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The ACT is about to undergo some significant changes, and as the owner of iAchieve Learning, I want to ensure that parents and students are fully informed about what’s coming in the spring of 2025. These updates are designed to …

Preparing for the ACT Math section requires a strategic approach beyond memorizing formulas. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore nine effective ways to improve your math score on the ACT. Whether you’re a student aiming for a top score or …

Multiple articles and books are available on how to help struggling readers increase their overall reading achievement through research-based strategies and activities. These focus mainly on improving fluency and comprehension skills. But what about the kids that have true learning …

Going through the ups and downs of school grades is something all students and parents deal with. When the report card isn’t as good as expected, it raises worries about what to do next. This is a common experience from …

We all have to take notes, but let’s be honest – it’s not the most exciting part of studying. The good news is that there are simple ways to make note-taking more interesting. Learning how to do this makes studying …

Navigating the path to college can be challenging for high school students, especially when faced with the daunting ACT or SATs. Many students don’t earn their goal score the first time they take the ACT or SAT, which is normal.  …

Parenting is a thrilling journey filled with moments of joy, yet it comes with its share of challenges. Few experiences tug at a parent’s heart more than watching their child struggle academically. As report cards roll in, the worry of …

Is your child constantly moving, fidgeting during study sessions, or pacing around when tackling homework? They might be a kinesthetic learner. Kinesthetic learners are a unique group of students who absorb information best through physical movement and hands-on experiences. As …

Regarding the ACT and SAT, the path to success is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. The pressure to excel in these standardized tests, pivotal in college admissions, can overwhelm students. But here at iAchieve Learning, we firmly believe that …

Understanding Dyslexia and Recognizing Its Signs Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects reading, writing, and spelling. Parents need to understand that dyslexia is more than just seeing reversed letters, and the misconceptions surrounding it can profoundly impact a child’s …

The ACT Reading section is often seen as one of the most challenging parts of the test. With four lengthy reading passages and just 35 minutes to complete them, the pressure is on. Each passage has 10 questions, leaving you …

Beginning your college exploration is an exciting step for both students and parents, but it’s also a crucial decision that requires careful consideration. Your choices during this process will shape your academic and personal growth, career path, and life experiences. …

At the start of another academic year, parents suddenly become the directors of their children’s educational journey, and it’s like trying to stage a Broadway show with no prior rehearsal – you just hope for a standing ovation. Beyond dropping …

Math anxiety is a common obstacle that students face, often beginning at a young age and continuing into adulthood. This anxiety can stem from various factors, including negative experiences in the classroom, societal pressure to excel, and even well-intentioned but …

As parents, we understand the challenges of keeping our children engaged and focused while studying. Distractions such as cell phones, social media, tv programs, and the ever-enticing world outside can quickly derail even the best intentions. That’s why we’ve gathered …

The college application process can be exciting and nerve-wracking for high school students. One of their pivotal decisions is choosing between the ACT and the SAT and which test is a better fit for them. These standardized tests can play …

Do you often tell yourself that you’ll study later, only to binge-watch your favorite show or scroll through social media for hours? You’re not alone. Procrastination is a common struggle many students face, causing stress, missed deadlines, and lower grades. …

Getting organized can be a big challenge for many students! Students of all ages need help with organization, which can hinder other essential executive functioning skills such as time management and study skills. When you are organized, you save time. …

There are various schooling options available for children nowadays that parents should take the time to consider. If your child is not getting the most out of their current school’s classroom situation, why not look to see what else is …

After nearly two decades of education with a Master’s degree in Reading and Literacy with a Reading Specialist certificate and thousands and thousands of hours spent reading children’s books, I decided to write my book for kids finally… and get …

When I was a young child, growing up in the early to mid-1980s, there wasn’t much concern about screen time. After all, computers were not household items; we only had four channels on our big console television sets.    Certainly, …

Everyone has a subject that they liked the least in school. It’s a common thing. Most of the time, it is a subject that they are perhaps struggling with. Their low scores in that subject can be attributed to two …

Just because it is summertime doesn’t mean children should stop learning. On the other hand, kids often need a bit of a break from classroom learning, and the summer months really provide this. So what are we to do?   …

Children need more than just good readers; they must also comprehend the text they read. As a certified Reading Specialist, I have assisted thousands of kids with improving their reading comprehension over the years.    If your child is struggling …

When parents first consider having their child pursue learning an instrument or even taking singing lessons, they often don’t realize the many benefits that go with a musical education.  Learning an instrument is quite the undertaking and the number of …

Once that final day of school ends and the summer begins, children usually think they do not want to learn anything new in the next few months. But the trick is to present them with little trips here and there …

As a certified Reading Specialist with a Master’s in Reading and Literacy, I have helped thousands of children improve their reading skills. I have worked with children that either struggled because they had an actual reading disability or they didn’t …

Whether you expect to graduate from high school in a couple of weeks or are a high school junior getting ready to become a senior in a few months, you must prepare quickly for what is right around the corner. …

Summer break is just around the corner. It won’t be long before the kids are home all day, and they will no longer have to wake up early to head off to school. It will be a much-needed break for …

Politicians will spend a great deal of time on plenty of school issues. Whether they are seriously concerned about the problems or just trying to sway more votes their way can be debated. However, one significant point that needs to …

More and more high schools require high school students to fulfill several hours of volunteering before they can graduate. As a parent and an educator, I see plenty of positives that go along with asking high school students to contribute …

Children often get frustrated with trying their hand at writing simply because they have difficulty figuring out how to start the process. Whether fiction or nonfiction, they sometimes need a hand in creating the story’s beginning or report.    As …

Some will preach that using technology with children in and out of the classroom will increase student learning. However, I have witnessed educators employing technology in their classrooms to jump on the trend, but how they were using it was …

Back in the day, the only place for children to take extracurricular activities was at the school they were attending. Times have really changed! Even the smallest of towns usually have plenty of extracurricular activities to choose from that are …

As a primary educator who has worked with young elementary students for more than a decade, I have witnessed parents delay their children’s start in kindergarten quite often. And they have had several reasons to do so. Some reasons are …

It is common for an educator to begin the school year by having their classroom quiet. The students are still feeling the teacher out and are a bit shy.    But before long, the students generally become more active and …

With college practically right around the corner for many high school seniors, it is best to be totally prepared. There is much to prepare for, and if you aren’t careful, you could fall behind even before starting your college courses.  …

My father was a high school science teacher and coach for over 30 years before deciding to retire. He has always enjoyed keeping in touch with many former students and athletes. As my dad passed about two years ago, we …

Sometimes the authors that write the most beloved children’s books are even more fascinating than the tales they tell. Here are a few of the top authors that have made a career writing for children of all ages and their …

It can be challenging to keep children motivated to read. Whether you are a parent with kids or an educator with a classroom full of students, children can sometimes lose interest in finding new books to read.    The trick …

Sometimes the only thing separating an average student from a student consistently earning high scores is an established routine. Once an effective studying pattern is implemented and the student sticks to it, they may achieve more than they thought.    …

Even the best of us get hacked or scammed online. Thinking our young students can protect themselves and their privacy while using the internet with just a few minutes of guidance is not probable. We built our house a few …

I’ve been a public school educator for more than a decade. I attended public school for my whole education when I was younger. I want to think that I am pretty knowledgeable about both the good and the bad of …

Back in the day, when I worked with many high school students interested in going on to college, I would often get asked whether colleges and universities were more likely to prefer the ACT or SAT standardized exam. The students …

In Illinois, a child can begin kindergarten at the age of five as long as they have turned five years old by September first of that school year. Some parents wait until the child is six years old and better …

As an educator that has worked with thousands of young children, I know there is always a handful of them every year that have such severe communication issues that it can be challenging to get a complete sentence out of …

Most parents send their children to public schools as it is an inexpensive way to educate students. Funded by the government through taxpayer money, public schools are either entirely free for families or they may have a small fee attached.  …

