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.
With college graduation season just a short six weeks away, most recent graduates focus on surviving final exams, crossing off the last remaining items on their bucket lists, and securing new job or fellowship opportunities. While the Commence Day ceremony marks the conclusion of undergraduate life, it also signifies the beginning of paying back student loans. Even those who deferred their first student loan payment will need to begin planning. We compiled five easy-to-implement ways to plan for student loan payback that will not break your budget. 1. Make a lump sum payment After May graduation, many students will be receiving graduation gift money, job signing bonuses and tax refunds. Applying this lump sum to your student loans can save you thousands in accrued interest and decreases the repayment time. Use Make Lemonade’s Lump Sum Calculator to gauge how much you could save in time and interest by applying a lump sum at the beginning of repayment. 2. Make more than the minimum payment This tip is quite straightforward. The more you pay, the less interest is added to your remaining balance and the quicker the loan is paid off. No need to put pressure on yourself to double the payment. Even $50 more each month will make an impact. Still on the fence? Incorporate this added amount to your automatic loan payments so that you stay consistent and hesitation-free in your payments. 3. Refinance Your Loans Regardless of whether you have one loan or multiple, refinancing creates an opportunity to lower your interest rate. Before diving into refinancing, first consult a lender to verify that your interest rate will decrease. Here is a list of awesome banks that help refinance loans. 4. Avoid Repayment Programs It is true that many of these programs aim for lower monthly loan payments. But they do so by extending the length of the payback term. This means that it will take you longer to pay back your balance and your principal will continue to accrue interest during that extended period. 5. Start a Side-Hustle Spend a few hours each week on a side-hustle that you contribute 100% of the income into loans repayment. Ideally, choose something easy and enjoyable that does not restrict your schedule. Do you enjoy shopping? Apply to work part-time at a retail store. Get a discount off of apparel, and direct that cash toward your loan. In California, working one 5-hour shift per week at $11.00 minimum wage means you could earn $220 toward your loans every month. Not a bad trade-off, eh? Regardless of how you tackle the loan behemoth, be proactive about making a plan. Loans can be a challenge to navigate, but with the proper strategy, you’ll find your balance at $0.00 in no time.
Acknowledging the February 14th mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and the seventeen individuals who were killed as a result is essential. As fellow educators, community members and simply human beings, we join in the mourning of the lives that were taken. During times of tragedy, healing is often accompanied by reflection. Reflection on the event that transpired, its causes and changes that can be enacted as a result. In terms of initiating dialogue among friends and families, we recommend the steps outlined by ABC News. Experts suggest approaching the subject directly, tailoring the details according to your child’s age and maturity level. Given that the internet makes information ubiquitous, jump-starting the conversation can be crucial. Take care to reassure your children in light of any fears they may express, and be diligent about following-up on the initial discussion as time passes. Finally, we encourage all members of our community to seek solace and comfort where they are able. While debate ensues regards numerous aspects of the Parkland shooting, we underscore the importance of connection and support. The right to an education is one of the most precious privileges afforded in our nation, and doing safely is necessary. Wishing all of our parents and students a physically, mentally and emotionally health week as the impacts of this event are continuing to be digested and processed.
