rich educational benefits. Can they continue doing so remotely? Shawna De La Rosa - May 20, 2020 - Studying state history in a classroom can be a bit boring for 4th-graders, but field trips to state parks bring the past to life while connecting kids to nearby nature. Though close in proximity for most, national parks remain out-of-reach for many low-income families due to lack of transportation and funds. The... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Thoughts about Summer, Lois E. Wilson
Puzzle Pete says use the numbered clues to find the 3-letter answers to the puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out Pete’s suggestion on how to spend your time this summer. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now... read more.

Darke County Center for the Arts… What a Difference a Year Makes, By Marilyn Delk
Just a little over a year ago, Darke County Center for the Arts’ shining Ruby Anniversary season concluded with a sparkling performance by Toledo Symphony Orchestra; the show shimmered with glitz and glamour. Versatile conductor Carl Topilow not only led the orchestra through its exuberant playlist, but also displayed his glittering abilities on a ruby red clarinet, playing a show-stopping... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… In These Uncertain Times, By Aprill Brandon
Hey, want a fun 2020 drinking game? Take a shot every time you read an article that includes the phrase “in these uncertain times.” I’ll help you get started. In these uncertain times (drink!), I am constantly torn between making every effort to stay as healthy as I possibly can and saying screw all of this, the world is constantly on the brink of disaster, let’s burn it down. It, of course... read more.

The Daily Signal… A Memorial Day Like No Other in the Era of COVID-19, Thomas Spoehr
May 22, 2020 - This Memorial Day, during the time of COVID-19, will be different from all others. Many cemeteries likely will have new restrictions, making it more difficult for visitors to pay their respects. Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans, and their families, is closed to the public, although family... read more.

Education Dive… Youngest learners prepare to start school — without the school, Linda Jacobson - May 19, 2020 - For the past 10 years, Portland Public Schools in Oregon has been one of several districts in Multnomah County to offer the Early Kindergarten Transition program for children entering Title I schools. The three-week summer session targets incoming students who have little to no experience in an early-childhood education program. The model has been found to have... read more.

DA District Administration… How superintendents can respond to early state reopening orders, By: Steven Blackburn - May 15, 2020 - District leaders should not feel obligated to follow state legislation that requires their schools to reopen earlier than established safety guidelines recommend, but they still need to fully comprehend the legal implications involved in failing to comply, a task force of superintendents recommends. This recommendation on reopening... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Being Resourceful, By Lois E. Wilson
As I read several articles in my Sunday morning paper, I realized that COVID-19 is the impetus for something positive. It is making us all become more resourceful in our daily lives. “Resourcefulness” is defined as the ability to meet new situations and the capability to devise or find quick and clear ways to overcome difficulties. One could say that it creates and calls to action... read more.

Education Dive… How feasible are school reopening plans for fall? Naaz Modan
May 18, 2020 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released much-anticipated guidance Friday to help school leaders nationwide as they weigh options to reopen schools in the fall — or even as early as the summer in some places. When compared to frameworks and recovery plans released by other organizations and states, the decision tree is relatively... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Add-On Anagrams #3, Lois E. Wilson
Pete has created four puzzles with a 3-letter word starting each of them. Use the three given letters plus an additional letter to answer the first clue. Use all of those letters plus an additional one for the next clue, etc. Put each letter you add on the dash in the add-on letter column. Arrange the three letters in the add-on letter column to answer the final clue. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete’s... read more.

NPR… Sesame Street's Grover On Coping During Coronavirus: Just For Kids, Cory Turner & Anya Kamanetz - May 10, 2020 - Kids have lots of questions about staying home right now. When can I go out to see my friends again? When will this be over? To answer them (and have a little fun), NPR's Life Kit reached out to Sesame Street's beloved monster, Grover, to speak directly to kids. Grover talks with Life Kit hosts Anya Kamenetz and Cory Turner about wearing a... read more.

State Sen. Huffman to spearhead graduation taskforce
Senators: On Tuesday, April 28th, Governor DeWine stated the following concerning high school graduation at his daily press conference: “Everything always comes back to distance. As far as I’m concerned, if the schools can figure out how to properly distance, they can certainly hold graduation. It is up to the school. It is driven by how many students they have, what facilities they have, etc... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… How I Spent My Spring Quarantine, By Aprill Brandon
During my spring quarantine, my family and I went to a lot of places. It was neat. My favorite place was the back porch. We blew bubbles. We drew lots and lots of chalk drawings too. We ate snacks out there. There were a lot of snacks. Doritos were my favorite. I got to eat a whole bag all by myself! The kids drank lots of root beer. And the parents were allowed to drink wine... read more.

The Daily Signal… Parents Wade Into ‘Hybrid’ Homeschooling, Eric Wearne
May 12, 2020 - A majority of parents now say they are “somewhat” or “much more” favorable to homeschooling, after experiencing it because of the recent coronavirus-spurred school closures. Many parents likely think that the increased time with their children has been valuable in some way, but they are not prepared, for a variety of reasons, to become full-time home... read more.

NPR… When Will This Be Over? Sesame Workshop's Tips For Parenting During A Pandemic, Cory Turner & Anya Kamanetz - May 12, 2020 - Parents, let's be honest: Many of us are struggling right now. Some have lost loved ones to COVID-19; many of us have lost jobs. And nearly all of us have spent the past two months juggling new parenting responsibilities as our children stay home and schools shift online. In March, NPR's Life Kit team put together this guide to help... read more.

Deep Dive… What's Next: Will the pandemic dampen interest in tuition benefit programs? Hallie Busta - May 14, 2020 - Tuition benefit programs aren't new, but several high-profile examples have made headlines in the last few years as indicators that companies are changing how they use education support. Beyond attracting workers, these programs are designed to retain them and help employers expand and diversify their talent pipelines. This is particularly true in the retail and... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance…Let NBC Hear From You on SNL's "Let Kids Drink" Skit
On May 9, millions of viewers tuned into Saturday Night Live to be entertained and viewed a skit entitled “Let Kids Drink”. The skit, a satirical bit that spotlights the current parenting struggles that American parents share as a result of COVID-19, promotes family alcohol use, across all ages, infants through adults. As we know alcohol is the most widely used and... read more.

NPR Ed… With School Buildings Closed, Children's Mental Health Is Suffering, Anya Kamanetz - May 14, 2020 - Nightmares. Tantrums. Regressions. Grief. Violent outbursts. Exaggerated fear of strangers. Even suicidal thoughts. In response to a call on social media, parents across the country shared with NPR that the mental health of their young children appears to be suffering as the weeks of lockdown drag on. Most U.S. states have canceled in-person classes for... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Competition, By Lois E. Wilson
Do you enjoy competition? I do. It is the competition among participants that draws me to certain TV shows. Whether it is quiz, spelling bees, designing, cooking, music, sports, or another type show wherein people are vying to have the best product or highest score—I watch them. Fie on the soap operas and sitcoms! This preference of mine may spring from my background in... read more.

Education Dive… How to survey college students about the shift online, Natalie Schwartz
May 12, 2020 - The coronavirus has forced college instructors to transition to virtual teaching. But many have little to no experience doing so remotely, much less creating effective online courses in a matter of weeks. Students are struggling with the change, too. On Twitter, several widely shared tweets about the difficulties of transitioning to an online term have been met with a... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! You Are Not Alone
May is Mental Health Month and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is spreading the message: You Are Not Alone. Now more than ever, people have to know they’re not alone. There is an especially urgent need to raise awareness on the importance of mental health as anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide have skyrocketed since the onset of the... read more.

Puzzle Pete Has “AP”s A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to use the clues to determine the answer words. Their starting letters and the letters “AP” are given where they appear in a word. Each dash stands for a missing letter. Pete says, “Solve it to show your AP-titude.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6 are... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Time to fight for the funding our kids need to mend the coronavirus wreckage, by Andre Perry - May 12, 2020 - Our way of life has shifted so radically as we distance ourselves from one another to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it’s even hard to properly mourn the death of loved ones lost to it. The lack of presidential leadership contributes to the vast uncertainty we all face. But we must gather ourselves for more disruption and disquiet as... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… The Battle of the Back Porch, By Aprill Brandon
I just surrendered my back porch. I’m…I’m not even sure how it happened. One minute I’m sitting out there with my cup of coffee, enjoying the spring sunshine, and the next…well, the next I’m on the losing side of a vicious battle I didn’t even know I was involved in until it was too late. It all started with the carpenter bee. One minute I had a lovely view of the back of my neighbor’s house and... read more.

Education Dive… Title IX rules leave door open for schools to 'pass the trash', Naaz Modan
May 11 2020 - Analysis of new provisions to Title IX regulations released Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos suggests school employees alleged to be perpetrators of sexual assault or harassment may still be able to fly under the radar. Education law experts corroborate that the new language would allow schools to dismiss sexual harassment, abuse... read more.

Commissioner’s Corner… Finally, a plan to open up Ohio
Last month we said we were holding out hope that April would be different from March. It wasn’t. We are still under all sorts of restrictions and orders, but they finally have a plan to open up Ohio. We are not overly thrilled with it, but.....at least it’s a plan! April was better weather wise, but not much. Still, there was some farming done, and we started work on our airport project. This... read more.

Education Dive… A call for ideas to help student parents succeed during and after COVID-19, Louis Soares - May 6, 2020 - Right now thousands of college students are scrambling to adjust to life off-campus and outside of physical classrooms. That in and of itself is a challenge for any student, but K-12 school closures and government orders mean that student parents are also home with their children — disrupting schedules and child care at a time when they may also... read more.

Education Dive… President Speaks: How one HBCU president managed the coronavirus shutdown, Billy Hawkins - May 4, 2020 - Talladega College, Alabama's first private historically black liberal arts college, has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. When I began my tenure as president in 2008, we were in danger of losing accreditation and enrollment was so low that our doors were on the brink of closing. Fortunately, after years of labor, the college was... read more.

EdSurge… Do Families Now Understand What It Takes to Be a Teacher? By Emily Tate
May 6, 2020 - Over the past two months, with school buildings closed to curb the spread of COVID-19, parents and guardians have taken on more active roles in their children’s learning experiences. Overnight, many parents—especially those with younger children—have been thrust into the role of homeschool teachers. In some ways, the sudden change has given parents a... read more.

DA District Administration… What social-emotional needs will students return with? By: Matt Zalaznick - May 6, 2020 - Social-emotional learning supports will be key when schools reopen because students will return with varying degrees of anxiety and stress. Right now, most students are missing out on critical activities and connections with friends and educators. Teachers, therefore, may see more emotional and behavioral outbursts in their classrooms, said Katie Rosanbalm, a senior... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Special Gifts, By Lois E. Wilson
Over the years, watching life unfold and how people react to it, I have come to the conclusion that we have all been given special gifts—these could be called talents. There have been many studies to determine whether the person we become is primarily due to nature (inherited attributes) or nurture (acquired attributes). Findings are disputed as to which is more... read more.

Education Dive… AASA: New Title IX rules make administrators' jobs 'more challenging', Naaz Modan - May 7, 2020 - Dive Brief: The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday released long-awaited updates to Title IX regulations that increase the responsibility for K-12 schools to report and investigate sexual harassment and assault claims. Starting Aug. 14, schools will be required to respond to allegations when any school employee has been notified by a... read more.

Education Dive… 7 students in a class? Not practical, school operations officials say, Linda Jacobson - May 6, 2020 - Thermal cameras that take students’ and staff members’ temperatures as they enter a school, flooring with one-way directions and “self-cleaning” windows that use UV light to clean the air inside a room are among the products school operations officials are considering as they begin preparing for schools to re-open — whenever that is. Some operations... read more.

Gov. DeWine, Dr. Acton: Time to Open the State, By State Representative Jena Powell
When I go to Columbus, I go to represent my community in Miami and Southern Darke County. We want to do everything we can to protect everyone in our community, including the elderly and the immunocompromised. Back in March, we had limited data with regard to COVID-19. Governor DeWine made a decision with the data he had at that point. Businesses, families, and nonprofits rose to the... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Maternal Match-Up, Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to read the clues in the left-numbered column. From the right column, choose the maternal related answer to each clue and place its letter on the dash to the right of the number. Pete hopes you can make the correct match-up for each clue. He has put an alphabet below in case you want to keep a record of the lettered answers you have selected. Wilson's completed set of books has a... read more.

Education Dive… Elite colleges rejected coronavirus aid. How will the Ed Dept reallocate it? Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - April 30, 2020 - President Donald Trump last week railed against Harvard University, claiming he would personally ensure the institution, with the largest endowment in the U.S., would turn away millions of dollars in federal coronavirus aid it was due. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos followed suit soon after, publicly urging affluent colleges to reject money from... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… It’s Been a Mother of a Year, By Aprill Brandon
Hey, you know how every year mothers across this great country of ours significantly lower their expectations when it comes to Mother’s Day? How every year you all just skate by on your adorableness, doing the bare minimum? Because it’s only Mom, afterall. She’s so grateful for anything and everything and her love is completely unconditional. Well, not this year, you filthy... read more.

eSchool News… 3 coaching tips to support newly-virtual teachers, By Adam Geller
May 4th, 2020 - Many educators became virtual teachers overnight when schools closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic--here's how to support them. In the wake of COVID-19, the shift to distanced teaching and learning has been hard for many educators and students alike. This is, after all, new and unprecedented times for all involved. So how can coaches and instruction... read more.

Education Dive… For many students, teacher feedback is the new grading system, Linda Jacobson - April 30, 2020 - Taren Villecco can usually teach a mini-lesson and tell right away "by reading the classroom" which of her students need more help. "Within a 15-minute time period, I could reach half my class," says Villecco, who teaches 5th grade at Ryan Elementary School in Boulder Valley School District in Colorado. She would know if some students needed more... read more.

Resident asks Darke County Sheriff to ignore DeWine mandates, By Lyn Bliss
To the editor: Following is a letter I sent to our Darke County Sherriff: Sheriff Spencer - How about letting Darke County get back to work? Being the highest law enforcement official governing Darke County, you can choose to not enforce any regulation you believe to violate your oath of upholding the Constitutions of the United States or Ohio. Please make a statement letting the businesses... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Doing Nothing? By Lois E. Wilson
There are no appointments. The household chores can wait. We long for days when we have nothing to do. We think we’ll be free to relax and enjoy them on our terms. When one of them finally arrives, the clock ticks off the minutes. Time seems to be passing slower than it should. You soon become bored and search your mind trying to think of something to occupy your time. ”You... read more.

EdTech… Why K–12 Schools Should Establish a Data-Driven Culture, By Amy Burroughs
The essential ingredients for a data-driven culture have little to do with data itself, experts say. The real shift occurs when everyone in the educational community starts to change what they talk about and how they respond to conversational outcomes. “That’s what exemplifies higher-performing schools that have transformed their entire culture: District leaders, school leaders, teachers... read more.

Education Dive… COVID-19 curriculum helps students cope with, understand pandemic, Naaz Modan - April 29, 2020 - As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, flexible educators have been able to give some students the opportunity to learn about it in real time as part of remote classes. "We wanted them to understand and help educate them [about] what’s going on," said Patricia Friedrichsen, professor of science education at the University of Missouri in the Department of... read more.

Education Dive… What's Next: As colleges make cuts, new ways to make (and save) money emerge, Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - April 29, 2020 - As the costs associated with the coronavirus pile up for colleges, it seems almost moot to point out that in certain areas, institutions are netting immediate savings. After all, some colleges and systems forecast losses in the tens of millions of dollars. So halting aspects of campus operations — as well as large-scale events such as commencements... read more.

The Atlantic… What if Colleges don’t Reopen Until 2021? Adam Harris
April 24, 2020 - Every two years, New Jersey’s higher-education secretary expects the state’s school administrators to present contingency plans for disaster scenarios. Dorm fires, mass shootings, extreme weather events—all types of threats are considered by these college representatives. University presidents, deans, and others in essential management roles have color... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Favorite Organization, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Each dash stands for a letter. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out the organization that Pete supports and hopes you do too. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now... read more.

NPR Education… AP Exams Are Still On Amid Coronavirus, Raising Questions About Fairness, Carrie Jung - April 27, 2020 - A lot is at stake for students taking Advanced Placement exams, even in normal times. If you score high enough, you can earn college credit. It's also a big factor in college applications. But for some students, the idea of studying right now feels impossible. "I'm constantly thinking about making sure my family doesn't get sick and I don't get sick," says... read more.

Education Dive… President Speaks: COVID-19 lessons are preparing community colleges to better serve their communities, Valerie Roberson, President, Roxbury Community College, Massachusetts - April 27, 2020 - While the transition from in-person to remote learning has been difficult for all institutions of higher learning, it has been particularly difficult for community colleges, which are used to accomplishing more with less and keeping costs as low as... read more.

The Daily Signal… COVID-19 Is Helping the Environment. But at What Cost? Nicolas Loris
April 23, 2020 - Earth Day turns 50 this year, but don’t expect to see any large gatherings. The coronavirus pandemic has turned the 2020 celebration into a virtual one. According to some observers, though, that’s a good thing. One silver lining of COVID-19, they point out, is a healthier environment. Without a doubt, quarantining is yielding environmental improvements... read more.

Huffman takes issue with state hold on graduation ceremonies
Superintendent DeMaria: I am writing to express my disagreement with the email to the school district superintendents in the State of Ohio that went out yesterday titled, ‘Graduation and other end-of year recognition ceremonies’ from the Ohio Department of Education. The email does not state if the instructions in the email were from Mr. DeMaria, voted on by the State Board of... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Examine YOUR COVID-19 Coping Skills
The world as we knew it has changed due to COVID-19. Even as governors talk about ending some social distancing protections, people’s physical, mental, and emotional health remain at risk. As a nation, we’ve been checking in, reaching out, and helping our families, friends, and complete strangers. The question is, have you checked in with YOURSELF? How are you... read more.

DA District Administration… How will schools reopen safely in fall 2020? By: Matt Zalaznick
April 22, 2020 - While many officials expect public schools to reopen in the fall, K-12 education even then may not return to “normal.” Schools in Denmark, which last week became the first system in Europe to reopen, may provide a glimpse at what U.S. classrooms might look like when students return. At one school, students sat at desks placed six feet apart, washed their hands... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Will this semester forever alter college? No, but some virtual tools will stick around, By Jon Marcus - April 23, 2020 - A professor at Loyola University New Orleans taught his first virtual class from his courtyard, wearing his bathrobe and sipping from a glass of wine. Lafayette College showed faculty how to make document cameras at home using cardboard and rubber bands. Hamilton College set up drive-up Wi-Fi stations for faculty members whose connections... read more.

Edutopoia… A Framework for Teaching Students How to Peer Edit, By Benjamin Barbour
April 17, 2020 - Too often, asking students to edit each other’s writing results in superficial commentary. Many students are uncertain about how to provide meaningful feedback on a peer’s work. One way to make peer review more effective is by scaffolding it, or breaking down the practice into several classes where students critique each other’s work in a more focused... read more.

Education Dive… Report: Teachers' pre-pandemic digital material use remained limited, Linda Jacobson - April 16, 2020 - Before the coronavirus outbreak, the majority of teachers were using digital instructional materials only on a supplemental basis. And of the resources they reported using most in their classrooms, only 30% were digital, according to new data from the American Instructional Resources Survey, which was administered to the RAND Corp.’s American Teacher... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Tunnel Vision, By Lois E. Wilson
Tunnel vision is defined as “a single minded concentration on one thing.” It is often perceived as a negative trait. However, it could be viewed as a positive attribute if you consider it being the ability to focus on a goal one wishes to achieve. The end of January, President Trump issued a travel ban related to the coronavirus for people who had recently traveled to China. His ban... read more.

Edutopia… How to Forge a Strong Community in an Online Classroom, By Caitlin Krause
April 15, 2020 - When I moved a large part of my curriculum online a decade ago, I had to become more flexible and creative in my teaching. I used every tool at my disposal to increase my connection with my students: We live-shared in an online text editor called TitanPad, a predecessor of Padlet. We also used blogs and responded to each other one-to-one, and I encouraged... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Coronavirus becomes unprecedented test for teacher-student relationships, By Liz Willen - April 20, 2020 - NEW YORK — Social studies teacher Karen Rose stepped out of New Rochelle High School last month for what will likely be the last time. And while that makes her sad, it’s not what bothers her most after 34 years in the classroom. “My biggest worry is the kids I’ve gotten no response from,” said Rose, who is retiring in June... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Add-On Anagrams #2, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete has created four puzzles with a 3-letter word starting each of them. Use the three given letters plus an additional letter to answer the first clue. Use all of the letters plus an additional one for the next clue, etc. Put each letter you add on the dash in the add-on letter column. Arrange the three letters in the add-on letter column to answer the final clue. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete’s hint: if you... read more.

Forbes… An Easy Way To Help Kids Learn At Home: Turn On The Captions, Natalie Wexler
A new organization is pushing for children’s TV and video programs to automatically display captions to boost literacy. It’s an easy thing to do, and it has even more research behind it than advocates realize. “If I told you there was a magic button,” says a British-accented child’s voice-over in a video, “and when it’s pressed, it doubles my chances of becoming literate—which decreases... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Excuse me, is this thing on? By Aprill Brandon
Q: What has a twitchy eye, a whiskey in each hand and a brain that is slowly melting? A: A mother who is stuck in quarantine with little kids who just discovered jokes. Want to hear another one? Q: What do you call a Memaw who sends her grandchildren a book called “200 Silly Jokes for Kids”? A: Estranged. Perhaps you think I’m being too dramatic. Well, let me ask you this. Why... read more.

Deep Dive… Like evolution before it, climate change requires careful treading in curriculum, Lauren Barack - April 15, 2020 - Don Haas understands educators may hesitate before they launch into their climate change lessons with students. Certainly, tense politics and heated conversations have played a part when the topic is raised on a national level, not unlike the debate that has raged over evolution through the years. Yet the director of teacher programs at the... read more.

Education Dive… Will the coronavirus pandemic exacerbate teacher shortages? Shawna De La Rosa - April 17, 2020 - Dive Brief: Looking at the teacher workforce reduction that occurred in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago, Brookings Institution fellow Andre Perry writes for The Hechinger Report that the coronavirus pandemic could have a similar result for the nation's teacher workforce at large. Following the storm, Perry writes, Orleans Parish School Board laid off its... read more.

The Daily Signal… Childhelp Hotline: 800-4-A-CHILD, Armstrong Williams
April 09, 2020 - The coronavirus has brought our bustling nation, and life as we know it, to a grinding halt. During a crisis, it is easy for us to forget about the vulnerable as we “circle the wagons” and focus on our day-to-day survival in this new normal. However, during times like these, it is imperative to remember those of us who are vulnerable and less fortunate. Perhaps one of the most... read more.

Education Dive… Support builds for test-optional college admissions amid coronavirus, Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - April 13, 2020 - Dive Brief: Student Voice, a student-centric nonprofit that seeks equity in education, is calling on all colleges to suspend admissions test requirements because of the coronavirus pandemic. The group launched a petition in late March calling on institutions to adopt test-optional policies for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. During an online press briefing Monday... read more.

The Atlantic… Generation C Has Nowhere to Turn, By Amanda Mull
April 13, 2020 - When Ananay Arora looks off his balcony, he doesn’t see much these days. From his high-rise apartment, which he shared with three roommates before one of them moved back to Taiwan a few weeks ago, he has a view of Arizona State University’s campus, where Arora is currently a sophomore majoring in computer science. It’s usually full of life, but like... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Hero or Zero? By Lois E. Wilson
In a worldwide crisis like the coronavirus is causing, there arise unsung heroes. They do not choose to become heroes, but they definitely are. In this health fight to save lives, find treatments, equipment and facilities, develop cures and vaccines, we see many risking their own health, doing their best to lend their skills, finances, and time to the effort. We applaud them. We know... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer… I am a graduating senior, and this is what I miss the most, Jayla VanHorn, Posted Apr 12, 2020 - This was supposed to be one of the best years of our lives. Instead, it has become -- for me, my fellow high school seniors and the rest of the world -- the year of “not knowing.” Among my friends, there is uncertainty over whether we’ll ever go back to school, whether we’ll ever see each other again, if we’ll have a prom or if we will even get to... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Prevention in the Time of COVID-19
With COVID-19 continuing to tear through our communities, it has become increasingly evident that our healthcare system is severely unequipped to support the needs that arise during a health crisis such as this. Hospital bed availability is low and access to protective equipment for those on the front lines are lacking. People are losing their jobs and with them their access to health... read more.

PBS News… Why child welfare experts fear a spike of abuse during COVID-19, By Laura Santhanam - Apr 6, 2020 - Over the course of five consecutive days last month, Dr. Jamye Coffman saw seven children and infants who had been abused so severely that they required hospitalization at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. At the time, the city, along with the rest of Texas, had recently declared an emergency over the rapid spread of novel coronavirus... read more.

The Atlantic… What Teachers Need to Make Remote Schooling Work, Kristina Rizga
April 13, 2020 - San Francisco’s Mission High School is one of the most diverse in the nation. Its roughly 1,100 students hold at least 47 different passports; more than 60 percent of students are considered low income. Even before the coronavirus threw the nation into an economic crisis, most of Mission High’s students already struggled with access to basic needs—health... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Add-On Anagrams #1, Lois E. Wilson
Pete has created four puzzles with a 3-letter word starting each of them. Use the three given letters plus an additional letter to answer the first clue. Use all of the letters plus an additional one for the next clue, etc. Put each letter you add on the dash in the add-on letter column. Arrange the three letters in the add-on letter column to answer the final clue. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete’s hint... read more.

FBI Ratchets Up Efforts to Combat Crimes Exploiting COVID-19 Fears, Steven Bucci
April 09, 2020 - The country is (rightly) laser-focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the president’s daily press briefings with the coronavirus task force led by Vice President Mike Pence have been a ratings hit because people want to know what’s going on. The American public is leaning on our medical superheroes (the medical practitioners and researchers) to lead the way in this “war... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Honey, I screwed up the kids, By Aprill Brandon
We are living through historic times. Unprecedented times. And with any luck my family and I will make it out of these times and many years from now, my great grandkids will gather around and ask to hear all about the time Gam Gam lived through the Great Coronavirus of 2020. And I will tell them, my voice dripping in rich sepia tones, tales of staying up late into the night writing.. read more.

Education Dive… Pre-to-3: While some preschoolers learn online, most programs seek stability, Linda Jacobson - April 9, 2020 - Early last month, Rhian Allvin, executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, published a blog post with the title, “Making Connections: There’s No Such Thing as Online Preschool.” The premise of the article was that an online early education curriculum is in no way “comparable to a high-quality... read more.

EdSurge… What Will K-12 Schools Look Like Post-Coronavirus? By Jeffrey R. Young
Apr 3, 2020 - What will K-12 schools look like after social distancing is over and people reassess what they want from school systems after the pandemic? For this bonus episode of the EdSurge Podcast, we posed that question to Simon Rodberg, a former charter school principal and author of a forthcoming book from ACSD, “What If I’m Wrong? and Other Key Questions for... read more.

Education Dive… What's Next: Could coronavirus change the credit hour as we know it? Hallie Busta - April 8, 2020 - It's been a month since the coronavirus forced college campuses across the U.S. to close to most students. As classes moved online, learners, instructors and administrators grappled with a host of questions spurred by the current moment — but not unique to it. Among them: When faculty are teaching courses designed for the classroom remotely, how can they be... read more.

The Hechinger Report… How the last recession affected higher education. Will history repeat? By Jill Barshay - April 8, 2020 - One of the peculiar things about higher education is that it runs in the opposite direction of the economy. When the economy stalls, demand for college typically rises as the unemployed decide to go back to school to improve their job prospects. Since it seems near certain that the coronavirus pandemic is triggering a new recession right now, I thought it would be... read more.

The Daily Signal… One Millennial’s Guide to COVID-19: 8 Ways to Embrace Our New Normal, Virginia Allen - April 01, 2020 - Millennials have spent their formative years reading self-help books and binge-watching lifestyle video blogs. We are students of the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and DiSC personality tests. Our knowledge of essential oils and mindfulness techniques is second to none. Long story short, we millennials have all the tools we need to thrive while... read more.

Education Dive Column… Lessons In Leadership: Administrators' advice for addressing 5 coronavirus challenges, Roger Riddell - April 7, 2020 - America's public education system was largely caught off guard as schools were forced by the sudden onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic to shut their doors and transition to distance learning over the past two months. With the number of states keeping schools closed through the academic year rising as the... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Raw Materials, By Lois E. Wilson
When you are being creative, no matter what your medium is, you are creating objects and works out of raw materials. A cook’s raw materials are a variety of foods. Cooks choose from these and assemble them into many dishes—some new and created from scratch. Mechanically inclined people may see needs that suggest solutions---new inventions. They use materials such... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Reassure and Support Children During the COVID-19 Crisis - We know that for many tweens and teens, their social connectedness is what drives them. When their social lives are not only disrupted but literally stopped in their tracks, it can have devastating consequences. At this point, the novelty of being out of school has likely worn off, and the reality of social distancing has set in. And while being six feet apart or hunkered down... read more.

The Atlantic Monthly… It’s Hard to Teach Writing Online, Kristina Rizga
April 6, 2020 - We are in the midst of the most sweeping education experiment in history. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the majority of the U.S.’s 3.6 million educators to find ways to teach without what most of them consider the core part of their craft—the daily face-to-face interactions that help them elicit a child’s burning desire to investigate something; detect confusion or a lack of... read more.

DA District Administration… How to Block ‘Zoom Bombing’ and protect student privacy online, By: Matt Zalaznick - April 7, 2020 - Online classes at several schools have been invaded by “Zoom bombing,” an ugly new activity in which hackers disrupt virtual sessions to display pornography, racism and other disturbing images. These cyberattacks late last week drove one middle school in Palm Beach County, Florida, to temporarily halt all live classes, The Palm Beach Post... read more.

The Hechinger Report… It’s time for some frank talk about abrupt college closures, By Teresa Valerio Parrot & Erin Hennessy - April 7, 2020 - As the coronavirus continues to spread globally, U.S. colleges and universities are navigating decisions about vacating campuses and moving to online-only instruction. For any institution, temporarily shutting down the campus, offering room and board refunds, and moving to virtual classes isn’t an ideal solution, but for those that can afford to execute... read more.

Puzzle Pete Asks, “What Is That Sound?” By Lois E. Wilson
Every year around this time Pete hears a familiar sound. Use the numbered clues to find the 3-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out what the sound is. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now.. read more.

Dr. Marvel of Medicine to the rescue in Ohio, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
ZZZWAP! Take that COVID-19. Dr. Marvel of Medicine, Amy Acton, is front and center in the fight against the coronavirus in Ohio. Her cape, a white lab coat, represents her mission to conquer the mayhem of planet pandemic. Committed. Calm. Composed. "I have the honor of wearing this white coat, which I know has become a little bit iconic. But it became very clear to me that I'm wearing... read more.

Commissioner’s Corner, March 2020
The month of March, (really, it was only a month!) is finally over! This has to be one of the more unique months ever for our county and for our country. I am holding out hope for April......but we will have to see! Of course, the big news was the Corona Virus or COVID-19. I am sure we have all heard enough about it, but we in the Commissioner’s office want to thank all the people of... read more.

The 74 Million… Analysis: 5 Suggestions From Idaho Charter School Leaders as Their Rural Students Switch to Online Learning… And 2 Thoughts for the Future - “Stay connected.” That’s perhaps the No. 1 lesson from more than 30 school leaders who are working to serve their Idaho families, children and communities during the COVID-19 shutdown. These leaders represent a wide range of public charter schools, from small remote or rural schools... read more.

Deep Dive… Gen Z Takeover: Could online colleges gain traction with young students? Natalie Schwartz - April 3, 2020 - Four-year universities have long encouraged students coming straight from high school to enroll in their campus-based programs while guiding older learners to their online divisions, creating a divide between the two groups. But Generation Z, whose members were born in 1997 or later, may prove to be the force that can break down those barriers. At Western Governors... read more.

Education Dive… Coronavirus closures present districts opportunities to rethink schedules, Shawna De La Rosa - March 30, 2020 - Dive Brief: Widespread school closures as a result of novel coronavirus provide an opportunity for districts to reorganize the school day and bell schedule, District Administration reports. A report from Always Be Learning's Unlocking Time project found 72% of schools have periods under 60 minutes, and 74% arrange classes into... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Any Ideas? By Lois E. Wilson
One day you are doing a task and someone asks you in a loud, accusing manner, “What’s the big idea?” You think: ”That question was not meant to be a compliment; that person is annoyed and wants me to account for my behavior at once.” You have no idea what precipitated the question. At the moment, you wish for a “big idea” of how to respond, but your mind is blank. A... read more.

Deep Dive… Ready for what? Postsecondary data on school report cards remains mixed bag, By Linda Jacobson and Nami Sumida - April 1, 2020 - When the Pennsylvania Department of Education was redesigning its school report card in 2018, it didn’t limit the data on students’ college and career readiness to the typical indicators of participation in Advanced Placement courses, admission test scores or even whether students earned an industry-recognized credential. Its Future Ready PA... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Student Voice: I couldn’t wait for high school to be over, until it was, By Julia Finke - April 2, 2020 - A couple of weeks ago, I badly wanted a break from school. I went to bed that night with the intention of skipping the next day. While I was sleeping, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a mandatory two-week hiatus for all Virginia public schools. I got what I wished for. I don’t wish for it anymore. As the week progressed, it became evident that the situation... read more.

Forbes… What Will It Take For Schools To Reopen? Frederick Hess
The closure of schools due to COVID-19 has created a frenzy of activity as school systems scramble to feed students, give them work packets, get them online, and provide virtual resources. This is all necessary and appropriate, as school leaders struggle to deal with the immediate crisis. It’s good that leaders have been focused on feeding kids, getting them online, and... read more.

NPR Ed… 9 Out Of 10 Children Are Out Of School Worldwide. What Now? Anya Kamenetz
April 2, 2020 - Right now students are out of school in 185 countries. According to UNESCO, that's roughly 9 out of 10 schoolchildren worldwide. The world has never seen a school shutdown on this scale. And not since Great Britain during World War II has such a long-term, widespread emptying of classrooms come to a rich country. To get a little perspective on what this... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s: It’s Up to “Us” A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the answer words. They are in alphabetical order with an “us” placed where occurring in each word. Each dash stands for a letter. Hint: one answer has two “us” words in it, but only one is placed for you. Pete hopes you don’t get frustrated or furious. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume... read more.

