If you haven’t noticed, audiobooks have made a recent and sharp rise in popularity among readers in recent years. In fact, in places like Sweden, more than half of all book sales in 2024 were audiobooks as opposed to print or e-books.[1] According to the Audio Publisher Association, audiobook sales in the U.S. have seen double-digit growth year after year, with global sales [...]
We have covered a few different educational paths for children—microschools, homeschooling, etc. However, these usually centered on complete structural changes to the way children are taught. Though, year-round schooling mostly affects the pacing and schedule of learning. Year-round schooling, also known as a “balanced calendar,” refers to the distribution of the typical 180 school days being spread out evenly over a 12-month period [...]
When you think of 19th century novels, most often than not, one of the big names that comes to mind is Jane Austen. This is no mistake, as she is one of the most influential writers of all time and has left a lasting impression on literature. Her stories aren’t grand or haughty in their manner, nor does she lean into the fantastical; [...]
Early childhood education—or ECE—refers to pre-kindergarten programs that prepare children for grade school. They differ from typical daycare and other afterschool or childcare programs in their structure, activities, tracking, and goals for the children in their care. These programs often have lesson plans and certified instructors taking care of and teaching children the basics of life. Instead of free play, nap time and meal [...]
Baking can seem like a daunting task. The hundreds of thousands of videos on social media that either showcase beautiful, complicated masterpieces or unfortunate baking fails of underdone or overdone desserts set a high bar that can seem difficult to clear. There’s also an innumerable number of blogs, courses, and accounts that can leave you feeling lost in the search for a good [...]
Book clubs are an effective way to foster a love for reading in people of all ages, but they can be particularly helpful in promoting literacy within children and teenagers. They can have a variety of benefits for students, from encouraging the act of picking up a book, to motivating quieter individuals in finding a community that brings them out of their shell. [...]
Fantasy literature has some ancient roots that have grown and flourished into what it is today through different movements, including the renaissance and romanticism. Its evolution encompasses contributions from all over the world—ghost stories, religious stories, fables, folklore, and fairy tales. Though some influences—like the stories of knighthood from the Middle Ages—are more felt than others. The fantasy genre that we know today [...]
As daunting as learning a second language may feel—after all, you have to learn grammar, pronunciation, and even some culture among other things to really effectively communicate—the struggle of doing so pays off eventually. Forget bragging about being bilingual or multilingual! Learning a second language comes with a variety of benefits, ranging from having a higher paying job to improving cognitive skills. Acquiring [...]
We’ve all heard the term “mindfulness” and how important its practice is in our day to day lives. Research has shown that mindfulness can improve your quality of life and health.[1] It has been linked to reduced stress, anxiety and depression, and can act as a tool to manage pain, insomnia, and hypertension.[2] Mindfulness has also been found to improve productivity and many [...]
Why is the Crisis Happening? As evident through the extensive lack of teachers and/or people wanting to become educators, the teacher shortage of K-12 classrooms has been steadily rising. Schools, communities, and present teachers are attempting to create solutions to the various problems associated. But, why exactly is there a shortage, and what factors have been influencing this decline in recent years? Experts [...]