You might believe that identifying when a child is struggling in school is a cinch. Surely, all a parent needs to do is review their child’s progress report or report card for scores below a “B” average, right? If that’s not enough, then obviously any attentive teacher worth his or her salt will promptly notify the parents of academic missteps from their little one. This is not a tried-and-true rule. While using grades as performance markers may seem self-explanatory in evaluating a child’s learning abilities, sometimes the challenges a student encounters in school do not always manifest via test scores or classroom conduct. Often, parents and educators must use additional indicators to take a closer look into lags of academic achievement. Consider your child’s pace when approaching their schoolwork. Does he or she complete all tasks within the recommended time allotted by teachers, or do they spend far longer on homework that should only take thirty minutes? Consider that when a concept is not well-solidified mentally, it takes longer to apply this concept to assignments. The inverse is also worth examining. Students who claim to finish a weeklong project in just shy of an hour might be avoiding academic struggles. Note that when a child misunderstands an assignment, it can cause frustration that breeds an attitude of dismissal and/or resignation. Instead of tackling the obstacle of confusion directly, some children may opt to ignore it. This leads to overwhelming amounts of late assignments, stressful cram sessions and lower scores. In either case of pacing, hiring a tutor might be useful for pinpointing specific areas for academic growth, and to create a more measured study regimen to complete homework and assignments. Aside from issues of time management and pace, students who are struggling in school may demonstrate this through changes in attitude. For instance, some children may lose confidence in class. Whereas they may have initially been raising their hands and openly participating, feeling confused about concepts can cause them to withdraw. Unsure of whether this pattern applies to your young pupil? Reach out to their instructors to discuss in-class performance. Kids may also lose enthusiasm for learning due to frustration or boredom. It is not uncommon to hear students profess to “hate school,” typically starting around the second or third grade. This is likely because the core curriculum for most public and private schools noticeably increases in difficulty when a child turns seven or eight-years-old, making some students may feel like they cannot keep up with the demand of their classes. A tutor who can transform learning into a fun and engaging experience stand to impact students who feel undermotivated or discouraged in a constructive way. Isolating the cause for your student’s underperformance in school could prove pivotal to their feelings towards school in general. Catch lags and missteps early, invite a tutor to help hone your child’s abilities, and watch them soar!
Looking to infuse your child’s day with a bit of enrichment, but short on time? Nowadays, a parent’s schedule is jam-packed with obligations. Still, finding time to actively expose your child to new and interesting concepts is crucial. We have compiled three 10-minute ways to enrich your child’s day, regardless of whether they are in elementary, middle or high school. Let us know how you like them after you give them a try! A fabulous resource to pique your teen’s interests in a short amount of time is TED.com. TED talks are short speeches given by experts on nearly every topic under the sun, from what it’s like to be a robot to the power of introverts. TED believes in “ideas worth spreading,” and features virtually endless content on their platform. The best part about watching a 10-minute TED Talk is that the tone and subject matter are completely up to you and your child. Wanting to watch something more creative and funny? There is a TED Talk for that. How about digging into a more serious, political topic? TED has what you are looking for. Use these short, engaging talks to springboard a conversation about new and interesting ideas. Who knows? You may learn fascinating new things about yourself and your child in the process. Puzzles are another foolproof way to enrich your child’s say without devoting extra time to prep and protocol. You can find dozens of crossword puzzles online or pick up a crossword puzzle book from the store. It presents an opportunity to learn new vocabulary, reinforce spelling and to explore the concepts related to clues and keywords. The big draw? Crossword puzzles have varying levels of difficulty, so you can utilize this tip with a child of any age. Crosswords not your cup of tea? Give word searches, sudoku, mad-libs, riddles or any other brain teaser puzzle a shot, and watch the enrichment blossom. Finally, the most tried-and-true type of enrichment on this list is reading aloud. For younger children, reading a fictional chapter book like The Princess Bride or the Harry Potter series are great for teaching your little to stay engaged in a longform narrative, and to retain information. Interestingly, many parents stop reading aloud to their children once they reach the age where they can read on their own. However, studies show that reading aloud to teenagers has a positive effect on their opinions of learning and their perceptions of reading overall. At the middle school level, children respond positively to reading texts designed for oral presentation–like plays, poems and other rhythmic literature. For high school kids, change up the routine by having them read to you. Teachers have found success by enriching concepts like the Vietnam War through having students read letters from people living during the war. As it turns out, reading more personalized material it enlivens the historic event and grounds it in a human point-of-view that textbooks lack. Going back to the basics and finding ten minutes per day to read with your child is an worthy investment in your child’s education that you will not regret.
