We're almost there! As December comes to a close and the countdown to 2026 begins, use this New Year's Eve to reflect on the learning, growth, and effort your child has shown all year long. For parents and children, this moment is about more than fireworks or resolutions; it is a rare and meaningful opportunity to pause and appreciate the hard work of every member of the family, especially students and young learners. Taking time to look back helps children recognize progress

In the rush of school schedules and extracurricular activities, finding simple ways to practice meaningful writing at home is yet another challenge to add to the list. This National Thank You Note Day , families have an opportunity to slow down and connect through the power of words. Writing a thank-you note is a low-pressure activity that helps children organize thoughts, express ideas clearly, and create with purpose. Best of all, it's something families can do together! To

Every student enters the classroom carrying a story. Their family traditions, cultural background, language, and lived experiences shape how they learn, communicate, and engage with the world around them. When students feel seen and respected by both teachers and peers, they are more willing to participate and take intellectual risks towards their academic betterment. Teachers and tutors who recognize what students bring with them are better able to use these roots as a found

In the month of December, families often find themselves balancing celebrations, travel plans, and end-of-year responsibilities. This exciting time can also be academically demanding for students, whose routines and disciplined efforts may begin to falter just as final projects, exams, and deadlines arrive. The good news? December doesn't have to mean a pause in effective learning. With the proper support and guidance, students can use the holiday season to bridge reflection

Every year on December 15, Bill of Rights Day honors the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. While the Bill of Rights can sound like a complex topic, its ideas encapsulate how freedom and fairness operate in everyday life , making it relevant to children and students of all ages. By understanding the Bill of Rights, students can build civics knowledge while strengthening their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and confidence in expressing ideas. The Bill

December 10 is Dewey Decimal System Day , celebrating one of the most useful and often overlooked organizational tools for helping readers find exactly what they're looking for at the library. In today's world of search bars and instant answers, learning the Dewey Decimal System can build children's independence, spark curiosity, and support learning and research skills across subjects, grade levels, and everyday life. What Is the Dewey Decimal System? (And Why Should Familie

The holiday season is often accompanied by the pressure to find the “perfect” gift for every child, but the best gifts don’t have to be expensive, flashy, or wasteful. In fact, some of the most meaningful presents for children are the ones that spark curiosity, strengthen skills, and offer lasting value. This Green Monday, we encourage families to mindfully consider gifts that nurture learning while staying kind to both the planet and your wallet. Choose Gifts That Grow With

Today is Small Business Saturday, a special moment for us to reflect on what it means to serve our community through the work we love most: teaching! As the co-founders of ILMS, here are just a few reasons we cherish being a small, locally-rooted education business: 1. The freedom to teach creatively. Owning and running ILMS allows us to design instruction that's flexible, innovative, and tailored to each student’s needs, strengths, and goals. Our tutors are able to follow cu

It's Thanksgiving Day! Today, the ILMS team would like to take a moment to reflect on the people, partnerships, and everyday victories that make our work worthwhile. Day after day, we are grateful not only for what we teach, but for what we learn from our incredible students and families. We’re thankful for our students. From the youngest writers learning to form sentences to high-schoolers studying for AP exams, our students show resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to g

National Game & Puzzle Week (November 23–29) arrives at the perfect time each year—just as families begin gathering together, settling into the rhythm of Thanksgiving break. For parents, it’s also a great reminder that learning doesn’t have to pause when school is out. In fact, some of the most meaningful learning happens around the kitchen table with a board game, a deck of cards, or a puzzle. At ILMS, we believe that play is a powerful teacher . Games are more than fun—they

With Thanksgiving less than a week away and Family Volunteer Day coming up tomorrow, it's the perfect time to show children that even the smallest hands can make a great impact. Elementary-aged children are naturally empathetic, curious, and eager to help. Through volunteering, they can develop problem-solving skills, practice responsibility, strengthen communication, and learn more about their community. All it takes is a little guidance. Here are five simple, age-appropria

Tomorrow is Future Teachers of America Day, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the early traits that signal your child's potential for teaching, and for leadership in general. As parents, noticing and nurturing these qualities can help children build confidence, empathy, and communication—skills at the heart of teaching and lifelong success. They Love Helping Others Learn Some children naturally enjoy breaking things down for others. Whether they’re explaining a puzzle, gui

Every year on November 15, I Love to Write Day invites students of all ages to slow down, pick up a pencil, and let their ideas take shape on a blank page. More than an academic skill, writing is a lifelong tool for self-expression, creativity, and confident communication. Whether your child already loves to write or needs a little encouragement, these small daily practices at home can make a big difference in how they see themselves as writers. Here are a few meaningful way

Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 9–15) celebrates innovation, creativity, and the courage to dream big —qualities we want every child to develop, whether they grow up to launch a company, manage a team, or lead a community movement . While "entrepreneurship" may sound like a skill for adults, the mindset behind it forms much earlier. Children are naturally curious risk-takers, and the right support from educators can empower them to think independently, take initiative,

This week is National Children's Book Week, and we’re celebrating the magic of stories to open new worlds for children. Founded in 1919, Children's Book Week celebrates the life-changing potential of books and literacy for our youngest minds. This year's slogan, "An Ocean of Stories," reminds us that every great story, like a wave, carries readers to new ideas and dreams . Every student—no matter their age—deserves to experience the joy, power, and growth of reading. 📚 Why

Today's children and teens are surrounded by more information than any generation before them. Through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more, students access news and information at lightning speed, but not everything they see online is true or helpful. This week (October 27 - 31) is Global Media and Information Literacy Week, and we're highlighting the importance of teaching young people to think critically about what they read, watch, and share. What Is Media and Information

Today is United Nations Day , an annual reminder that global progress depends on understanding one another! Education has always been at the heart of bridging divides across nations, and e very classroom, teacher, and student plays a role in building a more connected, compassionate world. Learning helps us see the world not as a set of borders, but as a web of connections. This United Nations Day, we celebrate how those connections begin in the classroom. 🗣️  Language: A Pa

For high school seniors, fall is about more than changing leaves and homecoming—it’s college application season . October marks a pivotal time as students prepare for the next phase of their lives. Between essays, recommendation letters, and looming deadlines, it’s easy for both students and parents to feel overwhelmed, but this season doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right plan, encouragement, and mindset, students can turn the application process into an empowering jo

This week, October 13-17, marked National School Lunch Week , a perfect time to pause and consider an important—but sometimes overlooked—factor in children’s academic success: nutrition. Strong minds need strong fuel, and what students eat (or don't eat) can have a profound effect on their focus, memory, mood, and overall ability to learn. Breakfast: The Brain’s First Boost A nutritious day begins with breakfast. Students who eat breakfast regularly demonstrate improved memor

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day ! Observed on the second Monday of October, this day honors the resilience, cultures, and contributions of Native and Indigenous communities. For students and educators alike, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a call to think critically, confront the stories that have too often gone unquestioned, and reimagine how we understand American history. A Brief History of Indigenous Peoples’ Day The origins of Indigenou