Mother’s Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. This year, that’s May 11th. It celebrates motherhood and it is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures. Many people give gifts, cards, flowers, candy, a meal in a restaurant or other treats to their mother and mother figures, including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers (click for updates to the list):.

1. Mother’s Day activities
2. Mother’s Day Activities from 
3. Mother’s Day cards
4. Mother in different languages
5. Mother’s Day Quotes
6. Mother’s Day Sayings
7. Mother’s Day Templates from Canva

Anyone have some favorite websites to share? My list isn’t terribly robust.

Enjoy your day with your children! (more…)

Here are the most-read posts last month:

1. Why School Counseling Is Essential in Modern Education Systems
2. Subscriber Special: Discounted Curricula School License
3. How Teachers and Parents Can Work Together to Support Student Well-Being
4. April is Financial Literacy Month
5. Tech Tips
6. Earth Day Class Activities
7. 8 Secrets for Getting into USNA (or a Service Academy)
8. 4 Ways Students Can Plan Their Writing

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up: (more…)

Homeschool Awareness Month is celebrated in May and aims to demonstrate how homeschooling can be a better option than regular schooling for many kids and that they can have the same, if not better, growth while learning from home. Homeschooling Awareness Month wants to show parents how they too can be involved in the growth and learning of their children. This can actually help them become better parents while their kids enjoy a well-rounded upbringing and development. Parents want the best education for their children, and having a strong educational base is so important for children to be accepted for tertiary education or top-tier scholarships. (more…)

Every year, the United Nations recognizes April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day. It is a day we all participate in making our air clean, water fresh and land unlittered rather than accepting the trash-filled oceans, the smoggy skies, and the debris-laden land that is becoming the norm.

Despite the questionable health of our world, we have made progress. Back in 1970, when Earth Day was first celebrated, trucks spewed black smoke as they drove down the highways, toxic waste was dumped into oceans with no repercussions, and the general opinion was that the Earth took care of itself. That changed when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day’s founder, witnessed the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara California and decided it was time to do something. He started with a “national teach-in on the environment” with a simple goal: Encourage people to recognize the importance of protecting the Earth:

“It was on that day [Earth Day] that Americans made it clear they understood and were deeply concerned over the deterioration of our environment and the mindless dissipation of our resources.”

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Here are the most-read posts last month:

It’s a little short this month because I was out of town for a few weeks:

1. 16 Tech Problems Every 5th Grader Can Solve
2. 40+ Visual Learning Options for your PBL
3. Celebrate Pi Day and Maths Day

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

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Two math celebrations are coming:

Pi Day and World Maths Day

Pi Day

Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the three most significant digits of π in the decimal form.

Here are some websites students will enjoy to enrich the day (click for updates on this list): (more…)

Here are the most-read posts last month:

1. Groundhog Day
2. #WorldReadAloudDay February 4th
3. 100th Day of School
4. ow to Use Excel to Teach Math Arrays
5. 50 Special Needs Tools
6. Happy Chinese New Year
7. Great Websites to Make Spring Sparkle
8. Sure-fire Ways to Teach Vocabulary
9. Excel Turns Data Into Information
10. You’re a Sophomore and Interested in USNA

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up: (more…)

Please click here for current and updated websites, kid-friendly browsers, citation resources, how-to’s for research, and lesson plans!

Quick, safe spots to send your students for research:

1. CoolKidFacts–kid-friendly videos, pictures, info, and quizzes–all 100% suitable for children
2. Fact Monster–help with homework and facts
3. Google Earth Timelapse–what changes to the planet over time
4. Google Trends–what’s trending in searches
5. History Channel–great speeches
6. How Stuff Works–the gold standard in explaining stuff to kids
7. Info Please–events cataloged year-by-year
8. National Geographic for Kids
9. Ngram Viewer–analyzes all words in all books on Google Books
10. TagGalaxy–search using a cloud
11. Wild Wordsmyth–picture dictionary for kids
12. World Book–requires membership

Citing Resources

1. BibMe
2. Citation Machine
3. EasyBib

Kids Search Engines

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Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is a traditional Chinese festival that marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar. The celebration usually lasts for 15 days. The date varies each year, based on the lunar calendar. This year, it is February 17, 2026.

During Chinese New Year, people welcome the new year and engage in activities that bring good luck. Some common practices include:

1. Family Reunion: It is a time for family members to come together, similar to Western cultures’ celebration of the New Year.
2. Feasting: Families prepare and share elaborate meals with symbolic dishes that represent good fortune and prosperity.
3. Red Decorations: Red is a dominant color during Chinese New Year, symbolizing good luck and warding off evil spirits. People decorate their homes with red lanterns, couplets, and other red items.
4. Fireworks and Firecrackers: The loud sounds of fireworks and firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.
5. Giving Red Envelopes (Hongbao): Adults give red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried individuals as a gesture of good wishes and blessings.
6. Cleaning and Spring Cleaning: It is customary to clean the house thoroughly before the new year to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune.
7. Dragon and Lion Dances: Traditional dragon and lion dances are performed in streets and public spaces to bring good luck and prosperity to the community.
8. Temple Visits: Many people visit temples during Chinese New Year to pray for good fortune and make offerings.

Overall, Chinese New Year is a joyous and festive time aimed at ushering in prosperity, happiness, and good luck for the coming year.

–image credit Deposit Photos (more…)

Here are the most-read posts last month:

1. Public Doman Day 2026
2. Top Ten Posts and Tips for 2025
3. January is Braille Literacy Month
4. Free MLK Lesson Plans
5. Tessellations in Excel
6. Tech Tip for Writers #34: My Program Froze
7. National Handwriting Day
8. Tons of Online Resources About Classroom Management
9. Keyboarding 101
10. How to Check Your Math in Excel

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

Subject to change based on website needs

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