Unchained Spirit Enterprises: Reading Adventures

Write to Find the Light --We did!

2011-09-24T18:13:00.012-04:00

"I hate writing," Maya Angelou has reportedly said, "but I love having written."Most people don't realize how hard even the most accomplished scribes find writing. It is hard. But it's also incredibly rewarding, no matter the reason for the composition. That's why I'm excited to learn about and pass on to you word that the National Council of Teachers Of English plans to launch its first National

The Hip Hop Tale is Here - on CD and in Hardcover!

2010-11-30T23:21:00.009-05:00

Know a child who doesn't like to read or struggles to do it. Looking for an exciting way to teach your youngsters about history and our governmental system. Then you must pick up a copy of the newest edition of Barack Obama: A Hip Hop Tale ofKing's Dream Come True. The book that helped an entire classroom of 2nd graders fall in love with reading and become amazingly proficient at it, and that

The Gift that is Of Thee I Sing

2010-11-30T22:20:00.006-05:00

'Tis the season to give gifts, and when it comes to children, the only gifts I bestow these days are books. Yes, mostly children's books. I write them. I read and teach from them. I collect them. I adore them. They are soup for the soul for all ages. What can I say?Topping my list this year is President Barack Obama's inaugural launch into the vast pool of children's literature -- Of Thee I Sing.

An Educational Listening Treat Coming Soon!

2010-08-29T19:45:00.005-04:00

A book that has won rave reviews from children, parents, teachers, and all sorts of audiences, and that has helped catapult struggling readers out of the basement of literacy to astonishing heights, is on its way to your ears.After nearly a year's worth of work by musicians, vocalists, and the D.C. area's most darling elementary school children, a musical rendition of Barack Obama: A Hip Hop Tale

Busting Myths About Testing and School "Reform"

2010-03-22T12:31:00.006-04:00

Diane Ravitch, who once supported school choice and the No Child Left Behind law, now admits in her new book that she was wrong. In The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education, she shares some of the biggest problems and myths that have arisen out of those "reform" efforts. The excerpts below are from a recent talk Diane gave at the

Telling It Like It Is on Public Education

2010-03-22T11:03:00.012-04:00

At the time of its passage in the early 2000s, the No Child Left Behind Law sounded good and right and timely to much of the American public and a majority of Congress, who had been persuaded that America's public education system was on the verge of collapse. Leading politicians from both parties and conservative education groups warned that only this sweeping new reform could rescue public

Poignantly, Poitier Peers Into Our Future

2010-01-15T08:28:00.008-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of reading The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography by the legendary, awe-inspiring actor, and fascinating human being, Sidney Poitier. Near the end of his remarkable tale, Poitier shares his anxiety about where humankind is headed.He explains, "I've read of studies done... with chimps that have profound implications for our species and our life on the planet.

The Qualities of a Great Teacher

2010-01-13T13:27:00.013-05:00