Phùng Nguyên Quang

WOW Dozen: The Relationship Between Grandparents and Grandchildren

By Janine M. Schall, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is special. Grandparents often play an influential role in the lives of their grandchildren, providing support to parents, childcare, positive examples and unconditional love which helps children feel safe and secure.

Grandparents often share their knowledge, wisdom and family traditions with their grandchildren. They help reinforce family and cultural beliefs, norms and values. These experiences strengthen a grandchild’s sense of self-worth and teach culture, tradition and history while creating opportunities to explore identity in the context of family. Continue reading →

Decorative WOW Currents Banner

Exploring Schools and Schooling Around the World

By Janine Schall, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX

Large waves fling a small boy and his boat into the airEducation is a universal right, but what children are asked to learn and the ways in which they engage in learning is very different around the world. Many children spend a significant portion of their lives in schools so it makes sense that they would be curious about how schools work and how children in different places experience school. This inquiry topic has natural interdisciplinary connections and can be a great way to begin and end the school year.

In this issue of WOW Currents, I share a text set of global and multicultural children’s picturebooks related to the school experience around the world, organized into four themes.

Continue reading →

WOW Dozen: Books on Schools and Schooling

By Janine Schall, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Children around the world go to school, but the ways they do so and what happens once they arrive appears very different in diverse places. No matter what it looks like, schools are places of friendship, growth and learning for most children, but they are also situated in a political and cultural context that is worthy of exploration. Continue reading →