We welcome article queries and submissions. The best way to submit them is via e-mail: editorial@education.com.
We are looking for teachers! If you've ever wished you could put a bug in the ear of your student's parents, and you have some writing skills to back it up, then we'd love to hear from you.
We ask that you please send the text of your query or submission in plain text in the body of your e-mail, rather than as an attached file, as we may not be able to read the format of your file. Please put the words "EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS" in the subject line of the e-mail.
Before you submit, please spend some time familiarizing yourself with the style and tone of our site. Also, get a sense of what we publish. Then send a short pitch with an appropriate idea. No need to send a resume, but please do tell us a little bit about yourself -- your experience and background as a writer and qualifications for writing a particular story. We are particularly interested in hearing from teachers. If you have clips, paste them into the bottom of your email or supply Web addresses of pages that contain your work. No more than three or four, please!
We do our best to respond to all inquiries, but be aware that we've got a small staff and are sometimes inundated. If you have not heard back from us after three weeks, please assume that we will not be able to use your idea or submission.
Also please note that Education.com focuses on stories of interest to parents of preschool-grade 12 children. We do not cover college or infancy and will not be able to respond to such submissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with new writers?
Yes. Especially if they are teachers, or parents of children in this age group.
What type of content are you looking for?
Users depend on our site for answers to their most pressing parental issues, but also for ideas that make family life more fun. We cover topics across the parental spectrum—from how to make homemade finger-paint, to what parents should know about Obama's education plan, to navigating the parent-teacher conference. The site is comprised of educational and lifestyle content, of interest to parents of preschool-grade 12 children. Although the topics change, the editorial areas remain the same:
Homepage features: Short, often news-driven topics. 600-800 words. (Previous examples: "Obama on Education", "Is Autism on the Rise?", "Raising a Sensitive Child", "Kindergarten Readiness", "Are Learning Styles a Myth?")
Activities: Grade-specific project ideas with step-by-step directions, for parents to do with a child. These pieces contain a short intro paragraph, and then launch right into the directions. The best activities have some sort of learning benefit for the grade (for example, an activity might help a kindergartener practice writing) but they're so fun kids don't even realize they're learning. Activities are divided by grade and topic. Topics include: reading, math, writing, science, social studies, arts and crafts, and outdoors. (Previous examples: "Make a Rain Bag", "Decoupage Easter Eggs", "Bake Letter Cookies", "Plant Your Name with Seeds", "Teen Time Capsule")
Holiday Content: Articles, recipes, activities, and other content specifically geared towards parents looking for holiday ideas. From "The History of St. Patrick's Day" to "July 4th Pinwheels", "Four Ways to Use Leftover Easter Eggs" to "Throw a Heart-Healthy Valentine's Day Party", these article weave learning and fun in unusual ways. We are especially interested in craft project ideas.
Grade-Based Content: Education.com has a portal for each grade, meant to be a Cliff Notes of sorts for parents. Each portal features articles in 3 main areas: School and Academics (ex. "First Grade Reading: What Happen"), Social and Emotional (e. "Social Graces: What to Expect in First Grade"), and Milestones and Development (ex. "How a First Grader Thinks").
Any advice for writers?
The easiest place to break in is with activities-- we're always looking for projects families can do together.
We publish a lot of content. We're always looking for freelancers with great ideas, honed writing, and consistent dependability. Look at our site and make sure you have a sense of our style and tone. Then submit!
