Mastering Basic Grammar and Usage for the ACT

As you’ve probably already gathered, the English Test will never explicitly ask you to name a grammatical error, reads SparkNotes.  “But in order to identify and fix errors, you should know what they are. While you’ll often be able to rely on your ear to detect errors, many of the questions will ask you to fix phrases that are fine for spoken English but not for formal written English.”

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The ACT test description states:

Spelling, vocabulary, and rote recall of rules of grammar aren’t tested. See sample questions or read tips and strategies.The test consists of five prose passages, each one accompanied by multiple-choice test questions. Different passage types are included to provide variety.
Some questions refer to underlined portions of the passage and offer several alternatives to the underlined portion. You must decide which choice is most appropriate in the context of the passage.
Some questions ask about an underlined portion, a section of the passage, or the passage as a whole. You must decide which choice best answers the question posed.
Many questions include “NO CHANGE” to the underlined portion or the passage as one of the choices.
The questions are numbered consecutively. Each question number corresponds to an underlined portion in the passage or to a box located in the passage.

Several  grammar issues, appear on the ACT English Test, including:

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
3. Pronoun Cases
4. Verb Tenses
5. Adverbs and Adjectives
6. Idioms
7. Comparative and Superlative Modifiers

RECOMMENDED READING: Grammar Workbook for the SAT, ACT, and More, by George Ehrenhaft Ed.D.

A solid command of English grammar is a prerequisite for success when students take the SAT, ACT, and other college entrance tests. This workbook presents a detailed grammar review with dozens of practice quizzes and exercises to sharpen students’ skills. It begins with an explanation of grammatical terms and their functions. It then describes the 24 most common mistakes made by students and shows how to avoid them. Prominent among them are lack of agreement between subject and verb, misuse of pronouns, faulty parallel structure, and faulty punctuation. A final chapter focuses on advice and instruction for writing error-free SAT and ACT essays. This workbook is filled with sample questions exactly like those found on both the SAT and ACT, and comes with fully explained answers.

FURTHER RESOURCES:
Pronoun Case Quiz (Guide to Cases of Nouns and Pronouns with two quizzes) http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cases.htm
Verb Tense Quiz: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/tenses/tenses_frame.html

Books for Kids about Kenya and by Kenyan Authors

Group strives to wipe out Kenyan poverty http://t.co/q4j8jipnM3
— Boise Idaho News (@boisenews) August 26, 2013

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Related Reading: Books for Kids about Kenya and by Kenyan Authors.

The list author says: "Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We’ve compiled a list of books about Kenya and by Kenyan authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. What better why to begin a journey than a trip through literature?"

One great sample from this list is Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (Reading Rainbow Books). by Verna Aardema.

An amazon reviewer wrote:
I really love the book "Bringing The Rain to Kapiti Plain," by Verna Aardema. I have enjoyed it so much that I am planning to give it as a gift to my sister who has two young children, ages 4 and 7. This is a simple story about a cattle herdsman and his wish for rain on the African plain. The narrative structure of the story is based on a sequence of events that builds suspense and interest in children until the end of the story. This is a memorable story; it is very simple to understand and has a powerful musical quality that, as a young adult, I enjoy reading aloud. The rhymes and rhythms are so strong that all young children will be wide eyed with suspense and interest until the very end of the story. I particularly enjoyed one line where the author rhymes "fat" and "Ki-pat": "So the grass grew green/ And the cattle fat!/ And Ki-pat got a wife/ And a little Ki-pat-." This story is suitable for young children because its tone is happy. It deals with the relationship of humans with water, plants and animals. ... From this book ... they will learn about the connection between humans and nature by enjoying the colored pictures. The pictures are so vibrant that it is easy to imagine the world of Ki-pat. As an adult, I enjoy this book because it describes the cycle of life in a very interesting way. Readers of all ages will see that human life is totally dependent upon nature, and the existence of human beings without nature is nearly impossible. Readers will also learn how the lives of humans and animals are dependent on rain; people and animals need each other and every part of nature for their perfect existence. I highly recommend Verna Aardema's "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" to anyone who has young children and is looking for a book that illustrates the relationship between nature and human beings. The colorful, detailed pictures will keep the children interested while they are learning about the connection between nature and human beings.

