For many students, graduation is a rite of passage. It is an experience akin to prom, or getting married— something you’re supposed to do. But there’s another subset of this population. That is the one that focuses on creating generational change. That is to say, first generation graduates. This expression refers to individuals that are the first in their families to graduate. Whether it be from high school or college, there is something meaningful about changing what had come in the past. There is something beautiful about this change. What are the statistical differences? Some say once you get in, you’re set. But that is not entirely true. For first generation college students, there are statistics that suggest getting to the point of graduation is the hardest part! A 2016 study found that about 60% of college students 6 years after entering college did not obtain their secondary degree. The same study found that students who are first generation tend to use necessary offered resources like financial aid more, however resources that focused on well being, like counseling, were used less. This indicates that first gen students may not be clued into the opportunities to support a healthy lifestyle with coping mechanisms in college. Beautiful positive facts First generation students may experience unique challenges that are difficult to hear about. However, the experience is poignant for that fact alone. Some key points to remember for first generation college students includes increasing support for this demographic. 73% of colleges and universities have a formal definition of this cohort. This means institutional recognition of the unique struggles for first generation students. This results in experiences such as experience-based cohorts that share resources through shared identity. Further, this leaves space for programmatic efforts that tackle the same issues as mentioned above— mental and social health. Overall, the percentage, some ⅓- ½ of all college students today are first generation, and their experiences increasingly significant and recognized.
It’s May! Are you feeling like, “Change is overwhelming me.. How do I handle it?” Welcome to the season where school ends, and summertime looms. Standardized exams are impending; final exams, and assignments are being disbursed. Therefore, for many, there’s a lot that changes in this time, so it can be important to think about how to handle changes. Find humor in changes. Actually, there are a lot of biological benefits to finding the sweet, funny spot in changes. Those lovely endorphins are released and we are able to do affiliative bonding, or strengthen social bonds, with others surrounding us. This helps us cope. Find the meaning in the fear. It’s easy to fear new changes like going to a new grade. Or getting a certain grade in a class. But if you take some time to think about why you might be feeling the way you do— relating it to a desire to perform well, or please others, or be a good student— you might be able to reduce the pressure on yourself. As such, you might be able to think of other ways you can fulfill these identity roles. Does being a good student just mean getting good grades? Or does it mean that you tried your best to study? Fearing change is a sign from our emotions that something is up, and deserves to be looked into. Thinking about why we have fear helps us reduce it. Plan ways to take change in stride. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of change, you can act in ways to mitigate that feeling of being overwhelmed. Make small plans to keep a sphere of control. Additionally, ask for help and advice from people in your life that have been through the same situation before. Lastly, try to find organization in your schedule so that you can handle changes like a new school year or a new entire school, one step at a time.
FOCUS- is an increasingly valuable and scarce resource. Despite being a “self-generated” behavior, there are many variables that impact the focus that an individual may have. Before getting into the tactical details, we first must understand what tasks look like in our minds. Our brains must use “task sets” in order to focus. What does this mean and look like? Well, in simple terms, our brain simplifies what it means to have a set of knowledge and skills to complete a task. We make mental assessments of the needed amount of knowledge to complete a task, versus the knowledge we have. Then, we analyze the needed amount of skill and compare it to our own. Based on these quick calculations, we then decide how much effort a task will require. Finally, we base our approach to handling a task by this calculation— will we be able to get it done with our skills and knowledge? In order to harness this knowledge for productive good, we should consider making space and time for tasks. In computer science there is a rule called the 90/90 rule. This rule cheekily suggests that it takes 90% of the effort to get 90% of work completed. Then another 90% of effort to finish the 10% of the task. Ultimately meaning there’s always more work than anticipated! We will always require more time for big tasks. Making time in your calendar to focus is very important to consider. You want to be sure of your own ability to gather resources and relevant information to make the most of your brain!!
