May 15, 2025 6:47 pm

7 Fun and Simple Ways to Encourage Reading at Home and in the Classroom

Struggling to get students to read for fun? This blog post shares seven creative tips for educators and families to make reading a joyful habit both in school and at home. From library cards to daily reading routines, discover easy strategies to boost literacy and engagement.

From building vocabulary and attention spans to increasing empathy, it is common knowledge, especially in the education field, that reading for pleasure provides us with so many benefits. But did you know that it can help alleviate depression symptoms and even make you live longer? (BRB while I go find a new book to read.) 

Unfortunately, students today are consuming media tailored to short attention spans and designed to keep them glued to their screens — making it a monumental task to get them to see reading as “fun.” 

Since longevity and mental health might not be the right angles to convince elementary (or even high school) students to read more, read on for some ideas for both educators and families with this shared goal. 

Four Tips to Encourage Reading for Fun (Educators) Assessment is essential for guiding instruction, but they don’t all serve the same purpose.

1. Help students get library cards

As part of back-to-school prep (or whenever the mood strikes), make a quick trip to your local library to grab a pamphlet with instructions for opening a library card. A lot of times, they’re even in the form of a bookmark — bonus! Check with the librarian to see if they can get you enough copies for your classes or even a poster you can hang on your classroom wall. Also, ask how many books a student can check out at once — being able to walk out with a stack of 30 books (some libraries even go up to 100) might be a selling point.  

2. Check that each student has an independent reading book (if not, lend them one) 

Whether independent reading is part of class time or solely for homework, consider making getting a book its own homework assignment. Some students may not have books they like at home, so in that case you can tap your library card poster (see tip #1), set up a class trip to the school library, or allow students to borrow books from your own classroom library. Either way, they may need some guidance around choosing a book in the first place — something I learned with my reluctant high school readers was to find out what movies or TV shows they like and help them find similar books.  

Hint: your reading curriculum may have a digital library of books that students can access at home, like Imagine Language & Literacy’s Seuss Corner. 

3. Choose read-aloud books that are part of a series

If reading aloud is part of your classroom routine, book choice is crucial. Of course, choose something high interest and age and reading-level appropriate, but also consider selecting the first book in a series. Once you get students hooked on the first book, they may want to keep reading the rest of the series on their own.

4. Hold a classroom contest 

I know what you’re thinking: we want students to be intrinsically motivated to read. While I whole-heartedly agree with that, sometimes a little extrinsic motivation can serve as a jumping-off point. It can be something as simple as a class goal for number of books read each month or semester to earn a reward or as ambitious as a competition between classes for a pizza party, but a contest can go a long way toward motivating students to read outside of class. 

Supporting reading at home 

It can be hard for families to know how to encourage their students to read at home. While educators can only control what happens in their classrooms, here are some ideas to suggest to families in school- to- home communication: 

Three Tips for Families to Encourage Reading at Home 

open book icon

Model reading yourself 

The next time you take your child to the library or bookstore, grab a book for yourself, too. Make sure your child sees you reading it. As much as we don’t want them to sometimes, children learn from watching and mimicking their caregivers. If they see you reading as a regular part of your day, they’re more likely to make it part of theirs. 

Globe icon

Read
the world  

This tip doesn’t require books at all! When you’re out and about as a family, take the time to read your surroundings. You’ll be surprised at how much language there is to explore. From street signs and business names to local event posters and menus, encourage your child to find words they know and use them to develop a deeper understanding of their location.  

Clock icon

Have dedicated reading time each day  

It might seem daunting with full-time jobs and extra-curriculars to juggle, but setting aside even 10 minutes a day for reading can really make a difference in developing good habits. Maybe after dinner you turn on some instrumental music and read in the living room for 15 minutes. Or for younger kids you can work reading into their bedtime routine. (Older kids can do this too, but they may feel they’ve outgrown a “bedtime routine”).  

While convincing students that reading might help them live longer or feel happier may not always work, small, intentional actions from educators and families can plant the seeds for a lifelong reading habit. Whether it’s a book that mirrors their favorite show or a quiet 10-minute routine at home, these simple steps can help students rediscover that reading is fun — and who knows, maybe even life-changing. 

About the Author – Ally Jones

Ally Jones is a former high school educator who specialized in teaching English language learners. Outside of education, she is passionate about fitness, literature, and taking care of the planet for her son’s generation.

May 14, 2025 12:56 pm

3 Tips to Take the Stress Out of Summer School Planning 

Teaching summer school? These three practical tips will help you plan efficiently, support your students, and still make time to enjoy your summer break.