NPR Ed… The Biggest Distance-Learning Experiment In History: Week One, By Anya Kamenetz, March 26, 2020 - For 6-year-old Sadie Hernandez, the first day of online school started at her round, wooden kitchen table in Jacksonville, Fla. She turned on an iPad and started talking to her first grade teacher, Robin Nelson. "Are you ready to do this online stuff?" her teacher asks, in a video sent to NPR by Hernandez's mother, Audrey. "Yeah," Sadie responds. "It's kind of scary... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… St. Momma’s Academy For Wayward Children, By Aprill Brandon
Greetings and salutations new students! I am pleased to welcome you as the inaugural class of St. Momma’s Academy For Wayward Children. I’m looking forward to a most maddening semester with all of your beautiful, perfect faces. Just a few details and tidbits to go over before I hand out the MAE, I SAID STOP LICKING YOUR BROTHER syllabus. Firstly, we have a unique... read more.

Hechinger Report… Desperate parents need help as coronavirus upends our lives, By Sarah Garland - March 27, 2020 - As an education reporter, I’ve watched hundreds of teachers lead classrooms and I’ve learned that their job is one of the hardest in the world. The best teachers seem to have endless supplies of energy, patience and creativity. They manage to inspire both love and awe, keeping kids simultaneously inspired and on task. It’s a job I know I could never do... read more.

Education Dive… Could coronavirus push more colleges to test-optional admissions? Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - March 23, 2020 - 2019 was a record year for advocates of the test-optional movement in college admissions. More than 50 institutions, the most in a single year, declared they would no longer require, or in some cases even review, applicants' SAT and ACT scores. Administrators at these schools said better metrics exist for judging students' academic prowess. In.. read more.

Education Dive… Pandemic could lead to 'major upheaval' in school district budgets, Linda Jacobson - March 25, 2020 - It took 10 years for some states to recover from the Great Recession — and to see surpluses they could use to increase funding for K-12 education. How they weather the “economic shock” brought on by the novel coronavirus will depend on several factors, including the duration of the pandemic, the size of their rainy day funds, and whether they act quickly... read more.

NPR Ed… Graduation, Financial Aid, Admissions — For This Year's College-Bound, The Future Is In Turmoil, By Elissa Nadworny - Mar 22, 2020 - This spring was supposed to be an exciting time for Xander Christou. He's a senior in high school in Austin, Texas, and was looking forward to all the fun: prom, senior skip day and of course, graduation. But all that's now out the window. "There's a sense that it's incomplete," says Christou. The school district has closed... read more.

Education Dive… Ensuring e-learning equity takes time, Lauren Barack
March 25, 2020 - Dive Brief: To get students and parents used to the new reality of remote learning they’d be navigating as a result of coronavirus-related school closures, John S. Thomas, an elementary teacher in New Hampshire, writes for Edutopia that he started with some simple steps that included sending an email and video about things they’d be doing together online for the... read more.

Along Life’s Way… From Doubt to Decision, By Lois E. Wilson
When we doubt, we are being skeptical or uncertain. We may not have enough information to make decisions based upon the actualities of a situation… There is the story of the person who couldn’t decide which of two available seats looked more comfortable. His indecisiveness caused him to hesitate so long that he missed the chance to sit on either. So he had to sit on the floor... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Online, students still need 'the proverbial pat on the back', By Luba Ostashevsky - March 24, 2020 - The first sign that we’d entered a new world came from the “What’s Your Mood?” survey that I sent to my classes at a north Brooklyn high school. A student who routinely arrives late and spends his class time texting wrote, “School is an everyday thing to me so it’s a bit of an unusual feeling.” Another student with a tendency to skip class disclosed, “I am... read more.

The Hechinger Report… In dark days of coronavirus, a little kindness can restore students’ faith, By Liz Willen - March 23, 2020 - NEW YORK – When news came that coronavirus concerns would close South Carolina’s Benedict College for the semester, Jayla Berry soon found herself heading home to Detroit with her ticket fully paid for and her transportation arranged. “They helped us load up and even arranged for someone to take me to the airport,” said Berry, a sophomore... read more.

The Daily Signal… Let’s Expand 529 Plans to Help Homeschoolers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Jude Schwalbach - March 24, 2020 - Homeschooling—a few weeks ago the domain of about 3% of the school-aged population—made headlines this month as COVID-19 rapidly closed schools across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Indeed, the coronavirus has meant that “We’re All Homeschoolers Now.” While millions of children—and their parents... read more.

Workspace Education… Fraise: Coronavirus Has Turned Families Into Unwitting Homeschoolers - Some Suggestions for How They Can Treat It Like an Opportunity - I lead a co-learning community called Workspace Education in Bethel, Connecticut — a bastion for families who have opted out of school and work creatively to solve their children’s educational needs together. Now, with the majority of schools across the country shutting down, millions of families are becoming... read more.

Puzzle Pete Says: Let It “B” A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete likes the alphabet and the variety of words found in our language. Complete the 5-letter words starting with “B” by using the clues in the left column. The letters of the alphabet appear in sequence as the fourth letter of each word. Pete hopes you don’t get B-side yourself. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Quarantine Letters from the Homefront, By Aprill Brandon
March 12, 2020 - My Dearest Husband, It feels like yesterday I held you in my arms, only for us to be ripped apart by this cursed virus that is sweeping the country. What I wouldn’t give to see your face again. Alas, I know you must do your duty, though it is a most difficult one, and figure out how to turn our diminutive bedroom into a viable home office. Though only a door separates... read more.

Chalkbeat… A day without school: What life looks like across America when children stay home, By Chalkbeat Staff - March 17, 2020 - It was a Tuesday like no other. Crosswalks were empty. Children’s backpacks and lunch boxes sat unused. Yellow buses weren’t rumbling down many streets, and school doors didn’t swing open at dismissal. Schools were closed from New York to San Jose and so many points in between, causing an unprecedented disruption to American... read more.

Edutopia… The Difference Between Productive Struggle and Spinning Your Wheels, By Laura Lee - March 12, 2020 - Teaching students to persevere when facing a challenge is important, writes former middle school math and science teacher Neil Heffernan, but it is also crucial to know how to distinguish between productive persistence and wheel-spinning, a state where students repeat an attempt at a skill without ever reaching mastery. It’s a fine line. In EdSurge’s “Persistence... read more.

NPR Education… When Colleges Shut Down, Some Students Have Nowhere To Go, By Anya Kamenetz - March 17, 2020 - Lee Myers is a senior at Berea College in Kentucky. Up until March 14, he was living in a dorm called Deep Green, majoring in philosophy with a minor in economics, and looking forward to a future career in social justice. Now that the campus has closed and graduation is canceled due to coronavirus, he and his classmates have bigger things to worry about. "Some... read more.

Pain and perceived pain in America, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Opioid painkillers, medical marijuana, CBD oil. Pills, patches, potions. Humans search for a Holy Grail to relieve pain. How can pain be a gift? Paul Brand and Philip Yancey authored a book that changed how I view pain and suffering in the human body. Pain, the Gift Nobody Wants (1993) is part biography and part medical history. Brand tells his life history and experiences with pain-afflicted patients... read more.

The Daily Signal… We’re All Homeschoolers Now, Lindsey Burke
March 16, 2020 - In the fight against coronavirus, 33 states have closed some 64,000 schools, affecting more than 32.5 million students, Education Week reports. Texas is waiving state testing requirements for school districts, New York is relaxing state requirements for how many days a year schools have to be open, and, in California, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced... read more.

St. Mary’s School… The Adventures of Kathy the Technology-challenged Teacher, By Kathy Ayette - Unless you have been living under a rock, and even if you have you know all Ohio schools are closed. Of course, we still want our children to continue learning. At St. Mary’s we are using everything from technology to old fashioned work packets and flashcards. If you have read any of my columns, I bet right now you think you know which option I have chosen. After all, it is a... read more.

Education Dive… Testing disruption could have short- and long-term impacts, Linda Jacobson - March 17, 2020 - In recent years, states and districts have worked to reduce the number of tests students take — but this wasn’t what they had in mind. As more schools close for the next few weeks due to the spread of coronavirus, spring testing is one part of this school year likely to be lost. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in his press conference Thursday that the three-week closure... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Being Tested, By Lois E. Wilson
Throughout the history of humanity, people have been tested. Whether the tests were by nature, by war, or other challenges like disease, those living at the time usually did not have a choice as to what, when, or where the trials struck. They did have a choice as to how they responded to them. Should they ignore the tests hoping they would go away, should they succumb, or face them... read more.

Education Dive… Preteens' brains experience a growth spurt in key social areas, Shawna De La Rosa - March 18, 2020 - Dive Brief: Aside from experiencing physical changes, preteens also undergo a brain growth spurt much like toddlers, developing neural connections that will determine how their brain is wired for the rest of their lives, according to The Hechinger Report. Investing energy in a preteen's developing brain has long-term benefits, as the rapid growth at this age... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Reassure and Support Children During the COVID-19 Crisis - Teachers, we encourage you to share this Know! tip with parents in your network to help them talk with their children about why schools are closing. The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, a pandemic. Whether or not you believe the response to COVID-19 is proportionate, there is no doubt that children are being... read more.

NPR Education… 6 Ways Universities Are Responding To Coronavirus, Anya Kamenetz
March 6, 2020 - So far just a few U.S. higher education students have confirmed exposure to COVID-19, mainly through contact with patients in hospitals. There are no outbreaks centered on campuses, and young people as a group appear less susceptible to the disease. But higher education in the United States is more of an international community than ever, and that means the effects of the... read more.

Puzzle Pete Welcomes March, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 3 and 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Each dash stands for a letter. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out why Pete is always happy in March. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes... read more.

Edutopia… Using Students’ Emotional Responses to Texts to Boost Literacy, By Stefani Boutelier - March 11, 2020 - A text of any genre has the potential to pull at your heart, fill you with laughter, or ignite your anger. If you find your interest piqued when you’re reading, the author has succeeded. Effective literature and expository texts often inspire empathy and utilize pathos to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader, and these texts should be used in literacy-based lessons... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… My very particular set of skills is finally needed, By Aprill Brandon
Being a stay-at-home parent is an underappreciated job. Luckily, it’s also a job which results in a lot of expertise that has very little value outside your immediate family and involves absolutely no social standing. Which is fine. We don’t do it for the glory. We do it because childcare costs in this country are ridiculous and out of control. (And, like, for love or whatever). All of which... read more.

Education Dive… Why social distancing can help colleges stem the spread of coronavirus, Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - March 12, 2020 - Weeks after officials first detected the novel coronavirus in the U.S., many colleges and universities nationwide announced, in astoundingly rapid succession, that they would ditch face-to-face classes in favor of online instruction. Some institutions ordered students to stay home after spring break, while others, such as Harvard University, told on... read more.

Forbes… Who’s Afraid Of Western Civ? Michael Poliakoff
The advancement of empirical science, the Industrial Revolution, and then the technological revolution, the development of representative government, Homer, Virgil, Dante, Shakespeare, Michelangelo’s David and Da Vinci’s masterpieces. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin. It’s been a rather remarkable run. And how remarkable that this engine of human progress seems strangely to be... read more.

NPR Education… When Should Schools Close For Coronavirus? Cory Turner, Anya Kamenetz
March 11, 2020 - The spread of coronavirus has compelled hundreds of K-12 schools in the U.S. to close, affecting more than 850,000 students, according to an analysis by Education Week. And those numbers are certain to increase in the coming days, as concerned parents call for more school closures. The growing health crisis presents school leaders with a painful choice... read more.

Education Dive… Finding the 'sweet spot': 4 tips for moving classes online quickly, Hallie Busta - March 13, 2020 - Colleges and universities are canceling class meetings to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. But taking instruction online can be a tough switch to flip — particularly for courses that haven't historically included a distance-learning component. "We're all going to have to be a little bit flexible in situations like this," said Katie Linder, executive director for... read more.

Education Dive… From suffragists to sports, Women's History Month offers lessons in civics, social impact and beyond, Lauren Barack - March 11, 2020 - While much is made of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment this year, historian Johanna Neuman notes that women have been fighting for the right to vote more than a century earlier. The scholar in residents at American University nods, as one example, to Abigail Adams and the sharp suggestion... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… It is Ohio's Turn to Vote
Next Tuesday, March 17th, is Election Day! Ohio joins Arizona, Florida, and Illinois in hosting primaries. Use your right to vote to make sure your voice is represented going into the general election. In addition to the primary for the Presidential race, there are numerous contested primaries for seats in both the House and Senate at the state level. Please utilize this... read more.

Education Dive… Educators find applications for coronavirus across curriculum, Shawna De La Rosa - March 11, 2020 - Dive Brief: Teachers around the country are incorporating the novel coronavirus into lessons plans, seeing the hot news topic as an opportunity to engage students and put the situation into perspective as fear and uncertainty rise, EdSurge reports. Some teachers incorporate games into the classroom to demonstrate how often we touch our faces and to discourage... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Be Green—It’s Spring! By Lois E. Wilson
Are you counting down the days until Spring and St. Patrick’s Day? Those are times when the color “green” is in fashion. It is the color of renewal. The color often ends up in my verses for different reasons. Here are a few examples: IT'S NOT EASY BEING… A businessman who was in a big rush, Entered a restroom with fixtures quite plush. He was pledged to be "green... read more.

DA District Administration… How helicopter parenting creates equity issues, By Matt Zalaznick
March 5, 2020 - Inadequate and uneven school funding has raised equity issues around the activity of wealthy “helicopter parents,” a new Council on Contemporary Families report says. These helicopter parents provide volunteer hours, donations and other resources. In exchange, educators, sometimes inadvertently, grant favors or bend the rules for these families and... read more.

Task force releases 'audacious' vision to reform early ed profession, Linda Jacobson
March 9, 2020 - The early-childhood education profession would be organized into three levels, each with specific competencies and pathways into the field, according to a culminating report released Monday by Power to the Profession. The task force has spent three years defining the work and preparation of those who teach and care for young children. Its “unifying framework” aims... read more.

Deep Dive… The Ed Dept is leaning on mediation to clear backlog of sexual violence cases, sources say, Jeremy Bauer-Wolf - March 5, 2020 - Jennifer was enrolled at a large private college in 2014 when she began an intimate relationship with another student. Soon after they got together, the situation became troubled. He spent months stalking and harassing Jennifer, and threatened to make explicit photos of her public. While she reported the situation to her university, she felt.. read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! The New Line of Nicotine Products Enticing Youth
You’re likely familiar with the dangers of vaping, especially among youth. Juul and other electronic cigarettes came onto the market purportedly to help adult cigarette smokers kick the habit. Instead, they’ve introduced nicotine to a new generation of non-smoking teens—thus creating our country’s current youth vaping epidemic. With vaping under fire, it’s no surprise that... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s: It’s “TO” You: A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the answer words. They are in alphabetical order. The word “TO” has been placed where occurring in the answers. Each dash stands for a letter. Here’s a toast “to” you when you solve it. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6 are available... read more.

Hechinger Report… When ‘business as usual’ is no longer defensible in the liberal arts, By Carol Quillen - March 2, 2020 - Liberal arts education has two problems. First, no one agrees on what it means — some even think it’s about political indoctrination. Second, the public is skeptical of the value of a liberal arts education. Never mind that the liberal arts delivers what employers seek — as well as what graduates later say helped them build satisfying lives. My touchstone for a satisfying.. read more.

EdSurge… Why Research Says Adolescence Is the Right Time to Focus on Social Action - By Megan Vroman - Mar 5, 2020 - Middle school often gets a bad rap. It’s a time when students begin questioning rules and the world around them, becoming increasingly focused on fairness, equity and forming closer, yet fewer relationships. In the classroom, this might play out as a student getting upset when a teacher tells her to stop chewing gum despite a classmate... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Lord of the Remote, By Aprill Brandon
I don’t like to think of myself as dramatic, but every once in awhile a scene like the one described below occurs and I have to humbly accept my imaginary Oscar for best dramatic performance in a domestic situation. Son: Hey mom, can we watch “Lord of the Rings”? Me: (dropping everything in my hands) I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE YOU WERE BORN. Son... read more.

Education Dive… Survey: Most grads would change majors if they could redo college, Natalie Schwartz - March 2, 2020 - Dive Brief: Although most college graduates say their degree was worth the money, nearly two-thirds (61%) of them would change their major if they could do it again, according to a new survey from BestColleges of 817 college graduates. While about one-third of Gen Xers and baby boomers would change their majors to a field that aligned better with... read more.

Hechinger Report… Boosting soft skills is better than raising test scores, By Jill Barshay
March 2, 2020 - We hear the phrase “failing schools” a lot but what really defines a failing school? Generally, we look at test scores. Schools that aren’t getting students to improve their math and reading achievement on the standardized tests administered by each state are the ones singled out for shame, punishment and sometimes closure. That’s led to excessive test preparation... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Patience: Is It a Virtue? By Lois E. Wilson
Throughout centuries, the attribute of patience has been viewed as a sign of weakness, timidity, or as a positive virtue. Some who believed it was a negative personal quality made the following observations: “Patience: a minor form of despair disguised as a virtue.” Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary (1881-1911). “Patience, that blending of moral courage with physical timidity... read more.

Deep Dive… How the skills gap is changing the degree path, Mikhail Zinshteyn
Feb. 17, 2020 - Pressed to respond to students' concerns about the rising cost of higher education and their sometimes-foggy understanding of how their learning translates into jobs, some colleges are reshaping the degree pathway. Their motivation for doing so is not only internal. Nontraditional education providers are proving to be stiff competition. Bootcamps prepare information technology... read more.

Do you feed food to your feelings? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Emotional eating, stress eating, comfort eating, bored eating, compulsive eating, overeating, or binge eating. Using food to soothe emotions is a temporary fix. You feel better during the feast, but worse when you’re stuffed like a holiday turkey. A review of 24 studies found that being distracted during a meal led people to consume more calories at that meal. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Intuitive eating... read more.

Puzzle Pete and “AL” A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the answer words. They are in alphabetical order with “AL” placed where occurring in each word. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete warns: “This has nothing to do with baseball’s American League.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available... read more.

NPR Education… Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The Coronavirus, Malaka Gharib/NPR
With so much news these days about the spread of Coronavirus, maybe you're feeling a bit... anxious? Well, imagine how the children in your life are feeling! So, this week, we did something a little unusual. I spoke with a handful of child development experts to help me build a guide – for kids – on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 and how to manage the worried feelings... read more.

Start Talking! Help Teens Know! How to Set Dating Boundaries
2/27/2020 - February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. This month, we highlight the fact that one in three teens will experience physical or sexual abuse, or both, and we emphasize efforts and conversations with our children on the importance of healthy relationships. In a previous tip, Know! Love is Respect, we shared the relationship spectrum, a guide to help... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… When your kids have too much scream time, By Aprill Brandon
I had always thought of myself as someone who doesn’t follow the crowd. As the type of woman who blazed her own path, made her own destiny. I was a lone wolf. Who was also a unicorn. Who moonlighted as a succubus on days when she was feeling grumpy. Then I met my stupid future husband and we started dating and everyone said “get married!” and we were like... read more.

Education Dive… Study: Skateboarding fosters 21st century, SEL skills, Linda Jacobson
Feb. 28, 2020 - Dive Brief: Partnerships between schools and skateboarding nonprofits, acknowledging the diversity among the skateboarding community, and linking skateboarders to internships and opportunities to use the skills they’ve developed through the sport are among recommendations researchers at the University of Southern California offer in a new... read more.

Education Dive… Teaching students to use what's around them bolsters critical thinking, Lauren Barack - Feb. 26, 2020 - Dive Brief: Middle school math teacher Kelly Baum-Sehon incorporates calculators into lessons to help students develop more confidence in their abilities, particularly with fractions and percentages, while boosting their interest in the subject and helping them think about other ways to approach problems, he writes for Edutopia. With percentages... read more.

Follow the marijuana money trail, By Melissa Martin
Children, what do you want to be when you grow up? I want to own a cannabis business and become rich. I want to be the Weed King of Wallstreet, the prosperous Prince of Pot, the Mega Marijuana Man, the zillionaire Get High Guy. Marijuana has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business in states where it is legal for medical or recreational use. Nationwide, 10 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized... read more.

Edutopia: Critical Thinking… Using Calculators to Deepen Students’ Engagement With Math, By Kelly Baum-Sehon - February 18, 2020 - Whether we love them or hate them, calculators are here to stay—gone are the days when we could tell students, “You won’t always have a calculator.” We have to rethink what it means to teach kids how to do basic math in the calculator age. I’ve spent years figuring out how to incorporate calculators into my teaching in ways... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Working Together, By Lois E. Wilson
It is not clear where the slogan “There is no ‘I’ in team” originated. It is frequently used in the world of business and sports to motivate and emphasize the importance of teamwork when working toward achieving goals. In the business arena, such as sales, sharing information and duties can result in increased benefits for all. Cooperation is a plus. There are very few... read more.

Education Dive… Special needs students often pay price in efforts to strengthen school safety, Naaz Modan - Feb. 24, 2020 - It was nearing 8:30 p.m. on October 24 when Jessica Davis called the police, searching for her missing teenage son. “They had no answers for me,” Davis said. After multiple calls to the school and the police department, she only knew a few things for certain: Jaden, who was attending Duval County Public Schools at the time of his disappearance... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Empowered, Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out where Pete hopes everyone looks to find out information about the Empowering Darke County Youth program. Wilson... read more.

Forbes… Protecting Students In The Screen Age: An Action Tool For Parents And Teachers, Peter Greene - It has been a decade since I was introduced to the idea of a 1:1 classroom—a school in which every single student carried a computing device—and I never regretted it for a moment. Having those tools always at my students’ fingertips was extraordinarily useful for my classroom practice, and I would never have willingly given it up. But. The constant presence of... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… When life hands you spoiled milk, make bathtub gin, By Aprill Brandon
Ask any parent what their worst nightmare is and then immediately cancel any plans you had for the next three days. Because that’s how long they will take to answer you. Because parents are worried about everything. For instance, among my top worst nightmare scenarios are: A serial killer named Meatclaw kidnaps my children. My daughter dies of scurvy because all she’ll eat is... read more.

Big Marijuana is already here, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
A for-profit company called Harvest Health and Recreation is storming the globe with hype and hyperbole. According to the website, Steve White left his successful law firm to sell medical marijuana out of the goodness of his heart. So, an attorney is at the top of the pot pile. He makes himself sound like the Mother Theresa of helping people with chronic pain. “Though Harvest has blossomed... read more.

Start Talking! Know! How Your Child’s Health Habits Rank
2/5/2020 - Parenting requires a daily balancing act—especially when it comes to raising tweens and teens. According to research from the University of Texas Health Science Center, many of us should reexamine the health habits of our children (as well as our own) and help to make some adjustments. After studying the lifestyles of more than 60,000 American high school students, they... read more.

NPR Education… Food Fight: How 2 Trump Proposals Could Bite Into School Lunch, By Cory Turner - February 19, 2020 - Two pending rule changes meant to reduce what the Trump administration calls abuse of federal benefit programs could also mean hundreds of thousands of children lose access to free school meals. The first proposed change: The Trump administration wants to tighten states' standards for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food... read more.

St. Mary’s School… Despite snow days, February an eventful month, By Kathy Ayette
It seems Mother Nature was running a little late last month. Catholic Schools Week was the final week of January, and it is a running joke around school that the best part of the week is the snow days. We are lucky if we have three of the five days without a delay or snow day, which is expected when you plan anything the last week of January. This year however was different. We enjoyed all five... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Veiled, Virtual or Veritable Vision? By Lois E. Wilson
A Persian proverb observes: “A blind man who sees is better than a seeing man who is blind.” In today’s political world, there seem to be many who confirm the message of this paradox. There are those who perceive events through clouded eyes or they seem to be wearing blindfolds—oblivious to all around them. They often go up blind alleys. Others are so focused on... read more.

The Hechinger Report… When the next step isn’t college, By Michael Horn and Bob Moesta
February 17, 2020 - To students for whom going to college would be something they are doing primarily to satisfy someone else’s expectations for them or to get away from a bad circumstance, a four-year college is often not the right next step. That’s the daunting conclusion for many in the education world that we reach in our new book, Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning... read more.

Education Dive… Preparing students for the future of work: An educator's perspective, Angela Miceli - Feb. 14, 2020 - How can we, as educators, adequately prepare our students for the mysterious future of work? The jobs and careers we know today will either be gone or redesigned by the time current students join the workforce. It is our job to prepare young people to thrive and achieve their goals, but when the target is forever moving and technology seems to be taking... read more.

Fentanyl is still in town, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
When you really want to know what’s going on in the illicit drug world in Ohio, who ya gonna call? People with drug addictions. People in recovery. Treatment providers. Law enforcement. Survey says you contact them all. The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network (OSAM) provides the Surveillance of Drug Abuse Trends report in the State of Ohio by way of the Ohio Department of Mental Health... read more.

6 lessons principals learned in the wake of school shootings, Naaz Modan
Feb. 13, 2020 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pointing across the room, Frank DeAngelis singles out Jake Heibel as he’s leaving. “Take care. Please,” DeAngelis insists. “I’ve got an ear.” DeAngelis, a former principal of Colorado’s Columbine High School, and Heibel, principal of Great Mills High School in Maryland, are part of a club of which no principal wants to be a... read more.

Puzzle Pete Says “UR” Needed A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to use the clues to determine the answer words. Their starting letters and letters “UR” are given where they appear in each word. Each dash stands for a missing letter. Pete hopes that UR the one to solve this puzzle. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes... read more.

Suicide Prevention in Ohio Schools, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
According to Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among tweens and teens, and young African Americans have the fastest-growing suicide rate in the state. Visit www.ohiospf.org. Suicide was the leading cause of death for children ages 10 to 14 in Ohio in 2019, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Health about suicide in Ohio... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Matters of Modesty, By Lois E. Wilson
Modesty is defined as propriety in dress, speech or conduct. I watch sports—all types. I have noticed over the years the change in athletes’ attire. In 2019, Wimbledon held fast to its strict dress code of all-white for tennis players. One reason for the rule is that white doesn’t show sweat. In 1949 Gussie Moran was wearing an undergarment with lace trim which became visible... read more.

Edutopia… Borrowing a Literacy Strategy From Band Class, By Brian Campbell
February 11, 2020 - In band class, we don’t spend a lot of time on passages of text, but you might be surprised by how much our rehearsals focus on reading skills. Students are learning a set of symbols we convert to sounds to convey meaning—it’s literacy in a different language. Reading in band has an additional hitch: Students have to read their parts while hearing... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Love Is Respect
Dating relationships can be tricky at any age, but especially for young people navigating uncharted waters. Have you talked to your students about what positive, healthy dating relationships look like? There’s no time like the present as February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. We like to think of young love as innocent and sweet. But unfortunately, teen... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s February Honorees, Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 3-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out whom Pete salutes this month. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… I’m losing (not that I’m keeping score or anything), By Aprill Brandon
Considering my ten year wedding anniversary is coming up, I felt I should probably write something about it. Because LOVE! And BIG DEAL! and stuff. So I spent two hours staring at a blank page while deftly avoiding destroying my keyboard with Cheetos finger dust. I need inspiration, I eventually says to myself. TO THE GOOGLE. And as usual, it did not disappoint. So many women... read more.

Education Dive… 5 tactics for turning around a failing school, Paul Lawrence
Feb. 7, 2020 - Magee Elementary was a school in crisis when I began as principal in 2015. The historically low-performing school had received an F grade from the state in 2014. Over the next three years, we improved our grade to a B and were able to maintain that accreditation level this past year as well. Our steady progress reflects a schoolwide effort focused on... read more.

Suicide by first responders and law enforcement, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Suicides among different branches of law enforcement are on the rise. National survey data suggest that among Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), including firefighters and Paramedics, rates of suicide are significantly higher than among the general public. We know from studies that first responders have elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and... read more.

DA District Administration… Leaders: Are You Listening? By: Ericka R. Hursey
February 6, 2020 - Nearly 28 years ago, I was a naive, nervous 14-year-old entering Lower Richland High School in South Carolina’s Richland County School District One. Fast forward past graduation and another eight years, and I was back—this time as a teacher and senior class advisor. Another 13 years and I was serving my alma mater as assistant principal. Following a stint as... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Integrity: Some Thoughts, By Lois E. Wilson
The word “integrity” is defined as showing a consistent adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and accuracy of one's actions. When I was a child if we thought someone had no integrity when they were playing a game, we said they were “playing dirty.” Political candidates are trying to sell us a product—them... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Early Childhood: Where do kids with disabilities go for child care? By Jackie Mader - After giving birth to premature twins, one of whom had a disability, Alexis began the search for child care. She called daycare providers repeatedly to try to get spots for her children. She found it was nearly impossible to find a center with two spots for infants, let alone one who had a disability. Her partner, who worked night shifts, ended up watching the twins during the day for a... read more.

Education Dive… Report: Foster care students require academic, financial support from schools for college success, Shawna De La Rosa - Jan. 31, 2020 - Dive Brief: Youth in the California foster care system face more barriers during the transition from high school to college than their non-foster-care peers, according to an Educational Results Partnership and California College Pathways report. The barriers include greater school mobility, suspensions... read more.

Puzzle’s Pete’s February Observation, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4 and 5-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out what Pete thinks about February 14th. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… A plague on our house in this winter of our discontent, By Aprill Brandon
I never really understood those people who claimed that time is relative. That it can speed up and slow down depending on where you are, or how fast you’re going, or other vague confusing science stuff. That time it is not an absolute. Then January happened. And kept happening. And happening. Wouldn’t stop happening. It was a January that lasted for seven years. It was a... read more.

The Atlantic… The Easiest Reform for College Admissions, Natasha Warikoo
January 29, 2020 - In the world of college admissions, few choices about how to weigh applicants are simple. How much weight should schools give to applicants’ athletic performance, to standardized-test scores, to the need for a diverse student body, to the donations of wealthy benefactors? These are all complicated questions. But Johns Hopkins University just presented the higher... read more.

Factors in Ohio youth suicides, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
The following stories can be found on the Nationwide Children’s Behavioral Health (Ohio) website in the On Our Sleeves program section that helps children living with mental illness. www.nationwidechildrens.org. “Just three short years ago, our then 14-year-old daughter was hospitalized with symptoms of severe depression and anxiety, following what we later learned were a series of suicide... read more.

The Hechinger Report… Reframing ed tech to save teachers time and reduce workloads, By Jill Barshay - January 27, 2020 - For much of the previous decade, advocates of education technology imagined a classroom where computer algorithms would differentiate instruction for each student, delivering just the right lessons at the right time, like a personal tutor. The evidence that students learn better this way has not been strong and, instead, we’re reading reports... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Generation Gap? Duh! By Lois E. Wilson
I have never owned a cell phone or smartphone. I had never seen a need for me to be able to call someone or for me to keep others informed of my activities 24 hours a day. As a result of my not yielding to the age of advanced devices, today I faced a very trying time. I was trying to figure out the long distance charges on my land-line telephone bill. In earlier bills I had discovered... read more.

DA District Administration… How Student Activism guides future Citizenship, By: Matt Zalaznick
January 27, 2020 - Outsiders may sometimes grumble that school leaders who encourage student activism are indoctrinating young people with certain political beliefs. While it’s true that students are more likely to take action around liberal causes such as gun control or confronting climate change, administrators deliver valuable lessons when they let students promote their beliefs... read more.

eSchool News… Keyboarding is key to well-rounded digital natives, By Michele Israel
January 28th, 2020 - Interacting with technology is second nature to children these days. But, even though these digital natives are tech-savvy, they might not have the keyboarding and digital citizenship skills to make them stronger and more adept learners. In a recent edWebinar, “Keys to Success for Digital Natives,” experts explained that digital natives still need to... read more.

NPR Ed… Thinking About Returning To College? A Guide For Taking The Leap, Elissa Nadworny - January 21, 2020 - Have you been thinking about going back to college? Perhaps you're looking to change jobs, make more money or simply finish that degree you started. Maybe there's a program you've already checked out, or you're just starting to explore your options. Wherever you are on your journey, here are six tips to help you take that leap. This story is adapted from an episode... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s La-Di-”Da” A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to use the clues to determine the answer words. Their starting letters and letters “DA” are given where they appear in each word. Each dash stands for a missing letter. Pete hopes when you are done, you can use the fanfare “Ta-Da!” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however... read more.

eSchool News… Could technology addiction help students in school? By Natasa Djukanovic
January 22nd, 2020 - Familiarity with and use of technology may not necessarily harm students—in fact, it could have benefits - Instead of a game of dodgeball, kids are playing Fortnite, and instead of assembling building-block castles, they’ve swapped to Minecraft and so forth. Digitalization is on its sharpest incline yet, and it has thrown the “old ways” out the window... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Good thing I’m not one of those sentimental moms, By Aprill Brandon
I vowed long before I ever had children that I would never be one of those overly sentimental mothers. You know the kind. The ones that make keepsakes out of their children’s teeth and first baby curls, like some sort of socially acceptable child body part hoarder. The ones who ugly cry at their kid’s preschool graduation ceremony (like that’s actually a thing, an actual important... read more.

Forbes… We Need STEAM, Not STEM Education, To Prepare Our Kids For The 4th Industrial Revolution, Bernard Marr - We are at the beginning of a 4th industrial revolution and educators are faced with preparing a generation of students for many jobs that don’t even exist yet. Since the term STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) was coined back in 2001, there has been growing interest in this learning philosophy to better prepare today's students... read more.

Hechinger Report… Early Childhood: Making every lesson a STEM lesson, By Jackie Mader
Walk into any K-5 classroom in Illinois’ Rockford Public Schools and there’s one thing you’re guaranteed to see: kids playing with Legos. While it may look like unstructured free time, kids in Rockford are actually hard at work when the Legos are out—building historical homes, constructing ramps and designing amusement park rides. Lego play is a critical part of the district’s efforts to... read more.

Have you talked to your teen about marijuana? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Is America becoming a pothead nation? Pot logic is taking over the brains of the misguided. Because medical marijuana is legal in several states does not justify the risks. Because recreational marijuana is legal in several states, the imprudent crowd argues that it’s benign. Common sense has gone up in a puff of smoke. And teenagers are listening in. Cannabis products contain the mind... read more.

The Daily Signal… Reforming Journalism Requires ‘Street Reporting,’ Not ‘Suite Reporting,’ World Editor Olasky Says, Rachel del Guidice - January 22, 2020 - Reforming journalism is about making good journalism that is factual and original, a renowned magazine editor and author says. “We like being flies on the wall, watching and listening,” Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of World magazine, said Wednesday at an event at The Heritage Foundation, adding: We don’t want... read more.

Along Life’s Way… More Than a Fabric Softener, By Lois E. Wilson
“Bounce” is a word in our language that has various meanings. It is the name of a fabric softener brand. A form of the word is used when we say bouncing babies; it is a positive description of their looks and spirit. Many women like hairstyles that are bouncy. “Bounce” has negative connotations as well. If a check drawn from a bank has insufficient funds in the person’s account, it is... read more.

Education Dive… Letting students write on subjects they love fuels learning, Lauren Barack
Jan. 22, 2020 - Dive Brief: Allison Berryhill, an English and journalism teacher at Atlantic High School in Iowa, taps into passion blogging to allow students to choose topics they care deeply about to explore in their writing, finding it helps them develop stronger writing skills, she writes in Edutopia. The voice — or passion — students express is weighted in the grading of the blog posts... read more.

