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Ogden's community school offerings get ramped up

Last updated Friday, April 6, 2012 - 5:56pm

OGDEN — The first term of Mount Ogden Junior High’s community school was a huge success, so organizers are expanding offerings for the term that begins Tuesday.

“It’s what I was hoping for,” said Debbie Daniel, YMCA Community School coordinator.

The Computers 101 class drew the biggest crowd, with students ranging from age 41 to 86, she said. Daniel is adding a second session.

Baking, Cakes, Computers, Internet, Mount Ogden Junior High School, Utah, Writing, YMCA, Yoga, Zumba Read more Comments

Looking at life's disappointment leads to new personal insights

JaNae Francis Standard-Examiner

Last updated Friday, April 6, 2012 - 4:42pm

There is an idea in many religious teachings and spiritual beliefs that all things in life are for our growth and learning.

That's an overwhelming thought for me, because there are a lot of circumstances from which it is hard for my mind to derive any good. After all, death and sin are a constant dilemma in our society.

Parenting, Religion, Writing Read more Comments

The summer to-do list that, this year, really will get done

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Monday, April 2, 2012 - 5:58pm

OK, gang, this is it: The summer I do everything I am supposed to do. Yeah, I know. I said that last year. And the year before. And the year before.

Didn’t happen.

But it will this year. What will I do?

Cleanup, Garage, Hunger, Lawn care, Mystery, Staff column, Summer, Utah, Wasatch Rambler, Writing Read more Comments

Two Davis district students earn perfect ACT score

Dana Rimington Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, March 24, 2012 - 4:45pm

FARMINGTON — In the last year, nearly 3,000 students in Davis School District took the ACT, a standards-based test used to assess college readiness.

Two of those students — Helena Ma, a junior at Davis High School in Kaysville, and Landon Willey, a senior at Viewmont High School in Bountiful — achieved a score of 36, the highest score possible.

The Utah ACT State Organization Council honored the two students at a luncheon in Sandy this week.

Education, ACT Test, Clearfield High School, Davis High School, Davis School District, Higher Education, Language, Layton High School, Learning, Math, Northridge High School, reading, Scholarships, Science, Syracuse High School, Teenagers, Teens, Testing, Utah, Viewmont High, Viewmont High School, Woods Cross High School, Writing, College Read more Comments

College, where you learn to really think about what you do

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 5:03pm

Like all teachers on the college level, Adrienne Gillespie is both dismayed by and thrilled with her students. Thrilled because some are wonders: Bright. Aggressive. Able to leap tall concepts with a single mental bound. They know why they need an education. They mean to get one.

These are the students whose papers get graded last. Why? Every professor needs a treat.

She’s dismayed because some students are ticket punchers, people who “just say, ‘Give me my degree. I just need a degree. Why do you want me to take these other classes?’ ”

Education, Barack Obama, Community, Community service, Higher Education, Learning, President Barack Obama, President Obama, Productivity, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Staff column, Technology, Utah, Wasatch Rambler, Weber State University, Women, Writing, College Read more Comments

Author Brandon Mull speaks to students at Mound Fort Junior High School in Ogden on Thursday. Mull, of Highland, is the author of the "Fablehaven" series of fantasy books.(MATTHEW ARDEN HATFIELD/Standard-Examiner)

'Fablehaven' authors taps into Ogden students' creativity

Rachel J. Trotter Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, March 15, 2012 - 8:53pm

OGDEN — It felt a little like “The Price is Right” at Mound Fort Junior High School on Thursday morning, as best-selling young-adult author Brandon Mull took answers from the audience on creative ways a character could travel to another world.

Three students lined up in the front of the auditorium as he showed examples of how to create a story. Students took suggestions from their peers amid laughter and giggles at some of the ideas.

“A shower!” one student yelled.

Author, Author events, Best-sellers, Brandon Mull, Creativity, Fablehaven, Mound Fort Junior High School, Ogden School District, Ogden School Foundation, reading, Utah, Utah author, Utah author events, Utah authors, Utah best-sellers, Writing, Young adult reading, Featured Read more Comments

Knowlton Elementary School students Sierra Yerman (left) and Abby Harding read with Sandie Buckley at Apple Village Assisted Living in Layton on Wednesday. The first-grade students spend time reading with the residents every week. (ERIN HOOLEY/Standard-Examiner)

Senior citizens in Layton help first-graders build reading skills

Dana Rimington Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - 7:06pm

LAYTON — First-graders need all the practice they can get reading aloud to adults, says the reading coach at Knowlton Elementary.

Residents at Apple Village Assisted Living in Layton have the time and willingness to sit and listen to students read, she added.

Education, Children, Children's Books, Davis School District, Elderly, Fundraiser, Grandparents, Knowlton Elementary School, mentoring, reading, Senior Citizens, Seniors, Utah, Volunteering, Volunteers, Writing, Featured Read more Comments

Talia Miller (left) and Amanda George laugh as students play a game during Kitty College at Weber State University in Ogden on Wednesday. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)

Wildcats majoring in education learn by teaching at Kitty College

Rachel J. Trotter Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, December 29, 2011 - 12:49am

OGDEN -- Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve celebrations and resolutions are all things to think about the week after Christmas, but now younger minds are thinking about those things, too, thanks to Weber State University's College of Education Kitty College for elementary school-aged kids this week.

Education, Art, Children, Crafts, Dance, Teachers, Teaching, Utah, Volunteers, Weber State University, Writing, College, Featured Read more Comments

For Halloween, a simple how-to on writing a perfectly evil story

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Sunday, October 30, 2011 - 8:13am

If I could write a scary story as perfect as Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," I could die happy.

Poe is at his most brilliant: Niter drips. Damp oozes. Dark seeps. Webs gleam amid flickering flambeaux.

And murder lurks. That final dank hole in which Fortunato's bells jingle their last? Perfection!

Halloween, Horror, Literature, Staff column, Utah, Wasatch Rambler, Writing Read more Comments

KERA WILLIAMS/Standard-Examiner
Wendy Toliver talks recently to Cassie Cox’s English class at Two Rivers High School in Ogden about three of her published books.

Authors offer writing tips to Two Rivers High English students

Rachel J. Trotter Standard-Examiner

Last updated Sunday, October 2, 2011 - 11:39pm

OGDEN -- Dylan Moore could have graduated early from Two Rivers High School this summer, but when he heard what his English teacher had in store for him this fall, he decided staying in high school wasn't such a bad idea.

Education, Schools, Two Rivers High School, Utah, Utah authors, Writing, Featured Read more Comments

A student types on a laptop after finishing a cursive lesson in Gen Bentley's third-grade class at Bannockburn Elementary School, September 23, 2011. The students learn both cursive handwriting and typing. (Keri Wiginton/Chicago Tribune/MCT)

Cursive handwriting no longer a focus in many elementary schools

Lisa Black Chicago Tribune

Last updated Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 9:32am

CHICAGO -- Vicki Zurkowski wonders if today's cursive handwriting will be tomorrow's hieroglyphics -- an ancient form of writing decipherable by only a few experts in a specialized field.

The Elmhurst, Ill., mother was disturbed to learn that her children's school district will spend less time teaching the flowing loops of cursive in order to squeeze more 21st-century lessons, such as keyboarding, into the classroom day.

Features, Elementary Schools, Teaching, Writing Read more Comments