Posts by DR. SHIRLEY RAINES
SAY “YES” to LEADERSHIP – 4 L’s of Wisdom
Jonesborough, Tennessee, is a charming town, and you usually will find me there the first weekend in October for the International Storytelling Festival. This year the in-person festival was canceled. I missed rubbing shoulders with festival-goers, finding a seat under one of the big tents strewn across the hillsides, and staying in town with my…
Read MoreEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – Books with African-American Images
After a webinar about using children’s literature in the curriculum, I received a request from the participants to recommend some books with images of African-American children and their families. Below is a short list I compiled based on recommendations from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the American Library Association website, Best Children’s Books: Diverse…
Read MoreSAY “YES” TO LEADERSHIP – Stop Admiring the Problem, Solve It!
At a conference, I overheard someone say, “You academics just admire problems. You study a problem to death and someday, if all the variables are accounted for, you might actually get around to solving the problem.” Leaders, we must not get stuck admiring the problem, in analysis paralysis. While problems should be examined from various…
Read MoreEARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – Creating Story Memories
While at home during the pandemic, create new memories with your child by telling some of your favorite stories you enjoyed as a child. Fables, fairy tales and stories from many cultures remain in our memories because they had intriguing characters, taught moral lessons without preaching, and had suspense leading to a satisfactory ending. What…
Read MoreSAY “YES” TO LEADERSHIP – Adam’s Quote
SAY “YES” TO LEADERSHIP After my leadership book was published, I was invited to speak at conferences, in person and virtually. I started this blog, SAY “YES” TO LEADERSHIP, to stay in touch with my audiences and readers of my book, An Uncommon Journey: Leadership Lessons (from a preschool teacher who became a university president).…
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