St. Mary’s School… After 16 blissful vacation days, January got busy, By Kathy Ayette
I think my advanced years are beginning to catch up with me. For some reason, the year 2020 sounds so futuristic, yet here it is. I remember when the year 2000 conjured up images of flying cars and colonies on distant planets. Of course, this is written by one born not only in the last century, but in the last millennium. Staff and students enjoyed a nice long Christmas break this year. The last... read more.

Must history repeat itself by legalizing marijuana, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
“As a people, we are not very good students of history; we keep repeating the same mistakes at dreadful costs,” declared Don Wilson. Americans, have we forgotten what happened in the last decade? Smoking tobacco is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. About 80 percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking, and many others are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke... read more.

Puzzle Pete Goes Overtime: A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the answer words. They are in alphabetical order with “OT” placed where occurring in each word. Each dash stands for a letter. Hint one answer word has two “OT’s, but only one is shown. Pete confirms that if you get 14 answers correct, you have won the (OT) overtime. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Astronaut drinks & other forms of love, By Aprill Brandon
She wasn’t my grandma. I should probably start with that. Officially she belonged to my cousins. The matriarch on their father’s side. But Grandma Knapke’s screen door always opened just as wide for me as it did for her verified grandchildren. On those blazing blue summer days, the five of us would spill out of the van and pour into her house, stirring up small whirlpools of chaos and sound in... read more.

The Daily Signal… Europe Has Free College. Here’s How It’s Working Out. Mary Clare Amselem - January 17, 2020 - Free college sounds great! Who doesn’t like free stuff? To make the idea sound even more appealing, advocates continuously cite Europe as an example of success. Many European countries offer their citizens tuition-free higher education, so why can’t America? The truth is that free college in Europe is no success story. Rather, it should serve as a cautionary tale... read more.

NEA Today… ‘Are You Thinking About Suicide?’ By Mary Ellen Flannery
As suicide rates climb among American teens, educators need to ask and listen… “In the last nine days, in just this area, we’ve lost another three students to suicide,” said Tim Warnock, a physical education teacher in the suburbs of Phoenix, after a series of student deaths in October 2019. The numbers are scary and sad, but not shocking to Warnock or his wife Lorie, a high... read more.

Greenville City Schools… EdChoice Voucher Program unfairly threatens school districts, By Asst. Supt. Laura Bemus and Elementary Principal Jody Harter - Ohio’s ballooning EdChoice voucher program threatens to undermine the system of public education in Ohio. The program uses a flawed school report card to unfairly label public schools as “failing” and forces districts to subsidize the cost of private school tuition. Due to recent changes, hundreds of millions of public tax dollars... read more.

Education Dive… FETC 2020: Are you ready for a middle school revolution? Roger Riddell
Jan. 17, 2020 - MIAMI — The fears and perceptions that many educators have about the middle school years could be holding students back, Derek McCoy, the director of learning and innovation for Georgia's Grady County Schools, said Thursday in a session at the Future of Education Technology Conference. “How many of us look for opportunities every day for middle schoolers to... read more.

Education Dive… School leaders can learn from Martin Luther King Jr's shared-power leadership style, Michael McQuillan - Jan. 17, 2020 - Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief that every individual has an innate capacity for leadership was a cornerstone of the civil rights movement. His leadership style — under which thousands of others were able to display moral heroism and rise to greatness — shows how powerful a facilitator can be and is one that can... read more.

Adolescents and suicide prevention, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Talking to your child about suicide may be one of the most difficult and uncomfortable conversations you’ll have, but it may also be the most important. Do not be afraid of the word “suicide.” And according to research, talking to kids about suicide does not cause or increase suicide. Please read that again. By talking about suicide prevention, kids will know parents are open to discussing serious... read more.

The Atlantic… The Questions Sex-Ed Students Always Ask, Sarah Carr
January 13, 2020 - About 25 years ago, a public school in the Baltimore suburbs invited Deborah Roffman to teach a class on puberty to fifth graders. Roffman, who was known as the “Sex Lady” at the private Park School of Baltimore, where she had been teaching for two decades, was flattered. But she was troubled by the restrictions that the public school’s vice principal had given her: She... read more.

EdSurge… Can Teaching ‘Hope’ Revive Democracy? By Jeffrey R. Young
Jan 14, 2020 - A new book argues that hope is something that can be taught, and that it is the key to countering today's heightened polarization. The book is called “Learning How to Hope: Reviving Democracy through our Schools and Civil Society” (available free as an ebook from Oxford University Press), and it’s by Sarah Stitzlein, a professor of education and affiliate... read more.

Along Life’s Way… The Company Store and More, By Lois E. Wilson
In our country’s history, the need to have a reliable supply of laborers prompted various solutions. One of these the “company town” developed in mining areas, around steel mills, and later other business enterprises. Some towns started as groups of camps or shacks with primitive conditions. In 1880, George Pullman established a town near Chicago for this firm’s palace car workers... read more.

Edutopia… A De-escalation Exercise for Upset Students, By Daniel Vollrath
January 14, 2020 - So often we find students in a stressed or anxious state of mind. The most telltale signs are inappropriate behaviors or outbursts, negative comments, and anxiety-ridden movements such as fidgeting, leg shaking, and fist clenching. These signals should raise immediate concern and indicate to educators that a response may be needed. The goal is to guide the student to... read more.

No party for the squirrels in my neighborhood, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Squirrel Appreciation Day is January 21, 2020. Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator, from Asheville, North Carolina started this rodent celebration on January 21, 2001. Christy, why do humans need a day to give kudos to squirrels? I want to create a “Squirrel Stay Out of My Yard Day” to keep my dog from going bonkers whenever the bushy-tailed creatures sprint by the window. Which seems to... read more.

The Hechinger Report: Race and Equity… “Kids who have less, need more”: The fight over school funding, By Nichole Dobo - December 19, 2019 - WILMINGTON, Del. — Taheem Fennell, 12, loves to ride his bike. He taught himself when he was 4 years old while visiting older cousins in Pennsylvania. He remembers running and jumping on, feeling his feet going around and testing the brakes. “I never rode a bike with training wheels,” he says. Taheem wants to ride his bike to the park... read more.

Start Talking! Know! To Set Family Goals for the New Year
1/8/2020 - January rolls in like a breath of fresh air. The calendar is reset and, in many regards, it is a chance to begin anew and an opportunity to do things “better” moving forward. The new year is also an ideal occasion for parents and children to come together to set fresh goals as both a family unit and as individuals. As you consider potential objectives for 2020 we challenge you... read more.

Puzzle Pete’s Weighty Problem, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers of this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Each dash stands for a letter. The puzzle is started for you. Work up and down. Solved correctly, and then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out Pete’s concern. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… Why don’t we talk about the joys of parenting? By Aprill Brandon
Remember when I was pregnant? If you were anywhere within a thousand mile radius of formerly pregnant me you likely do. It’s hard to forget a real-life Stay Puft Marshmallow Woman wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting city and terrorizing the innocent town folk while loudly complaining about her swollen ankles. “My hips hurt!” “I have a foot in my ribcage!!” “SOMEONE BRING ME... read more.

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! How to Keep Kids in Focus If Divorce Occurs
Teachers: We encourage you to share the following Know! Parent Tip with parents you know via email, a parent newsletter, during parent-teacher conferences, or however you communicate with them. As the holiday season came to a close, a new, far less joyful season began—the divorce season. January is known as a time of new beginnings; wiping the slate clean and... read more.

Hechinger Report… A ‘wildly intrusive’ way to help older college students get their degrees, By Jill Barshay - January 6, 2020 - The John Jay College for Criminal Justice is known for training New York City’s future police officers and as Dara Byrne rose through the ranks of the college’s administration, she noticed a mystery right on her campus: why were 2,000 seniors, with only one year left to graduate, not enrolling in the fall? “Students in that 90-credit zone, really close to graduation, were... read more.

No eraser for 2019, but redemption in 2020, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Will we be the same human beings in the new year? Will this year be different? Will humanity change? Along with 2020 comes the hope and yearning for a more peaceful human race. How do we do try to heal from the tragedies of 2019, but not forget? Old Year “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o’ lang syne!” Why do... read more.

Along Life’s Way… Lists Never End, By Lois E. Wilson
I don’t remember when I made my first list. It was probably when I was in grade school and needed one to keep track of homework assignments. By example, my mother taught me that creating lists can help one be more organized. We use many kinds of lists to simplify and clarify our lives. Here is a list of some: Menus in restaurants, Recipe ingredients, Library catalogs, Church... read more.

The Hechinger Report… What if students returned to the same teachers the next year? By Gail Conway - January 2, 2020 - Have you ever wondered what it would be like to start the school year with all students “looping” into the rhythm of their classroom routines, with teachers already having a handle on every student’s strengths, struggles and home issues? A scenario in which teachers have the opportunity to go back and re-teach a hard-to-grasp skill that students completely understood... read more.

Time doesn’t stay in a bottle, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Jim Croce was an American folk singer and songwriter. He wrote “Time in a Bottle” in 1970. He died an untimely death in 1973. Time is an elusive creature. The very young yearn to be older. The very old yearn to be younger. The young desire independence, ability to make decisions, and eighteenth birthday freedom. The old desire health, peace, and more birthdays. What do the young and old... read more.

Puzzle Pete and the “LL’s” A to Z, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to use the clues to determine the answer words. Their starting letters and double “L’s” are given where they appear in the word. Each dash stands for a missing letter. Pete says, “Well, well, well. I hope you have the skill to solve it!” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however... read more.

Broke Wife, Big City… New Year, New Me, New Panic Attacks, By Aprill Brandon
It was because I was feeling smug. The universe loathes few things more than smugness. And I was practically dripping with the stuff. Allow me to paint you a mental picture. It’s a few days after the new year. There I am, sitting on my couch, in my new Christmas pajamas, drinking my new fancy Christmas coffee, a halo of smugness practically hovering over my head. A head that is looking... read more.

Education Dive… Financial literacy should be taught to kids — not adults, Danielle Orange-Scott - January 2, 2020 - In 2016, a report by Bank of America demonstrated an alarming statistic: Only 16% of millennials age 18-26 were optimistic about their financial futures. In the same year, Fortune published an article stating two in three Americans can't pass a basic financial literacy test. A year later, Vince Shorb, one of the country’s leading advocates for promoting financial literacy and... read more.

Fish Mitten Tree true spirit of Christmas, Marilyn Delk, Fish volunteer
Thanks to the generous spirit of the people of our community, the Fish Mitten Tree has once again provided mittens and gloves to warm the hands and hearts of children enrolled in Darke County Head Start programs. This hearty demonstration of the true spirit of Christmas which lingers long beyond December 25th is very much appreciated. Special gratitude is extended to Aaron and Michele Cox... read more.

The gift nobody gets, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
There’s a certain gift that most of us want. We desperately seek it. We long for it. We ask for it every Christmas and even throughout the year. Mothers cry for it. Fathers plead for it. Human rights activists dedicate their lives to it. Faith-based people pray for it. Soldiers fight and die for this gift. Leaders of democratic countries support this gift. Civilians in authoritarian countries hope... read more .

Happy Birthday Earth! By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
The hanging globe we live on is another year older. “Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday, Mother Earth. Happy Birthday to you.” Sing along. Earth is our home. How old is earth? It depends on who you ask. A creationist and an evolutionist will give different answers. A scientist and a Bible scholar will give different answers. Who named our Earth? Its name comes from the old English... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Tempering: Its Lesson, By Lois E. Wilson
The smithy takes the billet of metal and heats it in the forge until it is glowing red-hot. He quickly puts it on the anvil and begins to shape it by repeated strikes with a hammer. He at times cools the bar by quenching it in oil to harden it. This sequence of heating, hammering, and quenching is repeated over and over during the process of shaping the object the smithy is creating. Forging... read more .

The post-holiday let-down happens, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
The happy sappy crowd remains full of cheer. Their gala of gab continues. However, some folks feel a mood swing as the merry season comes to a close. The country clan is bummed out again because they did not find Bigfoot. Or a hair sample, footprints or a pile of scat. No Sasquatch found in 2019. Don’t give up hope. The scratch-off tickets in many stockings didn’t yield a cent. Disappointment dwells... read more .

Puzzle Pete and His Glasses, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 3-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out why Pete got new glasses for the New Year. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published... read more .

Is reindeer meat on your menu? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Move over turkey and ham, reindeer meat is vying for a platter at the holiday dinner table and beyond. No, not Rudolph or the other eight elusive creatures (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen) that transport Santa’s sleigh around the world on Christmas. Kids, not to worry. Rudolph will not be glazed, baked, or carved. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is safe. In fact, the... read more .

County News Online… CNO takes some time off for the holidays
Today will be CNO’s last regularly scheduled posting until after the holidays. Look for breaking news – or CNO teases – on County News Online or Empowering Darke County Youth Facebook. Obituaries will be posted within 24 hours of receipt, as always. Lois Wilson’s New Year’s Puzzle (if you haven’t tried one yet, give it a shot… they stretch your creativity… and your vocabulary!) will be... read more .

Education Dive… "Girls Take Flight" program recruits San Diego high school girls to pilot drones, Lauren Barack - Dec. 18, 2019 - Dive Brief: In the San Diego Unified School District, girls who are high school sophomores and juniors can sign up for a program to help them earn a remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, wrote District Administration. Just 5% of these certifications are earned by women, according to the story, which is why 10... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Sizing It Up: A Christmas Fable, By Lois E. Wilson
In the forest wilderness, there lived two young monkeys, Lucky and Morey. They were good friends. They had been given their nicknames because of the way they acted. Lucky was easy-going and appreciated everything he had or was given. The other monkey was known as Morey as his friends noticed that he was never satisfied with what he had. He always wanted More! More! More... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Thoughts whilst wrapping presents upon a winter’s eve, By Aprill Brandon - Well, well, well. Will you look at that? Here I am. Dragging down last year’s beat up and cobwebbed wrapping paper from the attic. Being proactive. Unlike every other year, where I wait until the last minute to do all this and end up turning into Scrooge, mumbling under my breath about decreasing the surplus population. Starting with my family. But not this year. No, this year I’m on top... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s Not Blushing, Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Each dash stands for a letter. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out why Pete’s face is red. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published... read more .

eSchool News… What makes a great principal? Content provided by East Central University
December 11th, 2019 - A school and its staff can thrive under a great principal--here are seven hallmarks of strong school leadership. Great principals lead effective schools. Under the leadership of a great principal, teachers thrive, students engage with core content and school administrative functions run smoothly. Conventional wisdom recognizes the value of school principals... read more .

Impeachment: Dump Trump or dump Democrats, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Impeachment. Yay or nay. What do you say? House Democrats are conducting an official inquiry into allegations that President Donald Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. Impeachment and U.S. Presidents. “While only three previous presidents faced serious threat of removal, one out of four confronted... read more .

NEA Today… The Every Student Succeeds Act: Four Years Later, How Much Progress? By Cindy Long - December 11, 2019 - It’s been four years since the test and punish era of No Child Left Behind was replaced with the Every Student Succeeds Act. Although the new law transferred decisions about school improvement and accountability to states and districts, public schools are still in the process of implementing the law and ensuring it makes good on its promise to... read more .

Creators.com… Marriage and Pregnancy Reduce Crime, Star Parker
December 05, 2019 - What is it about birth and marriage that contributes significantly to reducing crime? An economist at George Mason University conjectures it's about "socializing and civilizing both men and women…" There’s a general assumption in public policy discourse that economic policy and social policy are separate universes. When economic policy is the topic, we think about... read more .

DA District Administration… What is the future of recess in K-12? By: Steven Blackburn
December 10, 2019 - Elementary schools are extending the school day so students can have more play time… Many districts plan to or have already extended the elementary school day to accommodate more recess. Other school systems could register free play as class time. But some students will lose school recess once they get into middle school. In Utah, public schools could count... read more .

Education Dive… Rural student enrollment in AP Computer Science Principals course more than doubles, Shawna De La Rosa - Dec. 11, 2019 - Dive Brief: The College Board's AP Computer Science Principals course enrollment for 2019 is 117% higher among rural students since the curriculum launched in 2016-17, and the increase is even more pronounced for girls at 141%. The AP course teaches students how the internet works, how data is secured and transmitted, the... read more .

Education Dive… Helping students develop metacognitive skills to understand the 'why' of learning, Lauren Barack - Dec. 11, 2019 - Dive Brief: To help students develop metacognitive skills — being aware of what they’re learning and why — California history and technology teacher Jordan Mattox suggests in Edutopia educators incorporate three basic guidelines into lessons for a positive outcome. Clear objectives are the most crucial, spelling these out and explaining them... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Finding the Whistleblower, By Lois E. Wilson
The young intern at the newspaper was apprehensive as he entered the editorial staff meeting to receive his first assignment. He was comforted knowing what he had learned from former interns. They told him that the editors usually requested stories or tasks that could not be completed—such as bring us a bucket of steam. It was a prank to them. He introduced... read more .

EdTech Magazine… Why K–12 Students Need to Be Taught to Guard Their Data Online, by Shailaja Neelakantan - Tech-savvy students are adept at using the latest internet-enabled devices, but they don’t do enough to protect their sensitive information in cyberspace… A recent McAfee survey of 1,000 college students and recent graduates ages 18 to 25 revealed some startling statistics on how little this tech-savvy cohort knows about data security. As many as 80 percent of... read more .

Education Dive… Report: Popular online teaching materials 'poorly aligned' with academic standards, Naaz Modan - Dec. 10, 2019 - Dive Brief: A review released Tuesday of 300 most-downloaded supplemental instructional materials from popular resource websites used by teachers says while materials offered were generally free from errors, the majority were "not worth using." The report offered an evaluation of materials available on Share My Lesson... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
December has been designated as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month every year since 1981. Unfortunately, the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is one of the deadliest times to be on roads because more drivers are impaired by alcohol or drug use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, 10,497 people died... read more .

Education Dive… Can colleges launch data science programs fast enough? Natalie Schwartz
Nov. 26, 2019 - Higher ed has struggled to keep up with the surging demand for data scientists, but a new open-source curriculum from IBM could help… When the University of California, Berkeley rolled out a new undergraduate data science program last fall, nearly 800 students immediately signed up for major, making it one of the most popular degrees on campus. That move has... read more .

Puzzle Pete‘s: the “ET’s” Have Landed A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the answer words. They are in alphabetical order with “ET” placed where occurring in each word. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete hopes you can conquer these extraterrestrial invaders, Pete’s hint: take Clue 24 literally. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer... read more .

The Daily Signal… More Evidence Emerges That Federal Government Is Funding Worthless College Degrees, Mary Clare Amselem - December 04, 2019 - Americans have long suspected that, for many, a college degree simply isn’t worth the price. American taxpayers—two-thirds of whom do not have a college degree—are likewise increasingly skeptical of the notion that they should pay off loans that someone else made the decision to take out. With recently published... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Not until the holidays are over, By Aprill Brandon
It’s understandable, I suppose. If you look at a calendar, there is December, looking on the surface just like any other month. Row after row of days, each begging to be filled up with errands and tasks and to-do lists. So I get why some people treat it just like any other month. But let me make this as clear as possible. Nothing is getting accomplished until after the holidays. At least on my end... read more .

Voice of America… US College Leaders See Too Much Competition Ahead, By VOA Student Union - December 03, 2019 - A survey of nearly 500 leaders at colleges and universities reflects other reports that found American higher education is facing challenges on many fronts. School officials were asked to name the biggest issues their institutions would face in the next three to five years and how they would deal with them. The study was a joint effort with the Georgia Institute of Technology... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! The Red Flags of Teen Depression
It’s December; tis the season to be jolly. That’s easier said than done for many people, adults and teens alike. All the hustle and bustle can worsen the symptoms of those who already suffer from anxiety and depression into. And for others, the holidays can create the perfect storm for the onset of symptoms. Holiday parties, family gatherings, the overabundance of social media pics... read more .

Bloomburg… College Football Is a Money Pit, and One School Has Had Enough, By Eben Novy-Williams - December 5, 2019 - Florida school ditched sport this week; will others follow? Almost 100% of FCS teams lose money, yet numbers are growing… Jacksonville University surprised athletes, alumni and fans this week when it announced it was discontinuing its Division I football team, which had been competing for more than two decades. Administrators at the Florida school say the decision... read more .

Students, employers disagree on the role of college majors, Natalie Schwartz & Valerie Bolden-Barrett - Dec. 5, 2019 - Dive Brief: Most students place "outsized importance on college majors," finds a recent survey from Handshake, a career services platform for college students. While 81.5% of surveyed students said their majors are key to future job opportunities, only 50% of employers using the company's premium service listed a certain major as a requirement in job posts... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Teens are NOT so Footloose and Fancy-Free
As it turns out, being a teen is not as carefree as we adults would sometimes like to think. In a 2018 study conducted by PEW Research Center, it appears teens have a host of problems and pressures weighing them down. When 13 to 17-year-olds nationwide were asked about a variety of issues plaguing fellow youth in their community, they named mental health, specifically... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Living Each Age, By Lois E Wilson
When you ask children what their ages are, many respond with a fraction answer such as 3 ½ or 5 ½. It is their way of acknowledging and expressing pride that they are growing older. They soon realize that there are milestone ages when they receive privileges and new challenges: going to school, driving, staying up late, voting etc. Their freedoms and activities expand with each... read more .

The Hechlinger Report… Is California saving higher education? By Jon Marcus and Felicia Mello
December 3, 2019 - Spending money to find solutions to some of higher ed’s biggest problems… SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jaelyn Deas and her four best friends shared everything, including late-night study sessions in the library at San Jose State University and a never-ending preoccupation with how they’d pay for their tuition there. The one thing they didn’t do together? Graduate. While she was... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s A to Z with R, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the words A to Z below using the clues from the left column. The beginning letter of each word is given. The letter “R” appears as the third letter in each answer word. Each dash stands for a letter. Hint: some words have two R’s together. If you “R” ready, then get set, GO! Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… So you’ve decided to argue with a child, By Aprill Brandon
Oh hello. I see that you’ve decided to argue with a child. Allow me to assure you that you’ve come to the right place. I have over five plus years of experience arguing with children. Most of which I’ve lost. But this abyssmal track record has given me a wealth of insight into the minds of these adorable little psychopaths and I would love nothing more than to share my wisdom with you and do my part... read more .

Education Dive… Recess, phys ed help build sense of community, Lauren Barack
Nov. 27, 2019 - Dive Brief: Physical education teacher Eric Nelson writes for Edutopia that physical education classes are crucial in helping students not just connect, but learn how to be respectful and trust one another, ultimately building a sense of community. Working in Florida's Duval County Public Schools, Nelson uses a number of games and activities, from a form of volleyball to... read more .

Got young readers on your Christmas list? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
“Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning... read more .

Education Dive… Report: Volunteering, cultural literacy most effective for instilling sensitivity, Naaz Modan - Nov. 26, 2019 - Dive Brief: A study released Monday, commissioned by Round Square and led by a team of researchers from Research Schools International and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, ranks the best methods to nurture intercultural mindsets among U.S. students. Among the recommendations, volunteering ranked as the most effective practice by... read more .

Along Life’s Way… “Hear” or There, By Lois E. Wilson
I have been spending time each day watching the testimony of the witnesses at the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry hearing. My observation of it reminded me of a poem I wrote in 2010 called “Telephone Tattle.” It is a game we played at parties when I was a child: We arranged chairs and sat in a ring. All wondered what the next round would bring. You’d whisper... read more .

EdSurge… How to Create a Classroom That’s Safe for Failure, By Michael Bycraft
Nov 26, 2019 - “Mr. Bycraft, our robot goes backward!” my students informed me, running over after their latest test. “Is it supposed to go that way?” I asked, smiling. “No!” they said in unison, smiling back. “Well, I guess you’d better go fix it then.” And off they went, to work on yet another version of their robot. Over the last five years, I have worked hard to teach my students that failure is a... read more .

Fake vs fir: What’s your holiday tree made of? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Real or artificial Christmas tree decorated with lights, ornaments, and tinsel? Which is the right choice? It depends on switch side of the aluminum or wooden fence you are on. Ho-ho-holarious. What’s your ho-ho-holiday tree made of? The overzealous environmentalists that sneak in, lay down, and block the path as you search at a tree farm shout, “Use artificial, you tree assassins!” The... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… When Junk Science Meets Junk Marketing
Products made from cannabidiol (CBD) have hit grocery stores, gas stations, supplement stores, and even pharmacies. CBD products are being sold under a variety of banners and for a huge number of conditions. With one exception, products containing CBD have not had their claims independently verified. To date, the FDA has approved Epidiolex, which contains CBD... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s A to Z with “T”, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the A to Z five-letter words below using the clues from the left column. The answers all have a letter “T” in the middle which is placed for you. Each dash stands for a letter. Hint: some words have two “T’s.” Pete says, “Meet me in the middle for “T.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The best mom in the galaxy, By Aprill Brandon
My eyes pop open like blinds that have been pulled too hard. I heard one of the kids cry, I’m certain of it. I strain my ears over the snoring duet of the dog and the husband. Nothing. Whoever it was must have fallen back asleep. As I lay in bed, wide awake now since parental panic is the most effective alarm clock on the market, I think about the day to come. It’s going to be a good day, I tell myself... read more .

20 Tips to Help Have a Safe Thanksgiving
November 20, 2019— Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the American Red Cross offers tips to help you stay safe this holiday — which is a peak time for cooking fires and congested travel. Thanksgiving is the top day for home cooking fires in the U.S., where unattended cooking is the most common cause of kitchen fires. Follow the tips below, and test your smoke... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: The end, or is it? By Brandy Lewis
We are driving home from Fort Benning, Georgia right now. So much has happened in the last two weeks and it's time I update everyone on the happenings of Benning. It has been the best of times, worst of times and most trying of times. This is the conclusion to his basic training. Finally, I received the much awaited details on Honor Hill. What was suppose to be the ending to a great journey fell short... read more .

Graduates value degrees and courses relevant to their jobs, Natalie Schwartz
Nov. 18, 2019 - Dive Brief: Students tend to see more value in their postsecondary education when it features coursework relevant to their jobs, according to a new survey of 340,000 people from Gallup and Strada Education Network. Most (57%) graduates of nondegree vocational and technical programs strongly agreed their education was worth the price. That's compared to... read more .

The Night My Daughter Was Born, By Tatiayana Cox, Edison State Communications Student
Nothing can ever quite prepare a woman for the birth of their first child and what it would mean for them. You can take birthing classes and read books to help you understand some of the logistics, but nothing quite prepares you for the real thing! I hung on cousin Cyndi’s every word about her delivery because we were due only three weeks apart. I was scared. My mother revealed that she nearly bled... read more .

Eating your feelings over the holidays, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Food is a temporary self-soother for those who use gooey goodies to self-medicate painful emotions. Eating prompts the brain to release endorphins, known as ‘feel good’ chemicals. These chemicals include the neurotransmitter dopamine, which the brain interprets as pleasure, according to a research study described in the 2018 journal Cell Metabolism. “Emotional eating refers to consumption of food... read more .

Along Life’s Way… About Giving Thanks, By Lois E. Wilson
Imagine living in a situation where no one ever uses the phrase “thank you.” A person drops a glove. Another person sees the mishap, picks up the glove and hands it to the owner. The recipient looks at the glove, gives the one who did the kind deed a blank stare, says nothing, then walks away. If you ignore the kindness or positive actions of someone, you are demonstrating rudeness... read more .

Education Dive… Is productive struggle the secret sauce in learning? Shawna De La Rosa
Nov. 20, 2019 - Dive Brief: When the struggle gets real, students are learning, instructional coach Shannon McGrath writes for Edutopia, detailing how teachers often try to help during these moments of student confusion by continuing to explain when the best response is to remain silent as the student works through the problem. Struggle is a critical component to learning a skill or concept, but... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Your Parental Role: First Line of Defense
11/14/2019 - Alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug and alcoholism is a chronic disease. In this tip, we focus on the role parents and caregivers play when it comes to alcohol and other drugs. According to Dr. Joseph Lee, addiction specialist and medical director of the Hazelden Center for Youth and Family, parents and caregivers are the first line of defense in the prevention and... read more .

Let them eat pie, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
“Let them eat cake” is a phrase attributed to Queen Marie Antoinette. But we want turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all the tantalizing trimmings on the annual celebration of giving thanks for food. I want a traditional feast on Thanksgiving. It’s just sooo wrong for food to masquerade as the read deal during the season of gratitude. Pleeease! No canned cranberry sauce on the Thanksgiving... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s Thanksgiving Reveal, Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. Each dash stands for a letter. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next answer. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out how the Thanksgiving fowl won the race against the hare. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Put Kindness Into Action
While there appears to be a designated “day” on the calendar for everything these days, World Kindness Day is one to celebrate and share with the young people in our lives. It takes place annually on November 13th, and promotes putting kindness into action through caring and compassionate acts. In a world where far too many youth face bullying, deal with anxiety and... read more .

A Different Dose of Drug Education, By Katelyn Newman
Nov. 14, 2019 - A new curriculum encourages high schoolers to abstain from substance use but acknowledges not all of them will… A NEW HIGH SCHOOL DRUG education curriculum aims to overhaul the Reagan-era "Just say no" mindset by teaching students how to critically think about and use drugs safely – if and when they choose to use. In early October, the Drug... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… My Thanksgiving Google List, By Aprill Brandon
How big of a turkey do I need? Idiot proof recipes for Thanksgiving turkey. What is a brine? Is a brine necessary? Things I can brine a turkey in besides a bucket. Is Alton Brown single? Pictures of Alton Brown. Alton Brown’s wife. Did Guy Fieri die? People you’d be surprised are still alive. When are grocery stores the least crowded? How late is Trader Joe’s open? Why are there... read more .

eSchool News… How districts are addressing adolescent mental health, By Eileen Belastock
November 15th, 2019 - Adolescent mental health is an urgent and pressing issue--here's what districts can do to take care of students… Research from a recent white paper highlights the increasing crisis in adolescent mental health. In a recent edWebinar, presenters emphasized the need for school districts “to intervene with students as quickly as possible to keep them safe.” The... read more .

St. Mary’s School… The Joys of Ohio Weather, By Kathy Ayette
I know it’s not quite the middle of November but looking out my window it’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas than Thanksgiving. My students are a little confused about what type of outer wear to bring to school. It seems that one day they are outside having gym class in their shirt sleeves, and the next day we are watching the snow fall. Ah the joys of Ohio weather, not much consistency but a... read more .

Becoming a Mountain Man, Gary Kiser, Edison State Communications Student
I was all geared up. A pocket knife, flashlight, lighter, and a blanket is all I needed to make it through the night. I had long planned to sneak away after chores and stay at the creek. I knew that Mom would worry when I didn’t show back up at dark. I didn’t care, because I knew I would be fine. She would be so happy to see me in the morning that she couldn’t stay mad. I had already put my things... read more .

Education Dive… Teacher survey: Lawmakers 'not doing enough' to prevent school shootings, Naaz Modan - Nov. 15, 2019 - Dive Brief: Findings from a Fishbowl survey of 1,067 teachers show an overwhelming majority (87%) believe lawmakers are not doing enough to prevent school shootings. Only 3.84% of those surveyed said they believe lawmakers are doing enough, while 7.5% were unsure. Of states with at least 50 teacher responses, Michigan had the highest percentage... read more .

Along Life’s Way… The Importance of Dollars and Sense, By Lois E. Wilson
To some people the way the financial world works is a mystery. One woman went into the bank to cash her husband’s paycheck. The teller advised her, “It needs your endorsement.” The woman happily complied by writing on the back of the check:”Harry is a wonderful provider.” Some years ago, a clueless man heard a financial specialist say, “There is a new millionaire created in... read more .

A near-disaster with the Darke County Civic Theater, By Georgia Wetzel, Edison State Communications Student - I love acting with the Darke County Civic Theater. We always have fun, we make each other laugh, and even though we’ve had some near-disasters backstage, we always manage to pull through in the end. One particularly memorable incident happened last year during our production of Stuart Little. We had a small cast playing about thirty-five different characters. Everyone except Stuart Little... read more .

Think about what’s between your two ears, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Do you ever think about what’s going on in the three pounds of tissue inside your skull that sets on the top of your neck? The human brain is composed of 75 percent water and 60 percent fat. Who knew? The human brain has 86,000,000,000 (86 billion) neurons. Crikey! The brain is miraculous. The brain is so astounding that it gets its own annual Brain Awareness Week in March. Bravo to the brain... read more .

Start Talking! Know! the Link Between Alcohol and Sexual Assault
11/6/2019 - Alcohol is NEVER an acceptable excuse for sexual assault. Alcohol is, however, the substance used most frequently to assist in sexual assault. The connection between the two is complex. A false assumption exists that when alcohol is involved in a sexual assault, it somehow lessens the crime—as if the perpetrator is somehow less responsible for his or her... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s Hint for Winter Weather, Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Each dash stands for a letter. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out what Pete thinks you need for icy situations this winter. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition... read more .

The Daily Signal… Laws Like This Play a Terrible Trick on Children, Lucas Drill & GianCarlo Canaparo - Halloween is the spookiest night of the year, when millions of monsters and supernatural creatures of the night (often accompanied by their parents) stalk peaceful communities and extort candy from good people under threats of mischief. These rambunctious ghouls and goblins are only looking for fun, sweets, and a bit of playful fright. But there is something that should terrify trick-or-treaters... read more .

Fat-shaming Santa is naughty not nice, By Melissa Martin, PhD
The jelly belly of jolly olé St. Nicholas is bothering the diet-obsessed. And they are fat-shaming Santa Claus. Fat phobia has reached the North Pole. The Keto crowd want children to put steak instead of cookie carbs on plates for Santa. Don’t forget the bacon. And a bucket of lard. The Paleo people want kids to leave nuts for Santa. A fitting food for a group of hunters and gatherers. The Vegan group suggest... read more .

I Can’t Not Sing, By Natalie Milligan, Edison State Communications Student
I can't not sing. When I'm unable to sleep, I get up in the middle of the night to sing and quietly play my keyboard. I do this in hopes that I do not wake up my mom who will tell me to go back to bed. I've never felt more at home than I do up on the stage singing into a microphone, blinded by the spotlight, and forgetting that there is anyone else in the room. Almost every picture taken of me singing... read more .

Hooha from... Greenville Ohio? A walk down memory lane, By George Starks
GREENVILLE- Many of you have been reading, as I have, the columns by Brandy Lewis. They took me down a road I once traveled many years ago. As you read this, she is in Georgia with her son Cade, as he has now graduated from Army basic training. I know how proud she is of him. There are times she doesn't have to say a word, especially on those days after she gets a letter from him. Those are the... read more .

