DD Reads Boffo to Many Children

I—also known as DD—love to read books to children. I have been reading to them since 1980 — first to my children, then to children ages preschool through middle school.

The characters come to life with the different voices I use, which I do now every Tuesday and Thursday at two different schools. Boffo - The Great Motorcycle Race by Frank Dickens is a classic and a favorite for 3- to 8-year old children. This — and many others — YouTube below was made so I could share with children because of COVID restrictions. If I get lots of views, I will periodically share other readings.

A Next Step of Artificial Intelligence - ROBOTICS

 If you thought AI was the next technology takeover, you must check out the CBS 60 Minutes TV program that aired Sunday, January 4. Here is the 13-minute segment with reporter Bill Whitaker leading "Progress made on AI-powered humanoid robots | 60 Minutes." It is amazing  to say the least.

Janitor at a Middle School Makes People Cry

Here is a very special video from 2025 America's Got Talent. The singer presents himself in a very humble way and changes all expectations once he begins singing a song. See what you think . . .

"Permission to Feel" Emotional RULER Skills & Guiding Young Ones

I first met author Marc Brackett at a conference when I was heading a toddler through eighth grade school in Brooklyn, NY. What I love about Permission To Feel is that it says so much about adult — parents and educators — caring for children and children responses.

The book's beginning introduction is an acronym RULER — Recognizing Emotions, Understanding Emotions, Labeling Emotions, Expressing Emotions, Regulating Emotions and how it helps the reader understand how to view and process emotions.

When reading Chapters 9 - Emotions at Home and 10 - Emotions at School: From Preschool to College with all of the true-life examples, gives the reader guidance on helping you guide children regarding emotional intelligence for you and them. Marc supplies such good true stories that convince you how good emotional intelligence is for children and adults.

If you have not already read Marc's book, here is a website that gives you more about Marc Brackett and his work.

Guiding Children To Be Kind - Part 2

I bumped into this book on kindness as I was gathering books to read to my two preschool classes that I read to each week. Like my previous blog post, I love this book because of how it reaches out to parents, educators, AND children on being kind. So much of what we do as educators and parents is setting the best examples in our own lives to help children move forward with kindness in their lives.

A big thank you to author and illustrator Todd Parr for his beautiful book on kindness! Check out this YouTube to view him reading and discussing the book with children.

Guiding Children To Be Kind

Being kind is paramount in this day and age. Guiding — modeling for and building — children to be kind to others is so important. By the way, the previous views for my October 10 blog post "Being Kind Helps Others and Oneself" has over 85,000 views!

So, as a follow-up to the last blog post, I found a beautiful children's book on being kind that I read to my preschool classes this week.        I like to be Kind by Aleks Harrison has a similar message as presented in the previous post. It was such a treat to see the children's smiles as I read.

Being Kind Helps Others and Oneself

Simple as it may sound, being kind to one another can be life altering. This is helpful to children when they view adults being kind to others. Also, being kind to others can be powerful to oneself.

Here is a beautiful short piece on being kind from author Steve Garnaas Holmes

Great PALINDROME Resources

A friend sent this "50 PALINDROMES" sheet to me last week, and it is terrific. (If you have trouble viewing this on your computer, try clicking on this link). 

I could have used it when I was teaching my 5th grade math class about palindromes . . . 40 years ago. Also, this 40-year old experience has been captured in my book Forward backwards  THE SAME.

Also, the book SO MANY DYNAMOS! by John Agee is a very popular and amusing book.

GOODMORNING – Reading to Children

The book Goodnight Moon written by Margaret Wise Brown is celebrating its 75th year. It is a book that I have read many many times to children. 

Then, while walking through the children's section at the library, I stumbled upon the book Goodnight iPad, written in 2011 by Ann Droyd (Get it?). Nevertheless, the covers look alike but the contents of each are very different!

                              

The important aspect of these two books is a perspective for parents and educators, understanding the history and future of technology and social media and where they can lead us. One of the best resources for understanding all of this is the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt that has been on the NYTimes top 10 list for the past 72 weeks. 

Emotional Intelligence is So Important in Our Lives

I have been enthralled by Emotional Intelligence (EI) throughout my career in education. Over the years, I have spent lots of time understanding, teaching, and implementing EI in my work and life. To see what I mean, do a search in this blog by typing in "Emotional Intelligence" and see the posts I have dedicated to EI resources. Here are just a few posts:

• For All Educators -> Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence (7/3/15)

• Emotional Intelligence 2.0 (3/3/17)

• On Cue Everyone, "Consider EQ Before IQ": Leading with Emotional Intelligence (12/31/21)

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Here is the latest EI resource I have grabbed on to ---->

I am in the middle of the book, and it has so much good information on employing EI with teams. I bumped into the author, Dr. Vanessa Druskat, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of New Hampshire when we both presented at the May TEDx Portsmouth. Here is a link to her presentation. She gives so much strong information regarding team building in her talk AND in her book.

