Should Kids See ‘The Martian’ Movie?
The Martian is set to be one of the biggest films of this year. The film’s opening weekend just barely missed breaking the record for October, set by the film Gravity. If you have not heard of this...
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10 Goosebumps Books and the Classic Movies That Inspired Them
We all know that Goosebumps books are great ways to get kids into reading. But, they can also be a fun bonding experience for kids and parents that are fans of classic horror films. Compare some of the...
View ArticleIs There a Downside to ‘The Elf on the Shelf’?
“When parents and teachers bring The Elf on the Shelf into homes and classrooms, are they preparing a generation of children to accept, not question, increasingly intrusive (albeit whimsically...
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2015 Best Books for Children
Whether you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift or simply seeking to provide an alternative to video games, children’s books are always a great way to engage both mind and imagination. Reaching...
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2015 Best Books for Teens
Finding the right book for teenage readers can present a challenge. Learning Liftoff can help with this list of recent releases, based on the recipients of major awards (including Caldecott, Newbery,...
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Literary Characters Come to Life Using STEM
Art and science may seem like distinctly separate areas of study but, when they come together, it can be a beautiful thing. In fact, art can be used to boost STEM (science, technology, engineering, and...
View ArticleK12’s Chairman Participates in Black History Month Literacy Initiative
Recently, K12’s Executive Chairman Nate Davis participated in the African American Read-In, a literacy initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) created in conjunction with Black...
View ArticleWhich Dr. Seuss Character Are You?
As one of the most beloved children’s authors, it’s no surprise that Dr. Seuss’s birthday is also celebrated as Read Across America Day. Whether you enjoy reading Seuss’s rhymes or watching them unfold...
View ArticlePopular Poems for Kids
It’s time to rhyme! April is National Poetry Month, celebrated all across the nation with special events, contests, programs, and of course, poetry. This is the perfect time to show kids of any age how...
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Free Comic Book Day 2016
Free Comic Book Day is right around the corner! Saturday, May 7, you and your kids can take advantage of all the free comics that will be up for grabs. Shops and book stores across the country will...
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Delicious Memorial Day Recipes
Memorial Day is the official kick-off to summer festivities. Pools are opened and everyone is firing up the grill to cook delicious eats for the entire family. Great food is one of the key elements to...
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Books Your Children Will Love: Summer Reading List 2016
“Summer setback” and “summer learning loss” are real terms that affect students every summer break. Despite the other activities that children participate in, a good gauge of whether or not a child...
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Take the Virtual Stage for the Fourth Annual Music Showcase
Mic check 1, 2, 1, 2! Calling all musicians to step up to the microphone and enter K12‘s fourth annual Music Showcase! Do your children get excited about singing? Do they spend their free time...
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Books Your Student Will Love: Fall Reading List 2016
The busy back-to-school season can make it difficult for kids to maintain their reading habits, but there are many new books out this fall that can help motivate kids to read. Take a look at the list...
View ArticleHow to Instill a Love of Reading in Your Child
Reading is a wonderful pastime that can take your child to faraway places, introduce new friends, and increase vocabulary and grammar skills. If a child loves reading, there’s a good chance for success...
View ArticleYour Kids’ Art Could Win
“Students who participate in arts learning experiences often improve their achievement in other realms of learning and life. In a well-documented national study using a federal database of over 25,000...
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How Art Benefits Kids
Schools across the country continue to cut art budgets, and are simultaneously building STEM programs. As the emphasis in education shifts farther from art, and moves deeper into technology, it’s...
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Halloween Bookmark Printables Your Kids Will Love
With Halloween coming up, we thought these festive bookmarks would be much appreciated by your kids—perhaps adults can join in on the coloring fun and use the bookmarks for themselves, too! These...
View Article‘Hidden Figures’ Inspires Young Girls to Pursue STEM
The media is currently abuzz with the compelling story of Hidden Figures, a book by Margot Lee Shetterly that became an Oscar-nominated movie. It’s a brilliant, stunning narrative for young girls...
View Article‘Dream Big’ is Not Your Average Children’s Book
We read to our children because we want to open their eyes and minds to the possibilities that lie within the world. The words in a book are more than just letters on a page, they’re an invitation to...
View Article5 Best Kids’ Books Parents Say Are ‘Must-Reads’
You may already know that developing reading skills at a young age is important for a child’s academic and future success. (Studies show that having good reading skills tends to improve a child’s...
View Article2017 Poetry Contest in Honor of National Poetry Month
“Throughout history, poets have used language to express their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and perspectives. By using rhythm, rhyme, meter, and line breaks, poets have addressed everything from the...
View ArticleMeet Young Philanthropist Lulu Cerone
When Lulu Cerone was ten-years-old, her life was forever changed when she saw the horrible devastation from Haiti’s 2010 earthquake on the news. Living a comfortable existence in suburban Los Angeles,...
View ArticleAnnouncing the ‘Hobbies Poetry Contest’ Winners
This year’s K12 poetry contest revealed a number of talented young poets! The theme was “Hobbies,” and we received more than 400 poems from students in grades K–12 that demonstrate their poetic genius...
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Calling Student Musicians: Enter K12’s Music Showcase and Win!
The summer months offer extra time for students to perfect their musical talents. So don’t let all that extra practice time go to waste! Encourage your child to enter K12‘s fifth annual Music Showcase!...