Harold Underdown: “YA isn’t going away … print end of the publishing business is healthy”

From my vantage point, at least, the excitement was in MG and picture books, and to some extent in nonfiction. YA isn’t going away but those other areas are coming back … All in all, and coupled with the news that membership in the ABA is growing, I got the sense that the print end of the publishing business is healthy and is beginning to figure out how to deal with ebooks, and that children’s/YA is in good shape …  writes Harold Underdown , author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books.

Read the rest of Harold’s analysis, based on his recent experience at the latest Book Expo of America conference, found  at The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books Facebook page.

In other news from the Underdown camp, a fabulous workshop is being offered by two experienced editors: Harold has teamed up with Eileen Robinson, creator of F1rst Pages.

Do you have a manuscript—picture book, novel, or nonfiction—that needs work? Do you wish you could learn techniques that would help you revise not only this manuscript, but future ones?
Then come to the KBR “Editing without an Editor” workshop in Westport, CT. Learn how to revise like an editor by working with two experienced editors, who have distilled the methods they’ve used in editing manuscripts with individual clients and in the online Kid’s Book Revisions class. To create a framework, they’ll compare “reader response” theory and the lit. crit. approach, and explore ways to gain objectivity and to focus on different aspects of manuscripts. You will pick up and try out methods for making critique groups work better. After lunch, you will learn and try out a variety of techniques for self-editing, from big picture revision down to copy-editing, working on your own or with a partner.
Critiques are available for those that want them, but are not included in the standard package, to keep the price as low as possible. The workshop fee is $175 through May 21st, and $225 after that. A critique of up to 15 pages is $40; longer manuscripts can be critiqued by arrangement.
More information, including the workshop schedule and registration details: http://www.kidsbookrevisions.com/editing-without-an-editor-2013.htm

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Eileen Robinson is a children’s book editor, editorial consultant and creator of F1rst Pages. For almost 10 years, she has acquired, developed, and edited children’s books for both Scholastic as Executive Editor, and Harcourt publishers, as Editorial Manager. She has also worked on projects for National Geographic, Santillana USA, Marshall Cavendish, Weekly Reader, and others. Having published many new authors, Eileen believes in helping newcomers get their feet in the door, as well as working with experienced fiction or nonfiction authors.


Harold Underdown is a freelance editorial consultant. He has worked at Macmillan, Orchard, and Charlesbridge, and has experience in trade and educational publishing. Harold enjoys teaching, and in that role wrote The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Children’s Book Publishing, now in its third edition. He founded and runs The Purple Crayon, a respected web site with information about the children’s publishing world. He speaks and gives workshops at conferences, including the SCBWI’s national conferences in LA and NY, and smaller conferences all over the country.
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An intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation, from the “Queen of the concept book”

“Subtle cutouts on each richly painted page of Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s ‘Green’ similarly create a mystical sense of complexity and continuity. In this case, the images on each page refer both backward and forward, permitting a fascinating interplay of shade and hue, from the ‘khaki green’ of a lizard to the ‘never green’ of a stop sign.”–The Wall Street Journal

Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the “Queen of the concept book”—an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation.

How many kinds of green are there? There’s the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. In her newest book, Caldecott and Geisel Honor Book author Laura Vaccaro Seeger fashions an homage to a single color and, in doing so, creates a book that will delight and, quite possibly astonish you.

“…the reader who settles down and slowly pages through its gorgeous acrylic paintings or, better yet, reads it aloud to a young child, will find rich rewards. Each spread describes a particular shade of green — forest green, sea green, lime green, pea green, jungle green — and the list actually does go on and on.”–New York Times

One Amazon reviewer wrote:

Sometimes you just want to show a kid a beautiful picture book. Sometimes you also want that book to be recent. That’s the tricky part. Not that there aren’t pretty little picture books churned out of publishing houses every day. Of course there are. But when you want something that distinguishes itself and draws attention without sparkles or glitter the search can be a little fraught. We children’s librarians sit and wait for true beauty to fall into our laps. The last time I saw it happen was Jerry Pinkney’s The Lion & the Mouse. Now I’m seeing it again with Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s Green. I mean just look at that cover. I vacillate between wanting to smear those thick paints with my hands and wanting to lick it to see if it tastes like green frosting. If my weirdness is any kind of a litmus test, kids will definitely get a visceral reaction when they flip through the pages. I know we’re talking colors here but if I were to capture this book in a single word then there’s only one that would do: Delicious.

