Spring is short but sweet in Virginia. A few precious weeks, maybe a month, of pleasant weather between the chill of winter and the oppressive heat and humidity of summer. I also get the road trip bug in the spring; the last two years, I loaded the girls in the van and drove across the […]
THE BRAIN CHASE BLOG
Summer learning should focus on fun
Children do not need to slouch on the couch during the summer and lose months of hard-won academic progress. In fact, summer is a great time to awaken kids to the love of learning and help them discover that learning can be joyful—even if they think that school itself is not. Here are three ideas […]
Online learning promotes educational independence
Guest post by Asha Dornfest, founder of ParentHacks.com My family lives in Portland, Oregon. My 15 year-old son and 11 year-old daughter go to local public schools, and we’re thrilled with the education they’re getting there. But the fact remains that the curriculum is standardized — as it should and must be for a diverse student […]
A Newbery Book Club
In June 1921, Frederic G. Melcher, editor of Publisher’s Weekly and a longtime advocate of children’s literacy, petitioned the Children’s Librarians’ Section of the ALA (American Library Association) to create an annual children’s book award. The librarians loved the idea, and together with Melcher, they founded the Newbery Medal*, the first children’s book award in […]
Eye on Elegance
When you think of Washington, D.C., a few things probably come to mind. Definitely government: the Capitol, White House, Cabinet offices, federal agencies, and embassies all reside here. Next, memorials: gorgeous, majestic, symbolic creations can be found all over the city that pay homage to major events and figures in American history. But after that, […]
Offline Learning for Online Kids
One parent recently wrote us a note suggesting that students should ditch summer screen time in favor of spending some quality time outdoors. Bravo! As a father of five young children, I could not agree more! Qualitative feedback from last year suggests that Brain Chase participants spend significantly fewer summer hours on television and video […]
What Lies Beneath
At this very moment, a $10,000 scholarship composed of ten stacks of ten crisp $100 bills lies carefully sealed in a brown, string-tied envelope. This envelope is resting peacefully in a small metal safe deposit box deep in the vault in the back of a bank. This vault is guarded 24/7, and the safe deposit […]
Circus School: Daring Mighty Things
When you were a kid, did you ever want – or threaten – to run away and join the circus? This concept has perhaps fallen out of usage; until recently, my children were unaware this was an option. Then we went to a day of circus school, and now they’re all about it. Through a […]
Brainchase x DressHead V Neck Vintage Dress – Wide Belt / Hoop Style Skirt / Rear Zippered Closure
Sweet girls will love this sweet Brainchase x DressHead V Neck Vintage Dress – Wide Belt / Hoop Style Skirt / Rear Zippered Closure. It’s simple, but shows off so much of the wearer’s natural beauty well. The white coloring helps the wearer appear innocent and pure. The dress fits comfortably and drapes over the […]
Even Adventures Have Fine Print
Big question: if Brain Chase is a treasure hunt that rewards learning, shouldn’t everyone be able to go for the gold? Short answer: yes, but even adventures have fine print. We recognize that the ‘chase’ can only seem as good as the treasure at the end, and there is certainly a disappointment in learning […]