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Together, our guides have 12 undergraduate degrees, six master
degrees with extensive
experience in the fields of Education and Literature. These same reviewers have a combined 172 years of classroom teaching experience and include a school librarian, a teacher with education research and policy development experience, several curriculum coordinators, a special education teacher, a teacher of gifted students, a music teacher, a home school teacher, and a children's author. We also have a registered nurse in case anyone gets hurt while on our site. Although their credentials make the Discovery Journey guides qualified to review children's books and movies, their passion for the task comes from their roles as parents. When you read a Discovery Journey review, it's like hearing the details about a book or movie from a friend who shares your viewpoint and who you can trust. Click on the Guide's name below to go to their biography:
Lorraine
|
| RN | Geisinger Medical School of Nursing |
| BS Social Science | Chaminade University of Honolulu |
| MLS Library Sciences | University of Hawaii |
| Ed. M. Education Curriculum and Technology | University of Phoenix |
ProfessionalLorraine has over 30 years of experience working with children and young adults. 5 as a pediatric nurse (RN), 3 as a classroom teacher, 1 as a children's librarian in a public library, and 20 as a school librarian.
Lorraine is the youngest of 4 children born in Hazleton, PA. Her sister is also a librarian; her brothers were educators. Her oldest brother was a professor at Texas A&M and the younger brother a High School guidance counselor. Lorraine has two grown children, Andrew, a geophysicist and Megan, a Yoga teacher.
Parents need to know what their children are doing, who they hang out with, and what they are reading, viewing and hearing in order to give them guidance and understanding. Information is power and parents need to have good information to make powerful decisions.
Probably a faithful dog or elephant.
A trip to New Zealand and Australia.
Education| BS Elementary Education | University of Texas at Austin |
| Ed. M. Education and Public Policy | Harvard University, Cambridge, MA |
ProfessionalMindy is a 20-year educator, including 5 years as a classroom teacher and behavior specialist working with students identified as autistic and emotionally disturbed. Mindy has also worked 10 years as a researcher and education policy developer for the state of Texas. Projects included research on successful schools with challenging student populations and development of state policy on: students with disabilities, teacher assessment and evaluation, pre-kindergarten curriculum guidelines, performance standards for gifted and talented students, and professional development for teachers and administrators.
Mindy is the aunt to four incredibly amazing children
"I believe in the importance of learning for all children, and know that learning occurs more quickly and more deeply when it connects to children's interests. Books and movies are valuable vehicles for stimulating children's imaginations, expanding their knowledge of the world and themselves, and promoting character development. I also believe that shared family learning experiences can be incredibly valuable for both parents and children, serving to strengthen family bonds. These shared experiences help children to see their parents as both learners and teachers, providing the children with strong role models and helping them to know that learning goes on all through life. It also helps children to know that learning is fun, and that's a pretty good lesson too. This project provides parents with the critical information they need to make informed choices about the print and video material they share with their children, and gives them the confidence to know they are well informed of both the positive and potentially negative content of all materials reviewed by Discovery Journey."
"If I could be any animal, I would be a dolphin. Dolphins are so intelligent and yet so playful. They are very sociable animals; they like a good time. Some dolphins are also trained to help people. I love the way they move so gracefully through their environment. Yes, I think I would be a dolphin, or maybe an elephant. I love elephants, or no, maybe a monkey. Monkeys like to have a good time, too. Or no, really, I think I would be a tiger. Tigers are so . . . ."
"Hands down, no doubt about it, my favorite vacation of all time (so far) was my trip to Egypt. I can't wait to go back. It was incredible! Anybody want to go with me to see the pyramids and sail on the Nile?"
I have taught school for 32 years. I’ve
worked with all grades 1-8. It seems
teaching is all I’ve ever done, or wanted to
do for that matter. I even taught swimming
lessons when I was in high school and
college. I am currently teaching 6th
grade Language Arts to “at risk” students
that have learning problems, family
problems, or behavior problems.
As an educator, I know the value of reading.
It is the cornerstone of education. Trying
to get children to love reading is something
I do everyday. Even though I spend more
time with children than their own parents
do, research has shown family is more
influential than school. Sadly, I have seen
a decline in families that really spend time
together. Sadly, too, I have seen a decline
in the moral values to which children are
exposed. I am sorely disappointed at some of
the books that have received honors lately.
Standards have changed for the worse. This
project addresses these issues. Your home
pages express my feelings about character
and the love to read exactly as I would. All
I can add to the message expressed on your
pages is, amen..
If I were an animal, I would hope I would be
a dog. Dogs are honest, forgiving and
friendly. They come when they are called
and try to please their master. They do not
care about fancy; the basics like a warm,
dry place to sleep and something to fill the
empty spot in their tummy will do just fine.
