Donald Trump tweet gets Demi Lovato blasted for 'offensive' 'grab them by the p--sy' tweet that quoted Trump

The ink is barely dry on #Election 2016 ballots and already the new POTUS-elect's words are coming back to bite him. Trump fans blasted Demi Lovato for "offensive" tweets at Donald Trump which quoted Trump's own words. Trump's advice to grab them by the pu--y was fine with supporters when he was describing how to handle women, but when the Disney star repeated it they called her a crude bully Demi Lovato blasted for 'offensive' Donald Trump Election 2016 tweet that quoted Trump

Jinger Dugger, Jeremy Vuolo hushed, rushed wedding plans bypass parents: why the secrecy?

A rogue Duggar wedding? That's what Jeremy Vuolo and Jinger Duggar are planning and their nuptials don't include the parents Jim Bob or Michelle Duggar. The "Jill & Jessa: Counting On" reality TV couple has flouted courtship, hands-off engagement and now even marriage traditions, saying they're doing relationships their way. Family members hint Jinger will be pregnant in the new year, so that suggests a wedding in the next two months. The couple are keeping wedding plans secret but say it will be small, so a destination wedding leaps to mind. Why all the hushed rush with these two?   Jinger Dugger, Jeremy Vuolo hushed, rushed wedding plans bypass parents: why the secrecy?

JonBenet Ramsey brother Burke Ramsey horrified folks in Dr. Phil murder tell-all

Burke Ramsey, brother of murdered 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey, horrified people in his first-ever murder tell-all to Dr. Phil McGraw. Ramsey, who was 9 at the time of his sister's killing in 1996, has long been suspected. When he opened up for the first time in 20 years, Burke shocked and angered a lot of people. Dr. Phil promised answers to the unsolved murder of the Boulder, Colorado child beauty queen but so far, the first two parts in this 3-part series have only served to further polarize. Did Burke Ramsey, mom Patsy Ramsey, dad John Ramsey or an intruder bludgeon, sexually assault and strangle little JonBenet?     JonBenet Ramsey brother Burke Ramsey horrified folks in Dr. Phil murder tell-all

Chance the Rapper gets chance at VMA, Magnificent Coloring Day singer nominated

All we are saying is give Chance a chance! Even if you hate rap, as do I except for one Eminem song, this is some kind of wonderful and different rapper! "Sunday Candy" like buttah, baby. Chance the Rapper gets chance at VMA, Magnificent Coloring Day singer nominated

Trash crafts for kids: Flower pens, feather pens, decorated vases, gift crafts

Valentine's Day requires writing of cards, notes or letters, so why not write with a flourish? Use this guide to design a lovely flower pens, feather pens and decorated vases for gift crafts. Give gift crafts for Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Teacher Appreciation or holiday gifts. You can make these flower pens and decorated vases from recycled materials, purchasing only pens or pencils.   Trash crafts for kids: Flower pens, feather pens, decorated vases, gift crafts | Examiner.com

Summer enrichment activities: Nature poetry party, creative writing prompts

Summer vacation is almost here and parents, you may be wondering just what in the world you're going to do with your kids for three month. So, here are summer enrichment activities for kids. Host a writers workshop for nature poetry using these creative writing prompts. Or better still, call it a nature poetry party! That way, kids will be enthused about summer enrichment activities and not dread them like summer school (it's all in the wording!) Use these creative writing prompts for National Poetry Month.  Summer enrichment activities: Nature poetry party, creative writing prompts | Examiner.com

Mothers Day, Fathers Day parent gifts for kids to make: Love coupons teach 3 Rs | Examiner.com

Looking for inexpensive Mothers Day or Fathers Day or any-holiday parent gifts for kids to make? Why not have children make homemade love coupons. Make homemade parent gifts and crafts do double duty as learning activities. Creating love coupons and teaches the 3 Rs, reading, writing, arithmetic even spelling and punctuation. Love coupons are the perfect parent gifts for kids to make independently. Use these love coupons for Mothers Day, Fathers Day or Grandparents Day, parent birthdays.   Mothers Day, Fathers Day parent gifts for kids to make: Love coupons teach 3 Rs | Examiner.com

Multicultural teen fiction: Middle school books, literature around the world

Homeschool parents and middle school teachers, want to take a free world tour? March is National Reading Month, so why not read around the world of middle school books. Here is a list of multicultural teen fiction and children's literature around the world, from 20 countries and seven continents. These stories best reflect the flavor of each culture--its people, traditions, religion, region, customs, celebrations and values. These children's literature around the world books include teen fiction, historical fiction, poetry, fairy tales, folklore and mythology. Teachers, be sure to note on a map, the places you visit in this literature unit. Multicultural middle school books are coded for age and grade appropriate level--



4 (grades 4 and up)



6 (grades 6 and up)



8 (grades 8 and up, some of these middle school books are PG-13 and may have some mature situations or language)