A popular sentiment expressed at the turn of the new year is one you may have read on any social media forum, “New year, new me.” The beginning of 2018 signals an opportunity for young people to turn over a new leaf in many areas of life. Some may hope to shed extra weight, for example, or adopt a new hobby or even increase their social circle. So in the spirit of resolutions, we want to contribute three academic resolutions that high school students can use to boost their performance, reduce their stress and earn the scores they deserve. Pace Yourself At the high school level, certain tasks require more time than what is normally allotted for nightly homework. This is especially true in the case of essays, projects, exams and presentations. As parents, you know that your students have a lot of these types of assignments. Fortunately, many instructors post the semester assignment schedule online which provides a golden opportunity to strategize. Instead of late night cram sessions the night before a major assignment is due, dividing the workload across multiple days can aid your student’s retention of the concepts and decrease the pressure they feel to complete the assignment. While admittedly not the most speedy approach, completing projects incrementally means your child remembers more of the information that they learn and stresses less throughout the process overall. How is that for a win-win? Notebooks, Not Laptops In the digital age of education, there are infinite benefits. Less carbon footprint from paper waste, fewer heavy textbooks causing back issues in teens and easier access and communication between school and home. According to Harvard Business Review, however, using laptops to take notes sacrifices crucial cognitive processing. Since most teens can type at the rate of their teacher’s speaking voices, they type each word they hear without necessarily listening. The problem appears when it comes time to study the notes because students are inundated with pages upon pages of notes on information they didn’t hear when it was first delivered. The effect is overwhelming and woefully inefficient. By contrast, most people cannot handwrite fast enough to match a speaking pace. Therefore, students who take written notes have no choice but to develop a shorthand in order to keep pace with the lecture. Using a shorthand requires comprehension of a concept in order to annotate it in a different form, i.e. the student must be actively listening and processing. The result? Fewer pages to study and a foundation of concept comprehension already established. Less is more! Choose Wisely High school is a time of exploration, maturity and personal discovery. Students are surrounded by countless chances to mingle, to learn and to…get distracted. While parents cannot control most of these distracting influences, students can in small yet effective ways. Making the decision to sit separately from chatty peers in more rigorous classes could be the difference between absorbing the lesson and missing something crucial. Worried about social time? Not to worry, lunchtime, free periods and easier classes are still prime chances for your young one to sit with friends without suffering academic drawbacks. Also, be sure to utilize study hall periods for completing homework and asking for help. Those extra thirty minutes to an hour in study hall offer an opportunity to decrease your child’s workload at home. Moreover, taking advantage of study hall can solidify your student’s ability to request assistance confidently and effectively. Ultimately, a new year serves as a benchmark from which we can measure change and success. Implement these three academic New Year’s resolutions, and rest assured the benefits will quickly emerge on your child’s report card.
The end of the school year is near! Both parents and students know what this means–final exams are on the horizon. Regardless of your child’s grade level, teachers often assign a cumulative exam, project or essay that requires your young one to apply all of the knowledge they have learned throughout the semester at once. These assignments can be stressful and often seem like an obstacle standing between your child and a relaxing winter holiday. But finals do not have to be major stressors. Here are three tried-and-true tips for taking the stress out of exam period. MAKE A LIST OF TEST DATES AND DUE DATES The first step to mastering finals is knowing what tests and assignments are included. Reach out to your child’s teachers and request a list of the remaining assignments and assessments. Nowadays, many schools post this information online and include directions and grading rubrics. Students can also review the course syllabi they received at the semester’s start in order to identify the due dates and exam dates. Build a calendar with your child to countdown the deadlines. PRIORITIZE EACH TASK Now that your calendar is complete, it is time to figure out a plan of execution. Chat with your child about his or her academic strengths and weaknesses. Does he or she love writing, but struggle with math? Be sure to allot more time for the subjects that are more challenging for your child personally. Divide the assignments or review material into smaller, manageable pieces. Ideally, your child never spends longer than thirty minutes to an hour on the same subject in any given study session. TAKE BREAKS It is an unfortunate conflation to equate studying for long periods with studying effectively. Discourage your student from pouring endlessly over textbooks and notes for weeks before finals. It can be stress-inducing and unreasonably exhausting both mentally and physically. While cram sessions and procrastination are at times unavoidable, taking small, intermittent breaks can do wonders for morale and mental health. Make sure to follow these three foolproof steps in order to guarantee that our child makes it to winter vacation stress-free. After all, finals should be an opportunity for your child to showcase their knowledge, not to feel bombarded with anxiety. Once finals are over, be sure to gather to family together and soak up a well-earned holiday. Good luck!