A Veterans Day Message From Director Ashenhurst
Monday is Veterans Day, and it’s so heartwarming to see Ohioans celebrate it with events all across the state to honor our heroes and pay homage to their service. On Thursday, I joined Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in inducting our 2019 class into The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, which is one of the true highlights of the year for us and the veteran community. The days following and still ahead... read more .

Deep Dive… 3 ways to expand Native American curriculum beyond Thanksgiving myths, Lauren Barack - Nov. 6, 2019 - Generalizations tied to the holiday don't paint the whole picture of the numerous cultures that were spread across the Americas… Classroom lessons around the Thanksgiving holiday are populated by mostly mythic stories about the celebration's origins, painting rosy images of the pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and local Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Scare Tactics in Prevention: A Scary Story
By now, you’ve probably seen at least one of the videos created as part of The Truth About Opioids campaign. They feature young actors sharing real, frightening stories about addiction. Some of the videos are hard to watch as they simulate people intentionally driving into dumpsters, smashing their hands with hammers, dropping cars onto their backs, and more in order... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Color and Language, By Lois E. Wilson
Whether perceiving color by vision or emotion, it is a personal experience. One who is color blind has a less than “normal” response to it. Color has an effect on things in our lives of which most of us are not aware. Studies have been done to determine what colors are best for hospital rooms to promote faster healing. There are studies to choose paint for school classrooms—which colors... read more .

DA District Administration… When Screen Time is actually OK – or not, By Matt Zalaznick
October 30, 2019 - Research finds some benefits, and also harm from overuse and from certain sources… Screen time can be beneficial, says one new study. Other researchers, meanwhile, are finding that student use of digital devices can have a range of positive and negative impacts, depending on the device and how it's used. Screen time for kids is just like red meat for everyone. It’s bad... read more .

The Right Choice, By Andrew Rowland, Edison State Communications Student
Once a young adult’s time in high school comes to an end, it is time for them to move on into the world and make a big decision on what they would like to achieve in life. As one’s senior year comes and goes, they will most likely have toured some schools, applied, been accepted, and chose the school of their dreams where they will be majoring in a certain degree for a number of years. For me, as... read more .

Life is a circle and a dash, By Melissa Martin, PhD
At the beginning of the circle is birth and at the end of the circle is death. But, life lives on in the DNA of humanity. Your life is a circle and so is mine. The dash represents what happens between the dates on our memorial marker. “All my life's a circle; Sunrise and sundown; Moon rolls through the nighttime; 'Til the daybreak comes around. All my life's a circle; But I can't tell you why; Season's... read more .

50 States of Ed Policy: What could California's decision to delay the morning bell mean for other states? Naaz Modan - Oct. 30, 2019 - A law delaying start times signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month will put communities to the test and could inspire other states to follow suit… This latest column focuses on some of the key takeaways from the debate on later school start times and what California's new law means for other states considering the shift. A nationwide... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s A to Z Ending in N, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the A to Z four-letter answers below using the clues from the left column. They all end in the letter “N.” Pete was surprised to find a four-letter answer for each letter of the alphabet. Pete says you’ll need to be “N-gaged” to solve it. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6 are... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Welcome aboard, plebs, By Aprill Brandon
Good morning, passengers, and welcome to Every Airline Flight 525. We will begin boarding in just a few minutes but please stand by for a few pre-flight announcements. It looks like we are scheduled for an on time take-off, although that will likely change once everyone is onboard and trapped. It does seem we are overbooked today so we ask that our customers be prepared to unceremoniously... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Alert - Weed Awareness
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory regarding marijuana use and the developing adolescent brain. He states that the increases in access to this drug, in multiple and highly potent forms, along with a false and dangerous perception of safety among youth, merits a nationwide call to action. Weed – as most young people call it – is a highly used drug among adolescents in the... read more .

"Hooah" from Ft. Benning: Almost there... By Brandy Lewis
Now that Cade is nearing graduation, I find myself thinking about the last 13 weeks and all of his achievments. What at one time seemed to be a nearly impossible feat, has quickly come to an end. There were times of uncertainty along with moments of great joy. It was my 43rd birthday when Cade decided to tell me he had joined the Army. He waited until the end of my party to tell me because he didn't want... read more .

So Much More than Volleyball, By Faith Kahlig, Edison State Communications Student
As I was in the locker room, putting on my jersey, the nerves started kicking in. This game was the biggest game of the season. It was the Fort Recovery Indians versus the St. Henry Redskins. Fort Recovery hasn’t beaten St. Henry in years. As a freshman, I was very nervous. Finally warm ups ended and the game was about to begin. The crowds from both teams were showing their spirit very loud and... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Inflatables, By Lois E. Wilson
There are inflatable representations of people that can be obtained for various reasons. You see them in parades and protests. A male version exists to place on your car’s passenger seat so that it does not appear that you are traveling alone. Unfortunately, it cannot help fill your car’s gas tank. Some inflatables are bought for companionship. They could be wired to give verbal responses... read more .

Start Talking! Know! What’s Hidden in Plain Sight
10/22/2019 - This Know! Tip reveals some of the tools and tactics teens may use to hide drug use. If you suspect your child is using drugs, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662- HELP (4357). Would you know if your child was experimenting with or using drugs? Would you be able to spot the clues? Hidden... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s 5-Letter Alphabet Scramble, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the 5-letter words using the clues. The third letter of an answer is given. Each answer begins with a different letter of the alphabet. Cross off each letter as it is used. Start with words you know for certain. Pete hopes your brain doesn’t get scrambled. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available... read more .

EdSurge… Are We Rushing Education Change? The Case for Slowing Things Down, By Miriam Plotinsky - Oct 19, 2019 - Education is known for endless change, and over the years that’s taken many forms: testing modifications, curriculum adjustments, new committees to join, fresh acronyms to learn. With these continuous shifts comes an accompanying sense of urgency, one that tells educators to hurry up and implement whatever is on the horizon, even if that leaves us feeling a... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… E-Cigarettes: What Big Tobacco Wants to Be
E-cigarettes were supposedly created to give adult smokers an alternative to cigarettes, but they’re increasingly addicting teens to nicotine in larger and larger numbers. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 27.5 percent, or more than 1 in 4, high school students have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. And increasingly, Big Tobacco... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… We should get together sometime, By Aprill Brandon
I bought a plane ticket to Clarksburg, West Virginia today. Full disclosure, prior to today, I did not know Clarksburg, West Virginia existed. I know nothing about the town, other than that on Friday it will unfortunately have me as its loudly dressed tourist. And I have no plans once I get there save for one. I’m meeting up with one of my oldest friends from childhood. How this all came... read more .

Is Ohio serious about domestic violence? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
More than 76,000 domestic disputes were reported to Ohio police in 2017, according to Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reports that from July 2017 to June 2018, there were 91 fatalities attributed to domestic violence; in 22 percent of the deaths, children were at the scene; and in 46 percent of the fatalities the victim had ended the relationship... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: We've Made It To Black Phase! By Brandy Lewis
As a mom, I've stayed positive and encouraging to my soldier but there are times when I think, what if he fails? When Cade failed his PT test, I thought what if he doesn't pass? Then he wrote me with such determination that those feelings of doubt went away. So there is some relief for me knowing he has made it to Black Phase. This phase is also known as Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) and... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Besting the Bullies, By Lois E. Wilson
Ellen Degeneres was recently photographed sitting next to George W. Bush at a football game. They were both smiling and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. She later called him “a friend” and made positive comments about having friends whose viewpoints differ from your own. It was a flashback to the L.A. riots of 1992 after which Rodney King said, “People, I just want... read more .

Bloomburg Editorial Board… Rethinking College — and How to Pay for It
October 22, 2019 - America’s higher education system is no longer providing value for money… No advanced society can thrive without a well-functioning system of higher education. College can be an equalizer, providing opportunity to all regardless of race or class. It can enhance human capital, boosting the economy’s productive capacity. It can make people better citizens. On all these... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Practice Good Sportsmanship
The benefits of participating in sports are vast. Sports help build character, boost self-confidence, strengthen perseverance, promote discipline, enhance physical and emotional health, develop teamwork skills, and promote healthy competition. Sports also provide children with additional supervision and additional mentors to help guide them as they grow... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Foster Empathy for Bullying Prevention
10/21/2019 - In a previous tip, Know! The End of Bullying Begins With YOU, we learned that more than one in five students reported being bullied. Regardless of what position a child is in - a target, bully, or bystander – they are at an increased risk for a variety of mental health and behavioral problems, including substance abuse. In addition to positive role modeling and conversations... read more .

NPR Ed… College Students: How To Make Office Hours Less Scary, Elissa Nadworny
Kate Szumanski still remembers the note her professor wrote at the top of an essay in her senior year: "This is a good argument ... Why don't you come visit me at office hours and we'll talk about graduate school." By all accounts this was a good note. Szumanski got an A on the paper – and she'd done well in the political science class all semester. But that note terrified her. "I started to shake, my... read more .

Edutopia… What Productive Talk Looks Like in the Elementary Grades, By Susan O’Brien
October 14, 2019 - Using sentence stems to scaffold classroom discussions guides students to speak, actively listen, and build on each others’ ideas… I used to think that the perfect classroom had students sitting in rows, hands folded, with their eyes on me. “All eyes on me” was in fact my favorite teacher line. Having an attentive audience was one of the reasons teaching was fun for me... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s There’s a “K” A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Use the clues in the left column to solve the 6- letter answer words. They are in alphabetical order with “K” placed where occurring in each word. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete hopes you’ll “KO” the puzzle. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6 are available and are... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The trick-or-treater always rings twice, By Aprill Brandon
It was a dark and stormy night. Well, it was dark and sprinkling a little bit. But that annoying kind of sprinkle that gets your clothes all soggy. It was quiet inside the house. Perhaps a bit too quiet. Well, not really too quiet. I mean, the TV was on. And for some reason the fridge always emitted a high-pitch squeal that could be heard throughout the rest of the house. (But everyone always... read more .

When adults bully adults, kids suffer, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. “Every day thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers while at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts,” PACER points out. Founded in 2006, PACER is a National Bullying Prevention Center. wwwpacer.org. But, here’s my question. How do we as... read more .

EdSurge… A ’Golden Age’ of Teaching and Learning at Colleges? By Jeffrey R. Young
Oct 15, 2019 - Somewhere in a university lab, a research subject is being slid into a brain-scanning devices to try to better understand how humans learn and retain information. It may seem a bit like science fiction, but research like this is taking off around the world. And in recent years more of the findings are making their way onto campus, in the form of new teaching practices. That has Matthew Rascoff... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: Family Weekend! By Brandy Lewis
The day couldn't come fast enough and a 12 hour drive separated me from my soldier. It had been over eleven weeks since I had seen my son and I was eager with anticipation. We arrived later on Thursday night and went to Fort Benning to get our family pass so we would be ready Friday morning. It would be a restless night as my mind would not shut down. I had read that no matter how early you are, you... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Children of Today, By Lois E. Wilson
Children have always faced challenges—death of a parent, a country at war, poverty, and others. Today, many children grow up in situations different from the traditional family of them and their biological parents. The list of a child’s possible living arrangements has expanded: Married biological parents / non-married biological parents, Biological parent with other/ married or non-married... read more .

Start Talking! National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 26
10/9/2019 - The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. The next Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to... read more .

St. Mary’s School… Happy Halloween! By Kathy Ayette
October has crept in with all its spookiness. As usual, I have bats flying around the ceiling, and jack-o-lanterns and spiders observing my every move from the top of the lockers. I also have a skeleton in my locker. (Please note, that’s a skeleton in my locker, not my closet.) However, he has not been satisfied with staying there. He stayed put for a week, but now has taken to hiding in... read more .

The Daily Jeff… Cambridge pre-school preparing students for success
Oct 13, 2019 - Our babies’ “firsts” are always so bittersweet. We beg our children to please stand still and smile for “one more picture” as we try to capture the images that are etched in our minds. Our hearts swell with pride as we watch our children embark upon new journeys like starting school. Then, our eyes fill with tears as we watch them walk away and we worry. Will they be safe? Will they... read more .

The “Purple Fingernail” Pledge, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
From October 1-31, I will display my purple fingernails (one painted nail on each ring finger) to show support for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The idea is simple: by painting your ring fingernail purple, you are showing the world your pledge to help spread awareness of domestic violence. #PutTheNailInIt inspires everyday individuals to do their part to end domestic violence, opening up... read more .

Robotics competitions can engage students in STEM, Robin Corbeil
Oct. 10, 2019 - Technology teacher Robin Corbeil explains it's not just about learning a specific block code language, but rather about students gaining confidence in a new area… As the computer instructor for Litchfield Middle School, I’ve tried different ways of engaging my students in coding as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in general. Some tactics... read more .

Puzzle Pete Hopes You’re D-lighted: A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the six-letter answers below using the clues in the left column. The beginning letter of each word is given. All the answers end with the letter “D.” Each dash stands for a letter. Pete says test your brain; he knows you’ll earn better than a “D.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however... read more .

OCD Awareness Week, By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Shawn’s mother brought him to therapy because she noticed he began to squeeze his head in the mornings before school. He was trying to “squeeze out the thoughts.” Shawn (a 5-year old) was experiencing ruminating thoughts that “would not go away.” He was having unwanted intrusive thoughts. Kate (a 9-year old) developed an irrational fear that certain foods would harm or poison her. She read food labels... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Reasons I’m the meanest mom in the world (this week), By Aprill Brandon, Upon immediately opening my eyes at 5 a.m. (because I sensed a creepy child-like presence breathing heavily right beside my head), I told my eldest child that no, he couldn’t play a game on my phone. I wouldn’t let my youngest break my glasses even though she really, really wanted to. I insisted on making coffee first before playing Dinosaurs vs. Vampires. I offered both of them various forms of fairly... read more .

Harvard Business Review… Why Skills Training Can’t Replace Higher Education, George D. Kuh, October 9, 2019 - Much of the current media-reported posturing by policy makers and pundits about the failure of U.S. colleges and universities to adequately prepare people for the 21st workplace is either ill informed or misguided, in my opinion. One of the dominant narratives in the media is that we need to produce more workers now who can do whatever is needed now, using short... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: Blue Phase, Basic Training Completed! By Brandy Lewis
Finally, the last phase of basic training has come, the Blue Phase. It starts out in turmoil as Cade has failed his next physical training test. He missed it by five push ups, still feeling the effects of having a broken hand. The consequence for failing PT is losing family weekend. Cade has one more chance to pass the PT test. Later that day, he states, "we learned to shoot rocket launchers! Then, we went... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Facts and Feelings, By Lois E. Wilson
Feelings are sometimes so strong that they can become facts in one’s mind; however, many times they are not even based on fact. We don’t know what we don’t know. In a way facts and feelings are a battle between head and heart. Feelings are a case of “could be and sentiment” versus facts, “are and actuality.” Thomas Carlyle observed, “Man is, and was always, a block-head and... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Have a Safe, Healthy Homecoming
Football games and homecoming court are part of nearly every teen’s life. Teens enjoy spending time with their friends, getting involved in school activities and sports, and maybe even a parade. Unfortunately, football games and homecoming can also mean late nights, risky situations for teens, and underage drinking. Some adults will facilitate those risks for teens by... read more .

Safety laws because of safety-challenged people
I’m stepping up on my soapbox in this column. What’s wrong with people that growl and grumble over safety regulations? Are they ignorant, rebellious, clueless or all the above? The young sort of have an excuse—they’re young. But, it’s up to adults to teach the younger crowd about safe driving. Anti-safety law Ohioans need a brain reboot or a brain transplant. “If I only had a brain,” sang the... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s October Warning, By Lois E. Wilson
Use the numbered clues to find the 4-letter answers to this word chain puzzle. The last letter of each is the first letter of the next word. Work up and down. The puzzle is started for you. Solve it correctly, then reading down, the first letters of the answers spell out what Pete recommends you watch out for this month. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published... read more .

Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2019, By Melissa Martin, PhD
In 2019, Ebony Clare was shot and killed in South Carolina. Her husband, Romaine Clare was arrested. www.abcnews4.com. Brandon Clark, 21, allegedly killed 17-year-old Bianca Devins, then posted photos of her body on the gaming site Discord, according to a 2019 article in USA Today. A man who had a history of domestic violence with his live-in girlfriend allegedly killed her and her three young... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Recognize and Respond to Bullying
9/25/2019 - Bullying touches the lives of at least one out of every four children in the U.S. In this year alone, approximately 13 million youth, from preschool to high school, will experience it. Yet, many parents do not even know their child is a victim. One study revealed that as many as 64 percent of youth who were bullied did not tell a parent, teacher or any other adult about it... read more .

"HOOAH" from Fort Benning: White Phase Completed, By Brandy Lewis
There are more and more qualifications to go. Today, they are at the shooting range and had moving targets. They would pop up and zoom down. He had to be fast! "Shooting my M-4 is pretty cool and fun, you just have to clean it all the time!" Count down to famiy weekend is four weeks away and he has so much planned. He is still asking if Lauren, his girlfriend, can come. She is coming but had asked me to... read more .

An Overview of Greenville’s History, By Madilyn Francis
September 19, 2019 - It seems some people I have encountered do not care for the city of Greenville. They say it is small and uninteresting. However, I do not believe they are aware of the background of Greenville, Ohio. Greenville is full of history and historical buildings and monuments. Some of the important locations are the statue of Annie Oakley, and the Lowell Thomas, Annie Oakley and the... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance: Our Thoughts... Your Voice Matters
Summer has ended, fall has begun, and the General Assembly has reconvened. As hearings are scheduled for proposed legislation, it’s important that we make sure our voices are heard. This means calling your legislator, sending an email, and, for those who can, testifying before a committee. If you are concerned about speaking directly to staff, please note that leaving a... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Election Alert, By Lois E. Wilson
In regard to the 2020 election, suppose you are undecided as to whom you will vote for in the presidential primary and November races. Wanting to learn more, you use a computer search engine to pull up information about the candidates. I conducted my own test for each of the ten Democratic candidates that took part in the third presidential debate. After typing in one letter at a time... read more .

Proposed Ohio House Bill 338: Helpful or harmful, By Melissa Martin, PhD
“Despite the fact that most people with serious mental illnesses are never violent, and 95-97% of gun violence is not caused by a mental illness, the involvement of people with acute mental illnesses in some recent incidents of mass gun violence has become a significant issue in American society.” www.mentalhealth america.net. On Sept. 17, 2019, Ohio House Representative Dave Greenspan... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Handle Mean Girls and Move on
If your child’s safety is at-risk at any point, her property gets damaged or stolen, or the situation simply becomes too much for her to handle directly, you (parents) will need to step in and contact the school, law enforcement, or other appropriate party, depending on the circumstances. In the previous tip, Know! To Defend Against Mean Girls, we learned that the long-term consequences of mean... read more .

Puzzle Pete’s A to Z with R, Lois E. Wilson
Complete the four-letter answers below using the clues in the left column. The beginning letters are given. All the answers have an “R” as their third letter. Each dash stands for a letter. Pete asks “R” you ready? If so, get started. Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6 are available... read more .

Education Dive… Chocolate milk debate rages on as more districts ban the beverage, Shawna De La Rosa - Sept. 27, 2019 - Dive Brief: The Tempe Elementary School District in Arizona is the latest district to ban chocolate milk, and the New York City Department of Education could be among the next to cut the drink from school menus in an effort to make school lunches healthier, District Administration reports. Tempe parents haven’t voiced complaints about the chocolate milk... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… When you just need a quick recipe... By Aprill Brandon
Well, hello there! Welcome to my food blog! I see you’re looking up a quick recipe to make for dinner tonight. You’ve definitely come to the right place. This truly is one of my favorites to make and it’s so easy and simple you’ll be shocked when it also tastes like it came from a fancy five-star restaurant! And, trust me, your whole family will love it! Yes! Truly! Did I already use truly earlier?... read more .

Overall letter grades for Ohio schools don’t tell it all, By Melissa Martin, PhD
I perused the Ohio Department of Education’s website for this column because report cards for Ohio schools were recently released. And the results (grades) for schools were reported in myriad newspapers in Ohio. How does a school or district earn an A-F Achievement Component Grade? By a Performance Index score: the level of achievement for each student on each state test. The possible levels are... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: White Phase: Determination, By Brandy Lewis
Tradgedy fell on Cade and it kills me to be so far away from him because I cannot be by his side. Cade fell and broke his right hand, creating a small hairline fracture over the knuckle of his pinky finger. Now, the worry of being recycled is always on his mind. Recycled is where you are forced to start over again. He talks about making us proud. I'm quick to write back that we will always be proud of him. Cade... read more .

Along Life’s Way… You and Yourself, By Lois E. Wilson
Have you ever thought—I can’t get away from myself? Wherever I go, I’m always there. If you were separate and saw yourself across the room, would you think that person is too loud, wild, uneducated, and not my type? Or would you say to yourself, “I’d like to get to know that person better.” You do have control over how you present yourself to others. When you are asked for... read more .

Stuff and more stuff, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Americans love stuff. And consumerism has reached an all-time high in the USA. We put stuff in closets, basements, garages. And attics. Drawers, boxes, and containers. Shelves, cabinets, and tables. Stuff-holders. Purses, back-packs, and bags—we like to take stuff with us. Women own she-sheds and men own he-sheds. Outdoor buildings for more stuff. Rented storage for more stuff. Birthdays... read more .

Education Dive... What do you tell young students wanting to know where babies come from? Shawna De La Rosa - Sept. 25, 2019 - Dive Brief: Most parents are uncomfortable discussing the topic of where babies come from before children are 10, but the answer is easier than most adults realize — and the “Amaze Jr.” video series is designed to help explain this and other topics to young students, according to The Hechinger Report. The videos dive into the differences between boys and... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Our Thoughts on Restricting Flavored E-Cigarettes
In 2009, the Family Smoking and Tobacco Prevention Act banned the sale of cigarettes with flavors other than menthol and tobacco. This ban, however, hasn’t impacted e-cigarette companies, which have used flavors like Candy Crush, Cotton Candy, and fruit flavors to attract young people to their products. Those same companies have spent millions of dollars lobbying... read more .

Motorcycle riders without helmets, By Melissa Martin, PhD
I’m going to be blunt. Motorcycle riders not wearing helmets give me acid indigestion. Frustration comes before the acid reflux when I spy no helmet, short sleeves, bare legs and a backseat rider with sandals. AND NO HELMETS. People! Do you not like skin on your body? Because you won’t have skin if you skid out of control and eat the pavement. And road rash is not attractive. People! Do you not like... read more .

Puzzle Pete Runs the B’s—A to Z, Lois E. Wilson
Pete says to complete the 4-letter answers starting with “B” by using the clues in the left column. The letters of the alphabet appear in sequence as the third letter of each one. Each dash stands for a letter. He hopes you “B-come all you can B.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes... read more .

Education Dive… 3 ways educators can give weight to student voice, Lauren Barack
Sept. 18, 2019 - Including students in classroom decisions and hearing their concerns when choices affect them can boost engagement at all grade levels, experts say… When she taught kindergarten, Guadalupe Chavez was assigned a classroom where children were bilingual in English and Spanish, but some only spoke one language or the other. Her instructions were to assign different classroom... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… We’re all just glorified end tables, By Aprill Brandon
I’m not sure when it happened exactly but at some point in my parenting career, I went from being Mom to Glorified End Table. Cause that’s pretty much all I do now. Just hold my children’s crap for them. Backpacks. Sippy cups. This cool leaf they found on the ground. All in all, it’s not a bad gig. Much better than when they used me as their Glorified Couch. Or when they were babies and... read more .

NPR… From 1st Phones To Online Porn: Answers To Your Screen Time Questions, Anya Kamenetz - September 18, 2019 - When I was growing up, my grandmother was full of wise sayings about iPad time: "A Twitch or Vine wastes time." "The family that plays Super Mario 3D World together stays together." Oh, wait — no, she wasn't. And I bet your grandma didn't have a lot to say about TikTok feuds or lewd GIFs or Snapchat interrupting homework either. None of that stuff was common... read more .

Testing in Ohio schools: At what cost? By Melissa Martin, Ph.D.
Butterflies in stomach. Heart pounding. Fear of failing. Do you remember how you reacted to taking tests? Fast-forward to state standardized testing. “Teachers, school administrators and other critics argue that students spend so much time taking standardized tests that it distracts from student learning and takes the joy out of teaching,” according to a 2017 article in The Columbus Dispatch... read more .

"Hooah" from Fort Benning: White Phase Initiated, By: Brandy Lewis
Red phase, white phase and blue phase what does all of this Army jargon mean? Well they are the phases for basic combat training which is nine weeks. Red (Patriot) phase is three weeks and the soldiers in training do not get to call home and mail is limited. They learn Army Core Values, basic tactical training, gas chamber and physical training (PT) in this phase. Cade made it through this phase in our... read more .

Education Dive… School districts deploy vaping sensors in e-cig crackdown, Natalie Gross
Sept. 16, 2019 - Dive Brief: School districts in at least three states – Ohio, Illinois and New Jersey –have installed sensors to detect smoke from e-cigarettes. North Carolina could be next, as the state’s attorney general weighs the option of securing state funds to implement the technology, WCNC reports. The sensors cost about $1,000 each and are made to detect the chemicals in... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Motives, By Lois E. Wilson
Our nation has been wrestling with many issues: illegal immigration, climate change, health care options, increase of drug use, global trade and security, the national debt, violence with guns, etc. Almost every day one of these is the main topic of the news cycle. The solutions for many of the issues are disputed on various aspects by experts. Politicians soon line up on the side that fits their... read more .

September 2019 is National Suicide Prevention Month, By Melissa Martin, PhD
The American Association of Suicidology makes available a summary of national suicide statistics as soon as they become available from the National Center for Health Statistics. According to 2017 data, an average of 1 person every 11minutes killed themselves (1 male every 14 minutes, 1 female every 51 minutes). www.suicidology.org. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations... read more .

How To Get A Job After College, Elissa Nadworny
September 6, 2019 - NPR Ed’s How to Succeed in College, Part 3… What are you going to do after you graduate? Yes, we know, it's the worst question. Even the less-specific questions — What are your strengths? What are your passions? — can be daunting. Explore Life Kit: This story comes from Life Kit, NPR's family of podcasts to help make life better — covering everything from exercise to raising kids... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… One fish, two fish, dumb confused fish, By Aprill Brandon
I am often out of my element. Just a perpetual fish out of water, even when technically still in the water. So when my friend Melissa asked me to help out at our kids’ school fundraiser, I couldn’t think of a place where I’d fit in less. For one, I am less a parent than I am just three bewildered 12-year-olds standing on each others’ shoulders in a trench coat. Two, I am new to the school parent game... read more .

How To Do Well (And Be Happy!) In College, Elissa Nadworny
September 4, 2019 - NPR Ed’s How to Succeed in College, Part 2… You've signed up for classes, you've learned your way around campus — and now, you've got to make sure you survive all the way to graduation. Explore Life Kit. Laptop or paper notes? Highlighter or flashcards? And does music help while studying? Here's how to take better notes and study so that you remember what you've learned... read more .

Edutopia… 3 Ways to Boost Students’ Conceptual Thinking, By Carla Marschall
September 10, 2019 - Coaching students to think in terms of concepts helps them understand how to apply their learning in the future… We want our students’ learning to be enduring, enabling them to make sense of complexity now and in the future. For this to occur, we need to nudge students beyond the learning of facts and skills to uncover concepts—transferable ideas that transcend time, place... read more .

Congratulations, You're In College! Now What? Elissa Nadworny
NPR Ed’s How to Succeed in College, Part 1… The first year of college is crucial for setting students up for success, laying a strong foundation for the rest of college and beyond. Research shows that if you finish your first year and sign up for the second, you're far more likely to get that degree. So how do you get through the first year? Here's what the experts recommend. Go to college on purpose... read more .

“Hooah” from Fort Benning, Red Phase Completed, By Brandy Lewis
Cade had made it through reception feeling homesick at times but, as he states, “fearless” in the end. Day one of boot camp came and so did the shark attack. This is basically where they start screaming at you the moment you arrive. I bet he wanted to retract that ”fearless” line. He writes about how scared he was, but he says “I made it through,” as though he was wearing it as a badge of honor. I've noticed... read more .

St. Mary’s School… New technology: What used to take minutes can now take up to an hour, By Kathy Ayette - This year the principal uttered those two little words guaranteed to strike terror into the hearts of all staff members...” new technology”. I have been given to understand that technology is supposed to make tasks easier and quicker. My experience has been that technology tends to make tasks that I used to do in several minutes take up to an hour. This year we have the new St. Mary’s... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Get Happy! By Lois E. Wilson
I recently heard a sermon on the topic of happiness and joy. The particular denomination believes that happiness depends upon circumstances. It can come and go because circumstances change—therefore, happiness is fleeting. It believes a deep personal, eternal relationship with God produces the spiritual gift of overflowing joy within us. God lives in us—through us, He provides guidance... read more .

Still angry after all these years, By George Starks
AMERICA- It's 18 years after the fact and the anger is still there. The date is September 11, 2001 and it starts off like any other day. I wake up at 5 a.m., have my morning coffee and get dressed to meet my day. At 6:15, I'm in my car driving from Ansonia to get to Whirlpool before seven. I arrive, clock in and go to the machine shop. At that point, it's eight hours of cutting gears for stand mixers, as usual, or so... read more .

The Great Darke County Fair 2019 is in the books, By Bob Robinson
CNO and Empowering Darke County Youth update … GREENVILLE - And another “Great Darke County Fair” goes into the books. One hundred sixty third… hard to imagine… 163 years of agriculture, specialty arts, kids, fun, food, animals, rides, games, races, vendors and probably a lot more. Yeah… probably not a lot of rides in the first fair – 1854 – but I can’t imagine no kids, games, food or... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Defend Against Mean Girls
If your child’s safety is at-risk at any point, her property gets damaged or stolen, or the situation simply becomes too much for her to handle directly, you (parents) will need to step in and contact the school, law enforcement, or other appropriate party, depending on the circumstances. Your daughter comes home from school in tears for yet another day because a girl in her class embarrassed and... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Sleep is Fuel for Life
9/4/2019 - Sleep is food for the brain, particularly for adolescents in the critical stages of physical, emotional and intellectual development. Fewer than 15 percent of teens get the sleep their bodies and minds need to fuel that growth, and that’s a big problem. Sleep deprivation poses a serious threat to our children’s health, safety and academic success. For children 10 to 12... read more .

Commissioners Corner… August a month of new projects. And the Fair.
August is a busy month for everybody. Usually, families go on vacations before school starts, there are things to accomplish before fall, and in Darke County of course it is Fair time! One thing that can be said for an agricultural county like ours; the Darke County Fair is not only the best one, it is very important to all the young 4H students and their parents. The junior fair is what makes... read more .

Puzzle Pete‘s Mmmm Good! Lois E. Wilson
Pete says use the clues to solve the puzzle. Each answer word begins and ends with the letter “M.” They have been placed in the puzzle for you. Each dash stands for s missing letter. Solve it and Pete wonders, “Did it leave a good taste? Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer available, however Volumes 2-6... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I’m one of them, By Aprill Brandon
I don’t know who she is. I don’t know her name or what she looks like. All I know is that she ruined everything. She just couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Just had to declare it from every virtual rooftop she had downloaded on her phone. And then all the others joined in. And now, they are all the laughingstock of the Internet. It didn’t have to be this way. There was no need to go public with... read more .

Humans are not born racist, By Melissa Martin, PhD
White men with guns killing innocent human beings because of hatred fueled by fear. What do they fear? Loss of power and privilege. Loss of life and liberty. Loss of being top dog. Fear of being treated like they want minorities to be treated. After 22 people were killed in El Paso, Texas by a white supremacist, President Trump announced in a speech “in one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Special Alert: E-Cigarettes Aren't Safe
E-cigarettes have been causing an epidemic of youth use across the country for some time now. Despite claims of how “safe” they are by those selling them, they’re putting people into emergency rooms and hospitals across the nation. As of August 30th, one person has died and more than 200 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses have been reported, although some... read more .

“Hooah” from Fort Benning, By Brandy Lewis
It was hard on us in the beginning, but we supported Cade every step of the way. He had received a college scholarship but it was clear his mind was made up. Army Infantry Airborne, or as I put it, jumping out of planes with a gun is what he had chosen. We had two months after graduation to spend as much time as we could with him before his room sat empty. Lots of family time was spent in those months... read more .

The Daily Signal… How 50 Years of No-Fault Divorce Gave Us a Throwaway Culture, Daniel Davis - September 03, 2019 - Each year, 1 million U.S. children see their parents get divorced… Fifty years ago this week, Ronald Reagan made what he later admitted was one of the worst mistakes of his political life: As governor of California, he signed a bill bringing no-fault divorce to his state. California was the first state to take the plunge, but by no means the last. Reagan’s signature unleashed... read more .

Along Life’s Way… Being a Grandparent, By Lois E. Wilson
I watch a show on EWTN called “Grandparents.” It is hosted by Father James Mallon and features young people who relate their experiences with their grandparents and how they influenced their lives and faith. In the Bible the reference to a “grandparent” is 2 Timothy 1:5 (TNIV). Paul writes to Timothy: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in... read more .

No cook’n in the pot for anxious folks in Ohio, By Melissa Martin, PhD
A State Medical Board of Ohio committee is delaying a recommendation for medical marijuana for people diagnosed with Anxiety disorders. That’s according to a August 2019 article by the Associated Press. Several physicians gave testimony and said “the drug offers momentary relief from anxiety but can lead to panic attacks or worsening anxiety for some patients.” So, no huffing, puffing or vaping... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Big Sibling Effect!
8/26/2019 - There is a unique and special connection between siblings that cannot be denied nor duplicated. They are both tormentors and protectors; a source of teasing one moment, the greatest ally the next. Siblings are also likely to be one and other’s longest-lasting relationship. Four out of five Americans get to experience the growing years with a brother or sister... read more .

Puzzle Pete: Fill Out the “P-pods”, By Lois E. Wilson
Pete says use the clues to solve the puzzle. Each answer begins and ends with the letter “P.” They have been placed in the puzzle for you. Three of the answers have hyphens as indicated. Each dash stands for a missing letter. Solve it and Pete will be “P-leased.” Wilson's completed set of books has a new edition – now six volumes – of published poetry. Volume 1 is out of print and no longer... read more .

Another year... another fair, By George Starks
GREENVILLE-With the final puff of smoke belching from a car, the annual demolition brought down the curtain on the 163rd Darke County Fair. The vendors are gone and the food is no longer there. Only the squirrels will benefit from the food on the grounds for the winter. It's always a little bit sad when the fair ends because fall and winter is on the horizon. I hate winter. I hate the cold. But as they say, all good things must... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… A Nightmare in Elm Trees, By Aprill Brandon
It was a cloudless blue day in late summer. The kind of blue that made the heart ache with possibility. The kind of day made for adventures. And it was in that spirit of happy potentiality that the little family began packing up their car for a weekend away in the woods. Backpacks full of toys, a small suitcase filled with hoodies and bug spray, a cooler loaded with beer and marshmallows. The... read more .

