Education

DIANE DOUGLAS: “No Common Core”—but not saying much more

Diane Douglas is a conservative candidate running for Superintendent of Public Instruction in a largely conservative state. That alone could be enough to get...

Tracking the candidates for superintendent of schools

David Garcia is the Democratic candidate running for the job as Arizona’s next superintendent of schools. We met over coffee at Luci’s Healthy Marketplace...

ASU joins forces with Stop Bullying AZ

Arizona State University has partnered with Stop Bullying AZ to help prevent bullying and assist those who have been affected by it. The Dion Initiative...

Special needs students and rescue dogs benefit from interaction

Special needs students in Sherri Hoffman’s WorkBridge classes at Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista High Schools in Tempe get some time off campus. Activities...

A Halloween BOO-tique with benefits

If you're like RAK's Calendar & Directories Editor Mala Blomquist, your house has been decorated for Halloween for oh, probably a few weeks now....

Success in School: Test-taking strategies

Tests demonstrate a child’s ability to understand course material, master certain skills and provide benchmarks upon which to measure progress. Old methods of highlighting...

New BASIS school opens in Central Phoenix

BASIS Phoenix Central charter school opened in August as a K-6 school with about 570 students. The new campus is in a five-story, 40,000...

Success in School: a new series

If you have more than one child, you know how different they can be. One child breezes through school with a love and passion...

Could your teen be a hacker?

"Honey, why don't you spend the weekend hacking with your friends?" It's not something parents typically suggest to their teens, but there's an event...

Camelback High band director is Grammy nominee

Sometime this month, band director Jamie Johnston from Phoenix's Camelback High School will find out if she is in the final group of 10 teachers...

What if I don’t like my child’s teacher?

Children come to school with a wide array of personalities, temperaments and learning styles. Teachers also bring their own personalities and teaching styles into the...

Kids have fun–and learn!—on Born Learning Trail

The Monday rains left much of Phoenix's Pierce Park still soggy and muddy on Thursday morning. Regardless, 10 interactive activities along the walkway were...

SARRC’s Asperger’s Disorder awareness program starts with “chatterbox”

Do you remember chatterboxes from elementary school? Also known as cootie catchers or fortune tellers, they were pieces of paper folded into a device...

Arizona classroom grants fund cool projects

Classroom teachers get a fixed amount of money for supplies and curricula materials. Sometimes parents will chip in money for special projects. Grants also...

Arts education: opera, theater and dance

“Childhood is a time when you find your voice and ways you can express it,” says Joshua Borths, education manager for Arizona Opera in...

The pros and cons of NBC’s new Parent Toolkit app

NBC News has launched a mobile app it describes as "a one-stop online resource for parents navigating their children’s development in the classroom and...

PARTY ARTICLES

Money Lessons from Birthday Parties

Teaching Kids the Value of Gifts & Gratitude Between the cake, balloons, and wrapping paper tornado, birthday parties are often all about fun, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to teach kids early lessons...

Time to Paw-ty

Celebrating your favorite furry friend Call me crazy, but when my husband and I adopted our first dog together, we threw her a birthday party complete with cake, streamers, guests, appetizers, games, and more. Was...

Unique Ways to Host a Joint Birthday Party

My brother and I have birthdays that are just one day apart—his on March 3rd, mine on March 4th, and our oldest brother just a few weeks later on March 21st. Fast forward 31 years...

Out-of-the-box Birthday Party Ideas in Phoenix & Tucson

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Birthday Traditions & Clever Theme Ideas

Childhood birthdays are unlike any others. I have fond memories of waking up on my birthday morning anticipating all the fun that was in store. With three kids who had birthdays all in the same...

Out-of-the Box Birthday Party Ideas

Wanting to do something a little extra special for your child’s next birthday party? Maybe it’s a milestone birthday—like turning double digits or entering the teen years. Or perhaps your child has requested to...

Party Etiquette

Whether you’re hosting a party or attending one, you may be wondering—do people really RSVP anymore? What about goodie bags, are those still a thing? Do I need to stay with my child at...

How to Throw a Birthday Party that Won’t Break the Bank

I remember the days when birthday parties consisted of colorful balloons, streamers, a simple cake, and the classics like musical chairs and tag with a few friends. Times have changed and suddenly it feels necessary...

How to do a drive-by birthday party

As we get deeper into quarantine, people have gotten creative with birthday celebrations. One result: the drive-by birthday party.

Home pool party? Hire a lifeguard!

Drowning happens silently and quickly. That’s why children are at risk even when — and sometimes especially when — adults are nearby. Even a "designated pool watcher" can avert his or her eyes for a...

Hiking birthday party

For a child who loves adventure and outdoors, turn a hike into a birthday party.
Tour de Liam, Biking birthday party theme, bike race, outdoor activites, arizona parties

Bike race birthday party

When there are lots of neighborhood friends who love to ride their bikes together, host a birthday party that feels like an official bike race.

Island birthday party

Pool parties are popular in Arizona. Make a stylish upgrade at your next birthday party by incorporating décor and details that will transport guests from the desert to a tropical island paradise.

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