Studying nowadays seems nearly impossible. With all that’s going on in the world, there doesn’t seem to be an opportunity for good mental rest and reset that we all really need. Sometimes, it can even be harder to focus! Some studies even suggest that having too many distractions can even affect our senses! When our minds are focused on one or multiple tasks, less mental energy can be focused on more acute senses like smell, taste, and hearing. That’s why sometimes you can’t hear a parent calling when you’re playing video games or reading a book. So, what are some great science backed ways to make sure you’re focused? You might hate to hear it, but reducing phone use is a great way to start off being less distracted. Some studies suggest that the average person looks at their phone once every 12 minutes. That’s a lot of mental distraction! Charge your phone outside of your room. Make the screen black and white to reduce addiction. Delete applications off your phone. All of these strategies will give you a better experience with your mind. Clear your setting of distracting words. Before embarking on a long study or focus period, try to clear your mind by writing down any anxious thoughts. Write in a journal before. Or, if you want to listen to music while focusing, make sure it doesn’t have any words that could also be distracting and reduce your ability to focus. Exercise. How will exercise help you focus? While this may not be an “in the moment” trick, it certainly is a long term habit that will make focusing easier. Exercise is known to boost dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels which all affect focus and attention. But! A twist to the exercise is always good for you adage is to exercise at the study table. How do you do this? Get a standing desk. Or change up the chair you use to sit and study. Read notes while pacing. All of these gets the blood pumping and can help improve concentration. Take a break! This is another potentially counter intuitive one, but sometimes, your brain just needs a little reset to be able to get back into the concentration game!
Holistic Approaches Marketing often suggests that academic institutions value quantitative assessments such as GPA and standardized exam scores. These are considered predictors for success in students. But, applicants widely understand that holistic forms of evaluation are valid for candidates in applications. So, how can we account for these differences? What should universities consider when it comes to performance in school and how we can accept students? Essay Content Can Indicate SES In a Stanford study of 60,000 undergraduate applications to the University of Southern California, content written in the personal statements/ essays of applicants were better predictors of socioeconomic status and influence than SAT scores. That might seem obvious. The SAT has recently gone under fire for being a predictor of wealth, more so than a predictor of competence. The study further demonstrated that essays with more content on “human nature” and “seeking answers” tended to be written by applicants with higher reported SES statuses. In contrast, essays with more content about “time management” and family relationships tended to be written by students with lower SES statuses. This correlation shows that certain essay topics may be the framework for recruiting students from a range of backgrounds. Some colleges and universities have begun to account for this impact and consider it in assessing college applications. A Personal Approach to Success A metaanalysis of research papers studied the relationship between socioeconomic status and success in college. They summarized some remarkable learnings. For example, research suggests the importance of social support in success for Latino students such as believing in one’s ability to perform in college. More specifically, believing in one’s capacity as a learner, being excited about learning, and feeling cared about as a student and a person. Many papers suggest that historically underrepresented students, or those from low SES, encounter challenges when they get to college. These make it difficult for them to take advantage of their school’s resources for learning and personal development. This challenge begins when applying for colleges, as students self-select in and out of opportunities they may not feel adequate for, even though their holistic applications may suggest otherwise. How College Can Influence Your Future The topic of socioeconomic status and how it influences applications is very important. SES impacts beyond college itself. Over the course of an individual college graduate’s lifetime, some studies suggest, they will make 1 million dollars more than an individual who has not graduated from college.
Distilling your whole identity in one short statement is certainly a herculean task. How can you get to all the depths of who you are and what makes you worth admissions to a college or program in so many words? Writing a personal statement isn’t easy, but there are ways to break down the complexities of the process and of your own story to help you craft the best personal statement. In this blog, we will break down the process in several parts. Know Thyself Don’t be afraid to take some time to write in some diaries. Reflect on your achievements, and on your worst days. Reflect on the subjects you love, the people you love, and the experiences you love. A personal statement should be reflective of what the title suggests, PERSONAL. Being able to express a clear version of who you are into your writing means you can have the ability to make yourself irreplaceable to the admissions committee. How much can you share in your personal statements? As long as it feels relevant and honest, feel free to make your essay personal. Know About the School/ Program Don’t tell the admissions committee what you think they want to hear, because that can often come off as trite and cheesy. You want to make sure you’re as specific as possible when making applications. Ask yourself, how can I contribute to this school? Is there a particular program the school offers that your experiences would relate to? Use the language, the titles of professors, and all the specific details you know about the program and school in your statement. This helps admissions connect your story with theirs. Add Spunk Are you someone that likes to make jokes? Do you get teased for being grammar obsessed? Or do you like poetry? Rhyming? Arguing? This is what you want to sprinkle into your essay. Add elements of flavor and spunk, or even uniquely well-written language and grammar, into your writing, and you’ll add one more detail that makes you memorable. Draft While surely you will craft a spirited, engaging personal statement by following those tips above, the most useful tip will be to ensure you write not, not two, but multiple drafts. Have a select number of individuals that you love in your life read through the personal statement and address if they feel it’s the most reflective of who you are. Ask them to check for grammatical errors and flow. But, make sure you feel it’s most reflective of who you are and the story you want to tell. Multiple drafts will help you in this process.