Education Dive… Self-regulation lessons embedded with academic skills, Lauren Barack
Aug. 7, 2019 - Dive Brief: Educators can support students in developing skills that teach them how to guide themselves and focus on goals, valuable skills they can use throughout their lives, Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab Director and Professor of Psychology Maurice J. Elias writes for Edutopia. These tools can be taught in tandem with academics... read more .

Spectator USA… When will American schools catch up with the technological revolution? James Adams - August 22, 2019 - Children in kindergarten or middle school today are likely to be educated for a world that will largely have disappeared by the time they graduate… As 75 million children head back to school for the fall semester, there are concerns among academics, technologists and social scientists that the current American education system is no longer fit for purpose. Such is... read more .

American Red Cross… Back to School Safety Tips
August 20, 2019— The school bells are calling students back to the classroom, and the American Red Cross wants to make sure your student is safe as they head back to school for the upcoming year. “While safety is a top priority for all students, there are special steps for parents of younger kids and those that might be heading home alone for the first time,” said Lynne Gump, Executive... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Too school for cool, By Aprill Brandon
I don’t have much proof. I’ll admit that right off the bat. But just hear me out. I’m starting to suspect that my son is not my child. I mean, sure, he looks just like my husband and acts just like me (WHO ARE YOU CALLING DRAMATIC!?). But he was born via C-section. I couldn’t see anything past that weird blue screen they put up, not even them pulling a human body out of my human body. Who... read more .

Education Dive… First-day relationship-building key to setting student expectations, boosting success, Lauren Barack - Aug. 21, 2019 - Dive Brief: Mary Davenport, who teaches English at an international school in Brazil, writes for Edutopia that how she starts school in the fall often influences outcomes for the whole year. She invites students to share details about themselves with the class, has them fill out surveys about their learning styles and makes a point of asking... read more .

NPR… The Case For Summer Vacation, Greg Rosalsky
August 20, 2019 - Put down those Popsicles. No more sleeping in. Beach time is over. Economists have long hated summer vacation. All those wasted school facilities! All that educational backsliding! Kids are getting dumber! The conventional wisdom is that summer vacation is a relic of agricultural times, when kids had to help their parents on the farm. But the economist William Fischel... read more .

Education Dive… Labor Dept rules IEP meetings a valid reason for family and medical leave, Linda Jacobson - Aug. 13, 2019 - Dive Brief: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an opinion letter stating parents and guardians are allowed to use the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) intermittently to attend Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings with teachers, school administrators and others involved in planning education services for children with special needs. The... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Tired. By Aprill Brandon
I’m tired. But don’t worry. This isn’t going to be one of those pieces where the author spends 800 words telling you just how much MORE tired they are than you. (Although I only got two hours of sleep last night. Not that it matters. Because, again, this isn’t THAT piece). See, I know you’re tired too. We’re all tired. The whole world is tired. None of us are getting enough sleep and all of us are... read more .

NPR Ed… How To Counter Back-To-School Anxiety, Elissa Nadworny
August 28, 2017 - The start of the school year can be rough on some kids. It's a big shift from summer's freedom and lack of structure to the measured routines of school. And sometimes that can build up into tears, losing sleep, outbursts and other classic signs of anxiety. "Going back to school is a transition for everyone," says Lynn Bufka, a practicing psychologist who also works... read more .

American Red Cross Offers Safety Tips… Having Fun and Staying Safe at the Great Darke County Fair - Darke County, OH 45331 August 14, 2019 The tents are going up, animals are getting baths and you can almost smell the funnel cakes; nine days and nights of rides, exhibitions, grandstand entertainment, 4-H shows and food, providing those who attend a marvelous time at the great Darke County Fair! To insure that you continue to have a marvelous time, the American Red Cross offers... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Pump Them Up for a Successful New School Year
8/8/2019 - Words are a powerful force. They can inspire, encourage and create enthusiasm, or they can dishearten, discourage and create despair – especially in the lives of young, impressionable people. As parents, it seems so many times that what we say to our children goes in one ear and out the other. But research proves they are listening and our words make a world of... read more .

Education Dive… With break almost over, teachers can still stem summer learning loss, Lauren Barack - Aug. 7, 2019 - Not all students experience the same educational slide, but all likely benefit from educators reaching out with check-ins and suggestions… With summer break moving toward a new school year, educators will find that not every pupil forgot the previous year's lessons during the time off. Experts believe summer learning loss is a bit more nuanced and doesn't impact every... read more .

Education Dive… Taking the arts digital to support a well-rounded education, Naaz Modan - Aug. 7, 2019 - Dive Brief: Digital art classes encourage digital creativity and build soft skills as the focus on STEM expands to include the arts and educators adopt a STEAM approach, according to EdTech: Focus on K-12. This kind of digital integration can build the soft skills employers are looking for, but requires time allotted in the classroom for digital creativity and acclimating... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… What’s in a name? By Aprill Brandon
People often spell my name wrong. This is usually through no fault of their own but rather because of an impulsive decision I made as a young girl. One of those passionate and spontaneous moments of childhood that only happen in childhood because sometimes when you’re nine you know yourself better than when you’re on the cusp of 39. For those of you who don’t know, or never noticed... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… JFS Administrator Overholser retires; Carla Allen hired
Finally, the month of July has gone out with some real summertime weather. The rain, wind and oppressive heat has subsided and now it seems like a real summer is here. August should bring more of the same, but let’s just hope it is more moderate than July was. This has been a busy month in the Commissioner’s office. The Courthouse extension has started and seems... read more .

Dive Opinion… Gen Z Takeover: Showing students how to afford college, Natalie Schwartz
July 31, 2019 - The newest cohort of learners is more debt-averse than previous generations, prompting institutions to bring transparency to costs… This fall semester, 20-year-old Isaac Irvin will spend several hours a week teaching his fellow students at Indiana University Bloomington about financial wellness. The junior is slated to start working as a peer financial educator with the college... read more .

Suicide is not about dying, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Individuals that die by suicide do not want to die, they want the excruciating mental pain in their brain to stop. They want the feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, anguish, and despair to go away. Why Do People Attempt Suicide? “A suicide attempt is a clear indication that something is gravely wrong in a person’s life. No matter the race or age of the person; how rich or poor they are, it is true... read more .

NPR Ed… The Most Popular High School Plays And Musicals, Elissa Nadworny
July 31, 2019 - NPR Ed published the first-ever database of the most popular high school plays and musicals in the U.S. in July 2015. Today, the 2019 numbers are out, so we've updated our original story. Annie is out and Mamma Mia! is in, according to the new high school theater rankings from the Educational Theatre Association. The top spot for musicals went to... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Transition Increases Risk
7/30/2019 - While there is much excitement about the start of a new school year, there may be much apprehension and anxiety as well. This may be especially so for youth entering their first year of middle or high school, and for adolescents of any age transitioning to a new school (because of a move or several other reasons). The thought of unfamiliar faces, new teachers and... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… If only thoughts and prayers were bulletproof, By Aprill Brandon
I’ll be honest. When I heard about Gilroy, and then El Paso, and then Dayton (which is 45 minutes from my hometown), I felt nothing. I just stared, dull-eyed, at the news and at social media feeds and as people lamented the evil in the world while being very careful not to name any specific evil. And then, yesterday, as my husband and I were getting dinner ready for the kids, I went to... read more .

Tech Crunch… Can robots find a home in the classroom? Jason Palmer
A few years ago, investors heralded the arrival of a future with robots in the home. Robots like Jibo, Anki’s Cozmo and Mayfield Robotics’ Kuri attracted buzz and hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital. All three companies have since shut down, prompting Kidtech expert Robin Raskin to recently ask, “Has the sheen worn off the tech toy world?” With the demise of these robots and... read more .

Chronicle of Higher Education… Can Starbucks Save the Middle Class? No. But It Might Ruin Higher Education. By Geoffrey M. Cox - August 1, 2019 - A number of large employers have garnered praise recently for creating higher-education benefits for their employees in partnership with one or more universities. For example, Starbucks has established a program through Arizona State University; Walmart has partnered with several institutions, including the University of Florida, Brandman University... read more .

The Daily Signal… Maine and Nevada Show Why the Electoral College Helps Small States, By Hans von Spakovsky and Laura Williamson - July 19, 2019 - Last month, both Maine and Nevada did what was in the best interests of their states: They rejected bills that would have enrolled their states in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an unwise effort to override the Electoral College. In Maine, it was killed by legislators in the state House after it passed Maine’s Senate. In Nevada... read more .

Education Dive… The 50 States of Education Policy: Do 3rd-grade retention policies work?, Naaz Modan - July 30, 2019 - This coming school year, a 2016 Michigan law mandating retention for 3rd graders reading below proficiency level will go into effect. The state will join 17 others that have such such legislation, including Nevada, which just began implementing its new policy in July. First introduced in California in 1998, mandatory retention laws have recently gained... read more .

District Administration… In praise of school libraries – and librarians, By K.C. Boyd
July 30, 2019 - Being a librarian is a labor of love, even if it means getting into “good trouble”… I love libraries. It’s a love that began when I was in preschool and continues to this day. My love of listening to and reading stories dates back to my early childhood in suburban Chicago. Libraries sparked my curiosity and imagination so much that every day I would beg my teacher for a... read more .

The Daily Signal… Josh Hawley Wants to Break Up the College Monopoly. Why His Approach Could Help. Mary Clare Amselem - July 19, 2019 - Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced two bills this week to shake up higher education, and the proposals look promising. One bill would expand access to career and technical education by making career-focused education options—such as apprenticeships or certificate programs—eligible for Pell Grant funding. The second would require colleges to... read more .

Mirror, mirror on our walls, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Water was probably the substance for the first mirrors; reflecting images back to humans. The earliest mirrors were from polished stone and black volcanic glass obsidian. Visit www.mirrorhistory.com to read the history of mirrors. Is a mirror an object of vanity? In Greek mythology, Narcissus was known for his exceptional beauty. He gazed at his reflection in a pool of water and fell in love with it. He could not... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Teen Sex Trafficking—KNOW! To Educate Them to Protect Them - The following Know! Tip discusses the sex trafficking of children. There is no graphic content or description below, but it could still be difficult for some readers. If you suspect human trafficking might be occurring near you or need help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, TTY 711, text 233-733, or chat with the hotline at humantraffickinghotline... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Comic books didn’t prepare me for this, By Aprill Brandon
I’ll be honest. I never gave much thought to my lap. Which is sad really, considering it is the most powerful part of my body. Oh yes, that squishy fleshy chair I can make appear and disappear at will is literally the seat of my power. (Pun COMPLETELY intended). I don’t mean this from a muscular standpoint. Or politically. Or even aesthetically. No. I mean from a supernatural perspective... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Puberty is a Brain-Changer
7/16/2019 - Cracking voices, body odor and wild mood swings - all indicators of the long-awaited and sometimes dreaded period in every adolescents’ life. We’re talking puberty. Most youth are well-aware of the physical changes they can expect their bodies to go through, but do they know the impact of puberty on their brains? Are your children aware that all these hormonal changes... read more .

The Daily Signal… The High Cost of ‘Free’ College Tuition, Kay Coles James
July 17, 2019 - In the lead-up to the 2020 elections, we’ve heard several proposals offering free college tuition for all, and loan forgiveness for those still carrying debt. While proponents call these proposals “investments in our future,” the reality is they would be a suffocating financial burden on every taxpayer, but especially on middle- and lower-income citizens. There’s an inherent unfairness to forcing... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Teen Sex Trafficking: What Parents Need to know!
The following Know! Tip discusses the sex tra cking of children. There is no graphic content or description below, but it could still be di cult for some readers. If you suspect human trafficking might be occurring near you or need help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, TTY 711, text 233-733, or chat with the hotline at humantraffickinghotline... read more .

The Daily Signal… New Book Offers Vision for ‘American Restoration’ Beginning at Home, Greg Scott - July 10, 2019 - In an age of moral outrage and endless Twitter war, a more refreshing and hopeful vision of America’s future is a rare and welcome blessing. A new book, “American Restoration: How Faith, Family, and Personal Sacrifice Can Heal Our Nation,” by Timothy Goeglein and Craig Osten is just such a blessing, and it comes at an opportune time, having just celebrated... read more .

Ed Tech Magazine… The Do's and Don'ts of Project-Based Learning Technology Integration, by Wylie Wong - For a successful lesson plan, educators should collaborate with each other to adopt tools students are familiar with. Educators embracing project-based learning to engage students. In PBL, teachers create assignments rooted in the real world to help students build important skills such as problem-solving, communication and teamwork. At McKissack Middle... read more .

Cellular phone abuser-users, By Melissa Martin, PhD
“Smartphone Zombies, Look Up!” is the title of a recent newspaper article in the Straits Times in Singapore. In a nutshell, Smartphone zombies are people that walk with their heads down while reading and writing texts—or doing a hundred other things with electronic devices. How safe is that? They are endangering their lives and lives of vehicle drivers. Not looking where you are going is a precursor to an... read more .

The Daily Signal… 50 Years Ago, the Eagle Landed, Lee Edwards
Let us pause to celebrate the 50th anniversary this Saturday of a mission once thought impossible: the landing of a man on the moon. Let us proclaim, without embarrassment, that America, and only America, had the requisite leadership, scientific community, and resources to make it possible for Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong to take that giant leap for mankind. Let us freely... read more .

The Daily Signal… College Costs Are Out of Control. Here’s What Can Be Done, Lindsey Burke - June 24, 2019 - American colleges and universities are failing in one of their most basic missions: to equip students with the tools they need for a career. Many students graduate ill-prepared to earn a living and pay off the debt they’ve accumulated getting their degrees—40% of those who start college don’t finish within six years. Additionally, students are often subject to indoctrination into socialist ideology... read more .

Grieving the sudden death of a parent, By Melissa Martin, PhD
When unexpected death enters our world, we are caught off-guard and unprepared for the intense loss and agonizing pain. We did not get to say good-by to our loved one. In a mere second of time our lives are forever changed. We struggle to do daily life without our person. The following are excerpts from a website called Grief Out Loud where grievers tell their stories. You can listen to short clips... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Alcoholic Ice Cream Is a Rocky Road
In 2017, the Ohio legislature took up legislation allowing for the sale of ice cream with alcohol in it. Now, State Representative Catherine Ingram, D-Cincinnati, wants to relax the law further to allow for alcohol-infused ice cream straight to your door. This comes after a meeting between Rep. Ingram and the CEO of Buzzed Bull Creamery, which is based in Cincinnati: “In... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Welcome to Thunderdome, By Aprill Brandon
When I was in high school, I read “Lord of the Flies.” Good book, I thought. But totally unrealistic. Children aren’t like that. And then...well, then I had a child. Worse yet, after having that child, I decided to have another child. Meaning I now had children. Plural. More than one. Creating, blindly, siblings. Because in my baby fever, I was so obsessed with if I could, I never stopped to... read more .

Listen on World Listening Day, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Shhh…do you hear that? Close your mouth and eyes. Open your ears and pay attention. It’s the sound of World Listening Day approaching; an annual global event held every July 18. www.worldlisteningproject.org. The 2019 theme is “Listening With” created by internationally acclaimed sound artist Annea Lockwood. “Listening with an awareness that all around you are other life-forms simultaneously listening... read more .

The Daily Signal… College Costs Are Out of Control. Here’s What Can Be Done. Lindsey Burke - June 24, 2019 - American colleges and universities are failing in one of their most basic missions: to equip students with the tools they need for a career. Many students graduate ill-prepared to earn a living and pay off the debt they’ve accumulated getting their degrees—40% of those who start college don’t finish within six years. Additionally, students are often subject to indoctrination into socialist ideology... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Arm Them with Education, Motivation, Expectations and the X-Plan - 6/18/2019 - Young people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are six times more likely to develop alcoholism or have problems with alcohol later in life, compared to those who wait until turning 21. Communication is key to prevention and essential in building and sustaining a positive relationship with our children, students, youth group members, athletes, etc. While it is vital to... read more .

Cherish the days above ground, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Life is challenging—some days more than others. Someone said that we are either getting ready to go into a problem; in the middle of a problem; or coming out of a problem. Nonetheless, if you are reading this column—then you are above ground—you are alive. The alternative is to be below ground—you are dead. In this hurry-scurry-worry world we often forget to stop and smell the roses... read more .

Edutopia… How to Teach Handwriting—and Why It Matters, By Brooke MacKenzie
July 2, 2019 - Teaching young students how to write by hand before moving on to keyboarding can help improve their reading fluency as well. Technology is an undeniable fact of everyday life and can support students’ learning. But there are limits to that: Completely replacing handwriting instruction with keyboarding instruction in elementary school can be detrimental to students... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… A Review of My Son’s Imaginary Restaurant, By Aprill Brandon
It’s a tired old trope and yet still remains a true one. When it comes to so many ventures, it’s all about location, location, location. Which is the one thing my 5-year-old son’s recently opened restaurant has going for it. Situated conveniently right in the heart of my living room, this one-couch eatery specializes in unique dishes that are as creative as they are inedible. Aptly, or perhaps ironically... read more .

The Daily Signal… A Nation Worth Lauding, Kay Coles James
July 03, 2019 - This week, as Americans commemorate Independence Day and the creation of the most free, most prosperous nation on earth, we will inevitably hear from those who say there’s no reason to celebrate a country where not everyone gained their freedom or their equality in 1776. They will say that a nation stained with the evil of slavery, a nation that once refused women... read more .

Parents, please talk about suicide prevention, By Melissa Martin, PhD
Suicide is the second leading cause of death between children ages 10 to18 in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A recent finding in a 2019 Pediatrics journal article found that surveyed parents were clueless about the suicidal thoughts of their kids. In interviews with more than 5,000 Philadelphia-area kids ages 11 to 17 and their parents, researchers found... read more .

Forget D-Day? Not here. By Susan Olling
On 05 June, an article appeared on CNO about the 75th anniversary of D-Day and how it mustn’t be forgotten. In our part of Virginia, it would be difficult to forget what happened on 06 June 1944. Bob Slaughter was a member of Company D of the National Guard’s 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, a unit that was part of the Normandy landings on 06 June. In 1994, while visiting Normandy... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… And yet he loved me, By Aprill Brandon
I’m writing this now, ahead of time. Before we know. I felt it would be easier this way. That I would be more level-headed, less emotional this way. Although I’m already crying so that pretty much backfired. Then again, is it ever possible to write about your dog without tearing up? The vet said we should start with a chest x-ray, which is scheduled a few days from now. To see if it has... read more .

EdSurge… Higher Ed Has Become ‘An Entrepreneurial and Philanthropic Wild West’, By Jeffrey R. Young - Jun 25, 2019 - Plenty of groups these days are trying to reinvent college, and that’s not surprising at a time when higher ed is under fire for ever-rising costs, ballooning student debt and even questions about the value of a degree. On one hand, entrepreneurs and foundations are rushing to offer higher education via new models and price points. Meanwhile, college researchers and innovators... read more .

The Daily Signal… Teen’s Sad End Suggests New Standard in Accepting ‘Right to Die’, Rachel del Guidice - June 12, 2019 - The apparent suicide of a teen in the Netherlands who said she chose to die rather than endure the trauma of being sexually assaulted and raped is a stark example of the continuing deterioration of the sanctity of life. Noa Pothoven, who was 17, told followers on Instagram that she would end her life. “Love is letting go, in this case,” Noa wrote in the Instagram post... read more .

The Daily Signal… Maine’s Adoption of Physician-Assisted Suicide Accelerates an Ominous Trend, Monica Burke - June 14, 2019 - Maine just became the eighth state to legalize physician-assisted suicide, a practice that turns medicine on its head. Instead of promoting the health and wholeness of the patient, physician-assisted suicide–also legal in the District of Columbia–promotes the dangerous idea that some lives are not worth living. That message has far-reaching effects... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Absolutely, By Aprill Brandon
It was a new tradition we had started a few years back. Whenever someone in our family had a birthday coming up, they got to choose whether they wanted gifts or an adventure. Since I had just reached Level 38 in the game of life, I felt an adventure was in order. I have stuff. A ridiculous amount. I wanted memories. We didn’t go far. Adventures don’t always require distance. My husband... read more .

A horrible mistake or a horrible crime? By Melissa Martin
How can a parent mistakenly leave a baby in a car? Accidents happen. But how does a parent work the entire day and forget his/her most precious gift is strapped into a carseat—trapped inside a sweltering vehicle? Did you know that 2018 was the deadliest year in US history for child hot car deaths? In 2018, 52 children died in hot cars. Since 1998, almost 800 children have died from vehicular... read more .

NPR Ed… Teachers make a lot of money ... for other people, Chelsea Beck
This week, we're digging into a question that was explored by the Planet Money team: What do economists think about Democrats' new education proposals? Democratic presidential candidates have been watching a historic wave of teacher strikes and protests sweeping the nation — and they want to give teachers a raise. Kamala Harris wants to spend $315 billion over... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… 38 things I’ve learned in 38 years, By Aprill Brandon
Well, it’s my birthday. Again. And it’s a big one. The Big 3-8. I am now as old as Homer Simpson (at least in season 8). I’m not crying. You’re crying. SOMEONE BRING ME A BEER AND A DONUT. If I’m being honest, though, I don’t really mind aging. I’ve learned so many things this past year. So many wise things. So many sensible things. And so, so many more useless things... read more .

The Daily Signal… ‘Socialist’ Nordic Countries Are Actually Moving Toward Private Health Care, Kevin Pham - June 13, 2019 - Rising support for socialism in the United States comes at a time when politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., promise a great many “free” services, to be provided or guaranteed by the government. Supporters often point to nations with large social programs, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Scandinavian states, particularly when it comes to... read more .

Ageism is not funny, By Melissa Martin, PhD
By writing humorous columns and articles about aging, I encourage oldsters (including myself) to laugh and poke fun at the changes that accompany our birthdays. However, ageism is not funny. Betty White, an actress that is as sassy and playful as the day is long, celebrated her 97th birthday in 2019. And Hollywood better not try ageism with her. You’ve got to watch her “I’m Still Hot” music video on... read more .

Education Dive Opinion… In teaching philosophy to preschoolers, college students aim to mend breakdown in civic discourse, Erik Kenyon, Sharon Carnahan, Diane Terorde-Doyle - June 13, 2019 - The American people are stuck. Careful listening, deep reflection and efforts at civil persuasion are all but gone from public discourse. Opinions are polarized on quite basic questions: Is scientific evidence better than personal experience? What is our responsibility to people on... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… Gearing up for Midyear Budget Review
May was acting like April more than April did. April showers became May showers and floods for most of the month. This has been one of the wettest months I can remember and I bet almost every farmer in Darke County will tell you the same. May is the month where we do a lot of preparation for the second half of the year. We have had proclamations declared, had meetings for... read more .

Education Dive… Report: Teachers need more preparation to work in inclusive classrooms, Amelia Harper - June 6, 2019 - Dive Brief: - Only 17% of general education teachers feel “very well prepared” to teach children with mild to moderate learning disabilities, and only 30% “feel strongly” about their preparedness to teach them, according to a recent report released by Understood and the National Center for Learning Disabilities. More than 60% feel they are “somewhat... read more .

New York Times… There Are Better Ways to Do College, By Alice Lloyd
June 4, 2019 - Work colleges teach students that communities need all their members to pick up a shovel and participate. Most days I space out at some point and travel in my mind to a place called Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky. It doesn’t hurt that its founder and I, no relation, have the same name and that I happen to have a postcard picture of its Appalachian campus pinned over my desk... read more .

The Daily Signal - On the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Sacrifices at Normandy Must Not Be Forgotten, Emma Watkins, Alexandra Marotta - June 05, 2019 - At 6:30 a.m., many people are brewing their morning coffee and getting ready for the day ahead. At 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944, however, the first wave of American, British, and Canadian troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in what would be the largest seaborne invasion in history. This year marks the... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I’mma let you finish this preschool graduation, but first let me say... By Aprill Brandon - Ladies and gentlemen, parents and loved ones, distinguished guests and, especially, educators just white-knuckling it until you’re finally free for the summer... welcome. And thank you for that wonderful introduction. Granted, I realize no one technically introduced me since I just hopped up here and grabbed the mic. But hey, no one has full-body tackled me yet and I’m having some... read more .

They didn't know, By Melissa Martin
They didn’t know. That tragic day would be their last day alive. They woke-up and went about their usual morning routine. Coffee, shower, breakfast. Feed the kids. Feed the dog. Kiss the spouse good-by. Drive to work. They didn’t know. The Virginia Beach mass shooting left 12 people dead—innocent human beings that died unexpectedly. Photographs of the 12 victims can be found on various... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Summertime Increases Risk
6/3/2019 - It’s June – which, for most teens, means summer break is either close at hand or has already begun! Parents need to watch for risky behaviors during these warm weather months because first-time alcohol use and drug experimentation hit their peak in the summer. During the school year, the “risk-taking danger zone” for youth typically occurs during the after school hours... read more .

The Daily Signal… I’m a Millennial. And No, My Generation Doesn’t Have It Worse Than Others. by Jarrett Stepman -- May 23, 2019 -- Have American millennials only known hardship? That seems to be the takeaway from a recent Wall Street Journal article. The report highlighted how millennials, some of whom are now reaching middle age, lag far behind previous generations in terms of financial security. “American millennials are approaching middle age in worse financial shape... read more .

Tasty and teary food memories
Buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy—a staple of the Appalachian culture. A traditional meal for country cook’in the mornings. And my mother made the dynamic duo from scratch. Biscuits: flour, shortening, and buttermilk. For a season, she baked the store-bought biscuits from a canister, but returned to homemade. Sausage gravy: flour, milk, butter, salt, pepper. Fried apples functioned... read more .

The Daily Signal… Electoral College Opponents Attempt to Have It Both Ways
Tara Ross -- May 23, 2019 -- Electoral College foes have been trying to get their way in Nevada for a decade. Have they finally succeeded? Nevada’s state Senate approved National Popular Vote legislation on Tuesday. The measure is now awaiting approval from Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat. The governor’s signature will add Nevada to a growing movement to ditch the Electoral College. Worse, Maine... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Fitness #4Mind4Body
5/9/2019 - May is Mental Health Month; a time to raise awareness about the connection between physical and mental health, through the theme Fitness #4Mind4Body, sponsored by Mental Health America (MHA). Mental Health America shares two key messages through this year’s educational campaign: Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and... read more .

Laugh it up, By Melissa Martin
A weird and wild sound that trickles or gushes out of a human being is labeled laughter. Ha-ha-ho-ho-ho. Hee-hee-ha-ha-ha. Hee-ha-ho. Hee-haw. Tee-hee. Have you laughed so hard that you snorted? Have you giggled so much that tears spelled out? Bwahaha! Woah, oh, oh, oh! Hah, hah, hah! Chuckle, giggle, titter, snicker, guffaw, cackle, snort. What sounds do you make when... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Underage Drinking is a Big Deal
4/18/2019 - No other substance is more widely used by America’s youth than alcohol, making alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems the number one public health problem in the United States. Even though the legal drinking age is 21, people aged 12 to 20 drink 13 percent of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. More than 90 percent of that consumption is in the form of binge... read more .

EdSurge… Teachers Are Great at Designing Classrooms. Let’s Get Them Redesigning Schools. By Sujata Bhatt - May 22, 2019 - Let’s talk about cute for a moment. How many times have you walked into a classroom, say in one of the 88,665 or so elementary schools in the United States, and gasped at the sheer quantity and cuteness of the stuff on the walls? What teachers accomplish with butcher paper, scissors, tape, staples, and a glue gun is remarkable and... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… What’s Wrong With Me Now!? By Aprill Brandon
Hello, everyone! And welcome to America’s newest show, “What’s Wrong With Me Now!?” The only quiz show game devoted solely to all the weird and awful medical maladies that start afflicting you once you hit the age of 35 and beyond. Yes, your body is now beginning its slow decline toward death via a dirty bomb of disease and undiagnosed ailments. So, what’s wrong with you now? Let’s find out... read more .

Know! How Your Child’s Health Habits Rank
Parenting requires a daily balancing act—especially when it comes to raising tweens and teens. According to newly released research from the University of Texas Health Science Center, many of us should reexamine the health habits of our children (as well as our own) and help to make some adjustments. After studying the lifestyles of more than 60,000 American high school students... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Our Thoughts: Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Last week, Senior Airman Sean Oziegbe of the Ohio National Guard shared his experiences with mental health. This week, we’re talking about youth suicide, a topic of critical importance. As a reminder, if you or someone you know is in a crisis and needs support, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255... read more .

Aging Pollyanna people, By Melissa Martin
Pollyanna oldsters, please stop telling everyone how aging is akin to a scrumptious cupcake with icing and sprinkles. What a crock of nonsense. Discontinue the discussion on the youthfulness of aging—because it’s a sham. The anti-aging secrets are all lies. Stop telling us complainers that, “Every day above ground is a good day.” And no, we don’t want to play the Glad Game with you. After you leave... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Your Parental Role: First Line of Defense
In the previous tip, Know! Underage Drinking is a Big Deal, we talked about the widespread prevalence of underage drinking and the destructive consequences it continues to create. We discussed the fact that alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug and that alcoholism is a chronic disease. In this tip, we focus on the role parents play when it comes to alcohol and other... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Like walking to Mordor, By Aprill Brandon
If my social media feed is any indication, every single child in the world had their last day of school last week. Everyone, that is, except my son. Who still has FOUR WEEKS LEFT TO GO. Oh, that’s right. His last day doesn’t happen until mid-June. Because our local schools hate parents. And summer. And sanity. Of course, being that he’s in preschool, the demands placed on both myself... read more .

The Daily Signal… The New SAT ‘Adversity Score’ Turns the Idea of Meritocracy Into a Sham, Jarrett Stepman - May 16, 2019 - Editor: Education Dive announces on Monday... The Other Side of the "Adversity Score" story today - It would be nice to think that high school students can get into a good university based on their abilities or talents, but a proposed change to the SAT shows how the concept of meritocracy has been turned into a sham. The College Board, according... read more .

St. Mary’s School… The Countdown has Begun, By Kathy Ayette
I’ve noticed a lack of focus around the school lately… and that’s just the staff. Add some restlessness and general giddiness, and you have a description of the student body. Obviously it is the last month of school. The students have started their countdown. Actually in my math class counting the days until a specific event is part of the math meeting, and let’s face it what other event this month... read more .

Education Dive… Study: Tier-one grads may not be employers' best buy, Riia O'Donnell & Natalie Schwartz - May 10, 2019 - Dive Brief: Unconventional hiring processes can result in more qualified talent, according to a report from Correlation One. The Future of Data Talent report focused on research in the data science field, and its findings explain how employers can better attract and assess potential data science hires. By volume, there are "significantly more" qualified students at tier... read more .

EducationDive… Future of work-study: How colleges' role in student employment is changing, James Paterson - May 9, 2019 - The Federal Work-Study program needs an overhaul, its critics say, raising questions about who the program should serve, and how… A familiar chunk of financial aid, work-study has for years slid job-hungry students into easy-to-learn and fluid positions that colleges might otherwise struggle to fill, especially so inexpensively. It even sometimes bridges the gap with... read more .

Weight does not determine worth, By Melissa Martin
What is the difference between weight and worth? One changes—the other does not. Adding or dropping pounds does not make a person’s worth go up and down. Fear of fat. “Why do modern women in the most affluent countries in the world live like starving people in a primitive land? Why do they choose to be weak, apathetic and unable to fully contribute to their families, their careers... read more .

Education Dive… College students want careers with a social purpose, Hallie Busta
May 10, 2019 - Dive Brief: Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority (69%) of college students aspire to jobs that have a positive impact on society, according to a new survey of more than 20,000 students by research firm College Pulse. Respondents believe the biggest contributors to society are doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists and construction workers. The professions that respondents said... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Mental Health Awareness Month
The following is a first-hand account from Sean Oziegbe, Senior Airman of the Ohio National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. Sean works at Prevention Action Alliance as part of his duties. Growing up, we didn’t talk about mental health. In an African household, mental health isn’t a topic we thought about, much less discussed. I can probably count on one hand how many times... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Who deserves a vacation? By Aprill Brandon
Of all the titles I thought I’d have throughout my life, Illicit Vacationer was never one of them. And yet, here I am, with my Instagram feed defiantly full of photos of me and my family cavorting on a beach in Maine. In my defense, I didn’t read Michelle Singletary’s piece in the Washington Post titled “If you’re in debt, you don’t deserve a summer vacation” until after I got back. So, you can imagine... read more .

Education Dive… Report: Industry credentials earned in high school out of step with employer demand, Linda Jacobson - May 8, 2019 - Dive Brief: A new analysis of 24 states’ career and technical education (CTE) programs finds the industry credentials students can earn while in high school are not necessarily in high demand by employers nor would lead to a living wage. Conducted by ExcelinEd, a nonprofit founded by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Burning Glass... read more .

Laugh with the over-the-hill gang, By Melissa Martin
We spend our younger days climbing up the hill. High school graduation, college or employment, buy a house, tie the knot, kids and dogs. Trade in the sports car for a minivan. Eventually the kids leave home and you’re at the top of the hill—looking over into the valley. After the empty nest grief passes—it’s party time. Bring out the doughnuts for breakfast. Eat cookies before dinner. Cake is the main course... read more .

State (and Future) of Education in the United States, By Aaron Mathis, Fundamentals of Communication Student, Edison State Community College -- The United States is considered the most powerful and advanced country in the world, yet we are only 15th in education. When looking at the learning challenges of our youth regardless of what age, we also must analyze the system that is responsible for their education. Our education system has changed very little to accommodate... read more .

A Woman's Only Flaw
Editor Note: I found this on the Internet and published it in my weekly Daily Advocate column 15 years ago. For this Mother's Day, I felt it was time to make it available to County News Online readers. In honor of my Mom and all Mothers everywhere…. When God created Woman, he was working late on the sixth day. An Angel came by and asked, ‘Why spend so much time on her?’ The Lord... read more .

How do you celebrate your mother? By Melissa Martin
Sunday, May 12, 2019. Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers. An annual occasion to revere moms. History of Mother’s Day - After her mother died in 1905, Miss Anna Jarvis wished to memorialize her mom’s life and campaigned for a national day to honor all mothers. Her mother was an Appalachian homemaker and lifelong activist who had organized “Mother’s Work Days” to save the... read more .

EdSurge… Extracurriculars Are More Than Nice-to-Have: They’re Essential, By Amy Anderson and Julia Freeland Fisher - April 24, 2019 - Among many seemingly intractable problems in education, there’s one wide learning gap between the haves and have-nots that we know how to close: the extracurricular gap. Here’s the problem: Low-income and minority students are at a structural disadvantage when it comes to accessing out-of-school opportunities. Children from low-income... read more .

