Hearing about STEM programs being incorporated into schools is nothing new, though I still frequently encounter districts that don’t have any STEM initiative in place. That doesn’t alarm me at first glance. See, I have also worked with schools who have a set-aside STEM time one day each week, and with schools who have a pull-out STEM class that everyone attends every week. I’ve also worked with an art teacher who had her students use the one 3D printer to […]
Category: Subjects
Is The Eureka Crate Our Favorite Teen STEM Box?
The Eureka Crate – Is It The Best Project Box For Teens? This post may contain referral/affiliate links. If you buy something, Fractus Learning may earn a commission at no cost to you. Teenagers are difficult to please. As the father of three of them- trust me – I know what I’m talking about. I’m not saying my children are difficult – just that by this age they know what type of activities best fit their wants and needs. They […]
20 of The Best Space Books for Kids in 2019
I think it is outstanding that children are getting interested in outer space again. For too long, the idea of exploring our universe seemed like it had stalled, and with it so did our interest in the stars. But now we are on the cusp of a new generation of astronauts heading off into the unknown. Not only are kids dreaming of the moon, but dreaming of Mars as well. The kicker is some of them will actually get to […]
35 Stellar STEM Books For Summer Satisfaction
A summer reading list containing exciting STEM books with great stories and authentic problems to solve may inspire kids to want to read more this summer. STEM principles incorporate four subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math. For some, these are fun subjects, but for other students, it may be difficult and daunting topics. Here is a list of 35 stellar STEM books that could have your child change their mind and inspire them to explore these topics more. Science Books […]
What Is Guided Reading (and How To Use It In 2019)
Reading is an essential skill all children and adults need in modern society. With guided reading, students improve their reading skills, problem-solving techniques, and learn to read with meaning. The key to successful guided reading is small groups of students reading from carefully selected leveled text. During the 1960s in New Zealand, Marie Clay and others developed the concept guided reading. In the U.S. Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell enhanced the techniques. With the revised edition of 2016, 20 […]
Getting Started With Zentangle Patterns For Kids in the Classroom
You ever feel the need to draw to get out your creative side – but you aren’t sure how to begin? You aren’t alone. This need inspired the creation of Zentangle Patterns. Maria Thomas used to inscribe her botanical illustrations at local fairs. People – strangers -would approach her and express their desire for creativity. In the next breath, they would recite all the reasons why they couldn’t do what she was doing—no time, space, money, talent… One day while […]
Exploring The World With The Atlas Crate
Ever since we had the opportunity to review KiwiCo’s entire line of educational subscription crates, we’ve been waiting to see what new product they would come up with for this holiday season. The wait has ended. The Atlas Crate has arrived. Is it as good a value as the other subscription boxes made by KiwiCo? More important, is it as fun? Read on to find out. I’ll begin by sharing some information about the Atlas Crate, but scroll down if […]
11 Best Telescopes For Kids In Love With Astronomy
Using a telescope and exploring the skies can be a hugely rewarding, enjoyable and fascinating experience for kids of all ages. With a huge selection of telescopes for beginners out there, it’s sometimes hard to choose the right one that will bring the moon, stars, and planets up close and personal. Don’t worry! You’ll find our picks below, along with a list of the items to watch out for when you are buying a telescope for kids. Best Beginner Telescope […]
7 of the Best Ant Farm Options for Your Eager Entomologists
Ants are amazing creatures. They scurry around all day long, searching for food, building the nest, caring for their young and protecting the queen. In many ways, an ant colony is like an industrious human city: everyone has a job to do and they get on with it. Older ant farms were very simple. They consisted of sand between two pieces of glass. Newer ant farms use brightly colored gel to create a stable ecosystem for the ants, so they […]
15 Websites To Inspire Creativity in Your Writing Students
I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I discovered NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) when I was still at school. If you ever desired writing a book but aren’t sure if you could, then NaNoWriMo is something to consider. Each November thousands subscribe to reach the goal of writing 50,000 words. The goal is to get your first draft written—no editing. It’s to motivate you to transform the idea in your head onto paper. You win if you reach […]