Want to enrich your child’s education, but unsure of how to engage? Fear not! Valuable academic lessons do not require hours of painstaking prep and a formal classroom setting to pull off. We’ve compiled three engaging ways for parents to reinforce fundamental middle school concepts with their children in an hour or less. BAKE A CAKE Concepts Review: Fractions and Reading Comprehension This is one of our favorite fraction review exercises because it’s applicable to real life, requires minimal planning, and is simply delicious. Choose a recipe that requires measuring ingredients in varying capacities, like ¼ cup or ⅔ TBSP. We love baking recipes like this Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake because it utilizes unique fraction measures for dry and wet ingredients, without requiring parents to purchase a fortune’s worth of items they will never use again. Allow your child to take the reins to test their reading comprehension skills, taking care to correct them only when necessary. Your young one will love measuring the vanilla extract and baking powder while watching a positively scrumptious dessert come to life. The best part? The lesson only lasts as long as the prep and bake time, will a tasty reward for all of your child’s hard work! Extra Credit: Have your child double or halve the measurements in the recipe in order to practice multiplying and dividing fractions. COUPON SHOPPING Concepts Review: Percent and Decimal Conversions, Price Discounts and Mark-Ups, Unit Price You know those pesky coupon booklets with which local grocery stores spam your mailbox? Turns out they are perfect for practicing percentage and decimal conversions. Cut out 5-10 discount coupons and ask your child to calculate the new price when the discount is applied. You can also have them calculate the original price by using the discount percent and new discount price. For bulk items like 24-cans of soda, challenge your little one to calculate the unit price of a single can using the discounted price. Then, compare like items and ask them which is the better buy based on the unit price. Not only will this exercise prime your child to shop wisely, you will also have a helper when it comes to finding weekly savings! Extra Credit: Ask your child to calculate the unit price for the original and discounted prices. Also, have them convert every percent discount into a decimal. CURRENT EVENTS Concepts Review: Reading Comprehension, Information Synthesis, Vocabulary Ask your child to summarize a current news article about a topic that he or she finds interesting. Have them summarize it for you verbally by answering “The 5 W’s: Who? Where? What? When? Why? and How?” Ensure that they keep a running list of new words and phrases as they read, and task them with using a dictionary to find and record their meaning. Before you know it, not only will your child strengthen their ability to process what they read, they will be versed on current events as well! Extra Credit: Have your child write new sentences using the vocabulary words they define from their article.
Standardized tests are a cornerstone of the college application process. Parents devote ample time and energy to preparing the prospective college freshmen in their homes for success with Kaplan courses and Princeton Review guidebooks. But in the last two years, both the American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) have been redesigned. So how do they compare to their older versions? Also, which test best suits your child’s needs and abilities? Let’s first break down how the test have evolved in recent years. In September of 2015, the ACT was redesigned to incorporate new sub-scoring categories for each of the four core sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The rationale behind the change meant to provide greater insight into a student’s personal strengths and weaknesses. Thus in addition to the composite score graded on a 1-36 scale, students also receive scores in four new subcategories: S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), English Language, Career Readiness and Text Complexity. Each of these areas theoretically contribute to a more detailed snapshot of the student’s aptitudes. Along with new scoring mechanisms, the ACT made alterations to the optional writing section by extending the time from thirty minutes to forty minutes. The essay requires analysis of multiple perspectives as opposed to general prompt response of older formats. While these changes do not impact the difficulty of the questions themselves, being aware of how best to prepare could be the difference between earning a 28 and a 30 on the exam. Collegeboard first administered the new SAT in March 2016, which decreased total exam time from three hours and forty-five minutes to just three hours (excluding an optional fifty minute essay section). The old Critical Reading and Writing sections, once famous for their vocabulary sections, have been combined into a single Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section that poses questions related to textual excerpts. The new format also eliminated the point penalty for incorrect responses, and extended the time allotted for writing from twenty-five minutes to fifty. Most importantly, perhaps, the score range shifted from 600-2400 to a scale of 400-1600. So a 1600 back in 2012 meant a very mediocre score, whereas now a 1600 denotes perfection. But how to choose between the two exams? First and foremost, not all colleges accept scores from both exams, Not to worry though, because most do. If you want to verify, search through the comprehensive Collegeboard.org database of application requirements. If you can choose either or both, then let the content inform your decision. Note that the main content difference between the ACT and SAT centers around the ACT having a Science section, while the SAT does not. In terms of test formatting, the SAT requires a No-Calculator Math section, while the ACT permits calculators for the entire Math section. With respect to aids, the SAT provides common algebra and geometry formulas, while the ACT does not. Our suggestion? Review these content and formatting differences with your child in order to gauge their preferences. Still stuck? Have them complete sample SAT and ACT questions and then compare the scores. At the end of the day, rest assured that many colleges permit students to submit the highest scores per section for either test, without reviewing all scores from each exam attempt. When choosing between the ACT and SAT, be sure to prioritize your child’s preferences along with the application requirements of the colleges they hope to attend. In any case, happy testing and good luck!
