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Educators: Study Habits Improve with Parental Involvement

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Life-long Learning Requires Tools for Longevity, Not Cramming

APEX, N.C., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Two big transitions for school-age children are moving from elementary to middle school and middle to high school. Often these moves are accompanied by the realization that academic expectations are different.

Gone are the days of rote memorization. Studying now is a very personalized experience and one that can be enhanced through parent involvement. With the school year starting soon, parents have a natural opportunity to get involved in their child’s progress.

Is your child someone who thrives on peace and quiet or works best with a little background music? Was the lesson they learned taught by a teacher or was it self-guided? Do they lean on memorization skills then wonder why they cannot remember the information a few weeks later?

The act of studying has changed over the years as teachers work to improve the success rates of their students. At Peak Charter Academy in Apex, North Carolina, students are guided by leaders and teachers who focus on whole child learning and parental partnerships. It’s one reason they’ve outperformed the local district since opening in 2017.

Peak Principal Kacey Gorman has spent 11 years teaching students and guiding their learning process as teacher, dean, and now principal. She believes parental involvement, whether it be just in the initial direction of studying, or the daily guidance of it, is vitally important.

“Many of our parents still have the perception that just cramming the night before and trying to memorize everything can take the place of actually knowing something,” Gorman said. “It’s important to work with the parents to provide them with the skills so they can work with their kids over time and see the difference.”

Ready to enroll your student? National Heritage Academies operates 100 schools in nine states. Use our school finder to locate one near you: NHA School Finder.

While memorization is still an important element of learning, it’s not the long-term solution for life-long learning, she said.

“Can kids memorize something to ace a test? Absolutely, they can go in and do it, but typically, when you focus on just memorization, a week later you’re not going to be able to recall much of that information,” Gorman said. “You’re compartmentalizing it for a short amount of time instead of internalizing what you are truly trying to learn.”

For Peak Charter Academy Dean Savannah Angel, these lessons played out in real life. Angel is starting her first year as a dean after earning NHA’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the 2022-23 school year. She has taught for eight years and has been with Peak since its opening.

“I was the kid who could just sit there and absorb in class and not have to study,” Angel said. “I didn’t develop study skills until it was almost too late. I was in college and struggling because I didn’t home in on those skills earlier. I use that in parent-teacher conferences to talk about how important study skills are, how this is the time to make those mistakes to form those healthy habits, because it’s so much easier to do now and take those long-lasting skills into higher education.”

The challenge is everyone may need something different when they study. Angel said increased interaction at home can help guide that process of understanding.

“Have conversations at the dinner table about what your child is learning,” Angel said. “Have them tell you more about what they’re learning and why they think they’re learning it. How can they apply it? We talk about the CER method in science (Claim – Evidence – Reasoning). That can be applied at home. Say the student wants a cell phone, the parent can say ‘give me a claim, evidence and a reasoning for it.’ That helps the child understand there needs to be reasoning behind the information.”

Peak Charter Academy Dean Savannah Angel:
“Learning isn’t memorizing and regurgitating, it needs to be understanding and applying.”

If a student is struggling with vocabulary, Angel said reading just about anything can help improve that, whether it’s street signs or the back of a cereal box. Modeling is also a very effective way to inspire your child to learn and study. If they see their parents reading, it shows them the importance and value of that activity, so they’re more apt to pick up a book. Parents can model that CER method with their children as well.

“Just doing drills over and over again isn’t fun for anyone. Learning isn’t memorizing and regurgitating, it needs to be understanding and applying. I think switching that mentality of drilling them with flash cards until everyone is in tears at the dinner table is important. No one is going to benefit from that.”

There are clues to look for if you think your child is struggling with how to study, Gorman said. When you start to notice these indications, reach out to your child’s teacher to develop a plan.

“If you see that they’re not studying at all, and this is a kid who is making A’s and all the sudden is failing, what’s happening? It’s trial and error to some extent, and that’s one thing that I do mention to parents – sometimes you just have to try it and get a sense of how well they did with it. Start with that quiet study. See how it works. Watch your child’s body language and be mindful of their attentiveness and that environment.”

You may need to move in a different direction after that. Some children benefit from associating information with other things, such as word puzzles, pictures, or songs. Others need to absorb information in smaller bits with frequent breaks in-between. Regardless of the technique, Angel knows parents can make a difference.

