Sesame Street Takes On Bullying in Shows, Talking Points

Oct. 18, 2011 “Look at those feet!” Big Bird is told. “They’re ridiculous!” --“They are?”As he tries to get accepted into the “Good Bird Club,” he shifts from “happy to be me” to hanging his feathered beak with insecurity and scuffling his giant orange clompers in ‘not good enough’ mode…Before you roll your eyes at Sesame Street's bullying prevention program as yet another … [Read more...]

Meaningful Manga: Graphic Novels and Growth

Update: May 21, 2014 Our friends at Reach and Teach have added another clever manga style illustrated book called "A is for Action" which merits an update! I love the seeding of social change in a fun fresh manner. The A is for Action book and HelpTakeAction.com website are a result of a teacher-initiated action research project published in the IB Journal of Teaching Practice: … [Read more...]

Teen Book Publishers Premiere Louder Than Words TV

August 10, 2009 It doesn’t get more real than this. Louder Than Words teen series developer Deborah Reber hosts a live chat online all this week with the fresh voices and real issues of the teen authors themselves starting tonight on Louder Than Words TV. 8-9pm EST (5-6pm PST) Kyte.TV is an online and mobile video platform in beta right now, hosting live and 'on … [Read more...]

Teen Read Week: Will Smith’s “Running & Reading” Kid Vid Endures

Sept. 8, 2016 Update For International Literacy Day, I'm reprising the award-winning Will Smith "Running and Reading: Key to Life" video as it still holds up even a decade later... Presented at the Kids' Choice awards back in 2005, Will Smith used his clout and credibility to rock the stage with literacy and life tips that exemplify how high profile influencers can use their … [Read more...]