Student data privacy should be a concern for all school districts and students, as personal information can be gathered by companies and individuals that don’t always have your best interest in mind. Technology has changed the education landscape for the …

With winter break just arriving for most elementary and high school students, it provides the kids a chance to destress and enjoy the holidays. This break is needed for mental and emotional health as it allows the students to quit …

The college application process can sometimes be confusing. There have been times when high school seniors are left wondering why they were not accepted into their college of choice when their classmate was accepted, and they had a lower overall …

When children are not receiving the best grades in school, parents often attribute it to the kids not studying hard enough and giving their best. However, that may not be the case.   There are plenty of learning disorders children …

With the holiday break almost here for high school seniors, it is the perfect time to nail down the college you will be attending in nine short months (if you haven’t already done so).    And that is only one …

As an educator for 20 years, I have worked with students of all ages and for almost every subject possible. Through the years, I have helped struggling students that never thought they could achieve good grades become some of the …

Sometimes as adults, we mistakenly do not realize the stress our children are going through. We are so busy with our own lives and how many bills we have to pay that we don’t consider how stressful school and the …

 Maker learning or maker education are new terms currently surfacing in school districts here and there around the country. However, it probably won’t be long before these phrases are heard more often. Maker learning is centered around engaging students by …

Class size has been one of education’s most significant issues for the last several decades. With school budgets limiting the number of educators they can hire and the physical school size limiting the number of classrooms in the building, it …

Have you considered trying for such a solid score on your ACT or SAT that, in turn, you may be able to receive a scholarship to your college of choice?   Well… now is the time.    The average scores …

Whether you are still in high school, have already entered college, or just have a bit of free time on your hands and want to learn something new, with a little bit of hunting, there are thousands of free online …

Most people entering college view it as a four-year commitment. With many college majors, such as education, it can even stretch into five years before the person earns their degree.    But with some planning, high school students can shorten …

In most classrooms, there is a focus on academic skills and book learning. However, have you ever met someone that has been amazingly smart in school-related topics but couldn’t manage to do daily life tasks without looking clueless?   Life …

Everyone has some sort of internal dialogue circulating in their mind. Sometimes we express our self-talk aloud verbally for all to hear, but many times it is simply thoughts that go on in our psyche.  Whatever the case, it is …

A million years ago, when I was a high school senior, I took the ACT standardized exam and scored a 21. My guidance counselor then told me this was a good score because he said a score of 18 was …

It has been shown that young children with strong literacy skills perform well across all subject areas. And it is for a good reason. Every subject requires reading. Even with mathematics, a student must carefully read the directions or sometimes …

For seniors just starting their final year in high school, it is not all about just coasting until graduation. There needs to be a game plan in place to ensure you are completing everything that needs to be done before …

Sometimes, you have to twist a few arms to get students to become writers. They often equate classroom writing with having to do essays on topics that maybe don’t excite them. They aren’t alone. Some of the world’s best professional …

It is something that both parents and educators are concerned about. But perhaps they shouldn’t be. Or at least modify their thinking on the topic. Screen time is a huge issue in education. There is the thought that a child …

Kids are excited to find out who their new classroom teacher is and which of their friends are in the same classroom. Even the students who are not all that fond of school are intrigued with the newness of the …

Kids learn best in a variety of ways. (And while we are at it, adults are the same way.) What might work well for one person as they try their best to learn about something new may not work well …

Although there are some places of higher learning that are not requiring prospective students to take either the ACT or SAT, don’t be so quick to forgo either standardized test.    According to the Wall Street Journal, 1.7 million high school …

Sometimes it can be difficult for parents to commit to hiring a tutor to help their child. After all, there is not only the time commitment involved but also a financial aspect. However, that’s the difference between a professional tutor …

As a father of a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son, I am in a bit of a pickle when it comes to deciding whether our children will thrive in a preschool setting. I have been a primary elementary school …

There can often be a thin line between a student who is at the end of their rope and a student who looks forward to attending school most days. Frustration can eventually boil over if not careful and leave the …

Regardless of what a few politicians may say at the moment, don’t expect the government to come in and pay for your college expenses. There is a much better chance of stumbling across a pot of gold in your backyard …

Out of all the components that could affect a student’s chance of getting accepted into the college of their choice, their ACT/SAT score is pretty high on the list. A poor standardized test score could make the college admission board …

Whether you just completed your first year of high school or are wrapping up your final year there, the summer is the perfect time to get your eggs in a row and tackle some college planning.  It won’t take long …

As an educator with a one-year-old son and a soon-to-be three-year-old daughter, I realize homeschooling is not the easiest of tasks, but it may be time to consider it seriously. Of course, much of it depends on whether a parent …

A few days every school year, administrators will introduce professional development topics for their teaching staff. There are times when the information provided can be really beneficial for educators. And then there are other moments when the teaching staff is …

In many respects, a child’s social skills are just as critical as the knowledge they gain in and out of school each day. Being able to act responsibly in public or even maintaining strong relationships day in and day out …

Whether you are an educator or a student, it would not be a bad idea to address any shortcomings you may have concerning education during the next few summer months. Rather than take the whole summer off, sleep late, and …

I was usually the only male elementary school teacher in the districts I worked with. Because of this, I was often placed with some of the most troubled students that perhaps just needed a strong male influence in their lives.  …

With the popularity of podcasts quickly spreading across the globe, almost anyone can have their own “radio program.” Who knows?  The quiet neighbor down the street may record a podcast every week and have tens of thousands of subscribers. There …

When the school budget gets into the red every now and then, districts always discuss cutting the school’s funds for music as one of their first solutions. It happens in real life and in the film quite often (think Here …

Before the COVID pandemic, there was a legitimate shortage of teachers in most states, with school districts concerned. It was a combination of teachers choosing to leave the field and more young people deciding to pursue a different major in …

It’s hard to believe that this school year will conclude in another month and a half. It seems like only yesterday the students were showing up in their new classrooms and trying to get a feel for the teacher they …

The world has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. Colleges are starting to promote these changes by adding various new majors and areas of study to their curriculum.    If you are a prospective future college student, you …

Parents often mistakenly believe that if their child passes all of their subjects in school, then there is no need to invest a little money and time in a tutor to assist them. However, this is not the case for …

As previously discussed a couple of weeks ago, Response to Intervention (RTI) is a program used quite frequently around the country. Established in 2004 through the federal government’s Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), RTI is used in most school districts …

As a nation, we are out of shape. There is no getting around it. According to the World Atlas website and other organizations that keep track of obesity, 36.2 percent of the adult population in the United States has a …

Response to Intervention (RTI) was established in 2004 through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to identify and assist struggling learners. Using a universal screener and teacher input, students were identified as having difficulty academically. They would be provided interventions …

Motivation is essential for learning. If a child is motivated, they can learn just about anything. And it would be great if every kid had internal motivation that always inspired them to gain knowledge on the topics at hand, but …

It may not seem like it now, but spring is just around the corner! And whether you are a parent or an educator, there are fun little projects you should ponder doing with your children to get them excited about …

When remote learning was sprung on the country during the pandemic, school districts and educators were essentially trying to learn on the fly. They were trying to figure out the best ways to incorporate remote learning across the board for …

We have all heard the saying that music can soothe the savage beast, but did you also realize there is research proving that music can also increase student performance? There are more benefits to playing music in the classroom and …

I’ve been on both sides of the equation regarding class sizes. As a student, I have been in classrooms where there have been less than ten students and, on the flip side, being in giant lecture halls where there have …

Even if you are a veteran educator who has decades under your belt in the classroom, you know that there is no such thing as a typical school year. No matter how many times you think you have seen it …

Students who have suffered through traumatic events in their lives often have behavior issues and problems maintaining good grades in school. While a few kids don’t seem affected by troubling circumstances in their lives, for the majority, it is an …

Some students will confess that they just aren’t good test-takers. They say the anxiety and stress will get to them, and as a result, they will perform poorly on exams.   I say that sounds like a built-in excuse for …