Tutors can be an excellent asset in your child’s education. Finding the perfect tutor could boost your child’s confidence, shrink his or her test anxiety and encourage your little one to ask for help more often. However, not all tutors are suited to assist all children, even if they are masters of the academic material. Keep a close eye on these two clues when searching for the best possible tutor. COMMUNICATION Keeping a household running is no small task. Parents are balancing work and kids, kids are balancing school and friends, and not to mention that everything in-between must still get done. Having a tutor who forgets to notify you of schedule changes or who fails to update you on your child’s progress can be an unnecessary burden. A top-tier tutor will communicate reliably and efficiently because they understand the demands on parents’ time and want to use it wisely. When vetting potential tutors, double-check if provide the best modes of contact and prime hours to reach them. Ask yourself, “Are they flexible and forthcoming?” Be sure to tell them your communication preferences outright, and take care to notice whether they accommodate those preferences. Lastly, ask them about how they normally provide updates on student progress, and express your expectations on frequency up-front. A great tutor will appreciate this openness, and should readily meet your standards of communication. RAPPORT We all know about the “it” factor. That indescribable something that allows one person to connect with another. The best tutor must absolutely establish a positive rapport with you and your child. Tutoring is an intensely personal and social profession that comes with high points and low points that must be navigated skillfully. While hunting for the top candidate, it is worthwhile to evaluate the impression your tutor leaves. Do they bring a positive and encouraging attitude to the work? Are they warm and friendly with your child? Do they notice when your child is struggling, and can they find fruitful ways to assist? Sometimes, even the most qualified tutors lack the bedside manner that fits your family. But when you stumble upon someone just right for the job, it should be easy and pleasant for both you and your child to work with them. At the end of the day, finding the right tutor can mean a world of difference for your child academically. Once you encounter someone with stellar credentials, take a moment to determine whether their style of communication and the rapport suits your needs. Nab that perfecttutor and watch your child’s grades soar!
The fall semester of senior year comes with a particular significance–college application time. Usually at this point in the high school experience, students have completed their last rounds of standardized testing and are polishing off the remaining personal statements. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, applying to college can often seem like an insurmountable obstacle. How can parents keep the household running, manage work and other children, and craft the perfect admissions application? Is there any part of the process that is within my control? Indeed, there are two. Glad you asked… RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Let’s face it. Teachers sometimes struggle to complete college recommendations in a timely manner. This is not necessarily out of negligence. In fact, it is probably a safe bet to say that many teachers wish they could recommend many more students that they ultimately do each year. But the reality is that writing college recommendation letters can be time-consuming and tend to become into another box that needs checking off the ol’ to-do list. But it does not have to be this way. Ask in advance. Approach your potential recommender a month or more before the deadline. Make it as easy as possible for recommenders to perform this favor for you and your child. Things like providing the writing prompt for the recommendation, including the URL link where they should submit, and communicating the exact deadline work wonders for streamlining the process. Then, let them know that you understand their workload, and will follow-up at weekly or biweekly intervals to relieve the pressure of them having to remember the deadline. If you are feeling extra-cautionary, fudge the deadline by telling the recommender it is a week or two earlier than in actuality. This way, you have a buffer for procrastination and can sleep cozily at night knowing the recommendation will not be late or rushed. Over-ask for recommendation letters. If your child’s dream school requires two letters of recommendation, secure four people willing to write on their behalf. Why? Some will be stronger testaments to your child’s character than others. Some will be more timely and eloquent than others. Most importantly, though, your “Plan B” is already enacted. Better safe, than sorry, right? Think outside the box. While it’s true that college admissions offices love to see recommendations from recent core-class teachers, there are many people in your child’s life who could offer an illuminating recommendation. Consider athletic coaches and trainers, church and community leaders, and even employers. The goal of a recommendation letter is to hear an adult who is involved in your child’s life elaborate on the strength of his or her character. So feel free to cast a wider net in your effort to find a stellar recommender. PERSONAL STATEMENTS These are the Holy Grail of college admissions. Why? Because the personal statements is the only guaranteed opportunity an applicant has to speak directly to an admissions officer. Think about it. What are the other components of an application? Transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, college resumes, etc. Not one of these elements allows your child to speak to why they are a suitable candidate for admission. Make the most of a personal statement by having your student write about themselves. Each and every sentence is an opportunity to shed a bit of insight into their personality, dreams, goals and psyche. The picture the personal essay paints needs not be a summation of who they are (the other components sum everything up already), but rather an extremely vivid one. One good test is to change the name at the top of the essay and then reread. Is it so general in content