Female dogs have a very strong mothering
instinct. Dogs are loyal companions and
sensitive to the moods of others. They do
not bark or bite unless provoked. I would
hope I have enough of these characteristics
to be a dog. One was the summer we (my husband, and both the
girls, Charity and Meghan) went to Disney in Florida.
The girls were 13 and 5 at the time. It was a wonderful
family fun-filled week. Disney is a wonderful family
oriented place that made it memorable for me. I tend to
like kid stuff instead of adult stuff anyway! Another family vacation that I loved was one of our
trips to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I love the mountains.
I never get tired of their beauty. We visited
Gatlinburg, TN, Cherokee, NC, Cades Cove and Dollywood.
All of these places are very family oriented. We live in
the North Georgia foothills, so this one did not involve
much driving. Long drives are murder on the nerves with
children in the car! The first time we went the girls
were 15 and 7. All the places I mentioned are within 30
minutes of each other. We have made this same trip
several times. The other favorite is the vacation that my husband
and I took to Cancun, Mexico. Just the two of us went.
One of the reasons was so memorable because I enjoyed
being in such a different place and learning about a
different culture. There was so much to learn. I really
enjoyed visiting the Mayan pyramids and spending time
with my best friend, my husband.
University of Missouri, Pi Lambda Theta
(education honorary), Mortar Board
University of Texas at Austin, Phi Kappa
Phi (scholastic honorary)
Elementary educator,
26 years, grades 2-6. Specialized in Gifted
and Talented Language Arts
There is so much for
children to read and view; a great deal of
it is not suitable for children and young
adults, in my opinion. One of my daughters
recently took her 13 year old to a PG 13
movie that was labeled as a dark comedy. She
found it contained extreme violence and
If I could be an
animal, I would be a spider, specifically a
golden orb. i became fascinated by spiders
while teaching life science (we even grew
orbs in the corners of the classroom).
Spiders are badly maligned; most are
beneficial to man and exciting to observe
and learn about. Their webs are miracles to
behold and their tenacity is amazing.
We travel a lot, but
the highlight of our journeys was a family
trip through 13 states and the District of
Columbia, visiting as many state capitals,
museums, historical sites, and areas of
beauty as possible in four weeks. Our
children were 9, 13, and 15 at the time; we
bribed them by going to Disneyworld at the
end in return for their "cheerful"
participation. We really didn't have
to...they liked it all and still refer to it
as a favorite childhood memory.
Education
Bachelor of Science
Georgia College at Milledgeville
Master’s of Education
North Georgia College
Professional
Family
I have a wonderful family which includes my husband,
two daughters, three grandkids (I love being
Nana!), two granddogs, two dogs, three horses, and
one barn cat. Family is very important to us and we
spend as much time as possible together.
Belief in this project
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
I am afraid I
cannot pick just one. I have three
favorites.
Education
B.S. in Education
MEd,
in Curriculum and Instruction
Professional
Family
My parents were educators, my father at the
university level and my mother at the elementary
level. Even my maternal grandparents taught
for a time! Books and the love of learning
were an integral part of my childhood. My
favorite birthday gift was Doctor Doolittle's
Circus when I was 8. I have three
children, one is a professional educator, one has
taught in-service in his field, and a third is
involved in promoting good literature and movies for
children. All of us are voracious readers!
Belief in this project
socially unacceptable language. Parents need
a reliable source for comprehensive reviews
of media. Then they can decide for
themselves if they want their children to
read or see it. No parent has time to do it
all. They need help! This is where Discovery
Journey can help.
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
The University of Michigan – College of Engineering
Jillian is an adjunct Math Instructor at Trident Technical
College and is the author of Dobbs Dog Detective
Operation Fido and Fifi, a middle grade mystery
about a canine secret agent. She has also written a
math ebook for elementary education and numerous children's
articles.
Jillian has two nieces age 3 and 5.
I would be a dog because I'm a loyal, happy, fun, and loving
person.
My favorite vacation was when I went to Disney World. I
have actually been there several times. I love the
creativity, fun, and happiness of Disney World. It's
awesome!!!
Jill spent 14 ½ years working for AT&T Consumer Long
Distance. The first few years were in the Bilingual Center
talking to customers over the phone in Spanish regarding
their bills. The last 10 years were in the training
department where Jill enjoyed using her writing skills to
create training courses as well as learning new technology
such as computer based training. Jill is now the President
of WBF Designing & Publishing, Inc., providing a variety of
writing services including editing, translation, and
training design, among other things.
Widowed at the young age of 30, Jill experienced single
parent life for a few years. This was made much easier
through faith in God and a strong church family. In 2004
God blessed her and her children with a new husband. They
are now raising a 15 year old daughter, 12 year old son, and
expecting another son in October, 2005.