The end of February marks the time to start thinking about those AP exams, and other major exams like the SATs in general. In this month’s blog post, let’s check out strategies to effectively calendar and create a study schedule that works for you! Here are 4 considerations. Don’t just study It’s important to create a schedule that accounts for your humanity. Make sure to include times you’ve designated for fun and for rest. Block these times regularly in your calendar. Study challenging concepts at the right time You don’t have to get up at 6AM in the morning every morning to do well on your exams. While you’re organizing your study schedule, make sure you are accounting for YOUR best work hours. If you’re an early bird, or a night owl, be sure to acknowledge your unique best hours. Not all study time needs to be long Got a 30 minute ride to hang out with friends? Waiting for dinner to cook? Use these spare moments to review your flashcards and give your brain a quick rehash of concepts that are easy to forget. Take a practice exam Whether it be for a final, an AP exam, the SATs, GRE, or other standardized test, make sure to go through a practice test at least ONCE to get all the first time exam jitters out. You may not be able to replicate the entire experience, but you WILL be able to have a better understanding of and familiarity with the exam’s logistics and format. Now that these broad considerations are in, it’s time to organize your calendar. There are 3 important steps. Calendar your exam date Add in a treat for the day after, and some last minute flashcards for the day before. The week of, make sure you’re getting a combination of rest and review. Plan out your monthly goals After taking a diagnostic test, add in monthly goals to get a sense of how far you are from your goal score. Take at least one diagnostic test during each month so you can measure your progress. Figure out the hours per week you want to study. Once you have a sense of how many hours you can put in, you can see how much time you will need per day and when you can study more complex material you’re struggling with, given timeslots that are longer. As you can read, there is a lot of strategy and planning that comes with organizing your study schedule. The biggest advice? Make sure you can stick to it!
There’s a lot going on in the world of education right now, and we are learning not only new content, but new ways to show our learning. So, February marks the time to prepare for these new formats of exams. Some of these exams are formatted in a way such that they are hybrid or online. How are this year’s exams different? Let’s start with AP exams. For some popular college credit receiving exams like AP Biology or AP Calculus, it appears the exam will retain much of its pre-Covid structure. Most AP exams will still be in person with paper and pencil, in May. The exam will be administered for many students at the same time, at their specific schools of attendance. Testing centers which host many students taking exams are also prevalent. For a comprehensive look at the policies and guidelines of these standard format exams — which remain standard from many years past, click here. Still however, the pandemic is a factor in exam administration. For AP exams like AP English literature and AP World History, there will be a selection of exams hosted still in school, but online in a digital format. The key takeaways to understand for how these exams will operate differently are: The school must have applied in fall of 2021 to administer the exam online The exam will still be taken at the school in a proctored setting Students will be able to go back and forth online with questions Schools may be able to provide Windows, Mac, Chromebooks or even Ipads for the exam Digital and paper exams will be taken in different locations within the school For graduate degrees, the online format is also variable. The GRE is a good example to understand. A grueling 3 hours and 45 minutes, this exam is known to be tough even prior to the pandemic. With the shifts in learning, the GRE averages 1.5 million test takers with a mean score of around 150 out of 170 for the quantitative and verbal reasoning sections. The exam is entirely administered online. Here are some of the considerations for GRE for adult learners of this time: You can edit your answers and preview sections There is a built-in calculator function You can mark/ review answers on the digital format You can take the exam at home or at a testing facility At home testing is available 24/7 and proctored by an online human proctor. To read more about these exams, click here. With all of these exam changes, it will be interesting to see how students this year fair with online test scores! Seems like a good time to goal-set, and get help tutoring if you need it!
As the next semester begins, we see a current spike in COVID-19 cases. Masks are increasingly necessary and a part of our day-to-day living. So, just like making a strategy for attaining goals, industrious students and teachers familiarize themselves with the CDC guidelines on masking up. However, these guidelines change regularly. Masking as a Part of Culture The changes are so frequent that in true internet-of-things, Generation Z style, memes on the CDC proliferate— joking about all the possibilities of what “the CDC says.” But jokes aside, scientists are creating their content related to masking. For example, novel research looks at how wearing a mask might be related to different levels of emotional awareness. What Science Suggests Scientists who focus on visually impaired individuals studied a sample of 119 individuals. The study focused on the tone of voice, body language, and other emotional indicators. According to this study, the younger the tested individual, the higher the rate of inaccuracy between reading emotions. Children 3-5 years old had the most severe disadvantage in discerning emotions with mask wearers. Such inability led to facial misinterpretation and resulted in some behavior that could be considered inappropriately aggressive. However, for those who were older and grew up with a sense of emotional awareness more acute based on years of practice without a mask, this inability to read emotions correctly was not as dramatic. Younger children “faced,” if you will, all the consequences. It Would Be Best To Mask Up Anyways… While this study may not entirely prove that wearing a mask makes you meaner, it suggests causation between mask-wearing and emotional intelligence. But, perhaps the question is moot. It seems mask-wearing will be a way in congested settings like schools for the foreseeable future. Regardless of how a mask affects emotional development, we are sure that it positively impacts our health. That certainty means you should probably mask up anyways.