“When parents are involved in the learning process, so many good things happen. It’s building that rapport with parents so learning doesn’t just stop once they leave the building. We give them the tools to help them at home.”

Want to learn more about how NHA supports teachers and students to achieve at National Heritage Academies partner-schools? Visit nhaschools.com.

ABOUT PEAK CHARTER ACADEMY and NHA:
Peak Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Apex, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 68,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.

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SOURCE National Heritage Academies

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Breaking Boundaries: EcoFlow Unveils RIVER Gen4 and PowerRock 4000 at IFA 2026

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September 4, 2026

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From a power station that fits in a backpack to grid-level power on a building site – with the OCEAN 2 and STREAM home systems alongside them at Hall 2.2, Booth 166.

BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EcoFlow unveiled two new products at IFA 2026 in Berlin today: the RIVER Gen4 portable power station series and the PowerRock 4000 industrial portable power station. Both are on show at Hall 2.2, Booth 166 from 4 to 8 September, alongside the OCEAN 2 three-phase home storage system and the STREAM home battery series, under the theme “Breaking Boundaries. The Future of Smart Energy Starts Now”.

Together they stretch the range in two directions at once: down into ultra-compact portable power, and out into professional work where mains electricity is missing, delayed or simply impractical.

“For most people, energy is still something you go to – a socket, a meter, a grid connection. We think it should work the other way round. Whether it’s a weekend away, a building site with no supply, or a household trying to use more of the solar it already generates, everything we’re showing at IFA is built on the same idea: power that follows the people who need it.” said Bruce Wang, Founder and CEO of EcoFlow.

RIVER Gen4: Smallest in Its Class. Outsized Performance.

A portable power station should be truly portable. EcoFlow RIVER Gen4 delivers practical, dependable energy in a smaller, lighter form – bringing the portable power station back to its essence: less to carry, more power to use.

RIVER Gen4 comes in two sizes. RIVER 260 Gen4 offers 256 Wh of capacity, 300 W of AC output and up to 600 W with X-Boost for selected devices, all at approximately 3.0 kg – built for day trips and everyday mobile use. RIVER 520 Gen4 provides 512 Wh, 500 W of AC output and up to 1000 W with X-Boost, while approximately 4.6 kg, for overnight trips, more devices and light home backup. Both models also support UPS functionality with a switchover time of under 10 ms, helping keep essential devices running during unexpected outages.

Built on EcoFlow’s new exclusive compact architecture, RIVER Gen4 reduces wasted space inside and out. At comparable capacities, RIVER 260 Gen4 is approximately 29.7 per cent smaller and 16.9 per cent lighter than RIVER 3, while RIVER 520 Gen4 is approximately 59.1 per cent smaller and 23.5 per cent lighter than RIVER 2 Max.**** Easier to pack, easier to carry, and more likely to come along, because true portability begins with a smaller footprint and lighter weight.

A smaller footprint doesn’t mean compromising on the runtime that matters. RIVER Gen4’s active idle power is approximately 30 per cent lower than the industry average,**** and optimises power delivery for devices drawing under 100 W, so more of every watt-hour reaches camping lights, routers, fans and compact refrigerators rather than being spent running the unit itself. Low idle drain and smart auto-shutdown cut further waste when connected devices stop drawing power. Even when the display reaches 0 per cent, the industry-first* Emergency Power Mode safely extends the usable discharge range, keeping essential calls, messages and navigation within reach. And under controlled storage conditions a fully charged unit retains approximately 99 per cent state of charge after a year, so it is ready whenever it is needed.

Recharging is just as fast and flexible. Driven by X-Stream 4.0 with active thermal management, RIVER 260 Gen4 reaches 80 per cent in 42 minutes and RIVER 520 Gen4 in 50 minutes. A coffee stop is enough to recover most of the battery. Beyond AC charging, one high-power 140 W bidirectional USB-C port provides an all-in-one charging solution for DC wall, solar and car charging through compatible adapters. Paired with the EcoFlow 60 W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel, RIVER Gen4 Series forms one of the smallest and lightest solar generator setups on the market,**** making off-grid power easier to pack and carry.

