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STEM education is a relatively new phenomenon for American kids. The term, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, has birthed a technical subgenre of children’s activities and products. There are after-school STEM programs, STEM summer camps, and a steadily growing market of STEM toys, all of which seem to share a common goal: promote the skills necessary for academic success and subsequent access to better-paid jobs. Unfortunately, though this goal is accepted as virtuous by parents anxious about their children’s economic future, there remains no real proof that STEM toys are effective and (perhaps ironically) there’s little data-backed...

To “unplug” used to mean taking a step away from a worn routine and forgetting about life’s worries. Now it means something a bit more literal — to pull the cord on the electronics in your life, turn off your damned phone, stop checking email, and get off the ’gram. This all is increasingly difficult to do, but it’s critical. Our digital life connects us in ways never before seen, but it also has health ramifications, from psychological addiction to disrupted sleep.The simplest path from anxiously wired to carefree and happy is simple: Turn off the phone and get outside....

Had the spring of 2020 gone as planned, a day in the life of an average child would have meant actual classrooms, baseball games, middle-school plays, and birthday parties where kids ate too much cake instead of waving from the back seat as a parent drove them past their friend’s house, honking the horn. There would have been jokes and whispers in hallways, cafeterias, gyms, and school buses. As he finished his junior year of high school, my 17-year-old son, Alex, didn’t just miss engineering projects; he missed walking to school with Charlie, grabbing lunch with Johnny or Callan, perfecting...

A favorite outdoor summer homeschool activity for many families is camping and hiking–and Virginia is blessed with glorious outdoor adventure opportunities. With state parks opening up and outdoor recreation being the only kind readily available, this summer might just be the perfect time for you to explore the great outdoors with your family.  You can teach outdoor survival skills, logic, and more, without ever setting foot in a classroom. Even if you don’t homeschool year-round, you can make the great outdoors your classroom this summer! Camping can be a fun family hobby and might even be considered a rite of...

About Bluebee Pals Techie Rangers Are you looking for some ideas for your teletherapy sessions? Do you have students using AAC communication systems?  Check out this free e-book titled Bluebee Pals Techie Rangers that was written by myself and Laura Jiencke, President of Bluebee Pals.  When Andy gets separated from his class on a field trip, he needs to be rescued. Who comes to the rescue? The Bluebee Pals Techie Rangers! Join Andy and his Bluebee Pal friends on an adventure to return back to the Rainbow School. This book, which helps target language and learning tips, is an excellent...