Stay Connected by Reading to Children

Reading to children does help to be more in control of living with AI — for them AND for parents and educators. Back in June 2023, the Montessori Leadership magazine spring edition published my article "Cosmic Education and the Seven Great Lessons for 2023" to help educators and parents help children. 

On June 25, I presented a Montessori Leadership Forum webcast to educators/parents to hear their take and discuss AI, social media, and the whole new world of technology. Here is a link to the presentation that is 55 minutes long and begins at 3:34. 

A Special Book Review . . .

Here is a link to a book review for my recently published book, Forward Backwards The Same. The review is from Montessori Life, summer 2025 magazine — thank you Rob. In case you are interested, the book is available from Amazon. 😀

WHAT IF . . . Reading to Children

I had an amazing opportunity to talk about the importance of reading to children and read the book I wrote — Forward Backwards THE SAME — at the recent TEDx Portsmouth 2025 event at the Music Hall. I read to an audience with over 900 people. The audience was so engrossed, and the TEDx staff was outstanding in how they presented all 14 individual speakers, moving towards a "What If . . ." theme.

Here is an excellent GRANITE GOODNESS website review by Andy DeMeo presenting all that TED does.

Great Stories to Read to Middle Schoolers

I have always enjoyed reading to children. Here is an article — "The Joy of Reading to Children" — I wrote for "Montessori Life" magazine with the American Montessori Society back in 2017. It can give you some important information and thoughts. 

Also, High Marks - Stories That Make Good Reading compiled by Annette Sloan & Albert Capaccio is a book I have used over the years to read to middle school students. Here is a sample of the stories students enjoy:

"The Lion Roared" by Virginia Eiseman
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
"How Much Land Does a Man Need" by Leo Tolstoy
"The Necklace" by Guy De Maupassant
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs

Also, the book includes thoughtful questions at the end of each story.

A Joy — Reading To Children

It is so good to have libraries all around. Our local Greenland, NH library has such beautiful and well stocked books for children and teens. AND it's all FREE! 

As I have mentioned earlier, I read to preschoolers at two different schools, and many of my books-to-read come from their school and town libraries AND my own books that have accumulated over the years. Here is a children's favorite, Boffo The Great Motorcycle Race.

What a joy it is to be with them watching their faces as I read stories, especially when I change voices of characters in the readings. Here is a Boffo read I implemented during COVID when I could not be with the children . . . 

PALINDROME PAL

Here is a book I just wrote and is now published with Amazon: Forward backwards THE SAME. The book is available through Amazon.  Here is the Amazon link. 

The illustrations that Karina Taylor provided are thoughtfully beautiful. 

Forty years ago as a 5th grade math teacher, I was fascinated by palindromes and as expected and when presented, so were my students.  

Feel free to pass on a comment after you read the book. Many thanks!

Supercommunicators

Supercommunicators caught my attention right from the beginning with author Charles Duhigg highlighting the importance and use of emotional intelligence throughout the book. As an example, he states "One of the reasons supercommunicators are so talented at picking up on how others feel is because they have a habit of noticing the energy in others' gestures, the volume of their voices, how fast they are speaking, their cadence and effect."

Here is more of getting to know Charles Duhigg and his good work via his TEDx Manchester video . . . 

Stop Asking for Feedback and Start Asking for Advice

Dan Pink's Pinkcasts are short and present powerful information. He is one of my favorite authors, advisors on leadership, and helper of  others. Take 54 seconds to watch this excellent Pinkcast on "advice v. feedback." 

Link to Dan Pink video

The Art of Asking

Such a beautiful TED Talk with 13M views AND a powerful message on "The Art of Asking." As a singer, Amanda Palmer has a simple but important message when interacting with people . . . 

"And the media asked,

Amanda, the music business is tanking and you encourage piracy. 

How did you make all these people pay for music? 

And the real answer is, I didn't make them. 

I asked them. 

And through the very act of asking people, 

I'd connected with them, 

and when you connect with them, people want to help you. 

It's kind of counterintuitive for a lot of artists. 

They don't want to ask for things. 

But it's not easy. 

It's not easy to ask. 

And a lot of artists have a problem with this. 