NB means this children's literature is a Newbery Award book. Newbery Awards are given to literature around the world that describes culture and history through the eyes of a young person.  Read on for Multicultural teen fiction: Middle school books, literature around the world

Shakespeare lesson plans: Middle English, how to read and understand Shakespearean plays and poems

Beware the Ides of March! And students, beware of teachers quoting Shakespeare, or Julius Caesar in March! Teachers adore Shakespeare and the Ides of March (March 15) is their feast day! But students--meh, not so much. Are you struggling with Shakespeare? Do you despise your literature teacher for making you read Middle English? Do you fail to see the appeal of the Bard of Avon? That is perfectly understandable, but don't despair. Here are tips to vanquish that Shakespearean tragedy, parse his sonnets and laugh in the face of the Bard's comedy. Teachers and homeschool parents, use these lesson plans to make Shakespeare more approachable for students.  Shakespeare lesson plans: Middle English, Shakespearean plays for Ides of March | Examiner.com

Expand your vocabulary, exercise your brain, grow your mind

One of the saddest statistics I ever heard is that most people use the same 1,000 or so words over and over and over. Some much less. They must do a great deal of repeating which is a moot point, I know. But it's not just repetition of words and phrases, it's formula thinking, templated conversation, Scariest of all is that saying the same words over and over means one is never having any new, fresh ideas. One's brain is staid, stagnant, atrophied. And we know what happens to sedentary muscles--they cease to function.

How terrifying. That one could, through, repetitive thoughts and words, wear ruts in the brain, like a scratched or broken record. That sedentary thought processing kills brain cells and cripples thinking. There is so much talk about exercising the body--very important, mind you--but what about the mind? It needs to be ever exploring, sampling, evaluating, applying, analyzing new experiences and data. It  needs to find expression for thoughts, questions, plans, dreams, hopes, fears and all those crazy ideas that area just too crazy for words. Find the words and if you can't keep looking. Try new ones. So you'll make mistakes, pronounce them wrong, use them in the wrong contexts. Don't let that intimidate you. 

So people think you're arrogant if you use "big words?" Big hairy deal. Never make excuses for improving your vocabulary. If they don't like it, they can go exchange those same few hundred sound bytes with similarly conversation challenged folk. Or they can talk to the wall. Certainly it's important to listen as well as we talk, actually, better. That is true communication. So today, do a little risk-taking with vocabulary, written and verbal. Step outside your comfort "voice"box! 

Be well, my dears and do good work. 

Valentines Day hurts relationships, love day is unromantic commercial farce | Examiner.com

<Rant>Well we are about to get hit with another outbreak of VD. No, not venereal disease (youngsters, that's oldster for STD). I mean Valentine's Day. But come to think of it, Valentine's Day is kind like a virus. It infects people with unhealthy ideas about what love is and isn't. The "love day" isn't anything about love. It's a commercial farce. And that's very unromantic.  Valentines Day hurts relationships, love day is unromantic commercial farce 

Martin Luther King Jr Day, what's open and what's closed and why

January 19 honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2015. This day is about a man who made cataclysmic changes in incendiary times using non-violence and passive acts of resistance. But all anyone seems to care about is what's open and closed. Do we get mail? Is school closed? Are banks open? Is Walmart shut? Who cares?  Martin Luther King Jr Day, what's open and what's closed and why | Examiner.com

Chinese New Year of the Goat books for kids, children's literature from China | Examiner.com

 Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival celebrates the culture of the Orient. It begins Feb. 19 in 2015 and culminates with a Lantern Festival. What better way to explore Chinese culture in your classroom than with literature? Here is a list of children's books for pre-K to second graders from China. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. Chinese New Year encompasses traditional animals of the zodiac so many kids' books in this list are animal-themed. It's CNY Year of the Goat (or Sheep) in 2015. Chinese New Year of the Goat books for kids, children's literature from China | Examiner.com

Catholic Lenten devotional: Easter gospel Bible object lessons with jelly beans

Catholic Christian parents, looking for Lenten devotional to share with your children? Here's a Easter gospel devotional using jelly beans. Ya gotta have jelly beans in a Easter basket, but kids don't usually eat 'em till the chocolate candy is gone. By then, jelly beans are stale and yucky (they weren't too great before they went stale!). So use up those ubiquitous jelly beans that collect everywhere (and mate).in Bible object lessons! It's edible, hands-on, fun, educational and devotional.   Catholic Lenten devotional: Easter gospel Bible object lessons with jelly beans | Examiner.com

Free printable felt board patterns, book stencils, story templates for reading | Examiner.com

March in National Reading Month. To teach emergent readers, preschool educators use felt boards to illustrate books and tell stories. Here are free printable felt board patterns, stencils and felt board reading lesson templates from First Palette. First Palette has free printable stencils and templates of shapes, animals, nature, leaves and trees, flowers, numbers, letters, people, clothing, cars, transportation, food--any pattern you need for any preschool unit! Free printable felt board patterns, book stencils, story templates for reading | Examiner.com