Ports are not sacrificed to size: RIVER 260 Gen4 carries five outputs and RIVER 520 Gen4 six, with fast charging on every USB-C port, so phones, cameras and laptops can charge together while the AC outlets run lights, a router or a portable fridge. Refrigerator Runtime Mode adapts power delivery to refrigerator loads to extend cooling time during a home outage, and operating noise stays below 30 dB under a 200 W load – quiet enough for a tent, a desk or a bedside. LFP cells and more than 40+ BMS protection features cover charging, discharging and everyday use.

PowerRock 4000: grid-level power for professional jobsites

EcoFlow PowerRock 4000 is an industrial portable power station designed for professional applications, including construction, events, film production and emergency response. It delivers 4 kW continuously and 7.2 kW for up to 100 seconds, drawing on a 3 kWh battery.

The problem it solves will be familiar to any European contractor. Temporary site power means a permit and an electrician, and a wait measured in weeks. Combustion generators are restricted in dense urban areas, unsafe indoors and out of the question below ground. PowerRock 4000 needs neither, and it travels to work instead of the work being routed back to it.

PowerRock 4000 features an industry-first* built-in residual current device, with 30 mA leakage detection and cut-off in under 300 ms, so European sites need no separate inline RCD modules. The housing is all-metal and IP65-rated, wrapped in a reinforced roll cage, and survives a 1 m drop. The net weight is 38 kg.

AC charging reaches 80 per cent in 48 minutes and a full charge in 60 minutes, while an alternator top-up turns the drive between jobs into charging time. PowerRock 4000 carries a three-year warranty and will officially launch across Europe on September 4, 2026. From November 2026, it will also be progressively rolled out through professional electrical, hardware, building materials, and tool distributors across Europe.

OCEAN 2: three-phase home storage on display

OCEAN 2, EcoFlow’s three-phase solar and storage system for homes, is also on the booth. It launched across Europe in March 2026, pulling PV generation, storage, whole-home backup and energy management into one system – and it stays compatible with the previous EcoFlow generation, so existing owners can expand rather than start again.

Five power classes are available: 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 kW. Three independent MPP trackers handle up to 24 kW of PV input, and a start voltage of 120 V brings generation forward on awkward roof layouts. Backup is built in at 63 A for the whole house, switching over in 0 ms** with no separate backup box to install. For longer outages, the system works with ATS-capable generators and third-party inverters.

Capacity scales to twelve battery modules per inverter, available in 5 kWh and 8 kWh sizes. Both sizes support a discharge rate of up to 0.8C*****. The 8 kWh module is on display at the booth. The system is IP66-rated and built with 10 layers of battery safety protection. Installers commission it through the EcoFlow Pro App, which configures the system in around three minutes.

Running all of it is EcoFlow OASIS 3.0, which reads a household’s own energy profile and decides when to store, when to draw and when to lean on the grid. It works with more than 1,000 energy providers across Europe and uses solar forecasts accurate to up to 90 per cent, with Cloud API and Modbus available for integration. Together, OASIS 3.0 and solar storage can cut a household’s electricity costs by up to 77.6 per cent.***

OCEAN 2 is sold through the EcoFlow partner network.

STREAM Series on display

The STREAM home battery series, launched across Europe in June 2026, shares the booth with the new products. STREAM AC 5000, winner of the home&smart Innovation Award, retrofits storage to solar that is already on the roof and is built to absorb the higher feed-in power those systems produce. A qualified electrical contractor handles the installation.

From October, the series gains Local Mode. If the internet drops out, a STREAM system simply carries on: it keeps running, and the app keeps controlling it, with no cloud in the loop. There is nothing to set up and nothing to configure, which is what separates Local Mode from the Local API, a tool aimed at users who are comfortable in the technical detail.

Notes on claims

*Industry-first claims reflect EcoFlow’s assessment of comparable products available on the market at the time of publication, based on publicly available product information.

** The 0 ms switchover applies under defined conditions: compliance with local grid regulations and an open-circuit state in the public electricity grid.

*** Savings of up to 77.6 per cent are based on EcoFlow’s own calculation models and assumptions. Actual savings depend on household consumption, system configuration, electricity tariff and market.

**** Size, weight and idle power comparisons, and class positioning, are based on EcoFlow’s own measurements and on selected comparable products available on the market at the time of publication.

