Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Use Music to Enhance Your Classroom!


Children love music. It makes them laugh. It makes them dance. And it makes them think. The lessons that students learn from music teachers and programs have an ongoing effect on educational development. Think you have the worst musical ear to ever listen? No problem. You can still deliver a first-rate musical education to your students, not matter your training or experience. If you worry that you don’t have time to squeeze musical elements into your busy day, don’t – it’s easy to incorporate music into existing lesson plans and activities.

Why should you include music in your classroom? There are many answers, most with a common theme, and the evidence supporting them is convincing – music will enhance your student’s educational experience. Studies have shown that children who participate in music education score higher on academic tests. Research indicates that musical learning engages both sides of the brain, a vital element of education and development. Music also impacts a child on multiple levels, including the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Music can quite literally change a child’s life. And don’t forget – music is fun!

How can you bring music into your classroom? Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

  • Use music to get students thinking creatively. Play some music CDs for your students. Have them respond in some way. You might encourage younger students to move to the music. You could ask them to draw a picture from the music. Or, simply ask children how the music makes them feel, or what it makes them think about. Older students could write a short story or poem from the music, or try writing their own lyrics based on a current topic of study.
  • Listening skills developed and reinforced through music education are particularly important for early learners. These skills are an important foundation for communication and understanding. Communication is vital in building strong, healthy communities both in and out of the classroom. Listening to music can even improve your learning space by creating an atmosphere of learning and positive attitudes.
  • Develop language arts or public speaking skills while exploring music. Allow students to select a favorite instrument. Have them research the history of the instrument, as well as how it works, and prepare a short written or oral presentation about their findings. Or, let music boost your math lessons. Have younger students count the number of instruments in a band or orchestra. Music elements like rhythm can develop key concepts like number patterns.
  • Music has impacted society for centuries. Develop a lesson about the impact of music on history, culture, and entertainment. For example, how did popular music protest or react to certain historical events, like slavery, war, or natural disasters?
  • Add music to a classroom celebration. Music is fun, and can upgrade any morning or afternoon. Children will have a blast with popular sing-along songs. Learning and repeating the lyrics will reinforce listening and memorization skills. If you’re up to it, let children play a simple-to-master instrument like the recorder or rhythm instruments. They can create their own unique tunes, or follow the beat of a popular song together.

It doesn't matter how you do it, but bringing music into your classroom will have positive, dramatic, and lasting effects on your students’ education. What do you think about music education? How do you use music with your students or children? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Help Your Students Honor Our Veterans!


November 11 is Veteran’s Day! It’s an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of America’s armed forces in the past, present, and future. There are many ways to let this special day inspire your work in the classroom.

This is the perfect time to introduce a unit discussing America’s conflicts. Students will learn how wars and skirmishes have shaped the world we live in; and that those battles were fought and decided by American men and women. A more focused unit about Veteran’s Day and the people it celebrates is another possibility.

Celebrate a local veteran (or a group of them). Invite a veteran or soldier who is comfortable speaking to your students about Veteran’s Day and what it means to him or her. Let the students ask questions. Arrange a special activity beforehand to thank your special guest. Have students create Thank You cards to give to the speaker. Such a gesture will mean a lot to most veterans – it’s always important to thank these men and women for the amazing things they do.

Arrange a donation for troops currently stationed overseas. It’s easy to assemble a simple care package that could make a soldier’s day. Stock your package with treats, hygienic items, and cards expressing thanks and encouragement. Search the Internet for various organizations and information on care packages. You could also raise money for a care package through a bake sale for the entire school. For more information on this idea, check out the following web site: http://www.uso.org/

How will you celebrate Veteran’s Day with your students? What have you done in the past that has been special? Do you have any suggestions for other educators? Click the ‘Comments’ link below and share your ideas with us!

Veterans have played a huge role in ensuring our country’s future. It’s very important to explain this fact to students of all ages. On November 11, do something to celebrate Veteran’s Day. No matter how big or small the gesture, you’ll honor the men and women that continue to keep America safe.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Bring Your Classroom to the Blogosphere!


We’ve written a few posts about technology in the classroom (see here and here). There’s no doubt that innovations like the Internet, eBooks, and digital whiteboards have changed modern education; and they will continue to do so. There are so many new ways to engage students! It can be somewhat overwhelming to approach. How does a teacher start? Have no fear, LEP is here. We’re planning a series of posts about getting your classroom on board the tech train. Today, we’re taking a look at blogging.

