Discovering and Developing Talents in Spanish-Speaking Students was published by Corwin Press last month and is now available for purchase! Ignite/Sparkitivity founder Katie Haydon collaborated on this book with fellow educators and authors Joan Franklin Smutny, Olivia Bolaños, and Gina Estrada Danley. It focuses on academically nurturing, supporting, and understanding high-ability Spanish-speaking students, helping educators cross cultural [...]
Sparks at Ignite!
Ignite Creative Learning Studio has news. After three years of inspiring students’ interest in learning, Ignite Creative Learning Studio is transforming to focus on some new ideas. Ignite has been a life-changing experience for kids, families, and all of us! Over 90 classes have opened young minds to creative thinking, connecting personally with children’s interests, [...]
Summer Sparks!
Question: What does this playdough circuit and your child have in common? Answer: They both light up at Ignite! Keep learning alive this summer and enroll in Summer Sparks!
Sparked Back into Action by Sir Ken
It is appropriate that an encounter with Sir Ken Robinson would be the catalyst to awaken our Ignite blog out of its long winter slumber. A few weeks ago, I had the inspiring opportunity to listen to him speak about creativity and education at UC Santa Barbara, and to engage in a personal conversation with [...]
Book Review: Little Bets by Peter Sims
Have you read this book? Little Bets by Peter Sims came out this year by Simon and Schuster. Sims studied highly creative people and companies to learn about their innovation and thinking processes, people such as Steve Jobs, Frank Gehry, and Chris Rock, and companies like Pixar. While the book is helpful for business people [...]
Underachievement
Have you ever wondered why bright children sometimes perform poorly in school? The notion of gifted underachievement has been going on for centuries. Just think of Albert Einstein, whose teachers thought him to be “slow,” and Thomas Edison who was told he was too stupid to learn. If you have a child whose abilities [...]
Our Response to “Why Making Creative Schools Requires Radical Change”
Yesterday, GOOD Education posted a thought-provoking article that quotes Sir Ken Robinson, one of our favorite thinkers in education these days. In short, Sir Ken discussed that certain educators hope that he will recommend a “creativity hour” that would provide the creative and critical thinking students need during lunch or at the end of the school [...]
Welcome Back!
We are so excited to be up and rolling with Ignite fall classes! For weeks, we have heard from many people asking, “When is Ignite starting? My child can’t wait!” So far this week, there has been: paperfolding/cutting/math magic in Advanced Origami and Paper Arts (grades 3-6); delving into stories and learning to purchase supplies with [...]
CuteMonster for Dads
Recently I was contacted by Vincent Daly, editor of CuteMonster.com, a blog with information and resources to support dads, especially those who are the main caretakers of their children. He wanted to republish on his site my article from Byrdseed.com about using literature to engage primary students. Here’s the link if you’d like to take [...]
Inventing the Future of Education at Ignite
“The simple question “What if . . .” has the power to change our world. Provocative, inspiring and seemingly impossible questions are being asked by today’s scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. “The thrill of discovery, passion for new ideas and optimism for the future helps these innovators overcome the challenges they face as they take [...]
Connect With Us
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Through All the Buzz, Creativity is Still King
- CuteMonster for Dads
- Welcome Back!
- Our Response to “Why Making Creative Schools Requires Radical Change”
- Underachievement
- Ignite Founder Co-Authors Book
- Sparks at Ignite!
- Summer Sparks!
- Sparked Back into Action by Sir Ken
- Book Review: Little Bets by Peter Sims
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