What kinds of toys will parents be purchasing this holiday season? Since more than 60% of parents believe that toys should promote learning,* it’s a safe bet to say learning toys will top their holiday shopping lists. STEM toys, or those that incorporate science, technology, engineering, or math principles, are particularly hot, with demand for […]
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Halloween will be here before we know it, and we’ve got four super spooky STEAM center ideas sure to give your students shivers! Okay, they’re not that scary, but they are fun – and festive! Check out the ideas below to create quick and easy Halloween-themed centers using affordable, reusable magnets: Tangram Pumpkins! Perfect for […]
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It’s almost International Literacy Day! No one understands how critical literacy is to academic success more than teachers do. That’s why we’re sharing nine effective literacy center ideas targeting everything from oral language, letter shapes and sounds, and word building, to sentence and paragraph construction! Plus, all these center ideas incorporate learning magnets, making […]
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The first day of school gives us all the feels! ❤️ Teachers and students alike may be feeling excited, nervous, shy, and even a bit silly. Fun and engaging activities that help your students learn about each other – and about you and your expectations – go a long way toward making everyone comfortable […]
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A neat, tidy, and comfortable classroom is a key contributor to a successful school year (and saving a teacher’s sanity). Below are a few fun, easy, out-of-the-box classroom organization and classroom management ideas: 1. Hanging Curtains You may not think of curtains as management tools, but making the environment more comfortable by blocking bright […]
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A makerspace is the perfect place for kids and adults to MAKE things! Makers can explore various materials, configure and construct solutions to various problems, use various tools and techniques, put the engineering design process to the test, and best of all … learn by doing. National Week of Making (coming soon this month!) is the perfect […]
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It’s no surprise that Teacher Appreciation Week falls smack in the middle of National Inventors Month! After all, teachers are our first cheerleaders, inspiring us to get creative, try new things, and realize that failing is part of learning—all critical aspects of innovation and the invention process. So, to our former teachers, our kids’ current […]
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Part of our job as teachers is to empower our students to become conscientious global citizens. Lessons, activities, and projects highlighting environmental issues are solid ways to build the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills and empathy kids will need to tackle these problems as adults. Modeling sustainability in the classroom is another way to teach your […]
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Throughout history, women have made significant contributions in fields ranging from economics and civil engineering to yes, you guessed it, science! For example, Ada Lovelace wrote what’s considered the first computer code. Chemist Katharin Blodgett is credited with creating the world’s first clear glass. And on a hot, sunny day, thank Nancy Johnson for inventing the […]
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Limited space and logistical issues mean many students are taking standardized tests in their own classrooms. Your state or testing agency will provide a list of what’s not permitted in the classroom, but some tools and templates ARE allowed, including some that remind students about the strategies, rules, and templates they can employ to think through various test questions. Adding […]
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