Children & Education Archives

DeSantis Endangers Florida Population and Beyond

July 10, 2020 by Doug Dillon 2848 0 0

Incredibly, our state governor refuses to protect the people he has sworn to serve and is willing to allow the spread of COVID-19 beyond our borders. Ron DeSantis endangers Florida and is making it the primary hot-spot for the virus in the United...

COVID Virus Inspiration Courtesy of the Earth

May 19, 2020 by Doug Dillon 2137 0 0

During this most difficult time of the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been keeping myself busy by teaching my 5-year-old granddaughter about geography on my iPhone via FaceTime. She and her parents only live 15 miles away but, we haven’t been able...

Mr. Rogers Movie: Remedy for Troubled Times

July 25, 2018 by Doug Dillon 2473 0 0

As my wife, Barbara, and I exited the Enzian Theater in Winter Park, Florida, we both breathed a deep sigh of nostalgia, peace and even hope. We had just viewed the Mr. Rogers movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Growing up, our children loved...

Shame: Rubio Fails Children of Asylum Seekers

July 2, 2018 by Doug Dillon 1619 0 0

Marco Rubio fails children of asylum seekers every day that goes by since his June 22, 2018 speech. Although Florida’s junior Senator’s words that day were mostly logical and reasonable, near the end, he stepped off a cliff and plummeted into...

Parkland Students Take Much Needed Action

February 20, 2018 by Doug Dillon 1471 0 0

Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida, #NeverAgain, gun control, AR-15, Pulse nightclub, Columbine High School And on the killing goes. Really? Will we never wake up as a nation and stop this madness. Will we allow the NRA to rule us...

Teaching Resilience with Young Adult Novels

January 26, 2014 by Doug Dillon 1140 0 0

At-risk kids, life skills and reading. The St. Augustine Trilogy – aiming for at-risk young people, using the paranormal, the historical and science fiction: Book I Sliding Beneath the Surface Book II Stepping Off a...

Teaching History Through Young Adult Novels

January 23, 2014 by Doug Dillon 1045 0 0

The St. Augustine Trilogy – a success story – mixing history with the paranormal and science fiction to hook young readers: Book I Sliding Beneath the Surface Book II Stepping Off a Clif Book III Targeting Orion’s Children As a...

Rewarding Reading Excellence in Schools

December 17, 2013 by Doug Dillon 1285 0 0

Making reading cool motivates high school students. What a delight it was to see that philosophy played out to the hilt at Pedro Menendez High in St. Augustine, Florida last week. My young adult book series, The St. Augustine Trilogy, takes place...

Teen Paranormal & Historical Book Trailer

November 2, 2013 by Doug Dillon 740 0 0

The fan generated young adult book trailer for Sliding Beneath the Surface, when used in a high school reading classrooms, really generates a tremendous amount of student interest. When this was first done with 11th & 12th graders who had...

Using Novels To Teach Reading 7-12

October 30, 2013 by Doug Dillon 916 0 0

Subtitle: Reading motivation and skill building for secondary students who failed a state reading test, an author’s perspective. Recently, I spent the day in a high school reading classroom with a wonderful teacher and all of her 11th and...

Using Art to Teach Reading 7-12

October 29, 2013 by Doug Dillon 851 0 0

Kathy Snyder Subtitle: Reading motivation and skill building for secondary students who failed a state reading test, an author’s perspective. Recently, I spent the day in a high school reading classroom with a wonderful teacher and all of...

Florida’s St. Augustine – Setting for Teen Books

October 15, 2013 by Doug Dillon 849 0 0

The St. Augustine Trilogy – Young Adult series – paranormal & historical – reading classroom use. These books make the most out the location in the United States to place readers in the most interesting and vivid setting...