​Augment:  make (something) greater by adding to it

Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of the most influential children’s authors in American history. Her vibrant retelling of episodes from her childhood in the world-famous Little House historical fiction series helped shape the popular idea of the American frontier. Today, we celebrate birth-anniversary of one of America's most beloved authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder. With over 60 million copies of her books sold in more than 100 countries, Wilder's books - especially her semi-biographical Little House on the Prairie​ - have certainly earned their place among the classics. Fill out the your Happy Birthday, Missouri sheet with information about Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Spend Some Time with Laura In Search of Laura Travel with Laura California Iowa Kansas Minnesota Missouri​ Nebraska New York Pennsylvania South Dakota Wisconsin Point of View I'm providing a link to a blog:  The Awl.  The author of this particular blog is looking at Laura's writing from a different point of view.  In fact, she admits that her point of view have changed through the years and through different roles in which she has found herself.  I want you to take a look at her opinion.  Let me know what you think.  Why does she feel the way she does about this classical piece of literature?  Do you agree or disagree? ​Remember to close the tab for this blog after you read the page.

Trailer for Your Life

Speaking of Prairies

Learn more about this important landform.  Choose one of the wonders to explore:

What Is a Prairie? Is Your House on the Prairie?

Little Houses in the 21st Century:  Design It / Pitch It

The rafters of our old schoolhouse rattled and groaned.  We saw the black plume of smoke from a truck bomb detonated just 4½ miles away.  As lead teacher, I locked down the building and consoled students, teachers, and parents.  The terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City greatly changed and affected my life and teaching.

Sixteen years later, an EF5 tornado carved a deep path through my current city of Joplin, Missouri.  I helped coordinate relief efforts and hugged more strangers that summer than any point in my life.  Families lost every tangible possession.  One student lost his only parent, and overcame a negligible probability of survival himself.

After each event, my classrooms earned a reputation for having an exemplary family relationship.  I support that relationship through manners and high expectations, embracing error, developing solutions, struggling together, and discovering truth.

Twenty-five years ago, through tears, the grandmother of a student claimed I was the only calm male influence for her grandson.  To a reflective, conscientious educator, that responsibility hits hard, pressing on my shoulders as I absorb their weight.  I realize tomorrow’s family, community, and nation leaders are in my classroom today!

George Washington influenced uneasy times.  His strength and demeanor exposed leadership and decision-making abilities amidst confusion and extraordinary events.  He weighed risks, led boldly, and calmed a room.  He sought civility and decency with high, intrepid standards.  I aspire to be that resolute peacekeeper for stakeholders in our school.

Missouri now places American Revolutionary history into fourth grade.  I am excited to have opportunities to share my passion for the era with students.  While I graze the surface of our nation’s founding with presentations about Missouri’s pre-statehood story, I yearn for richer, deeper understanding about life during this period.  I long to know President Washington.  I must meet him, sit with him, share a meal with him.

To demonstrate culture, character, and manner, I bring our first president to life.  As historians, my students collaboratively struggle with material and process.  They feel jubilations of success only when they respectfully wrestle difficult decisions with innovative thinking to unearth startling solutions.  When that includes replicating 18th century scenarios, we do it.  Our continuing quest to create a real, relevant, and captivating classroom does not prepare students for future classes; it prepares them for life.  Students gather information, learn from failure, and build systems to serve future generations.  By identifying mistakes and responses from the past, they are better equipped to face genuine issues.

When my teacher-peers curiously spy through our window or click on our website, they don’t see isolated topics, changing every 20 minutes or breaking on a regular schedule.  They see us encountering real, exciting situations, shattering the factory mold of school.  We time travel!
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Like Washington, we learn to approach, communicate, and react with our acquaintances.  At day’s end, I enjoy the satisfying fatigue resulting from empowering adults and children with the mettle for success and encouraging educators, through conversations, observations, and formal or electronic presentations, to do likewise.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Elsewhere...

While We're on the Topic Learn more about ​the holiday's main character: Who Is ​Punxsutawney Phil?

Music Appreciation Enjoy this holiday edition of Music Appreciation.

Speaking of Groundhogs

Shadows in the Arts

Use newspapers to find the words to the poem.  Cut and paste the words onto a provided piece of construction paper.  If you have to find individual letters to spell out the words, that's acceptable, too, but be on the lookout for letters that are already in the right order. Each group will be responsible for a couple of lines.

Shadow Math

And Finally...

While born in Joplin, Missouri, on February 1, 1902, James Mercer Langston Hughes did not live in Missouri very long.

While We're On the Topic

Learn more about the atmosphere and times:

When Was the Harlem Renaissance?

​I, Too

Take a look at his poem, I, Too.  Consider the way the words come together to paint the picture Hughes is trying to make you see.  Then, create your own I, Too poem.  Use the framework provide in the Hughes original to guide you.

I, Too File Size: 229 kb File Type: docx Download File