InClass

We share our favorite teacher-friendly links from the past week.

The end of the year bustle can really bring more stress than joy, at least when it comes to my world. With Arizona’s streets crowded with holiday shoppers and our calendars at their fullest, here’s to slowing down and finding happiness in the simple things. Grab a cup of coffee or a mug of cocoa, and enjoy this week’s click-worthy reads — one at a time.

• Boosting esteem in adolescent female students is crucial in our middle and high school classrooms. Point our girls in the direction of celebrity Reese Witherspoon’s recent speech about ambition.
• “Parents who think they’re on the up and up because they know about Snapchat and Facebook are in for a rude awakening; these apps are only the tip of the iceberg,” states A Platform for Good, an organization dedicated to sharing positive news. They’ve created a whole page to teach parents about tech. Share it with your parents, and be sure to peruse it yourself — even the techiest adult might be surprised by what our digital kids have access to.
• Kid books inspired by hip hop songs? Sign us up!
• Need even more reason to bolster home communication? CNN recently reported on research linking parents as key to lifting school performance. Check it out here.
• Help elementary students embrace creativity in all subjects every day with an enrichment box. Check out this awesome example and how-to from fifth grade math and science teacher (and technology club advisor) Victoria Jasztal.
• Grading midterms and need a good laugh? Check out these 11 Babies Who Look Exactly Like Famous Celebrities. My favorite? The Elvis doppelganger.
• Schools cultures are getting better for LGBT students, but they still have a long way to go. Read about it here.
• Know some students who love fashion AND literature? Have them check out the Books and Looks series from New York blogger Sara, where readers create outfits based on favorite books.
• Whether you’ve got kids of your own or want to share this top-notch resource with parents and friends, you’ll appreciate I Heart AZ’s Big List of Free Things to Do with Kids in Arizona.
• Bored of peanut butter? Boost your breakfast toast with these 21 Energy-Boosting Breakfast Toasts.

See you soon for another Resource Round up! Until next time, stay warm Arizona!

Heather Sparks is a writer, educator, and mom of two. An Arizona native, she holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in gifted education from Arizona State University.