Whether you are a parent or an educator, you know how difficult it is firsthand to get children paying close attention while trying to teach them something. If their attention span and focus are wandering away, their body may be …

With another variant of Covid making its presence known, remote learning is rearing up once again for many school districts.    How long will it last this time? Who knows.   Omicron sounds an awful lot like a name for …

Learning gaps (or achievement gaps) can arise in students because of a lack of qualified teaching, parental educational background, family income level, disinterested students, or for a variety of other reasons.    The trick is to bridge the learning gap, …

There’s no getting around it for most of us. College is expensive! And while there may be talk about forgiving student loans by the current administration in the White House, don’t count on it. Nothing in life is free.  Rather …

Math is one of the subjects in school. If the student is not actively using the skills they have learned, they will soon forget how to solve the equation, determine the angle, figure out the ratio, or use mathematics for …

No one ever said that teaching would be easy. While it is a highly noble profession, and many people who first enter it get caught up in its romanticizing, certain drawbacks accompany the job. How Many Teachers Leave Education Entirely? …

It is quite simple. If you have a high-grade point average (GPA), you will usually be ranked near the top of your high school class, and getting into college will be much easier.    Any money you can save on …

Children, just like adults, should always have goals in place that will make them work hard as they try their best at succeeding in life. Without goals, we tend to meander leisurely through the days without accomplishing as much as …

We all have been there. We sit down and watch a film and feel like we can conquer the world. Movies have a way of inspiring us as nothing else does. After all, you can admit it. The first time …

Children usually first get introduced to fictional stories and tales when learning to read. Now and then, they may encounter a short book about animals, colors, and shapes, but for the most part, kids are taught how to read mainly …

Education technology has undoubtedly changed the way students approach learning. For instance, back in the day, kids would either have to visit the local library to stockpile books to read or hope they had a decent collection of books at …

For people who have taken the literacy leap, listening to an audiobook narrated by the perfect storyteller can be just as pleasurable as reading the book yourself. (Plus, sometimes you even receive the benefit of hearing the author read the …

Whether you are an educator in a classroom, a parent homeschooling your children, or just a mom and dad wanting to provide their lessons to their kids, don’t let Halloween pass you by without using it as a teachable moment.  …

As a certified Reading Specialist, I have assisted more than a thousand students in developing their literacy skills. For one reason or another, children may fall behind with their reading skills. It happens. But rather than making a “wait and …

Colleges often use either the ACT or SAT score of a prospective student to help determine if the person will be successful in higher education. These schools will take these scores from the standardized exams and figure out if the …

As adults, if we are not musically inclined, we always pine away at the thought of learning how to play an instrument and make music at the drop of a hat. I have tried to learn a few instruments myself …

Just recently, in Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law stating that students will be able to take up to five mental health days off a year from school beginning in January. The students do not need a …

Whether you are a professional educator teaching students in a classroom or a parent that is trying to educate their kids at home, there are certain qualities that make an excellent teacher that you should be aware of. If you …

Homeschooling has never been more popular in America as it is right now. And there are legitimate reasons why parents choose to teach their children at home rather than send them off to public school. Plus, with numerous states having …

Achieving a solid score on the ACT or SAT standardized exam will make getting into the college of your choice much easier. Rather than relegate yourself into staying with a less than desirable score, there are things you can do …

If your child has not started school already for this new school year, they soon will. Districts have begun classes all over the country, and students have let out one substantial dreadful sigh.    However, it does not have to …

Don’t be fooled for a second by some of the comments coming out of high schools and places of higher learning. Lately, there has been talk from educational institutions that the ACT and SAT will no longer be required for …

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, you may have noticed that kids don’t seem to have the best attention span nowadays. And who can blame them? In this world of technology, we all tend to break out our …

As a certified reading specialist with a Master’s degree in Reading and Literacy, I have worked with literally thousands of students at all grade levels. Some students are gifted and ahead of the rest of their class, and others have …

When students take a break from the classroom during the summer months, the dreaded summer learning loss can often show its head. Research has shown that the learning loss maybe just a month or two from the knowledge they have …

When introducing knowledge to children, whether they are the youth, adolescents, or even young adults, in and out of the classroom, there are those of us who just like to lecture or offer up information without being interrupted. We tend …

Determining how well a student has learned a topic or subject has not changed much over the last couple of centuries. For the most part, teachers will present a quiz or test for the students to take, and their score …

Recent polls over the last decade have shown that the most popular subjects in school are generally Math, English, Reading, and, of course, Physical Education. However, if History were approached differently in the classroom rather than being taught straight out …

We live in the age of instant gratification. If we want to watch the latest tv show or movie, we simply stream it in seconds. If we need to know how to get somewhere, we download it straight to our …

With summer upon us, educators often view the next few months just like many students do. It is a time to relax and do a summer reset to come into the next school year ready to go. However, teachers are …

Even though the COVID vaccine is proving to be successful, it does not remove the fear or hesitation parents and students will have when school begins back up in the fall. Changes have to be made in the classroom and …

As the school year ends, the summer begins, and students are excited about having a few months off from the classroom. However, this does not mean they should take a total break from learning. The summer learning slide is a …

It was announced recently that the largest school district in the United States, New York City, will not offer remote learning due to COVID when school starts up again in the fall. It may not be too far-fetched to think …

We were all kids once. For most of us, the last thing we wanted to do when we were young during the summer was to keep on doing school work. That sort of stuff could really interfere with the other …

Having a solid ACT or SAT score will open a lot of doors for you. Colleges that once seemed out of your grasp may welcome you with open arms. However, a poor score could have the complete opposite effect.  When …

Whether you are a parent or an educator, it is essential to keep the kids reading through the summer. Summer learning loss is a real thing, and if your child does not pick up many books during these next few …

The summer learning loss is a real thing. When the students stop attending school for what equals two and a half to three months, bad things happen. According to research, after third grade, students lose about 20 percent of their gains …

When Alexa first hit the scene in November 2014, it cemented itself into a must-have for most families worldwide. A virtual voice assistant offered by Amazon, the Alexa is a permanent fixture with more than a few hundred million located …

For those of you who are going on to higher learning after graduating from high school, you probably have a college in mind that you would love to be accepted at and attend. It does not matter if you are …

There are plenty of misconceptions about tutoring that should be put to rest for all students’ benefit. Working one-on-one or in a small group with a knowledgeable tutor is something all kids should experience if they have the opportunity. Here …

The amount of EdTech (educational technology) available out there for school districts to discover and invest in is quite mindblowing at the moment. It is, of course, a multi-billion dollar industry, and it continues to grow even during the pandemic.  …

The United States is facing a health condition just as alarming as COVID. However, the media is not paying any attention to it at the moment.    Nearly 40 percent of all adults in the U.S. are classified as clinically …

For a student to be successful in their studies, there must be communication between the parents and the teacher. Indeed, many students can manage their own work, but for the most part, students need the support of both their teacher …

Bullying is a severe problem in schools across the globe and has been for many decades. Back in the day, the bullying would usually only happen at the brick-and-mortar school itself. But with social media nowadays, it can seem like …

Whether you have already graduated from college and started your journey into a career or are still currently taking courses, There is an excellent chance you are going to be left with some student loans.  College is expensive, and there …

Have you ever traveled to a foreign country where they speak a different language than those you are familiar with? Just trying to order a simple meal can be an adventure. We tend to nod our heads and point at …

Coming from a family of eleven, we often found it challenging to make ends meet throughout the year. Families who don’t have adequate finances for many of the things that other families take for granted are areas in children’s lives …

To be a strong educator, you must connect to the students in the classroom and present them with valuable information to help them succeed later in life. This means more than memorizing dates and equations. Educators must provide their students …

I’ve always dreamt of being able to sit down at the piano and pound away on the ivories while sounding even just a little bit like Jerry Lee Lewis. Unfortunately, no matter how many instruments I have tried to learn, …

Some individual students can review something once and recall it weeks later without any assistance. On the other hand, plenty of students need to find specific strategies that could work for them. Just because a student is currently struggling does …

