Dom Testa's Blog, page 20

Building a Better Student: How Come?

My son is an adult, a mature, responsible young man who makes me proud on a daily basis. That’s why it’s funny to think back and remember him as a spirited seven-year-old, a kid who would’ve played football, baseball, and Nintendo all day long, if given the chance. Maybe a qu

Building a Better Student: The Wrong Crowd

"Even if it is painful and lonely, associate with worthy companions."

 - Dogen, the great Zen master.





We'll call him Aaron, but the name is unimportant, since millions of kids fall into the same trap that ultimately derailed this yo

Building a Better Student: Minor Details

As a kid I heard the old adage about how to eat an elephant - the answer is, of course, one bite at a time.



From this I was supposed to learn patience and how to manage large tasks, by breaking them up into manageable pieces. Instead, my ten-year-old mind grappled wit

News for Nerds - The Sleepytime Edition

Welcome back to News for Nerds. This week we'll learn about the power of superstitious rituals, we'll gawk at some amazing new animal species, and we'll have our minds blown by the latest batch of ultra-realistic robots. But first, here are your headlines.

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Building a Better Student: Tearing Down

Each day I drive past a commercial building site that has been more than a year in the making, and it’s still not complete. It takes a long time to build a foundation, set the supports, and apply the materials that eventually create a finished product.



As for the structu

News for Nerds - The 'Eat Your Veggies' Edition

Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we'll reveal the part of your brain that causes overeating, we'll check in with NASA, and we'll investigate whether or not humans can spontaneously combust. But first, here are your headlines.

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Introducing Cooper James

In 2006 I jotted down a few notes for what would become a new mystery series for young adults (and older adults, for that matter). I knew right away the lead character would be Cooper James. I also knew that another primary character would be named Aja. It turned out that Aja McClellan nar

Building a Better Student: Life's Buffet

Consider a typical week in the life of Taylor - and I intentionally chose a unisex name because this story applies to both girls and boys.



Taylor either expressed an interest in a particular sport at an early age, or was deemed to have exceptional skills in that area, or was p

News for Nerds - The Printed Heart Edition

Welcome back to News for Nerds! This week we'll debunk some myths about the human brain, we'll show you how science is getting closer to developing a real-life light saber, and we'll gross you out with a nose on a forehead. But first, here are your headlines.

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Building a Better Student: Is That Writing?

The middle school writing assembly had gone well, with an energized audience and a fun exchange of ideas. Then a young man raised his hand. “I want to write a comic book? Does that count as writing?” My answer aggravated a few adults in the back of the room.



The sa