In another month or so the gift-giving season will be upon us, so it’s not too early to put in a gentle reminder about the importance of thank-you notes.Saying thank you is a fundamental behavior that smoothes the way, makes others feel good, allows us to express gratitude, and shows our appreciation. It’s universal. Parents the world over teach their children early to “say thank you.” The written thank-you note is the next step.Why thank-you notes seem to be such a hardship is inexplicable.…See More

One of my most enduring interests over a long career in education has been the values kids learn in their classrooms and schools. These values may have their roots in the books or topics the kids are studying. Or, they may be picked up indirectly from what they observe from teachers and peers, or maybe even from characters in books, movies, and (gulp) computer games.What values do we want our kids to learn? What values do our families teach? How do we ensure our kids become the adults we want…See More