The COVID virus turned the whole world on its head. People could no longer leave the house in some areas, and working from home was a luxury that more of us would have liked to partake in.    In the …

One thing the COVID virus has made educators learn quickly is how valuable technology can be in education. Of course, many educators already knew this. However, remote learning brought about a crash course on using tech for education, and teachers …

In the world of education, as seniors are getting set to graduate from high school and figure out what they should do next, the importance of higher learning is lobbied to the masses. For most, they choose to head to …

I taught primary students in elementary school for close to a decade. Being the only male elementary teacher in the school district, I may have noticed a few things that others did not.  For instance, young kids can often say something in …

As an educator of 15 years and another 10 years spent working in adoption respite helping children manage the circumstances life had dealt them, I realized something true across the board.    Most times in life, the only difference between …

I was a second-year teacher when my school district decided to go all-in on the 1:1 computer initiative in and out of the classroom. The district I was teaching in was a low-income one, with more than 50 percent of …

Learning a second language can help your cognitive skills. Not only does it open up a new world to the person as they know more about the customs and traditions associated with the new language. Also, speaking a different language …

As educators and parents, we need to raise children that are well-rounded across the board in all aspects. These children should grow to be well-respected adults later on in life who are educated, have the right social and emotional learning, …

Everyone needs a goal to work towards. As adults, we have set many types of goals ranging from paying off our mortgage to starting a family. It provides an idea and an incentive about what we are working towards. It …

As an educator that has helped numerous high school students construct their perfect essay for hopeful entrance into the college of their choice, I would like to think that I have quite a bit of wisdom to share on this …

Whether you are a parent with some questions about your child’s achievement in school or an educator who wants to promote more academic help at home, parent-teacher conferences can be a slippery slope to navigate. Even under the best of …

As educators and parents, we are always interested in figuring out solutions to problematic issues that students encounter in the school system nowadays. After all, if the kids have fewer problems, then we adults will have fewer problems. There is …

As an educator, I can speak firsthand the difficulties of students had that didn’t have consistent schedules at home. They often would not get their homework completed, get enough sleep, or even have breakfast in the morning. They were behind …

For about ten years, I worked for two school districts as the AIMS web manager. Not only did I arrange all the benchmark assessments for grades kindergarten through eighth grade, but I spent considerable time with all of the educators …

There are very few days that are as memorable in school every year than Halloween. Being able to dress in costume, throwing room parties with chaperones, and just having a good time in the classroom makes it one of the …

Besides being an educator who has worked with hundreds of young children with various speech issues, I know firsthand the difficulty of not pronouncing sounds and articulating words accurately. I would see a speech pathologist once or twice a week …

While academics are promoted in education consistently and for a good reason, social and emotional learning should be trumpeted throughout all years in education from preschool through college. When looking at society today, it seems like something children and adults …

Assignment writing is unquestionably a difficult task for all college students out there. There are different urgent features related to the equivalent. From writing a great postulation statement to confining the body sections with applicable sources on the side of …

When students are placed into a self-contained classroom for most of the day, generally in grades kindergarten through sixth grade, that classroom is their everything.  Of course, they may go to classes such as Art or Music once a week …

Children are smart, and it can be challenging to get things by them. For instance, they learn to question the presented curriculum provided by their teachers in the classroom at an early age. The students may not voice their displeasure …

How many times as a parent or teacher do we hear, “Why do I have to learn this?” And some of the time, we don’t have the right answer. We sort of fake it and come up with something on …

As a primary elementary school teacher that works with young children all of the time, I get asked frequently for advice from concerned parents of toddlers. “What should I be doing with my child now, so they are ready for …

It appears more and more school districts are choosing to go with a combination of remote learning and in the classroom curriculum as the school year gets off to a start. As administrators and educators try to figure out what …

As most of us already know, there is considerable uncertainty about the upcoming school year. Individual school districts are already running while others are waiting until early or mid-September before starting classes. And this is just the beginning.  Depending upon …

With the upcoming school year currently a COVID question mark for many school districts across the country, administrators are thinking and rethinking the possibilities of educating them these next nine months.  In my region, it is almost changing weekly. Two …

I bet all of us, no matter our age, can still remember a handful of teachers from our childhood that stood head and shoulders above the rest. For one reason or another, these educators were more than just the average …

A “strengths-based” perspective is one in which instead, of focusing on peoples’ deficiencies and problems, we highlight their abilities, talents, and resources. Sounds easy enough. But in practice, how can we ensure we are always accentuating the positive for our students …

With the upcoming school year in Illinois still up in the air depending upon what individual school districts and Governor Pritzker decide, it does sound like this school year will be unlike any other. At the moment, it appears that …

School districts across America are discussing how best to reopen for the upcoming school year with COVID being a worrisome threat to the health of students, teachers, and parents. In the last couple of weeks, school boards have been under …

As the uncertainty of COVID continues to grow with the media seemingly contradicting itself with the current severity of the disease, so does the uneasiness about what the upcoming school year could look like. Of course, much of the anxiety …

With iAchieve offering a Young Writer’s Workshop in July that will hopefully inspire many children out there to explore their creativity, I thought it would be interesting to examine the work of several legends in the world of literature. Most …

By the time your child walks into their classroom for the new school year, it will probably have been about six months since they were in such a setting. With the COVID quarantine that was put into place in March, …

With summer underway and the COVID quarantine still partially in place for much of the country, a teenager’s opportunities for summer fun these next few months are drastically limited. For instance, in the area where I live, all public pools …

To say it has been an interesting last few months would be the ultimate understatement of all time. First, we had the COVID quarantine, and following that has been severe social unrest. Even if you aren’t sure if your children …

Every child has their favorite subject in school. (Of course, when I was in school a million years ago, I always used to say my favorite subjects were lunch and recess.) While those students loving math, technology, and science seem …

If you search hard enough, you can find a scholarship that will pay for all or part of college when you are ready to enroll in higher learning. There are literally thousands of scholarships available and all that is keeping …

Every parent is always worried about the “summer learning loss” for their child during a normal summer, and this is going to be anything but your average summer. The quarantine is still in place for many parts of Illinois and …

As the quarantine slowly lifts in many regions across the country, it has already wrapped up the school year for most districts. The attempt to educate the students through e-learning met with some success in many areas, but for the …

As the quarantine continues on for many states, Illinois for example, and the school year is coming to a halt for most earlier than expected, there is currently a demand by a few governors that we continue to change the …

Even before the quarantine hit and the school year was flipped upside down, there were problems in most public school districts. One of the main issues was that classrooms were overflowing with students. It was not uncommon to find a …

Right about now you probably either feel one of two ways after a month and a half of homeschooling your children during the quarantine. Homeschooling isn’t so bad! I am starting to get the hang of this! OR How long …

As the coronavirus quarantine is reaching the end of its first month, I have been approached (through email, text, and phone calls since nobody can actually approach any of us at the moment) by concerned parents asking for help. They …

With the coronavirus quarantine still in effect, parents all over the country are learning just how difficult it can be to homeschool their children. In fact, many parents are ready to tap out altogether. However, on the other hand, there …

As more and more weeks are getting added to the coronavirus quarantine, parents are quickly figuring out just how difficult it can be to homeschool their children. In fact, it appears realistically at the moment that the quarantine just may …

A whole lot has changed in the last few weeks with the emergence of the coronavirus in the United States and it does not appear that it is going to change back anytime soon. The upper respiratory disease began in …

This has been a strange and highly unusual last couple of weeks. The coronavirus, which supposedly began in China, comes from a family of viruses that mostly affect animals. However, it made the leap to affecting humans as well and …

By the time senior year rolls around in high school, many of the students have a good idea about what college they will eventually be moving on to (if they are choosing to attend college) and what their possible major …

All through high school, the students hear about how the ACT could make or break them. It is literally on every student’s mind, especially during their junior and senior years. It is thought that one outstanding score on the ACT …

What good is an academic education if your lifestyle is causing you to experience not only a lesser quality of life but a shorter life as well? To say that a good portion of the population in the United States …

