Articles written by Lara Cooper

What is Helium

About me - Lara Cooper

A disenchanted teacher trying to break into publishing, Lara is a compassionate mother of three, wife to British ex-pat and the official go-to girl for curriculum and instruction on the faculty of her rural high school.

Lara's love of writing began very early

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Education > Secondary School Issues Are we prejudiced towards pregnant teens being in school?: 1 of 25
Swollen ankles, nausea, weight gain, fear of the unknown, finances and nutrition are all new challenges for a pregnant teen; why must we add shame and embarrassment to that list? Absolutely, in most schools, teen mothers-to-be are stereotyped as young foolish women with loose moral values and an appetite for promiscuity.Many ... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Food: 1 of 20
There is special relationship with food here in the South. Food is more than simply sustenance. Food is love, family, pride and a truly unifying element of Southern society. Many people, okay, many non-southern people, will tell you that food in the South is all the same - all fried, all brown, all sweeter than necessary. The... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing (Other) Tips for writing a literary analysis: 1 of 13
Banish those cardigan-wearing, horn-rimmed glasses equipped, gray-haired old fuddie duddie English teachers who once believed you should just "feel" your way through literature. Remember the days where understanding a complex piece of poetry or prose was reserved for those two or three kids who just naturally "got it"? Well, ... More..
Education > Teachers & Administrators What difference do teachers make?: 1 of 10
Only this morning, I found myself filling the role of nurse, Internet researcher, rape counselor, policeman, banker, short order cook, secretary,computer technician, political commentator and custodian all before 8:30 a.m. Obviously, I teach for a living. My simple classroom operates as command center for every possible issue... More..
Education > Teachers & Administrators Should teachers be required to take mental stability tests?: 2 of 14
Imagine a society where you carried the equivalent of a dog tag that contained your personal information, medical history, psychological profile, and genetic map. Requiring teachers to complete a psychological evaluation opens the gateway to assess all professionals. Why stop at a psych profile? Shouldn't teachers also be hea... More..
Education > Study Skills & Test Taking Dangers of mediocrity among today's students: 1 of 5
Mediocrity has many guises - "good enough", average, functioning at grade level, proficient, on target. All of these have been common goals of education for decades. All teachers and most parents know that the Advanced Placement/honors/Gifted and Talented kids are going to be just fine. They have the capabilities to teach the... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Should travelers explore their home country first or travel abroad as often as they can?: 12 of 38
There are many people who are born, raised and will die within the confines of their own, small, comfortable community. At the risk of offending many, I feel sorry for these folks. I mean this not in any derogatory sense, simply this: there is a rich world of culture and experience to be opened, explored and devoured by adven... More..
Education > Secondary School Issues Why children believe that not doing school work is 'cool': 16 of 32
Living with hopelessness is like being frozen in ice at the bottom of a well in a dark valley. Escape seems impossible; struggle seems futile. Sadly, this is how many of our young people feel ever day when confronted with school. These students may be urban victims who inwardly know they are "stuck" in deteriorating, dangerou... More..
Personal Finance > Financial Planning Teaching kids about money management: 28 of 49
Before discussing teaching kids about money management it is important to recognize that this involves the ability to do more than simply balance a check book. By rights, all parents and children should be able to add and subtract by the time they have money to manage. Failure to achieve this most basic of steps will prove a ... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Teaching: 8 of 14
Teachers are supposed to be kind, and sweet, tolerant and forgiving. Notice that I said supposed to be. We are supposed to love all children, no matter their personalities or social problems. Whether they are beauty queens, criminals, drunks, stars or geniuses, teachers are supposed to treat all children equally with dignity ... More..