When holidays and birthdays roll around, adults are tasked with finding the “perfect” gift for the children in their lives. With so many options, it can be exhausting, and quite expensive. I’m here to tell you that the most important gifts a child can receive are the materials and tools to unlock their creative potential, along with permission to dream big and get a little messy. I’ve prepared a quick guide to help you give Read more…
As a mother of two sons and wife of a car enthusiast, I often get dragged into experiences that are not in my comfort zone. I’ve watched countless superhero movies, attended numerous car shows, and most recently viewed a matinee of Ford v Ferrari. I will confess this was one of the most entertaining, educational, and inspirational experiences that I’ve unexpectedly encountered. The design process was at the heart of this film; iteration and perseverance were Read more…
Growing up in a large Italian family, we would gather nearly every Sunday at my Grandma Susie’s house for dinner. “Dinner” is probably an understatement… It was more like a feast! She made the most incredible meals and desserts. Even her salad dressing was to die for! No matter what she prepared, I don’t ever recall being disappointed. What I do recall is a sense of gratitude and fulfillment from both the company and the Read more…
April is National Poetry Month, but it is also standardized testing season. As a public educator, I have the utmost respect for the laws that govern our institutions of learning. However, many educators, including myself, advocate for a more holistic approach to assessing student achievement and holding schools accountable. It can be challenging for underfunded and impoverished schools to “meet the mark.” Often, the score does not equate to their efforts. This poem is dedicated Read more…
Ambitious Talented Tenacious Authentic That’s what “A.T.T.A. Girl!” stands for. It’s also what you say to a girl doing something others said she couldn’t… or shouldn’t. I was introduced to this concept two years ago when we hired Kristen Fulgenzio, a bright and passionate elementary educator with a vision of combating gender inequalities in STEM fields. In her first year of working with us, she asked if she could start an after-school club for the Read more…
Everything you need to know you learned in Kindergarten. It’s such a simple, yet profound statement, one that reflects my appreciation for the pedagogical practices that are prevalent in early childhood classrooms. When you walk into a Kindergarten classroom, there is something uniquely captivating about it. Learning is social and visible, active and fun. The sounds of singing and tinkering are daily occurrences. Content is not broadcasted. Rather, meaning is constructed from engaging in authentic Read more…
Valid question… Right?! I often get asked this when gushing about Miss Makey and the Magic Bin, or sharing my passion for making as an instructional strategy. I could respond to this question both literally and figuratively. Literally, the students are making just about anything out of absolutely everything. They could be tackling a design challenge, 3D printing, coding a robot, or repurposing used materials in an innovative way. Figuratively, I am making experiences. These Read more…