It’s that time of year again — when teachers and students alike are starting to feel the exciting pull of summer break. But you may not share that feeling if you’re teaching summer school this year. 

Taking time to plan now will help make sure things run smoothly and have you sitting by the pool with a good book in no time.  

Here are three ideas to get your summer planning started on the right track: 

1. Rely on curriculum you already have 

Before you put “summer school lesson plans” into your favorite search engine and embark down the rabbit hole of downloadable worksheets that almost fit your needs (with a few easy tweaks that end up taking hours of your time), pause for a moment. Consider starting with the curriculum you use for daily instruction. You already know it’s aligned to your standards, plus both you and your students are familiar with it.  

If you have a supplemental program that you haven’t used as much this year, that’s another great place to look for summer inspiration. While you and your students know how the program works, it will feel new and fresh for summer if it wasn’t used for daily instruction throughout the year.  

Tip: Check for a shortened scope and sequence or abbreviated unit plans — these are often perfect for summer school. Imagine Math even has summer pathways designed to prepare students for the next grade level. 

2. Be realistic about time 

Summer school is typically 4–6 weeks long, which is shorter than the typical grading period during the school year. Depending on what grade level you’re teaching, you may be required to get through a certain amount of material by the end of the summer term. This can result in feeling pressured to cram in as much instruction as possible.  

There are ways to cover the most important (and required) standards without overwhelming yourself and your students. If you’re following a shortened scope and sequence (from tip #1), great. If not, choose the standards most important for your students — maybe one per week of instruction — and focus only on those.  

Tip: Establish a simple routine that is the same each day to maximize your class time.  

3. Make it fun 

Students aren’t often itching to go to summer school when they could be playing with friends or relaxing at home. For that reason, taking steps to make learning fun can go a long way. I know this seems to go against tips 1 and 2, but there are ways to add fun without adding work.  

Consider taking a page from the summer camp book and having a theme for each week. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. An ocean theme could mean the text you’re focusing on is loosely related to the ocean or the science lab is related to water properties.  

Going back to tip #2, add a daily or weekly time slot for a game of some kind. The game can change each day or week, or you can even use something like Kahoot or bingo to serve as an exit ticket (formative assessment and fun all at once!). 

Tip: No time to add themes or create games? No worries. See if you can do part of your lesson outside and let students enjoy the summer weather while reading or working independently.  

With a little thoughtful planning, summer school can be both manageable and meaningful. Stick to what works, keep it simple, and don’t forget to have a little fun along the way — you’ve earned it. 

Ready for more summer school inspiration?

Check out our summer learning guides to keep planning.  

Get All the Guides 

May 5, 2025 8:00 am

Imagine Learning Introduces a Smarter Way to Bring AI into the Classroom

The first wave of Curriculum-Informed AI™ tools helps educators teach more effectively, plan with precision, and stay focused on student growth.

Tempe, AZ — May 5, 2025 — Imagine Learning, the nation’s largest provider of digital-first curriculum solutions, today announced the first release of its proprietary Curriculum-Informed AI tools — a new generation of capabilities strengthened by artificial intelligence to support key instructional needs of today’s K–12 classrooms, including lesson planning, math practice, professional learning, and communication.

Grounded in research-backed curriculum and aligned to academic standards, these tools mark a pivotal step in Imagine Learning’s vision for AI that supports educators, strengthens instructional practice, and advances student learning.

“This release reinforces our belief that curriculum should shape AI — not the other way around,” said Kinsey Rawe, EVP & Chief Product Officer at Imagine Learning. “When our research-backed pedagogy and instructional content inform the models, educators get outputs they can rely on.”

Unlike many AI tools that rely solely on training from generic data, Imagine Learning’s solutions integrate its own rigorously vetted curricula, providing outputs that are instructionally aligned, academically sound, and designed to meet the everyday demands of teaching.

Built from Curriculum, Ready for the Classroom

Four new Curriculum-Informed AI tools are currently in pilot with select districts and will expand in availability for the 2025–2026 school year. They include:

  • Lesson Plan Creator — Helps educators quickly create deeply personalized and standards-aligned lesson plans with objectives, instructional activities, scaffolds, and assessments — customized to the specific adopted Imagine Learning curriculum being used.
  • Curriculum Coach — An always-available coaching assistant that incorporates Imagine Learning’s Professional Development (PD) library to deliver curriculum-aligned strategies and real-time instructional support.
  • Math Practice Creator — Generates scaffolded math problems tied to grade-level standards, with built-in support for common misconceptions and model solutions.
  • Communication Drafter — Assists educators in drafting customized messages for families, students, or staff, with adjustable tone, translation, and formatting options.

