Learning

Each spring a new group of teaching students are entering their final semester of teacher-preparation programs and beginning their semester of student teaching. It is easy to write-off this experience as a rite of passage that all educators face---simply part of the process; however, as the field of education continues to face momentous challenges, this barrage of future teachers entering our classrooms brings so much hope for the future.

Hands on learning fuels that fire by encouraging students to learn by doing. From flash cards and manipulatives to fun puzzles and educational games, hands on learning activities help make learning more meaningful for students in ways they can truly enjoy.

Every morning of the school year starts the same way. COFFEE! It’s my special friend and comes with me from home to school and then replicates throughout the day as needed. Which is often. But I’m trying to be healthier and drink more water so a large bottle is pulled from the fridge and put in my bag. 

Our 2022 Thank A Teacher Winners have gone above and beyond to not only adjust, overcome, and embrace their new world of teaching, but they’ve taken extra steps to inspire, give, and be a constant supporter of their students. They have exceeded their roles and responsibilities to ensure that students are engaged both inside and outside of the classroom: these teachers have delivered school supplies themselves, planned unique hands-on activities, organized their own proms, and so much more.

This time of year brings excitement and new beginnings for many, but it also brings unease and nervousness for thousands of students, teachers, and families, as well. The field of education is full of a lot of joy and encouragement, and we often see smiling faces boarding buses in TV ads and in the pages of magazines, but the truth is, anxiety is a big part school, too. Speaking openly about mental health is important every day, but it is especially important to recognize the stress experienced by the youngest people in our communities, their families and the educators who look after their best interests each day.

As a business owner I know the importance of being organized, but as a person with ADHD I know how challenging it can be. My company, Re-Focus: The Creative Office, evolved from my mission to help my son manage his schoolwork into a line of organization tools for tracking everything from passwords to college applications. I’ve learned a lot – and continue to learn a lot – about the power of organization. I want to remind people that organization is the key: once you are organized and focused, you can be brilliant! Here, I’d like to share my tried-and-true tips to make organization your superpower.

Mead® Five Star® is getting the band back together. The OG Trapper Keeper is returning for a reunion tour!

Students are constantly looking for new study strategies that are most intuitive for them. Everyone’s learning style is unique, and it’s obvious from doodling in the page margins to jotting down important quiz and test preparation. From the experts who bring you Five Star® school supplies, here are five tips that work for everyone, as they allow an approach to studying from many directions.

“Online learning,” “pandemic” and “unprecedented times” — these phrases make educators’ skin crawl. We are so over it. As a parent, I also walked the walk of many families who were struggling to navigate the world of education from home, and I know it ignited stress in me, so I can only imagine the impact it had on families across the globe. However, the process of going to school online wasn’t all terrifying realizations and frustrations. Teaching and learning virtually has brought insights for ways students, teachers and families can evolve our methods to build stronger skills and partnerships between home and school. In fact, I would say a few, positive life lessons came from our new experiences with distance learning.

Turn cardboard and string into twirly, whirly fun using Crayola Markers and Colored Pencils. Learn how to make Paper Spinners today!

They say find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life — but first you have to find that job and get hired. Whether you’re a recent graduate or looking to change or grow your career, we’ve got a few tips to help you find and land your dream job.

As I’m walking through the door after a long day at work, picking up stray socks as I go, I debate in my head if I’m going to cook or offer cereal for dinner. Sometimes, my three teenage sons trudge in behind me, dirty from soccer, and I’m already thinking about laundry and lunches for the next day. So, I get it. Investing energy into building relationships around school, homework and the classroom often feels like a momentous task. As a career teacher, I’m here to reassure you that my longest-lasting and most productive relationships with parents were never about test scores, grades or behaviors. These relationships were founded on trust.

Teachers show us how much they care for students all year-round. This Teacher Appreciation Week, let’s show them how much we care! Your student will be thrilled to give them a gift of their own creation, and your teacher will love to know how much they care.

Teachers love to decorate their classrooms. Posters with inspiration and information about what students will be learning that year brightly decorate the walls. It takes thoughtful planning and effort to create an atmosphere that makes students feel welcome and immerses them in their educational experience. This Teacher Appreciation Week May 1-7, 2022 contribute to your teacher’s efforts to create a beautiful learning environment by making them a suncatcher, with Crayola.

I founded The Teacher’s Resource in August 2020, inspired by teachers who, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, were adapting to virtual instruction. Our organization offers self-care and support for teachers’ total well-being —mentally, emotionally, and physically. Our motto is, “Taking care of the PERSON behind the teacher.” Being a teacher is not a job you walk away from at the end of the day. Most teachers I know tell me they love their job because it’s very rewarding — but they’re exhausted. Caring for their students’ academic development as well as their personal well-being can be a heavy burden to bear. The saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” comes to mind. We are losing teachers daily because they just can’t take it anymore.

What’s the best way to celebrate National Crayon Day? By getting creative with your crayons, of course. Take your old crayons to the necks level by up-cycling them into colorful giraffe mosaic art.

The New Year is fast approaching, and it’s exciting to get a new planner. Your life feels completely open, and the possibilities are endless. Before you rush out and fall in love with the first one you see, let the planner pros from ACCO Brands, who bring you brands like AT-A-GLANCE, DAYTIMER, Cambridge, and Quartet, share what to consider before you make this most important purchase.

When you get your planner, it feels like your life is an open, blank canvas. But how do you organize and write in your planner? What do you do first? The experts at ACCO Brands, who bring you planning brands like AT-A-GLANCE, DAYTIMER, and Cambridge, offer some advice on what to do when you get your new planner.