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Tag Archives: Best Practices
Anne Sullivan, the Miracle Worker, and the teaching strategies she used
Ever wonder what strategies Annie Sullivan Macy, often called the Miracle Worker, used to teach Helen Keller? Watch this 5-minute video below for insights from author Terry Marzell.
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Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, though not a teacher, is nevertheless a Chalkboard Champion
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop helped establish and support the Kamehameha Schools, which meet the educational needs of Native Hawaiian students. Photo credit: Public Domain
This week the spotlight is on our 50th state, Hawaii, and while our attention is there, I would like to share the story about Kamehameha Schools, one of the most famous private schools in the United States.
Kamehameha Schools were first established in 1887 at the bequest of Bernice Bishop, a historical figure also known as Princess Pauah. She was a member of the Hawaiian royal family when the state was still a territory. Princess Pauahi and her beloved husband, an American named Charles Reed Bishop, had no children of their own, so when she passed away in 1882 at the age of 52, she directed that her vast estate should be used to benefit and educate underprivileged Native Hawaiian children. The answer was to found a school specifically to meet the educational needs of Native Hawaiian students.
Two schools were built: one for boys and one for girls. Eventually the two schools were merged to form a coed school. The facility is now located on a six-hundred-acre campus on the main island of Oahu overlooking Honolulu Harbor.
Kamehameha Schools serve the important function of preserving Native Hawaiian culture, history, and language. One of the ways this is done is through the annual choral competition known as the Kamehameha Song Contest, where traditional Hawaiian songs and dances as well as new compositions in the genre are performed by the students. This is a wonderful tradition that goes back 45 years.
When I think of Chalkboard Champions, my first thought is of teachers, of course, but individuals such as Princess Pauahi who support schools financially and with their volunteer hours are also heroes to our students!
Read more about Kamehameha Schools in my book Chalkboard Champions, available on amazon.
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Vote, and encourage your students who can to vote, too!
Today is Election Day! Elections are the one thing that separates a democracy from a dictatorship. Elections give people the right to control who their leaders are, remove them from office without the need for a revolution, and make decisions that affect society as a whole. Voting on election day is a great way to show our appreciation for these rights. Teachers know that elections are important for democracy. Without the election process, our democracy could not function.
As citizens, we should continuously strive to make our society better. We face many issues, and the only way we are able to fix them is to work for positive change. Voting is the best way to work for the changes we want to see occur. Voting is a privilege, but more than that, voting is a responsibility and a duty. To ensure the protection of our rights, we need to stay informed on the candidates and the issues, and then vote!
Every vote matters. Encourage your students who are of voting age to vote, too. Explain to them the importance of voting and why every vote matters. Teach them how to register, but, of course, we all know that teachers must be careful not to influence them in their choices of candidates or issues. No matter what age your students are, show them a good example. Let them know that you consider voting a civic responsibility, and that you will be voting today!
Finally, remember that living in a democracy does mean we always get our WAY, it means we always get our SAY. If the outcome of the elections is disappointing to you, accept the results for now, and know that you will have another opportunity to make the changes you would like to see in the next election.
Happy voting!
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Celebrating the Day of the Dead!
Today, all throughout the American Southwest and elsewhere, our Mexican American students are celebrating the Dia de los Muertos, also known as the Day of the Dead. The annual observance is a special day set aside to remember and honor the memory of beloved relatives who have passed away.
Here is a wonderful article that explains in detail the origins and practices of the Dia de Los Muertos. To see more photos, visit the School Arts Room, an art education blog for K-12 art teachers. Enjoy!
Photo credit: School Arts Room
