Teaching With Technology Boosts Preschoolers’ Math Learning
What do you think happens when classrooms are equipped with high-end technologies, such as interactive whiteboards and laptop computers, and teachers are encouraged to use high-quality free content...
View Article2014 Oscars: Family Friendly Academy Award Nominees
For all of the educational opportunity in the Academy Award nominees’ films, it’s sometimes tough to pinpoint which ones outside the Animated Feature category would pass for family friendly. Good news:...
View ArticleLearn About Butterflies Day: 8 Ways to Celebrate
As random holidays go, Learn About Butterflies Day has to be one of the best. It’s originator appears unknown, but they probably had a sense of appreciation for simple yet fascinating things from which...
View ArticleHarry Potter Inspires Ideas to Motivate Young Readers
My daughter just completed the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series. She’s 8 years old. When I’ve mentioned this to my peers, many are astounded. But, to her, this is not a big deal. She...
View ArticleSplish Splash Poetry Contest in Honor of National Poetry Month
Does your child get excited about Shakespeare, score big on essay questions, or relish time to write in a journal? All of these? We’re inviting all young scribes to do what they love for a chance to...
View ArticleState Tests: Tips for Parents and Students
Every spring, students participate in state tests to make sure learning is on track and students are receiving a quality education. For students in online schools, state tests are important to for...
View ArticleBeing a Mom: World’s Toughest Job?
Think about what motherhood means to you. It doesn’t matter if you are a mother. Just think about the meaning of the role. How would you describe it? How would you describe what mothers do? Do any of...
View ArticleStudents Say Thanks During Teacher Appreciation Week 2014
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2014 May 5-9, K12 asked for students to share their thanks for the influence and impact teachers have on their lives with video messages via Instagram tagged...
View ArticleKindergarten: Is Your Child Ready?
Child development experts agree that no perfect formula determines when children are truly ready for kindergarten. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC),...
View ArticleMemorial Day Lessons for Kids
For many students, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer fun, pools opening and an extra day off from school. Why not set aside some of that time as an opportunity to teach the true meaning of the...
View ArticleLet’s Give Father’s Day its Due
The buzz around Mother’s Day drowns out that of Father’s Day by a long shot. As we approach the time of year designated for celebrating the role dads play in children’s lives, I began to wonder why...
View Article5 Ways to Make Music Education a Priority
Formal music education programs continue to diminish from public school systems. But parents can find other ways to incorporate what many believe is a crucial element of learning into their children’s...
View ArticleSleep-away Summer Camp: Less Worry, More Wonderful
Some parents do a lot of hand-wringing over kids going to sleep-away summer camp. The preparation, packing, and worrying are hot topics among moms. I prefer to talk about how wonderful it is that my...
View ArticleWhy They Glow and Other Fun Facts About Fireflies
Growing up in Southern California, fireflies were viewed only in fake form as twinkle lights in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Now, having lived in Virginia for nearly a decade,...
View ArticleYour Back-to-School Guide: Keep it Simple This Year
From figuring out schedules to shopping for school supplies, preparing for kids to go back to school after a summer off can make families feel a bit overwhelmed. We’re here to help. In the final weeks...
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Back to School: 5 Strategies for Successful Family Dinners
For many parents, family dinners can be the most difficult time of day for so many reasons: it’s the end of the day and everyone’s tired, the food tends to be the least “kid-friendly” (it’s not...
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Back to School: Making Organization for School Simple
Unless you’re in a house full of Type As, most families struggle with organization for school after a lazy summer. But, like it or not, back-to-school season means it’s time to buckle down and prepare...
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Back to School: Preparing for School Success
I’m not one for cliches, but if there ever was a good one it’s this: “Failing to be prepared is preparing to fail.” That’s essentially why our editorial team at LearningLiftoff.com set out to deliver...
View ArticleFill Education Gaps with Individual Courses
More and more classes are disappearing from schools due to budget cuts and other factors. From physical education to art and music, course offerings seem to get whittled down each year. Online...
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Your Back-to-School Guide: A Complete Plan to Keep it Simple
Well, here we are. Another summer has flown by as fast as you can say, “Where does the time go?” Our Facebook newsfeeds are beginning to fill up with those traditional photos marking the beginning of...
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Gifted Students: Who Are They and What Does It Mean?
It’s the beginning of the school year. Soon, many parents might be told that their child is “gifted.” Some may know what that means, others may think they know, and a few might have no idea at all....
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Your Complete Guide to Stop Bullying
We’ve compiled powerful stories and launched an exciting campaign in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, during which participants such as those pictured above are giving High Fives for...
View ArticleMalala Yousafzai Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Last year, she was the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Now, Malala Yousafzai is a winner. Not that she wasn’t before. With strength and advocacy that stretches well beyond...
View ArticleThe Difference Between Halloween and Dia de los Muertos
The Day of the Dead celebrations may coincide with Halloween and seem similar. Both celebrations involve costumes, skeletons, and treats as well as graveyards and death imagery. But there are some big...
View Article26 Halloween Safety Tips
Keep Your Kids Safe While Trick-or-Treating We scoured the Internet for the best Halloween safety tips out there. You know, beyond the “watch for cars” and “don’t go to strange houses” kind of thing....
View ArticlePreparing for Your Parent Conference
If you have a child in school, you’re likely about to have your first face-to-face conference of the year with your student’s teacher in the near future. Parent involvement can play an important role...
