Category Archives: A Little Good News Today

This is where we will find success stories – with students, teachers, families – and yes – once in awhile – a particular school, or district which has overcome adversity to provide a winning agenda. You may also find postings regarding proposals POSITIVE changes to and for the education system suggested or presented by both public and private individuals. And in the words of the song by the great Anne Murray – we are looking for a “Little Good News Today!

Oh yes… this is the place you will also find single image posts, which may be quite suggestive in nature – for both positive and/or negative effect.

Musk’s New Montessori School: ‘The wave of the future’

A leading advocate for innovation and opportunity in education is not surprised that Elon Musk is opening a private school in Texas.

The world’s wealthiest man has gotten a permit to open Ad Astra (Latin for “to the stars“) in Bastrop County, about 40 minutes outside of Austin. The pre-kindergarten Montessori school will reportedly teach children to sweep, draw, and explore.

Montessori observed that children learn best when they are free to move free to choose their own work and progress at their own pace. Continue reading →

Bennett: Raising Tomorrow’s Leaders ~ Actionable Parenting Tips

Many parents aspire to raise future leaders, and leadership is a skill that can be nurtured with purposeful guidance. Through thoughtful strategies, parents can help their children develop critical qualities like resilience, communication, and the ability to inspire others. Experiences that foster growth and critical thinking build a foundation for effective leadership. By creating environments that support confidence and adaptability, parents empower their children to thrive as leaders in any setting, preparing them to take on challenges and make a meaningful impact in the world. Continue reading →

Bennett: How to Cultivate a Love of Learning In Your Child

Homeschooling parents who learn alongside their children often share their enthusiasm as well. (LightField Studios/Shutterstock)

In a world brimming with information and ever-evolving knowledge, fostering a love of learning in children is pivotal. This doesn’t just prepare them for academic success but equips them with the curiosity and skills necessary to thrive throughout life. As a parent, you play an instrumental role in nurturing this passion. In this article, courtesy of Metropolis.Café, we’ll show you how you can create an environment that celebrates learning and curiosity, keeping the flame of knowledge alive in your children. Continue reading →

I’m a High School Teacher, and My School Banned Cellphones in the Classroom

Every School Should Do the Same!

The author’s school banned cellphones in the classroom – students are paying more attention according to her.

Last fall, the school where I teach decided to ban cellphones in the classroom.

Students have to leave them in specific locations at the start of each class.

A year after the policy was implemented, now I’m wondering why more schools are not doing the same. Continue reading →

Bennett: Stepping Up ~ A Guide for High School Graduates Transitioning to the Workforce

Graduating from high school marks a significant milestone in your life, opening up a multitude of avenues for your future. As you stand on the threshold of the professional world, it is crucial to make informed choices that reflect your personal interests and capabilities. This transition can be smooth and successful with a structured approach to career planning. In this article from Metropolis.Café, you will discover how to align your passions with viable career options, develop essential skills, and effectively present yourself to potential employers. Continue reading →

Bennett: Help Your Child Become A Leader With These Smart Strategies

Leadership is an invaluable skill that can profoundly influence a child’s future, shaping their success in school, career, and personal interactions. For parents, the early introduction and nurturing of leadership qualities such as resilience, empathy, and decisiveness are both a privilege and a responsibility. Here are practical strategies for embedding leadership lessons into everyday parenting, courtesy of Metropolis.Cafe. Continue reading →

Teen Breaks Homeschooling Stereotypes, Reveals How It Strengthened Her Family Bond, Confidence, and Faith!

(Illustration by The Epoch Times, Courtesy of Nadine Lauffer, Courtesy of Emma Reese Photography)

Eighteen-year-old Nadine Lauffer has become part of a movement of homeschooling families who are debunking myths surrounding the community. With her weekly podcasts, she’s also been helping teens homeschool fearlessly through high school.

Ms. Lauffer, currently based in Pennsylvania, spent years growing up in the Netherlands and Florida as her dad used to work in chemical engineering sales.

At the age of 3, she began her educational journey at a Dutch-speaking school. However, when her family moved to Florida, she had to restart kindergarten since she didn’t know any English but successfully overcame that challenge. Continue reading →

Bennett: Think, Experiment, Learn ~ Creative STEM Enhancements for Your Classroom

Maintaining a leading edge in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines is essential in the ever-evolving world of education. As you tackle the complexities of teaching these subjects, it’s crucial to continuously discover and adopt innovative strategies that engage and inspire your students. This Metropolis.Café article delves into various practical techniques to rejuvenate and enhance STEM learning in your classroom, aiming to transform both the teaching experience and student outcomes. Continue reading →

Making a Case for Cursive

Recently, I asked my fifth graders if they enjoyed writing in cursive. Students at the all-boys Catholic school where I work start training in cursive penmanship in third grade, so my students had been practicing it for the better part of three years. I expected them to say that it is boring, that they do not like it, but they all said that they preferred cursive to printing. Continue reading →

A Hybrid Homeschool That Gives Control to Parents, Focuses on Tradition — and Includes God

(Courtesy of Renae Zentz)

Ten years ago, a visionary mom embarked on a homeschooling journey with a heartfelt admiration for traditional American values, a never-ending love of learning, and a mission to spread kindness. Many families came on board, one after another, and together they are creating a subtle yet significant difference in our society.