Open the book and the first pictures you see are of a woodland scene. Two leaves hang off a nearby tree as the text reads “forest green”. Turn the page and those leaves, cut into the paper itself, flip over to two fishies swimming in the deep blue sea. A tortoise swims lazily by, bubbles rising from its head (“sea green”). Another page and the holes of the bubbles are turned over to become the raised bumps on a lime. And so it goes with each new hole or cut connecting one kind of green to another. We see khaki greens, wacky greens, slow greens and glow greens until at last Seeger fills the page with boxes filled with different kinds of green. This is followed by a stop sign and the words “never green” against an autumn background. On the next page it is winter and “no green” followed by an image of a boy planting something. The final spread shows a man and his daughter gazing at a tree. The description: “forever green”. You bet.

According to –Publishers Weekly, “Seeger’s skill at creating simple yet wonderfully effective concept books, as well as her mastery of die-cuts that delight in unexpected and ingenious ways, are in full evidence in this salute to the color green.”

Among Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s many distinctive books for children are First the Egg–a Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book; One Boy–a Geisel Honor Book; and Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories–winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book award. Laura lives on Long Island with her husband, Chris, their two sons, Drew and Dylan, and their dog, Copper.

 ”Just when it seems that there could not possibly be anything new to present about this trendy color, Seeger creates a tactile treat that yields surprise with every page turn.”–School Library Journal

Creative Writing Lesson Plan

“Perhaps then, someday in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. ” —Rainer Maria Riike, Letters To A Young Poet.

Welcome to Summer 2013 Creative Writing!

NOTE: YOU WILL SEE DOZENS OF ENTRIES ON THIS SITE ABOUT LITERATURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. ONLY THOSE WITH THE CATEGORY “Creative Writing Summer 2013″ ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS. THE REST ARE RECOMMENDED READING.

This video shows, as one commenter said, how “poetry (like all art) is subjective… I may like Disturbed, you may like Lady Ga Ga, he may like Jack Johnson, she may like Bethoven. None of it is wrong. It’s art. An expression that can not be measured except by how it moves you. (or doesn’t move you).”
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Be sure to review the syllabus for this class. It can be found by CLICKING HERE or by using this link: http://youngpeoplespavilion.com/summer-2013-creative-writing-syllabus/
A few important reminders:

* Check this website regularly for class updates and material. If you have a question such as: “I missed class, can you tell me what we did and what is due?” … this website is the spot to find your answer.

Recommended Reading: Letters to a Young Poet, by
Rainer Maria Rilke

* Click on the “Creative Writing Summer 2013″ category below this post, and all class lesson plans (posted as of that date) will come up.

* This site will also be used for updates and announcements.
* Each class will include a 10 point “What I have learned in this class” assessment.
* All writing that will be graded must be submitted to me as a Microsoft Word Document. We will have time in class for you to transfer work from your flash drives.
* We have chosen certain texts that exemplify the craft of creative writing. If at any time a student/parent objects to any material used, I would be more than happy to accommodate by working together with all parties to choose an alternate text.
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In class today:
Class overview and syllabus review
Introductions
What is Poetry?
VIDEO: “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman (See: Summer 2013 Creative Writing Videos)

Assessments:
1) What I have learned in this class  (10 points) Due by end of class period 6/10/13.
2) There will be a quiz on Literary and Poetry Terminology  (25 points). It will be short answer and multiple choice. Given in class Wednesday, 6/12/2013.
3)  FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Write your own poem: (50 points). Due Friday, 6/14, 2013. (See: Summer 2013 Creative Writing Assignments)
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What is poetry?
SOURCE: http://www.poetry.org/whatis.htm
Poetry (ancient Greek: ποιεω (poieo) = I create) is an art form in which human language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or instead of, its notional and semantic content. It consists largely of oral or literary works in which language is used in a manner that is felt by its user and audience to differ from ordinary prose.

