The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. Well before I started teaching elementary ages and now middle schoolers, I loved spending time with toddlers and preschoolers. I observed them as an undergrad psychology major, taught them during…
2020 Holiday Gift Guides
2020 has been the year that no one expected and if holiday shopping feels overwhelming, I’m here to help you get a handle on this year’s list with my 2020 Holiday Gift Guides. For the first time in 13 years, this year’s gift guides will be published earlier than ever because retailers are offering early…
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest Inspires Problem Solving Through STEM
This post is sponsored by We Are Teachers Whether teaching in person or virtually, I’ve always told my middle schoolers that they have the potential to solve the world’s problems with their knowledge of STEM. These subjects provide a foundation for kids to learn critical problem-solving skills that can be used to find cures for…
Minecraft Build the Vote Lets Kids Vote on Important Political Issues
Explaining the complexities of an election and current political issues to kids of any age can be a challenge. Fortunately, kids can Build the Vote in Minecraft thanks to Rock the Vote and Sid Lee. Build the Vote invites kids of all ages to learn more about the United States’ electoral process. It also teaches about…
How to Talk About Marijuana with Your Kids
When our kids were little, we used to hold their hands when crossing the street in order to keep them safe. As they’ve grown, we’ve asked them to wear helmets when riding bikes and scooters, approve social media friend requests from those they know, and nervously sat in the passenger seat while teaching them how…
How I Made the Decision to Protect My Kids Against Cancer
This post is sponsored by the American Cancer Society As parents, we work hard to protect our kids against things that harm them. When they were young, we used to hold their little hands in ours when crossing the street. These days we try to keep track of who their friends are and who they’re…
How to Vote Safely During a Pandemic
This post was made possible by AARP in their effort to protect the 50+ vote. All opinions are my own. I remember casting my first ballot a few months after my 18th birthday, sending in absentee ballots during college, and waiting in line at polling places in my community. Through the years the issues that…
5 Teacher Tech Essentials for Virtual Classrooms
This post is sponsored by Logitech When coronavirus closed schools in March, every teacher did the best they could to transition to emergency schooling. This fall educators across the country reimagined their teaching spaces and got creative to engage a new group of students. They’re using new online teaching tools and tech essentials for virtual…
LEGO® Education Rebuild The World Inspires Today’s Middle Schoolers to be Tomorrow’s Problem Solvers
This post is sponsored by LEGO® Education I like to tell my 8thgraders that the world of work will look far different than it does today. As a middle school teacher and parent of teens, I want my students and own two children to develop transferable skills that can be applied to any situation. But…
Photomath App Teaches Math to All Ages with Step-by-Step Explanations
This post is sponsored by Photomath School poses a multitude of challenges for our kids. Being in a virtual classroom fits some learning styles well but some subjects are harder to understand online. Last spring many of my 8th graders told me math was much harder to learn through a screen than in person. Despite…