*****Discharge rate of up to 0.8C measured in a laboratory environment at 25 °C ambient and device temperature. At this power, discharge time is no more than 30 minutes for the OCEAN 2 LFP 8 kWh module and 20 minutes for the OCEAN 2 LFP 5 kWh module.

EcoFlow at IFA 2026

EcoFlow is exhibiting at IFA 2026 in Hall 2.2, Booth 166, at Messe Berlin from 4 to 8 September 2026. Media briefings, interviews and guided booth tours can be arranged via the contact below.

More information: https://www.ecoflow.com/de/ifa-2026

About EcoFlow

EcoFlow is a global pioneer in eco-friendly energy solutions, driving the transition toward smarter, cleaner and more independent power. Founded in 2017, EcoFlow is No. 1 in smart home energy storage solutions, empowering millions of users to take control of their energy at home and beyond. With operational headquarters in Seattle, Düsseldorf, Irvine, Tokyo and Birmingham, and a business and data center in Singapore, EcoFlow operates as a global ecosystem spanning research, operations, and manufacturing. Its innovative technologies serve over 6 million users across 140 markets and redefine how the world takes control of its energy.

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UGREEN unveils new MagFlow lineup at IFA 2026 with world’s first micro-pump liquid-cooled Qi2 25W magnetic power bank

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September 4, 2026

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Advanced thermal management takes on heat in Qi2 25W charging

LONDON, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UGREEN will unveil its new MagFlow lineup later today at IFA 2026, led by the world’s first Qi2 25W magnetic power bank with active micro-pump liquid cooling.

Moving from 15W to Qi2 25W raises charging power nearly 70%, along with thermal demands. The lineup tackles a key challenge in wireless charging: heat. Heat buildup can trigger throttling, slow charging and affect battery health. UGREEN combines active cooling with passive heat-dissipation structures to help manage heat.

MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W

The flagship features UGREEN’s CryoPulse™ micro-pump liquid cooling. Widely used in high-performance systems, liquid cooling comes to a power bank for the first time. Micro-pump liquid cooling, VC copper heat-spreading foil and separated charging components help reduce heat buildup, while ThermalGuard™ adjusts power automatically and a transparent window shows coolant circulation. UGREEN testing shows iPhone 17 Pro Max peak temperature up to 10°C below a 48°C industry reference.

It supports Qi2 25W wireless charging and 45W max wired output via a built-in cable. UGREEN reports iPhone 17 Pro Max reaching 50% in 40 minutes wirelessly. ATL high-density cells with Dymondcell™2.0 protection enhance safety, while a smart display shows real-time charging status.

MagFlow Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand 25W

Built for desks and bedside tables, the stand charges iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously. Its TEC Active Cooling System combines a TEC module with an ultra-quiet fan rated at 15dB or below. With cooling enabled, UGREEN testing recorded the magnetic surface center at approximately 11°C.

It delivers up to 25W to iPhone and full-speed Apple Watch charging through an MFW-certified module. UGREEN reports 50% charge in 26 minutes for iPhone 17 Pro Max and 19 minutes for Apple Watch Series 11. A display shows power, temperature and cooling mode.

MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 25W

The foldable charger measures 60 × 72 × 27mm when closed, fitting into a pocket or bag. Open, it delivers up to 25W to iPhone and 5W to AirPods simultaneously, with ThermalGuard™ regulating heat. A wider anti-slip earbuds pad simplifies placement, while cool-touch glass surface improves comfort.

The lineup goes on sale Sept. 4 across Europe. MSRP is €119.99 / £109.99 for the power bank, €139.99 / £119.99 for the 3-in-1 stand, and €49.99 / £43.99 for the 2-in-1 charger.

For the first time, UGREEN will exhibit across two halls at IFA 2026: H3.2-153 for Communication & Connectivity and H2.2-135 for Smart Home. Under its “Smarter Living Starts Here” theme, UGREEN will showcase an expanding portfolio across both categories. As an IFA 2026 Charging Partner, it will provide complimentary charging at designated rest areas.

About UGREEN

UGREEN is a leading global tech brand creating innovative products that make everyday life smarter, easier, and more connected. From smart charging and productivity to smart storage and AIoT, UGREEN designs technology around the needs of modern life.

