Observed each May, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is an initiative to encourage and inspire people of all ages to pursue physical fitness as one component of a healthy lifestyle. The 2012 theme is “Let’s Move in School”, which is focused on raising the awareness of s...

Picture the pioneers, crossing America with blistering sun exposure. We don’t often think of how they coped with the issues of skin cancer. Although some Native American tribes did use the white powder of aspen bark to protect their skin, sunscreen, as we know it, wasn’t mass-produced...

If I had a dollar for every student who told me they hated reading, I could retire right now. As a teacher of remedial reading in East Nashville, most of my pupils come to me with exclusively bad experiences with reading. To them, reading is not an activity in itself, but rather a dull, frustrati...

Mother’s Day, celebrated the second Sunday of May, is a wonderful time to honor another special educator in a child’s life, his mother. If you are looking for some history behind this important day, as well as some engaging and eco-friendly Mother’s Day activities to try with yo...

Each day, teachers make a difference in their communities and the lives of their students. That impact is far reaching; the result of tremendously talented individuals who go above and beyond their job descriptions. During the week of May 7-11, take time to recognize and celebrat...

As the school year wanes and standardized testing comes to a close, students are itching to be out of the classroom. Elementary school teachers often scramble during this time to keep them engaged, while simultaneously reviewing and preparing them for the next grade level. This can be particularl...

Long before e-mails zipped across the oceans in seconds, there were more traditional forms of written communication. One favorite that remains is writing postcards. With thousands of designs conveying the beauties and wonders of places near and far, postcards are excellent mediums for encouraging...

Earth Day is just around the corner. While it's usually a one-day event, it doesn't have to be. In honor of Earth Day, you can launch an environmentally-focused project that will help learners hone important skills and be beneficial to the community. It's a win/win proposition. Ask Your Class to...

Celebrating its sweet sixteen, National Poetry Month will be observed throughout the month of April. Established by the Academy of American Poets, the annual event presents an opportunity for writers, readers, libraries, schools, publishers, literary organizations, and others to honor the importa...

March 30th marks the 159th anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birth. Although he only lived to be 37 years old, and received little professional recognition during his life, his prolific contributions to the Impressionist movement gave him a well-earned place in art history. Utilizing a dynamic b...