“By weaving AI into the context of an instructional core, teachers get outputs they can trust to maintain the integrity of the curriculum,” said Jason Fournier, VP of AI Initiatives at Imagine Learning. “We’re excited to see how educators leverage these tools to meet students where they’re at, empower potential, and elevate what’s possible in the classroom.”

A Smarter Foundation for AI in Schools

Districts want AI that works with instruction, not around it. Curriculum-Informed AI is Imagine Learning’s approach to making that possible — built on its high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), aligned to standards, and developed to meet the real needs of today’s classrooms.

At its core, Curriculum-Informed AI is:

  • Grounded in Curriculum: Built from trusted, standards-aligned content.
  • Aligned to Instructional Goals: Supports district-defined outcomes, not generic outputs.
  • Built for Capacity: Frees educators to focus on higher-impact instruction, creativity, and connection.
  • Responsible by Design: Developed with transparency, accuracy, and student safety in mind.

These tools are designed to integrate AI into instruction in ways that align with district priorities and curriculum goals. Imagine Learning is working closely with pilot partners to ensure successful implementation and lasting impact.

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning creates K–12 learning solutions that support the boundless potential of students in more than half the districts nationwide. Empowered with data and insights from educators, we innovate to shape the future of education with a robust, digital-first portfolio of school services and core, courseware, and supplemental solutions. Imagine Learning. Empower potential.™ Learn more: imaginelearning.com.

May 2, 2025 8:00 am

Imagine Learning Recognizes Top Schools in 2025 Imagine Nation Awards

Annual Awards Celebrate Innovation, Dedication, and Exemplary Implementation of Imagine Learning Digital Solutions

Tempe, Arizona — May 2, 2025 — Imagine Learning, the leading provider of digital-first PreK–12 curriculum solutions, today announced the winners of the 2024–2025 Imagine Nation Awards. These annual awards recognize schools and districts across the country for their exceptional use of Imagine Learning programs and their commitment to supporting student growth.

More than 42,000 schools and districts were eligible for this year’s awards. Of those, 232 schools and districts have been honored as Imagine Nation Schools of Excellence or Districts of Distinction, representing best-in-class implementation and meaningful engagement with Imagine Learning solutions.

“The Imagine Nation Awards celebrate not just implementation excellence, but the everyday breakthroughs that happen when we work together to empower potential,” said Kinsey Rawe, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Imagine Learning. “Each of this year’s honorees represents what’s possible when educators and students are supported with the right tools and the belief that growth is always within reach. We’re proud to partner with schools and districts that bring learning to life in ways that are rigorous, inclusive, and grounded in purpose.”

Based on rigorous research, Imagine Learning has found that consistent program usage and strong implementation practices are directly linked to gains in student achievement. The Imagine Nation Awards highlight the schools and districts who have gone above and beyond to ensure students benefit fully from the digital solutions they’ve adopted.

Each recognized school or district will receive a banner to commemorate their achievement and inspire continued momentum in the year ahead.

IMAGINE NATION AWARDS

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Edgenuity®

  • Lauderdale County Virtual Academy, Lauderdale County School District, AL
  • Maricopa Virtual Academy, Maricopa Unified School District 20, AZ
  • Barbara Goleman Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Somerset Academy Silver Palms Middle, Academica, FL
  • Ada Merritt K–8 Center, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Miami Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Doral Academy Preparatory School, Academica, FL
  • Terra Environmental Research Institute, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Highland Oaks Middle, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • John A Ferguson Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Miami Arts Studio 6–12 at Zelda Glazer, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School, Richmond County School District Blended, GA
  • Iota High, Acadia Parish School District, LA
  • Mire Elementary, Acadia Parish School District, LA
  • Saline Alternative Education, Saline Area Schools, MI
  • Ithaca High, Ithaca Public Schools, MI
  • Gaylord High, Gaylord Community Schools, MI
  • Calhoun Community High, Battle Creek Area Learning Center, MI
  • Cross Creek Early College High, Cumberland County School District, NC
  • Stillwater High, Stillwater Public Schools, OK
  • Cane Ridge High, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
  • Antioch High, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
  • Martin Luther King High, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
  • Pearl-Cohn High, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
  • James Lawson High, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, TN
  • Jefferson Opportunity Center, Abilene ISD, TX
  • Phoenix 2.0-Spruce, Dallas ISD, TX
  • Independence High School, Frisco ISD, TX
  • Richard Milburn Academy — Corpus Christi, Richard Milburn Academy, TX
  • Central Oaks Academy, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools, WI
  • Lincoln High, Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools, WI