It appears all school districts across the country are facing a shortage of funds. And when the school is in the red, one of the first things they reduce or cut entirely are class field trips. It is always a …

The single biggest change since education began is the use of technology both in and out of the classroom. If you went back far enough to prehistoric times, you would find an adult caveman showing the younger children how to …

Perhaps no other part of the ACT is more feared than the essay section. After all, it does require a lot more than simply choosing an answer from a multiple-choice question. Plus, writing is subjective as one ACT scorer might …

I can still recall the days where being a teacher meant that you were a highly regarded member of the community. In some areas, this is still the case. But not often enough. It seems that being an educator has …

If you have spent any time studying for the ACT or have taken it in the past, then you know that each section can be scored up to a 36. Of course, very few achieve the ultimate score of 36 …

Usually around a student’s junior and senior years in high school, if their grades have been above average, they will receive the opportunity to take advanced placement (AP) courses. Hopefully, at this time, school officials will instruct the student why …

Every parent wants their child to grow up into a responsible citizen that does fantastic things with their life. But, unfortunately, parenting is not that easy. Not everyone can be Mike and Carol Brady and raise an incredible bunch. It …

One of the top indicators for academic success at an early age is the ability to read. Of course, this makes perfect sense as every subject, including math, involves being able to read fluently and with comprehension. To put it …

If you are all about competition and competing with your fellow students, you probably would like to earn the absolute best score you possibly can on the ACT or SAT. After all, they are your direct competition when trying to …

We all realize having a high score on either standardized exam, the ACT or SAT, will result in a better chance of the student getting into the college of their choice. In addition, it could help them land a scholarship …

School funding is a common problem that most districts face. There is never enough money to go around regardless if it is an elementary school or high school. One strategy to get schools back in the black is to eliminate …

This is always an interesting time of the year for those in education. As the students start to focus less in class and more on the upcoming break, it can be a difficult period for keeping the kids enthusiastic about …

When trying to get accepted into your dream college, it can often take more than good grades alone. Of course, colleges are impressed with solid grades, especially if you have achieved all A’s throughout high school. But the college admissions …

Earning a good score on your ACT or SAT could be all the difference in the world between getting into your dream college or having to attend a junior college for a couple of years. Of course, there is nothing …

Since your ACT/SAT standardized exam score plays such a huge factor in getting accepted into the college you want, it is essential that you get a jump on the competition and nail down your high score as quickly as possible. …

No matter what the grade level, if a student is suffering from low self-esteem, it can affect every avenue of their life. It impacts their ability to socialize with others and presents them with constant academic challenges. On the other …

Middle school is the transitional period between elementary school and high school where a child is just beginning to understand what being a teenager is all about. At some schools, they call these years junior high, but for many districts, …

Whether you are a parent of a child or an educator in charge of 30 children, you have probably realized that organizational skills just don’t happen overnight. Plus, reminding the children over and over again (they may call it nagging) …

Halloween is just around the corner! With the approachment of this holiday, educators usually do one of two things. They either choose to ignore Halloween completely or they celebrate it in the classroom like they are reliving their second childhood. …

A life hack is a shortcut or trick that makes completing an activity easier to do. It may surprise you to know that the are life hacks to achieving a better score on the ACT or SAT standardized exams, too. …

Depending on the college or university, the admissions board there will want you to take either the SAT or ACT standardized exam. There is no way around it as a high school senior. They use your score on these exams …

The SAT essay may be technically “optional” now, but don’t put away your number two pencils just yet. This goes double for anyone eyeing, say, West Point or any of the colleges in the University of California system — the …

There is nothing as exciting as starting the first day of high school as a homeschool student and realizing that you are in control of your education. Students have the chance to set their own schedule and learn at their …

Although it may look it, success does not happen overnight. All of those so-called overnight sensations that seem to pop out of nowhere actually spent several years, if not decades, preparing their craft. Here are a few success stories that …

Every parent wants to help provide a better life for their kids than what they originally had themselves. It is often the number one goal of a good mother and father. Accomplishing this, though, does not come easy. After all, …

As a high school student or a parent of a kid in high school, there are certain moments you need to prepare for during those four years. If you don’t, these occasions are going to sneak up on you and …

I was recently introduced to a program that works with students in figuring out what type of career path might interest them later on in life. As I sat down and researched how it all worked, I was left wondering …

We often hear the terms college and university and think that they are the exact same thing. However, there are some huge differences between the two that most high school students and their parents should be aware of. It just …

Whether you are just beginning your junior year or senior year in high school, something that should be weighing heavily on your mind is the ACT or SAT exam. Depending upon which one you choose to take, this standardized assessment …

It seems every school district has a shrinking budget for one reason or another. Either the finances given to the school are shrinking or things are just getting too expensive for the money to keep up with. Because of this, …

If you are a new educator entering the field, pay close attention to this article. You will find a few tips that will make your first year go by much smoother. If you are a parent and your child has …

Whether you are a student, teacher, or parent, a new school year can bring on a bit of anxiety even for the calmest person. There is just something about being in a new classroom or having a set of new …

High school teaches many of the important topics that we come to expect. Mathematics, Language Arts, and Science are just a few of the subjects covered during a student’s high school years. However, we are neglecting a topic that is …

Is there a more important test that a high school student will take than the ACT or the SAT? These standardized exams will help students get into their college of choice or keep them from entering into those hallowed halls. …

Not enough importance is placed on taking extracurriculars in high school. In fact, I would love to see it mandatory that every student would have to sign up for at least two extracurricular activities every year they are in high …

College is expensive. There is no getting around this. If you choose out-of-state universities or private colleges to attend, you (or your parents) must be willing to shell out upwards of $30,000 or more a year for tuition, board, and …

Whether you are a parent or a teacher, you realize there are not enough classes offered for students in high school that will help them succeed in real life. I’m not saying Algebra and World History are not important. They …

Both the SAT and ACT exams were basically introduced in 1959. While these tests have had little changes to them throughout the decades, they are essentially the same as they have always been for the last 60 years. You may …

As a kid, I can still remember wishing to have certain classroom teachers because it was said that they assigned less homework than the others. I would cross my fingers and act my best all summer as I believed karma …

With most colleges and universities accepting either score from the SAT or the ACT when determining your acceptance into higher education, you should choose wisely when figuring out which exam you should place your focus on. Of course, you could …

Almost every high school junior and senior has a bit of anxiety when it comes down to taking the ACT or the SAT. After all, these aren’t just normal tests. They are the exams that could play a big role …

With school just letting out for most children across the country, it is a needed break for students, teachers, and even parents. But don’t make the break last too long. Summer learning loss is a real thing. For those of …

When it is all over and done with, people will rarely recall which past teachers taught them what after they have been out of school for a decade or more. The memories of sitting in a hot classroom and listening …

After a few years of teaching, most educators will have developed a lesson plan system mapping out what they would like to do in their classroom in the near future. For college students that are interested in becoming professional educators …

It all seems a bit strange, doesn’t it? More than likely, to get accepted into the college of your choice, a high school student will need to take either the ACT or the SAT standardized test. There isn’t much of …

As we cruise into the final weeks of the school year, it can be easy to lose motivation for both the teachers and the students. After about nine months of being with the same group day after day inside a …

As we get older, ten years does not seem like such a long time anymore. After all, we probably all have t-shirts in the closet and socks in the drawer that are older than ten years. When we were younger, …

One great standardized test score has the ability to allow you to get into the college of your choice or prevent you from being able to enroll. Whether it is the ACT or the SAT, a poor score could be …

Not all students learn equally. For instance, one child can pick up on something within minutes while it may take another student a couple of hours to do. As a teacher, it can be a frustrating experience when you are …

Do you remember the first time you sat down to write out your lesson plans for your class? They were probably the most detailed lesson plans that you have written in your teaching career. But as time has gone by, …

With such an emphasis on college testing nowadays thanks to the scandals and the media, it is important to know the difference between the two most common standardized tests that the majority of the college-bound students are taking. During my …

