Nervous about the school year ahead? So are we. Here are 9 motivational (or just plain fun) songs to help you regroup, recenter and recover from drop-off.
education
Gen Alpha Slang 101: How Moms Can Understand Their Kids
From “unc” to “gucci,” our cheat sheet of 30 terms will help parents and teachers figure out what the children are saying.
This Founder Turned a Parenting Challenge Into a Thriving Language Business
Cindy Shapiro Tracy built World of Reading into a leading source for foreign language and ESOL materials, helping schools, families, and educators access resources in more than 100 languages.
Dedicated Teachers in NYC Spark Love of Reading In Bronx Bodegas
The familiar convenience stores in New York City are carrying free books along with their chips and candy.
This Pan-African Nonprofit Helps Girls Finish School — By the Millions
For decades, CAMFED has ensured that impoverished girls get to learn. The organization’s staying power comes in large part from the students it guided into womanhood.
Keeping Kenyan Schoolgirls on a Path to College and Careers
Dr. Maureen Adoyo wants more women to earn their degrees. To do that, she launched the Community Sustainable Hub to combat period poverty.
Her Edible Native Gardens Help Local Ecosystems Thrive
Kris Scheufele of Garden Harvest helps homeowners and schools install custom kitchen gardens with native herbs and vegetables.
She’s Teaching Kids Financial Literacy
Victoria Younan is the founder of Future Fortunes Academy, a company making flashcards for children that help them learn about money management.
She Offers First Aid Training That’s Adaptable to Any Setting
Helen Underwood launched her first aid training course to provide life-saving skills to people who work in all kinds of settings.
This Special Education Teacher Wants to Do What’s Right as State Rep
Longtime educator Janise Robinson is running to represent the Great Lakes State’s 28th House district.
She Created A Mentorship Program for Teen Girls
Cassie McDuffey provides educational activities and guidance for young women in the Jackson, Mississippi, area.
Her Business Helps Youngsters Learn French Avec Leurs Parents
Amy Maan is the founder of 123 Petit Pas, which offers engaging virtual French-language classes for children and parents to take together.
Historically Black Women’s College Receives $100 Million Gift
Longtime trustee Ronda Stryker has just gifted Spelman College the largest single HBCU donation in history.
She’s Helping Children Become Confident Readers Through Play
Jacquelyn Davis is the founder of Clever Noodle, a company selling a fun, learn-to-read tabletop game.
The Teacher Who Chose to Stay Behind
When Munireh’s father first received news of the Taliban takeover, he sent all the women in the family to Iran – but she refused to leave Afghanistan.
The Mobile App Developer Secretly Working Online
Parima hides the fact that she works remotely, as many of her neighbors in Afghanistan don’t believe women should have jobs.
The Founder of Afghanistan’s First All-Girls Coding School
Fereshteh Forough opened Afghanistan’s first coding school for girls and women – but the Taliban’s ban on education prevents students from learning in-person.
She’s Teaching Children the Real History of America
Amanda Spencer created The Radical Agenda when her sons’ school tried to ban lessons involving race and culture.
Taliban Bans Women From Higher Education
The newest restriction targeted at women sparks despair among female Afghan students, who have already been banned from secondary school classrooms.
Angelina Jolie: ‘We Should Still Be Outraged’ By Plight of Afghan Girls, Women
The actress speaks out against denying young women their right to an education – and the silence from other parts of the world.
Taylor Swift Joins NYU Graduates In Feeling ‘22’ During Commencement Speech
T. Swift shared life hacks, endearing quips and song lyrics with the Class of 2022.
Afghan Women Go to Work and Girls Learn in Secret Despite Taliban’s Tightening Rule
In a country ruled by men, women are finding pockets of hope and support.