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Español®

  • Van Buskirk Elementary, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
  • Valley Oaks Elementary, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District, CA
  • Holy Cross, Diocese of Ft Wayne-South Bend, IN
  • Rogers Elementary, Amarillo ISD, TX
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Juarez Lincoln Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Matias De Llano Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Perez Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Rodolfo C. Centeno Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Salinas Elementary, United ISD, TX
  • Frank Elementary, Klein ISD, TX
  • Southside Elementary School, Palestine ISD, TX

2024–2025 Districts of Distinction, Imagine IM

  • Rahway Public Schools, NJ
  • Lake Forest School District, DE
  • Owensboro Public Schools, KY
  • Belmont Public Schools, MA
  • Van Buren Public School District, MI
  • Grosse Pointe Public School System, MI
  • National Heritage Academies, MI
  • Birmingham Public School District, MI
  • Troy School District, MI
  • Kalamazoo Public School District, MI
  • Newark Public Schools, NJ
  • Hilliard City Schools, OH
  • Youngstown City Schools, OH
  • Louisville City School District, OH
  • North Clackamas School District, OR
  • Bellevue School District, WA
  • Lake Washington School District, WA
  • Seattle Public Schools, WA
  • Evergreen Public Schools, WA
  • Wapato Public Schools, WA

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Language & Literacy®

  • Ramona Elementary, Ramona Unified School District, CA
  • First Avenue Middle, Arcadia Unified School District, CA
  • Edwin and Anita Lee Newcomer School, San Francisco Unified School District, CA
  • Tween Valley Fellowship/Tween Valley Christian, BrainSkills, Canada
  • Hialeah Garden Middle, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Seminole Elementary, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Miami Southridge Senior High, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Andover Middle, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • Pioneer Park Elementary, Palm Beach County Schools, FL
  • Arvida Middle, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, FL
  • McLaughlin Middle, The School Board of Polk County (ESOL), FL
  • Murdock Elementary, Cobb County School District, GA
  • Willie J. Williams Middle, Colquitt County School District, GA
  • Mt. Zion Elementary, Clayton County Public Schools, GA
  • American School of Haiti, IMG Global IMG Haiti, Haiti
  • Cloverdale Elementary, Bonneville Joint School District #93, ID
  • Maple Ridge Elementary, South Madison Community School Corporation, IN
  • Columbus Middle, Columbus Public Schools, NE
  • Clinton West Elementary, Tulsa Public Schools, OK
  • Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy, Tulsa Public Schools, OK
  • Tschetter Colony Elementary, Freeman School District 33-1, SD
  • Lincoln Elementary School, Watertown School District 14-4, SD
  • Elsa England Elementary, Round Rock ISD, TX
  • Palmer Elementary, Newport News Public Schools, VA

2024–2025 Districts of Distinction, Imagine Learning EL Education

  • Webster County, KY
  • Marshfield Public Schools, MA
  • Harper Creek Community Schools, MI
  • Detroit Public Schools, MI
  • Farmington Public School District, MI
  • Bend-La Pine Schools, OR
  • Salem City Schools, VA

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math® 3+

  • Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary, Nogales Unified School District 1, AZ
  • Renaissance Charter Schools at Pines, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • North Broward Academy of Excellence — Elementary, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • North Broward Academy of Excellence — Middle, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Downtown Miami Charter School, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science — Elementary, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Hollywood Academy of Arts and Science — Middle, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Beach, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Winthrop Charter School, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Woodland Hills Elementary, Bonneville Joint School District #93, ID
  • Wilson Elementary, Alpena Public Schools, MI
  • Iselin Middle, Woodbridge Township School District, NJ
  • Central Elementary, Yukon School District I-27, OK
  • Shedeck Elementary, Yukon School District I-27, OK
  • Carver High School of Engineering and Science, The School District of Philadelphia, PA
  • School Street Elementary, Bradford Area School District, PA
  • Haslet Elementary, Northwest ISD, TX
  • Lakeview Elementary, Northwest ISD, TX
  • Sheppard AFB Elementary, Wichita Falls ISD, TX
  • Creekside Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
  • Hicks Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
  • Windsor Park Elementary, Corpus Christi ISD, TX
  • Armando Cerna Elementary, Eagle Pass ISD, TX
  • Ray H. Darr Elementary, Eagle Pass ISD, TX
  • IDEA Brackenridge Middle, IDEA Public Schools, TX
  • IDEA Frontier Middle, IDEA Public Schools, TX
  • IDEA Monterrey Park Middle, IDEA Public Schools, TX
  • IDEA Rundberg Middle, IDEA Public Schools, TX
  • Rancho Verde Elementary, Los Fresnos CISD, TX
  • Lakewood Elementary, Tomball ISD, TX
  • Burton Elementary, Davis School District, UT
  • Pioneer Valley Elementary, Bethel School District 403, WA

