Columns

In recent years, the Maricopa Unified School District has made a concerted effort to improve the assessment of the learning that occurs in its...

September is World Alzheimer’s Month. This year’s theme — “Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s” — highlights the importance of support for those diagnosed with the...

The gift of time is very real. Life expectancy has increased dramatically because people are in much better overall health than prior generations. In...

In an attempt to reduce holiday stress, I’m going to provide you with some gift suggestions for friends and loved ones. Of course, in...

Most of us can’t live without our cats and dogs, but sometimes they literally just get in the way. About 85,000 people suffer nonfatal injuries...

At Maricopa Wellness Center, we pride ourselves on our visual diagnosis of skin concerns and issues. Unfortunately, we are unable to see what is...

Today’s news reports have been less than encouraging for exiting a globally traumatic event, such as the COVID crisis, to cope with.  While feelings...

Traveling by plane is one of the safest and fastest ways to get to your destination. But crowded airports, long waits at security checkpoints,...

The first American Heart Month was marked in February 1964 following President Lyndon B. Johnson’s proclamation on Dec. 30, 1963. At that time, more...

Last week, I was helping my wife install a home key box for a Province resident when she asked me what I knew about...

Algebra (specifically, high school algebra) truly is a gatekeeper to a student’s future. Non-technical college degrees generally require completing a college algebra course, which might...

It’s August, and we have not quite given up on summer and are wondering when it will end. The temperatures are consistently in the...

Here in Arizona, we are all exposed to desert dust every time the wind blows. This can lead to lung problems such as Valley...

Most everyone knows what an athletic coach does, yet many are ignorant about the duties of an academic coach. By next school year, all Maricopa...

In January 2016, I began this education column with two purposes. First, provide readers with new ideas about teaching and learning through the lens...

So many posts from friends end with “take care.” It seems a simple salutation at the end of a letter or social media post,...

By Al Brandenburg Another year and again I am watching my plants wither in the 100-degree-plus heat. Gardening in Arizona in July can be difficult...

Last month’s column looked at how the teaching of math in the elementary grades has reduced the number of students taking advanced math classes...

By Al Brandenburg Americans are living longer, and most would prefer to age in their own home and community, rather than going to a hospital...

Planting a new garden? Are you torn between what type of garden bed you should use? When establishing a garden, you can either choose a...

For several years, emphasis has been placed on the learning of mathematics and science in the elementary grades, yet nobody disputes that the most...

Every year in May, older Americans are recognized for their contributions to our communities and nation. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy...

The theme of National Women’s History Month, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during...

This past June, American Association of Retired Persons and National Geographic published results of their joint “Second Half of Life Study” in the AARP...

Good, we have that resolution moment out of the way. Now to begin a movement of another kind. At some time or another, we have...

National Volunteer Month in April celebrates the impact volunteers have on our lives and encourages active volunteerism for generations to come. An extension of National...

Aging is inevitable. Like other transitions in life, changes can be physical, psychosocial and mental. Understanding the differences between those changes can assist in...

A recent article by Ginger Fligger with Pinal-Gila Council for Seniors states 173,000 people in Arizona will live with Alzheimer’s or another condition that...

This month, our children will return to school. The concerns we have about safety have been heightened recently by more school shootings by mentally...

Defining mental health or its opposite — mental illness — is a daunting task. Mental health includes our emotional state: how we feel, how we...