Jessie Voigts's Blog, page 52
December 27, 2022
Your Must-Read Guide: Bridging the Humor Barrier: Humor Competency Training in English Language Teaching
If you’re an English language educator, I’ve got the book for you. Humor is one of the most difficult things to teach in a different language—and this book helps you teach just that! Edited by educators John Rucynski, Jr. and Caleb Prichard, this is JUST the book you need to help your students navigate and understand humor.
Bridging the Humor Barrier: Humor Competency Training in English Language Teaching is a must-read for anyone in the field; here’s why, in t...
December 24, 2022
Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: The Rouse Simmons (the Christmas Tree Ship)
The approximate 6,000 ships that have succumbed to raging storms attest to the power of the Great Lakes. As I traveled, writing and compiling information for my three-volume travel series that explores Michigan's coasts, I heard or read the tales left behind by those ill-fated ships. They add a somber, but compelling backdrop to Michigan’s waterways.
Bow of the Rouse Simmons with a Christmas tree placed on her deck. Photo by Wisconsin Historical Society
The Rouse Simm...
December 19, 2022
Music for Winter, Solstice, and Holidays of All Sorts
December. It is winter, solstice, and holidays of all sorts, of seasonal observances by those who hold many different faiths and by people who hold no faith .
Whatever you may be marking this winter season, music offers a way to find connection, reflection, celebration, and peace.
This is true even if Christmas is not your story, or you feel you have heard too much holiday music.
Solitude and gathering, chill winter landscape and warmth through lighted windows, quiet re...
December 16, 2022
History Comes Alive at Israel’s ANU—Museum of the Jewish People
After 10 years of planning and renovation, the largest and most comprehensive Jewish museum reopened in Tel Aviv In March 2021. ANU—Museum of the Jewish People is an incredible place for Jews and non-Jews to learn about Jewish history and culture. Jews can connect with their heritage while Gentiles can enhance their understanding of world Jewry throughout time. For anyone unfamiliar with the Hebrew language, the word Anu means “we” in Hebrew. The interactive exhibits ...
December 15, 2022
Travel Is a Powerful Antidote to Teacher Burnout
A recent University of Missouri-Columbia study has shown that around 94 per cent of middle school teachers experience high levels of stress, which could contribute to academic and behavioral problems for their students. Of course, similar studies have shown that teachers of other age groups also battle daily stress, with many not finding the support they need to deal with the challenges of their job. In some cases, stress can be so high that it leads to burnout....
December 14, 2022
Policing Bodies is a Human Rights Violation: Reproductive rights for those facing and fleeing conflict
Reproductive rights are human rights, as is having access to clean water, the freedom to express yourself, and the right to govern over your own life. On a day-to-day basis, most people will not face a direct assault on their human rights. However, for some, each new day brings with it a brutal, intentional attack that is intended to violate multiple basic rights.
This is the daily reality endured by thousands of people who are facing, or...
December 10, 2022
Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: The Desmond
The approximate 6,000 ships that have succumbed to raging storms attest to the power of the Great Lakes. As I traveled, writing and compiling information for my three-volume travel series that explores Michigan's coasts, I heard or read the tales left behind by those ill-fated ships. They add a somber, but compelling backdrop to Michigan’s waterways. This week’s article isn’t about a specific ship. It’s about a place where many doomed vessels disappeared.
Photo: https:...
December 8, 2022
A Must-Read Book That Will Bring Such Joy: And the Clouds Parted
If you are lucky, you discover a book you didn't know you absolutely needed. Such is the case with a new book by one of our favorite writers, Gabrielle Yetter.
Her new collection of poetry, And the Clouds Parted, is gorgeous, both in word and illustration.
I absolutely know that Gabi is one of those writers where you love to read everything they've written (we've reviewed ALL of her books here on Wandering Educators, links below!), and I love how she so beautifu...
Camping: what to take with you for a comfortable, unforgettable vacation besides a tent?
Camping is an excellent choice for outdoor activities for those who love nature but are not ready for extreme hikes or don't like them (raises hand!).
To have the most successful camping experience, you must first choose and buy a suitable tent. If you are not on vacation alone, you should consider 4-person cabin tents.
A good camping tent should have the following characteristics:
Robust construction that protects you from wind and rain;
The tent must be made...
December 7, 2022
Support Culinary Historian's Peeling Back the Layers into the Roots of Turkish Baklava
You know you are in the presence of greatness when you learn of the work of someone who has dedicated their life to a passion.
Such is the case with Chef Channon Mondoux, a culinary historian and cultural anthropologist who has worked for decades researching, translating, cooking, and exploring historic Ottoman cuisine.
Chef Mondoux intrigues us all when she says, "Baklava is the quintessential Turkish dessert, legendary for its luscious flavor, delicate pastry,...
