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Finals week is almost here! This nerve-racking time wrought with anxiety can be tamed using the right mixture of organization, time management, learning skills, and impression management. As if students haven’t been stressed enough already during this COVID-19 school year with assignments, projects, and all sorts of tests & quizzes – now comes a deluge […]
How to Crush Finals Week Read More »
I cringe every time a student says they study by “just looking over notes.” What does that even mean? I can “look over” ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs for four hours and learn absolutely nothing. There are no stakes when looking over notes. You can’t fail, which means you can’t succeed. You don’t know when you are
Learning Technique: dynamic vs. static testing Read More »
After a full year of COVID-19, many industries and customs have changed. Almost everyone understands the basics of zoom etiquette, students have become much more comfortable with the technologies that make virtual classrooms possible, and humanity has once again invented a plethora of ways to both combat and profit off of a seemingly uncontrollable force.
Learning Loss: where we stand in 2021 Read More »
Coined by Angela Duckworth in her excellent book Grit, the term has become synonymous with a growth mindset, persistence, and a strong work ethic. In short, grit is the shared trait of the successful, the one key element that allows anyone to find their path and crush it. In the sections below, we outline the
The Science of Grit Read More »
If you have heard me speak at a school event or have been following our blog for a while, you know we’re big on organization. Binders are our bread and butter because they lay the foundation for student success. While it’s easy to see the benefits of an excellent organizational system as a parent or
Making Organization Appealing Read More »
A learning mindset is a powerful weapon in a student’s arsenal. When the inevitable failures and setbacks arise, students can reframe them as positive learning opportunities. In the sections below, we explain what a learning mindset is, why most students lose it somewhere in elementary school, and how to develop it again to help students
Developing a Learning Mindset Read More »
Learning how to write well is learning how to think well. The act of organizing aimless thoughts into coherent, compelling arguments is perhaps the most important skill students learn. That being said, writing a paper, like giving a speech, is one of the most anxiety-inducing tasks for high-school students. Debilitating writer’s block, the tedious nature
A Student’s Guide to Editing Read More »
Students, especially those struggling with learning differences, hear the phrase “just focus” far too often. This is the academic equivalent to telling a suddenly broken-down car to “just drive.” Perhaps, the car is out of gas. Maybe the transmission broke. It could even have a flat tire. In any case, telling the car to “just
Sooner or later, every student feels out of place. Whether it’s the unique challenge Geometry presents to a perennially solid math student or the uncomfortable transition to a new school, students need a method for regaining confidence, finding their bearings, and gritting their way through the discomfort. Self-efficacy is perhaps one of the most critical
Self-efficacy and The Environment Read More »
Students absolutely must learn how to disagree with teachers, parents, and peers in a respectful manner. This one skill is the foundation for self-advocacy. Failing to learn the art of disagreement can have disastrous consequences both inside and outside the classroom. Luckily, this skill, like all executive functioning skills, can be taught. In the sections
Self- Advocacy Spotlight: learning how to disagree Read More »