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math Facts®

  • Tonalea Day School, AZ
  • Challis Elementary, Challis School District, ID
  • Leadore School, South Lemhi District, ID
  • Hope Elementary, Lake Pend Oreille School District #84, ID
  • Ipswich Elementary, Ipswich School District 22-6, SD
  • Onida Elementary, Agar-Blunt-Onida South District 58-3, SD
  • Amarillo ISD ESL/Bilingual/Dual Language, Amarillo ISD, TX
  • Lazbuddie School, Lazbuddie ISD, TX
  • Ansted Elementary, Fayette County Schools, WV
  • Colter Elementary, Teton County School District, WY

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Math PreK–2

  • Renaissance Elementary Charter, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Mid Cape Global Academy, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Renaissance Charter School at Tradition, Charter Schools USA, FL
  • Surrey Hills Elementary, Yukon School District I-27, OK
  • Central Elementary, Yukon School District I-27, OK
  • Shedeck Elementary, Yukon School District I-27, OK
  • Onida Elementary, Agar-Blunt-Onida South District 58-3, SD
  • Speer Elementary, Arlington ISD, TX
  • Bryant Elementary, Arlington ISD, TX
  • Kinder Ranch Elementary, Comal ISD, TX
  • Bill Brown Elementary, Comal ISD, TX
  • Arlon Seay Elementary, Comal ISD, TX
  • Garden Ridge Elementary, Comal ISD, TX
  • Armando Cerna Elementary, Eagle Pass ISD, TX
  • Ray H. Darr Elementary, Eagle Pass ISD, TX
  • Rosita Valley Elementary, Eagle Pass ISD, TX
  • Villareal Elementary, Los Fresnos CISD, TX

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine MyPath®

  • Don Tyson School of Innovation, Springdale Public Schools, AR
  • Hope Academy of Northwest Arkansas, AR
  • Saint John Catholic School, Diocese of Little Rock Office of Catholic Schools, AR
  • Cedar Ridge Elementary, NorthCentral Education Coop, AR
  • Solano Christian Academy, Solano Christian Academy District, CA
  • Fickett Elementary, Atlanta Public Schools, GA
  • Trion Elementary, Trion City School District, GA
  • Centennial Elementary, Polo Community Unit School District, IL
  • North Desoto Lower Elementary, Desoto Parish School District, LA
  • Holly Springs High, Holly Springs School District, MS
  • Union Chapel Elementary, Park Hill School District, MO
  • Hawthorn Elementary, Park Hill School District, MO
  • Shepherd Elementary, Shepherd School District 37, MT
  • Mullen Elementary, Mullen Public Schools, NE
  • Schurz Elementary, Mineral County School District, NV
  • James A. Farley Elementary, North Rockland Central School District, NY
  • Lake Carolina Elementary — Lower, Richland School District 2, SC
  • Center for Knowledge North, Richland School District 2, SC
  • Center for Knowledge, Richland School District 2, SC
  • Round Top Elementary, Richland School District 2, SC
  • Brinkley Heights Urban Academy, TN
  • STEM Prep Academy High, STEM Prep Academy High School District, TN
  • Clyde Intermediate School, Clyde Consolidate ISD, TX
  • Bob Hope Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Spicewood Park Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Sun Valley Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Hidden Cove STEAM Academy, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Indian Creek Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Big Country Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Medio Creek Elementary, Southwest ISD, TX
  • Balmorhea School, Balmorhea ISD, TX