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Wonderful Raises $550 Million Series C to Scale the AI Operating System for the Enterprise

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58 minutes ago

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September 4, 2026

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Funding will accelerate product development and global deployment of the Wonderful AI OS, as enterprises move from isolated AI use cases to organization-wide transformation.

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wonderful, the AI OS for the enterprise, announced the closing of a $550 million Series C funding round at a $5B valuation. The round was led by Insight Partners, with participation from Salesforce and existing investors Index Ventures, IVP, Vine Ventures, 9Yards, and Bessemer Venture Partners.

Since its Series B in March 2026, Wonderful has expanded its operations to more than 35 markets, grown to 650 employees worldwide, and evolved its platform into a full AI operating system. Customers are now using the Wonderful AI OS to automate end-to-end workflows, build and deploy AI-native applications, and coordinate agents across every part of the enterprise. The funding will accelerate product development, expand Wonderful’s global deployment teams, and support growing enterprise demand for the AI OS.

“We’re entering a new era of enterprise transformation,” said Bar Winkler, CEO and co-founder of Wonderful. “Just as cloud platforms became the foundation of the modern enterprise, AI operating systems will become the foundation of every enterprise. Our customers are already proving that once AI reaches production in one part of the business, it quickly expands across the enterprise. Without a shared operating system, AI risks recreating the sprawl of traditional SaaS. Organizations need a shared AI foundation that compounds in value as more of the enterprise relies on it, and that’s exactly what we’re building. This funding allows us to help more enterprises make that transition.”

The Wonderful AI OS is the shared operating layer that coordinates agents, workflows, AI-native applications, enterprise context, integrations, and governed execution across the organization. It’s open, model-agnostic and compatible with existing technology stacks, allowing enterprises to adopt new models and capabilities as the industry evolves, without continually rebuilding their stack or becoming dependent on a single provider. Enterprise context, integrations, governance, and reusable capabilities accumulate over time, making every new deployment faster and better governed than the last.

The AI OS includes a suite of key products: managed workflows that automate complex end-to-end processes; productivity agents that support employees and improve decision-making; AI-native applications that complement or replace legacy software; and conversational agents that help enterprises serve and grow customers. Products can be deployed independently or combined within the same workflow, with shared governance, security, and orchestration across the platform.

“We designed the AI OS to be modular and open because enterprises shouldn’t have to replace everything they already have to become AI-native,” said Roey Lalazar, CTO and Co-founder of Wonderful. “Customers can adopt whichever parts of the platform make the most sense, integrate them with existing systems, choose the best models for each workload, and retain ownership of everything they build. That openness preserves our customers’ optionality, while keeping us accountable to stay at the frontier.”

Wonderful’s forward-deployed engineers work alongside customers to bring their first use case into production, then transfer knowledge and capability so enterprises can increasingly build, expand, and operate the platform independently. The AI OS can be deployed across any cloud environment, including on-premise, giving organizations maximum flexibility to adopt AI within their existing security and governance requirements.

“Wonderful is pursuing one of the largest opportunities in enterprise AI,” said Jeff Horing, Co-founder and Managing Director of Insight Partners. “Many companies are applying AI to individual departments or use cases. Wonderful is building the operating layer that allows enterprises to scale AI across the entire organization. We’ve watched the team execute on that vision, across dozens of markets, with highly successful early deployments to production at some of the world’s largest enterprises. We’re excited to continue supporting the company in its next phase of growth.”

About Wonderful

Wonderful helps large enterprises become AI-native, unlocking their full potential. The company offers the only AI OS purpose-built for the entire enterprise, allowing organizations to automate and improve work, modernize their tech stack, and serve and grow their customers. Forward-deployed engineering pods co-build alongside customer teams in every market, getting AI into production fast and transferring capability so enterprises can increasingly build on the platform themselves. Founded in 2025, Wonderful operates across 35+ markets around the world, works with enterprise customers across verticals, and is backed by leading investors Index Ventures, Insight Partners, IVP, Vine Ventures, 9Yards, Salesforce, and Bessemer Venture Partners. See more at www.wonderful.ai.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2025, the firm has over $90B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 900 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has a global presence with leadership in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

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SOURCE Wonderful

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