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Most teachers (who aren't writing curriculum, working a second job to stay afloat or tutoring) will tell you summer is slow. Maybe it's contributing to this ...

Every year, at this point in the summer, I get nightmares about the next school year.

Apparently, she also dreams of classes like "sniper 101."

I found this from a blogger at a blogging community for teachers.

Makes me wonder how many NRV teachers have their own blogs. I know of at least one former school board member who does.

Let me know. Until then, sweet dreams.

Every body remembers the great ones, teachers or school personnel who took an interest and showed you the cared.

For me, it was Mrs. McClanahan, my 8th--grade English teacher at McKinley Jr. High. She pushed me to follow what I love and start writing for a local teen publication. And, here I am, writing for you.

That's what Show and Tell is about. I want you tell everyone about the great things that your schools' teachers, administrators and students are doing.

Send us comments, pictures or videos and we'll get all the goodies up.

Check back often, and let us know what's going on.

A program in Denver is aimed at involving parents more in their child's education.

The Mile High Parent Campaign would ask parents track the amount of time they spend helping their children, and exactly what they do

The goal is at 30 minutes a day. Lots of folks have research that shows that students perform better in school when parents help them.

What types of things do you do with your children, and how do you think the school systems here could help enhance parent involvement in and outside of school?

Right now, the seven school board members and a handful of other school administrators are crafting a "mission statement" for the school system.

The first debate: whether to use the term "stakeholder."

Board member Phyllis Albritton suggested that people feel left out when terms like that are thrown about. But Penny Franklin said that it's the board' responsibility to change te meaning of the word for people,

And, here I thought the board's responsibility was to set policy and make sure students are learning.

It seems to me that this is further indicative of how public education has become a business. There are even groups that teach boards how to make the most shiny statement.

What do you think? Does a school system need to create a mission statement, or is the goal of "teach" good enough?

Schools can get pretty heated, and I'm not just talking about the ones that don't have air conditioning on 90-degree days.

As parents (or teachers or students), I know there are times when you just don't understand the decisions that have been made and you're ready to explode. Or, maybe you want to know that someone else feels your pain.

So, here's a place to vent it all: The Boiler Room .

It's the spot on Chalk Dust where you can let everyone know what's upsetting you about education today. Maybe it's the school food, lousy math books, aged buildings or testing structure.

Whatever it is. let it out. Chances are, you're not the only one thinking it. Sometimes that's the only way changes can be made.

The Boiler Room will compile all the woes in one section. All you have to do is click, and add your boil in comment form.

Here's an example of a united front out in the O.C. Allegations of cheating on AP tests have the county looking at cancelling everyone's scores.

Anyone worry that could happen in the NRV?

A YouTube video featuring students from Belview Elementary just learning the joys of the No. 2 pencil has been entered in a contest that could win the school $10,000 toward technological advances in the school.

The 90-second video is among four in Virginia entered in Big Lots' "Lots2Give" campaign aimed at providing financially struggling school with cash. People can vote on which video they like the best

Teacher Lisa Cosslin created the video to help win another batch of money to improve the technology used in the school, but that didn't work.

They're hoping this time it will.

Check out the video here and vote for it.