In recent years, blogs have become insanely popular. A search for blogs will yield literally millions of results. There is a seemingly endless variety of blog types: business, personal, photo, entertainment, educational – you name it, there’s probably a blog out there (or a hundred) that covers it.

You might wonder: Why should I pay attention to blogging? For starters, blogs are a wonderful way to engage students. It allows constant connection to educational content both inside and outside the classroom. It enhances the idea of a classroom community, allowing students and teachers to discuss, analyze, and discover together. Blogging also emphasizes technological education and competency, something that is increasingly important in today’s advanced world. Add to all that the fact that blogs are fun and easy to use and maintain and you have a real winner!

Getting Started

Setting up a blog is a snap. Web sites like Blogger and WordPress walk you through setup. After entering some simple information (e-mail address, password, display name, etc.), you’re ready to start blogging. You will want to look into your blog’s settings and make some decisions about who can and cannot access it. You probably don’t want anyone and everyone being able to view your blog. But you might want to let parents take a look. Don’t worry; it’s not hard to “gate” your blog – which will allow only those you approve to visit. You will also want to pay attention to comment moderation – do you want to read comments before they post? Again, tinkering with your blog’s settings is simple. The whole process probably won’t take more than an hour.

Once you have your blog set up, publish a welcome/introduction. Describe your intent and explain how students will use it. Some student training will be required, but you’ll be amazed at how quickly they pick up on it!

How you use your blog is entirely up to you. It could be a weekly assignment, a daily math problem, or simply a place for students to ask questions of you and one another. Blogs are incredibly versatile, and often evolve as you go, adapting to you, your students, and the material. For some ideas, do a Google blog search for “classroom blogs.” Don’t be discouraged if things are a little slow to start. Keep at it – students will catch on.

Now What?

As we said, you can use your blog in any way you wish. If you teach younger students, you might publish videos and pictures, inviting students to share responses (either on the blog or verbally, depending on age). Older students can post responses to thought-provoking questions and scenarios or discuss current events. The possibilities are pretty much endless. Here are a few ideas:

Post short essay questions pertaining to classroom material. Students can post their responses in the comments section. You, in turn, can comment on their responses. You might be surprised at how eager students are to discuss each other’s answers and thoughts/opinions. This is a great way to increase student communication.

Make yourself available to answer homework questions. This does require some of your precious out-of-class time, but can be invaluable to students. If the assignment is right, students can also help one another.

Have students post online book reports or historical figure biographies. Encourage feedback and questions from other students.

Turn your blog into a classroom calendar. Remind students of due dates, important events, and extracurricular opportunities. A blog is also a great place to offer extra credit assignments.

Don’t be afraid to use your blog as a fun resource! Post funny YouTube videos or photos on Friday and let students share their thoughts and reactions. Ask a daily riddle or brain teaser and give the first student to answer correctly (via blog comment) a small prize. Provide links to educational sites and games. Blogging is a fantastic way to increase the fun factor of your classroom.

Sharing

Your blog is too awesome to be limited to your students and you. It’s very easy to share your blog, and the benefits of doing so are great. Who you share your blog with is entirely up to you. You might want to let the rest of your school in on the secret. This allows your administrators to follow your class’s progress. It might also provide inspiration to other teachers and students, which might bounce back to you in the form of their ideas for your blog.

Parents love to know what’s going on at school, right? Blogging is an easy way to keep them updated, and, if you wish, involved. Giving parents access to your blog allows them to watch as students interact and learn. Parents could also weigh in with their thoughts and comments, challenging and supporting students, as well as you.

What Are You Waiting For?

What’s not to love? Blogging offers so many opportunities to enhance your classroom and benefit your students. But don’t take our word for it. Get out there are start blogging! Good luck – check back in and leave us comments about how it goes.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Nutritious and Delicious October

Our last post encouraged you to create a safety unit for your students. We hope this has left you hungry for more ideas – because we just so happen to have another one!

October is the perfect month for a nutrition unit. It’s Vegetarian Awareness Month; Eat Better, Eat Together Month; and even Spinach Lover’s Month. While it might be too difficult a task to turn all of your students into spinach lovers, October is a wonderful opportunity to encourage healthy eating habits to last a lifetime. Here are some ideas on how to introduce a little good nutrition into your classroom.