It’s a year! After a year of reflecting, dreaming, and expressing gratitude to teachers in the Covid 19 Pandemic, we’ve come to an impasse on making the most of our pandemic lives. So what’s the next step? Meeting goals doesn’t just come with designing your life. It comes with a strategic, brain-aware way to approach accomplishment. Challenging Yourself Neuroscientists have been interested in goal setting and how to challenge the experience mentally. Students making academic goals can also learn something from neuroscience. The neuroscience community suggests that even HAVING goals is helpful to direct the way our brain forms connections and thoughts. More goals = more connections. A new framework suggests that making changes in behavior requires a shift in two axes: level of skill, knowledge, the ability needed for action; and status of motivation. An example of this behavior on the high ends of motivation and level of skill and familiarity is navigating a new city for the first time. This action is HIGH on both axes because it shows an exciting challenge necessary to undergo if one is traveling. There is motivation and dexterity. Considering Executive Function So, how would you use this new framework? Well, thinking about the brain’s executive function (how various parts of our brains work together to complete a task that requires attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and planning) provides insight. Executive function rests on taking novel experiences and information and responding to them to normalize a response. This activity is referred to as “habit formation.” Suppose the brain is a limited resource with constant energetic needs. In that case, executive function is also limited in its ability to perform tasks and choose which ones are the most important to standardize and form a habit. What does this suggest? Practice! Practice makes more than perfect. Perhaps another obvious solution, but a plenty important one. Using our brains to actively work on a goal and doing it over and over simply by quantity is a neuroscientifically suggested method of achieving your goals.
To Design A Successful Education, Start at Winter Break Design thinking is a burgeoning field and phrase that piques the curiosity of many industrious individuals. Across disciplines, design thinking has mapped the way for increased satisfaction in life, career, and now education. So, a combination of reflection and neuroscience intersect here. As we find ourselves in the Winter season, it is worth thinking about designing a more successful life and how starting at Winter break can begin that path in education. What is Design Thinking? The Harvard University School of Education denotes Design Thinking as “In practice, … a structured framework for identifying challenges, gathering information, generating potential solutions, refining ideas, and testing solutions.” Tenets of this process include intentionally failing and repeatedly trying new things until something sticks. A standard summary of the process looks like these five steps done over and over until a solution: Empathize. Think about yourself, your community, your audience. Is there a challenge that comes to mind? Define. After considering those that the challenge affects, think about why this problem exists and define that challenge clearly. Ideate. Brainstorm different ways you can address the challenge. Intentionally list assumptions of the challenge and attempt to defy them. List out bad ideas too! And impossible ones Prototype. Come up with solutions you’d want to test. Then, narrow down what is feasible Test. Test your solutions! See what works, what’s helpful, what’s not, and then try again! As you can see, the process reflects thoughtfulness and emphasizes trial and error. What does Design thinking have to do with happiness? In 2018, Yale University was one early academic institution that brought the concept of design thinking to the forefront of education. In a class entitled “Psyc 157: Psychology and the Good Life,” psychologist Laurie Santos taught students how to regulate their daily lives and include moments of gratitude and self-care. As a part of the course, tenets of Design Thinking were encouraged, such as empathizing with yourself when you are experiencing new activities— actively asking, “Is this bringing me joy?” Another positive mindset that derives from Design Thinking is the concept of relating who you are, what you believe, and what you do. If you get stuck answering these questions, use the Design Thinking method! Santos has since renamed her class “The Science of Well-Being,” and some 3 million individuals are now taking the course online. How do I use Design Thinking during my winter break? So, when it comes to implementing Design Thinking into your life and particularly your academic career, it’s important to remember what you care about. First, take time this winter break to consider empathy for yourself, whether as a student or parent. Then think of challenges you’ve faced in these roles of your life. What’s not working? What feels hard? Next, come up with some solutions that may be impossible to happen: daydream about that vacation, take your favorite class on baking, and get perfect grades without studying so hard… Then consider, “what might be some possible solutions to these challenges that nurture me and are feasible?” For example, does it make sense to do fewer activities to have more energy on the subjects you love? Does getting organized in school and with all the calendars prove helpful to make sure you have time to study when it counts and relax when you can? Lastly, make sure to test out some of these ideas! Organize your calendar! Read a little more on that subject that’s been challenging! Talk to your teachers and see how you can optimize your studying for that ONE challenging class. Remember, Design Thinking is all about trying things out until you find something that works. This is the perfect time to strategize for the upcoming year during winter break! To design a successful education, start at winter break!
