Learning Dimensions

It's hard to finish out the school year making sure you're leaving kids in good shape for the next, but it's sometimes even harder to start off the school year and get students back on track. What to do? Check out this Edutopia article on some tips on how to connect the first day of school to the last--
https://www.edutopia.org/article/connecting-first-day-school-last-activity

Connecting the First Day of School to the Last A veteran middle and high school teacher shares a first day of school activity that has worked for her for 25 years.

Back to school season is here! What better way to prepare for your student's first day than joining hands with your local community? Chicago has a variety of organizations that support families during this rush through school supply giveaways or school fairs. Check out Block Club Chicago's list below--
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/05/your-back-to-school-2026-guide-free-school-supplies-resource-fairs-and-more/

Your Back-To-School 2026 Guide: Free School Supplies, Resource Fairs And More Block Club rounded up events across the city where you and your family can get free backpacks, haircuts and more this month.

It's not too late to register for Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE) annual conference "The Remix in '26"! Learning Dimensions founder, Monica Swope will be speaking for the panel and she's excited to see everyone!

📆August 7 and 8
🕛 1pm CST/2pm EST/ 11am PST
🎟️ Virtual and free! Link below ⬇️

https://mailinglist.sankofascholarship.com/cbce-conference

The Remix in '26 — CBCE Annual Conference 2026 The Remix in '26 — the 6th annual Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE) Conference, Aug 3–9, 2026. Remix education until it sounds like freedom.

Learning Dimensions founder, Monica Swope, has been featured in the "Prairie Wind", the monthly Bulletin of the SCBWI Illinois! From pages 44-47, read her takes on the act of writing, all centered around the themes of her Everyday Daredevil book series.

Full publication:https://scbwi-storage-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/attachments/PrairieWind_Summer_Compressed.pdf

As we celebrate another anniversary of Learning Dimensions, Founder & Principal Consultant, Monica Swope, reflects on the incredible power of these full circle moments. What began as a bold leap of faith into the world of educational consulting has grown into years of meaningful partnerships across a remarkably diverse landscape—from K-12 schools and public districts to tech companies, cultural spaces, private sector leaders, and governmental organizations.

Full Circle Moments: Celebrating Years of Impact, Diverse Partnerships, and Educational Excellence at Learning Dimensions The Spark of Creation: Off To My Next Journey In 2013, I made one of the most defining decisions of my professional life. Leaving behind the familiar routine of traditional employment, on the last day of my 9 to 5 job, I posed holding a simple, handwritten sheet of paper that read, "OFF TO MY NEXT J

Over the weekend Learning Dimensions founder, Monica Swope, had a great time volunteering at the "Pullman Railroad Days" event at the Pullman National Historical Park National Historic Park to celebrate 100 years of electrified rail innovation. Congrats to the Friends of Pullman National Historical Park on a successful event!

Learning Dimensions founder, Monica Swope, is speaking at the Centering Black Children in Education annual conference "The Remix in '26" on August 7 and 8! It's virtual and free- register today through the link below ⬇️

Session Description: Grounded in the Everyday Daredevil philosophy, this session introduces "The Sovereignty Toolkit"-a stress-tested methodology that replaces survival-driven mindsets with high risk-tolerance and bold self-actualization. Attendees will step into an experiential masterclass designed to anchor young people so deeply in their own brilliance that institutional limitations lose all power.

https://mailinglist.sankofascholarship.com/cbce-conference

The Remix in '26 — CBCE Annual Conference 2026 The Remix in '26 — the 6th annual Centering Black Children in Education (CBCE) Conference, Aug 3–9, 2026. Remix education until it sounds like freedom.

Continue adding our Summer Read Staff Picks on your reading list! Our social media manager, Carmel Bumaa, recommends "That's Now How It Happened" by Craig Thomas. 📕

Genre: Comedy 😆

From the Emmy-nominated co-creator and Executive Producer of How I Met Your Mother, this funny story follows a family turned upside down after a major actress-turned-producer decides to make a movie version of their lives.

In honor of the late Dorothy A. Swope, Learning Dimensions celebrates her 82nd birthday. We support the mission and vision of the Dorothy A. Swope Foundation and as a proud partner, we’ve seen the impact the foundation has made in students’ academic paths.

Consider donating to the foundation on her special day: https://donorbox.org/dorothy-a-swope-foundation-1

Happy Birthday to the late Dorothy A. Swope! As a gifted teacher, she recognized the potential of the diverse students she taught throughout her tenure, especially those who came from highly challenged backgrounds. The Dorothy A. Swope Foundation honors the life and legacy of this master educator by financially supporting high achieving students and organizations that further the life-changing potential of education. 🕊️

🎁 We kindly ask for support towards the foundation. Dorothy would have been 82 years old this year, so an $82 donation to the foundation would be greatly appreciated. However in acknowledgment of her special day, we're thankful for any gift amount: https://donorbox.org/dorothy-a-swope-foundation-1

We have another Summer Reads Staff Pick from our consultant, Courtney Madl ! Add "The Letter Carrier" by Francesca Giannone to your list! 📖

Genre: Historical Fiction 🇮🇹

A bestselling novel in Italy, this has since been translated in English! A newcomer to a small town brings a gust of modernity, stirring up the passions and secrets of a community on the cusp of change.

Share your favorite reads below in the comments! ⬇️