Blog
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
Why Do Students Procrastinate?
Students make some inexplicable decisions. With full knowledge of the negative consequences, sometimes they just don’t do the work. They push it down the road,
How to Recognize and Rescue a Student with Burnout
The burnout phenomenon is often reserved for middle-aged career types, but I think that belief is misguided. Burnout affects all age types, and it is
How to Change Habits
I know, I know, another post about habits. We are firm believers in habits and routines for success at school and beyond. Habits form the
The Five Minute Prep
Too often, struggling students focus on the wrong problem and thus arrive at the wrong solution. Like most human beings, students mistake busyness with productivity,
How to Increase Willpower
Students are bombarded with distractions and decisions all day, at school and at home. Although we frequently prefer systems to plain, old willpower, sometimes the
The Feynman Technique
Simplicity is underrated. Albert Einstein once said, “if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” True mastery of a concept requires
Three Overlooked Steps in Creating a Winning Workspace
We are big organization people, here at Staying Ahead of the Game. From binders to backpacks, calendars to planners, and everything in between, we understand
The Pomodoro Technique
Students often tell us that they have a hard time motivating themselves to start studying. Once they get rolling, they are fine, but the genesis
Self-Evaluation: A Guide
Measuring progress is one of the essential steps in building academic momentum. We often use the analogy of a long-road trip to convey the necessary
Should My Student Use Flashcards?
Unfortunately, most students mock the mere suggestion of using flashcards to study. Seeing this academic staple as some outdated deterrent to progress, these students instead
A Productive Tool for Busy Students
A dean at a highly competitive Houston high school once told me, “students should expect three to four hours per night, including studying for tests
