Recent Articles
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Bringing mindfulness into the classroom
Brian Stack and Erica Stack EducationImagine arriving home from work each day and being confronted with tasks to complete as soon as you walk through the door. As adults, we typically have a little bit of time to "decompress" after a long day. Now more than ever, in a society where we are expected to be executing one task while simultaneously thinking of the next one, we as adults need time to be mindful. Children are rarely afforded these mindful opportunities, and that needs to change. They often sit on a loud bus, enter their classroom, and are expected to get right to their morning work.
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New year, new opportunities for improvement
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementAs the 2010s end, we now face opportunities associated with transitioning to a new decade. This is a time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. Tawni Phelan, CAE, CMP, executive director of the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives, offers a positive outlook, "2020 is a new year and decade. Seize the opportunity to make the past a resource and the future a world of possibilities." Most association staffs are busy putting out fires, answering questions and meeting deadlines. Make time to discuss with staff or officers how to make enhancements in the organization.
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Historic inmate commutation in Oklahoma calls for new approach after release
Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityEarly November saw conservative Oklahoma release 462 people serving sentences for non-violent and drug offenses in the largest commutation in U.S. history. This is a case study, if you will. These former inmates are now working residents, sharing demands with people in the working class: fair wages; the right to unionize; affordable housing/healthcare/child care; quality public education/scholarships; and continuity of safety-net services, among others. There are competing visions of prison reform that render post-release obstacles part of a fledgling "release/rehabilitation state-industrial complex" of sorts.
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Volunteering on the road
Connie Ulman Recreation & LeisureVolunteering can mean different things to different people. When I think of volunteering, I think of two things. One is giving time to a project or organization that is near and dear to your heart. The second is volunteering in exchange for full hookup (FHU). This means volunteering one's time in exchange for an RV site. Many people participate in work camping, which is completely different from volunteering. With work camping, you get the FHU as well as an hourly income. In this article, we will discuss non-monetary rewards of volunteering while on the road.
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Building and developing motivation with multilingual learners
Erick Herrmann EducationStudents generally start their educational career motivated and excited to learn. Multilingual learners have the benefit of learning a new language while retaining their native language. As students develop language and content skills through the educational process, they become motivated to continue to learn and grow. Yet some students struggle with language and content learning for a variety of reasons and may lose motivation over time. There are, fortunately, a variety of steps we can take to increase student motivation, and, over time, increase student achievement in terms of learning language and content.
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Tips for staying organized in a resource room
Scott Clamme EducationJunior high and high school resource rooms can be very high-paced and complex arenas. Being able to manage the chaos is crucial. These are some simple tips that can help you stay organized and keep things running smoothly. Keep in mind that, just like our students, teachers are all different. It may require some tweaks and adjustments to fit these tips into your system.
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Death of a blacktail
Chester Moore Jr. Recreation & LeisureThe Sacramento River in Northern California is magnificent. With cool waters running from the Klamath Mountains in the shadow of magnificent Mount Shasta, it flows over smooth, gray stones along wooded shorelines. As I made my way up a game trail leading from the main river, a shocking scene unfolded before me. Lying on the edge of the trail was a massive, dead blacktail buck. With antlers that would make any hunter proud, it was evident this buck had died within the last 24-36 hours.
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The office holiday party plus-one mystery
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementHoliday parties can range from black tie to alcohol-infused harbor cruises. From low-key shindigs to high-brow extravaganzas, holiday parties can be as fun as they are challenging. While it may seem like a great time, parties can be fraught with awkward decisions, especially when it comes to who is attending. Here are a few tips for handling the plus-one on the invite.
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Will climate relief meet prison closures in California’s budget?
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentAs the upcoming holiday season promises a new year and new budget proposals, Northern California’s PG&E remains in limbo, with wildfire victims remaining largely uncompensated. The saga involves mismanagement distributing an essential commodity, power, to 16 million people. As climate disasters mount, the world's fifth-largest economy may adopt a publicly owned utility. PG&E remains court-ordered to pay past wildfire victims — customers and insurance companies — back, but company and state officials share the view that customers should pay for (at least some) future damages.
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Easy ways to discover what interests your target audience
Sheilamary Koch MarketingLearning about your audience can be incredibly easy. According to a study by content marketing strategist Jordan Loftis, successful marketers are 242% more likely to conduct audience research at least once per quarter — while 56% of what he calls his most elite marketers conduct research once or more per month. Here's a compilation of best tips from expert marketers for going beyond basic demographics to glean important insight about your audience.