Summer Boredom Busters With a Purpose

Kids need to be bored.  When they are bored, they get creative and think of things to do.  Watching TV and playing video games passes the time, but when the electronics are turned off, creativity can begin.  Sometimes, however, the kids need a little shove in the right direction. Sometimes they need us to help…

study tips for final exams

Making It Count – Nine Final Exam Study Tips

  Finals Survival Kit Make a Plan – Work backwards to determine a timeline for studying. For instance, if the final is on Thursday, then know that all of the prep materials should be finished by Sunday so that you have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to review and study the materials.  Give yourself deadlines for…

What Successful Students Do

What do successful students do?  The following characteristics help to distinguish successful students from average students.     They get organized. Learning how to effectively use a planner and developing a system for finding schoolwork is essential to being successful, especially when the workload gets more difficult in middle school and high school.   (For tips…

Tips for Reading With Your Child

Reading with your child is perhaps one of the most important gifts you will give as a parent.  Not only is it quality time together, it is also a way for your child to develop a love of reading that will serve her well her entire life.  The topics that you explore open doors for…

What You Can Do About Math Anxiety

  Panic has officially set in as the student stares blankly at the math test sitting in front of her.  She doesn’t have a clue how to do the problems even though she was pretty sure that she knew how to do them in class yesterday.  The panic worsens as the time ticks away, and…

ACT or SAT? That is the Question.

When trying to decide between the SAT and the ACT, the first place to look is the entrance requirements for your student’s desired colleges.   Most colleges accept both scores, but some still want one over the other, and you don’t want to discover that valuable piece of information after your student has already prepared for…

Help Your Student Write SMART Academic Goals

  A new semester means a fresh start for many students.   It’s the ideal time to sit down and develop SMART academic goals.  SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely.    They help you identify not just what you want but also why you want it, how you are going to get it, and…