Plan a unit on healthy foods and eating habits. Start by asking students about their favorite foods. There are likely to be plenty of answers like these: pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, etc. Explain that while these foods are delicious (and, in parts, healthy), they are also unhealthy if eaten too often. Ask students to list healthy foods. Help them understand why these foods are important for growing bodies. Ask students to keep track of what they eat for one week. At the end of the week, have everyone write a short paper assessing how healthy their meals were; they should also include how they could eat healthier from then on. Fill the rest of the week with grade-appropriate nutrition topics. Bring in a delicious, healthy snack for each day to help your students eat better!

Here are some FREE activities you might want to use to reinforce your nutrition unit:

Grades 1-2 Healthy Snacks
Grades 3-4 Jellybean Sugar Count
Grades 5-6 Calories
Grades 6-8 Healthy Hidden Foods
Grades 9-12 Nutrition Sense

Plant your own classroom vegetable garden. This doesn’t have to be anything too fancy. If you live in a suitable climate and have a safe space, try planting outside. Many healthy foods (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and other greens) can be grown indoors, as well. Students will love getting their hands dirty planting the seeds and watching the plants grow. This activity can easily complement a science unit. If all goes well, you could be eating classroom-grown salads and other snacks in no time!

Encourage other students in your school to eat better by putting together a healthy foods sale. Much like a bake sale (minus the brownies, cookies, and other sugary treats), the sale should offer a variety of healthy snacks. After securing permission for the sale, let students share their ideas for what to sell. You might want to provide some simple recipes or ideas to avoid a table full of carrots and bananas. Sell your healthy snacks during lunch, if possible; or before and after school. Use the proceeds to benefit a local charity – or to fund your classroom vegetable garden.

Have you had success transforming your children into spinach lovers? How do you teach students about nutrition? If you try any of the above ideas, please share your stories with us. It’s easy to make October all about nutrition – and to get your students eating healthy.

For more information on healthy foods and eating right, visit the United States Department of Agriculture web site. Interested in more activities that teach nutrition and healthy living? Check out these great books!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Make October Safety Month!

One of our goals with Bridging the Gaps in Education is to provide teachers and parents with educational ideas. After discussing this goal, we decided to try something new this week. We know you’re incredibly busy – why not let us help you plan some lessons – not for this week, but for next month? This way, you have time to develop the ideas and add your unique touches and improvements to them.

With this idea in mind, let’s get planning! October 4 – 10 is Fire Prevention Week. This is a great time to teach younger children about firefighters and all that they do for the community. It’s also an opportunity to present fire safety units to students of all ages. You might consider planning a field trip to your local fire station; or you could invite a local firefighter to speak to your class. Practice your home or school fire escape plans and encourage everyone to learn fire safety and prevention information. Top the week off with a surprise fire drill to reinforce what you’ve learned. Here is a simple fire safety activity to help you get started.

Why not try making the month of October Safety Month? Being relatively early in the school year, it’s a great time to establish classroom practices and rules – and it never hurts to make your space safer!

The concept of safety is pretty enormous, so here are a few ideas for units or lessons.

Work with your students to improve the safety of your classroom or home. First, ask students to identify potential risks in the environment – these could be sharp edges on desks or chairs, scissor storage, or slippery surfaces, to name a few. If there are valid risks, discuss ways to correct or improve them. Help students craft safety plans and enact them. Develop a classroom- or home-specific list of rules and precautions for the entire year.

Discuss safety outside the classroom. The world can be a dangerous place, and you can teach children to be better prepared. Possible topics include: traffic safety and laws, drug awareness, community threats (strangers, crime, etc.), and much more. Pick topics that apply to your grade level and region.

Teach about weather safety and natural disasters. Students are often fascinated by natural phenomena like thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes; and these topics naturally lead into science vocabulary, experiments, and activities. If you live in a region that is at risk of particular dangers, develop and practice safety procedures. Have students create and decorate safety lists to display in the classroom. A wealth of material is available for the planning and implementation of units/lessons like these. Click here for some products that focus on weather and natural disasters.

These ideas, along with your own expertise and planning, can turn October into Safety Month. These are only starter ideas; put your own spin on safety for a month filled with practical learning that can be applied in and out of the classroom. Have some ideas on teaching safety? Put them in the comments section below and share them with others!