View ArticleSome Writing Inspiration for Girl Scouts
When I arrived at the meeting, the Girl Scout troop leader took me aside. “I have to tell you, my daughter doesn’t like writing at all,” she admitted. “I’m hoping having you here will inspire her.” I...
View ArticleCelebrate Veterans Day with Your Kids
November 11th is Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor US military veterans who have given so much to protect our country. We have many military families among our K12 community, including families...
View ArticleYour Guide to Winter and the Holiday Season
Temperatures are dipping, leaves are dropping, flakes are falling, and we’re spending a bit more time indoors preparing for a holiday season that’s hopefully filled with meaning and magic for your...
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Meaning and Magic: Checking Off Your Holiday Gift List
We’ve got a slew of articles planned to help you and your kids learn and grow together during a holiday season that’s filled with meaning and magic for your family. The following are a few ideas to...
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Meaning and Magic: Holiday Recipes
We’ve got a slew of articles planned to help you and your kids learn and grow together during a holiday season that’s filled with meaning and magic for your family. Holiday recipes are always a big...
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25 Elf on the Shelf Ideas: Vote for Your Favorite!
It’s been a decade since American author Carol Aebersold and daughter Chanda Bell published the children’s book, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. Today, the tradition detailed in the story...
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Meaning and Magic: Holiday and Winter Tips and Fun Facts
Though the holiday and winter season is often filled with a lot of meaning and magic, from special family celebrations to the wonder of a snowy day, getting through the cold and busy months can be...
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Meaning and Magic: Your Guide to the Winter and Holiday Season
In the past few weeks, the Learning Liftoff team has enjoyed bringing our readers information and ideas to help families add more meaning and magic to the winter and holiday season. From finding a...
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Best Ideas for Getting a Better Education from 2014
From eating healthy foods that fire up the brain and organized work stations to very good reasons to fit more art and reading into your family time, 2014 was filled with great ideas for how you can...
View ArticleHappy New Year: Encouragement and Overcoming Obstacles
For many of us, the new year means a new start. When it comes to school, it means we’re halfway through the academic year. This means celebrating that accomplishment as well as a fresh start, which...
View ArticleShould Kids See ‘Into the Woods’?
Sometimes people leave you in the woods. Nice is different than good. Children will listen. These and other profound messages are woven throughout Into the Woods, along with stellar performances and...
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Inexpensive Home Decor Ideas to Help Kids Learn
Family life has progressed beyond the days when all the toys and educational opportunities were relegated to a corner or a special room as to not interfere with home decor. Though I was a huge fan of...
View ArticleNavigating the Teen Years: A Guide for Families
The teen years. We were all there once. And, yet, it’s a stage of life that remains confusing and challenging for all involved. It’s really no wonder. Teenagers are in the midst of multiple changes...
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6 Teens Who Are Changing the World
The fresh perspective and energy of young hearts and minds has often led to inventions and efforts that have literally changed the world. This is a series of articles profiling people who have done...
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4 Hot Drink Recipes to Keep Your Family Warm and Healthy
I’m writing this on what I am hoping is my daughter’s last lost school day this season as a result of snow. The “old man” dumped several inches on Northern Virginia yesterday, putting us at a total of...
View ArticleNewest Cinderella Movie Delivers Surprising Message
Neither my daughter nor I are the biggest princess fans. But we couldn’t resist the appeal of Disney’s live-action retelling of Cinderella. And why should we, anyway? The latest adaptation of this...
View ArticleTalking to Kids About Racism, Violence, and the Charleston Shooting
The recent violence in Charleston, South Carolina, is the latest of many incidents that demonstrate blatant and horrific acts resulting from racism that’s likely rooted in the killer’s childhood. While...
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Online Learning Provides Appropriate, Individualized Academic Challenge
Many parents become concerned their children aren’t getting enough academic challenge in school. Symptoms in otherwise smart and capable students can vary from boredom in the classroom and lack of...
View ArticleWhat Does Ahmed Mohamed’s Experience Say about Our Schools?
We don’t know Ahmed Mohamed. We don’t know his teachers. We don’t know the police officers who came to his school in Irving, Texas. But we do know that a teenager with unique brilliance, passion for...
View Article6 Surprising Facts about the Giant Panda
The appeal of the Giant Panda has been prevalent lately as the National Zoo’s newest baby cub gets closer to making his public debut next month. Until then, we can all enjoy some particularly adorable...
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5 Things to Teach Kids About Halloween History
For all the energy that goes into Halloween fun, it seems few of us know what we’re actually celebrating. Turns out, there’s a lot to learn about the night when it’s suddenly OK to walk the streets...
View ArticleMore than Just Medals: What the Olympics Are Really About
Back in 1998, with the world gearing up for the summer Olympics, I was assigned to interview a former Olympian who swam in the 1972 Munich games. The Olympics, she believed, had become something...
View ArticleNick Goepper Grabs Bronze Medal Before University
As a kid, Nick Goepper sold candy bars, babysat and mowed lawns in order to pay for ski passes to a nearby resort. He built features with a mixture of snow and Astroturf in his backyard so he could...
View ArticleMeet Marcus: A K12 Day in the Life
What’s it like to be in a K12 school program? In this animated video, you’ll meet Marcus and get a great idea of what a day-in-his-life is like. You’ll see, first-hand, how the K12 school experience is...
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