How Your Crazy Covid Dreams Might be Helping You Learn As winter approaches, the days are shorter and nights longer. Besides spending time in self-reflection, now’s the time for plenty of naps and sleeping. As a result, you might find yourself having stranger dreams than usual. Some studies now suggest that such dreams may result in memory consolidation. They can also result in an ability to understand complicated experiences digested during the day. Lots of strange dreams during Covid Are you having lots of strange dreams during the Covid pandemic? When looking at a sample of 1091 Italian participants and asking for their self-reported experiences in slumber, one study found that “dream frequency, emotional load, vividness, bizarreness and length” were all rated higher during the pandemic when compared to a pre-lockdown period. You are not alone. Additionally, individuals noted a higher increase in “negative emotions” when assessing their dreams. Finally, predisposition to some factors, such as sensitivity to depression, were predictive of such “strange” dreams. Dreaming to learn Tufts University neuroscientist Erik Hoel suggests that these dreams may be a process our brains go through to learn. His reasoning? Well, we know that dreams are amalgamations of experiences that we have throughout our days. Dr. Hoel believes that due to the monotonous nature of our lockdown experiences, our brains may be trying to create novelty in our subconscious minds to help us glean insights from what would otherwise be routine experiences. Therefore, these strange dreams may serve as intelligence in our working memory to teach us from new experiences, whether real or imagined at night. Practice makes perfect While these researchers try to make sense of the bizarre and unanticipated externalities of a global pandemic, many different hypotheses are coming into play when analyzing dreams. Another assumption is that dreams are ways our brains allow us to practice responding to real-life situations that have not yet occurred. Thus, the more you can “practice” in your dream, the more you can be prepared to perform in real life. What’s weird? Despite there not being one consensus when it comes to why we are experiencing dreams that are “strange” during Covid, there is a lot of interest in the field of understanding such experiences. As a result, the concept of “overfitting” is an idea that has permeated circles of scientists asking why we dream the way we do. This concept argues that dreams are weird because if they weren’t, we’d never be able to get new insights into our daily lives. Dreaming strange dreams might be normal, just as much as learning, whether you expect it or not, can be. Either way, your crazy Covid dreams might be helping you learn!
At first we were concerned with October exhaustion, now, it’s time to use self-reflection to measure your academic success! Importantly, as a diligent student, you must ask yourself questions through self-reflection in critical moments. Over time, these reflective questions will build an understanding of how you best approach education, and contribute to your success as a lifelong learner. How are you doing? Have you reflected lately on your educational process? Additionally, have you taken stock of your school work and learning, noting where you did well and didn’t? Students, teachers and all in the education space may react differently to questions of self-reflection. So, it’s no wonder that reflection is important! With November coming upon us, now is the best time to take stock of your progress and for students to check in with themselves while learning. In order to make sure you getting the most out of your educational process as it continues to build over time, here are some questions to consider: What have I learned? When was a time when I struggled with learning a new concept? Where do I learn best? What are the characteristics of these places? How do I learn best? What are the tools I’m using? Who do I learn best from? With? What are their characteristics? Which subjects are the most interesting to me? Reflection drive direction Asking self-reflective questions like those above during this fall season will help you perform better as a student. Studies suggest that self-reflection helps with a “growth mindset” attributed to Carol Dweck, psychology professor of Stanford University. Those individuals who exhibit a mindset that they are able to grow and learn through their failures and challenges are able to achieve more of their goals. Self-reflection such as asking these questions, or even any others you think of, is the cornerstone to measure your academic success to ensure continuous improvement. As Shakespeare once said, “know thyself”.