Friday, September 3, 2010

One Week In...How's it Going?

I was shopping at a local school supply store the other morning, checking out all of the cool new products and supplies (there are still great deals to be had), when I realized that the room seemed quieter than normal. There were less people studying the shelves. This trend continued as I drove to work, windows down and radio off.

Has anybody else noticed how quiet things have gotten? With all of our children back in school, the world almost seems like a different place during the day. Playful shouts and full swimming pools have been swapped for ringing bells and packed classrooms.

The first week of school is always an exciting time. There’s so much important work to be done: teacher/student introductions, class rules and expectations, first lessons, and more. It’s a time to set the tone for the school year, an opportunity to establish an environment that will allow your class to grow and learn together. And, of course, it’s an extremely fun time!

We would really like to hear how your first weeks are going. How are you setting the right mood for the coming months? What activities have you used to get things going? Any insanely fun stories to share? Write your stories and ideas in the comments section below!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Back to School

It’s the second half of August, and things are changing. Distinctive yellow buses are on the road. Stores are displaying vast quantities of pencils, notebooks, and folders. And any of your friends that happen to be teachers are vanishing from sight. It doesn’t take a detective to piece the clues together – the back to school season is upon us!

The weeks leading up to a new school year are a bittersweet time for kids and adults alike. Students are excited to see old friends and tackle new challenges, but they mourn the passing of summer days spent playing in the sun. Parents miss having their children around all the time, but appreciate the quiet and freedom. Teachers have no doubt enjoyed their three months of vacation, but are eager to fill the minds of another class with new knowledge.

I remember these days well. The nagging date lurking in the back of my mind, looming larger with each passing hour. How that foreboding became grudging and then all-out excitement as I shopped for new supplies and clothes. The thrill of meeting a new teacher, reuniting with classmates, and flipping through new books (well, maybe not the new books, but you get the point). And before I knew it, it was autumn and the school year was in full swing.

The last weeks of summer vacation are a great way to prepare for the new school year. Try reviewing key concepts from the previous year with worksheets, flash cards, or quick quizzes and games. Get your soon-to-be students excited by taking them shopping for new school supplies and clothes – it’s easy to find great deals and sales right now. Plan a bash to celebrate the last days of summer. Eat summer foods and play summer games outside. Talk about everyone’s favorite summer activities.

A day or two before the first day of school, give your child a piece of paper. Ask them to write a letter to themselves. Explain that they should list some goals for the coming school year – these can be simple, like making a new friend, or more difficult, like getting better grades in math. When they’re finished, take the letter and place it in an envelope and store it. Hand it back to your child a day or two before or after the last day of school. Talk about their goals and how they changed over the course of the year.

How do you, as a parent or teacher, get ready for a new school year? What’s the best thing about back to school time? What’s the worst? When you were a student, how did you prepare yourself? Feel free to share your stories.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

More Educational Technology

After blogging about eBooks last week, we thought we’d stay with the thread and discuss other technologies being used by teachers and parents to enhance learning.

The modern classroom can be a very advanced place. There are an incredible number of new technologies being used in schools and homes. Unfortunately, many schools aren’t able to afford these products, but they are slowly spreading. It’s probably safe to assume that in the next several years, many of these innovations will be in widespread use.

These days, it’s hard to find a school or home that doesn’t feature computers. These aren’t new educational tools – they’ve been in use for years. Their possible uses, however, are constantly changing. The Internet hosts an enormous amount of resources for teachers and parents. Worksheets, interactive games, lesson plan ideas – the list goes on. Ideas are shared on public forums (blogs, discussion boards, websites), giving educators access to a growing collection of content. And there’s no end to available software. From encyclopedias to precalculus programs, you can find just about anything you need to boost your classroom resources.

An extremely popular technology is the interactive whiteboard. Taking the place of chalkboards and dry-erase boards, they work with a computer and projector to provide all kinds of fun, educational opportunities. Teachers can develop lessons with programs like Power Point and display them on the whiteboard. There are a number of lesson plans and ideas available online, as well. The boards are completely interactive. Special markers write on the board, allowing a teacher to highlight or expand on a particular note; or a student could work a math problem right on the whiteboard. The boards also respond to touch. It’s amazing how much students love working on these products. Their attention is grabbed easily, and they really enjoy heading up to the board to interact with the lesson. The possibilities of this technology are great, and the library of content continues to grow.