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Purpose™

  • La Joya Community High School, Tolleson Union High School District 214, AZ
  • Cape-Detention, Pima Accommodation District, AZ
  • Monte Vista Independent Study School, Newport-Mesa Unified, CA
  • Coast High School, Huntington Beach Union High School District, CA
  • Accelerated Charter High School, Tulare Joint Union High District, CA
  • Tulare Union High School, Tulare Joint Union High District, CA
  • Mangham High School, Richland Parish School District, LA
  • Lake View High School, San Angelo ISD, TX
  • Rockport Fulton High School — SEL, Rockport-Fulton ISD, TX

2024–2025 Schools of Excellence, Imagine Robotify®

  • Atkinson County Middle, Atkinson County School District, GA
  • Calhoun County Middle, Calhoun County Schools, GA
  • Raceland-Worthington Middle, Raceland Worthington Independent School District, KY
  • Whitehall High, Whitehall High School, MT

2024–2025 Districts of Distinction, Imagine School Services

  • Yosemite Valley Charter, CA
  • Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District, CA
  • Summit School District, CO
  • Grosse IIe Township Schools, MI
  • Northville Public Schools, MI
  • Saline Area Schools, MI
  • Lakeview School District, MI
  • North Muskegon Public Schools, MI
  • Leland Public School, MI
  • New Century School, MN
  • Portageville School District, MO
  • Nevada R-V School District, MO
  • Carl Junction Schools, MO
  • Wellspring Elementary and Middle School, NY
  • Bridgeway Academy, PA
  • Pennsbury School District, PA
  • Penns Manor Area School District, PA
  • Islamic School of Irving, TX
  • Quest Academy, UT
  • Loudoun County Public Schools, VA Wise County Public Schools FT Virtual (IS), VA

2024–2025 Districts of Distinction, Twig Science

  • San Miguel Joint USD, CA
  • Centralia Elementary School District, CA
  • Moreno Valley USD, CA
  • Perris Elementary School District, CA
  • Santa Ana USD, CA
  • Tustin USD, CA
  • Pierce Joint USD, CA
  • Los Angeles Unified School District, CA
  • Little Lake City School District, CA
  • South Pasadena USD, CA
  • Hacienda la Puente Unified School District, CA
  • Reef-Sunset Unified School District, CA
  • Millbrae Elementary School District, CA
  • Colegio Estefania, Mexico
  • Grand Haven Area Public Schools, MI
  • Cascade School District 5, OR
  • Gresham-Barlow School District, OR
  • Horry County Schools, SC
  • Wapato Public Schools, WA
  • Berkeley County Schools, WV

About Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning creates K–12 learning solutions that support the boundless potential of students in more than half the districts nationwide. Empowered with data and insights from educators, we innovate to shape the future of education with a robust, digital-first portfolio of school services and core, courseware, and supplemental solutions. Imagine Learning. Empower potential.™ Learn more: https://www.imaginelearning.com.

Filter by Class from the Imagine EdgeEX Educator Launchpad

Imagine EdgeEX

April 2025

Quickly find what you’re looking for

Educators can now open the Quick View list for each widget and filter by class.

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April 18, 2025 7:21 pm

Powered by Kindness, Driven by Math — Students Reach $1 Million in Charitable Donations! 

We have a million reasons to celebrate, and they all start with your students. Together, they’ve turned their Imagine Math THINK points earned by completing lessons into an incredible $1 million in charitable donations — that’s right, $1 million. They solved problems, made progress, earned points, and chose to pay it forward.

Teaching the joy of giving back

Plenty of researchers have theorized why humans give. Is it purely altruism? A sense of community? Or perhaps that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from helping someone else? The truth is, it’s all of these — and more.

In fact, some studies suggest that generosity is an innate trait driven by our need for social connection and belonging. But while children have an enormous capacity for generosity, it does need to be nurtured and reinforced like any other skill. When students are given opportunities to be generous — whether through simple acts of kindness, service projects, or classroom philanthropy — they learn how to give and why it matters.

$1 Million logo, Do math, pay it forward.

One powerful way to nurture generosity in school is through service learning, which allows students to connect their academic growth with something meaningful. It turns progress into purpose — and that’s a lesson that lasts.

Imagine Math brings this concept to life through THINK points, which students earn when they complete math lessons, with additional points awarded for performing well. Students can then use these points to design and upgrade their Imagine Math avatars, achieve class goals, or donate to child-centered charitable causes. It’s remarkable how often they choose the latter, paying it forward rather than personally benefiting from their hard-earned points.

How kindness adds up in Imagine Math

$1 Million logo, Do math, pay it forward.

Imagine Math lessons completed

$1 Million logo, Do math, pay it forward.

Complex math problems solved

$1 Million logo, Do math, pay it forward.

