
Starting School: My Earliest School Memories Were Not So Happy
That smile vanished when I entered the school building Published in ChicagoNow, July 25, 2018 Do you remember the cloak room or folding...
Jul 25, 2018

Citizens Should be Literate, Not Poorly Educated
Citizens who are literate make informed decisions Published in ChicagoNow, July 10, 2018 In my home town of Detroit, children do not have...
Jul 10, 2018

Evanston Technology Decision Leaves Some Kids Behind
Photo by Brad Flickinger Published in ChicagoNow, May 7, 2018 This is an educational tale of two tweens. My granddaughters are six months...
May 7, 2018

Time to Try a Different Way to Teach Reading
Published in ChicagoNow, April 23, 2018 The only volunteer job I ever quit was being a reading fluency tutor shortly after I retired. The...
Apr 23, 2018

Schools Need Custodians Who Care, Not Outsourced Companies that Don't
Photo by Mellierene4 via Flickr Published in ChicagoNow, March 29, 2018 Gus Lira has been Cherry Preschool’s custodian for most of its...
Mar 29, 2018


Computer Literacy for Kids Should Also Include Writing
Published in Huffington Post, January 16, 2018 Middle schoolers love computers, but I doubt they are using them to write. I was shocked...
Jan 16, 2018

School Lunch and Recess Woes
Published in ChicagoNow, September 18, 2017 Evanston, Illinois supports its public schools. Last spring, we even voted for a referendum...
Sep 18, 2017

Fidget Spinners: Addictive Stress Relief for Kids Who Need to Move
Published in ChicagoNow, May 30, 2017 Fidget spinners have been banned by most schools, and rightfully so. If I were having a hard time...
May 30, 2017

When Math Doesn't Add Up
Published in ChicagoNow, May 22, 2017 A girl hates math, so she writes a letter: “Dear Math, I wish you would grow up and solve your own...
May 22, 2017

Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton Inspires Kids to Learn History
Thrilled to receive Hamilton for Hanukkah Published in ChicagoNow, December 30, 2016 We Should be Teaching our Kids More History in...
Dec 30, 2016