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High School

College application essays can introduce the real you

November 24, 2014 | Posted in: High School

Seniors deep into completing college applications are wrestling with one of the most personal parts of the process: the college essay. While grades matter and extracurricular activities count, many college counselors will tell you that a college essay is where you can truly set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. “Let your life […]

Busy beavers are members of nature’s classroom

Busy beavers are members of nature’s classroom

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

They’ve been called master architects and engineers, but they’ve never spent a day in an actual classroom. Instead, they perfect their innate talent by watching and doing. They’re beavers, an animal we became curious about when we noticed several trees down alongside a small pond near our house. They leave in their wake a telltale […]

Gratitude takes time to nurture

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Research supports the idea that gratitude is good for us. It helps us form, sustain and strengthen supportive relationships, and contributes to the feeling that we’re connected to a caring community. This is true regardless of our age. According to researchers at The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, “Evidence from […]

‘Stayin Alive’ with CPR in schools

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

If someone next to you were to suddenly fall to the ground and stop breathing, would you know what to do? Would your children or your neighbor’s children know what to do? Most Americans would answer no. Less than a third of Americans say they know how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – a simple […]

Learning code introduces students to ‘new way of thinking’

November 12, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Students of all ages are acquiring a language that will serve them well in the future: They’re learning computer code. Educators say learning code exposes students to more than technical skills; they’re gaining critical thinking and problem solving skills that will serve them well in any future job. “Learning to program opens up a new […]

Staying connected to your child’s classroom

October 15, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

You’ve visited your child’s classroom for back-to-school night, met his/her teacher and scheduled your parent-teacher conference. Now what? Staying connected during the school year is an important step in your child’s education. More than 500 studies have shown the positive benefits that result when parents get involved in their children’s education, including improved grades and […]

Homework help: There’s an app for that

October 15, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Your child’s smartphone or tablet ranks high on the list of potential distractions to getting homework done. But instead of viewing technology solely as the enemy, you can harness its potential to improve organizational skills and enhance learning. An application called MyHomework (iOS, Android) provides a digital calendar for students to keep track of homework […]

SAT revisions begin in 2015

October 15, 2014 | Posted in: High School

A revamped SAT®, that globally recognized college admissions test created by the not-for-profit College Board, is set to debut in 2016 featuring changes in what’s tested, how it’s scored and how students prepare. The College Board is making comprehensive changes to the standardized test to reinforce the skills and evidence-based thinking that high school students […]

What do you want to be when you grow up?

October 1, 2014 | Posted in: High School

At a certain age, career choices seem limitless: firefighter, rock star, astronaut, princess. Fast-forward 10 years and the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” can trigger fear, anxiety and outright panic. This is especially true for juniors and seniors who feel pressured to make a decision about their options. The […]

Getting exercise a smart idea

October 1, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

A new study says exercise doesn’t just benefit kids’ physical health – it gives their brains a boost too. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that 70 minutes of play per day can improve children’s thinking, particularly in multitasking. The study included 222 children ages 7-9, of which 109 met after school […]