THINK points donated

Since the Imagine Learning charitable giving program began in 2008, students have completed a whopping 7.5 million math lessons, solved 301 million complex problems, and donated 4.5 trillion THINK points. It’s incredibly inspiring (and a whole lot of math wins) — but as Lisa Wise, Customer Engagement Manager at Imagine Learning, says, “What’s most inspiring is that these acts of kindness happen without fanfare. Only the student knows when they choose to give. There’s no recognition, no reward — just the simple joy of doing something good for someone else. It’s a powerful reminder that with every math problem solved and every THINK point donated, these students are spreading kindness throughout the world.”

Students share their “why” for giving

Each student has their own reason for donating, but what unites them is a desire to make a difference — to help others.

$1 Million logo, Do math, pay it forward.

Here’s what some students had to say about their decision to give back:

Aarush, a student at Shirley Dill Brothers Elementary (Alvin Independent School District, Texas), said, “It was a hard decision to give away all of my hard-earned math points, but what made it easier was the fact that it was going to a very good cause. I feel really bad to see people bullied, and I am glad that finally, I was able to help in my own little way.”

A fourth-grade student at Raceland Upper Elementary School (Lafourche Parish School District, Louisiana) explained that he donated 95,000 THINK points to the 4-H charity because, “I’m in 4-H, and donating meant that other people, along with me, would be able to do fun things in 4-H.”

Akiles L., also a student at Shirley Dill Brothers Elementary, said, “I donated generously to the 4-H charity because it is the right thing to do. It makes me happy when I give my math points to charity because I am earning knowledge and helping people at the same time. I would tell students that it feels good to earn math points, but it feels better to help people in need.”

Celebrating $1 million donated

Over the past 20 years, donations have supported more than 50 national and local beneficiary charities, helping drive change in communities across the country. Some of the organizations that have benefited from student donations include:

  1. American Red Cross
  2. Feeding America
  3. Boys and Girls Club of America
  4. Big Brothers Big Sisters
  5. No Kid Hungry
  6. PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
  7. DonorsChoose
  8. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation

“At No Kid Hungry, we believe every child deserves a bright future — and that begins with a full stomach and a strong education. We are deeply honored to be part of Imagine Learning’s incredible journey to $1 million in charitable giving. The passion and commitment these students have shown — not just in mastering math, but in lifting up their communities — is truly inspiring. Their efforts are helping build a future where no child goes hungry, and we are so proud to celebrate this milestone with them.”

Karen Barr

Managing Director, Individual Giving, No Kid Hungry

Motivating students to love math

It just goes to show that when driven by something meaningful, students engage deeply, as evidenced in their math work. They love completing lessons and earning points (and don’t just take our word for it — see it in action).

Over time, these small wins are adding up — not just in charitable donations but in social awareness, stronger community ties, and math skills that will last a lifetime. That kind of growth is every bit as valuable as the donations and just as worth celebrating.

About the author

Anise Lee

Content Marketing Manager

Anise Lee is a Scotland-based writer with a background in education and marketing. She holds degrees in both fields and is particularly interested in storytelling. When she’s not binge-reading fiction or falling down a social media rabbit hole, she’s probably daydreaming about her next vacation — with her cat always nearby.

April 11, 2025 12:17 pm

How Often Should We Assess? Finding the Right Balance for Student Growth

Finding the right balance in student assessment is key to maximizing learning without over-testing. This blog post explores the importance of a strategic assessment approach, highlighting how screening, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments guide instruction. Discover how data-driven assessments provide meaningful insights while giving educators the flexibility to support student success.

Five students are out sick, your desks are rearranged in straight rows, and for some reason the Chromebooks didn’t charge last night — it must be exam day. It’s tempting to say that we should administer fewer assessments, given that they’re stressful for educators and students alike, but they exist to provide valuable data about student progress. In the quest to get that data, are students being over-tested? Or do they need more frequent check-ins to track progress and prevent gaps from forming (or widening)? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. Let’s explore the benefits of a balanced approach to testing. 

The purpose of assessment

Assessment is essential for guiding instruction, but they don’t all serve the same purpose.

Screeners provide an early snapshot of student skills, helping educators quickly identify those who may need additional support. These assessments offer a broad overview of student readiness and highlight areas requiring intervention.  

Diagnostics take a deeper look at student abilities, assessing specific skill levels and tracking progress over time. They provide data that helps educators personalize instruction and target learning gaps. 

