Blog
Avoiding and Recovering from Absences
As the school year goes on and the weather gets colder, students spend more and more time indoors. While there are some great things about
A System for Learning How to Learn
One of the most difficult attributes required to be an effective student is learning how to learn. As nebulous as that attribute sounds, it’s not
How to Keep Technology Helpful
The educational environment is totally different today than it was twenty, ten, or even five years ago. Most parents and teachers didn’t grow up in
How to Hit the Ground Running
Starting the new semester on the right foot can set the tone for the rest of the academic year. Some students are amped up to
Mental Health during Exams
Mental Health during Exams As students prepare to face the academic decathlon called midterms, we wanted to compile our best tips for maintaining one’s mental
5 Keys to Cumulative Exams
It’s December. As everyone else focuses on holiday preparations and end of year meetings, students only have one thing on their minds: midterms. Midterms (or
The Need to be Perfect: How Perfectionism Can Hurt a Student’s Success
Perhaps the following scenario sounds familiar. A hypothetical student, Jessica, has a history of excellence in school and extracurricular activities. She shoots for the moon
Cultivating Curiousity
Helping students become capable and confident beyond the parameters of the classroom is central to our mission. To help with this mission, we often organize
How Successful Students Sleep
High school students are overworked. Starting their day at 7:30 or earlier, they spend eight hours or more in the classroom, and attend one or
How Students Can Supercharge Their Organization
We love organization at SAOTG; that’s been made clear. Our stance on educational technology, on the other hand, is often misunderstood. Yes, we have written
Self-Testing: The Hallmark of Successful Students
Being a successful student depends on two factors: preparation and performance. Students should pursue mastery in both of these areas because emphasizing one at the
Annotating vs. Underlining
Part of high school (or some more competitive middle school programs) is learning how to read. By this, we don’t mean learning how to sound
An Unconventional Approach to Textbook Reading
Most students despise textbook reading assignments, and it’s not hard to see why. Textbooks are built to be boring. The density of the book alone
Break Time
Breaks get a bad wrap. Whether it’s the never quit mentality instilled in our kids through sports or the workaholic tendencies of many seemingly admirable
Summer Reading
Summer reading seemed like such an easy feat several months ago, as finals week turned into summer break. Read a book and write an essay,
Recognizing Smart Students with Executive Function Deficiencies
Too often smart students don’t have the results to match their potential. The most frustrating students are often the most capable ones. Recognizing and helping
How Students Can Become More Creative
Wouldn’t it be amazing if every student had the creative brilliance of Pablo Picasso, Walt Disney, or Marie Curie? Imagine a classroom full of creative,
Teaching Students to Ask Better Questions
Teachers have been imploring students to ask questions for as long as I can remember. In fact, most classes, from preschool to high school, reserve
EF Beyond the Classroom: Why Some Unstructured Summertime is Good
Summer presents an interesting opportunity disguised as a dilemma. Students wrap up final exams, releasing themselves into a vacuum of unstructured time. Freedom in moderation
Why Vocabulary Matters & How to Improve It
Learning vocabulary is a tricky prospect, isn’t it? Endlessly important, yet mysterious to teach, the subject of vocabulary remains a sore spot in most classrooms
The Optics of Learning
When we think about the physiology of learning, in other words, the physical aspects of how students learn, the eyes are too often overlooked. We
Write Less, But More Often
I played soccer growing up, and nothing released pure pandemonium on the practice field like the coach announcing a full-field scrimmage. All we wanted to
How to Succeed In College
The transition between high school and college is laden with trapdoors, many of which have nothing to do with academic prowess. There are three main
Boredom is Really Important
Boredom is misunderstood. To most individuals, boredom is something to be avoided at all costs. Boredom is watching paint dry or watching grass grow. It’s
