What if there was a better way to introduce math to young kids? For a parent, one of the first math concepts they teach their child is to count to 10. In this exercise, repetition is the name of the game: “Let’s count to 10!…Good! Now, let’s do it again!” While rote learning of the […]
Monthly Archives: May 2017

Developing an Evidence-Based Early Math App
May 30, 2017

Infographic: Parents on How Digital Games Affect Family Life
May 26, 2017
Children today have access to more devices and platforms than ever before. And that means they have access to more entertainment software too. Over the past few years there have been a number of studies looking at video games and children, from how games affect the brain and motivation to learn. With the Digital Games and […]

The STEM Challenge Inspires a New Career Path
May 22, 2017
Last summer, I had the pleasure of interning with the team behind the National STEM Video Game Challenge. While working with the Cooney Center, I helped create and publish online content to spread the word about the STEM Challenge, and I also had the opportunity to work with students in game design workshops. The technology available to kids […]

The App Fairy Interviews Originator
May 15, 2017
The “Endless” apps by Originator (Endless Alphabet, Endless Numbers, etc.) all follow a reliable and effective formula: genuinely funny antics + solid educational content = learning that sticks. Most of their apps feature a lovable and irreverent cast of cute monsters who help to illustrate the definition of words, the meanings of sentences and the value of numbers […]

A Checklist for Evaluating Diverse Children’s Media
May 8, 2017
As a children’s librarian at a small library, a significant part of my job is to find and purchase the best books, audiobooks, puzzles, apps, websites, devices, and even toys for kids and teens ages 0-18. I’m also tasked with making sure families can find them in the library. Some of these items will go […]

Learning Trajectories in Early STEM
May 1, 2017
The STEM Starts Early report talks about learning trajectories in early STEM. What are they? What difference do they make? What Are Learning Trajectories? Children follow natural developmental progressions in learning and development. As a simple example, they learn to crawl, then walk, then run, skip, and jump with increasing speed and dexterity. These […]