View ArticleCelebrating Culture and Diversity Through the Arts
“An arts education helps build academic skills and increase academic performance, while also providing alternative opportunities to reward the skills of children who learn differently.” —Gavin Newsom...
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A Look at 6 Famous Artists from Around the World
Often, famous artists are remembered not just for the quality and unique style of their art, but also for their own individual character and influence on culture. It’s important for kids to learn about...
View ArticleK12’s 2018 Poetry Contest: Write About Your Hometown
“Writing and reading poetry is a rewarding endeavor for any age that has a myriad of benefits. Using poetry as a tool in children’s education is helpful, and is a fun literacy-strengthening activity...
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Four Types of Poetry and Why Students Should Study Them
Some students may naturally gravitate toward poetry and artistic literature while others follow the misconceptions of poetry being boring or for older people. Despite hesitations or protests from these...
View ArticleSee the Winners of K12’s ‘Hometown’ Poetry Contest
This year’s K12 poetry contest revealed a number of talented young poets! The theme was “Hometown,” and we received more than 400 poems from students in kindergarten through 12th grade that demonstrate...
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10 Lessons Kids Learn from A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh Books [Quotes]
Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh are such well known characters that it’s easy to forget they were created in the pages of a book rather than in a Disney animation studio. Of course there’s no...
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Kids’ Art Contest: Sketch a School Subject!
“Education in the arts produces problem solvers who think creatively outside the box and within the box—when the sky is the limit or when given parameters. The arts train students to confidently...
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K12 Expert’s Recommended Reading List for Kids (printable)
“Many reading researchers have indicated that reading is the most important skill for students to succeed not only in school but in society as well. The key to becoming a good reader? Read more and...
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Award-Winning Child Artist Shares Her Secrets
Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) student Vrindavan, or Vrindy, as her friends and family call her, entered K12’s Twelfth Annual Art Competition in 2017 as something fun to do, and because the contest’s...
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K12 Announces Winners of the 13th Annual Art Contest
Every October, online curriculum provider, K12 Inc., hosts an annual art contest so students from all over can showcase their skills—in whatever medium they prefer! This year’s contest, Subject...
View ArticleClassic Children’s Books That Make Great Gifts
Holidays and birthdays are perfect opportunities to get kids classic books that they can keep on their bookshelves for years to come. Encouraging reading in kids is crucial for their academic success...
View Article5 Inspirational Books to Encourage Young Readers
Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Inspirational books for elementary students can foster those dreams by inspiring young readers to see opportunity, express themselves, set...
View ArticleEnjoy Children’s Classic Literature via Project Gutenberg
There is a free online library of children’s classic literature available to you that you may not even be aware of! Dr. Doolittle, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Velveteen Rabbit, and hundreds more...
View ArticleHow Teachers Are Using Harry Potter Books in School
Few books in modern history have captured children’s imaginations like the Harry Potter series. Together, the seven books that comprise the series have sold more than 500 million copies, which means...
View ArticleOutstanding Kid-Approved Books for ‘Read Across America’ Day
In 1954, William Spaulding, a director at Houghton Mifflin publishing, gave author Theodor Seuss Geisel a challenge. “Write me a story that first-graders can’t put down!” he instructed. Spaulding was...
View ArticleHow Arts in Education Impacts Grades
Many parents are familiar with the merits of arts in education for their children. But, some may not realize that creative pursuits also have tangible academic benefits. Studies show that integrating...
View ArticleHow to Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills (Infographic)
Early reading skills are often linked to academic achievement. And for good reason. Reading sparks creativity, improves concentration, and even strengthens connections in the brain! So, a goal for...
View ArticleK12 Reveals the Winners of the 2019 ‘Subject Matters’ Poetry Contest
Recently, K12 held a poetry contest in which students were encouraged to submit their original poems that related to the contest theme, “Subject Matters.” More than 300 students in kindergarten through...
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Exploring Arts in Education with Kids
If you ask ten different people what art means to them, you’re likely to get ten different answers. Art is an individual’s way of expressing themselves and a way for students to develop skills like...
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Announcing the Winners of K12’s 2019 Art Contest
Creative students had the chance to express their adventurous side during K12’s 14th Annual Art Contest recently. This year’s theme was Artistic Adventure, and the more than 1,600 submissions...
View ArticleKeep Young Readers Engaged with Books About Summer Adventures
School might be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean the learning should stop. Childhood literacy is more important than ever. The New York Times reports that a third of young children are behind...
View ArticleKeep Young Learners Discovering with Summer-themed Podcasts
Summer learning loss is always top-of-mind when the schoolbooks close and the summer sunshine beckons. It can be hard to keep kids engaged in education when they’re on a brain break. Literacy skills...
View ArticleReconnect by Disconnecting this Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time when we get a chance to come together with family and friends to celebrate all for which we are thankful. It’s also a time to put those devices down, and step away from the...
View Article3 Reasons Your Creative Student Should Enter the K12 Art Competition
Every student’s imagination comes alive through art. Whether it is the kindergarten student with finger paints, or the senior in high school with their oils, every student is capable of creating...
View ArticleLibraries: A Local Hub for Learning
Now more than ever, libraries have become a center for community learning. No two libraries are the same. Depending on where you live, one could be a center of social equality and justice, while in...
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