Houston, We Are Go for Launch
When I was little I dreamed of traveling to space and touching the stars. My father would wake us up in the middle of the night to hike through the woods or walk along the dirt road to see the meteor showers put on a late night show for us. We would come back home and enjoy cups of hot cocoa and either regale each other with how many shooting stars we had seen or slurp our marshmallows in a […]
9 Sets of Multiplication Flash Cards For Engaging Math Practice
Using flash cards, including multiplication flash cards has long been accepted as a simple, yet effective way to teach children skills that require memorization. Flash cards use repetition to teach a skill and increase recall and therefore, confidence. The idea of flash cards is quite simple. Sit down with a child, show them the problem or question on the front of the card, and then allow the child to think about and provide the answer. As they practice, the repetitive […]
Archived Confederate Postal History Reflects an Ideology of Nationalism
My passion of philately for over fifty years has led to me to this engaging endeavor. An inheritance of a splendid collection of pre-WWII Japanese postage bequeathed to me during childhood initialized my curiosity and spirit of inquiry about collecting which I now consider my own archive. Upon completing this course, I have gained a deeper understanding on how the archives have enriched, enhanced, and contributed to an understudied part of our American past from this course. My naïve behavior […]
Reading – Everyone’s Assignment For The Summer
The children are home, and the summer activity routine has taken over. The day is full of driving to baseball practice, swim lessons, and trying to fit in some fun time at the beach as well. Maybe you have found the time to get your children involved with a monthly STEM subscription, Khan Academy lessons, or some other scheduled “school-lite” activity. Have you remember to include daily reading – both for your child AND for you? Is Summer Reading Important? […]
Three Points of Impact for Lasting Transformational Change
I’ve been getting many congratulatory messages on LinkedIn to mark the three year anniversary of my consulting business. This milestone has given me a reason to reflect on the past three years and all that I’ve learned through the process. “Transformational change is generally misunderstood. Unlike transitional and incremental change that are outcome focused, transformational change is process focused. That’s not an easy accomplishment to shift our paradigm in the current climate of high accountability.” Jared Scherz I went straight […]
When Your Child Doesn’t Like to Read
“I just can’t get her to read!” I often hear protests like this from parents when I suggest that their child read more for fun. Because it’s an important lifelong habit that I want my students to cultivate and because I know reading more will have a huge impact on their success in school, I encourage parents to become proactive whenever their children don’t read outside what’s required for class. Once a child hits the middle or upper elementary school […]
Why I Love The Library
The worst year of my life was the year I was in eighth grade. I was fourteen, had braces on my teeth, and was, according to our grumpy and insensitive doctor, ‘chubby’. I found boys baffling and icky, and had lost my best friend who had moved back to Ohio while I languished in New Jersey. I was attending one of the worst public schools in the country staffed by right wing lunatics who were out to get me because […]
An Epic Guide To The History of Board Games
History Of Board Games What is the first board game you can remember playing? What is your favorite board game? Is it Monopoly, Chinese Checkers, Chess, Risk, or a more ancient game like Backgammon or Snakes and Ladders? Perhaps your favorite is Clue created during World War II? People play board games across the world. Today’s generation play board games on tablets or smart phones. Before the digital age, millions of families spent pleasant evenings around a physical board with […]
The Importance of Female Role Models in STEM : Showing Girls They Can Build the Future
When I was little I dreamed of becoming a writer. At the age of nine I declared that I would be famous for writing a series of short stories entitled, “The Eraser that Ate my Pen” which followed the crazy antics of my pink eraser and his insatiable appetite for red pens. I was inspired to follow in the footsteps of my mother who created magic when she put pen to paper, writing everything from song lyrics, to poetry, to […]
RIGHTS DON’T STAY RIGHTS ALL ON THEIR OWN
Quite a bit of adolescent hand-wringing starts to snake through the room after a couple of minutes. Kids look at me puzzled, but I pay them no mind. I’m in full test-proctor-mode. “But Mr. Bowen, this question makes no sense.” I shrug. And so, the anxiety builds. Another chimes in. “But it says to put a line AROUND the correct answer.” I carefully read it over her shoulder. “Yes, it does,” I nod. “But that’s not possible.” I look at […]