First Lady Michelle Obama plants a garden with Big Bird and Elmo as part of Sesame Street's 40th season. Photo by Richard Termine I've always been a big "Sesame Street" fan, but it took me a long time to truly understand how good it is. As a kid, I thought it was just entertainment. Sure, I learned about letters and numbers and sharing and things, but it was mostly a fun show full of characters so vivid they felt like friends: there was a helpful monster who avoided contractions, a filthy curmudgeon, a meticulous bachelor and his infuriatingly perky roommate, an omnivorous monster with impulse control problems, a surprisingly cuddly vampiric numerophile, and a little kid who happened to be an eight-foot-two-inch-tall bird -- and his (still invisible at that point) friend. Now, as a mom, I think I'm finally able to fully appreciate "Sesame Street" for what it is: the most loving, carefully crafted, far-reaching educational project on the planet. If you've never considered how big "Sesame Street" is, that might sound ludicrous. But consider its goals and its impact. Back in 1969, when it debuted, it was designed to help urban, low-income, and minority preschoolers be more prepared for school (though its appeal ended up being far wider than that). Studies have shown that it succeeded. In addition to teaching letters and numbers, "Sesame Street" also teaches kids to have a positive attitude toward learning in general. But the show teaches even greater social lessons. Beyond the obvious ones like sharing and telling the truth, it has a deeper message of tolerance, empathy, diversity, and acceptance. Today, 140 versions of the show exist around the world, each crafted to suit its local audience in format, curriculum, and tone. In South Africa, "Takalani Sesame" features an HIV-positive Muppet. On Egypt's "Alam Simsim," an inquisitive female Muppet encourages girls to break gender stereotypes. And in recent years in America, the show has helped children of military personnel deal with parents' deployment and homecoming, and has helped teach kids affected by the dismal economy how to cope. In its four decades, "Sesame Street" has changed with the times to keep up with entertainment styles, educational demands, and social needs. Today, as the show celebrates 40 years of excellent educational television, millions of kids and parents will tune in to a new season that will focus on things like healthy eating and green living, but without fundamentally changing from its original educational goals. I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do, though I haven't seen much of the show lately (and, admittedly, the last time I watched, I found Elmo rather annoying). My daughter is still too young for TV, but I'm excited about rediscovering my old friends with her when she's a little older. Suggested Sites... Sesame Street - official site of the show that's won an astonishing 122 Emmy Awards. It’s All New and Better Than Ever as Sesame Street Turns 40! - Sesame Workshop outlines the changes you'll see on the next season of "Sesame Street." Muppet Wiki: Sesame Street - Muppet enthusiasts' knowledge of all things Sesame. The New York Times: Sesame Street - a highbrow look at kids' TV. Reaching the Next Generation With 'Muppet Diplomacy' - CNN article on "Sesame Street's" international message of understanding and tolerance.

Directory categories: Sesame Street, Sesame Street Characters, Jim Henson, The Muppets, Children's Television

Archived under: Anniversaries, Children, Children´s TV, Education, Entertainment, Muppets, Sesame Street, TV

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Punctuation fail -- unless they're talking about smoking food and photographing drinks (Photo by Chris Chan) Who gives a **** about an "Oxford Comma?" And what exactly is an "Oxford comma," anyway? For those of you who knew that it's the final comma in a list of items before the conjunction, it probably comes as no surprise that Thursday is National Punctuation Day. Yes, it's an entire day devoted to celebrating the correct placement of apostrophes, semicolons, and quotation marks. In fact, those are only three of the fourteen different standard punctuation marks in the English language! (Bonus points to those who could list all fourteen before clicking on that link.) However, if you're the kind of person who couldn't care less that "its" is possessive, but "it's" is not, perhaps you should reconsider the importance of those tiny symbols the next time you ask "Whats missing?" First, it's the hyphens that the careless let go, then it's the ellipses, and before you know it, nobody can end a sentence without it running into the next one. In fact, careless punctuation can literally cost you, as a Canadian company discovered in 2006. A single misplaced comma cost them $2 million dollars when their contract was erroneously terminated. Of course, just as bad as being punctually illiterate is being a busybody know-it-all (cue Ross from "Friends"). Perhaps you've been lucky enough to avoid Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" while learning your way around a school essay. The duo adeptly demonstrated how to use a possessive apostrophe correctly, while simultaneously confusing students every time they pondered whether it was "mantel" or "mantle" that referred to that thing above the fireplace (it's "mantel," in case you were wondering ...). If you're still convinced that all punctuation is stuffy and boring, there's Victor Borge, the man who made semi-colons entertaining. Borge, a Danish comedian and musician well known for his comedy bit, "Phonetic Punctuation" (seen here with Dean Martin), could make punctuation pop. Or, if that sort of humor is too refined for you, there's the "blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks, The Truth About Grammar, and National Punctuation Day's gallery of gaffes. Oh, and if you happen to have stumbled across any grammatical anomalies during the course of reading this article, give yourself a cookie ... and keep it to yourself. Suggested Sites... National Punctuation Day - the official site. Purdue Online Writing Lab - resource from Purdue University for grammar, writing style, citations, and more. The Truth About Grammar - blog devoted to "Fighting the war on Error." Engrish - lost in the translation. Warning: mildly offensive. Grammar Girl - quick and dirty tips for better writing.

