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Star Wars Can Teach History?

x wingIt is one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, and now Star Wars has been examined and presented as a means to teach world history. A new book entitled Star Wars and History claims that the epic space story parallels many earthly historical events. Star Wars creator George Lucas has denied any intentional links to actual events, but admits that due to the films' overall narrative of good vs. evil and war and rebellion, it would be impossible to avoid any similarities.

Nonetheless, authors Nancy Reagin and Janice Liedl have created an interesting way to present world history to students via a pop-culture phenomenon that is almost universally loved. CNet sat down with Liedl for an interesting look behind the making of the book. Read the interview here.

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Podcasts have become a new way of learning. As teachers, leaders, childcare providers, etc., we must commit to being lifelong learners. Today, it is easier than ever to learn by listening to colleagues, veterans, and even those new to the profession by turning on a podcast. A podcast allows you to listen and learn in the car, while you are working, at the gym, on an airplane, and even out on a walk. There are...

Students Have Some Nerve: Exploring...

(Note: The following is the first installment of a three-part series based on my upcoming book, Calming Student Stress in K-12 Classrooms: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Other Strategies to Reduce Anxiety and Enhance Learning, due out by Rowman & Littlefield in early 2024).

Despite coming out of the pandemic and returning to in-person learning, stress, anxiety, and trauma remain prevalent in the classroom. For example, according to a...

Teaching Students to Be “Digital...

The Samurai were fierce warriors of Feudal Japan (we’re talking 1100 to 1800s). They lived during times of constant fighting, whether between warring lords in Japan or against invading enemies, such as the Mongols.

Samurai had to be incredibly sharp, focused, centered, calm, and ready to leap into action at any moment. This explains why they were drawn to the practice of Zen Buddhism and training the mind through meditation.

Today, the enemy or constant threat isn’t so much...

Don’t Take this Serious! Mindfulness...

Mindfulness in the k-12 classroom has been shown to improve school-related skills, such as executive functioning, social-emotional skills, working memory, sustained attention, and self-regulation (see Mindfulness in the Classroom).

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Starting the New Year Off with...

mindfulness

Educators, you have probably heard the term, mindfulness, thrown around a lot at this point. You...

Educators - Do your homework!

I have recently retired as a school administrator after 51 plus in education.  I have been reading about a lot of new administrators who are all ready burning out, feel overwhelmed, overworked, and under compensated.  I was fortunate to have worked in more than a dozen schools and similar number of other educational positions. I worked in seven states and two countries. My point in saying this as I changed jobs, I had to thoroughly investigate each one before accepting the new assignment. ...

Pumpkin Time is Here!

Learn about Pumpkins! 
 
1. Pumpkins are thought to have originated in Central America, specifically Mexico. Some seeds found date back to 5500 B.C.
 
2. Top pumpkin growers are U.S. farmers, growing more than 1.5 billion each year.
 
3. The word pumpkin comes from the French word for “large melon”,
...

Tips and Tricks for Back to School

Back to school—it's here!

There are many emotions and thoughts about returning to school: excitement, joy, pressure, sadness, and anxiety, to name a few. How you feel depends on your role—whether you're a first-year teacher, a veteran teacher, or maybe it's your last year; a new student in a district; a graduating senior; or a parent dropping your child off for the first time. Returning to school means...

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