by Carol A. Josel | Jul 3, 2026 | 1800s American inventions, Made in the USA
Semi-quincentennial: a mouthful of a word and unfamiliar, too. Translation: 250, and this 4th of July, the number of years since the Declaration of Independence and America’s birth. Along with parades, barbeques, and fireworks, it’s also fitting to give a nod to...
by Carol A. Josel | Jun 29, 2026 | Classroom management, Commentary, Making Education News
There was a time when teachers had the big desk facing the kids who sat in rows in front of them. Everyone knew the rules; everyone knew who was in charge, and discipline was meted out swiftly. Misbehave and either end up sitting in the hallway or landing in the...
by Carol A. Josel | Jun 18, 2026 | Making Education News, Parenting, Social media
“We’ve seen a large increase in the inability for students to cope when things don’t go their way. We see a lot of crying, yelling, shutting down, gross overreactions. Teachers are at the end of their rope.” ~ Ian Knox, principal, Hamagrael Elementary School Recently,...
by Carol A. Josel | Jun 7, 2026 | Making News, Scripps National Spelling Bee
Not front page, top-of-the-fold news; didn’t even make pages 2 or 3, but it instead landed on page 4 with a headline that said it all: “National Spelling Bee Is Decided in a Thriller.” And, in case you missed it, here’s the rest of the story in a nutshell. Many of us...
by Carol A. Josel | May 30, 2026 | Academics, Making Education News
“… Shortening the school day or rushing through curriculum is counterproductive to developing functional literacy in the digital age. ~ Daniel J. Levitin, “Many kids don’t get enough time in school for the stuff they need help with. Teachers [need] more time for...
