Bestselling math author Danica McKellar has valuable communication tips from a career as a professional storyteller.

(NEXSTAR) — Are you smarter than a Texas fifth-grader taking the STAAR Test? As another new school year begins, it’s never a bad idea to know what the kids are learning — or how hard the lessons are.

Riddles‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ are one of the best ways to make learning interesting. They develop kids' curiosity, require creative thinking, and make for a great, fun activity to spend time with your kids.

Every mathematician has a story that goes something like this. You’re at a party, and someone asks what you do for a living. “I’m a mathematician,” you say. “You must be a genius!” they reply. Or ...