that it could apply to literally any high school senior in America? Sentences like, “I am passionate about learning, and dedicated to achieving my goals” are major red flags. They beg the question of who isn’t passionate and dedicated these days? Instead of generalities and platitudes, go for the juicy details. Concrete, specific and illustrative. If your child writes about a family vacation, for instance, ideally it is written such that the admissions officer gets a clear sense of what kind of vacation, family, and experience your child had. Most critically, the essay should communicate how your student feels about each and every one of these topics. The personal statement should be imbued with your child’s point of view and opinion because this reveals glimpses of who they are. Why do so in a vivid way? Because admissions officers, after all, are people too. And people remember things that resonate most with them. So as the Early-Decision, Early-Admission, and Common Application deadlines quickly approach, wrap up the last bits of your child’s application confidently of knowing that you put the best foot forward. The rest is up to the universities.
Today’s youth share a unique bond with technology. They have grown up around Apple products, mastered finding wifi and HotSpots, and most never think twice about using words like “Google” or “Facebook” as verbs. For adult generations, however, this fluency with technology is not as second-nature. In fact, parents may feel conflicted about the seemingly omniscient presence of technology in their children’s lives. Each week, alarming headlines appear on the front page of every major news outlet touting the risks and drawbacks of allowing kids to use technology. Concerns range from questioning whether your child has a technology addiction, to debating if technology causes social difficulties in the future. While the jury is still out on determining fact-based answers to these puzzling questions, one fact remains: kids and technology seem intertwined. Bearing in mind this relationship, we have a few recommendations for how parents can introduce their young ones to maximize the more productive apps that technology has to offer. Check out this amazing list of educational mobile applications for younger children. Some, like “Cookie Monster’s Challenge,” utilize popular characters from highly innovative and successful educational children’s television programs like Sesame Street or Disney to teach fundamental concepts like reading and mathematics. Parents can search for the name of the app on their phones, and download many for free or under $3! Digital Trends ranked the top twenty best educational tech toys for kids this year. The list includes build-your-own robot kits and electric circuit puzzle challenges that strengthen motor skills and encourage creativity. Not to mention, that many of the items on the list are fun for adults and older children as well. While the use of technology can tend to pose many worrisome questions about long term effects on young people, it can also be used to reinforce key educational concepts or to promote family bonding. With gadgets and gizmos here to stay, parents might very well decide to invoke the old saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!”
Gearing up for SAT and ACT season? Countless families are shifting from summer mode to college prep mode as the application deadlines for most major universities draws near. Not surprisingly, many high school juniors and seniors have thought only of where they will attend college. In fact, not many been of these students have been asking themselves if they want to attend a four-year academic institution at all. As it turns out, “do I want to get a bachelor’s degree?” may very well be the $55,000/year question of the year. For the last four decades, the United States experienced a cultural push for adolescents to earn bachelor’s degrees. In fact, data collected by the United States Census Bureau indicates a over a 28% percent increase in bachelor’s degree holders in 65 years: from 5% in 1940, to 33% in 2015. This year alone, around 33.4% of Americans reported having earned at least a bachelor’s degree, with many within that cohort having gone on to earn master’s and doctoral degrees. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the substantial difference in earning potential for those with academic degrees and those without, the latter earns approximately $464 less in average weekly pay. It seems only natural then, to assume that most American parents intend on sending their children to four-year institutions to secure a bachelor’s degree, and, hopefully, higher salaries in the future. But is committing to four years of study, $30,000 worth of student loan debt and an uncertain hiring pool the only option for leading financially secure adult lives? Perhaps not. Recently, a contributor to PBS published an article claiming that the nation’s emphasis on attaining bachelor’s degrees after high school caused a number of adverse effects; particularly the erosion of vocational industries. You might be thinking, “what’s the big deal?” With a shortage of skilled trade workers, the demand for these positions are steadily increasing. Not to mention, the salaries for these careers. Interestingly, the article states that “The United States has 30 million jobs that pay an average of $55,000 per year and don’t require a bachelor’s degree, according to the Georgetown center.” That is a big deal. A massive deal. But that is not all. Not only do a plethora of well-paying jobs exist that do not mandate $30,000 of debt, but “people with career and technical educations are actually slightly more likely to be employed than their counterparts with academic credentials, the U.S. Department of Education reports, and significantly more likely to be working in their fields of study.” Talk about thought-provoking, right? So we leave you to ponder this information as your high school juniors and seniors begin contemplating their post-graduation plans. It may be worth considering a broader range of paths, including the pursuit of a vocational education or trade certification. While the benefits of college cannot be measured solely by one’s income, the desire to build a stable future for your kids may be more attainable than what we have been led to believe.
