Muse

  Tragic!   He's overly confident, assuming he can charm his way back into her heart.    Meanwhile, she's planning to rip his out and feed it to the wolves.  Is there any hope of reconciliation?  Can this relationship be saved?  Sadly, these misunderstandings are more common than necessary.  Scenes like this, and far worse, play out every day, maybe multiple times a day. It doesn't have to be this way.  Every interaction is an opportunity to connect, to strengthen, and to build.  Yet, many lack the skills. Conversation Connection Conflict Curiosity Compassion Contempt Criticism   My high school students are highly engaged in lessons and activities on this topic.  They genuinely want to learn, practice, and perfect these skills.   Until now, I have always woven these lessons throughout the usual  Social Studies and ELA content.  Encouraged by student interest and my desire to foster mutually beneficial ...

  The bustle of business fills the halls, foyers, and gymnasium. Almost any open space large enough to display wares is buzzing with exchange and rife with tantalizing aromas. From January through May, my Econ students operate businesses they have created. Pet Rocks, Italian Sodas, Love Letters, Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches, Freshly Baked Bread, Custom Key Chains, snacks for pet rocks, and so much more are available at the MicroMarket.  The ingenuity is impressive! Resources Supply and Demand Capital Investment Risk Competition Elasticity Inventory Factors of Production Profit and Loss Labor Price Exchange ROI Opportunity Cost Analysis Margin Interest Decision Systems Market/ Paradox Homo Economicus Advantage Optimization These terms leap off the pages of the text and into students’ everyday vocabulary.                                      Examples of Student Marketing   The Micr...

"That's a hard wurd. I don't know what that means."  Six-year-old Philip replies as he moves to inspect a rock that caught his eye.  I had asked if he enjoys "Journalism." Later, we inspect the pages of  Flotsam, a delightful book by David Wiesner.  I had asked Philip if he could figure out what was happening by looking at the pictures. "There are no words," I caution.  Intrigued, he hurried to open the book. Nothing else matters. Challenge accepted. Here are some of the pictures Philip scanned. As we volley questions, his desire to uncover what had been uncovered by the boy on the beach captivates Philip. He looks for clues. He points out details. He considers possibilities and tosses them aside as evidence disproves them. He compares, contrasts, and connects. And when, like a wave, the story washes over his mind, he reports it to me with gleeful satisfaction. "Excellent journalism!" I praise as our palms slap together in high-five-fa...