| Educational Book Club

Grossology

I'm the father of three young boys. And, as any parent of little boys can attest, little guys are fascinated by some of the most disgusting things nature has to offer—especially when it has anything to do with the human body. Whether they're laughing at gas or surprising you with some freshly mined nose gold, there seems to be never-ending interest in the less than pleasant side of biology. Boys will be boys.

Along with this innate fascination comes a bottomless pit of questions. Why do people poop? What is it? How come my skinned knees get scabs? On and on and on and on. Every time they make a new discovery there's bound to be a question and answer period to follow. And honestly, I don't always have the answers, not real ones anyway.

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Math at Hand and the Math Dictionary for Kids

Great resources for parents, teachers and students

Mathematics can be a confusing and difficult subject for many children. Many of the concepts seem abstract and without the proper resources can be very difficult to teach because every concept builds off of another. If a student is struggling with one particular concept, everything following it can be an even bigger challenge.

It's important for teachers and parents alike to know these concepts and how to strengthen children's understanding of them. Every kid is different and learns in different ways, so a variety of resources to turn to is essential.

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! By Tom Robinson

The world is a mysterious place filled with wonders that can be opened to children if they would just take the time to see them. Science helps explain the basic principals of the universe and cultivating a love for it early one will insure they keep that natural curiosity.

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! gives children the opportunity to learn about the world through fun, and safe, experiments. Your children will be amazed by the world around them as they answer questions like: Can you inflate a balloon without blowing into it?; Do toilets swirl in the same direction everywhere?; and Can magnets be turned off? Read more about The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! By Tom Robinson

When Kids Are Grieving: Addressing Grief and Loss in School

Grief is hard for adults to handle, but for children who have limited life experience and less mature coping skills, it can be unbearable. Supporting a child who is grieving a loss, whether it be due to death, divorce or any number of other circumstances, is a challenge for teachers and parents alike. Like adults, all kids process their grief differently, and it's important to have great resources to help you help them.

One of the best books I've come across for helping educators and parents reach out to bereaved children is When Kids Are Grieving: Addressing Grief and Loss in School by Donna M. Burns. Burns is an educational psychologist with a concentration on adolescent and child development and issues in loss and grief. She's conducted seminars and written papers on the subject and supported families dealing with grief.

When Kids Are Grieving is an excellent resource for adults supporting grieving children. She provides insights into child and adolescent grief, how to recognize it, strategies for healthy and supportive interventions, checklists, additional resources, charts and even activities to help children at various ages. Read more about When Kids Are Grieving: Addressing Grief and Loss in School

The Science Book for Girls: and Other Intelligent Beings

When children are really young, they seem to have similar interests in science and the way the world works around them. Studies have shown, however, that girls become less inclined towards science when they hit the preteen, or “tween,” years. This begs the question, “Where does this change in interest science come from?” Does science just become boring to girls or do they feel that it's just not girly enough?

Whatever the answer is, the bottom line is that most girls aren't as inclined toward scientific learning and continuing to ask the questions that boys do. When you think about how science is all around us, from the air we breathe to the way everything works, both natural and man-made, it's troubling that young ladies are less likely to be psyched about learning more. That's why Books for Girls turned their attention toward making scientific discovery more appealing to girls, ages eight and up.

Their book, The Science Book for Girls: and Other Intelligent Beings, written by Valerie Wyatt, is specifically geared toward inspiring the young, female mind to keep reaching for more answers in a fun, girl-friendly way. They cover everything, from physics to botany, through a wide variety of fun puzzles, experiments, brain teasers and other activities as well as introducing girls to exciting science-related careers and fields of study. Read more about The Science Book for Girls: and Other Intelligent Beings

American History Comic Books

History is an important subject for children, but it can be a challenge to spark their interests. Kids need to learn that there's more to learning the lessons of the past than just memorizing dates and geographical locations to pass a test. Many interesting and important happenings took place during America's short but exciting history, and by presenting these stories in different ways, more children are likely to find a love and interest in learning about the road paved by our forefathers.

I have to admit, history wasn't my favorite subject when I was young. Reading and memorizing passages from heavy textbooks didn't appeal to me until I was much older. And, while there's no disputing the necessity of textbook learning, I think it would have been more helpful for me if my teachers would have tried supplementing textbook lessons with other more enjoyable resources.

As a father of three boys, I know that sparking their individual interests and getting them excited about learning can be a challenge. I can't even imagine it on a scale of 20-30 different children from year to year. Still, I think academic education is a partnership between schools and parents, and I'm always on the lookout for new ways to help my kids learn outside of the classroom, too. Read more about American History Comic Books

350 Fabulous Writing Prompts

I knew I was a writer from an early age. I was always excited when my teachers would assign essay exercises and would try my hardest to come up with creative and interesting takes on whatever themes they would give us. Sometimes, I'd even surprise myself.

Giving your students interesting writing prompts gives them the opportunity to think about something that they might not ever consider, from their feelings to how they would solve problems that adults toil over and often over analyze. Often, kids have a wonderful way of surprising us with simple, innocent, yet valuable insight through their writing, because they haven't gained all the life experience that adults have—which, let's admit it, often stifles our creativity.

Still, it can be difficult to come up with new, exciting writing topics from year to year. And, after you've read 1000 essays on what a child wants to be when he grows up, odds are reading them will become a tad monotonous. Giving your students a variety of topics from year to year keeps them thinking and you from growing tired of the subject matter. Read more about 350 Fabulous Writing Prompts

Finland Education: Are there lessons for the US to learn from the Finnish education system?

Finland and the US are completely different, so it might be difficult to apply Finnish education lessons in the United States.

I just read an article from The Atlantic touting the Finnish educational system, which is run based on the premise that every child deserves equal access to a good education. The writer contrasted the Finnish educational system to the educational system in the United States by noting that the Finnish system does not have the option for private schools, while the United States educational system does.

Doll School: For Girls Who Love To Teach!

American Girl dolls have come a long way since their debut in 1986. What started as a handful of beautiful dolls and books and exploded into a franchise, including everything from pajamas to and pets to stores where girls can enjoy classy parties with their fashionable little companions.

American Girl has been committed to positive role modeling and education for girls for over two decades now, and it shows in one of there latest themed activity books, Doll School: For Girls Who Love To Teach!

This book comes with a variety of items a girl would need to properly teach, test and track the records of their doll students. Since so many little girls enjoy role playing games, teaching their dolls and stuffed animals, I think this is a brilliant idea. The girls can set up their classrooms, complete with faux library and grade books, and learn as the teach. Read more about Doll School: For Girls Who Love To Teach!

Teachers Will Appreciate A Good Book

Teachers work hard to help mold our children's minds and give them the tools to succeed in the complicated world around us. They teach kids everything from how to count and read to teamwork and taking care of their bodies. During the holiday season, many parents and children give gifts to the educators in their lives as a way to show appreciation for the wonderful services they provide.

If you're still trying to think of the perfect gift for your child's teacher, consider skipping the holiday trinkets and instead helping them help children by gifting them some new books. It's no secret that across the US, schools have been heavily impacted by the economy. Programs are getting cut and many teachers are providing classroom materials out of their pockets. Read more about Teachers Will Appreciate A Good Book