Education

Learning at home: measure up!

Measuring --- whether in the kitchen with measuring cups and spoons, or a ruler, tape measure or 10-foot pole --- is an ideal way...

A new approach to vision screening

The traditional method of vision screening, which involves children reading letters from a wall chart, has been around since the 1860s. Two Valley entrepreneurs...

A capital idea for young readers

Learning the names of the letters and the sounds they make is the first step in reading. There are innumerable ways to teach letter...

Learning at home: Old-school skills rule on alphabetizing

Old-school learning skills are still valuable. Learning to spell a word, alphabetize a list or use a paper dictionary is good for your child's brain.

Learning at home: how to memorize

Children need to memorize their address and phone number, just in case. Here are some "learning at home" exercises that help the brain retain information.

New Way Academy celebrates new campus

Students at a Valley private school started their second quarter last Monday at a new location near the Arcadia neighborhood in Phoenix. What's now the New...

Kids reimagine “Imaginate” and more education news

Imaginations on full power A few weeks ago I went to the Arizona Science Center for a media preview of the new Imaginate exhibit. One of...

Learning at home: understand density around the house

Every student's destiny: understand density The best way to understand density is to feel and compare objects around the house. When I taught third and...

Learning at home: understanding volume

So far I’ve used peas, cheese, fruit and sprinkles to help kids learn math concepts. Today we’re back to cheese with milk for more...

Meteorite man hosts The Stem Journals

Most people know Geoff Notkin as one of the hosts for three seasons of "Meteorite Men" on the Science Channel. After traveling 120,000 miles around...

Learning at home: A sprinkle of number sense

Hyperbole is a wonderful thing. I can say, “I have a million things to do!” and no one will ask if I want to...

Learning at home: practicing combinatorics

Who gets the window seat? I have two sisters. Growing up, deciding who got to sit where in the back seat of the car often...

Ronald McDonald House gets new playground, and other education news

Dbacks catcher dedicates new playground at Ronald McDonald House Last week Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero dedicated a new and refreshed playground at the Ronald McDonald...

Learning at home: cheese fractions

This is the second in a series of learning-at-home activities you can use to enhance your child’s education. The first one featured math with...

Learning at home: Math and playing with food

A fun math game to get kids to eat their peas and understand division as repeated subtraction. Playing with your food can be educational!

A conversation with early childhood advocate Rhian Evans Allvin

Saying goodbye to friends, family, colleagues—a cross-country move when you’ve lived most of your life in Arizona can be bittersweet. But for longtime early...

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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