Moms Inspire Learning

Be the Acorn

"The internet cannot and should not replace a good school or public library for reference and research. They should coexist compatibly." ~excerpt from page 152 of The Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease

It makes sense, doesn't it? Why, then, are so many individuals trying to do everything they can to convince everyone that the Internet can stand alone, at the expense of real books and libraries?

Literacy is the New Green

©iStockphoto/Michelle Milliman

It's hard not to like the color green, isn't it?

I'm not talking about the color of American money; I'm talking about the plush green grass that surrounds you while you sit under some shady green leaves. The sun is out, and along comes a cool breeze...

Defying Gravity in an Unethical World

©iStockphoto/craftvision

Does the heart and soul of a country trickle down from its leaders, or does it find its way up through its citizens?

Do you think it works like the water cycle, where everything circles and continues to repeat? If it does, it's going to take a lot to break out of this pattern.

We're going to have to defy gravity more than ever before.

Weeding Out the Problem

Have you pulled any weeds lately? Chances are that if you have, they're the same ones as last year. It's not easy to get to the root of the problem, is it?

Many people would urge you to battle the problem with harsh chemicals, but that type of solution only grounds the roots deeper. So, what can you do?

If it were me, I would dig deeper. Otherwise, the weeds will never go away.

7 Ways to Capture the Olympic Spirit

© iStockphoto/arne thaysen

Right now, many of the world's greatest athletes have come together to share their hopes and dreams with the world. The torch has been lit. The fire burns on, connecting us through time and space...

The most important flame at the Olympics is not one you can see, though. It's the one that burns brightly inside each athlete; and one that can burn inside each of us, if only we would let it.

Words to live by...

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." ~Albert Einstein

The 12 Questions I Would Ask Myself if I Was a Librarian

There's been a significant amount of controversy these days about the future of books and libraries. Seth Godin even wrote a post called the future of the library, which brought some heated reactions.

What Makes a Really Great Teacher?

Everyone has a different idea of what the qualities of a really great teacher are. Having observed many different teaching styles as a parent, a perpetual student, and a teacher, I'd like to share my thoughts with you all.

I'll start off by sharing a quote by one of my daughter's favorite teachers, written as part of her holiday wishes to students:

Connecting the Dots of Lifelong Learning

Well, here's the finished 2,000 piece puzzle of Times Square! When I bought it, I wasn't thinking they'd be putting it together around the time of New Year's Eve, but the themes went along perfectly! Life is full of little coincidences, isn't it?