Bridging the "political indifference" gap: CBS's Sunday Morning program inspires a reinvestment in Civic Education

In response to last night’s post on racial practices, a dear friend and mentor sent me a link to a civic education segment on the television program Sunday Morning. The aim–to hook students on civics. See the link below where you can contemplate many important initiatives, notably engaging cartoon video games (“How to win the... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
November 6, 2018 at 9:43 am • 

Insidious racial practice: report of segregated cab service in Miami

Insidious racial practice: report of segregated cab service in Miami
All education—gifted and talented or otherwise—begins with freedom and respect and ends with hatred. This is a story about hatred and segregation. Yesterday, my husband and I (privileged white folks), walked out of a hotel in Miami and asked the man in the valet stand to hail a taxi to the Miami Airport. There were... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
November 5, 2018 at 9:01 pm • 

Dementia brings early goodbyes to parents

It’s been a long time since I blogged, but I hope to change that. While I couldn’t participate in last night’s Chicagonow blogging exercise, I elected to try to respond to the prompt this afternoon. The rules: bloggers are given one hour to respond to and post a prompt. Last night’s prompt: Write about a... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
November 30, 2017 at 12:41 pm • 
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Dream big, talented Girlboss star, Ellie Reed!

Dream big, talented Girlboss star, Ellie Reed!
There’s been a lot of positive reviews of my niece, Ellie Reed’s (“Ellie”) starring role in Netflix’s new comedy, Girlboss. I admit to reading a couple, but for the most part, I did not want my impressions of Ellie to be colored by others. Ok. I’m the proud aunt, so you can guess how I... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
May 24, 2017 at 3:15 pm • 

Food fosters deep family/friend connections

Morning, another Blogapalooz event. This morning, we have one hour to respond to the following prompt: “Write about the greatest meal you’ve ever had.” (Can be sharing a bowl of oatmeal in the hospital with your wife the morning after your child was born or the time you spent $800 at Charlie Trotter’s. Consider the... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
November 30, 2016 at 11:00 am • 

Lawyers, and teachers, and inclusion and loyalty?

Another Blogapalooz Hour! Our challenge as bloggers is to respond to the prompt below within an hour. What’s the favorite thing you’ve ever written? Share a link if you have it (ha) and explain why you feel this way. I have two favorite things that I’ve written, but only time to speak about one. Maybe... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
October 26, 2016 at 11:01 am • 
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Second chance? This baby boomer would redo college

Tonight, Chicago Now once again sponsored a Blogapalooz-Hour. Bloggers are given a topic and then have one hour to write a blog piece. Tonight’s topic: “Write about something in your life you’d like a second chance at.” I’d love to redo college. I wish I had found a college that was a good fit for... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
August 31, 2016 at 9:59 pm • 

Dealing with the "D" word--depression

Another Blogapalooz-Hour. Here’s the prompt: “Write about a time you worked very hard in your life at something….Don’t only focus on if you ultimately succeeded.” I’m candid in my personal life about the fact that I suffer from depression, but rarely in my professional life. Yet, the two collided a number of years ago when... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
August 17, 2016 at 11:04 am • 

Gifted Education back in the day: so much better then--nearly ten years ago--than now

This time we have a morning Blogapalooz challenge. Our topic is: “Write about a period or moment in your life when you were at your best.” We were given one hour to write and then we had to post. Below is the result: I quit a job I loved at the top of my game.... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
June 15, 2016 at 11:04 am • 
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Enduring beauty in students and curriculum

Another blogapalooz night; here’s the prompt: “write about something you find beautiful that you feel others may not understand.” I find so many things that are beautiful that others don’t understand… A frustrated student: bringing a child into the academic fold is so gratifying. What interests him? What does he value? Family? Cultural community? What... Read more »
By Rhonda Stern,
March 30, 2016 at 10:05 pm •