I’ve never owned a cat but imagine that I would enjoy being
the type of cat that is not overly excitable but is sociable
and frequently petted to the point of purring.
Not only did we see fun and traditional places like
Devil’s Tower, Mt. Rushmore, and Yellowstone Park, but
we also experienced the beautiful country and amazing
wildlife. The best part of the trip was driving through
Bear Tooth Pass, outside of Yellowstone. The road goes
above the tree line. In late July there was still snow
on top and rounding every curve, climbing ever higher, I
was certain that at any moment we were going to drive
right into Heaven.
Retired from thirty two years of teaching
elementary and middle school subjects, leading teacher teams,
mentoring first year teachers, training
teachers in reading/writing workshops,
teaching and and consulting on
reading/writing workshops. Taught
middle school for 11 years, including the
responsibility
for 6th grade TAG language arts in the last
5 years.
Married for 36 years – one child, a daughter
and two grandchildren
As a former reading/writing teacher, I read
chapter books during the school year because
I needed to know what “my kids” were
reading. Too often their answers to
Reader’s Response Questions prompted me to
investigate their books more closely.
Violent plots, offensive language, and
inappropriate grade-level topics were
included in the books. Currently, I purchase
chapter books for a home for abused girls,
so I continue to read children’s books. As a
rule, most parents today do not have time to
read the books their children are selecting.
I feel they would be most appreciative of a
site where they could preview current titles
provided by adults who share their family
values.
This is an interesting question. I guess I’d
like to be a puppy for an older person or a
young child because I’d make them happy.
Traveling yearly with a group of retired
friends since 2000 has given me and my
husband great pleasure.
B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
Major: Elementary Education with an
Emphasis in Reading
Texas A&M University
Currently, Debbie is a professional Stay-At-Home Mom
and absolutely loves it! Prior to having children,
she taught second grade three years in Texas and
first grade four years at the American School in
Guadalajara, Mexico. While teaching in Texas, Debbie
was a reading specialist, a teacher appraiser and a
mentor to student teachers. After her third year of
teaching, Debbie was chosen “Teacher of the Year” by
her colleagues and administrators. At the American
School in Mexico, Debbie was Curriculum Coordinator
for her elementary campus, a recurring staff
development trainer, a Guided Reading expert and a
mentor to teachers and student teachers.
Everyday I am reminded how thankful I am for my
family. My husband and I have been married for nine
years. We have two precious children, a boy and a
girl ages three and eighteen months. Our extended
family and friends are equally as important to us.
Some of our favorite family activities include:
praying together, eating meals together, going to
the park, reading books and playing baseball in the
front yard.
Have you ever heard the truism, “So many languages
in the world, and a smile speaks them all?” I
believe the same is true for reading. No matter what
translation you read, a book communicates to all.
Books are a common thread among all nations. They
put words to our feelings, allow us to experience
new places and things, capture our hearts, spark our
imaginations and offer various perspectives. In
order to be successful, children must be able to
read and comprehend. As a teacher and parent, I
value reading and want to encourage the love of
books so that my children will become life-long
readers. Most importantly, I want to protect my
children and others from material that is
inappropriate and potentially harmful. In the
classroom, I would not read or show anything I had
not previewed. The same is true in my home.
Selecting safe, age-appropriate, morally sound
material is a priority. Discovery Journey will be an
invaluable tool that will enable me to do this.
I would be a frog. My son absolutely loves frogs. He
sleeps with a “froggy” blanket, wears a “froggy”
baseball cap and leapfrogs over his baby sister. He
enjoys reading the Froggy books by Jonathan London.
He has even memorized his favorite book, Froggy
Plays Soccer.
My
husband and I lived in New York for one year and loved it!
Family and friends have stated that we literally vacationed
for a year. We traveled through New England in the fall,
attended the U.S. Open and watched a ball game at Fenway
Park. Also, we enjoyed Broadway shows, canoeing in Central
Park and attending the 2002 Heisman Memorial Trophy Awards
Dinner. I will always treasure these memories.
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Texas at El Paso
Retired from thirty years of teaching high school
business subjects and coordinating students in the
Vocational Office Education work-study program.
Prior to teaching, I worked in offices.
Was the
oldest of four children in my family and grew up on
a farm in a small rural community. I am married and
have two children--a daughter and a son. They both
graduated from the University of Texas. Our
daughter is in the field of education and our son is
in the computer field. My husband and I recently
celebrated 45 years of marriage. And, we are
blessed to have four grandchildren. Three of the
four are a set of 9-year old triplets. Having
triplets in the family has been a delightful
experience. And, now the triplets have a little
sister who is 16 months of age--even more delight.
I am fortunate to have an extremely large extended
family--both on my side of the family and on my
husbands. We spend quite a bit of time attending
family reunions.