It may use condensed or compressed form to convey emotion or ideas to the reader’s or listener’s mind or ear; it may also use devices such as assonance and repetition to achieve musical or incantatory effects. Poems frequently rely for their effect on imagery, word association, and the musical qualities of the language used. The interactive layering of all these effects to generate meaning is what marks poetry.
Because of its nature of emphasising linguistic form rather than using language purely for its content, poetry is notoriously difficult to translate from one language into another: a possible exception to this might be the Hebrew Psalms, where the beauty is found more in the balance of ideas than in specific vocabulary. In most poetry, it is the connotations and the “baggage” that words carry (the weight of words) that are most important. These shades and nuances of meaning can be difficult to interpret and can cause different readers to “hear” a particular piece of poetry differently. While there are reasonable interpretations, there can never be a definitive interpretation.

Click in this link http://www.poetry.org/whatis.htm to read more, including 

Nature of poetry

Sound in poetry

Poetry and form

Poetry and rhetoric

History of poetry

VIDEO: “Literary Devices” (See: Summer 2013 Creative Writing Videos)
TERMS:
1) figurative language
2) simile
3) metaphor
4) personification
5) hyperbole
6) alliteration
7) onomatopoeia
8) assonance
9) consonance
DEFINITIONS
1) communicates ideas beyond the ordinary, literal meaning of words
2) compares unrelated nouns, usually using the words “like” or “as”
3) an implied comparison that does not use the words like or as
4) giving human characteristics to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals
5) an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis, not to be taken literally
6) repetition of the initial letter or sound in two or more words in a line of verse
7) a word that represents or imitates natural sounds
8) the similarity or repetition of a vowel sound in two or more words
9) the repetition of final consonant sounds within a line of verse
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES:
1)

• Alright, the sky misses the sun at night.
• Hear the mellow wedding bells. – Edgar Allen Poe
• Out of reach, I pull out with a screech.
• I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti.
• Her head was spinning from all the new information.
• The toast jumped out of the toaster.
• I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
• The Sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle.
• The Redcoats are coming!
• I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!

2)
 A Red, Red Rose
O My Luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June;
O My Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only luve,
And fare thee weel, awhile!
And I will come again, my luve
Tho’ it ware ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns
1759-1796
Here are examples of  similie poems by Denise Rodgers:
Link: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-simile-poems.html
3) One of the most prominent examples of a metaphor in English literature is the All the world’s a stage monologue from As You Like It:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances; — William Shakespeare, As You Like It, 2/7^[1]

This quote is a metaphor because the world is not literally a stage. By figuratively asserting that the world is a stage, Shakespeare uses the points of comparison between the world and a stage to convey an understanding about the mechanics of the world and the lives of the people within it.

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ThinkWave.com will be used for grading.

Tales of the Kingdom offers fast-paced action and exciting storytelling with a enduring Christian message

Action, intrigue, and danger follow Scarboy wherever he goes, especially in the Enchanted City, where the “imperfect” are cast away and orphans are enslaved. Scarboy manages to escape the evil Enchanter to safety in Great Park, but has yet to confront his greatest fear—and he’ll need enormous courage to conquer it!

An exciting series from best-selling authors David and Karen Mains,  the gold-medallion award-winning Tales of the Kingdom offers fast-paced action and exciting storytelling with a enduring Christian message.

 

Enjoy the beautiful, full-color illustrations as these classic allegories teach kids and adults the importance of trusting God as they unveil fundamental truths about good and evil.

 

This book is 95 pages of unforgettable stories in durable hardcover binding, enhanced by 12 full-color, full-page illustrations from renowned artist Jack Stockman. These popular, but hard to find books have gone for up to $60 a piece on Ebay! Get your keepsake copies today, which you can read with your family for many years to come.

 

An amazon reviewer wrote:

 

I heard these stories when I was very very young, and now as a grown man, they bring tears to my eyes. I almost wish I was a Christian because these stories are so beautiful. How blessed are those who know Christ.

