In every successful school community, there’s a common thread: strong parent involvement. A proactive Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) can make a tremendous difference in student success, school spirit, and overall educational experience. But what happens when PTA membership dwindles or parent volunteers are hard to find?

It’s back-to-school time! The beginning of the school year is never too early to get started on raising funds for your students and making sure teachers have everything they need to carry out their lesson plans. With the help of your Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) your school can get a head start on not just fundraising but also building a sense of community and encouraging family involvement early on. Below are three simple fundraisers your PTA can use to help expand and update your school’s resources. 

For decades, we have seen PTAs each year working arduously to raise as much funding as possible so they can create the best learning experiences for their students. It’s undeniable that grants can be an excellent resource for schools and school districts to create more opportunities for their students, but where do you start? Mobile Ed has created a simple guide on education grants for schools that can help you learn more and feel prepared.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. From voice assistants like Alexa to spell-check tools in word processors, AI is quietly transforming how we work, communicate, and even learn. But when it comes to education, especially in elementary classrooms, the question isn’t just about how we use AI, but whether we should use it at all. As new technologies enter our schools, parents, teachers, and administrators are asking: Where is AI’s place in the classroom?

Our favorite part of the summer showers that sometimes pop up out of nowhere is, obviously, the rainbow that follows. This Rainbow in a Jar experiment is the perfect way to keep kids learning while having fun. With simple household ingredients, children can build a real rainbow they can admire right in front of them, not off in the distant blue sky. The Rainbow in a Jar is a visually stunning STEAM activity that demonstrates how liquids of different densities behave. By stacking honey, corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and rubbing alcohol in a clear container, kids can see how heavier liquids sink while lighter ones rise. The result? A beautiful rainbow that rivals the value of a pot of gold.

In today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world, students are engaging with content in more ways than ever before. One powerful yet often underutilized tool in the classroom is the podcast. Once associated mostly with adults and entertainment, podcasts are now finding their way into classrooms as flexible, creative learning tools that meet students where they are. Even teachers with limited time or technical experience can use podcasts to reinforce key concepts, support auditory learners, and make studying more engaging. Let’s explore how podcasts can assist student learning and how you can start using them effectively with your elementary students today.

There’s something magical about learning outside. The sights, sounds, and textures of the natural world provide endless opportunities for discovery and exploration. Outdoor science projects invite kids to engage more of their senses, ask questions, and apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings. From backyard experiments to park-based investigations, nature becomes the ultimate science lab.

Field trips are as anticipated by students as they are stressful for educators. From permission slips to travel fees and chaperones, the amount of planning needed for these outings can be downright overwhelming. Yet, field trips account for some of the most enriching learning experiences available to students, making all that extra pressure worth the effort. These experiential excursions expose students to real-world applications of knowledge, improving their social and critical thinking skills and academic performance, helping spark curiosity about the world around them. With careful planning, you can help mitigate some of that stress and start looking forward to the field trip as much as your students do!

With school out of the way, summer provides ample time for reading! But keeping young readers motivated throughout the summer months can be difficult. One of the best ways to incentivize reading this summer is by pursuing challenges that reward tangible prizes. Whether it’s a free book or a free meal, having a fun goal to work towards can be just what a young reader needs to get motivated. Below are four summer reading programs that reward readers for their diligence and dedication.

Summertime is the perfect time for discovery! Luckily, your students and campers don’t need to leave the facility to have a meaningful educational experience. While field trips offer students important hands-on adventures that aid their academic development, they’re not always a practical option, as they can introduce budget issues, time constraints, or safety concerns. Assembly programs can be a cost-effective way to bring the adventure to your students or campers without the hassle of permission slips or travel fees. Below are six “indoor” field trip ideas for your summer camp or program.