As a
grandparent, I see the world being ever so much more
dangerous for the children of today. They are being
assailed from every direction with attempts to
change long-established values. Because of these
attempts, what we abhor is becoming the norm, and it
is becoming the norm because they are exposed to it
in print, movies and television programs. What is a
parent or grandparent to do? You rely on a project
such as this to aid you in keeping such trash from
reaching the eyes and ears of your children. The
children are our future and perhaps this project
will have a positive impact on forming that future.
I would
be the good old reliable animal who likes to help
others, likes to stay in the background, likes to be
liked, and wants to make an impact. I wanted to say
zebra, but based on the previous statement, it
sounds as if I would be a dog.
This is
hard because I have had so many nice vacations and
trips. To choose one, though, I would say the trip
to Hawaii--Kauai and the Big Island--was my
favorite. One reason was that it was a surprise
trip arranged by my husband for our 25th wedding
anniversary. Another reason was that it was so
completely new and different. We had never been on
such a long flight, we had never seen any of Hawaii,
we had never taken a sightseeing helicopter ride, we
had never gone snorkeling, we had never seen an
active volcano, we had never seen Macadamia nut
trees and the processing procedure, we had never
seen such beautiful Birds of Paradise and other
flowers, and--last, but not least--I had never
tasted Kona coffee. Also, at that time, the islands
were relatively unspoiled and quite free of touristy
things--at least as compared to today.
BBA Marketing
Texas Christian University
magna cum laude
Prior to that momentous day some 11 years ago when Susan
learned that she would be the mother of not one, not two,
but three children at the same time, she was an in-control,
organized, self-sufficient Marketing and Membership Director
for several trade associations with a lot of time on her
hands.
Susan
is one of the founders of DiscoveryJourney. She is the mother of the triplets
and a precocious toddler Olivia.
Susan is the epitome of this project. Susan wasted no
time in reading to the triplets or Olivia. She didn't even wait
for them to be born - she started reading to them while they
were in the womb. She still reads aloud to the
triplets! Susan felt that reading aloud was so
important that she studied effective techniques. Over
the course of the years, she has learned to read the book
privately before reading with the kids to enhance the
experience, be prepared to discuss issues, and be ready with
any creative editing if needed. Susan's success over
the ten years with the triplets is the reason for DiscoveryJourney's existence and that beats being organized
and in-control any day.
"I would be a dog because they are happy, loyal, eager to
please, and smart. Actually, that sounds just
like me. Do you suppose I was a dog in a
previous life?"
"I have two favorites. One is the trip to
Disneyland in 2000 that Brent mentions. The second
was in 1993 when Brent and I went on a Caribbean cruise.
I can still picture us on a catamaran off Martinique,
attempting to scuba dive off of a private island and
shopping for the perfect watch for Brent (and him
floating in the crystal clear waters of of St. Thomas
wearing that watch). A week of play with my
best friend is something I will treasure forever."
Shauna has
attended college, mostly in the arts. The majority of
Shauna's adult learning has been through online classes and
research and LOTS of reading.
Jillian
Education
B.S.E. Industrial & Operations Engineering
Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary Mathematics
The
Citadel
Professional
Family
Belief in this Project
I think Discovery Journey is important because we
give a moral, insightful look at movies and books.
Discovery Journey keeps the best interests of
children at heart and understands the moral
implications and influence movies and books have on
children. The movie industry wants to make money
whereas Discovery Journey wants to make sure that
the movie is appropriate for children. Discovery
Journey is a great way for parents to prescreen
books and movies before they expose their children
to them.
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Jill
Education
BBA Business
Management
University of
Phoenix
Professional
Family
Belief in this Project
Much to the annoyance of my daughter, I am very
particular about what movies I allow my children to
watch. I know that PG-13 rated movies often have
more adult situations than I want my 15 year old
daughter exposed to. I know I’m not the only parent
with these concerns and I’m happy to contribute to
easing the burden of other like-minded parents who
struggle to find reliable information about what is
really contained in a movie.
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Carolyn
Education
Bachelor of Science in Education
Texas State University
Professional
Family
Belief in this project
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Education
Professional
Family
Belief in this project
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Ann
Education
Courses leading to teaching
certification
Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene,
Texas
Continuing education courses in education and real
estate throughout career
Professional
Family
Belief in this project
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Susan
Education
Professional
Family
Belief in this Project
What kind of animal would you be?
What was your favorite vacation?
Shauna
Education
Professional
Currently Shauna homeschools her nine and ten year old
children. She also works part time as a freelance
writer and part time in promotional product
sales. In addition to freelancing, She has one
historical romance out to agents and one
children's book out to publishers. In the past,
she has worked in administration and also as a
preschool teacher in a Christian school, and
ran a home decor retail business with her family.
