What you think does matter

In a world of screens and short attention spans, getting kids excited about reading can feel like trying to solve a mystery on par with a missing prize cow. But every once in a while, a book comes along that not only grabs their attention but ignites a spark—an honest-to-goodness desire to keep reading, keep wondering, and keep learning. Secrets of Whisper Pine: The Missing Moo by William Medina is exactly that kind of book. This heart-pounding mystery centers on Emily, a city girl who expects a quiet summer on her grandparents’ farm—until the unexpected happens. Daisy, the farm’s prize cow, goes missing. At first glance, it might seem like a simple farm mishap, but readers soon learn there's something far more chilling hiding in the shadows of Whisper Pine. The story pulls young readers in with its blend of relatable characters, eerie settings, and surprising twists. For students who think books are boring or slow, this one flips the script fast. But beyond the thrill of a grea...

I can’t believe what I just said - I think I had a brain fart. “Go watch TV or I’m going to hit you!” Did I just say that? I can’t believe this. I know I said this because I wanted my son to watch some educational television and yes I was in the middle of something and found it easy to just send him to watch TV. But it hit me after I said it - I was going to hit him if he “didn’t watch TV“ ??? Boy does that sound wrong in so many levels. I hear people talk like if the television is a baby sitter and how others believe TV is bad for kids [ too much tv that is ]. But in this case - I just wanted him to take time to learn. I have always made it a habit to have him watch educational television in the morning because #1 - I want him to learn and #2 - after a certain time there is nothing very educational after 12 noon. So I got a bit frustrated because he’s been watching “junk” tv with his sister and I wanted to make sure he got in the educational stuff like sesame street, Dora, Diego, Arth...