Frank W. Baker’s New Graphic Novel: We Survived the Holocaust

October 20, 2022 In an era that’s ushered in multitudes of media misinformation with societal outcomes ranging from extremist denialism and revisionist history to banned books and autocratic usurping … [Read more...]

Agents of Influence Spy Game Educates Middle Schoolers About Misinformation

Sept. 20, 2021 Launching on 9/21/21, autumn solstice, Agents of Influence kicks off new beginnings in edu gaming to combat misinformation. For over a year their team has stealthily brainstormed … [Read more...]

Youth, Vote! Step Up with Easy Digital Tools That Inform

Update, Nov. 6, 2018: VOTE today! If you need to know WHERE, put your address into GetToThePolls.com and out pops all your nearby official voting hubs! Nov. 3, 2018 Instead of reliving the rage … [Read more...]

Media Literacy Week: Wait, That Actress is HOW Old?

Oct. 27, 2016 On the cusp of Media Literacy Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2016 I'm turning over the mic (er, keyboard) to MediaGirls as part of our Media Literacy Week series on creating critical thinkers in … [Read more...]

Hidden in Plain Sight: Kelly Parks Snider, Project Girl

Sept. 23, 2015 Can't think of a better "Wordless Wednesday" than this powerful art exhibition "Hidden in Plain Sight" which speaks volumes in its visual insight. Creator and artist Kelly Parks … [Read more...]

Children’s App Reviews: Does Money Talk? Part Three

Sept. 9, 2015 It’s been an insightful, wild ride learning about the kids app industry...from the “Inside, Out.” In Part One we talked about the imperative need for transparency and media literacy … [Read more...]

Children’s App Reviews: Does Money Talk? Part Two

Aug. 27, 2015 “I can make or break you” may sound more like a line from Good Fellas than a children’s app review site, but the skullduggery and reticent storytelling seeping out of the industry cracks … [Read more...]

Children’s App Reviews: Does Money Talk?

August 4, 2015 Lately I’ve been deluged by email solicitations to publish "sponsored content," turning down so many advertising requests that I now have a template reply that goes something like … [Read more...]

Tech with Kids: How to Assess Reviews, Find Quality Apps

June 19, 2015 One of the thorny questions I posed at the recent Tech with Kids Conference involved how to "review the reviewers."There are a wide array of reputable resources...Common Sense Media … [Read more...]

Tech with Kids: Developing Media That Matters

June 9, 2015 As a diehard infovore with a “what’s behind the media curtain” critical thinking lens, I’m fascinated by the scads of kids’ conferences I can’t afford and have no time to attend, usually … [Read more...]

Positive Picks! Progress in Upending Gender Stereotypes

May 29, 2015 Update Check out the all new Kickstarter from Gecko Clothing featuring "funky, ethical, organic, unisex" clothes crowdsourcing both the design and the funding!  There's a strong … [Read more...]

Selma March: The Power of Empathy, Storytelling

Mar. 7, 2015 Selma March, 50 years later, commemoration of Bloody Sunday. #Selma50Anyone who has seen the movie "Selma" knows the split second power of media storytelling to jolt viewers into a … [Read more...]

Media Literacy: 50 Talking Points for 50 Shades of Grey

Feb. 13, 2015 Talk about Angry Birds. Parents have been swept into the viral vortex of a gazillion ambient ads piling on to the relentless hype of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie opening today.From sex … [Read more...]

Coke and McDonalds Lose Super Bowl with Parents

Aug. 17, 2016 Update Bravo to Britain, showcasing athletes sponsored by healthy food instead of junk! See? Sponsorship doesn't have to be the domain of the duplicitous duo of junk food … [Read more...]

The Hashtag Bowl: Media Literacy Opportunities (Pt 2)

Jan. 30, 2015 Whether it’s using hit movies like Frozen as an icebreaker to talk about social shunning, bullying, social emotional tough stuff or Super Bowl ads as learning tools to ferret out what’s … [Read more...]

Homework? Super Bowl Ads and Media Literacy

January 27, 2015 After updating prior Super Bowl posts about the persuasion, impact, influence, and latest trends in Super Bowl Ads, (including this new NFL PSA against domestic violence) it's … [Read more...]

The Girls Q&A Book: 50 Ways to Fix A Friendship

Nov. 13, 2014 "There is no girls’ friendship drama that can’t be made WORSE… through staying silent, venting behind a friend’s back, or pretending things are just peachy," writes tweens and teens … [Read more...]

Disney’s Citizen Kid: November Media Thankfulness

Nov. 4, 2014 Disney's Citizen Kid Kicks off our Media/Marketing Month of ThankfulnessI love the concept of media shining the spotlight on extraordinary kids doing prosocial things, whether it’s … [Read more...]

Tumble Leaf: Outdoor Play and Discovery via Amazon Kids

Update May 11, 2015 While Tumble Leaf continues to rake in multiple awards including five daytime Emmys, Amazon Studios Greenlights Six New Pilots for Kids. (mostly ages 6-11, one PreK) Here's hoping … [Read more...]

Creative Galaxy: Inspiring Kids With Art In Everyday Life

Aug. 24, 2016 Update Glad to hear Creative Galaxy will be back for season two starting Sept. 16, 2016 as I keep reading more research about the tactile, artistic, creative benefits of hands-on art at … [Read more...]