Unless you have sworn off listening to, watching, or reading the latest reports from the media (who doesn’t think about tuning out all news nowadays), you have probably heard about the college bribery cases. The bribery seems to have been …

There are numerous aspects of teaching that most people do not even consider when entering into the realm of education. You may believe that you just have to educate the students on the certain subjects adequately and everything will go …

In almost any part of the world, you will find two main institutions for elementary and high school education. You either have public school or private school. As a parent, figuring out which one is going to be best for …

In education, we are always going to have varying intelligences in our classroom. Because of this, we can never just present a one size fits all curriculum for the students and expect everyone to be fine with it. In every …

Winter can be a difficult time of the year for even the most patient person no matter the occupation they are in. You always have to take time to put on extra layers of clothes, shovel out the driveway, allow …

Being a teacher can have its drawbacks. There are parents that expect us to work miracles with their kids when they themselves refuse to get involved at home. Teachers often use their own money to ensure their students have the …

Most of us newly minted teachers enter into the education field with only a bachelor’s degree. Fresh out of college, we are ready to change the world one student at a time. It might have taken us five years to …

By now, hopefully, you have embraced technology as an educator and have figured out ways to use it properly in the classroom. But there are those educators that still have a fear of what they do not know, so they …

Sticking to the books is important with certain things. If there’s little margin for error and little time for exploration, spontaneity may feel ill advised. Fortunately, most learning opportunities don’t require such rigid structure. Venturing outside of the norms and …

Once the internet officially began (don’t even think about taking credit, Al Gore), the world of education changed forever. I remember when all of those computers in the school were mainly used as fancy word processors for all of us …

When a student faces learning difficulties, it’s easy to think that it’s just a ‘half-empty, half-full glass’ type of situation. Some students see failure as a challenge, while others consider it as a dead-end. But it’s not the teacher’s job …

How many times has a teacher asked you as a parent to look at the score that your child received on a standardized test? Too often in education, parents are instructed to look at a child’s overall IQ number instead …

More and more non-English speaking children seem to be arriving in school districts across the country. There is a good chance that if you have been teaching for just a few years already, you have probably had one or two …

Classroom management is not often part of any course in college as you prepare yourself to become a teacher. It is more of a sink or swim moment as you begin your teaching career. You either figure it out or …

Regardless of the subject area, there are novels that can become a staple of classroom learning for your students that perhaps you have not thought of yet. In my own classroom, I have gone away from using textbooks as the …

Christmas is just around the corner and if your house is like mine, then you know the kids aren’t the only ones who are excited. The Christmas spirit is contagious for adults and children! It is always a good (sometimes …

If you are an educator or a parent, you probably realize there are several online community sites available for teachers and concerned parents that are said to offer support, guidance, and ideas. Below are four of the top online communities …

In this present generation, it seems like the demand for complete literacy is stifling the creative nature. More and more, the need for acceptance and political correctness is overriding the innovative character. Over time, this makes people less human and …

Academic success in school is not something that just happens for selected students. If this were the case, there would be a special school lottery where the winners all receive A’s (not a bad idea for a school fundraiser). Instead, …

A child’s room is sort of their sanctuary away from the rest of the world. It is their place to be free from most supervision and judgment. Think of it as like their mancave. It matters to them how it …

A friend of mine came over to my house last year with his latest gadget that he was trying out. He had been raving about it for the last couple weeks and felt I should give it a try. Most …

Can you recall the days back when you were in school when the internet had not been invented and computers in the classroom were an extreme rarity? I don’t think of myself as old, but our school district did not …

When schools started originally eyeing steps to move towards the one to one (1:1) computing initiative about a decade ago, they were interested in having one computer device available for every student that was in the school. This began with …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I majored in economics at the University of Chicago and initially pursued a career in finance/trading. However, I have always been interested in teaching and tutoring and have been involved in peer tutoring …

It is a nerve-wracking experience. One of the most stressful times any parent will face. Your child is soon graduating high school and will be attending college in the very near future. Ensuring that your kid is ready is sort …

School budgets seem to be shrinking in every district. As administration and the school board looks into making cuts to save money, one of the first things they seriously consider is eliminating teachers. While it does cut down on school …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Hello, my name is Cathy Sears, and I have been in the educational field for over 25 years. Honestly, I have been educating children for over 30 years as my oldest child is …

I can recall back when I was a young student and there were basically two forms of punishment if you were having issues in class. One type was a corporal punishment with a spanking with a wooden paddle. The other …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Hi, my name is Lauren Marsik and I was born and raised on Chicago’s northwest side and currently reside in Park Ridge with my daughter Caroline, age 5, and husband Rick. I attended …

The question is on every teacher’s mind: How do we increase student engagement when attention spans appear to be getting shorter every year? It does not matter if it is elementary or high school, we are all facing the same …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a professional musician and audio engineer with a diverse background including a degree in economics and political science. I have always been an unconventional student, interested in “working smarter, not harder”. …

We have all been there. Our first year of teaching is not exactly a reassuring experience that supports our life dream of becoming an educator. We start to second guess ourselves and wonder if we did choose the right career …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I am an Elementary School Tutor and Young Learners Tutor. I am 31 years old and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from DePaul University in December, 2008. After I …

I can still remember as a kid in elementary school how I believed History and Social Studies to be the least interesting subjects I had to take. All of those dates to memorize and how we read straight out of …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I am originally from North Carolina. I grew up in a small town outside of Raleigh, eventually moving to Wilmington, NC for college. I graduated from UNC-W with a degree in French Language …

Parents can often have a very difficult time controlling their child. There is no getting around this. One quick trip to the supermarket will demonstrate this point. How many times have you walked down a grocery aisle and heard parents …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in Evanston. I went to Brandeis University near Boston for undergrad, and have an MA in Spanish language and literature from Loyola and another MA in special education from Northeastern …

Whether you are an educator or a parent, you realize how tough it can be to get your kids more organized. If you are a teacher, you may have nightmares about opening up students’ desks and seeing nothing but a …

It can be difficult being in the same classroom six hours a day, five days a week. Not only for the kids, but for the teacher as well. It is easy to see how students might lose focus or daydream …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Yvette Zalewski. I am 17 years old, and I’m polish. I’m currently a senior at Maine West high school, and I’ve been playing piano for 13 years. Piano has always …

Every father seems to enjoy when their child does well at sports. Quite a few mothers are jumping on this bandwagon, too. It is exciting for them, and it gives them a chance to relive their own sports days as …

1. Tell us a little about yourself. My background is in visual arts, specifically animation and 3d modeling. During my time in college I was also learning how to write music and record it. During those same years I started …

If you are like many parents across the globe, there is a good chance you are making plans for the new school year. No matter if your child is a high school senior or a kindergartner, preparing your kid and …

The school year is just about upon us and soon your child, and possibly you, will be meeting their new classroom teacher. You will have to communicate as best as possible with this teacher for the next nine months, so …

The good news is that your child was promoted to the next upcoming grade level. The bad news is that you are now second guessing yourself if your child is indeed ready for the approaching school year that begins in …

The beginning of the new school year is just around the corner. Just think, in a couple weeks, your child will officially be one year closer to graduating. Don’t be like one of those parents that goes out the night …

There are those that know they want to become an educator at a very early age. Perhaps they have always had the teaching gene inside them the entire time. This might even describe someone you know. There are often young …

Math anxiety might sound like a made-up concept but take my word for it: it’s all too real. I’m an “English guy” to my bones; I love to read, I enjoy writing, and grammar stuff just makes sense to me. …

There are numerous social media sites out there with more appearing every day. Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or even YouTube, these social media sites let everyone express their views and communicate with friends and loved ones. However, there …

We live in a streaming world: it’s easier than ever to throw on a TV show or movie when we’re not sure what to do with our kids. But reading a story to a young person can provide benefits that …

As an educator, it is always interesting to read a novel with your students and then watch the corresponding film that was made from the book. Besides helping the students visualize what they read better, it also is fun to …

