Snots, Sniffles, and Sneezes

April Showers Brings More than May Flowers

Lauren Cook General

It is springtime once again! The days are sunnier, the birds are singing louder, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. While this is happening, something else that’s not so good begins: allergies!  Each spring, summer, and fall, plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens that cause allergic reactions come …

Attention Gifted Endorsed Teachers

Attention Gifted Endorsed Teachers!

Lauren Cook General

The Creators of the Quirkles and Fuddlebrook Series have been on the road lately attending many conferences. It has been a great opportunity to engage with many excellent gifted educators. It is always a wonderful opportunity to hear how many of you are using the Quirkles and Fuddlebrook programs. We discovered recently that Freddie, one of the Fuddlebrook characters, is …

Valentine's Day Candy Hearts

It’s Time for Valentines: Have Fun with Science

Lauren Cook Teaching Tips

Valentine’s Day is upon us. And probably like most of us, you are ready for a little break from the hum-drums of winter. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity for that, but have you ever wondered how this holiday of love came about? According to many sources, Valentine’s Day began with the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The …

Winter Blues... Not Happening! Creative Classroom Activities for Winter

Winter Blues…Not Happening! Creative Classroom Activities for Winter

Lauren Cook General

The Christmas decorations are put away and celebrating the arrival of 2024 is old news. What’s a teacher to do? The winter doldrums have truly set in. This is the time of year that separates the good educators from the great ones. Creative and effective teaching strategies are needed to engage students and keep the winter blues from attacking. While …

Teach Science Like A Rock Star

Teach Science Like A Rock Star

Lauren Cook Teaching Tips

An elementary science teaching rock star? Not me! You can teach effectively, excite your students, and have fun yourself if you follow these four steps. First, tell a story the kids can relate to. Density seems abstract taken alone as a concept but floating on water, particularly salt water, is something many children have experienced. Tell a story (with conviction!) …

Happy Holidays: Quirkles & Fuddlebrook Series

Two Great Holiday Gift Ideas: The Quirkles & Fuddlebrook Series

Lauren Cook General

The gift of learning lasts a long, long time. With these colorful, imaginative books and materials, children build reading readiness skills, vocabulary, and science knowledge. Both the Quirkles and Fuddlebrook Science series offer a great way to create budding young scientists through fun stories and hands-on experiments. Watch the excitement on children’s faces as the encounter science in all sorts of interesting ways. You’ll …

Mrs. Wigglebum and Class

Learning from Mrs. Wigglebum: Five More Things That Will Make You A Better Teacher (Part II)

Lauren Cook Teaching Tips

Last month we learned about the first five traits Mrs.Wigglebum has as an effective teacher. Here’s the other five. If only we could be like Mrs. Wigglebum as a teacher! In the Fuddlebrook School Science series, she always seems to be in the right place at the right time to offer sage advice and she always finds the teachable moment. …

The Case of the Missing Water: Students and Mrs. Wigglebum Celebrating

Learning from Mrs. Wigglebum: Five Things That Will Make You A Better Teacher (Part I)

Lauren Cook Teaching Tips

 Oh, if only we could be like Mrs. Wigglebum as a teacher! In the Fuddlebrook School Science series, she always seems to be in the right place at the right time to offer sage advice and she always finds the teachable moment. Besides that, she has purple hair. This adds to her “cool” factor. But she’s not real,  you argue, …