Overwhelmed in October? Students, parents, and teachers all understand the feeling of being overwhelmed this year. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates this feeling. It’s time to support our teachers. Because of Covid, fatigue takes a new depth in meaning this October, teachers note the month as the most challenging work-wise. This slump— referred to as ‘October exhaustion’— occurs when the ambitious goals set during the summer are faced with realities of student performance and added layers of work. So, this year giving a little extra TLC to your students’ teachers may make a difference in their education. Here are some ways to support our educators as October comes to a close. Celebrate success with your teachers! Has your student learned a new, critical skill this year with the help of your teacher? Has the transition from online to in-person (to potentially online again!) been particularly well-thought-of? Even the slightest note of gratitude can be meaningful to hear in this unprecedented time. Growth is happening! It may be a good reminder for you too. If you have something nice to say, share it! Practice psychological safety. Because many businesses going remote, there is no spare time to do much relationship building. That’s why when there is a designated time to communicate, like parent-teacher conferences, you want to make the most of your time. Practicing psychological safety means sharing just enough compassion in your communications and asking open-ended questions such that teachers will feel safe to open up to you and express their genuine concerns for your student. It may be an outlet for you to express yours too. Offer face time during Covid. This is not a suggestion for personal phone calls. Considering the current world of online learning, encouraging a “video on” rule for your student’s online education helps. Context allowing. Teachers appreciate being able to see facial feedback. Research suggests it stimulates such emotions as empathy and emotional connectedness— all behaviors that would contribute to the success of your student’s education. Further research also indicates that seeing the faces of students increases motivation for teachers. Build community. In addition to teaching itself, teachers are tasked with long-term curriculum planning, communicating with admin and parents, and a deluge of other tasks. By building a community among other caretakers, you add one more safety net for your student’s education and support teachers through community. Reflect to Support! Maybe your student is struggling during this time because your teacher needs support too. Be sure to reflect on desired outcomes for the school year. What can you easily communicate with your teacher that would support understanding the needs of your student? This small act of awareness goes a long way in conserving mental space, giving room for teachers to breathe as they move toward the winter months.
As your children get older, schoolwork becomes more demanding. We encourage parents to anticipate winter break assignments and prepare for them. But have no fear. Here are a few tools that parents and students can utilize to make winter break productive, yet restful. Required Reading If you little one has to read a book over break, ask the teacher for the required titles in advance. Make sure to visit the library to check out the book in advance, or to purchase the book ahead of time. This guarantees that holiday shipping delays or library holds will not waste valuable reading time. Next, divide the reading into equal sections that correspond to the number of days remaining until it’s due. So, if your child’s break is 9 days and they have to read a 330 page book, they need to read about 37 pages per day to stay on pace. Set aside a regular time each day to get the reading done. Ask your child to describe what they’ve read. This will help solidify the material and serve as a quick accountability exercise. Last, have your child write annotations and notes as he or she reads. With all the fun and activity of winter break, sometimes it is hard to retain new information. Having a few notes and big ideas jotted down can make all of the difference. Essays First, review the essay prompt with your child. Ensure that they select a good topic that will satisfy the rubric. Once your child has a topic, divide the winter break holiday into three parts: outlining, drafting, revision. The outlining and drafting require more time to complete. It may be worthwhile, then, to allot more days to these first two steps than the third. Next, begin the outline phase. When outlining, have your child collect all of their sources in advance. Prioritize finding supporting details and citations, and organizing ideas. Third, only after the outline is fully completed, begin drafting. Check in often with your child about their progress. Ideally, the draft is structured logically and mirrors the outline. Then, ask to read your child’s draft. Proofread for grammar and content. Make sure they understand the strengths of their essay as well as areas for growth. Have them spend a bit of time addressing these constructive criticisms and then reread a final time. Projects Similar to the required reading and the essay, we highly suggest that you help your child divide the workload over a few days. Make sure your student completes the research on their project’s subject before buying crafting materials. Second, require your child to pre-plan their presentation. Are they satisfying all areas of the prompt? Will they be able to realize their vision of the project with the time and resources available to them? They should adhere to their teacher’s requirements as closely as possible. Begin building the project only after your pupil has demonstrated knowledge of the project and a plan for execution. This helps guarantee time efficiency and reduces the amount spent on materials. Summary Taking advantage of working in increments helps reduce the stress of winter assignments. Parents can drastically improve their children’s productivity by focusing on efficient efforts, and also enjoy some holiday relaxation. Enjoy!