 

Another said:

 

These classic allegorical tales are ones I grew up reading, and they continue to be meaningful to me now as an adult and someone who can share them with the children around me. I have just taken my Wed. night Bible class of 1st – 3rd graders through this book and they all became fans. It is easy to draw out Biblical truths from each chapter that can be applied for young ones and grown ups alike!
The 12 chapters tell the story of Hero, a young man who escaped with his brother from the wicked Enchanted City. Taking refuge in Great Park, his world is changed by those who love and serve a King he has never seen. He lives with funny old Caretaker, who can control the weather and create new life, and his gentle wife Mercie. Hero struggles because he cannot see the King and does not understand this love all around him.
Other stories involve Princess Amanda, a girl who has the uncanny gift of seeing. But gifted ones can still fall prey to temptation and see disastrous consequences. We also learn about a juggler whose count is different than those around him, the baker who loved bread, two noisy knights, and a girl named Dirty. Each one is meaningful, entertaining, and challenging for the readers.
We are taking off on the second book in this series, “Tales of the Resistance,” next in our class …

Kingdom Tales Trilogy
In the tradition of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein come these heartwarming allegories of good and evil from best-selling authors David and Karen Mains. Your entire family will be entranced as Scarboy and his friends boldly follow the one True King to overcome the evil Enchanter and his tenacious hold on the oppressed residents of Enchanted City. These books are Gold-medallion award-winners and we’re the only place where you can receive “signed” autographed copies of these beautiful picture books. Order your complete set of the Tales of the Kingdom trilogy.

The Tales of the Kingdom Trilogy includes three books: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance and Tales of the Restoration, by authors David and Karen Mains. Each book in its original format was enhanced with beautiful full-color illustrations…which is what you will receive…plus these titles are all autographed by the authors. The series has been the recipient of two Gold Medallion awards.

Blended learning – the convergence of teaching strategies and technology

The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation announced a $5 million grant to establish a pair of Doceõ Centers for Innovation + Learning at two Idaho universities, one public and one private.  The Doceõ Centers at the University of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University will focus on blended learning – the convergence of teaching strategies and technology.

Blended Learning in Grades 4-12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms

“We want to help equip and train the next generation of teachers to improve student achievement in Idaho,” says Jamie MacMillan, executive director of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.  ”Students at all grade levels desperately need teachers who, not only don’t fear technology, but embrace it to help students adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century.”

The Doceõ Centers will be launched in the spring of 2013.  In addition to cutting-edge training for Idaho teacher candidates, the Centers will also offer development training on blended learning techniques as well as opportunities to participate in classroom research projects for current preschool through 12^th grade (P-12) teachers and administrator professionals.  Reports on research conducted at the Centers will be published semi-annually and a conference will be hosted annually.

Eric Kellerer, Ed.D., director of the NNU Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, says that for the last 20 years, educators were promised that technology would transform education.

“At the same time, we have seen huge leaps in understanding the process of learning (the pedagogy) for students.  Unfortunately, those two themes, technology and pedagogy, have failed to come together,” explains Dr. Kellerer.   “This is the time.  We stand at the precipice of a generation in which there will be a convergence of the technical with the educational.”

According to Dr. Paul T. Hill, founder of the Center for Reinventing Public Education and research professor at the University of Washington, Idaho would be the first state to revamp its schools of education around blended learning.  Dr. Hills says that even modest success would make Idaho a national leader.

“We can’t get better outcomes for the kids who are not learning without doing things differently,” says Dr. Hill.  “Moreover, for the kids who are doing okay in school now, the bar is continually being set higher by a dynamic economy and international competition.  If our highest achieving kids are to be fully prepared, we need to keep updating our schools’ methods and modernizing what is taught.”

Corinne Mantle-Bromley, dean of the University of Idaho’s College of Education, said the centers are an important step forward in helping Idaho and other states gain a much deeper understanding of technology’s role in student learning.  Research and evaluation of research findings will help inform the education community and identify the most effective strategies for blending technology into teaching, Mantle-Bromley said.

