We're deep into the back-to-school season, which means you're making your plans for the year - and as we do every spring and fall, we're bringing you a brand new expansion pack for your VariQuest® Design Center Software packed with new material to start this school year off right!

In this midst of the back-to-school shopping season, teachers, parents, and students alike are purchasing tools they will need to be successful in the coming school year. And using notebooks, folders, and pencil boxes, students will be filling the insides with useful knowledge and creative expressions which will lead them onto paths of success for later in life! So as you fill your teacher toolboxes for the upcoming school year, we've put together some extra inserts that will help everyone - My Logins and References Page Inserts for student notebooks or folders - in both English and Spanish. We know you're busy, so these are designed to be plug-and-play!

You can't escape reading about Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements and how they are changing the world every day. From self-driving cars to robotics to digital assistants and language processing tools, technology is quickly infiltrating every aspect of our lives that our minds used to control themselves. How long can you go without utilizing the technology to ease tasks in your day? "Hey Google, ______" And this means that our children and students are using the technology, too - and are probably better at it! Growing up with the instant gratification of using a search engine to find an answer and asking Alexa to play any song in the world, it's no wonder they're using the tools in their immediate toolbox to "learn" and get things in the quickest and easiest ways. BUT...what does that mean in terms of cultivating critical thinking in the classroom?

THERE (not their, or they're) is no way around it - homophones are tricky...and the English language is full of them!

What does a compliment cost? Nothing! When you give someone a compliment, not only are you making them feel better, you get a little happiness boost from the good deed as well. Teaching our students about spreading kindness is an invaluable life lesson, and this activity is an easy, fun way to do it!

Through the use of various digital tools that promote the process of visual learning, teachers are changing the way knowledge is conveyed to students. This type of learning makes the delivery of knowledge a truly fun and engaging experience for the learner. At VariQuest, we offer visual machine learning tools that are able to change the way your educational and learning environment operates.

When big feelings take over, it's tough to take a step back before exerting an emotional response to a perceived issue. As students learn and grow in their social-emotional development, the best help we can provide as educators is giving them the tools and tips necessary to work through these big feelings in a productive way. As adults, we have all heard the "count to 10" or "sleep on it" suggestions to prevent reacting irrationally when we're angry, but there are lots of coping mechanisms that are great calming techniques. And because many students are visual learners, and repetition is key for retention, we've got some visuals for you!

As educators, we know one of the more challenging times in a secondary-aged student's life can be preparing for adulthood after high school. This can be especially true for students with disabilities. To say that leaving a support system which feels safe and familiar is overwhelming and scary is an understatement. Fortunately, there are services available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that disabled students and their parents can continue to rely on to help with a smooth transition into postsecondary education or training, employment, and independent living. The Adult Transition Program (ATP) at Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn, IL serves a mission to do just that, and with the help of the VariQuest® Visual and Kinesthetic Learning Suite, their students with disabilities are learning valuable real-world skills, while building confidence, courage and spirit!

Regulating emotions is tough - for all of us. And understanding (and accepting) what's in and out of our control is a powerful tool to help. In our students, learning to control feelings is an important lesson that will guide them through decision-making, personal relationships, and cause-and-effect consequences - both now and throughout their lives. And because we at VariQuest want to continue to help you fill your teacher toolbox with valuable learning - and in this case, social-emotional learning - supports, we've designed this fun coloring activity as a picture diagram of recognizing things both in and out of an individual's control - to help with this learning process!

Spring is fast approaching, which means it's time for some fresh new content! We've launched a brand new expansion pack for your VariQuest® Design Center Software to make preparing for springtime classes and events less stressful and more colorful! What this update includes: With the Engage Every Learner® Content Spring 2023 Expansion Pack you will receive 25 poster and banner templates for the VariQuest Perfecta® Series Poster Design Systems, 20 templates and 5 collections for the Motiva® 400 Specialty Printing System, 10 shapes, one collection, and one new font for the Cutout Maker 1800 Digital Die-Cut System, and 65 new graphics for customizing Perfecta and Motiva templates! This new content includes templates centered around fundraising, teacher appreciation & recognition, and career & technical education. VariQuest customers can find this content expansion pack on the VariQuest Resource Center, under the “Downloadable Content” section of the Perfecta, Motiva and Cutout Maker tabs!