Kyra Lane has had quite the journey with Youth Speak Out International. While she’s better known as Ms. K to the students that she teaches in afterschool programs across Palm Beach County, Kyra’s journey with Youth Speak Out started when she was a middle school student herself, sitting in a classroom at Roosevelt Middle School. At the time, she was in love with dance. “Nothing could get my mind off it,” Kyra said. “Until [Mr. King] […]

Many educators in today’s classrooms recognize the importance of creative learning. Whether it’s bringing the arts into academics or encouraging project-based learning, educators recognize that students need to develop a creative mindset in order to meet future challenges.  Technology and the digital world can be a great catalyst for creativity. While there is certainly a risk of passive technology-use, active technology-use encourages students to try new things and create. For example, in Youth Speak Out […]

It is always a good time to celebrate diversity. On Monday, many in the United States celebrated Indigenous People’s Day, and this weekend will mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. As we reflect on the diverse people who make up our communities, it is important to consider the role that the digital world plays in creating a more equal society.  According to the United Nations, access to the internet is a human right. Without […]

According to a recent survey by Afterschool Alliance, many students still lack access to quality afterschool programming. “There are 24 million students who are not enrolled in an afterschool program, but would be enrolled if a program were available to them,” the survey says. Black and Latino families are more likely to face barriers to enrolling their students. Supporting these families through these educational services is more important now than ever before. The main barrier […]

On this International Literacy Day, we’re celebrating the power of reading by recommending five children’s books about digital citizenship. These books teach children about issues like privacy, digital breadcrumbs, cyberbullying, and more. We hope that you’ll celebrate International Literacy Day with one of these delightful tales!  Mitzi and the Big Bad Nosy Wolf Ages 4-8 When a furry stranger named Rolf starts asking Mitzi questions about her name, where she lives, where her mom and […]