Directory categories: Punctuation, Grammar Usage and Style, English Style Guides, Writing, Spelling

Archived under: Celebrations, Communication, Education, Events, Grammar, Languages, Reference, School, Teaching

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As autumn rolls in, we've been stocking our web pantry (a.k.a., the Directory) with great sites to help you out this season. Here’s a selection of the freshest choice sites: Best-selling author James Patterson has put together a site where he offers recommendations for kids' books, sorted by age group. It's a wonderful resource for teachers, librarians, and for parents of kids heading back to school. You can browse book lists by type, read and listen to author interviews, and view lesson plans. Now that "Reading Rainbow" is no more, this is just the kind of site we need! We're already looking forward to Halloween. The California Science Center must be, too. Their latest exhibition, "Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear," is traveling all over the country, and has a great interactive online exhibit to get you in the mood -- or at least explain the mood. Explore how fear works in the brain, in the wild, and in the media -- and find out how to deal with it. Fall is a season for cooking. But when you're ready to take a break and eat out, you may want more than "just" a restaurant review. Dishola allows users to review specific menu items at local eateries, and upload photos of their meals. For those who are trying to live green (a good idea in any season), Project Label provides "nutritional labels" for companies, revealing their social and environmental impact based on public info and user input. Suggested Sites... Read, Kiddo, Read! - the world of kids' books, according to James Patterson. Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear - online and traveling exhibit explains why our hearts race, our knees shake, and our bodies sweat when we're scared. Dishola - reviews for individual menu items at local eateries. Project Label - company "nutrition" labels rate impact on the planet, community, and workers.

Directory categories: Children’s Literature, The Brain, Restaurant Reviews, Green Product Reviews

Archived under: Authors, Autumn, Books, Children, Children´s Literature, Consumer Advocacy, Eating, Education, Food and Drink, Green Living, Green Products, Museums, Parenting, Psychology, Reading, Restaurants, Science, Society and Culture, Yahoo! Directory

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We should all be so lucky as to have an Olympian or Paralympian as a substitute for a day (Photo by Chicago 2016) By my own unscientific estimation, I spent approximately 10% of my school years under the tutelage of substitute teachers. I, for one, always loved the surprise of finding a substitute teacher in the classroom; it meant a change in routine, and the chance to cajole (or con) an adult into extra recess time. I don’t think I ever thanked a substitute for his or her work; I was too busy engaging in the shenanigans that students partake in when they're not under the watchful eye of their usual authority figures. Learning that today marks the beginning of Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week, and thinking about those days, I started to realize that substitute teachers are, well, unsung heroes. They take the burden off of teachers who have the flu, they have to deal with boisterous nine-year-olds who do their utmost to take advantage of them ("Really, Ms. Grainger never gives spelling tests!"), and along the way, they manage to teach kids a thing or two. The bottom line is, if you’re thinking about giving your teacher an apple, please don’t neglect your substitute teacher -- though steer clear of the substitute fruit, if you would. Students aren't the only ones who understand the significance of substitute teachers. In fact, teachers' unions don't want to leave them out. The Boston Teachers' Union, for one, allows substitute teachers with enough experience to be included in collective bargaining. And today’s pool of substitute teacher is deeper than ever before, given the economic downturn and rising unemployment figures. The Colorado Department of Education alone issued 7,752 substitute licenses in the last school year -- more than ten times the number of the previous year. Job seekers, take note! Suggested Sites... How to Become a Substitute Teacher - guidelines for getting started. National Substitute Teacher's Alliance - it isn't just full-time teachers who have unions. abcteach - offers ideas and activities for children, parents, student teachers, and teachers. National Center for Education Statistics - real statistics about substitute teachers -– not unscientific estimates like mine. Substitute Teacher Magazine - yes, substitute teachers also have a trade magazine.

