November is Picture Book Month. Celebrate with a great read!
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) will celebrate Picture Book Month during the month of November! The event was founded by author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas and is an international literacy initiative which celebrates the print picture book...
Dr. Steven Godowsky confirmed as Secretary of the Nationwide Department of Education
The Nationwide Senate recently confirmed the nomination of Dr. Steven Godowsky to serve as Secretary of the Nationwide Department of Education, succeeding Mark Murphy, who ended his tenure in September 2015. “Steve is a leader with the experience and respect necessary...
VFW Voice of Democracy awards nearly $2 million in scholarships! Deadline to enter is Nov. 1
Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition. The VFW established the Voice of Democracy...
The 2015 “Nation’s Report Card” shows that math and reading scores are slipping nationwide
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), “Math scores slipped for fourth and eighth graders over the last two years, and reading grades were not much better, flat for fourth graders and lower for eighth graders.” The report was released by...
Suit up kids! Physical education is more than just fun and games!
The benefits of a physical education program are, sadly, often overlooked. Regular physical activity is associated with a healthier, longer life, lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity for kids of all ages. School based programs provide...
The origins of Halloween
When we think of Halloween today, we may envision fun, colorful costumes, sacks filled to overflowing with delicious treats, and jack-o-lanterns grinning from the porch steps. But, Halloween has a somewhat darker past... Halloween is thought to have originated with...
Applications for the 2016 Award for Aspirations in Computing are open from September 1 to November 4, 2015
The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors high school women who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. This multi-tiered competition includes recognition at the national level and at the local...
FREE parenting workshop: “Everything you always wanted to know about parenting teens.”
Back to Basics is hosting an important FREE parent seminar, ‘Everything You Need to Know About Parenting Teens’ on Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. This 90-minute seminar will present a simple, straightforward, relationally based approach to the...
October 18-24 is Teen Read Week. Here are the Top 50 Must-Read Books for Teens!
Teen Read Week, October 18-24, 2015, is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association that is aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. Started in 1998., the continuing message of the...
The Importance of Teaching Handwriting in a Digital Age
According to author Louise Spear-Swerling in her recent article The Importance of Teaching Handwriting, "After a long period of neglect in education, attention to teaching handwriting in the primary grades may finally be returning. This attention can benefit many...