Wonderful for student interaction and collaboration at the middle and high school grade levels, online discussion boards are powerful classroom tools for large and small schools, as they create an open environment for learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Unfortunately, discussion boards can seem a lot like either the Wild West or a parched empty desert with only tumble weeds blowing in the wind.

Taming the frontier of online discussion boards is easier said than done. However, with some structure and guides in place, teachers can harness the power of this digital tool to benefit both their students' learning experience and their own skills as well. In this feast or famine setting, it's important for you as a teacher to be the law of the land by being an encourager of student participation, so here are a few tips for facilitating online discussion boards:...

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"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5b).

Since the Great Recession began in 2008, survival for faith-based schools has been beyond difficult. No matter how your Christian school is faring, none of us has been immune to witnessing the impact of America's job losses, home losses, and the loss of hope. However, a recent increase in enrollment in Christian schools is a positive sign that the Recession may be turning....

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"A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life." - Henry Ward Beecher

Bookworms unite. February is Library Lovers' Month, a month-long celebration recognizing school, public, and private libraries in your community. You don't really need to be a bookworm to love libraries. These days, many patrons enjoy using other modern materials such as DVDs, computers, Wi-Fi, online periodicals, and audio tapes. Libraries can also provide a quiet study haven for students using an online curriculum....

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