Imagine Learning

Keeping students engaged with literacy over the summer can make a meaningful difference heading into a new school year. 🎒🙌

This summer, Utica Community Schools participated in Imagine Learning Language & Literacy’s Fill Your Backpack with Adventure program. One participating student completed 11+ literacy lessons and earned the program’s grand prize: a backpack filled with back-to-school essentials!

We loved seeing schools across the nation use engaging, goal-oriented literacy activities to keep learning going beyond the classroom this summer.

We’re delighted to collaborate with the AIM Institute for Learning & Research.

As states strengthen literacy requirements and districts work to translate the science of reading into effective classroom instruction, today’s educators are often navigating new legislative requirements and increasing expectations for student outcomes. 📈

To help meet these challenges, AIM will serve as a strategic advisor to Imagine Learning, providing literacy and research-to-practice expertise to inform our literacy solutions, professional learning, and resources so educators can implement evidence-based instruction with confidence.

Read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/4dhYZ1I

Young people aren't just the future. They're making a difference right now.

To support that impact, the Imagine Learning Foundation awarded $630,000 in 2026 Signature Grants to nine nonprofits, including organizations that help students serve their communities, build leadership skills, collaborate with others, and drive meaningful change through the new Learning Through Service funding priority.

Meet this year’s grant recipients and see the work they’re leading: https://bit.ly/4r2YKgJ

There's nothing more meaningful than hearing educators share their students' success stories. 🎙️💙

In this episode of Voices United in Education, April Mansfield and Michelle Skidmore, ESOL teachers at Scenic Heights Elementary in Escambia County Public Schools, reflect on their students' journey to winning the Imagine Learning Literacy Bowl and how Imagine Language & Literacy supports multilingual learners every day.

Their conversation explores the science of reading, language acquisition, student confidence, and the power of creating engaging literacy experiences for every learner.

Give it a listen at https://bit.ly/4qVO5o0

Ep 213 | National Champs in Literacy! Wait, WHAT? What if we told you that there was a nationwide contest for literacy and of the nearly 10,000 schools, Scenic Heights Elementary won FIRST place? And what if we tol…

Back-to-school season always brings the same student questions. ⤵️

What will I wear?
Will my friends be in my class?
Who will my teacher be?

Of those three, the last one has the greatest potential to shape a student's entire school year. 💙

As much as technology has integrated itself into today's classrooms, students and their families still look to the teacher — the human in the room — to set the tone. It won't be an AI tool or an algorithm that makes students feel seen, safe, and supported. That begins with the person standing in front of the classroom.

Before introducing new platforms, systems, or even AI-powered tools, there's an opportunity to establish something even more important: trust. 🤝 Because the strongest classroom communities aren't built through technology, they're built through intentional human connection.

Here are a few ways to help students feel known from day one:

🍎 Who Do You Think I Am? – Let students guess fun facts about you and reward the most accurate or creative answers.

🍎 Split the Room – Use simple prompts to reveal shared experiences and celebrate differences that make the classroom stronger.

🍎 Flashback – Show a photo of yourself at your students' age and invite them to share what makes their own generation unique.

At the heart of every activity is the same idea: The best thing you can give your students is your time and attention.

They may not remember every lesson you teach this year, but they'll remember that you took the time to know them, value them, and help them feel like they belonged.

As you plant the seeds for meaningful relationships this school year, remember that you don't have to do it alone. Whether it's professional learning, implementation support, or simply having a real person to help when questions arise, we're committed to supporting educators so they can focus on what matters most: helping every student thrive. 🎓🌠

At , Heart Work host Lauren Keeling led an incredibly compelling panel on the leadership moves that support scalable, research-aligned literacy change.

Featuring Emma Merrill, M.Ed., Director of EL Programming and Partnerships for NOLA Public Schools, along with Tia Massey and Katie Orr, Academic Support Coordinators for Valley Center Public Schools, USD 262, the session explored trust, positive intent, and the value of learning forward together. ❤️

Their discussion offered a powerful reminder: systems change is deeply human, heartfelt work, and even when it feels isolating, no educator is ever alone.

For more on literacy shifts and navigating instructional change, explore Heart Work: Rewriting a Literacy Crisis at https://bit.ly/4xtihZW

Congratulations to our Imagine Math Summer Math Splash winners! 🌊 Students kept their math skills sharp all summer long, passing lessons, building confidence, and making a splash in their learning.

Enjoy your solar-powered backpack filled with back-to-school essentials, and congratulations on riding the wave to success. We can't wait to see all you accomplish this school year! 🌴😄

National Hang Ten Grand Prize Winners: Lakeside Union School District, New York City Public Schools, Cadillac Area Public Schools, Lawrence Public Schools, Northwest ISD

We had a great time connecting with elementary educators at the NCTE-NCTM Joint Conference in Charlotte, NC. 🍎📚

From literacy to mathematics, conversations centered on helping students build strong foundational skills through meaningful, connected learning. We loved sharing ideas, learning alongside educators, and exploring how integrated instruction can support every learner's success.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and sessions!