The Daily Signal… What Social Security’s Shortfall Means for You, Rachel Greszler
April 23, 2019 - Workers and retirees have long been warned that Social Security’s trust fund will run out of funds sometime in the future, and that the program has many trillions of dollars in unfunded obligations. But what does this year’s 2019 Trustees Report, revealing $16.8 trillion in unfunded obligations over the next 75 years and insolvency in 2035, mean for current workers and retirees... read more .

Start Talking! Know! What’s Hidden in Plain Sight – Part I
4/24/2019 -- This Know! Tip reveals some of the tools and tactics teens may use to hide drug use. If you suspect your child is using drugs, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662- HELP (4357). Would you know if your child was experimenting with or using drugs? Would you be able to spot the clues? Hidden in Plain Sight... read more .

Education Dive… Survey: Teachers remain lukewarm on ed tech's impact on classrooms, Shawna De La Rosa - April 26, 2019 - Dive Brief: Educators remain cautious of the hype around ed tech, with less than a third reporting that they've changed their teaching styles or philosophies based on ed tech innovations, Education Week reports. Other findings from a new survey conducted by the Education Week Research Center include that while another 29% do feel ed... read more .

Campus sexual assault in Ohio, By Melissa Martin
“Despite the work colleges and universities have done to prevent their occurrence, over 100 sexual assaults were reported on Ohio’s public campuses in 2013. Because of the tendency to underreport this type of crime, the actual number of assaults is likely higher.” www.ohiohighered.org/. What is consensual sex? “Colleges are trying to change students’ understanding of consensual sex... read more .

Humans Are Free… FBI: Sex with Children is the Fastest Growing Illegal Business in America - “Children are being targeted and sold for sex in America every day.” — John Ryan, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - Children, young girls — some as young as 9 years old — are being bought and sold for sex in America. The average age for a young woman being sold for sex is now 13 years old. This is America’s dirty little secret. Sex trafficking — especially when... read more .

Passing the stay calm test, By Melissa Martin
How do you stay calm in the mist of a trigger? It’s usually the small annoyances that push our buttons, raise our cortisol, and flood our bodies with adrenaline. I try not to sweat the small stuff—but I am human just like you. And sometimes I allow my triggers to irritate me. Situation. This Friday before Easter I stopped to pick up some outside items for the yard. Not smart. The store was buzzing... read more .

Education Next… To Improve Rural Schools, Focus on Their Strengths, By Michael Q. McShane and Andy Smarick - 04/08/2019 - A consistent criticism of education reform is that much of the agenda has been based on what some call a “deficit mindset.” That is, reformers saw individuals, institutions, and communities as broken and in need of fixing (or worse, saving), not as individuals, institutions, and communities with culture, history, and potential that could... read more .

Education Dive… Report: Policymakers 'systematically shortchange' community colleges, James Paterson - April 25, 2019 - Dive Brief: Policymakers have left community colleges strikingly underfunded compared to four-year institutions and as a result have made it more difficult for them to serve their 9 million largely lower-income students, according to a new study by The Century Foundation. The report explains that two-year colleges face a crisis as they struggle with chronic poor... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The weird things that excite you as a mom, By Aprill Brandon
I stood there in front of the refrigerator, the cool air wafting past my body like a million tiny kisses from the grocery store angel. I stood there and just stared. For how long, I have no idea. My brain was too busy taking inventory to notice something as trivial as time. Somewhere, way in the back of said brain, I realized I was doing the exact same thing I yell at my kids for doing. But I didn’t care... read more .

Education Dive… How new learning modes will shape the 'future of work'
By Hallie Busta -- April 22, 2019 -- Dive Brief: The function and makeup of the workforce will change as industries adapt to new technology and processes, raising questions about how educational models are responding to deliver relevant training, explains a new white paper from the World Economic Forum and the Boston Consulting Group. The report examines eight possible outcomes... read more .

Another spring arrives in Ohio, By Melissa Martin
Ah, the beginning of another spring. “Enjoy!” chirp the birds. “Enjoy!” buzz the bees. “Enjoy!” sing the daffodils. The earth in Ohio thaws out and plant life underground pushes up through the soil. The other side of spring. Mud, mud, and more mud. Bugs, bugs, and more bugs. Weeds, weeds, and more weeds. Ugh. 2019 Spring Weather Forecast What does the 2019 Farmers’ Almanac predict... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! What's New With 420
Editor’s Note: While 4/20 has come and gone, the message is still relevant: As parents and educators, when it comes to drug and alcohol messaging, it is important to take advantage of teachable moments with our youth. One of those ideal moments to strike up a conversation is just around the corner—April 20th. You’re more than likely aware that 420 is slang for marijuana... read more .

Education Dive… Finding a 'recipe' for turning around failing schools, Andrew G. Houlihan
April 15, 2019 - As a system leader, I constantly strive to examine the best “recipes” being utilized in other school systems for the purpose of learning what works and what doesn’t. I firmly believe that in education, we often identify many school improvement “ingredients” or strategies that work, particularly aimed at school and student performance, but for some reason... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Bad Poetry By A Tired Mom, By Aprill Brandon
I have two kids / Two beautiful unique souls / Each with a unique illness / Germs, his and hers // Simultaneous sickness / But different miseries / Because they couldn’t even / Extend the courtesy / Of having the same goddamn disease // How does that even happen? / What did I do wrong? / Am I being punished? / Is it revenge for when I was bragging / About their immune systems being so strong?... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Our Thoughts...CBD and Thin Mints Don't Mix
Do you know what’s called Thin Mint and is advertised as a “mellow minty taste with subtle chocolate undertones”? It’s not Thin Mint cookies from the Girl Scouts. It’s a CBD cartridge pen vape advertised by a wholesale company, Funky Farms. Funky Farms sells several CBD products, including gummy bears, tinctures, oils, vape pods, and cartridge pen vapes. Some... read more .

April is Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and, as such, is an excellent time to raise awareness about the impact of alcohol and underage drinking on our communities. It's also an excellent time to remind our communities about social host laws that reduce the prevalence of underage drinking. Below are some key facts about underage drinking. Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among youth... read more .

EducationDive… Report: Higher ed corruption is a global problem, by Ben Unglesbee
April 8, 2019 -- Dive Brief: Corruption of some form — including unethical, inappropriate and even illegal practices — touches higher education in every part of the world, according to a new study from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation's International Quality Group (CHEA/CIQG). CHEA/CIQG surveyed nearly 70 accreditation and quality assurance bodies (AQABs)... read more .

NPR Ed… Financial aid award letters can be a little confusing
It’s college-fever time! That time of year where high school seniors are inundated with the question: What’s next? What are your plans after graduation? For many, if there’s even a possibility that college might be the answer, the decision is closely tied to a college's financial aid offer. But since there’s no current standardization of these offers, letters look vastly different... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… A chocolate cone with M&M’s, please, By Aprill Brandon
I took my kids to get ice cream today. That’s it. There’s no punchline. There’s no funny anecdote. No moral. No bittersweet ending. No big lesson. Just...I got ice cream with my kids today. My son, who is 5, chose chocolate. In a cone. With M&M’s on top. He was emphatic about that. Lots and lots of M&M’s, please. I suspect it was the please that made the women behind the counter add extra... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Our Thoughts... Ohio Legalizing Hemp?
The 2018 farm bill also known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 legalized the production of hemp as an agricultural commodity and removed it from the list of controlled substances. Following in the footsteps of the federal government, Ohio is now aiming to legalize the growing of hemp and sale of hemp products at the state level through Senate Bill 57 (Hemp... read more .

Summer safety for kids, By Melissa Martin
Summer is a season for running in the yard, swimming, and playing in a tree house.
But for some children summer becomes a dangerous or deadly season. Lawn Mower Safety - Data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that when visits to doctors’ offices and clinics are included, more than 17,000 children and teens are treated for lawn mower... read more .

St. Mary’s School… My Principal did it to me again, By Kathy Ayette
Some months when I sit down to write this column I am at a loss for content. Let’s face it, some months are rather uneventful. Not this April! For one of the shorter months of the year, this April is crammed full of events. Three of those events involve the cherub choir. Saturday April 13 the second graders of the parish received their First Holy Communion, and the cherubs led the singing. As a side note... read more .

Profanity on the playground, By Melissa Martin
Kids cuss behind the teacher’s back. And the playground is the opportune place for potty-mouth. No adults listening. That’s what children tell me—the ones that are upset by swear words. Offensive language is common language in some homes and taboo in others. Toddlers start out by mimicking words and phrases. They don’t know what words are taboo and what words aren’t until a shocked... read more .

eSchool News… How we turned around our reading program, By Mellissa Douglas
April 2nd, 2019 - Demographics: Rockford Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in Illinois. More than 28,800 students attend the 44 schools in the district. Biggest challenge: There were many gaps in foundational reading across classrooms before we piloted our new reading program. It didn’t seem that we had a common methodology to teach foundational literacy. We... read more .

EdSurge… Why Students Can’t Write — And Why Tech Is Part of the Problem
By Jeffrey R. Young -- Apr 2, 2019 -- Writing is more important than ever, but many of today’s students are lousy at it. John Warner has some ideas about why that is, and how to fix it. Warner has been teaching writing at colleges for more than 20 years. And he’s written two books on the topic, including his most recent, called “Why They Can’t Write.” Part of the problem, he says, is technology. In some cases... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… What? Me? Jealous? No. By Aprill Brandon
Guys, I hate to be THAT wife, but I need to brag about my husband for a little bit. He just added the title of “children’s book illustrator” to his already impressive resume. A title he managed to squeeze in while working at his regular demanding journalism job and coming home to his regular demanding wife and kids always up in his face the second he walks through the door. I am so proud of him... read more .

Start Talking! Know! April is Alcohol Awareness Month
3/25/2019 - The month of April has been designated Alcohol Awareness Month as an opportunity to focus attention on America’s #1 health problem. This year’s theme, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCAAD), is “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage.’” Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance among adolescents... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… March was FFA month, also aboulomanic!
March certainly came in like a lion, turned to a lamb for a few days, then back to a lion, and started back as a lamb.....and now is back to a lion! March seemed aboulomanic this year! (look it up, I had to!) It will not matter as long as the weather will eventually be getting warmer, and stays that way. (P.S. - aboulomania means a person is indecisive! You’re welcome!) There is... read more .

How to unlock students’ internal drive for learning, by Tara Garcia Mathewson
March 27, 2019 - Intrinsic motivators can be key to student achievement – but extrinsic motivation dominates classrooms - PROVIDENCE, R.I. – When Destiny Reyes started elementary school, she felt highly motivated. Like most young children, she liked learning new things, and she excelled at school. She got good grades and reveled in her success, thriving in an... read more .

Reading is a human right, By Melissa Martin
Children and adults in all countries around the globe deserve to be able to read. Literacy is a fundamental human right. Literacy for All - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 175 million young people lack basic literacy skills. To address the issues, UNESCO Regional Office of Southern Africa (ROSA) is supporting programs and activities... read more .

Education Dive… 50 States of Education Policy: Governors' State of the State addresses, Jessica Campisi - March 26, 2019 - With nearly all 50 governors having delivered their 2019 speeches, we analyzed what they said about K-12 education and what it means for potential policies. This latest column focuses on some of the key takeaways from what's happened in state legislatures during the past month. Previous installments of The 50 States of Education Policy... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Disappointing your dentist & other fun adult stuff, By Aprill Brandon
If you were to grade me on my adulting capabilities, I’m fairly confident I’d receive a solid C average. For instance, I always pay my bills on time. But I’ve also been ignoring my leaking dishwasher for three weeks and can never seem to eat the avocados in my kitchen before they go bad. Mostly because they’re avocados and, as such, taste like avocados. I pretty much just buy them so when other adults... read more .

eSchool News… 6 steps to promote good digital citizenship for all students, By Dr. Audrey Hovannesian - March 29th, 2019 - Standing at the intersection of digital citizenship and responsible device usage, school districts can make a real difference in their students’ lives - By the time today’s digital natives enter high school, most of them have already been using devices, computers, the internet, and social media for years. They use these tools on their own terms and... read more .

Your brain on books … By Melissa Martin
Give your brain a workout—read a book. Pump up the muscle mass between your two ears. And encourage your kids to read, too. “Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares... read more .

Pass on the family stories, By Melissa Martin
“When families are invited to share their stories, folktales, and culture, there are a number of benefits for children, families, and schools: Encouraging students to talk with family members about their cultural heritage shows respect and interest in students’ diverse cultures, making students and families feel more connected to the school. Families are offered authentic, academically oriented... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! How Your Child's Health Habits Rank
Parenting requires a daily balancing act—especially when it comes to raising tweens and teens. According to newly released research from the University of Texas Health Science Center, many of us should reexamine the health habits of our children (as well as our own) and help to make some adjustments. After studying the lifestyles of more than 60,000 American high... read more .

Education Dive… 5 ideas for change in higher ed from SXSW EDU, Hallie Busta
March 11, 2019 - Pushback against rising tuition, the stress of shrinking state funding and the possibilities afforded by advances in technology have higher ed leaders beginning to challenge some basic assumptions about their field. That process tends to be slow, however, and often makes for hubbub at trade conferences long before its effects can be seen. But eventually the... read more .

Education Dive… 13 ways educators can transform literacy, by Jarred Amato
March 18, 2019 -- On Valentine’s Day, 13 of our Maplewood High School seniors and Project LIT Community founders were called down to the principal’s office. No, they were not in trouble. In fact, quite the opposite. One by one, our students received the same, life-changing news — that they had just received a full academic scholarship to attend Belmont University... read more .

The Daily Signal… FBI Exposes Wealthy Parents Rigging College for Kids. But It Was Always Rigged. Mary Clare Amselem - March 12, 2019 - The FBI dropped a new bombshell on Tuesday, and this time the scandal is Russian-free. Dozens of wealthy parents, including notable celebrities, were charged in a college admissions scandal and accused of paying a total of $25 million in payments to cheat their children into school. According to Politico, “parents paid a college counseling... read more .

Greenville City Schools… Family Involvement, By Laura Bemus, Assistant Superintendant
According to research, a family’s involvement in their child’s education is the single most important factor in school success and achievement. Kindergarten enrollment is April 2, 3, and 4. As we prepare for the beginning of another year of school, here are some ways for families to be involved: Visit the School, Attend Open House and Parent-Teacher Conferences... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Risk Factors Associated with Drug Addiction
3/5/2019 - More than 20 million Americans are currently in recovery from addiction, which is something to celebrate! Tragically, however, more than 20 million more Americans are currently facing addiction. Have you ever wondered why some people become addicted to alcohol and drugs, while others don’t? Many people believe those who are addicted to substances simply... read more .

St. Mary’s School… When testing begins, waves of sickness descend upon us, By Kathy Ayette
Ever have that nagging feeling that you have forgotten something… something kind of important…something with a deadline? All week I have had that very feeling. I thought perhaps this was the week to write this column, but no I didn’t have it written down in my lesson plan book, so that definitely couldn’t be it. Today as I sat down to do lesson plans, I took out my calendar to check the... read more .

Ohio neighbors connect via newspapers, By Melissa Martin
What’s happening in the 88 counties in Ohio? What’s going on in Ohio’s cities, suburbs and rural towns? North, South, East, West, and Central Ohio—what’s the state and local news? Via the internet by way of online newspapers or by print newspapers, Ohioans can reach out and read about each other. Consistent communication connects citizens. The Ohio News Media Association (ONMA) was established... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance... Our Thoughts: March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month
March is a prime opportunity to increase awareness about the problems caused by gambling and to advocate for support for those negatively impacted. An estimated $10 billion in bets will be placed on the NCAA basketball championship games nationally. March is also the month with the highest volume of calls to the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… A time to laugh, a time to weep (but mostly weeping), By Aprill Brandon
They say to every thing there is a season. Which is why I suspect we have winter. Misery, depression and blanket fort binge-drinking need a season too. But, and I think I speak for most of us when I say this, it is high time to turn, turn, turn onto a new season. Before I burn, burn, burn Mother Nature TO THE GROUND. It’s the same thing every year. Winter overstays its welcome... read more .

Dark chocolate, heart healthy or heightened hype? By Melissa Martin
Delicious. Delectable. Decadent. Oh, how we enjoy chocolate goodies! The sweet treat is a palatable paradise. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween—holidays oozing with multi-colored wrappers containing the exciting elixir. Chocolate hearts. Chocolate bunnies and eggs. Chocolate candy bars. Chocolate goes to the cinema. “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” is a popular book and movie... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Potty Training II: The Sequel (Even Squishier), By Aprill Brandon
Humans are good at many things. I mean, just look at all the things we have learned to ferment in only a few short millennia. But perhaps one of the things we are best at is avoiding doing things we don’t want to do. We have mastered this skill. Utterly mastered it. Individually and as a group. Our avoidance skills will be the number one thing aliens from outer space write in their... read more .

‘Medicare for All’ Would Ruin the Care Americans Already Like, Robert Moffit
February 15, 2019 - Liberals in Congress are promising Americans that their “Medicare for All” proposals for government-controlled health care will expand access to care. As Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., explains, “Obamacare was a first step in advancing this country, but I won’t rest until every American has a basic security that comes with having access to affordable health... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… Wall Street Journal features Darke County, KitchenAid again
February has certainly been a mixed bag, hasn’t it? This winter, and particularly February, has been schizophrenic; it could not decide if it wanted to be a full continuance of winter, or an early start to spring. A few times it was both in the same day! I don’t know about you, but I am thankful it is over, and I am totally ready for Spring! February seemed to be the month in the office where we prepared... read more .

Sexualized violence as a weapon of war, By Melissa Martin
Rape of females has been an aspect of war as long as war has existed, but only in recent years has rape in war been acknowledged as a weapon. The United Nations Human Rights Commission passed a resolution identifying rape as a war crime in 1993. Sexual assault in the United States armed forces continues to receive media coverage. The U.S. Army Study Guide states: “Sexual assault is a crime defined... read more .

Are you a ruminating thinker? By Melissa Martin
Like a dog chasing its own tail—around and around and around—some individuals can relate to the anxiety loop. They feel anxious. Soon they feel anxious about feeling anxious which causes even more anxiety. Are you a chronic worrier? A ruminating ruminator? An obsessive thinker? The brain becomes stuck in the chronic worry zone. The body responds with symptoms of distress: stomach upset, constipation... read more .

Preventiion Action Alliance… Know! The Facts on Youth Suicide
Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults ages 12-24, second only to accidental death; and for every suicide, there are 100-200 suicide attempts. This is a vital topic we must be discussing, and revisiting regularly, with our youth. In the previous tip, Know! Momo and her Deadly Challenge to our Youth, we talked with suicide prevention experts... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Snow day but today, By Aprill Brandon
It begins with a whisper. A mere whisper of a rumor. Riding on the coattails of a rising and moaning wind. But it’s enough. Just enough to light a tiny spark of hope against the unrelenting bleakness of a neverending winter. But since nothing is in writing yet, it’s business as usual for the moment. You head up to your room, almost giddy. You haven’t felt this kind of anticipation since... read more .

Education Dive… School, district social media policies must tackle pitfalls as well as opportunities, by Shawna De La Rosa -- Feb. 14, 2019 -- Dive Brief: Developing a district-wide social media policy is important, but challenging — requiring an approach flexible enough to adapt to changing trends and thorough enough to address difficult scenarios involving students, staff and faculty, District Administration reports. A district communications director is the natural go-to person... read more .

Greenville City Schools… Understanding the Importance of School Attendance, James Hooper, Director of Curriculum & Instruction - Many parents underestimate the importance of good school attendance, especially during the early years. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. While missing a school day here and a day there may not seem like much, missing just 2 days... read more .

Education Dive… Is it up to schools to teach students basic life skills? Lauren Barack
Feb. 27, 2019 - Dive Brief: Educators are weighing in on Twitter regarding the debate over whether students should be learning basic skills — including cooking or doing laundry — at school or at home, The Washington Post reports. The recent string of comments began with University of Virginia cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, who posted his response to a... read more .

Twitter tweeters need to chill before they spill, By Melissa Martin
Do you have a Twitter account? It is a powerful internet tool with instant access to other humans. Twitter, created in 2006, is an online social networking service where users post messages known as “tweets.” No chirping, cheeping, peeping birds—only humans. Twitter is designed to elicit frequent, unprompted, spontaneous, and unfiltered thoughts from its users, who come... read more .

The Daily Signal… How Socialism and Free Markets Work in the Real World
Sebastian Gorka -- February 01, 2019 -- If the future of the nation were a function of logic, then conservatives would have a very easy job. No debate would be needed, really. In the choice between the two competing models Judeo-Christian civilization has given us, with socialist arguments for “big government” on the one side and a market-oriented system that favors the freedoms... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… A (rented) room of one’s own, By Aprill Brandon
They looked bigger in the pictures online. The rooms. My compliments to the photographer. The pictures also managed to somehow downplay the whole floral aspect of the room. Did you ever sleep over at your grandma’s house in the 1980’s? It looked just like that. Complete with the four-poster bed and the beige, eternally out-of-date, carpet. And, of course, the floral wallpaper... read more .

Education Dive… Conflicting state, federal marijuana laws leave district policies in a haze, Amelia Harper - Feb. 13, 2019 - Dive Brief: Though medical marijuana use is now legal in 33 states and recreational use has been legalized in 10 states and the District of Columbia, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law — leaving schools in danger of losing federal funding under the Drug-Free Workplace Act if educators use marijuana in any... read more .

Greenville City Schools – Reading Matters, By Laura Bemus, Assistant Superintendent
Like developing anything important, building better students requires providing the right environment. School is filled with teachers, staff, and materials that serve the purpose of encouraging students to learn. Frequently the question is asked by parents, grandparents and community members, “What can we do we do outside of the classroom to encourage learning?” Having books... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… We Should Raise Taxes on Cigarettes
In January, the outgoing Ohio Department of Health Director Lance Himes recommended that lawmakers consider a tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products, including nicotine liquids and e-cigarettes. “Increasing the price of tobacco is the single most proven strategy for decreasing youth initiation and smoking prevalence,” Himes wrote in his budget request... read more .

St. Mary’s School… The Week that Wasn’t, By Kathy Ayette
I was planning to write about the activities and events that happened during Catholic Schools Week. However Catholic Schools Week turned out to be pretty much the week that wasn’t due to weather. It was more like “Catholic Schools Two Days”. It began well enough. The weekend Masses, with the students participating, were beautiful. The science fair exhibits were on display for... read more .

Black History Month and black women, By Melissa Martin
Let us teach our black daughters and our white daughters about civil rights and activists for freedom during Black History Month. Let us care about women of color. Could the civil rights movement have happened without black women? No, indeed. Let It Shine, Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2013) authored by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn... read more .

Extra Credit… Parents, Are You Ready for Kindergarten? A Guide for Families, By: Wendy Grove -- 1/31/2019 -- Is there a child in your life who is 5 years old (or turning so soon) who is amazing you with all he or she knows? Mamas, daddies, grandparents and loved ones, that baby of yours is growing up! After surviving midnight feedings, watching them learn to walk and talk and answering their endless questions, it is time to start thinking about kindergarten. February is the time of year... read more .

Happy 287th Birthday, Mr. President, By Susan Olling
While there will be much Presidents Day sales advertising (car dealers are already at it), I will be celebrating the birthday of the president who was born on February 22 and who should be recognized with his own day: George Washington. His estate, Mount Vernon, is the only place I’ve missed since we left the greater D.C. environs. (I also miss the Tuba Carol Fest in Gettysburg, but that’s off-topic... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Momo and her Deadly Challenge to our Youth
In the past, Prevention Action Alliance shared information on a dangerous internet game called the Blue Whale Challenge. It involves acts of self-harm and ultimately, to win the game is to take one’s own life. (Click here for the full Know! Tip on the Blue Whale Challenge). Another similar game is now trending throughout social media and is said to be impacting lives in... read more .

Kindness is in the little and big things, By Melissa Martin
“Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind,” proclaimed Henry James. Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, 2019. Help your family, friends, and co-workers get excited about Random Acts of Kindness Day. There are scientifically proven benefits to being kind. It is contagious, teachable, and makes you feel all fuzzy inside... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Who doesn't want aluminum as gift? By Aprill Brandon
Well, well, well, I never thought it’d come but here it finally is. At the end of this month, my husband and I will be celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary! ...yay…!...? Yeah. I know. Not that exciting. I mean, ten years, yeah, of course. That’s a huge deal. You made it an entire decade. It’s the... copper anniversary? Bronze, maybe? Holy crap. I just looked it up. It’s the tin or aluminum... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Psychedelic Mushrooms: Why Good Science Must Win Out
In early December, Oregon’s attorney general approved language for a ballot legalizing psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin is a psychedelic produced by mushrooms, often referred to as “magic mushrooms,” and can cause hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. The Oregon Psilocybin Society, run by a couple from Beaverton, Oregon, is behind the ballot push, and it’s currently... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Fuel Their Critical Thinking
1/28/2019 - Have you ever received an unsolicited, direct-to-consumer advertisement via email, text or social media? Of course you have! They somehow seem to find all of us, even if we’re not looking for them. The same holds true for our young people. Just like us, they are bombarded with advertising – mainly on their phones and laptops; from YouTube videos to game... read more .

The Daily Signal… How States Look to Resist ‘Overreach’ by Federal Bureaucrats
By Kevin Mooney -- Parents from Indiana to South Carolina who expect to have a voice in what their children are taught in public schools find that more difficult, state lawmakers and policy analysts say, because the federal government has overstepped constitutional boundaries and interjected itself in state and local affairs. Proponents of legislation aimed at reforming the federal grant-making... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Everyone get out my house, By Aprill Brandon
Pretty much at some point in my day, pretty much every day, I realize just how lucky I am. A loving husband who loves to tell me about his day. Beautiful little children who fill my ears and heart with the sounds of laughter and the pitter-patter of little feet. I treasure each and every moment with these amazing creatures. But I could treasure them even more with just a little... read more .

The Daily Signal… How Bible Literacy Classes Could Help Heal Our Bitter Divisions, Daniel Davis - January 30, 2019 - A good teacher of history knows that you don’t just stick with the textbook. To really understand an event like the Battle of Gettysburg or Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, you have to read the primary sources—the speeches, handwritten letters, and firsthand accounts of the people who were there. Otherwise, all we’re left with are far-removed accounts... read more .

Education Dive… 6 tips for implementing an effective online student safety program, By Christina Iremonger - Jan. 29, 2019 - Like many school districts, we went into this digital transformation relying on our students and teachers to tell us when someone was acting in a way that would harm themselves or others. With nearly 24,000 students, 37 schools, and a superintendent who is tightly focused on student safety in both the online and offline world, we knew we needed... read more .

A rogue doctor of death in Ohio, By Melissa Martin
The airwaves are buzzing with the story about an Ohio hospital and doctor. And deceased patients. Death by fentanyl. Incompetence or negligence? Intentional to reduce prolonged suffering? Mercy killings? Euthanasia is not legal in the United States. Physician-assisted death is not legal in Ohio. However, Ohio State Senator Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus) introduced SB 249, Ohio Aid in Dying... read more .

Education Dive… Vaping's rise necessitates rethinking of nicotine education, By Lauren Barack -- Published Jan. 23, 2019 -- Heather Ledbetter has watched high schools in Tennessee’s Maryville City Schools (MCS) grapple with the growing use electronic cigarettes by students. "Vaping" e-cigarettes even happens in hallways, she said, to the irritation of students who asked for help from administrators to make it stop. Their complaints led district leaders to launch a program... read more .

Vox… The hidden costs of the government shutdown, By Nicole Fallert
Jan 24, 2019 - 35 ways the shutdown is affecting America, from small-business loans to alcohol labels. Airport lines are long, national parks are being vandalized: These are ubiquitous signs of the 34-day partial government shutdown. Nine federal departments are closed, and hundreds of other government operations have been scaled back or stopped altogether. They might be less... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! The New Danger - Nicotine Toothpicks?
Do you KNOW! what an electronic cigarette and a toothpick have in common? They’re both nicotine products promoted as “helping adults to quit smoking,” yet they’re both haphazardly finding their way into the hands (and mouths) of our youth nationwide. Yes, a toothpick. Standard toothpicks are now being infused or coated with nicotine, so you can get your nicotine fix in a discrete manner virtually anywhere... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Jon Snow isn’t the only one who knows nothing, By Aprill Brandon
My oldest child is about to turn 5-years-old. But don’t worry. This isn’t going to be “that” column. You know, the one where the parent is shocked, absolutely SHOCKED, to discover their child continues to age according to the rules of linear time. Because I have to be honest, I’ve never experienced that phenomenon where I blinked and my baby suddenly wasn’t a baby anymore... read more .

Extra Credit… Recognizing Momentum... One of the Great Things Happening in Ohio’s Schools, By Chris Woolard - 1/25/2019 - Merriam-Webster defines momentum as “strength or force gained by motion.” In sports, the concept of momentum often is used to describe teams or athletes that create an energy that turns the game in their favor through a series of outstanding efforts and events. As a sports fan, I can recognize that concept in action. There is a feeling of extreme... read more .

Toddler Trump needs a timeout in the Oval Office, By Melissa Martin
President Trump announced an end to the government shutdown on January 25. Is it a real deal to reopen the federal government or another tactic of the power-grabbing politician? Is Trump backing down or bamboozling Congress again? Is this a permanent or temporary solution? The elephant and donkey games continue. Trump is using his demand for a $5.7 billion border wall to justify his... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Three Steps to a Happy New You!
1/15/2019 -- It’s a new year. Have you given thought to what you’d like to take on or improve over the next 12 months? How about a happier, more positive life for you and/or your children? When you consider the previous year, did you experience more negative thoughts than positive? If so, there may be a technique to see things in a more positive, realistic light. Who couldn’t use a little more light in their life... read more .

Chase… Is college the only path? Picking the education that's best for you, By Lynnette Khalfani-Cox - 01/15/19 - For generations, high school students like you have been told that a college degree is the route to success and financial security. But it's not the only way to go: in fact, while it may seem like all your friends are heading off to college, a large number of high school graduates—about 30 percent—don't take the college path. Finding happiness and success in your career should... read more .

The Daily Signal… A History Lesson on the Shifting Political Stances on Illegal Immigration, Walter E. Williams - January 16, 2019 - Here are a couple of easy immigration questions—answerable with a simple “yes” or “no”—we might ask any American of any political stripe: Does everyone in the world have a right to live in the U.S.? Do the American people have a right, through their elected representatives, to decide who has the right to immigrate to their country and under what conditions... read more .

Extra Credit… Teachers Who Pass the Torch Deserve to be Recognized, By: Jonathan Juravich
In the field of education, teachers are a part of an incredible relay — a passing of the torch. Knowledge and guidance are passed from teacher to student, from teacher to teacher, and from teacher to the community. Over the course of my first 14 years in education, I have been a part of this relay with some exceptional teachers. These teachers do remarkable things for their students and communities... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I don’t know who you are, but I will find you, By Aprill Brandon
It’s been a long, hard winter. A long, hard winter that is barely a third of the way over. And yet, if I’m doing my math correctly, my family has already been sick 1,376 times since November. I’ve seen things, man. Things not even a mom should have to see. Every shade of vomit. Every consistency of mucus. Pure liquid evil coming out tiny terrified tushies. All of which I cleaned up... read more .

Watch for wrinkle cream rip-offs, By Melissa Martin
Enchanted emollients. Dream cream promises. The spell of the gel. Well it happened. Scammers used Judge Judy’s notoriety to bilk and bamboozle consumers. With deception and deceit, greedy cons created a fake website to hoodwink the public. The TV icon of the legal system does not endorse or sell skin care products. Ointment for oldsters is not her bag. Have you been scammed by a... read more .

Start Talking! Know! What You Can Do to Improve Your Mental Health
1/7/2019 - With the start of each new year, people commonly vow to improve their physical health, including diet, nutrition and exercise. While this is a vital measure to take, it is equally important to resolve to improve one’s mental and emotional heath as well. A healthy mind is fundamental to a person’s overall well-being, regardless of age. Our mental state affects how... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The family that slays together, stays together, By Aprill Brandon
There are a lot of theories out there about the best way to raise children. These mostly come from people without kids, but a shocking amount of parents manage to form strong opinions about this subject too. Which they must do in-between chugging Merlot and crying in the shower, I imagine. I’ll admit I used to be one of those parents. With lofty ideals about proper nutrition and... read more .

The Daily Signal… Sweden Isn’t Socialist, By John Stossel
January 04, 2019 - For years, I’ve heard American leftists say Sweden is proof that socialism works, that it doesn’t have to turn out as badly as the Soviet Union or Cuba or Venezuela did. But that’s not what Swedish historian Johan Norberg says in a new documentary and Stossel TV video. “Sweden is not socialist—because the government doesn’t own the means of production. To see that, you.. read more .

St. Mary’s School… Ohio weather… you gotta love it! By Kathy Ayette
Mother Nature has been temperamental lately, lots of mood swings. As part of my second graders’ math class we graph the morning temperatures. The range of our graph is 30 degrees. The lowest temperature was 20 degrees and the highest, 50 degrees. (We round off to the nearest ten degrees). The first graders have a weather graph. They graph the prevailing weather conditions, and have.. read more .

Newspapers R Us because Humans R Us, By Melissa Martin
North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica. Humans live, work, and play on the 7 continents. Humans sail the seas. Humans fly the skies. And humans read online newspapers. “The newspaper is a greater treasure to the people than uncounted millions of gold,” declared Henry Ward Beecher. All free countries on the planet with a printing press and the internet are... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Family Support for Prevention
1/1/2019 - Research Institute has identified 40 developmental assets for adolescents; a specific set of skills, experiences, relationships and behaviors that help young people flourish and mature into successful and contributing adults. Studies of more than five million children of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds consistently show that the more... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… No one told me there’d be a quiz, By Aprill Brandon
I had big plans this winter, guys. BIG PLANS. I was finally going to give in and jump on the hygge bandwagon. That Norwegian...or is it Danish?...Swedish? practice of making everything super cozy and charming. And you know what, it doesn’t even matter the origin because I planned on practicing a super-Americanized version of it where I spend the next three... read more .

The same beginning—what happened? By Melissa Martin
What do Christians, Jews, and Muslims have in common? The three world monotheisms, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all believe in the Genesis account of creation; the first humans in the Garden of Eden; and the fall of humanity when Adam and Eve disobeyed the Creator. The rest of the world calls the Adam and Eve story a myth; not compatible with science on the emergence of the human... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Set Family Goals for the New Year
12/20/2018 -- January rolls in like a breath of fresh air. The calendar is reset and, in many regards, it is a chance to begin anew and an opportunity to do things “better” moving forward. The new year is also an ideal occasion for parents and children to come together to set fresh goals as both a family unit and as individuals. As you consider potential objectives for 2019 we challenge you... read more .