Happy 2017-2018 school year! Many families all across the nation spent the past month getting their children back into the school week routine. That includes hunting for bargains during school supplies shopping, picking out the trendiest backpack for your child to wear, and making sure that class schedules are up to par. In the midst of so much prep, we want to offer four tips to help maximize the beginning of a new school year. Make a List, and Check It Twice Teachers work hard to compile supply lists for their classroom, but there’s often a ton of overlap. Cut overspending by consolidating your entire school shopping list into one master list. Even across various grade levels for all of the children in your home, some items like Kleenexes, writing utensils and hand sanitizer are staples that you can buy in bulk. Don’t Skip Your Wheaties Testing days are not the only times to ensure that kids fuel up in the morning. After a summer of junk foods, ice cream and imbalanced schedules, reinstating a nutritional breakfast starts your child’s day off right. Out of ideas or time? Here are some quick and easy breakfast recipe ideas that are perfect for the most ambitious home chefs and the kitchen newbies. Nighty-Night, Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite This tip goes hand in hand with eating a healthy breakfast because it directly contributes to your child’s behavior and outlook. Enforcing a bedtime that allows for eight hours of sleep minimize will boost your child’s wakefulness, energy levels and productivity. Not to mention, the brain converts short-term knowledge into long-term knowledge during REM sleep, so it is the prime time for the lessons to solidify in your child’s mind. It doesn’t hurt to have a few hours of down Make the Most of the Weekend After a long week of class changes and homework assignments, Friday afternoon will come as a huge respite for your children. Take advantage of the first weekend to indulge in the last vestiges of summertime activities and give your child a well-earned break. Pool time, anyone?
It is no secret that the educational landscape of the United States is a highly varied one. Families have seemingly unlimited options to choose how they educate their children. These options include public and private schools, montessori facilities and homeschooling and more. Not to mention, every of one these institutions can be subdivided by curriculum. Some schools emphasize a science, engineering, technology and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) track, while others bolster the humanities. Some even specialize in certain disciplines à la music magnet schools or bilingual programs. Regardless of the innumerable pedagogical opportunities available, there are two academic skills that prove essential to leading a productive adult life. Multiplication Tables Upon hearing the phrase “multiplication,” for many, the first time equation that comes to mind is “two times two equals four.” Piece of cake, right? But what about nine times seven? Or twelve times eleven? If you have to pause to think about these products or even break out your iPhone calculator, fret not. You are not alone. Many adults struggle to perform fundamental multiplication, the consequence for which is often inefficiency or even financial loss. Possessing the ability to perform mental multiplication is crucial because it is constantly applicable to modern daily life. Times tables will appear in every facet of your child’s advanced academic life as “the building blocks for countless other mathematical concepts.” Your youngsters’ ability to budget and handle money will depend on their grasp of multiplication. That is to say nothing of how domestic life will fare without strong multiplying abilities (portion control and grocery shopping, anyone?). Ideally, a child should memorize all multiplication tables through twelve with near knee-jerk speed and accuracy. Parents can employ flash cards, timed minute quizzes, and recitation games in order to solidify these skills. No matter the class culture, ensuring that children are facile with their times tables will only serve them in the long run. Reading Comprehension We have all heard that reading is fundamental. However, results from Gallup polls show that as many as 25% of Americans do not read a single book a year. In fact, many non-reading adults developed this habit in childhood. But what causes this trend? Some blame technology, speculating that in this era of 140 character tweets and immediate gratification, the average attention span has decreased compared to earlier generations. This shorter attention span leads to difficulty concentrating when reading, which in turn, limits reading comprehension. Shaky reading at an early age only compounds as time passes, making for a grueling academic future come high school and college. Outside of the classroom, reading comprehensively encourages creativity, boosts empathy and could even boost IQ by six points! Research suggests that reading can teach a whole host of invaluable life skills that can significantly alter the course of your child’s future for the better. Who could say no to that? So, the next time your child whips out a calculator or passes on Dr. Seuss in favor of Doc McStuffins, consider encouraging them to rely on their brain power instead of their gadgets.
