Literacy in Motion: Why Speaking Is the Secret to Stronger Readers and Writers
At the start of eighth grade, thirteen-year-old Leo was drowning in a sea of disconnected ideas. His essays were often returned with notes about “fragmented organization.” At home, he would stare at blank documents for hours. His mother, Sarah, watched him struggle to untangle his thoughts and turn them into essays, unsure of how to help. The turning point came from a source Sarah didn’t expect: a communications club he started attending. To prepare for a mini-debate, Leo had to organize a two-minute speech with a clear beginning, middle, and end. He had to swap words like “stuff” for precise nouns and anticipate what his audience needed to hear.…
[SPEAK] P is for Problem
Imagine you wake up with a pounding headache. You’ve never woken up with a headache before. No amount of rest, hydrating, deep breathing, aromatherapy, etc. can shake it. It feels like little explosions in your brain. After a few hours, the pain is still intense, so you head to a doctor. Something feels wrong and you want an expert opinion. “So, what seems to be the problem?” he asks as he enters the room. “Well, my head feels like it’s splitting in half,” you respond. “So, you have a headache?” he replies. “Go home and take an aspirin.” I don’t know about you, but if my doctor responded by…
When your Fifth Grader is the Teacher…
Notes from Millennials on the Future of Education Author’s Note: This blog post was originally written in 2012. Since that time the research has confirmed still more of these insights and the foresight of the Millennials interviewed. It is reposted here with minor edits. The year 2025 is closer now, and providing a truly Christian educational option to families has never been more important – around the globe. “What do you want Christian teachers to know now to get ready for your children?” While sharing coffee and thoughtful dialogue with a table of 19- to 22-year-olds back in 2012, my perspective on education was broadened as these young adults shared…
How NOT to Measure Success in Education or in Life
It was “one of those weeks.” I had finally found a moment to sit on the couch, sip my iced tea, and close my eyes for just a minute. My eyelids barely touched before I woke up to a scream. “Devin’s hurt!” yelled my older son, Wendell, running through the patio door. Well, six-year-old Devin’s always hurt. I calmly remained in my reclined position. Have you ever experienced that moment of panic when your mind races between “This is an emergency!” and “Don’t get blood on my sofa”…? That’s what happened when Devin walked through the door. I grabbed a clean towel, snatched my keys, looked outside, and realized we…