Health is wealth, By Melissa Martin
“The first wealth is health,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. The days of childhood flew by without worries about physical health for the majority of us living in rural Appalachia. Our grandmothers and mothers practiced home remedies labeled Appalachian folk medicine. And doctor visits were rare. Nonetheless, my mother and her sisters gave birth at hospitals. Both of my grandmother’s were... read more .

A 2018 Thank You to Everyone, By Susan Olling
The end of one year and the beginning of a new are coming. I can’t let that happen without saying thank you to---- -the Iowa State University Marching Band for the fifty dancing dinos. Thank goodness for the Internet, or we would have missed it. If you didn’t see this T-rex treat, do a search on Iowa State t-rexes and watch the videos. You’re a Grinch if you don’t at least smile. -Nancy, a... read more .

Ohio: So long 2018—Hello 2019, By Melissa Martin
Another year (2018) has departed—12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days have ticked away. The residue of events, happenings, and goings-on of 2018 dwell in newspapers, history books, human memories—and in the bowels of computer hard drives, cell phones, and other techno devices. More time has passed—8760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds have ticked... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… The Link between Underage Drinking and Sexual Assault
A recent news story illustrates the link between underage drinking and sexual assault. Regardless of the final charges, this story provides a teachable moment for adults, an important reminder that there's a strong connection between alcohol and sexual assault. We don't want to make conclusions that aren't supported yet about the woman's guilt or innocence or... read more .

More is not always better, By Melissa Martin
“If I only had more,” said the people. How many of us have made (or thought) this very same comment? How many of us have envied or resented those with more? How many of us have obsessed over how to get more? It’s human nature to equate “more” with happiness, contentment, satisfaction. Work hard to have more. Invest to have more. Save to have more. Our cultural expectations of... read more .

Remembering beloved pets during the holidays, By Melissa Martin
Kids dressed in fur—is what I, and many other animal lovers call our much-loved pets. They jump for joy to greet us when we enter the door. They snuggle with us, play with us, and give unconditional affection to us. Dogs protect us and our homes—cats not so much. Humans form bonds with furry and feathered friends, and even reptiles. Hamsters, ferrets, canaries, lizards, snakes... read more .

Moderation during holidays, By Melissa Martin
Must Americans supersize everything? Must Americans make everything a competition? Must Americans go big-bigger-biggest? People, practice self-control. How many six-foot inflatable characters does one yard need? How many outdoor blinking lights does one roof need? How many Christmas trees does one house need? Some families get caught up in “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation” by... read more .

Teachable Moments… Know! Beyond the Holiday Blues
‘Tis the season to be jolly; It’s the most wonderful time of the year; It’s the happiest season of all. That’s what we hear. But what if your student isn’t feeling jolly, wonderful, or even the slightest bit happy? He or she may be experiencing the holiday blues. Unfortunately, just like moms, dads, teachers, and other adults, young people are not immune from feeling sad, lonely... read more .

Christmas tears and Christmas laughter, By Melissa Martin
Christmas is the best of times and the worst of times—when there’s an empty seat at our dinner table. When a mother, a father, a daughter, a son, a grandmother, a grandfather, a sibling, a relative, a best friend, or a cherished neighbor has passed away. When soldiers rest in coffins instead of beds. When angles, cherubs, and teddy bears decorate graves instead of nurseries—the holidays... read more .

ODE: EdConnection… Understanding Each Child, Our Future: Core Principles
12/17/2018 - Each Child, Our Future is Ohio’s five-year strategic plan to ensure each student enjoys a bright future thanks to an excellent preK-12 education experience. More than 150 Ohio-based partners helped develop Each Child, Our Future, along with feedback from 1,200 Ohio parents, caregivers, preK-12 and postsecondary educators, employers, business leaders, community... read more .

ODE Extra Credit… The Power of Partnerships in Meeting the Needs of the Whole Child and Community, Lindy Douglas, Alexander Local Schools - As the superintendent of Alexander Local Schools, I am proud to tell you about our success providing students with wraparound services. Wraparound services are additional supports for students that help them meet their basic needs so they can focus and do well in school. The wraparound services... read more .

Start Talking! Know! How To Reduce Holiday Stress
12/10/2018 - The holidays are meant to be a joy-filled season of gathering with friends and relatives, enjoying festive lights and music, exchanging goodies and giving generously. However, when time and money are stretched, relationships are strained and expectations are not met, what is meant to be a time of celebration may become a time of overwhelming stress... read more .

The Daily Signal… Sex Trafficking Is a Pandemic in the US, and It’s Time to End Demand, Kevin Malone - December 04, 2018 - This past October, a Dallas-area man was sentenced to life in federal prison for trafficking children for sex. The case offered a rare glimpse into a dark underworld most Americans don’t realize exists, right in their own backyards. Because of the hidden nature of this crime, many Americans don’t realize that sex trafficking is not just an international problem... read more .

Oh joy! A Golden Buckeye card for Christmas, By Melissa Martin
What a lovely holiday gift. This month I received an invitation to join the “ranks of nearly 2.4 million Ohioans eligible for a Golden Buckeye card.” Wow! It’s party time. Thank you to the Ohio Department of Aging for reminding me that I’m an oldster—a senior citizen. Welcome to Club Gray. Santa Claus probably mailed my Golden Buckeye card in time for Christmas because I said he... read more .

Extra Credit… 25 Things I’ve Learned from Nearly Four Decades in Education, By: Steve Gratz
Editor's Note: Our colleague, Steve Gratz, is retiring after many years in education. Steve’s blogs have challenged many education concepts and provided sage advice for innovation in education. Thank you, Steve. We wish you luck as you transition to your next opportunity. I’m retiring from the Ohio Department of Education on Dec. 31, 2018, after 36 years in education and 10 state... read more .

St. Mary’s School… Don’t freak out. My class is capable of anything. By Kathy Ayette
There is one thing that I can say about the first half of December. It certainly has been eventful. In the first thirteen days of the month, we have had First Reconciliation, Mass with a bishop, a Christmas program and Donuts with Dad. Ever agree to do something that at the time seemed like a good idea, but as the task grew nearer, you had second thoughts, as in “Why didn’t my so-called... read more .

Teachable Moments… Know! To Give and Receive the Gift of Kindness
Tis the season for giving; and among the greatest gifts one can give to another is kindness. It need not cost a thing. One single act of kindness has the potential of inspiring others and creating a rippling effect that keeps on giving. Research shows that we as human beings are hard-wired to be kind, some people more than others. But even for those students who are not the... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Honest Christmas Letter, By Aprill Brandon
Greetings, friends and family and people I barely know anymore but still have your addresses saved so what the hell! I hope this year has been good to you (she types like she hasn’t stalked over half of you on social media late at night with a glass of wine in her hand...definitely-not-creepy haha!). It’s been a wonderful year here at the Brandon-Huddle household. At least I think... read more .

Will men in Ohio speak out against domestic violence? By Melissa Martin
Mothers, sisters, and daughters are victims of domestic violence. Wives, live-in partners, and girlfriends are victims of domestic violence. Teen girls are victims of dating violence. Throughout history it’s been women at the forefront for change at the grassroots level and at our nation’s capital as they marched for police, the courts, and the government to pass and enforce laws to prevent... read more .

Appomattox: The Surrender Grounds, By Susan Olling
The Surrender Grounds, as the locals call it, is well worth a visit. A stage road connected Richmond and Lynchburg in the early nineteenth century. The Clover Hill Tavern was built in 1819 to serve as a stop on the four day trip between the two cities. The tavern gave its name to a village after Appomattox County was formed in 1845. Then Clover Hill was renamed Appomattox Court House... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Practice Kindness
11/20/2018 - When kindness is a priority in the lives of young people, they are likely to have an increased overall sense of well-being, purpose and happiness. We all want our children to be happy, right? So as parents and teachers, we find ourselves going out of our way, doing many small acts of kindness every day, solely for their benefit. But what we quickly learn is that these... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… Budget for 2019 has been balanced
November is the unofficial start of winter, and the official month of Thanksgiving. It seems the weather has brought winter in early on some days, and on other days it seems it was trying to hang onto fall! Our farmers have had a devil of a time getting crops in because of the rainfall this month, and at this writing, there is still plenty to harvest. November turned out to be eventful in... read more .

The white-washing of Santa Claus, by Melissa Martin
For starters (spoiler alert) Santa Claus is an imaginary character—not real. The jolly guy in the goofy red suit is an American icon of popular culture. Although portrayed as magical—he’s mythical. The Santa story is a fabled fairy-tale—not true. A lavish legendary yarn. The roly-poly male with the white beard is a fictional character. Flying reindeer, a toy manufacturing center at the North Pole, and... read more .

Teachable Moments… Know! CBD – Miracle in a Bottle or Modern-Day Snake Oil?
If you haven’t yet heard of CBD oil, you will soon. It’s one of the hottest, trendiest products on the market, and it claims to be a cure-all for whatever ails you. Celebrities are not only talking about and endorsing a variety of CBD oil-infused products, but they’re also creating and selling product lines of their own. CBD oil can come in everything from your morning coffee to your nighttime... read more .

Jesus was Jewish, By Melissa Martin
I did not know that Jesus was Jewish until Bible College. As a child, an adolescent, and young adult, I attended various church services, Vacation Bible school, youth group meetings, and Sunday services—but neither preacher or teacher talked about a Jewish Jesus. How did I miss Biblical and historical facts? Jesus was born Jewish. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph were Jewish... read more .

Extra Credit… A message from Ohio’s 2018 Teacher of the Year: Thank You, Superheroes, for the Difference You Make in Ohio’s Classrooms, By Jonathan Juravich - A week after I was named the 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year, I received a note from an administrator in another part of the state asking if I really thought I “was the best teacher in Ohio.” I was taken aback by this question — the answer clearly is no. I am in no way the best teacher in Ohio or even... read more .

The Daily Signal… 1 Item in the Opioid Bill Will Cause Problems, by Jonathan Zalewski
November 13, 2018 -- President Donald Trump recently signed into law the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act), which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. SUPPORT is an acronym for “Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment.” The new law will create new opioid treatment programs... read more .

Santa Claus: to lie or not to lie, By Melissa Martin
Ho-ho-ho. Do your kids believe in the magical, mythical, mysterious bearded man in the red suit who drives a sleigh with eight reindeer? Did you believe in the jolly ole guy during your childhood? Is your family seeped in the Santa-obsessed season? Well, here’s my question: Is there any harm to children when parents lie about Santa Claus being a real person? Answer: It depends on who... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Social anxiety increases substance abuse risk
11/15/2018 - Many adults are known to drink alcohol at social functions to “loosen up” and feel more comfortable interacting with others. Well, guess what? Many of our teens are doing the exact same thing. It is often referred to as “liquid courage” because, after a few drinks, a person may no longer feel afraid to get out there and dance, to ask out a love interest or to simply... read more .

Who was Patrick Henry? And more. By Susan Olling
It was a treat to hear the National Anthem played normally on Veteran’s Day. We watched one of the NFL pre-game shows (aired from a military base) and the start of one of the games (anthem sung by a military group). The anthem wasn’t tarted up either time. May I suggest that others sing/play it the same way? No embellishment’s needed. And certainly no annoying, swooping... read more .

The Daily Signal… The Surprising Story of the First Thanksgiving, Katrina Trinko & Daniel Davis - November 22, 2018 - Thanksgiving is a special day in this country, not just because of the turkey and football and relatives, but also because of the historical memory that lies at the heart of it. The story of the pilgrims and the Indians is our national story, which means we’d better get it right. To do that, we had the honor of speaking with Dr. Tracy McKenzie over the phone... read more .

St. Mary’s School… The Best Teacher in the World, By Kathy Ayette
You may not be aware of this, but you are reading a column by the “best teacher in the world”. I received this accolade seconds after I announced last Tuesday I would not be giving any written homework until after Thanksgiving. Little did my class realize, I had an ulterior motive. You know the song about going over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house. Well in my other... read more .

Recognizing the Power of School Libraries and Librarians, By Stephanie Donofe Meeks
A strong school library program has a powerful effect on literacy and learning for all students. In a March 2018 Phi Delta Kappan article called Why school librarians matter: What years of research tell us, Keith Curry Lance and Debra E. Kachel cite research that supports this: Since 1992, a growing body of research known as the school library impact studies has consistently shown... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes, By Aprill Brandon
Cheeseball appetizer - Call mom for recipe. Get annoyed because she’s going into super detail and you’ll never remember it. Ask her to just email it to you. Forget within two minutes that any of this ever happened, letting the recipe languish in email purgatory until the end of time. The Turkey - For the brine: Vegetable broth...all of it the store has (you may get into a fight with... read more .

Teachable Moments… Know! Sexual Assault Prevention Tips for Teens
The following Know! Tip discusses subject matter that some parents and teachers may feel uncomfortable reading about, specifically regarding sexual assault. If you, or someone you know, has been sexually assaulted and want to talk, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is a free and confidential resource where counselors are available 24/7. You can reach the National Sexual... read more .

The ethical dilemma of Issue 1, By Bryan Day, Edison State Community College Student
Ohio issue 1 was on the 2018 ballot. Issue 1 was intended to decriminalize drug offenses. Ohio and the Dayton area is known for having one of the worst drug problems in the nation. The issue is getting worse. Drug convictions are filling our jails and costing the state more and more every year. Interstates 70 and 75 intersect just north of Dayton, Ohio. This gives drug dealers an ideal location to... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Effect of Peer Presence
11/5/2018 - We all know the heavy influence peer pressure can have on a tween/teen, especially when it comes to risk-taking behaviors like drinking, smoking and using other drugs. But are you aware of the impact the mere presence of peers can have on an adolescent’s decision-making, without any coercing or encouragement at all? Psychologists from Temple University... read more .

Safe, Inclusive Schools Prevent Bullying Before it Starts, By Kimberly Monachino
As I walk down the halls of schools, I am always intrigued with the creative and empowering messages that appear on bulletin boards. Especially those messages that focus on inclusive school culture and creating positive learning environments. One tagline read, “Do the right thing even when no one is looking.” Another illustrated a colorful box of crayons with each... read more .

Newspapers connect humanity, By Melissa Martin
North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Antarctica. Humanity lives, works, and plays on the 7 continents. And reads the newspaper. Because every life is a story and tells a story. All free countries on the planet with a printing press (and the Internet) are able to connect to share words, ideas, and daily happenings. People read newspapers around the globe because... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Heroin is a threat in your community
10/30/2018 - Have you talked to your children about the dangers of heroin? If not, you may be thinking: Heroin is not going to cross my child’s path where we live. My child is terrified of needles; there is no way she’d try heroin. Heroin may attract some kids, but not mine. If you share similar thoughts, you’re not alone. But keep in mind, heroin has changed over the years, along... read more .

6 Things That British Thinker Roger Scruton Has to Say About Conservatives and Freedom, Troy Worden - October 22, 2018 - Sir Roger Scruton has described himself as a “reluctant capitalist,” but when asked why in a recent appearance at The Heritage Foundation, he jokingly answered: “Because I’ve never had the chance to make money for myself.” Scruton spoke as part of a Heritage lecture series called “Free Markets: The Ethical Economic Choice.” David Burton... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… How to survive a road trip with your family (Part 1), By Aprill Brandon
Spoiler alert: You don’t. Sure, you’re alive. Technically. But you come back changed. Different. Hardened. You are not the same person who optimistically climbed into that tiny Hyundai Accent with your husband and two kids and an elderly dog, all bright-eyed with dreams of adventure and bonding and Instagram-worthy shots of the highway. You are now a survivor. You have been to... read more .

The Daily Signal… Giving Away Money Won’t End Poverty, but It Will Destroy Something Special About America, Jarrett Stepman - October 23, 2018 - One of the left’s hot new policy ideas is simply to give money to everyone to end poverty. And of course, California is leading the charge. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., proposed a national plan last week that would give families making under $100,000 a tax credit of $500 per month, which adds up to $6,000 a year. Harris... read more .

People still read newspapers, By Melissa Martin
According to a recent online article in Editor & Publisher, a Nielsen Scarborough study suggested “that in an average month, 169 million adults read a U.S. newspaper. They may be reading it in one or more iterations—in print, on the web, via a mobile app, courtesy of an e-newsletter or through a social media news feed.” www.editorandpublisher.com/. Some 58 percent of people ages 16... read more .

NPR Ed… 9 Things You Need To Know About Education And Tuesday's Election, Franziska Barczyk - With the midterms on Tuesday, we've devoted our weekly roundup to focus on education's role in the election. Here are our nine takeaways of key issues and trends to watch: 1. Teachers are flexing their (political) muscles - With just days to go, both of the major teachers' unions have devoted their considerable resources to the election. The American Federation of Teachers... read more .

The Daily Signal… Birthright Citizenship: A Fundamental Misunderstanding of the 14th Amendment, Hans von Spakovsky - October 30, 2018 - What’s the citizenship status of the children of illegal aliens? That question has spurred quite a debate over the 14th Amendment lately, with the news that several states—including Pennsylvania, Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia, and South Carolina—may launch efforts to deny automatic citizenship to such children. Critics... read more .

Nearly Half Of American Children Don’t Have Married Parents. Here’s Why It Matters. Grace Carr - October 18, 2018 - For the first time in U.S. history, out-of-wedlock births in America are largely a result of cohabitation, according to the United Nations Population Fund 2018 State of World report released Wednesday. Single mothers had nearly 90 percent of out-of-wedlock births in 1968, but that number decreased to 53 percent in 2017, according to the... read more .

The Daily Signal… Our Modern World’s Inability to Understand Fairy Tales, Katrina Trinko
October 19, 2018 - It’s not fair. This refrain—so quick to be invoked by young children, who seem to develop a thirst for justice very young indeed—may seem like a curious place to begin in defense of fairy tales. But let me explain. But to backtrack a little further first—well, the latest salvo against fairy tales comes from two Hollywood actresses, Kristen Bell (“Frozen,” “The... read more .

Do you know about domestic violence in Ohio? By Melissa Martin
October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). In October 1987, the first national Domestic Violence Awareness Month was held. In conjunction, the same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989, Congress passed the first DVAM commemorative legislation and it has been passed every year since. “The Ohio Domestic Violence Network... read more .

Start Talking! Know! the Link Between Alcohol and Sexual Assault
10/25/2018 - Alcohol is NEVER an acceptable excuse for sexual assault. Alcohol is, however, the substance used most frequently to assist in sexual assault. The connection between the two is complex. A false assumption exists that when alcohol is involved in a sexual assault, it somehow lessens the crime—as if the perpetrator is somehow less responsible for his... read more .

Harvard Graduate School of Education… The Fierceness of Mister Rogers, By Grace Tatter
October 25, 2018 -- The tinkling piano that signaled the start of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” the cozy sweaters, a warm smile: everyone remembers the gentleness of Mister Fred Rogers, and his Neighborhood, the ultimate safe space. But fewer people might remember that Mister Rogers deployed that gentleness to be radically honest with generations of children about topics that can be difficult... read more .

Killing the Electoral College Would Alienate Half the Country, by Walter E. Williams
October 17, 2018 -- Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, seeking to represent New York’s 14th Congressional District, has called for the abolition of the Electoral College. Her argument came on the heels of the Senate’s confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. She was lamenting the fact that Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, nominated... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I ran 13.1 miles & all I got was this lousy self-esteem, By Aprill Brandon
People do dumb things. It’s one of the few things you can rely on. You’ve probably heard that old quote that goes “the only constant is change.” But really it should be amended to “the only constants are change and people do dumb things.” I should know. I am a people and I just did something dumb. I ran a half marathon on Saturday. Not dumb enough for you? Just wait, there’s more... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Big Sibling Effect!
10/15/2018 - There is a unique and special connection between siblings that cannot be denied nor duplicated. They are both tormentors and protectors; a source of teasing one moment, the greatest ally the next. Siblings are also likely to be one and other’s longest-lasting relationship. Four out of five Americans get to experience the growing years with... read more .

Preventive Action Alliance… Alcohol Ads Increasingly Target Youth
In prevention, we talk a lot about the advertising practices of companies that sell addictive products. And for good reason, as alcohol and tobacco companies have used ads to encourage young people to experiment with and ultimately get addicted to those products. But what does it mean, exactly, to target youth? In Lockyer v. Reynolds, a court determined that... read more .

The Verge… Google’s new project teaches kids how to combat online abuse
By Nick Statt -- Oct 11, 2018 -- Google announced a new partnership today to promote online safety and positivity for young children. The company is working with the National Parent Teachers Association and the nonprofit DonorsChoose.org, which lets companies donate directly to public schools, on a project the organizations are calling “Be Internet Awesome.” Essentially, Google is trying... read more .

Living in paradise comes with a price, By Melissa Martin
Picturesque views of sky, sea, and sand. Oceanic experiences with wet creatures, lush vegetation, and tropical trends. Soothing sounds, salty smells, and savory seafood. A hammock, a book, and a cold beverage. Ahhh. “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water,” affirmed Loren Eiseley. What is your “beach personality?” An article in Coastal Living labeled the types... read more .

Americans Have Almost Entirely Forgotten Their History, Jarrett Stepman
October 04, 2018 - In America, we celebrate democracy and are justifiably proud that this nation was founded on the idea that the people should rule. That’s why it is so important that Americans be informed about their government. They are partakers in it. In fact, they control it. Under tyrannical systems, it matters little if the people are informed about political life... read more .

St. Marys School… October marks jack-o-lanterns and clutters of spiders, By Kathy Ayette
Once again I am being observed by a pumpkin patch of grocery sack jack-o-lanterns and a clutter of lunch bag spiders. (I actually looked up what a large group of spiders is called and it is a clutter. Learn something new every day!) This year the pumpkins are really keeping an eye on me. While rummaging around the art room, I found some extra-large shaky eyes. So after the children painted... read more .

Teachable Moments… Getting to Know! The Lawnmower Parent
By this point, we’re likely all familiar with the term Helicopter Parenting, where parents keep an overly watchful eye on their child’s every move and then swoop in to save the day at the first sign of trouble. But have you heard of Lawnmower Parenting? While the helicopter parent hovers and worries, the lawnmower parent takes it even further, stepping in to clear their child’s path of potential obstacles... read more .

NPR Ed… 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Learn
We learned this week that where you live can determine your future success. And its these socio-economic factors that trickle into our schools, giving some kids a better quality education than others. That’s the achievement gap in nut shell. But did you know that researchers can start to see signs of that gap in kids as young as 18 months old? Research also tells us... read more .

Living History at Colonial Williamsburg, By Susan Olling
We spent a few days at the largest living history museum in the world, Colonial Williamsburg in mid-September. No matter how many times we’ve been down there over the years, we’ve always learned something. There were the old reliables: To Hang a Pirate, the trial of one of Edward Teach’s crew. We know him Mr. Teach as Blackbeard. Fifteen of Blackbeard’s crew were tried in the General Court... read more .

With Appreciation to The Triangle Dance Club, Roger Van Frank, Director, Darke County Parks
“The Darke County Park District is thankful for all of the support they receive in many forms from local citizens, property owners and merchants”, stated Deb Shiverdecker, Administrative Assistant. Just recently the Park District held their annual Prairie Days festival with over 5,000 people attending. Prairie Days is a free family event which combines lots of fun... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Foster Empathy for Bullying Prevention
10/2/2018 - In a previous tip, Know! The End of Bullying Begins With YOU, we learned that more than one in five students reported being bullied. Regardless of what position a child is in - a target, bully, or bystander – they are at an increased risk for a variety of mental health and behavioral problems, including substance abuse. In addition to positive role... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The End of Bullying Begins With YOU
9/25/2018 - Wondering why we hear so much about bullying? Because there’s way too much of it going on and it’s a huge problem for everyone involved. Students report getting bullied most often because of looks, body shape, race and sexual orientation. While every child is at risk for being the target of bullying, young people with disabilities or special education needs get bullied two... read more .

The Daily Signal… Why States Are Leaving Common Core, Jude Schwalbach
September 20, 2018 - After less than 10 years in the classroom, Common Core could soon be on its way out. The Obama administration introduced Common Core in 2010, imposing burdensome new standards and tests in an attempt to create uniform educational content across the nation. Despite loud objections from parents, teachers, school leaders, and state... read more .

Parenting to Prevent Childhood Alcohol Use
Drinking alcohol undoubtedly is a part of American culture, as are conversations between parents and children about its risks and potential benefits.However, information about alcohol can seem contradictory. Alcohol affects people differently at different stages of life—small amounts may have health benefits for certain adults, but for children and adolescents... read more .

Those left behind when suicide occurs in Ohio, By Melissa Martin
Some of my saddest moments have been in the presence of mothers and fathers whose children died by suicide or adult children that lost a parent to suicide. Anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide is considered a survivor of suicide. The American Psychiatric Association ranks the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide as “catastrophic.” Shock, confusion, despair, abandonment... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I believe you. By Aprill Brandon
I am angry. I am tired. I am sad. But mostly, I am angry. All week I’ve been glued to social media, watching how people are reacting to the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh. And realizing just how far we haven’t come. I’ve also been watching as my female friends and family have come out with their own horrific sexual assault stories in the wake of this news cycle... read more .

Bullying is on the rise, survey shows. How did we get here? by Jen Wilka
The severe and lasting consequences for victims - September 24, 2018 - I have been thinking a lot lately about bullying in schools, as a parent, citizen and executive director of a nonprofit that works closely with educators across the nation. I know that many of us have been. My organization, YouthTruth, has analyzed insights about bullying from survey responses of more than... read more .

Veterans and the tragedy of suicide, By Melissa Martin
Those who fought for our freedom are also dying by suicide on American soil. “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind,” proclaimed Dan Lipinski. In 2015, an average of 20 active duty service members, non-activated guard or reserve members, and other... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To create an after school prevention plan
9/17/2018 - A new school year is a time of transition, especially for students entering middle or high school or students attending a new school. Studies show that times of transition increase a child’s risk for substance use. For some students it is the stress of having to navigate through a new school building and seeing so many new faces; for others it is the new or increased... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Ways to unsuccessfully deal with insomnia, By Aprill Brandon
1. Watch something. But not something too interesting. But also not so boring that it allows your mind to wander. Maybe something you’ve already seen but enjoyed. Preferably where at least one character has a British accent and is trying to solve a crime. 2. Read something. Same rules apply. 3. Eat something. Because, hey, it’s there and what else have you got to do... read more .

What movie would we be? By George Starks
There isn't a day that goes by when every news outlet is talking about some sexual abuse accusation. It's a never ending battle just to listen to it. It all stems back to the days of Dennis Rodman and Kobe Bryant. Women looking to get financial gain from an accusation. It was crazy then and it's getting worse. When Donald Trump was elected to the presidency, some porn star came out against... read more .

The Daily Signal… Why We Couldn’t Create Our Constitution Today, John York
September 17, 2018 - Americans should be thankful not only for the rare genius that assembled in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft the Constitution, but for the unique circumstances under which they met. Not all moments in time are ripe for founding a nation. Nor is every citizenry equally prepared to receive new modes and orders. The Founders’ time and generation... read more .

Patrick Henry: The Voice of the Revolution, By Susan Olling
Patrick Henry’s favorite home was Red Hill, in Charlotte County, Virginia. Red Hill got its name from the color of the soil in the area and its location on a hill overlooking the Staunton (pronounced Stanton, the locals don’t like it when the word’s pronounced like it looks) River Valley. Red Hill was designated as the Patrick Henry National Memorial by Congress in 1986. It's a place that people... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Risk Factors Associated with Drug Addiction
9/13/2018 - September is National Recovery Month. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Recovery Month is a time to increase awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and celebrate people living in recovery. More than 20 million Americans are currently in recovery from... read more .

Commissioners Corner… Darke County Airport Reopens
August was certainly an interesting month weather wise here in Darke County. It seemed like every day there was either a monsoon, or scorching heat to deal with. The weather and the recess of the legislature in Columbus, have certainly been the topic here in the Commissioner’s office. Now that September is here, let’s hope we have a normal fall! At this time of the year, the Commissioners... read more .

St. Mary’s School… Techno-gremlins started school year in full force, By Kathy Ayette
The halls of St. Mary’s are once again ringing with the sounds of students and teachers. This year I am rolling along with the crowd as opposed to lagging behind. I had my hip replaced this summer and have been impressing everyone with my awesome walking skills. One of my students noted I go a lot faster than I did last year, which isn’t necessarily all that fast. I would like... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I know how this ends, By Aprill Brandon
Despite the fact that I’ve pretty much made a career out of complaining, I must confess that lately things have been going well. My preschooler is slowly realizing that preschool won’t kill him. My 2-year-old has yet to burn down the house or train the dog to do her nefarious bidding. My husband and I are going strong, united in love and mutual exhaustion. Financially we... read more .

Ramblings of an Old Man… Act of kindness. Pass it on. By Bob Robinson
At a local restaurant not too long ago, an incredible thing happened. Something you see too seldom these days… There was a whole group of us waiting to be seated… including Katie, a former intern of mine, and her family. A long time ago intern. Hadn’t seen her in years, almost a decade, then all of a sudden we started running into each other at the store. And now at the... read more .

Teachable Moments… Know! The Key Skills for Your Child's Academic Success
Academic success is a team effort that includes an individual student, his or her teachers, and the child’s parents. In order to be the best team possible, we encourage you to share the following information with your parent network. PARENTS: As the new school year begins, you have the opportunity to help your students start strong and stay on track toward academic success. We... read more .

The Unsung Hero, Chris Mortensen & Rhonda Schaar
September 10, 2018 - The K-8 students and staff will take a moment to remember a day of tragedy and of unification of people around those who stood as heroes on September 11, 2001. We have heard it asked many times, “Where are all the heroes today?” We often consider the acts of people that occur randomly, and in the moment, to be our indicators as to whether a... read more .

Extra Credit… Your Words Matter to Others’ Mindsets, By Steve Gratz
Over the past few weeks at the Department, I've been overhearing the chatter of my colleagues getting their children ready for the return to school. Some of my co-workers are methodically getting their children up earlier and earlier in preparation for the first day of school. Many took full advantage of Ohio's sales tax holiday. And several shared how excited they were about... read more .

Ohio Department of Education… Getting to Class is the First Step to Academic Success, by Brittany Miracle, Program Administrator -- September is National Attendance Awareness Month. Regular school attendance is so important it gets an entire month of recognition and celebration! (Not that National Taco Day on Oct. 4 isn’t cause for celebration, too.) Did you know? Good attendance is important starting in kindergarten. Children with good attendance in kindergarten... read more .

For all they do, mothers are the glue, By Melissa Martin
I found the following short story circulating on the Internet. Author is unknown. It’s about recognizing mothers for all they do. And acknowledging that mothers are the glue. Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches, rinsed the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I survived the first week of school, By Aprill Brandon
I was ready for the tears. I knew they’d come. From him. And me. Oof, so many tears. So much ugly cry. An absurd amount of snot leaking from our faces. I was ready for the fear and the anxiety. Again, on both our parts. This is a huge change. Since the day he was born we’ve been by each other’s sides and now... well, now the real world was wrenching us apart. And... read more .

It’s a slower world; some even carry firearms, By Susan Olling
We started a new adventure when Mr. History was offered early retirement in February. He wanted to be moved from the D.C. environs by the end of May. Sounded good to me. Things moved faster than any of us imagined. We’ve been living in the Old Dominion since the Wednesday before Memorial Day. Mid-February through mid-May was an almost constant period of activity... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Apparently the tooth fairy got a tax break too, By Aprill Brandon
Considering my oldest child is only four, I admit I’m still fairly new to the parenting game. However, I’m not so new that I don’t already have strong opinions on how the rest of you are doing this wrong. (Oh, shut up, you know we all do. The second that baby came out of my body I was already critical of how the doctor was holding him.) Now, let me clarify, I don’t care how... read more .

Parents, teens and technology, By Melissa Martin
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr, Flickr, Reddit, WhatsApp,
Google, and all the other techno companies have produced products that have changed and benefited the world. Phones, apps, and the web are necessary to our daily work lives and personal lives. But, is there a dark side for teen usage? The annual Piper Jaffray Taking... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Middle School Challenges and Changes
8/15/2018 -- The first day of middle school is on the horizon. While your child’s initial fears of navigating the hallways, using the combination lock and finding someone to sit with at lunch may be officially behind her, it doesn’t mean she’s got a peaceful, easy feeling about the rest of her middle school experience. And as a parent, you must know, this is only the beginning... read more .

It’s a Wrap: Fun and Games at the Fair, By Bob Robinson
The 162nd Great Darke County Fair is a Wrap. Mother Nature wasn’t very kind this year with thunderstorms and too often just plain old rain and drizzle, either just before or during fair hours. The Cheer Competition had to be moved to Greenville High School, and I understand the Tractor Pulls had to be cancelled… That said… the rides were great, the food vendors were... read more .

September is the month for suicide awareness, By Melissa Martin
“The statistics for suicide in America are disturbingly high. It is tragic not only for the one whose life was cut short, but also for those loved ones left behind after their death. On average, there are 750,000 people a year whose lives are directly impacted by the suicide of a loved one. For many, these effects continue for years, even a lifetime,” according to a 2017 article in Psychology... read more .

The Great Darke County Fair… Top Fair Attractions... Friends and Animals, By Bob Robinson -- The Great Darke County Fair is a time for catching up with old friends, meeting new friends, family get-togethers and sometimes just saying hi to people you know or see - occasionally or otherwise - throughout the year. Sometimes you stop and talk; sometimes you wave in greeting as you walk by. So far, I’ve managed to hit the fairways (and the barns) every day. I see a lot of my “kids;” usually... read more .

Kids Day at The Great Darke County Fair, By Bob Robinson
Monday was kids day at the Great Darke County Fair, so naturally I focused on kids. Big kids, little kids… mostly happy kids. Twenty photos; 28 kids. Maybe a third of them were “my” kids… substitute teaching, former Edison State students, Empowering After School (tutoring) program. Most were there to take advantage of cheaper rides; others were still working... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… When reality bites, drink kombacha (mixed with vodka), By Aprill Brandon
You know how when you have kids and you look down for just a second to tie their shoe or pick up their Legos and the next thing you know it’s five years later and everything is different and you have no idea what is going on outside of your living room? Well, I just looked up and somehow, between getting knocked up with my first child and celebrating the second birthday... read more .

Bar-B-Que and More at The Great Darke County Fair, By Bob Robinson
After weeks of anticipation and, in some cases, months of preparation, the Great Darke County Fair finally arrived. I didn’t make it to the Grand Opening, but I assume it was rather wet. Rain was coming down hard about ribbon-cutting time, so much so that the cheer contest was moved to Greenville High School. By 11 a.m. or so, the sun had come out and people were beginning... read more .

ODE Extra Credit… Beyond Engagement: Empowering Students to Take Ownership of Learning, By: Virginia Ressa - Summer “vacation” is one of those things that non-educators sometimes misunderstand. Some people, even our family members, think teachers have three months off to lounge, sleep in and binge watch the shows we missed during the school year. We know differently. First of all, it’s not three months – it’s maybe two and... read more .

