IDEATE is an educational workshop concept focused on interactive, hands-on development. We founded IDEATE in the spring of 2024 to explore our mutual passion for lifelong learning and the many creative ways to enhance cognitive function and confidence in people of all ages.

Current Workshops

Introducing IDEATE MathCamp. Specifically targeted to middle school children preparing to learn algebra, our camp is based on the YouCubed® curriculum developed by Professor Jo Boaler and a team of cognitive scientists and educators at Stanford University. 

About Us

MEGAN MCNALLY ROBERTS

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, I spent five years at CapGemini Consulting specializing in financial services. The constant travel pushed me to pursue business school to pivot my career path. Since then, I've worked at Discover Card, Orbitz, Infospace, and Lou Malnati’s in marketing, strategy, operations, and data analytics. I've also taken on various independent consulting and passion projects.

I currently reside in Wilmette with my husband and three kids. I'm all about family, friends, good food, travel, and racquet sports. Coaching my kids’ teams, driving carpools, and cheering them on at their games are some of my favorite pastimes—well, most of the time! Always up for a challenge, I'm currently honing my dance moves in a tap class with Bethany and a fabulous group of women, despite my two left feet.

My love for math began in high school and continued through university, where I even tutored calculus. I've always enjoyed crunching numbers, and did so confidently . But becoming a parent opened my eyes to the struggles many kids face with math. Studies show that all it takes is one incident, one teacher or comments from a parent for kids to believe that they aren't good at math. After discovering Jo Boaler's work, I became determined to understand why so many lack confidence in math and how to help them.

As for my education, I have a BBA from the University of Notre Dame - Go Irish!, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

BETHANY WENNER CROCKER

I’ve always been a builder with an entrepreneurial spirit—focused on operational excellence, team development, strategic planning and data-driven insights. I was most recently the COO of the venture-funded children’s clothing company Monica + Andy, and prior to that was Director of Marketing for Vosges Haut-Chocolat and Abercrombie & Kent, in brand management for LVMH and Apple, and led advertising campaigns for Kraft Foods, American Express and Hallmark.

After navigating the hustle of New York City and downtown Chicago, I now call Chicago’s North Shore my home. Here, you'll find me amidst a bustling household—husband, three kids, a playful golden retriever, and a shy rescue cat. 

When I'm not chauffeuring to theater rehearsals or team practices, you might catch me fundraising or balancing the books for local non-profits, producing a community theater musical, learning Mahjong, playing tennis or elbow-deep in a garden project. Oh, and did I mention I'm also renovating a 160-year-old home? Because who doesn't love a challenge…

I joined Megan to co-found IDEATE because I’m passionate about learning - in school, in the workplace, amongst our community and throughout our lives. With IDEATE, we hope to bring new and different methods and opportunities to grow and stretch our brains (and our confidence). 

Education-wise, I'm a proud Commodore and Wildcat, with a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

FAQs

  • IDEATE’s Math Camp features Jo Boaler’s proven YouCubed® curriculum that promotes a hands-on approach to learning and encourages kids to develop a growth mindset. All kids can learn math at high levels - so it is important for them to understand that mistakes, struggle and persistence are all important elements to learning. This curriculum encourages kids to think creatively and understand concepts more deeply. It also is a camp version of hands-on math - so it will be fun and interactive!

  • IDEATE uses the YouCubed® Summer Camp curriculum which is designed to have kids of all levels of math work together. Kids who are not as confident in math (or who have lost their confidence) will gain deeper knowledge of foundational concepts and will learn the benefits of persistence and learning from mistakes.

  • Our camp curriculum from YouCubed® is truly designed to engage all levels of math achievement. The types of problems we will tackle in the camp are non-traditional; high achievers will benefit from the hands-on approach, creative thinking and the ability to fundamentally understand (and explain!) how and why a math concept works. We also encourage mistakes - so high achievers learn it’s ok to not be perfect.

  • Absolutely! Each week’s curriculum can stand alone, although they are complementary to one another if your child is interested in attending multiple weeks of the camp.

  • No problem! Additional dates are in the works, including flexible Pod Camps (see next FAQ). Please contact us at Megan.Ideate@gmail.com to discuss your needs.

  • Pods are small group learning opportunities for those who may want a more intimate learning environment or cannot to attend the camp dates set for this summer. A minimum of four students is required to create a pod, and for the best experience we recommend 3-5 sessions. Contact us for more information.

  • Each 3-hour day will very different from a school day. It will involve a number sense activity, outdoor games and movement, multiple group projects and of course, snacks!