Before you write them off as corny or cheesy, consider the power of affirmations and positive talk and the effect it can have on young people. Whether you create an affirmations bulletin board or simply share them verbally with your students, these …

  Summer is in full swing and is approaching the halfway mark in the next couple weeks. By this time, your child might be suffering from a bit of summer boredom. It may sound crazy, but they can get tired …

Response to Intervention (RTI) programs are offered in almost all school districts in the United States. It is a program that is intended to support children who are falling behind in certain subjects. RTI originally began with reading interventions, but since …

Recent studies completed in the last couple years about health and fitness have shown that Americans are leading the way in something. However, it is not something all of us should be proud of. We are the fattest nation in …

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are obviously important subjects. So, too, are science, history, and all the other required courses that students take throughout their academic careers. But what are some of the indelible skills we can teach our students: the …

This week we chatted with Kallie Haas, who is one of our math and ACT/SAT test prep tutors. Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in Des Plaines, IL, then attended Ball State University (Muncie, IN) for my undergraduate …

It can be a daunting proposition—more school, more papers and reading, and assignments. But getting a master’s degree can also provide new and exciting opportunities. However, returning to school is not a decision to be taken lightly. Below, we will …

Health and fitness is something that needs to be taught in every classroom across the country. Teachers need to start educating the students, and sometimes themselves, on just what it means to eat a balanced diet and also get exercise …

It’s graduation season, and this most exciting of milestones for the high school and college grad is full of excitement, anticipation, and relief. Amidst all the feelings, though, we can sometimes get wrapped up in emotion and forget to enjoy …

As a certified Reading Specialist with many years under my belt, I have worked with probably thousands of students who have struggled with reading. For one reason or another, they have a difficult time grasping the essential reading skills needed. …

Taking a class online can be a time saver, perfect for the student who is already busy and who doesn’t have a lot of schedule flexibility. Not only does it save a trip to campus, it also allows you to …

Teachers are sometimes given a bad rap on screen. We are portrayed in various types of media, and sometimes not so favorably. How many times have you seen films with someone playing a lazy, strange, or backward teacher? It happens frequently, …

This week we chatted with Dennis Pavlik who tutors in math, computer programming, electronics, and anthropology. Tell us a little about yourself. Since my youth, I have had a wide range of interests. I graduated from the Illinois Institute ofTechnology …

I know – summer hasn’t even started yet…BUT if you’re a junior coming to the end of the year, it’s a good idea to start looking forward to the culmination of your high school career. Below, we outline some tactics …

Throughout your life, it can really help to have another person to talk to, to help guide you and make the correct decisions. For most people, this is probably their parents or siblings or maybe a wise best friend. However, …

It’s an exciting prospect: your child going off to “real” school. It feels like a major milestone, but with the anticipation comes some worry. How will my child do in this new environment? What will the transition be like? Is …

Education is fully entering into the 21st century by expanding the use of technology every single day. How long will it be before we have Terminator robots teaching our classes? Or gigabytes planted into our head to increase and better …

There can be a lot of pressure for kids and teens to partake in activities that are considered “normal” for their age. After all, shouldn’t all kids play sports? We get into trouble when we paint with a broad brush; …

This week we chatted with Emily Arens who tutors in math, reading and language arts. Emily has been a teacher for 19 years and specializes in middle school math, gifted math, pre-algebra, and algebra. Tell us a little about yourself. …

It may be hard to believe, but the end of the school year is just around the corner. Soon you will be able to sleep in later every day and not have to worry about putting in grades in your …

In Latin, the word “tutor” means “to guard,” and, indeed, tutors often serve as protectors and advocates for their students. It’s easy to assume that tutors don’t do much more than help kids pass tests but the truth is that …

With the price of college seemingly increasing by the minute, more and more college graduates are emerging with school loans large enough to equal a mortgage. We tell kids at a young age that going to college is a needed …

Sometimes when we think about taking a year off before college, we picture a high school grad playing Xbox and sleeping late. In reality, though, a gap year can provide a chance to explore possibilities for the future. Before you …

The modern classroom has changed from yesteryear as we equip our learners better with digital literacy skills and present them with hands-on learning opportunities. It’s a long way from thirty wooden desks and a chalkboard. A 21st-century education now consists …

It’s that time of year: the weather is warming up, birds are chirping, and the daylight hours are getting longer. With the exuberance of Spring also come perhaps the hardest months of the school year: the last few. As the …

Going straight to college after graduating from high school is a common goal for many students, but it’s not going to be the right choice for everyone.  The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data shows that 34 percent of adults over 25 …

I am currently studying for a master’s-level exam. You’d think after all these years, I’d know what I’m doing. After all, I’m a college grad, I did well in high school, and I’m about to get an advanced degree; I …

Spring break is just around the corner for millions of students across the country. It is always a great time for parents to take a quick vacation with their kids. Although, not every child is heading out somewhere new and …

Science has always been a difficult subject to teach in elementary school. If time is running out of the school day, the very first subject teachers will usually skip is Science. It also seems to be one of the least …

Long the bane of students’ existence, homework has been around pretty much since the beginning of time. The question, though, is does spending hours doing assignments at home reap significant benefits? It turns out that the answer to this question …

This a somewhat new concept: the idea that the space students inhabit is as important as the information they are learning. In many schools, there is a new focus on makerspaces. Defining and designing a space in your classroom that …

There are multiple articles and books available on how to help struggling readers increase their overall reading achievement through research-based strategies and activities. These focus mainly on improving fluency and comprehension skills. But what about the kids that have true …

While it may sound somewhat ominous, your school’s Child Study Team is actually a wonderful resource to help you navigate the sometimes rough waters of academics. Let’s talk about what this dynamic team can offer you and your student. First …

Globalization has changed the world of business and education forever with the increased interaction across the world thanks to improved transportation and ever-changing technology. It’s amazing how technology has, in essence, shrunk the world so we can contact almost anyone …

In the wake of yet another incident of school violence, we are seeing something incredible happening: students across the country are raising their voices and speaking out for gun control. I think it’s fair to say our country hasn’t really …

There are various reasons why many of us decided to become teachers. In every college education class I took, the very first question the professor asked us is why have you decided to become a teacher. All the other students …

Aristotle said, “for things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” Or, to update the sentiment, you’ve probably heard the saying “experience is the best teacher.” Well, it turns out that, more and …

If you are a teacher, do you often hear yourself complaining that there is never enough time to do everything? Do you feel overwhelmed and you are only two hours into the school day? Throughout my years in education, I …

Aside from born politicians and thespians, it’s safe to say most of us wouldn’t choose to speak in front of a large audience if we didn’t have to. The nerves that come with giving presentations are normal, but, often, elevated …

The phrase “there’s an app for that” fits the classroom schedule perfectly. Almost every project or assignment you can think of can be tied in to using certain apps. There are thousands of apps out there for education, and a …

Sometimes, we get hung up on GPA; it becomes a number that defines students. In reality, though, there is much more to a student than a simple number or class ranking. When it comes time to apply to colleges, most …

Something that often gets overlooked when speaking about a young student’s academic achievement is if they have appropriate social skills. Are they able to communicate with adults and children in a friendly manner? Do they have a group of friends …

Over time, we have all heard about the virtues of extracurricular activities and, in fact, recent research suggests that participation in extracurricular activities (ECA) may increase students’ sense of engagement and attachment to their school, and thereby decrease the likelihood …

When I was in high school, the test to take was the ACT (originally named the American College Testing Program.) The test was created in 1959 as an alternative to the SAT, and rather than an aptitude test, it was …

Childhood and adolescence, for all their innocence and happiness, can also be times of emotional struggle. Young people face many challenges, from making and sustaining friends to dealing with the perils of social media to navigating the complexities of family …

We have all been there. We read something, whether it is a whole page or just a paragraph, and we have no idea what we just read. It might as well have been in a different language. Once in a …