Remote technology is another innovation gathering steam in schools. The idea is that each student has a small remote or device that transmits to another device (like an interactive whiteboard or computer). This has a number of uses and advantages. Students can take multiple choice quizzes and tests, entering their answers via remote. Each remote is mapped to a specific student. Results are instantly tabulated, and can be easily placed in a computerized grade book. Imagine the time a teacher could save without tedious hand-grading! It’s also great for survey questions and class votes, and can be used to introduce charts and graphing activities.

These are only a few of the available technologies. And who knows what’s next? One future educational tool may be the cell phone. Can you imagine using text messaging in the classroom? How do you feel about the growing presence of technology in education? Is it a good or bad thing? What do you think is “the next big thing” for teachers and parents?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

The eBook Revolution


I have sometimes wondered what Johannes Gutenberg felt when he held the first book to come off of his printing press. Did he have an inkling that he’d changed the world? Did he glimpse a future in which books were everywhere? Did he realize that he held a piece of history in his hands?

When I consider the revolution of eBooks, I think I might have an idea of how he felt. There’s no question that eBooks are changing things. When we download books and slide through their pages on our e-readers, we are making our own history. eBooks have taken the publishing industry by storm, and they aren’t letting up. Everything and everyone that has anything to do with books is affected – libraries, book stores, and, of course, teachers.

eBooks are revolutionizing the classroom. Novels aren’t the only kind of book out there. Textbooks, workbooks, and children’s books are available, as well. Here are a few reasons to hop on the eBook train.

E is for easy. Okay, it’s actually for electronic, but it may as well stand for easy. Having trouble finding a workbook on a specific topic? All you need is an internet connection and libraries will be at your fingertips. It only takes a few minutes to order an eBook and have it delivered directly to you! No more trips to supply stores and book sellers. And eBooks are usually priced the same as a printed copy, so you don’t have to pay extra for the convenience.

It may seem a minor benefit, but eBooks are a tremendous space-saver. eBooks are stored on your computer, so you don’t need to worry about book shelves or closet space. Your classroom stays neat and organized, and has more free space that can be used to enhance your learning environment. You can also make your classroom a green, environmentally friendly zone by using eBooks.

Technology is changing the modern classroom. eBooks are only a part of that change, but they work together with the others to enhance learning. eBooks are compatible with computers, interactive whiteboards, e-readers, and even cell phones. Pages can be projected on a whiteboard, allowing student and teacher interaction and turning individual exercise into a group activity. Handouts can be printed directly on your home or classroom printer. That means no more waiting in line at the copier! Lessons and assignments can be e-mailed to absent students. Homeschool teachers can provide all the books found in schools with computers and e-readers. The possibilities are seemingly endless, and more are being added all the time!

How do you feel about eBooks? What do you like or dislike about them? How have you used them at home or in the classroom? What do you think technologies like eBooks mean for the future of education?

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Summer Learning

It’s difficult to believe, but we are in the final week of July! Summer is in full swing, and that means lots of things for parents: babysitters, vacations, sunscreen, and so much more. It can be hard to squeeze learning in among the many distractions that summer throws at us. How can you keep a spirit of learning in between the picnics and pool trips? How can you prepare your child for the upcoming school year? There are many simple and fun ways to keep your child learning throughout the long days of summer. Here are a few suggestions.

Try working a bit of education into your daily routine. Take thirty minutes or an hour to practice key skills like spelling and math. Use flashcards to keep minds sharp. Provide workbook pages for a quick, independent, cross-curricular opportunity. Challenge children with a daily or weekly quiz (on any subject) to keep the theme of learning going. Offer rewards to keep the experience fun.

Start a book program for your kids – it’s easier than it sounds. Compile a list of educational books and let children decide which books they want to read from your list. Assign a certain number of pages each day or week. As your child progresses through the book, discuss the content. Ask some simple questions to practice reading comprehension and response. You might consider keeping a chart that tracks the number of books read. Hang it in a public place so that children can be proud of their progress! See how many books you can get through - the number might surprise you.

Assign your children weekly or monthly “projects.” Encourage your kids to select topics that interest them. Make research resources (the library, encyclopedias, the Internet) available and let them do some independent research on their chosen topics. Instruct them to plan a short paper or presentation to be given to you, along with family and/or friends. This doesn’t need to be a formal exercise – kids (and adults) should have fun throughout the “projects!”

