Get ready to level up your creativity! NYC’s annual Minecraft Education Challenge is back, inviting students to design innovative solutions for real-world problems—all while crafting their blocky masterpieces in the digital world. Learn what Battle of the Boroughs entails and how to participate in this article on SILive.com.

In this exciting episode of Classroom Dynamics, Dr. Jenny Nash expounds on how today's educators can build learner's confidence and foster 21st-century skills through hands-on learning. With her background as a former science teacher, educational specialist, and doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction, Dr. Nash has dedicated her career to empowering students and teachers through hands-on learning.


Listen on Spotify or search for "Classroom Dynamics: A Teacher Podcast" on your preferred platform.

It’s never too early to plan for summer! In collaboration with Portland Public Schools, winner of the 2024 New York Life Foundation Excellence in Summer Learning Award, learn how to build engaging, impactful programming in this new guide from LEGO^® Education. Inside you’ll get:

• A breakdown of Portland Public Schools' Summer Acceleration Academy
• Proven tips to kickstart your own award-winning summer learning program.
• A step-by-step checklist to help you plan and execute effectively.

Grab your copy today and get started. Spring you will be thankful!

With sessions, seminars, and swag galore, be sure to attend these upcoming conferences:

• Northeastern Regional Information Center Technology Awareness Day (NERIC Tech-A Day) - Dec 13th, Albany

"When students have to design, build, refine, code, debug, and work together to complete missions or innovate a design solution, they are not just acting as engineers, coders, designers, etc., they are actually fulfilling those roles."


JoEllen Schuleman
STEM Specialist & LEGO^® Education Ambassador
PS 199 Jesse Isidor Straus Elementary

Good news for NYC schools! The Education Department announced they’ll dodge midyear budget cuts, bringing a sigh of relief to principals and educators gearing up for the rest of the school year without financial surprises. Uncover the details in this Chalkbeat article.

Did you know students can code with Python using LEGO^® Education SPIKE^™ Prime? Help learners level up and build future-ready skills by introducing text-based coding within your computer science, CTE, or robotics programming. Visit our site to explore Python courses and sequences you can use.

As the weather gets colder in many parts of the world, some trees lose their leaves. It’s fun to rake a big pile of leaves and jump in. However, those leaves can also be a nuisance.


Can you create a robotic assistant to help collect or transport leaves? What features will you add to your creation to make this task easier and more efficient? Check out our latest design challenge and unleash your students' inner inventor!

Didn't get a chance to read last month's round up? Good thing we archived it for you!