Formative assessments offer real-time insights into student understanding. These quick, targeted assessments help teachers adjust instruction, reteach concepts, and provide immediate support. 

Summative assessments, such as standardized tests or end-of-unit exams, measure cumulative learning. While useful for evaluating progress, they are less effective for informing day-to-day instruction compared to formative and diagnostic tools.

It looks like a lot, probably because it is! But by using a strategic mix of screening, diagnostic, and formative assessments teachers can ensure they have actionable data while minimizing over-testing. 

Risks of over-testing

All these assessment types can quickly add up, becoming way too much testing. Over-testing results in less time for instruction, increased stress and test anxiety for students, and an overwhelming amount of data without time for clear instructional action. As you can imagine, this can snowball into poor outcomes on the assessments.

Risks of under-testing 

While we definitely don’t want to over-test students, it’s easy to swing the other way and not test enough. Without regular assessments, there’s a lack of timely data to identify struggling students early, inform intervention strategies, or track student growth over time. Where over-testing doesn’t leave educators enough time to teach, under-testing doesn’t allow them to see if their instruction is effective. 

Finding the right balance 

While assessments provide essential insights into student learning, it’s clear that we want to avoid testing too much or too little. It’s time to channel Goldilocks and test just the right amount… but how? The key is to find the right balance — assessing often enough to guide instruction without overburdening students or teachers.  

Best practices for assessment scheduling 

To maximize the impact of assessments while minimizing disruptions, educators can follow a structured approach: 

  • Screening at key points — Conduct screening assessments at the beginning of the year (or when a student is new) to establish a baseline for learning needs  
  • Diagnostic assessments for targeted insights — Use diagnostic assessments periodically, such as mid-year, to measure progress and adjust instruction accordingly  
  • Frequent formative assessments — Integrate formative assessments (they can be small, like an exit ticket) into daily instruction to monitor understanding and adjust teaching in real time  
  • Summative assessments with purpose — Administer summative assessments at the end of a unit, semester, or school year to evaluate overall learning, but use them strategically rather than frequently. 

Using data effectively without over-testing 

A unified assessment suite, like Imagine+ Assessment, helps educators strike the right balance by providing high-quality data without excessive testing. Instead of overwhelming students with assessments, educators can focus on actionable insights that directly impact instruction.  

Prioritizing quality over quantity

Meaningful assessments are more valuable than frequent ones. Imagine+ Diagnostic delivers precise, research-backed insights that help educators make informed decisions without unnecessary testing. 

Leveraging technology for efficiency

With automated data collection and real-time analytics, Imagine+ Assessment streamlines the process, reducing teacher workload and making student progress easier to track. 

Making data-driven decisions

Assessment results should drive instruction, not just record progress. Imagine+ Assessment helps educators group students, personalize learning, and identify areas for intervention to ensure every student receives the right support. 

Assessments should work for educators and students — not add unnecessary stress or take away from valuable learning time. The key is finding the right balance, using a strategic mix of screening, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to gather meaningful data without overburdening classrooms. When assessments are thoughtfully planned and used to drive instruction, they become a powerful tool for identifying student needs, guiding intervention, and ensuring progress. By prioritizing quality over quantity, educators can worry less about desk arrangements and Chromebook chargers and focus on what matters most — helping students grow and succeed. 

Explore Imagine+ Assessment for a streamlined, data-driven approach to assessments.

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About the Author – Ally Jones

Ally Jones is a former high school educator who specialized in teaching English language learners. Outside of education, she is passionate about fitness, literature, and taking care of the planet for her son’s generation.

March 31, 2025 7:00 am

The Business Of Education: Our Nation Is Still At Risk

Published by: Forbes

Sari Factor, Chief Strategy Officer at Imagine Learning, shares why we must reimagine how we serve students — through innovation, accountability, and a deep sense of urgency.

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Course Options Summary Report in Imagine EdgeEX 

Imagine EdgeEX

March 2025

View course options for all courses and sections

Administrators can now view a summary of the course options set for all their Imagine EdgeEX courses and sections. This report is visible to any administrator with permission to view district reports.  

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Course Options Summary Report in Imagine EdgeEX

New Student Accommodations in Imagine EdgeEX 

Imagine EdgeEX

March 2025

Screen reader and deaf or hard of hearing accommodations available

Educators can now set accommodations for students who use a screen reader and/or are deaf or hard of hearing in the student options. Once set, they will apply to all Imagine EdgeEX enrollments for that student. 

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Screen reader and deaf or hard of hearing accommodations available