These are only a few ideas on keeping learning alive during the summer. How about sharing some of your own ideas? How do you fit learning into a busy summer schedule? How would you make a vacation an educational experience? Have you tried any of the ideas we shared? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Differentiated Instruction: A Quick Intro


As I write this post, a gathering of great brains is underway in Las Vegas. If that sounds a little out of the ordinary, it’s because it’s a special occasion. The National Conference of Differentiated Instruction (say that five times fast) began on Sunday.

What is differentiated instruction, you ask? A short answer: it’s about the brain. More specifically, it’s about how different people learn in different ways, and how we can use that knowledge to better teach one another. Here at LEP, we’re lucky enough to have a recognized expert, Dr. Linda Karges-Bone, as one of our writers (check out her books here). In fact, Dr. Bone is presenting in Vegas this week!

It may sound complicated, but introducing the concept through daily interactions with students and children is really quite simple! These ideas aren’t a lesson plan or complete unit. They are easy-to-implement strategies that could help tap the full potential of young brains.

One way to influence brain activity is by using a variety of colors each day. The brain reacts to color in startling ways. Using colored chalk, bold colored markers, or color on an interactive whiteboard can improve attention. It’s amazing what different colors awake in our brains. For example, different shades of blue can inspire excitement, creativity, reflection, and relaxation.

The impact of sensory appeal doesn’t end there. You can also reach your students’ brains through their noses! A few examples: lemon and pine scents lead to increased alertness and attention; jasmine relaxes students and encourages reflection; and apple and cinnamon inspire creativity.

It’s no secret that a stressed out mind won’t learn as effectively as a relaxed one. Use soothing techniques to help you get the most out of your students’ brains. Use journaling to help students deal with issues at home and at school. Distribute mood-improving foods like almonds and dark chocolate to give children a boost. Start the day with physical movement. The exercise will release natural endorphins and better prepare everyone for the day ahead.

Creativity in the classroom has always been important, but did you know that it can help children learn more effectively? Creative thinking can leave students with a feeling of completion, satisfaction, and heightened connection. Be sure to encourage creativity while teaching. This can be done in many ways. You might introduce a new activity (crafts, poetry, building activities) that asks students to use their imaginations. Try playing music - it can be used to unlock otherwise dormant parts of the brain.

Enough from us – we’ve barely scratched the surface of differentiated instruction and the benefits it offers minds. Just because you’re not in Vegas doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the brain talk. Have you ever used differentiated instruction in your class or home? How do you get the most out of your students’ brains? How might you go about introducing these concepts to your daily routine? Tell us!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Hello, World!


It’s with great excitement that Lorenz Educational Press introduces itself to the blogosphere! After years of creating educational materials, we’ve decided that it’s high time to get you more involved. We’d like to start by introducing ourselves and explaining what this blog will be all about.

We publish a variety of educational products, from books and eBooks to poster papers and beyond. Every product created at LEP (we’ll call ourselves LEP from now on – it’s easier for everyone) is based on our commitment to support teachers and parents providing a positive educational experience for students and children. If you’re interested in checking out some of our products, or just want to learn more about us, head over to our website and knock yourselves out!

This blog has been created with YOU in mind – whoever you may be. Teachers, parents, administrators, students – anybody with an interest in education. We hope to provide a forum to discuss education. The industry is ever-changing, particularly in today’s fast-paced society. It can be overwhelming to keep track of trends, new developments, problems, and solutions. LEP wants to cover some of these topics. We want to share ways that we’re implementing them in our products, and how these products might help you in your classroom or home. More importantly, we want to inspire and engage in discussion with you. Everything we create at LEP is for you and your students. Your thoughts, opinions, and ideas are extremely important to us!

In the coming months, we have a LOT planned for you. We sincerely hope that you’ll check in with us often (you can follow us on Blogger, or, better yet, have updates sent directly to you by subscribing). Please don’t stop after you’re done reading our thoughts and ideas. Share some of yours! Comments will be added to each post, in the hope that thoughtful, beneficial discussions can take place. This blog can be as fun and useful as we make it. We look forward to interacting with you in the coming months. Thanks for reading!

P.S. Blogging isn’t the only way we’re introducing ourselves. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates, teacher tips, brain starters, and more!