“You have to Maslow before you can Bloom.”

I heard this statement a few years ago and it has stuck with me. It often takes me back to my time as a first grade teacher. I was young, in my second year of teaching, and had a student in my class who would impact my view of education forever. Giovanni came to me as a first grader who, despite having attended Pre-K and Kindergarten, didn’t recognize the letter G. He would scream and cry and throw fits in the hallways, and my teammates felt sorry for me that I was his teacher (but were also glad they were not). The referral process for special education had been initiated.

Watch this special educator information session to learn more about the Slingshot Challenge for students ages 13–18, brought to you by our partners at National Geographic Society. This session is an opportunity for educators to receive an overview of the Slingshot Challenge basics, hear tips from educators who’ve participated in the challenge, and have questions answered. We also explore practical ways for educators to incorporate the Slingshot Challenge into their classrooms. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the Slingshot Challenge and how to empower your students to participate in this engaging initiative!