Recommended reading: Blended Learning in Grades 4-12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms
“A must have for any teacher who wants to connect with students who are either reluctant to participate in class or who have everything to say. The book’s tools provide a welcome segue into their terrain and show you how to master it. Included are many ideas and suggestions for bringing the Internet into your classroom and harnessing its power for the benefit of your students.” (Melody Aldrich, English Teacher and Department Chair 2012-01-25)
“This book comes at the right time with answers for teachers, principals, and schools who want to be on the cutting edge of the effective use of technology, the internet, and teacher pedagogy.” (Jim Anderson, Principal 2012-01-25)
“This book provides a wealth of information related to teaching in a blended classroom. Designed for 21st century educators, this text is a powerful and valuable resource for those that want to challenge, engage, and facilitate learning for all students.” (Judy Brunner, Clinical Faculty, Author, Consultant 2012-01-25)
“This book will appeal to a wide range of educators and provide them with the foundation for creating a perfect blend for their classrooms.” (David Callaway, 7th-Grade Social Studies Teacher 2012-01-25)
“This book will help teachers move their students online while maintaining effective teaching practices!” (Cathy Bonneville Hix, K-12 Social Studies Specialist 2012-01-25)
Catlin Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers’ biggest barriers in exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Questions of assessment, time, and access, as well as practical suggestions for how to begin working with modern collaborative resources, serve to guide teachers through the philosophical and pedagogical challenges of exploring the promise of blended learning. (Rushton Hurley, Executive Director)
“In Blended Learning in Grades 4-12, Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers’ biggest barriers to exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Too often, exploration of educational technology is more about the tools than the learning, and consequently it is a pleasure to read this book in which inspiring and empowering students serves as the primary frame for discussion. The skilled examination of the larger question of how to teach well using whatever one has will make Tucker’s book a valuable resource for teachers for a long time to come.” (Rushton Hurley, Executive Director 2012-04-09)
“This book shows teachers how to use technology and blended learning practices to blend online discussion with face-to-face classroom instruction.” (Midwest Book Review, September 2012)

“What makes this funding so important is the research component. We will constantly be studying new, emerging technology tools. Research findings will provide classroom teachers and school administrators with powerful information on best practices. We will work closely with teachers as we study technology and its impact on P-12 student learning,” said Mantle-Bromley.

Paula Kellerer, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education, Social Work and Counseling at Northwest Nazarene University emphasizes that blended learning is not about utilizing the latest and greatest technology in the classroom–it’s about providing personalized learning for kids.

“The ultimate objective of the centers is to improve student achievement in P-12 classrooms through the effective use of technology,” says Dr. Kellerer.  “It’s not about finding one solution that fits all, but finding many solutions that can be used at the right time for the right student.  Every student can learn.  Every student can succeed.  We are here to help teachers find resources, equip them to use those resources effectively and to share the stories of success with other teachers, with Idaho, and the Northwest.”

Idaho has significant student achievement challenges.  The state ranks 47^th in the nation for the percentage of high school graduates who go on to some form of education beyond high school and 46^th for the percentage of college students who progress from their freshman year to sophomore year.

“We cannot stand back and be passive observers,” says Dr. Eric Kellerer.  “We need to get in the fray.  Idaho can be the leader in ushering in a new day in teaching and learning.”

The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation is a Boise-based, private family foundation committed to limitless learning for all Idahoans.  Since 1997, the Foundation has invested more than $500 million to improve education in Idaho.

Northwest Nazarene University is a nonprofit Christian university located in Nampa, Idaho.  NNU offers over 60 areas of study, master’s degree programs in eleven disciplines, accelerated degree programs, concurrent credit for high school students, and a variety of continuing education credits. In addition to its 90-acre campus located in Nampa, the University also offers programs online as well as in Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and in cooperation with programs in 10 countries.

The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, is home to more than 12,000 students and nearly 3,159 faculty and staff.  U-Idaho continues to be a leading place of learning in Idaho and the West.  Students from all 44 Idaho counties, 49 states (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) and 73 foreign countries are enrolled at the University.

Why Doceõ?  Doceõ is the Latin word for “to teach”.