Category Archives: recent press

Learning by Doing: service learning as a means of personal growth in the middle grades



The spring edition of Current Issues in Middle Level Education is out! I am excited to have a piece in this academic journal, called Learning by Doing: service learning as a means of personal growth in the middle grades. Here’s the introduction:

“Does service learning impact the personal growth of middle grades students in grades 4-8? If so, in what ways? A review of the literature indicates that it does, in terms of the development of empathy, responsibility, civic engagement, and self-efficacy. In addition, findings include growth in students’ communication with parents and teachers. In this literature review the developmental match between service learning and early adolescence is analyzed, as well the research on personal growth and service learning among K-16 populations. In addition, the issues of reducing bias, possible pitfalls of service learning in relation to personal development, and a measurement tool for future studies are shared. Findings include the importance of reflection, project duration, and mutual understanding between those served and participants of service learning. With these components in place, service learning can lead to significant personal growth in students, especially middle level learners.”

You can read the full article here!

The Order of the Trees is a Green Earth Book Award Honor Book!

2016-green-earth-book-award-honor-winners-for-web-768x403We are pleased to announce that The Order of the Trees won the Green Earth Book Award honor prize for Children’s Fiction 2015! The Nature Generation awards books that promote environmental stewardship among young people.  The Green Earth Book awards are awarded in picture book, children’s fiction and non-fiction, young adult fiction and non-fiction categories.

I’m honored to be included on this list. We’ll be heading to Washington D.C. in October for the Read Green Festival and award ceremony and we will be thrilled to meet other authors,  environmentalists and readers!

Education Week Teacher: Teachers Stay Because They Made a Choice to Serve

Education Week Teacher imageI was happy to have the opportunity to answer a question for the Education Week Teacher blog. It was: Why do some teachers stay at difficult to staff schools? What are the rewards? What do these long term teachers learn about specific communities & learning that benefit their students?

Three educators from across the country, in different educational environments were asked this same question. This post shares our answers. It was my honor to share insight from and with my fellow educators on this topic.