Blog

The Five R’s of Note-Taking
Have you ever watched a student highlight entire pages of a textbook, only to forget the material the next day? Or perhaps you’ve seen your

Writing as a Learning Skill
Writing as a Learning Skill Students often see writing as a means to an end. They are either good writers or not good writers; it’s

How to Reset Between Semesters
How to Reset Between Semesters Students overlook the transition between the fall and spring semesters. Much like how career athletes rave about the importance of

Crushing Standardized Test Day
Performing well on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT requires more than just mastering vocabulary and math formulas. It demands focus, composure, and the

Two Unconventional Time Management Tips
Time management is a skill that eludes many students, particularly those juggling schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social lives. With a packed schedule, finding time for

Growth Mindset
Section 1: Understanding the Growth Mindset The Growth Mindset, pioneered by psychologist Carol Dweck, is rooted in the belief that intelligence, abilities, and talents are

Planner Basics
Calendars and planners may seem like similar tools, but they serve distinct and complementary functions. Calendars are essential for scheduling events, while planners are key

The Exam Prep Cycle
The Challenge of Exams Exams are often a source of anxiety and pressure for students, but the challenge isn’t always rooted in a lack of

Rethinking Class Preparation
Rethinking Class Preparation As students progress through school, their approach to class time evolves significantly. Imagine a boat navigating a river, with two distinct banks

Conquering College
Conquering College The leap from high school to college is one of the most transformative—and challenging—experiences in a young adult’s life. It’s a time that

Communication & Self-Advocacy
Communication & Self-Advocacy Effective communication with teachers is a critical skill for students, especially in the modern age. Teacher communication is a pivotal component of

Why We Take Notes
Why We Take Notes Let’s talk about note-taking. This will not be a drawn out post about the Cornell method or venn diagramming. Instead, we’re

An Effective First Week of School
Students often struggle with assignments during the first week or two. To be clear, this isn’t because there are too many assignments; rather, it’s often

Why Cramming Doesn’t Work
As students head back to school in the next few weeks, there’s a sense of optimism. Back to school season is a time of fresh

How Can My Student Improve in Writing
Parents often ask us what their students should be working on over the summer. Summer break is an excellent time to fill in content gaps

Understanding and Avoiding Helicopter Parenting
Nobody likes a helicopter parent, right? Most of us have heard the term used at some point, probably in a critical way, but what exactly

Executive Function & School Cell Phone Policies
Executive functioning skills are crucial for students’ academic success and personal growth. These skills fall into four main categories: organization, time management, learning skills, and

Keeping Summer Math Packets Effective
This blog post is about a controversial subject. Well, it’s a controversial subject for students, at least. As summer approaches, students eagerly anticipate a break

Introduction and Overview of Executive Function
Executive Function (EF) refers to a set of cognitive processes that help individuals manage themselves and their resources to achieve goals. These processes include working

Helping Students Achieve Peak Performance
Final exams are similar to Olympic events. Just as an athlete trains relentlessly for four years for an event that may last mere seconds, students

Between Exams & Summer Vacation
As the final exams conclude, a common scene unfolds among students: stacks of notes are discarded, textbooks close for the last time, and school-built routines

Preparing for Cumulative Exams
For better or worse, cumulative exams are a constant of academic life. Although they seem like mere elongated versions of traditional assessments, in reality, these

Three Key Principles of Student Productivity
This is usually the month when final exam preparation finally becomes tangible. For months, students and teachers discuss cumulative exams in the abstract; this is

Learning More Effectively with Secondary Sources
The classroom is where learning traditionally happens, but it’s not the only place. Yet not all students resonate with the pace or style of this