Oct 28, 2014
A Test No One Wants to Give but Everyone has to Take
Photo by Anthony Quinn Published in ChicagoNow, October 28, 2014 Suppose a new children’s cereal came on the market. Its manufacturer...
Oct 21, 2014
To the Parent of the Shy Kindergartener
Cartoon by Marcia Liss Published in ChicagoNow, October 21, 2014 Since when did shyness in a 5-year-old become something requiring...
Oct 15, 2014
Teaching Science to Young Learners
Published in ChicagoNow, October 15, 2014 I’m no expert on teaching science to kindergarteners, but in over 30 years as an early...
Oct 13, 2014
Judy Blume’s Fudge and Today's Kindergarten Expectations
Published in ChicagoNow, October 13, 2014 One of my granddaughters is reading Super Fudge by Judy Blume. Published in 1980, the book was...
Oct 6, 2014
What will PARCC Testing do to our Teachers?
Published in ChicagoNow, October 6, 2014 (cartoon by Marcia Liss) Yesterday was World Teacher Day. In an ironic twist, an article in the...
Oct 1, 2014
How Student Essay Writing Has Changed Since 1969
Yes, it’s me! Published in ChicagoNow, October 1, 2014 You read that correctly. 45 years ago, I was teaching high school English at Niles...
Sep 22, 2014
Creative Kid Defeats Kindergarten Worksheets
Published in ChicagoNow, September 22, 2014 When my grandson started kindergarten this year, I worried. After all, he’s the kid I wrote...
Sep 18, 2014
Today is National Respect Day: How About Some Respect for the Adjunct Professor
Maybe choose a different profession? Published in ChicagoNow, September 18, 2014 An award-winning professor, beloved by students at a...
Aug 27, 2014
Breaking the Rules in Early Childhood Education
Cherry Preschool – not too many rules to break Published in ChicagoNow, August 27, 2014 My 4-year-old grandson, who lives in another...
Aug 22, 2014
Starting Kindergarten the Right Way
Hiding behind his big sister Published in ChicagoNow, August 22, 2014 My grandson, his face so young and sweet and innocent and a little...