Asking makes you vulnerable." 

Watch her TED Talk to get the full, beautiful picture of asking.

Learning How to OUTLIVE

For those of us who are educators and parents over 50, the book Outlive really is the science and art of life longevity. This bestselling book is so helpful. To get you started, below is a terrific PBS interview with author Peter Attia, MD. 

Also, here is a link to his amazing website where he specifically takes you through exercise, nutrition, sleep, medications & supplements, mental & emotional health, and risks.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid — Amazing

Ever since my seven-year-old grandson recommended a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, — AND my granddaughter has 14 books in the series — I am on my second book. Wow! How did I miss this in my readings? Above is a picture of author Jeff Kinney's collection that is now 15 years old.

Speaking of author Kinney, check out this great PBS interview where he talks about his Wimpy Kid and the 250 million copies out worldwide that have come in for his work. 

Reading to Children — A Delight For Them and You

I have been reading to children — preschool through middle school — for over 40 years. I began with my own children, and I made my way through my entire education career and into retirement. United Way's Ready Readers program got me up and running in my retirement years.  I now read to two preschool classes in two different schools on a weekly basis. I am also working on publishing a children's book.

New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof's article (11/24/24) "Gift Ideas That Push Back the Darkness" is special. One of his recommended gift ideas is "Help a child learn to read!" It is spot-on regarding reading to children . . . "Reach Out and Read operates across the United States. It now reaches one-fifth of children 5 and under in America and aims to reach half by 2030."

Nexus - Stone Age to AI - A Lesson for all to Learn

Nexus is a special book for educators and parents and the children they serve. They will all get a clear, outstanding picture of the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Yuval Noah Harari is one of my favorite authors. He is so thoughtful and brilliant in how he takes the reader from the beginning of humanity to AI, making sure he explains democracy, wars, evolution of communication via newspapers, radio, television, phones, computers, and the many aspects of algorithms. 

If you don't have the time to read the book, go to the BIG THINK website to listen to Harari's Nexus 75-minute interview; he is such a good speaker.

How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flow

My introduction to FLOW was when I read Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and subsequently introduced him at a conference.

I love how Adam Grant begins his TED Talk on how to stop languishing and start finding flow . . . 

"I know you all have long to-do lists, 

but I hate wasting time so much that I have a to-don't list. 

Don't scroll on social media, 

don't check my phone in bed 

and don't turn on the TV 

unless I already know what I want to watch."

8 Ways to Help Children Cultivate Happiness

"Here are 8 ways to help children cultivate happiness:

• Foster strong social connections.

• Model grace and courtesy.

• Introduce and practice mindfulness.

• Lead an appreciation practice.

• Set goals.

• Provide opportunities for movement.

• Have a sense of humor.

• Help children identify and pursue their interests."

Article "8 Ways to Help Children Cultivate Happiness" and picture are from American Montessori Society Montessori Life magazine (8/7/24) and blog by author Heather White.

The Power of Words

The power of words can make a huge difference in our lives — especially when children are learning how to use words well. 

This video is amazing the way it helps one understand the power words have when used correctly . . . particularly when we are in the midst of elections.

Optical Illusions for Children & Adults

Check out this video that takes you through 11 different optical illusions. Teachers and parents sitting with young people can have lots of fun learning more about optical illusions AND personality traits.

Happiness v. Meaning in Your Life?

Emily Esfahani Smith's TED Talk "There's more to life than being happy" gives great insight on the differences in happiness in life and having meaning in life. 

Smith goes on to say "Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but I came to see that seeking meaning is the more fulfilling path. And the studies show that people who have meaning in life, they're more resilient, they do better in school and at work, and they even live longer."

She goes on to talk clearly about . . . 

. . . THE FOUR PILLARS OF MEANING

1) Belonging   2) Purpose   3) Transcendence   4) Storytelling

Here is here beautiful TED Talk that has over 13M views — 

Helping Parents, Children, and Educators With AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Since the beginning of April, the book The Anxious Generation has been on the New York Times bestsellers list. 

Below is an interview with the author, Jonathan Haidt. It captures the essence of the book, and both the book and the video are so helpful if you want to know where we are and where we are going with children, parents, education, and AI (Artificial Intelligence).

Here is the interview:

Journey With a School Janitor

Fifty-five year old Richard Goodall has been serving as a janitor at a local school for 23 years. He loves to sing and make people happy. He had the opportunity to be on stage at America's Got Talent TV show on May 28. As of June 14, his YouTube performance below has over 13.4M views! His story, wrapped around a popular song, moves everyone when he sings.