There are a few things that we feel absolutely every high school student in America should cross off of their bucket list before graduation. While we recognize that there are different strokes for different folks, these five items are universally beneficial. Regardless of whether the post-high school plan consists of college, trade school or full-time employment, this list will definitely help. 1. Take an advanced level course. Enrolling in rigorous coursework can seem daunting, or even risky. There are fears of failing or of getting lost in the curriculum. However, overcoming these fears and taking a higher level course can bring numerous benefits. For example, AP courses mimic college courses in their structure, rigor and assessments. Taking just one AP course might provide useful insight into whether or not college is a good fit. Also, Honors or Gifted level courses can open up opportunities that would not be available otherwise. Many Honors course utilize field trips, research grants and extracurricular experiences to supplement the coursework. Why not take on a challenge that could guarantee growth? 2. Introduce yourself to your academic counselors and advisors. Many public high schools in the U.S. have a high ratio of students per counselor. Often, students never cultivate a direct relationship with their advisors and counselors, beyond college planning and course scheduling. States nationwide require high school counselors to stay informed about relevant scholarships, vocational opportunities and learning resources. Even if college is not a future goal, high school counselors can provide crucial information and tips for other post-graduation paths like trade school, military enlistment, nonprofit programs and more. It all starts with, “hello.” 3. Join an extracurricular activity. It is common for high schools across the country to offer sports, clubs, volunteering and technological opportunities to their student body. Participating in an extracurricular activity serves as a great method for making friends and furthering interests in a variety of areas. Not to mention, making a commitment to an extracurricular activity requires time management. Developing a strong sense of punctuality and scheduling will prove essential to adulthood. Why not start now? 4. Complete a class on public speaking. The number of occasions in life where one speaks publicly is unlimited. Wedding toasts, graduation speeches, eulogies, presentations for work and school–the list goes on! Knowing how to confidently and clearly communicate can be the deciding factor in job interview situations or financial opportunities. Get a head start on building confidence in public speaking ASAP. 5. Learn money management. No matter what path high schoolers follow once they graduate, money will be a constant presence. Understanding the basic mechanisms of taxes, interest, and savings is important. But the buck does not stop there. Having confidence making long-term investments, understanding how to assess the better buy from a slew of products or even learning the common trappings of hidden fees can be instrumental. Some schools offer formal money management classes or economics classes. Having a low-stress part-time job can also be a great way to build these skills.
When applying to university, the admissions require consider more than just grades. It’s common knowledge that colleges take into account a student’s academic rigor, their written recommendations, and their standardized test scores. But did you know that factors like community service, extended travel experience and specialized skills can also be attractive qualities in a college candidate? This rings true tenfold if the student participates in these areas during all their years of secondary education because it demonstrates the ability to manage long-term commitments. Community Service Often adolescence represents a period of personal growth and exploration. So when a high school student dedicates a consistent portion of their time to bettering their community, colleges take notice. Now this does not mean that your child should be collecting litter from the roadside for hours on end. Rather, a regular and consistent investment in community organizing and activities speaks volumes. Think about volunteering with children or the elderly, acting as a member of the community board, or helping to bring local events and initiatives into fruition. What is even better is tailoring your child’s service to their aptitudes and interests. If your child loves music, perhaps volunteering to stage manage music programs at the elementary and middle schools or the local theater is suitable. Just take care to be consistent, sincere and committed to the work. Extended Travel Experience Navigating the world is no small feat. Students who pursue their academic or professional passions abroad can be positioned as worldly candidates for admission. This is because international travel often imparts unparalleled insight and massive personal growth. When constructing an incoming freshman class, admissions officers value students who can contribute authentic, global perspectives and who may bring that drive and boldness to campus. Specialized Skills Now most parents have heard of the stereotype that all children should play piano, chess and be class president in order to get into the college of their dreams. While these skills are undoubtedly valuable, a multitude of fascinating and unique possibilities exist that will impress colleges. Let’s take our previous example of music. Hypothetically speaking, admissions officers want to fill their freshman class with talented and driven students. They also have an imperative to replenish the needs of their university. For example, if the college boasts a full orchestra, then there are a finite number of pianists that they can utilize. This is because they must also have bassoonists and cellists and french horn players. So as you begin to introduce your child to various skills, feel free to allow for quirky choices. With four dedicated years in high school honing their craft, you may find that playing the bassoon proves equally impressive as the piano in the eyes of admissions officers.
