Each May during Teacher Appreciation Week, educators across the nation are thanked by students and parents for all the things they do to provide support and guidance within their schools and individual classrooms. And this year, as families find themselves facing the new challenge of distance learning, perhaps you, like so many others, are discovering…
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Dear Parents, Educators, and Caregivers, These Tree Girl activity worksheets were created as part of my Tree Girl read-along video series to be enjoyed by children of all ages. Each chapter presents something fun and new to learn about or explore. Pick your favorite activity or subject in each chapter, or do them all! The…
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“Intellectually, we finally have come to understand that the wealth of this nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. Take this resource base away, and all that is left is a wasteland.” — Sen. Gaylord Nelson In 1948 Sir Fred Hoyle, a British astronomer, predicted…
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I was in my twenties before I discovered and fell in love with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. A little later in life than many other Tolkien fans, perhaps, but it was absolutely the right time for me — reading his richly layered and beautifully crafted universe opened the door to new worlds…
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Random Acts of Kindness Week, or ‘RAK Week’ for short, celebrated every February, is all about making small, intentional acts of kindness a part of your routine. But more than that, having an entire week dedicated to kindness means we have the opportunity to inspire those around us to do the same. Because a funny…
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“It’s the most magical word of all. And it’s also the most varied – simple or complex, hidden or revealed, painful or joyous… That word is love.” THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life Love is magical. In one or all of its varied forms — the unconditional love of a…
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At this time of year, the idea of Gratitude — one of Merlin’s most potent magical words — is never far from my mind. After all, with a holiday named “Thanksgiving”, it’s only natural that the holiday season inspires us to recall our blessings and take a moment to reflect upon how grateful we are…
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Generosity, as described by Merlin in The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life, is not giving others what they want. Rather, it’s giving away what you yourself want. When you think about very young children learning to share, this idea of generosity becomes quite apparent. The reason youngsters tend to struggle…
Continue reading →Each year, The Barron Prize celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. These inspiring, public-spirited young people from across North America are doing amazing work for their communities and the environment. I am deeply inspired by the work of these young people,…
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