Five things to say every morning, By Melissa Martin
I am alive, I will choose my attitude for the day, I will be kind to myself, I will be kind to others, and I will not take anything personally. The goal is to begin every day focused on how you want to think, feel, act, and react. However, the purpose is not a Pollyanna denial about our problems, or to put a guilt trip on ourselves, neither to pretend in painful situations. The point is to start each day... read more .

Support for Trump’s “America First” policies, By Lyn Bliss
I voted for and today support President Trump even more than when I cast that vote. Because, when President Trump says “promises made, promises kept” he isn’t lying. The promises he has kept during his short term in office have made me wonder if some of the other Presidents were even really trying! He has a wonderful ability to do things other presidents have only talked about. Our economy... read more .

ODE Extra Credit… A Parent’s Hope for the New School Year, By Wendy Grove
This week, I am writing not as an education professional, but as a parent. My daughter is the child that made me a mother for the first time. Last week, she turned 11 years old, and I want to tell you about her. She is brave, creative, artistic, smart, stubborn, self-centered and difficult. She likes singing songs, watching anime, reading Percy Jackson books, snuggling... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… My favorite parenting book is “Frankenstein” By Aprill Brandon
It never ceases to amaze me how similar talking about raising kids sounds to the plotlines of horror movies. “I woke up, disoriented, only to discover his face was mere inches from mine, his milky breath washing over me. I screamed while his face contorted into an evil smile.” “I slammed shut the bathroom door but when I looked down I saw two pairs of sticky hands slowly reaching out for me from underneath... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The Effect of Peer Presence
8/7/2018 -- We all know the heavy influence peer pressure can have on a tween/teen, especially when it comes to risk-taking behaviors like drinking, smoking and using other drugs. But are you aware of the impact the mere presence of peers can have on an adolescent’s decision-making, without any coercing or encouragement at all? Psychologists from Temple University were curious... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… MARCS conversion complete; airport completion moved back
July has certainly been an interesting month in the Commissioner’s office! It seemed like every day there was a new challenge to deal with! The weather and the coming recess of the legislature in Columbus have certainly played havoc at times with everyone’s plans. Hopefully things will clear up in the future. Commissioner Stegall took a young man from... read more .

Kudos to school lunch ladies! By Melissa Martin
I remember the lunch ladies wearing white uniforms and hairnets as they dipped and dished food items onto plates. Some smiled. Some grumbled. But these hardworking women put up with a cafeteria full of noise and nonsense day after day and year after year—until retirement. The following is a funny fictional story I penned to express my appreciation for the school food staff; cooks... read more .

Ramblings of an Old Man… Helping a child grow, By Bob Robinson
Oh… so so SO tired. My Edison classes wrapped up on Thursday, May 10; there were still a full two more weeks of Greenville classes… so I looked forward to a few assignments. I got them. In spades. I was a kindergarten sub the next day… then first grade, then second grade, then… well, you get the drift. For the next 11 days I got to step into the shoes of teachers who work... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Transition Increases Risk
8/1/2018 - While there is much excitement about the start of a new school year, there may be much apprehension and anxiety as well. This may be especially so for youth entering their first year of middle or high school, and for adolescents of any age transitioning to a new school (because of a move or several other reasons). The thought of unfamiliar faces, new... read more .

Ohio Department of Education… Relationships… The Foundation of a Successful School Year, By Kimberly Monachino -- It is hard to believe that another school year is fast approaching. Before we know it, the yellow school buses will be en route and the “20 mile per hour” school zone signs will be flashing. The marquees outside many schools will read “Welcome Back Students!” or “Good luck students and staff for a successful 2018-2019 school year!” Even after 30 years in education... read more .

Dealing with stealing, By Melissa Martin
The following scenario illustrates what can happen when adults look the other way and when a child lacks empathy and remorse, a sense of right and wrong, and a moral compass. Benson’s family was middle-class and he had lots of toys, clothes, the latest video-games, and trendy gadgets. His family lived in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. He went on vacations, played with other kids... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Sorry not sorry, By Aprill Brandon
One day, not long ago, my daughter went down a slide and rammed right into the back of an older child who had gone down the slide before her. It really hurt, the boy was quick to tell me, and my daughter should probably apologize for it. I agreed and turned to her, saying “Mae, can you say you’re sorry?” Her response? To stare defiantly at both of us. She stared so long... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Bust Summer Boredom
7/16/2018 - For many families, moving further into July means that kids are sitting around the house complaining of summer boredom. Annoying? Yes. Potentially dangerous? You bet. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with teens experiencing a little boredom, too much time on their hands with “nothing to do” can lead to trouble, like experimenting... read more .

Living with Diabetes, By Kayla Seman, Edison State Community College student
“I’m thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength.” ~Unknown - When people hear the word diabetes the first things they think are: you ate way too much sugar as a child, you must have been fat when you were younger, I know you can’t have sugar, and the one that frustrates me the most, “I heard you can cure that with cinnamon.” There are... read more .

Be prepared when Mother Nature rages, By Melissa Martin
From the beginning of the beginning, weather and climate have affected planet Earth and humankind. The forces of nature both bless and curse our world. Heat. Drought. Wildfires. Why is Mother Nature so angry? Blizzards. Hail. Ice storms. Too much sun and we experience drought. Too much rain and we experience floods. “Turn around. Don’t drown!” Too much wind and... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The Adventures of Kitty “Meow” Cat, III, Written by Kitty Cat
Hello. You probably don’t know me. In fact, there is no reason you should. My existence is of little importance to most people. Most people, that is, save one. And it is for her sake that I would like to share the following story with you. Perhaps I should start at the beginning. My name is Kitty Cat. A wholly unoriginal name, I’ll grant you, but considering... read more .

All the right moves, By Bob Robinson
I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the best Annie Oakley Festival I’ve seen in years. After struggling with a huge fairgrounds that, while well attended, didn’t seem so due to the spread out space; after moving to York Woods and picking up speed, only to find out it was necessary to move again… The Festival hit a home run at the south end of the Darke County Fairgrounds... read more .

Protecting minors in public places, By Melissa Martin
“A 14-year-old boy has been identified as the person police believe sexually assaulted two teen girls inside a Kroger in Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon,” according to the WSAZ news website concerning the July 2018 incident. It was alleged the juvenile grabbed clothed female buttocks; one victim was in the bathroom and the other victim was in the cosmetics aisle. www... read more .

When enough is enough, By Melissa Martin
I found a heart-wrenching and a heart-warming poem on Pinterest and traced it back to several websites while searching for the writer. A book called I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life’s Most Valuable Moments One Wish at a Time (2009, Thomas Nelson Publisher) by Bob Perks popped up. So I bought it. The inspirational stories in Perks’ book contains 8 values for contentment in a world of abundance that we often take for granted... read more .

Start Talking! Know! July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
7/20/2018 -- July is nationally recognized by Congress as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about mental illness and its effects on minority populations. “Once my loved ones accepted the diagnosis, healing began for the entire family, but it took too long. It took years. Can’t we, as a nation, begin to speed up... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The last days of nowhere to be, By Aprill Brandon
I think there’s something wrong with my calendar. I looked at it this morning and it said it was the end of July in the year of our Lord 2018. Which is practically August. Which is basically pre-autumn. And that can’t possibly be right. Because if that is right, that means my family is swiftly approaching the last golden-tinged days of childhood where we have nothing to do... read more .

Start Talking! Know! The New Marketplace for Buying and Selling
7/9/2018 - It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June, and we were celebrating our eight-year-old son’s birthday at our neighborhood park with 20 of his closest friends and a handful of parents. The adults were busy watching the children launch water balloons at each other when one of the dads noticed something happening right in the... read more .

Anxious and fearful brains do not learn well, By Melissa Martin
Think about the last time you felt anxious. Did your brain jump offline? Did you make illogical arguments? Did your gray matter scramble and ramble? Anxiety and fear are natural human reactions and necessary biological functions. It’s part of an alarm system that’s activated whenever you perceive or confront danger or a threat. However, too much anxiety and fear is not healthy for your brain. And continual overwhelming... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The swimming pool incident, By Aprill Brandon
Guys, it took me a long time but I finally found...hang on...sorry, I need a moment. I just get so choked up about it, you know? But I finally found...sigh...a friend with a pool. Like, a legit pool. Inground and everything. Better yet, I found this friend with a pool in time for the FOURTH OF JULY. She had a cookout BY THE POOL. I have pictures. We... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Because this Facebook post is going to save America, By Aprill Brandon - I’ve been reading a lot of Mark Twain this summer. In fact, a few weeks ago, I dramatically declared to my husband that “this is The Summer of Twain!” while wearing a straw hat and holding a fishin’ pole (because everything is more fun when you can annoy your spouse with it). It started out that I simply wanted to re-read the adventures of Tom... read more .

Educators Rising...Inspiring the Next Generation of Teachers, Antoine Holloway II
Throughout my entire life, my mom always pushed me to be a leader and not a follower, so I always hold myself to that standard. I believe that helped me get to where I am today. Today, I am very proud to serve as the president of Educators Rising Ohio. Educators Rising Ohio is a career-tech student organization that includes more than 1,000 students... read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… Know! To Fuel Their Critical Thinking
Have you ever received an unsolicited, direct-to-consumer advertisement via email, text, or social media? Of course you have! They somehow seem to find all of us, even if we’re not looking for them. The same holds true for our students. Just like us, they are bombarded with advertising – mainly on their phones and laptops; from YouTube... read more .

Happy Birthday America! By Melissa Martin
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday Dear American, Happy Birthday to you. Sing along with me. Let’s eat cake and celebrate the Untied States. Our nation was born on July 4, 1776. And the Fourth of July is the day we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence; the day the thirteen colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Stop the... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… 37 things I’ve learned in 37 years, By Aprill Brandon
1. Decluttering your life only works if you refuse to allow your family back into the house. 2. You should do one thing every day that scares you, like skydiving or answering your phone when it rings even though this will likely result in having to talk to another human being. 3. When you’re a mom, children turn into gremlins the minute they find out it is your birthday... read more .

Do you fear change? By Melissa Martin
I gaze at the clock on my office wall. It is time for my next client, Mr. Pie. As usual, he rolls in, plops into the overstuffed chair and emotes. “I’m a crust with an identity complex and anxiety! I agreed to the new cheese mixture, and even accepted the assortment of veggies, and I conceded to the taco ingredients, even though I questioned lettuce on a pizza. But... read more .

Preventive Action Alliance… E-Cigs Target Teens… Nicotine University
E-cigarette sellers are offering scholarships to teens who write essays on topics such as whether a smokeless society can exist or which e-cigarette they'd recommend to others. This is a shameless marketing ploy to attract and addict a new generation of nicotine users. These companies say they're only helping current smokers switch to... read more .

Some Ohio citizens want a Superman Day, By Melissa Martin
“Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Superman!” And he’s flying over the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio House is designating June 12 as "Superman Day.” [To enact section 5.49 of the Revised Code as passed by the House 132nd General Assembly Regular Session H. B. No. 135 2017-2018.] “For on this day, let it be known that Superman... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Summertime Increases Risk
6/14/2018 - It’s June – which, for most teens, means summer break is either close at hand or has already begun! Parents need to watch for risky behaviors during these warm weather months because first-time alcohol use and drug experimentation hit their peak in the summer. During the school year, the “risk-taking danger zone” for youth typically... read more .

Aaah... the good old days, By Melissa Martin
I think that’s why some people like antique stores, Flea markets, auctions, yard sales, and eBay. Items from the past are attached to memories. We remember happy holidays along with what food was served; hairstyles and clothes of the era; television programs and music. Some hanker for the good old days. The good old days had bad old days as well. Some memories... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Summer Freedom and its Challenges!
6/4/2018 - It is normal and healthy for adolescents to seek increased independence as they grow and develop. It is also normal for parents to have a hard time letting go. Naturally, we worry about our children’s health and safety and quite frankly, their ability to make good decisions. However, in order for our children to become mature, responsible... read more .

It takes a team to prevent youth suicide, By Melissa Martin
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among school age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth who are contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers, and friends are in a key position to pick up on these signs and get help,” according to the National Association of School Psychologists.www.nasponline.org/. The.. read more .

Prevention Action Alliance… The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer
Across our country, Highway Patrol units and local law enforcement are stepping up traffic enforcement ahead of what the American Automobile Association calls the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. The 100 days are those between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when AAA says teen drivers are far more likely to be involved in car crashes because they're out of school and on the road... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… That Old Dad Magic, By Aprill Brandon
My husband once told me that what I do is like magic. He had came home from a long day of work, put his stuff down and suddenly noticed that the formerly gigantic haphazard pile of mail that had littered his desk was now in nice, neat, organized stacks. How did that happen? he wondered. For that matter, what happened to all those dirty dishes? And when... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… Employers are looking for employees
May has certainly been an entertaining month in the Commissioner’s office! It seemed like every day there was a new challenge to deal with! We are hoping that this is because this is an election year, and as November gets closer maybe things will slow down to a normal pace! Let’s hope so. The Darke County Economic Forum was held Friday May 4th at... read more .

Is time management possible? By Melissa Martin
Three long-time friends met for a reunion. In the fullness of time, the conversation steered toward the topic of who was more important. Alas, tempers flared and egos erupted. “I’m more important!” Future proclaimed. “I show people how they can be. I am made of dreams, wishes, hopes, and goals. Without me, there would be no tomorrow.” “I’m more important!” declared... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Interact with Tact with these Smartphone Tips!
5/29/2018 -- Smartphones certainly have their advantages. The number one reason parents cite for purchasing their child’s first cellphone is that it provides location tracking and makes it easier to communicate with their son or daughter. Children however typically want a smartphone for the ability to connect with friends, download their favorite music and apps, and access social media sites... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The grass is always shorter, By Aprill Brandon
There are a lot of things that suck when you are a teenager. School. Acne. Everyone over the age of 30 constantly asking you “so, you got a boyfriend yet?” (Actually no, Aunt Linda, I don’t. I currently look like the love child of Cory Matthews* and a pizza, so my dance card is pretty empty at the moment.) But perhaps one of the most universal sucky things about... read more .

Getting caught up in the darknet, By Melissa Martin
Whenever a device (Internet) is developed for the good—there are those who will counterfeit it for bad. World Wide Web, surface web, deep web, dark web, and darknet (or dark net) are terms referring to Internet functions. Clear as mud to me; a person from the generation that grew up without computer technology and without the Internet. Surface web. The portion of the World... read more .

Remembering those who sacrificed, By Bob Robinson
On Monday I closed up my computer, got dressed and headed into town. It was a little after 12… this year I wasn’t going to walk the parade route. At 73, I wasn’t sure that was the best plan on a hot (and I do mean hot) day at the end of May. Later I admit to being shamed at the number of veterans, my age or older, who DID walk the parade route. I parked on the side street at Greenville Union Cemetery... read more .

Teachable Moments from Prevention Action Alliance… Know! Every Bite Counts
May is Mental Health Month, an annual campaign to educate people on how a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health problems. Diet and nutrition is not just about our waistlines, it also has a huge impact on our mental wellness. The same holds true for your students... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Maybe I don’t know everything, By Aprill Brandon
Knowledge is power. And nowhere is this more evident than when you are the parent of small children. For all the exhausting yet mundane things you have to deal with on a daily basis as a parent (and there are A LOT), one of the biggest perks is that you can usually count on being the smartest person in the room. Children come into this world knowing nothing... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Fitness #4Mind4Body
5/16/2018 - May is Mental Health Month; a time to raise awareness about the connection between physical and mental health, through the theme Fitness #4Mind4Body, sponsored by Mental Health America (MHA). Mental Health America shares two key messages through this year’s educational campaign: Mental health is essential to... read more .

Saluting our Vietnam Veterans with words, By Melissa Martin
1965. President Johnson called for more ground troops to be sent to Vietnam. I was a child in elementary school. When the Vietnam War ended, I was 16 years-old. 1975. Rewind to the 60’s and 70’s. I have vague recall of warfare events on the evening news: the drafting of Elvis; the Kent State University shootings; the burning of the Washington Monument by war protesters; the outrage over Jane Fonda... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Finding my tribe, By Aprill Brandon
I thought it was like riding a bike. Or shotgunning a beer. That it was a skill, once mastered, couldn’t be forgotten. But then, at the age of 36 and a mom of two young children, I realized I had forgotten how to make friends. I mean, I have friends. Of course I have friends. Lots of them. Right? Shoot, according to Facebook, I have over 1,400 friends. So, yeah... read more .

In “Experts” We Trust, By Kate Burch
Fifty years after Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical, “Humanae Vitae” which upheld the ancient teachings of Christianity regarding human sexuality, there are still calls to “reconsider” the document and its teachings, despite clear evidence all around us of the havoc wreaked by the sexual revolution. In Humanae Vitae, the pope made four predictions about what... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Focus On Mental Health
5/11/2018 - If our pancreas has a chemical imbalance, we seek treatment. If our kidneys are not physiologically working right, we seek treatment. When our most complex organ, the brain, is not physiologically working right or has a chemical imbalance, for some reason we ignore or hide it. May is Mental Health Month; an opportunity to... read more .

Sibling abuse; battlefield in the home, By Melissa Martin
Story. The first murder in the Bible is reported in the Book of Genesis. Cain killed his brother Abel. Motive: Cain became angry and jealous over his brother’s animal sacrifice, (Abel’s gift pleased God) so the older brother sought revenge. Weapon: Cain used a rock to hit Abel on the head. Forensic evidence: Blood was found on the rock and in the field. Witness: God... read more .

How the Greenville City Park Came to be, By Terry Venrick, Edison State Student
The First two articles I told how much the Greenville city park means to me and then I also shared the many things that you can do at the park. For my last one I will just share a little bit of history. A long time ago our beloved park was once known as Fort Green Ville. ”Mad” Anthony Wayne used this place as a fort for fighting the Native Americans. This came to... read more .

What You Can Do At The Greenville City Park, By Terry Venrick, Edison State Student
There are many things you can do at the Greenville City Park. You can visit the peacocks, they are large beautiful birds with extremely large feathers that fan out. A fun fact about them is that the females are plain and brown while the males are very colorful. This is to shoo off other peacocks, so if you ever visit the park you can see them but are not allowed... read more .

Why I Love The Greenville City Park, By Terry Venrick, Edison State Communications Student
I have been going to the Greenville city park as long as I can remember. My mom has pictures of me as a baby there feeding the geese. The first time I remember being at the park myself was with my Grandma. She would sit and read to me and my siblings stories and almost always had a treat for us. With the passing of my grandma this year I really look back and treasure those times... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… My post-vacation apology, By Aprill Brandon
To my dearest, dearest children, You two are the light of my life. I love you both so much. Which is why I’m writing this even though it’s...difficult. Very difficult. For me. Your mother. To admit this. But it’s important you know this so… Sigh... Listen up and listen hard because you will never hear this ever again. I was wrong. Long exhale... BUT I AM RIGHT... read more .

When big, old, gnarly trees die, By Melissa Martin
A few years ago, our hundred-year-old tree was cut down for safety reasons. A piece of history, once living—now dead. Now its twin tree is diseased (age and carpenter arts) and just about ready to end and begin the circle of life; like the song in the Lion King movie. A sense of sadness envelops me as the old makes way for the new. My grandmother, who loved nature... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Talk Teen Stranger Danger
4/23/2018 - If you’re a parent or other caregiver of teens, you likely have had repeated “stranger danger” talks with them when they were younger. You taught them not to talk to strangers. You warned them not to fall prey to the stereotypical child lure of being offered candy to get into someone’s car, and so on. Those types of stranger danger safety... read more .

Elections are about Choices, Mike Stegall
Elections are about choices. This election, in particular, is about either moving forward on a path of stable growth in the economy, in community improvement and in job creation or putting a halt to that progress and choosing to make a blanket change based on reckless election promises. These past seven years, I have had to make some hard decisions. Usually... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… The perfect getaway, By Aprill Brandon
It has been a long, hard winter. Followed by several weeks of spring that were a long, hard winter. Followed by one nice day. And then two more weeks of snow. On top of this, my husband has just finished a huge project at work. He worked nights, weekends. For months, he was either at work or at home working. At one point he got so stressed out he stopped... read more .

Celebrate Children’s Book Week with your children, Melissa Martin, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Celebrate Children’s Book Week with your children, April 30-May 6. Schools and libraries highlight Children’s Book Week each year, and so can parents in their home. Make reading a family tradition. And make reading fun! Children’s Book Week is April 30 through May 6. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in... read more .

Faith-based organizations need sexual abuse prevention policies, By Melissa Martin
The tragic story of the rape of Tamar, a young royal princess, sexually violated by her half-brother, and then betrayed by her powerful father, King David, can be found in the Old Testament. The Bible neither covers up nor ignores sexual assault. Around 25 years ago, when I practiced as a licensed and ordained minister, I listened as a speaker and former pastor... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Youth’s Number One Drug of Choice
4/16/2018 - What is the leading drug used by our youth today? If you’re thinking marijuana or heroin, guess again. The answer is alcohol. It has long been and still remains the most widely used drug among young people, making alcoholism and alcohol-related problems the number one public health problem in the United States. April is the annual Alcohol... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I forgot my phone, By Aprill Brandon
So here I am. Sitting at my usual place in the coffeeshop down the street. Ready to write my regular newspaper column. Laptop open, blank page staring back at me, cursor mocking me with its empty blinking. Tall mocha on my left. And my phone in its usual spot on the righ… Except it’s not there. Not today. I check then double-check my bag. My pockets. My... read more .

Raising readers, By Melissa Martin
Why is it important to expose babies, toddlers, and younger children to the world of books? Why is it important to read aloud to babies and toddlers? Why is it important to make reading fun for children? “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents,” surmised Emilie Buchwald. I agree. Parents are a child’s first teachers, first role models, and first communicators; talking... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Stand Firm Against Underage Drinking
4/6/2018 - In the previous tip, Know! April is Alcohol Awareness Month, we discussed the negative health and safety risks of adolescents consuming alcohol. In this tip, we will talk about the prevalence of alcohol among adolescents and the steps we can take to protect our children by helping to prevent underage drinking and promote well-being. Did... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Let the hunt begin, By Aprill Brandon
Now that I’m in my mid-30’s, I like to think I have a good handle on my strengths and weaknesses. For example... Strengths: Writing good-ish. Keeping my children alive. Playing beer pong. Weaknesses: Pronouncing the names of fancy wines. Eating only one doughnut. Buying a home. It’s that last one that I’m now having to confront (she types while... read more .

Universal Design for Learning Equals Learning Opportunities for All, By Kimberly Monachino
Today’s classrooms are very busy places. They are filled with students who have diverse needs and learning challenges. To meet their needs, teachers may be equipped with a variety of instructional strategies and have many other tools in their tool boxes. However, even with multiple tools, trying to meet the unique needs of each individual child... read more .

Start Talking! Know! April is Alcohol Awareness Month
4/5/2018 -- The month of April has been designated Alcohol Awareness Month as an opportunity to focus attention on America’s #1 health problem. This year’s theme, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCAAD), is “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage.’” Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance among adolescents in our country... read more .

Ohio Department of Education… Mental Health First Aid...Indian Lake’s Response to a Community Crisis, Robert Underwood, Indian Lake Local School District - 3/29/2018 - I’m going to be open and honest here. The staff and students of Indian Lake Local Schools have experienced the suicides of two high school students in the past five years. I was serving as the high school principal during these tragedies, and it was, without a doubt, the most challenging time of my... read more .

Commissioner’s Corner… March a good month for Darke County
March came in like a lion, mellowed just a little, then became a wet lion at the end. This looks like one of those winters that will not go away. As this is written, it has snowed on April 1st, then the forecast is for rain! At least it is rain, but enough is enough. Time for warm sunshine! March was a good month for the county. We saw our projects moving in... read more .

Family and Community Engagement is Something Good Schools Do, Tom Capretta, Family and Children Community Coordinator - 4/5/2018 - Tracy Hill is the executive director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement at Cleveland Metropolitan School District and one of the 2014 Education Week Leaders to Learn From. The first time I heard her say, “Family and community engagement is something that good schools do,” it just clicked. She made... read more .

Start Talking… Know! To Secure, Monitor and Properly Dispose
3/26/2018 -- Families are continuing to be devastated by children abusing medicine. Kids end up in the ER, become addicted, suffer physical pain and emotional turmoil, and some lose their lives altogether - all in the name of prescription drug abuse. Medicine abuse among youth continues to trend at an alarming rate. Why is this occurring at such rapid levels? According to youth... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Diary of an Insomniac, By Aprill Brandon
You know a fun time to start thinking every thought in the entire world? From 2-5 a.m. Although 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. is also fantastic. Or, on really special occasions, both of those time frames in the same night. How many baby wipes do we have left? What’s the date? When are taxes due? I forgot to clip the dog’s toenails again. Poor baby. He’s practically walking on... read more .

School visitor tragedy, snow days & more, By Susan Olling
We had quite a winter here in the D.C. environs. All the schools used their allotted snow days fairly early. MoCo schools used their three snow days by mid-February, including two in January for mere dustings of snow. The school administration seems to make its closure decisions based on what happens up-county. Schools were closed again on March 2. No... read more .

Start Talking! Know! Warning - JUUL at Your School
3/21/2018 - There is a new trend parents and school administrators need to be aware of, and it is called JUUL. It’s what some people are referring to as the iPhone of vaping. It is a device so discreet that it often goes unseen and teens are getting away with using it in public places. JUUL is a brand of e-cigarette that looks like a flash drive... read more .

Two Sparrows Farm & Dairy… The end of the road, By Whitney Belprez
March 15, 2018 - Last week while on our monthly grocery trip, we were shocked to see that milk was selling for $1.50 a gallon at ALDI in Big Rapids. $1.50. “Limit five,” the sign said. Clearly, most shoppers’ reaction to these prices was to say “wow, $1.50!” and to then stock up. For us, our hearts sank. Those farmers, their families, their cows. How in... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Important brain thoughts from an exhausted parent, By Aprill Brandon
I have a confession. I’m supposed to be writing right now. Which, yes, “technically” I am. I am “technically” stringing together letters into words and those words into sentences. Here’s the thing, though. I don’t really want to be writing right now. My brain is mush. Just a mushy, mushy, leaky puddle of its former self. This has been a particularly trying week and... read more .

Gullibles’ Travels, By Kate Burch
I have heard a few radio ads lately by auto dealers making the pitch that, since this is tax season, it’s the perfect time to buy a new car! Apparently, many who receive a tax refund think of it as a windfall and can’t wait for a good opportunity to spend it. How does it happen that people do not rise up in protest over a significant portion of their pay being confiscated... read more .

Start Talking! Know! How to Talk to Your Kids About School Violence
3/13/2018 - Have you checked in with your children regarding the recent school shooting in Florida to see what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling about it? Do you know what to say? It is only natural for parents to struggle with what to say about this senseless tragedy, along with the additional acts and threats of school violence that have since followed... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Stop, Drop and Breathe
3/6/2018 -- Even as adults, anger can be a difficult emotion to control, especially when it involves a child who continues to defy his or her parents. No one can push our buttons like our own children. However, the importance of exhibiting self-control in order to discipline a child appropriately, is monumental. An angry parent is scary enough. An angry parent who is in the habit of yelling and screaming... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Beggars can be choosers, By Aprill Brandon
Do you have pearls on right now? If so, prepare to clutch them... I no longer care what my kids eat. Oh yeah. I said it. And I mean it. This nose ring and these tattoos aren’t just for show. I’m a rebel mom. (slowly pulls off motorcycle helmet and shakes out hair) I. Don’t. Care. You hear me, world? I DON’T CARE. OK, I do care. Of course I care. I’m a mom. (sets... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Go play with your sister. That’s why we had her. By Aprill Brandon
Guys, we’re going to have to change the meaning of the word “natural.” It’s either that or stop referring to anything related to motherhood and parenting as “natural.” Take breastfeeding. Feeding your child with your very own body. It’s often claimed this is, and I quote, “the most natural thing in the world.” It is not. It is semi-aggressively shoving a sore and... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Recognize and Respond to Bullying
2/26/2018 - Bullying touches the lives of at least one out of every four children in the U.S. In this year alone, approximately 13 million youth, from preschool to high school, will experience it. Yet, many parents do not even know their child is a victim. One study revealed that as many as 64 percent of youth who were bullied did not tell a parent, teacher or... read more .

Pressing On, By Ben T.C. Davis
Walking into Minuteman Press International Inc., I had no idea what to expect or how this was even going to go. I have never dropped a line for an audience before, and I have sure never written anything that was journalistic. So, feeling like a fish out of water, I jumped into this project the only way I knew how; with an undeserved sense of entitlement and the delusions of grandeur... read more .

Start Talking! Know! To Talk Teen Relationships and Dating
2/21/2018 -- February is the month of romance, so what better time than now to bring up the subject with your teen? Whether your teen has shown interest in dating, it has more than likely crossed his or her mind. It is vitally important for our daughters and our sons to hear from us on this subject. They need to know what a healthy relationship entails; they need to be clear on the family... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Date night, By Aprill Brandon
For a 10-year-old who used to fantasize about going on elaborate dates with Jonathan Taylor Thomas to an almost excessive degree, I grew up to be a not very romantic adult. Take Valentine’s Day, for instance. I’ve never been a big fan. I don’t like a holiday dictating when I should shave my legs. Or Sweetest Day, for that matter. What is this thing? Valentine’s Day 2... read more .

Crazy About Jesus, By Will McCabe
One day a student asked me in one of my high school classes, “Will, do you live in your own little world?” She meant this as an insult, but was surprised when I responded with, “yeah, and it’s a lot better than the world here.” I immediately turned to one of my friends and started talking as if nothing happened. Needless to say, that particular student and I were not friends... read more .

Small Business Growth Puts Ohio on the Map for Doing Business
Every time we enter our corner coffee shop, purchase produce from our local farmers market, or dine at our favorite hometown restaurant, it becomes clear that small businesses are the backbone of our communities. The growth of this sector stimulates our economy and provides for individuals and families across the state. In 2017, Chief Executive magazine announced... read more .

The Fix Will Not Be Easy, By Kate Burch
No surprise that the people who want to take our stuff and control our lives are at it with a vengeance in the wake of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre in Florida. The demands range from better background checks and restricting gun purchases to those age 21 and older (not necessarily a bad idea, in my view, except for those with military service or other legitimate and trained familiarity with weapons)... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I’m telling my mom on you, By Aprill Brandon
I like to think I’m a mature person. Mature-ish at the very least. Especially since I became a mother. Because when the world hands you a screaming, leaking lump of fragile human clay and expects you to keep it alive for 18 years, you grow up a bit in spite of yourself. I can now even say the word Uranus without giggling. Usually. But let me tell you, the first... read more .

Start Talking! Know! What’s Trending – the Laundry Pod Challenge
2/6/2018 - If you are raising teenagers, you have no doubt heard of some of the ridiculous internet challenges that exist among this age group. While some of these new age “dares” are silly and harmless, many more are dangerous and even deadly. One such dare currently trending is called the ‘Tide Pod Challenge.’ It has nothing to do with... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Everyone deserves one thousand birthday hats, By Aprill Brandon
Here’s an interesting question you’ve probably never been asked before: Did you know it was possible to be bad at celebrating? Me neither. And then I had kids. My children are awful at celebrating. Just terrible. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries. They’re hopeless. They’re even bad at those faux holidays like National Talk Like A Pirate Day (you should hear... read more .

Know! To Educate and Rx-Proof Students
1/31/2018 - Aside from prescription drug abuse being illegal, it is highly dangerous. Yet one in four high school students will use a prescription medication for non-medical reasons at least once before graduating. Youth say prescription drugs are easier to access than a six-pack of beer. So where are students getting these prescription meds? 64 percent of youth... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… To Whom It May Concern (yes, you), By Aprill Brandon
I didn’t want it to have to come to this. No one ever does. Love means never having to hire a lawyer. Or at least it should. But, alas, here we are. It is indeed regrettable but unfortunately necessary at this point. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you, dear children, that you are in violation of our prenatal agreement. Actually, you’ve both been in... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Everything is cold and dead and stupid and I hate it, By Aprill Brandon
I’ve been sitting in this coffee shop for exactly 46 minutes now. And yes, I see you over there, Annoying Hovering Couple with that dual stink eye you’ve been giving me for the last 17 of these 46 minutes in the hopes I might feel pressured to hurry up and finish my business here so you can have my table. But the joke is on you. Because I can’t think of any... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… I’ll sit in the sinkhole tonight, honey, By Aprill Brandon
You want to know what true love is? Volunteering to sit in the couch sinkhole after a long day of work and raising kids so your equally tired partner can sit on “the good side” while you watch Netflix. Wait, what? Oh, is that just in our house? You guys don’t all have a couch sinkhole? Well, in that case, let me explain to all you fancy folk with your houses full of... read more .

Start Talking! Know! What You Can Do to Improve Your Mental Health
1/8/2018 - With the start of each new year, people commonly vow to improve their physical health, including diet, nutrition and exercise. While this is a vital measure to take, it is equally important to resolve to improve one’s mental and emotional heath as well. A healthy mind is fundamental to a person’s overall well-being, regardless of age. Our... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Kid(not)napped, By Aprill Brandon
Funny title, huh? Ha-ha! HA-HA-HA! Oh yeah, LAUGH IT UP, CHUCKLES. My entire life is ruined but I’m glad YOU find it so hilarious. Oh man. Wow. Sorry, you guys. That was uncalled for. It’s just, I’m exhausted, you know? From all the not sleeping my oldest is doing. I knew this day would come. I mean, he’s almost 4-years-old. He napped longer than a lot of... read more .

Start Talking... Know! Family Support for Prevention
1/4/2018 -- Research Institute has identified 40 developmental assets for adolescents; a specific set of skills, experiences, relationships and behaviors that help young people flourish and mature into successful and contributing adults. Studies of more than five million children of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds consistently show that the more developmental assets... read more .

Broke Wife, Big City… Back off, fellas, I’m taken, By Aprill Brandon
I am a crappy wife. I mean, I’d hate being married to me. I’m a remote hog and an unabashed blanket stealer and I have to let you know in great detail EVERY SINGLE FEELING I AM FEELING AT THE EXACT MOMENT I AM FEELING IT. And then there’s my temper. My lethargic attitude regarding shaving. My severe allergy to replacing toilet paper... read more .

Without an Anchor, By Kate Burch
I read this morning a headline about the cratering sales of “organic” milk. At first, I thought it a positive sign that perhaps people had begun to wake up to the fact that paying a premium for so-called organic foods is a waste of money and comparable to buying a purse with a designer logo so that one may be perceived as somehow special or superior to others... read more .

Cogitating about 2018, By Bob Robinson
When I was young and stupid I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I wanted to be a bomber pilot like my dad, but I didn’t play with planes. Or bombs. When I was in junior high I spent my time publishing a monthly community newspaper that I charged a penny an issue for. It even included miniature photos that I pasted in place to go with... read more .

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