Education

Running Through Walls 18
- Culture, Education, Family, Featured, Health, Uncategorized
- July 8, 2025
“My heart feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest!” Eric yelled out as he stopped short of the finish line. “What?” “My heart! It’s never felt like that before! That’s why I stopped!” We were running laps after his indoor baseball practice. I was frustrated with his sprints during conditioning at the
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A Short Reading List That Every American Adult Should Tackle 13
- Education, Entertainment, Featured, Literature, Politics, Uncategorized
- July 7, 2025
If you’re like me, you’ve probably had some point in your life where you knew it was time to stop scrolling through your phone, put all screens far from you, and nail your pants to a chair with the hard copy of a book in your hands. But even when the hearty among us resolve
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Beyond the Box Score: The Stats That Really Matter in Youth Baseball 24
- Culture, Education, Entertainment, Featured, Uncategorized
- July 1, 2025
As my son Eric wraps up his third year of travel baseball, I realize I have different expectations than most dads. Many dads focus on our sons’ performance on the field, with little tolerance for mistakes. A boy will make an error, and some dad will scream in disgust — “That can’t happen! It can’t
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Do Yourself a Favor and Memorize a Poem 21
- Culture, Education, Featured, Literature, Uncategorized
- June 30, 2025
Several times a year I require my students to memorize a poem. Sometimes I choose for them (say, “Death Be Not Proud,” by John Donne). Sometimes I hand them an anthology and let them choose. I don’t explain rhyme scheme or poetic devices. I only ask that the students know the meaning of every word
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An Ode to Amateur Recitals 29
- Culture, Education, Entertainment, Featured, Religion, Uncategorized
- June 27, 2025
Sitting in my winter coat, a Styrofoam cup of tea in hand, I listened in awe as the orchestra on stage finished Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter.” Nearby, several friends of mine sat in similar joyous awe, taking in the music. This was a regular Friday or Saturday evening occurrence during my college years. Thanks to the
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Teaching Children to Embrace the Difficult Delights of Life 23
- Education, Family, Featured, Uncategorized
- June 24, 2025
I browsed the shelves for as long as my mother would allow when I visited the library as a child. When her patience – or our available time – finally petered out, I brought seven or eight books up to the library counter to check out – a healthy mix of historical fiction, fantasy, mystery,
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