Directory categories: Substitute Teaching, Teaching, K-12 Education, Classroom Management

Archived under: Celebrations, Children, Education, Events, In Character, Jobs, School, Teachers

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To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, "People who don't like this sort of thing will find this isn't the sort of thing they like." Over the last two days, we've revealed the not-so-sordid secrets of many Yahoo!s by letting them publicly confess some of the things they're proud to have never done. We conclude those revelations today with a grab-bag of confessions that didn't fit into any other categories (or that came in late -- you know who you are ...). They mostly (and unsurpringly) deal with pop culture, but there are one or two surprises to be found. Emily: I've never read any of the "Harry Potter" books, or seen any of the movies, and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon. I’m just obstinate, and the fan fic/slash kind of creeps me out. Heather: Somehow, despite all the random piercings and multi-colored dye-jobs my friends got as teenagers, I managed to make it through my youth without so much as having a needle held to my ear, or a bottle of hydrogen peroxide tingling on my scalp. Richard: I’ve never seen a movie in which Melanie Griffith could act as a convincing human being. Never. Mitzi: I've never seen "Eraserhead." I refuse to watch "Dancing with the Stars" (I don’t care how popular it is!). I've never seen "Citizen Kane" (I’ve rented it a few times, but never got around to seeing it). I've never read "1984." (I know!) And I've never seen the "Oprah" show (not even when I’m at home sick with the flu or something). Adrianna: My bike was stolen before the training wheels were taken off, so I never learned how to ride a bike! I have tried as an adult, but every time I get on, the wobbly feeling makes me hop right off. Jasmin: I’ve never been to a frat party. I attended a JC before transferring to a private women’s college. No boys equals no frat parties. Mike: I’ve surely donned some trendy fashions in my day (pegged pants, flat top, MULLET!), but I never thought those wannabe-a-Spaceman sunglasses from Oakley were cool, and I certainly never owned a pair. And to end this festival of soul-bearing, we present this following rant: Brian: I’ve never created a MySpace or Facebook profile -- and never intend to. I've purposely stayed away from MySpace not because it's "addicting" (according to some people), but because I just don't have time -- or the need -- to look at a page that could give one a seizure. (MySpace users are the biggest offenders in this regard.) What makes MySpace intolerable is the plethora of choices one can pick from to create a page. It's like when a 5-year-old wants to cook something for the first time for his or her parents. What does the kid do? They grab every ingredient that looks appealing and dump it all into one bowl, which makes for the most inedible steaming pile of crap one could imagine. That’s what MySpace pages are: "Let's add an obnoxious background, and sprinkle it with some bright fonts which make reading the page impossible! And for good measure, let's add a music video and an audio clip to the mix so that the connection speed is like a 14.4 K modem!" Can you say "Geocities page, circa 1997?" Considering most people on MySpace are teens and have the most time to kill, it's understandable they dominate the population of the site. However, I remember when I was in high school, I kept in touch with my friends the old-fashioned way ... IN PERSON. I guess face-to-face contact can't compete nowadays with a quick message and an amusing photo pasted in a comment field of some random guy getting hit in the nuts, can it? Suggested Sites... Why I Hate Harry Potter - but I guess you'd have had to read it to hate it, wouldn't you? Why Citizen Kane is Overrated - on the other hand, maybe the ill-informed shouldn't watch stuff. Dancing with the Stars - know your enemy in order to avoid it. How to Ride a Bike - it's never too late to learn. Mullet Madness - "business in the front, party in the back"

Directory categories: Harry Potter Books, Piercing, Melanie Griffith, Oprah Winfrey Show, Social Networks

Archived under: 1984, Actors, Biking, Body Art, Books, Children´s Literature, Citizen Kane, College and Universities, Dancing With the Stars, David Lynch, Education, Entertainment, Fan Fiction, Hair, Harry Potter, In Character, Movies, MySpace, Oprah, Reality TV, Social Networking, Yahoo!

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