Once the school year gets into full swing, it can feel like a nonstop train. It goes until the winter semester. This relentless schedule can make it hard to set goals for your family and children. So why not do it ahead of time? Here are 7 tips for ways to effectively set goals and to monitor them. Establish a bedtime. It’s a well-known fact that sleep is essential to productivity and wellness. While many assume smaller children need the most sleep, studies show that teens need anywhere from 8-10 hours of sleep each night to perform at full capacity. Sit down with your child and establish a bedtime for school nights, and a bedtime for weekdays to ensure that they are firing on all cylinders in the classroom. Review past grades and set custom progress report and report card goals. In an ideal world, all children earn A’s in every class. But in reality, the grading system allows us to measure aptitudes and growth areas. Make a plan for what grades you want to see on your child’s report card, and then a plan to achieve them. Refresh study skills. One of the biggest conundrums in education is the fact that many students have never been taught how to study. One way to address this is to review a few study skills before the year begins. Many teachers assign summer reading, which is a great way to address annotating, note taking, speed-reading, color-coding and other study habits. Sometimes having a study skill memory jog can make all the difference. Practice time management. Success in school is largely tied to time management. Help to build these sorts of skills in your child by showing them how to budget their time. Perhaps buy a written planner or agenda for them to log their assignments and due dates. Or, utilize the calendars apps offered on many smart devices and emails accounts to set reminders and note appointments. By encouraging your child to take an active role in their schedule before the year begins, they will have a better chance of maintaining the habit during the semester. Ask your child to discuss their own personal goals. Your children may have an idea of what interests them academically, extracurricularly, and recreationally. Have a 30-minute sit-down where you both brainstorm activities, grades, events and goals that you want to achieve over the school year. Then build a calendar together in order to pace out your combined efforts to get there. Having your listening ear and support will do wonders for your little one. Set rewards. For each and every goal that you propose, set a reward that corresponds to it. Children respond to positive reinforcement, and having them work actively toward achieving them. This makes your expectations clear, and sets the stakes for success in a straightforward with your child. Check-In. Touch base with your student after the first week of school. The influx of class schedules friends and orientation days may have shifted their goals or put new ones on their radars. Be encouraging and open to pivoting as necessary.
Summertime is the bastion of relaxation and ease in a child’s life. No school, fun in the sun and endless free time. It is not uncommon for a child to put away their books until school starts once again. However, this creates a risk for summertime learning loss and even potential academic setbacks when school is back in session. Encouraging your young one to pick up a book can require a creative approach, especially when reading time competes with social activities and technology. We suggest that you tag team your child’s summer reading list by reading to them or with them. For older children, feel free to read independently and discuss together later. You will find that the opportunities for engaging conversation on intriguing topics are virtually boundless and tech-free bonding is an added bonus! Below you will find summer reading suggestions for children of all ages. All of our selections have television or film adaptations to supplement the reading and are available for hardcopy or audiobook purchase online. Elementary School 1. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit: A young girl encounters an extraordinary immortal family who teaches her that there is more to life than simply living forever. 2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney: This comedy novel explores the daily life of a self-proclaimed wimpy kid just trying to fit in. 3. The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey: Two overly imaginative pranksters spend hours in a treehouse creating comic books about their hero, Captain Underpants, and are surprised to discover that he has become real. Middle School 4. Holes by Louis Sachar: An unlucky teenage boy named Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile corrections facility in a desert in Texas, after being falsely accused of theft. 5. Wonder by R.J. Palacio: A boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome, which has left his face disfigured, leaves homeschooling behind to experience a larger world after his parents enroll him into Beecher Middle School for the start of fifth grade. High School 6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: Avid gamer Wade Watts searches for an Easter egg in a worldwide virtual reality game, the discovery of which will lead him to inherit the game creator’s fortune. 7. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon: Madeline Whittier lives everyday stuck inside her LA home while being treated for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) until a new friend motivates her to come outside. 8. The Circle by Dave Eggers: A young woman begins a new job at top technology firm, The Circle, that has consequences for every aspect of her life.
A music streaming gift subscription. Pandora Radio and Spotify offer one-year subscriptions of their ad-free streaming services, which means 365 days of virtually unlimited tunes! Every time your graduate turns on their sound system, they’ll have you to thank. A Movie Pass. This service allows users to view one movie per day in theaters. It’s a $9.99 monthly fee, for endless cinematic bliss. With summer on thehorizon, make their post-grad lives kick off with moviegoing bliss. Amazon Prime. Think about it: graduating from school means embarking on adulthood. Recent grads will head across globe to jobs, internships, fellowships and service missions. Having free shipping on Amazon’s entire inventory is the gift that will keep on giving. A Lyft gift card. Most of us cannot gift a car for graduation. But a Lyft gift card might be the next best thing. Purchasing a ride-sharegift card increases mobility for recent grads, relieving high school grads of the need to beg for parental carpools and eliminating the risks of drunk-driving with older grads. You won’t miss the mark with this one! Portable Smartphone Battery. It is no secret that millennials love their gadgets. Spare them the horror of a dead phone battery by gifting them a portable phone battery. No matter if their post-grad plans take them abroad, to the beach or to the office, knowing they have a battery backup brings ample peace of mind. Nice headphones or earphones. With the omniscient presence of technology in most recent graduates’ lives, having access to quality headphones is a no-brainer. The best part is that with bluetooth headphones, wireless sets and the classic earphones, the options are plentiful, yet equally valuable.