![Malala Yousafzai's nonprofit, the Malala Fund, has been raising money for Afghan girls' education since 2017. [Credit: World Economic Forum // Flickr]](https://thestoryexchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/malala-yousafzai-afghan-women-525x350.jpg)
Malala Yousafzai Speaks Out About the Crisis for Women in Afghanistan
The Nobel Peace Prize winner is still undergoing surgery for the bullet wound she suffered at the hands of the Taliban 9 years ago.
She’s Helping a Generation of Ukrainian Youth Improve Their Spoken English
Katerina Manoff is the founder of ENGin, a service that pairs Ukrainian students with English-speaking peers for language development.
Revisiting ‘Instead of Building a Wall…’
Vice president Kamala Harris traveled to Guatemala and Mexico this week to better understand the migrant crisis. We’re re-releasing our 2019 podcast featuring Kate Curran, whose nonprofit gives families a reason to stay in Central America.
Kamala Harris, Laurene Powell Jobs Inspire College Grads During 2021 Commencement Speeches
An ugly year bred inspiring commencement speeches.
She’s a College Senior Who Isn’t Wasting Any Time Starting Her Own Business
Kathryn Carter is the founder of Uncapped Calligraphy and Designs where she makes everything from custom notebooks to decorations.
This ‘Gifted’ Founder Parlayed Her Talents into a Non-Traditional Tutoring Company
Caitlin Meister has carved out a successful business based on a niche market of upper-crust families, many of whom value an unconventional approach to learning.
She’s Teaching Math to Kids That Need It — Which Is All of Them
Angela McIver launched Trapezium Math Club to help boost kids’ math skills. In the U.S., children’s math scores lag far behind their international peers.
Disrupting the Stereotype of ‘Scholarship Kids’
Cindy Laba and Marsha Feinberg of Beacon Academy want kids from low-income backgrounds to thrive at the best private high schools.
Ep. 33: Instead of Building a Wall…
Lost in the politics of “build the wall” is how to help families in Central America. In this inspiring podcast, we talk to Kate Curran of Boston, whose School the World builds schoolhouses in Guatemala and Honduras.
Why a Jordanian Scientist Is on a Mission to Get Kids to Read for Pleasure
Rana Dajani has raised millions of dollars, trained thousands of volunteers, and worked with an estimated 100,000 kids to foster a love of reading.
There Wasn’t a Children’s Museum in Des Moines, So These Two Women Started One
Julie Burtnette and Laura Johnson founded the Des Moines Children’s Museum after seeing a need in their community.
She Wanted to Make Her Mark on The World – Now She’s Helping Other Women do The Same
Neetu Sharma has trained over 700 female teachers across India.
Building Schools and Futures in Central America
Boston’s Kate Curran started School the World to build schoolhouses and change the lives of children living in extreme poverty. It turns out she’s transforming the lives of privileged kids, too.
5 Crowdfunders to Watch – Back to School
These female money-raisers are working hard to educate others through their efforts and products.
A Dose of Inspiration from Malala Yousafzai
This young Pakistani activist and true force of nature guides us into the weekend with some motivational thoughts.
Opening the Eyes of High School Graduates
Through her social enterprise, Global Citizen Year, Abigail Falik hopes to train the next generation of leaders.
UNF Initiative Aims to Empower Young Women
The United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign hopes to reach “the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.”
Today’s Dose of Inspiration: Katharine Gibbs
“If education is to be any good, it must be good for something.” The pedagogical philosophy that drove Katharine Gibbs still applies today.
A Bootstrapping Entrepreneur Bets the Family Home
Adriana Rodriguez, an Austin mom of two, needed more cash flow after she launched a bilingual school.
ChinaSprout: Sowing the Seeds of Chinese Culture
An accidental entrepreneur grows a niche business close to her roots.
Entrepreneur Extraordinaire Arianna Huffington’s Role Model
Entrepreneur extraordinaire Arianna Huffington shares who inspires her to follow her dreams and be the woman she is today.
From Refugee Camp to Successful Entrepreneur
Nada Kiblawi was born in a refugee camp, lived through a few wars and finally found safe haven and economic independence as an entrepreneur in the U.S.