I know this woman and her family personally and feel honored to be one of the teachers at this hybrid homeschool. Let me take you on an educational adventure to this institute that embraces God and prioritizes families. Continue reading →

Fun Rainy Day Activities Your Kids Will LOVE

Rainy days can put a damper on outdoor playtime, leaving parents scrambling for ways to keep their kids entertained indoors. Fear not! With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can turn a gloomy day into a fun-filled adventure right in the comfort of your own home. In this article, courtesy of Metropolis.Cafe, we’ll go over some engaging activities to keep your little ones happily occupied when the weather keeps them from playing outside. Continue reading →

Bennett: Top Ideas for Imaginative Indoor Kid Fun

Keeping our children entertained and educated indoors can be challenging in today’s fast-paced world. However, with some creativity and simple resources, parents can turn their homes into hubs of learning and fun. Metropolis.Cafe shares some indoor activities to keep your kids entertained, stimulate their minds, and spark their creativity… Continue reading →

Thousands of Public Schools at Risk of Closing as Enrollment Declines

Maybe it is about TIME!

In a trend that began with the pandemic, data shows ongoing school enrollment issues, and thousands of public schools nationwide are at risk of closing. According to the Department of Education , in 2023, 1.8 million fewer students enrolled in public schools nationwide compared to 2019.

Less students means less funding for schools, and with federal relief funding dwindling, schools are closing.

Jackson, Mississippi, has seen 11 schools close their doors, some of which have experienced a 30% drop in enrollment since 2018. That trend is not exclusive to Mississippi. Continue reading →

**Cursive Makes a Comeback — by Law — in Public Schools**

A child practices cursive writing exercises at home. After nearly dying out, cursive is making a comeback in public schools, with more than 20 states requiring it so far. (Wilfredo Lee/The Associated Press)

In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa.

But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay. “The governor asked me what I did” before becoming a legislator, she remembered. “I said I was a teacher, and he said, ‘You have to bring back cursive writing.’”

After seven years of trying, she finally succeeded. Continue reading →

Washington’s Parental Rights Bill Gets One Step Closer to Becoming State Law!

In a significant development, Let’s Go Washington, a citizen’s action group, has successfully gathered the required signatures for Initiative 2081, aiming to establish Washington state’s first Parental Bill of Rights.

This move has sparked discussions about the potential impact of parental involvement in education and child welfare.

Let’s delve into the key aspects of this initiative. Continue reading →

Florida School District Is Transformed After Banning Students From Using Phones for ENTIRE DAY

Bullying drops, student engagement in class rises – and kids saying they’re enjoying face-to-face interaction!

‘We saw a lot of bullying,’ Timber Creek High School’s Marc Wasko said of his district’s spin on the statewide law. ‘We had a lot of issues with students posting, or trying to record, things that went on during school time’

Florida school district faculty are praising a new cellphone ban on its nearly 200,000 students – one markedly more severe than what’s required by the state.

The ban went into effect in September, and has prohibited pupils in Orlando’s Orange County public schools system from using their devices since.

The district, the fourth-largest in the state, has 264 schools, and made the move after Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law this past May barring kids from using their phones during class.

The guidance from Orange County Public Schools, however, took that a step further, disallowing students from using their phones during breaks, while requiring them to keep them in their backpacks instead of pockets. Continue reading →

Mom Who Homeschools Her Children Reveals She Lets Her One-Year-Old Play in and EAT Mud…

But Insists It Is Good to Build Up a Healthy Immune System

A mom who refuses to put her kids in school has revealed that she lets her baby play in and eat mud to help build a healthy immune system.

Taylor Moran and her three children, Hudson, five, Thompson, three, and Gus, one, previously hit the headlines after revealing their controversial lifestyle.

The Arkansas-based mom, 32, who doesn’t believe in the traditional schooling system, thinks that classes and homework ‘kills kids’ spirits’ and instead teaches them through exploring.

While she’s received some backlash for ‘unschooling’ her children, the former teacher believes it’s important to let kids be kids, no matter how dangerous that can be.

‘It’s important for them to take on risks like climbing trees, running barefoot or playing in mud,’ said Taylor, who has 73,000 followers on TikTok . Continue reading →

Harnessing Creative Brilliance in Children With Learning Disabilities

In the vibrant tapestry of human expression, art stands out as a medium that transcends words, allowing souls to communicate in colors, shapes, and movements. For children with learning disabilities, delving into the arts unlocks a universe of possibilities, providing them with a medium to express themselves and a bridge to connect, grow, and redefine their potential. Continue reading →

Former Public School Teachers Find Happiness In Entrepreneurship

Education entrepreneurs are finding joy in launching their own innovative learning programs and are spreading that joy to their learners.

Jennifer Hunt works with students at Salt + Light Academy in Kansas. Photo: Kerry McDonald

I spent much of last week in the greater Kansas City area visiting microschools and learning pods, and talking to founders, ahead of the Heartland Hybrid & Microschools Summit, hosted by Kansas Policy Institute.

All of the seven learning environments I visited in Kansas and Missouri were founded within the past three years and all of the founders are former public school teachers who quit and created these alternative programs. They all expressed greater levels of personal and professional fulfillment. Continue reading →

Charters Receive Far Less Money Than Traditional Public Schools. They Do Better Anyway

New research is casting doubt on the common assumption that more funding is a key driver of better educational outcomes.

If you thought charter schools received anywhere near the same amount of funding as traditional public schools, then think again.

A new, massive study from the University of Arkansas finds that “On average, charter schools across 18 cities in 16 states (…) receive about 30 percent or $7,147 (2020 dollars) less funding per pupil than traditional public schools.” Over the past two decades, this funding disparity has remained relatively stable. Continue reading →