In the past year, fidget spinners won the hearts of children all over the nation. As coined by Varda Epstein of Kars4Kids Education Blog, a fidget spinner is “like small propeller attached to ball-bearings” that rotates freely while generating a soothing vibration in one’s fingertips. Advertisers claim fidget spinners to be the newest solution to channeling nervous energy and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. Despite all of the fanfare surrounding their functionality, fidget spinners may prove to be more of a hindrance to your child’s education than a help. Research shows that tactile or mind-focusing treatments can aid children experiencing symptoms of ADHD to a certain degree. In a Business Insider article, clinical psychologist Dr. Dave Anderson from the Clinical Mind Institute attests to the individual effectiveness of strategies like stress balls or music to calm to focus the mind. However, Dr. Anderson also states that “there are no universal recommendations of a particular toy for stress relief or a particular object for stress relief.“ Furthermore, there is little to no evidence that fidget spinners’ improve a child’s focus. In fact, since fidget spinners have only enjoyed a few months of popularity, no long term study of fidget spinners’ impact on child development exists at all. Therefore, experts are unable to verify the usefulness of fidget spinners to any degree; and the extent of their potential negative effects also remains unexplored. Many school systems have banned fidget spinners in classrooms, citing them as major distractions. Teachers feel that students utilize the fidget spinners as toys, rather than focus tools. The spinners distract pupils visually, causing the user to focus more on the spinner itself than on the lesson. School districts in both Massachusetts and Chicago were among the first to ban fidget spinners during instructional time, excluding only those students with clinically diagnosed conditions. Without legitimate evidence to bolster the claims of fidget spinners’ effectiveness, parents might want to exercise discretion when allowing their children to bring the devices to school. Even during homework time, fidget spinners may detract from studying and prolong the time required to finish assignments. With the mounting pressures of college admissions and the delicacy of your child’s development, is the risk of a fidget spinner throwing them off of their game really worth taking?
Education reform, “No Child Left Behind”, increased testing and requirements for students. Every country is seeking their competitive edge and educating future generations seems to be the key. Young minds are daily bombarded with tests and decisions regarding their future. Preschool parents are making choices about education and beginning foreign language in preparation for college. Though it’s true, you cannot begin too early in presenting a palette to these young minds, ready to absorb, it should be considered that these are individuals and have their own bent toward one subject or another. Each student will be “better at” and more inclined to certain subjects. “I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” – Albert Einstein It is our responsibility as parents and educators to supply knowledge in the subjects students desire as well as finding creative ways to teach common core subjects. The problem with a system is that it teaches one style to the majority. But there are some who learn differently and it should be every educator’s goal to teach each child how they learn, not how to learn. “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein Our future doesn’t lie in the hands of what the next generation learns but in the passion they have to follow their dreams. For born out this passion is an excellence in learning that can be surpassed by no educational reform. It is time to begin dreaming again. Society needs creatively thinking minds to solve the problems of the future. But if the system of education puts every child into a box that conforms their thinking to memorization and certain core knowledge, we as a a society risk the rise of a generation who cannot think for themselves. “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” ― Socrates. When students are allowed to orient their own learning, something wonderful occurs. They learn to discover what is beautiful to them and uncover its truths. When knowledge is sought, it blossoms into wisdom. Educators and caregivers, the challenge to you is to find each student’s gifting and nourish the object of their attention with questions and theories and allow them the freedom to discover truth for themselves. This world is big and meant to be explored.