We’re all guilty of it: staring at our devices too long into the night, eating poorly, and, perhaps, not being as active as we could. Look, no one says you need to run a 5K every week or eat only …

Would a teacher from a hundred years ago recognize the modern classroom? From the bank of computers to the Promethean board the growing reliance on devices and digital technology in education has permeated classrooms from preschool to university. But one item …

Like many people, my early struggles in life helped shape me into the person I am today. I became a Reading Specialist because of reading problems I had as a child. I can still recall being in first grade and …

Put simply, we live in a time of “full plates.” Our plates, both kids’ and adults’, are pretty much full every day. It makes sense, then, that we often feel overwhelmed and somewhat scattered. Below, we’ll explore some simple ways …

For teachers, it is important to convey your message and engage students whenever you make presentations in class. Technology aids teachers to impart information and spark discussion among students. Whether you’re introducing a new topic or lesson with embedded video …

It’s time to start thinking about it! For you juniors, college may still seem a ways off, but now that it’s a new year, things are going to start moving fast! This is a perfect time to begin thinking about …

Teaching is a multi-faceted occupation which includes so much more than simply creating the next lesson plan. Teachers are part of a larger school team of staff and sometimes the duties extend far beyond your comfort zone. Maybe you thought …

I’ve written in the past about students’ different learning styles and intelligences. The next natural thing to consider is how to teach effectively to the full range of students in your classroom. Flexibility in teaching is an important factor for student …

Christmas is definitely a magical time of the year. We are kinder, nicer and more pleasant to the people around us. It’s the closest we all come to being a caring community, and we search for ways to make things …

If you’re a high school or college student, you’re just about at the halfway mark of the school year. First off, congrats—you’re almost there! Secondly, let’s talk about how to keep yourself going for round 2. It’s easy, especially at …

Every teacher has encountered students announcing they did absolutely no reading or learning during winter break. They usually say this with a smile, as if their confession is meant to hurt our souls as teachers. The truly bad news is …

I write often about labels and how tossing them around can be a grave disservice to students. Because it is easy to assign students different “learning disorders” and “processing issues,” we need to be mindful that we know our stuff …

As an educator who works with many high school students, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose the correct college for your needs. It seems every graduating high school student has a number one school that is near …

Final exams are approaching and many students are wrapping up the semester with projects, tests and papers.  This can be a very stressful time for students and it’s important to know ahead of time how to prepare for this workload …

No student is a purely one-dimensional learner. Indeed, every young person has a unique mind. While we often generalize and throw around terms like “auditory learner” or “visual learner,” the truth is that there are more than just two or …

I bet you were beyond excited once you finally graduated from college with your education degree. Student teaching was a bit tough on you, but you were ready to move on to having an actual classroom of your own without …

We tend to think that stress doesn’t set in until we are “grown-ups” out there in the “real word.” But the truth is that young people struggle with an immense amount of stress relating to school, social life, family issues, …

Everyone loves music. As we become older, it seems that music develops into a sort of backdrop for our lives. We remember certain moments and relate them with different songs. Of course, we all have our own favorite tunes and …

The school year can be a hectic time: from intense course loads to homework to projects to extracurricular activities, students are often stretched really thin. It can, therefore, be challenging to stay healthy while you’re so, so busy. However, science …

Remember those really great lectures we sat through as students with the teacher at the front of the class behind the podium speaking for what seemed like hours? Me neither. We all have sat through many of these lectures, but …

When students struggle, parents can often experience great anxiety. Questions and uncertainty abound: What can I do? Who do I talk to? Where do I go? Luckily, schools and outside resources like tutoring agencies are better equipped than ever before …

Many parents do not realize that they are in charge of their child’s educational rights up to a certain degree. After having attended numerous Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings during my teaching career, I quickly noticed how a parent could …

We hear the phrase “learning disabilities” (LDs) constantly in today’s schools. But do we truly understand them and how to best serve students who struggle with these disorders? I would suggest that, often, LDs are subject to a lot of …

Technology has changed the experience of education forever. Traditional schooling started off with a one room schoolhouse. We made a few changes here and there over the next century or so. The one room schoolhouse expanded into a multi-room school, …

We all want that career where we love our job so much that we forget to have lunch. We want to be fulfilled and, as the famous quote goes, love our work to the point that we “never work a …

If you have not had your parent/teacher conferences already, you will be having them soon. Most schools tend to have them in October or November. It is an interesting time for a teacher, meeting with the parents of your students. …

A whopping 20% of teens today experience depression in one form or another. It crosses lines of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and family history; it is, without a doubt, one of the foremost challenges facing today’s youth. It can be problematic, …

If there is one thing that I regret from my childhood, it is that I never took any real music lessons. I can’t play a musical instrument to save my life. I am even horrible on the kazoo. I know …

“The pen is mightier than the sword.” We’ve all heard this before. Indeed, words have power. Perhaps what we forget at times, however, is the unique power (good and bad) words can have with young learners in particular. The way …

Gone are the days of the teacher standing at the front of the class and lecturing for hours on end. Instead, it has been replaced by discussion in a teacher led classroom where students are able to ask questions and …

While certainly working one-on-one with a good tutor will help you get ready for a standardized test or work through a school assignment, there are, today more than ever before, a lot of innovative ways to use technology to prepare …

Many students struggle with ways in which to study for their classes.  There are many strategies that students can use in order to help them learn and understand definitions, concepts, formulas and content knowledge in order to be successful in …

Dual enrollment programs and advanced placement classes are becoming more and more common as a way to better prepare students for college and save students money on college tuition. There are those of you that may not be familiar with …

I work with a five-year-old and, while it may appear to the outside observer that we are merely doing brainless, time-filling activities, the truth is that every activity can provide a teachable moment. For instance, we were recently working together …

School supplies are not cheap, whether you are a parent buying them for your kid or a teacher purchasing them for the classroom. It all quickly adds up. Rather than taking out a loan or borrowing from your child’s college …

Everyone measures success differently. In today’s society, many determine success by the amount of money they have accumulated. Others view their accomplishments on how well they raised their family as their biggest triumph. However, when you are a child still …

Differentiated instruction, as the name suggests, is the idea that, in order to serve different types of learners, teachers must be willing to teach in different and dynamic ways. This means more than simply varying lectures or photocopying colorful handouts, …

Any way you slice it, ubiquitous social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram pretty much universally get a bad rap. But what if there was an academic upside to these apps and staples of the adolescence virtual experience? Interestingly, research …

Sometimes struggling in school can be a lonely feeling. A student can feel like he’s all alone and be hesitant to ask for help for fear of embarrassment. It’s good to know, however, that there are so many resources available …

The age-old question, what do you want to do when you grow up can cause considerable stress for high school graduates and new college students. The undue pressure to be able to give an immediate answer can be overwhelming for …

With a combined 150-year history, the SAT and ACT having staying power and relevance, as little as students taking them might want to admit. But there are always questions about the tests’ validity and value even though more students than …

One of the great challenges for any student is mastering the art of staying focused in a world of incessant distraction. According to Maggie Jackson, columnist for the Boston Globe and author of the book Distracted: The Erosion of Attention …

The laws surrounding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students to receive special education services are broad and often difficult to understand, so it is no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions that people have about IEPs.  Below is …

Fun AND educational activities?!  Where?  Below is a list of fun spots throughout Chicagoland that will not only engage your children with fun and excitement, but will also teach them something without them even knowing it! Kohls Children’s Museum Kohls …

The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, is a necessary exam to take if you are interested in graduate business and management programs. In fact, nearly 2,000 schools across the globe require this test as part of the admissions process. …

While it is completely normal to feel nervous before a big test, some students experience debilitating anxiety.  Test anxiety is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that are uncomfortable and distracting during a test; test anxiety can manifest as …

Graduating from college, while certainly a cause for celebration, can also be a stressful time, as many recent grads find themselves asking what’s next? One popular option is taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), a test that is required for …

For those of us who have been teaching the SAT for years, an August test date just sounds weird. For decades, the first SAT of the schoolyear has traditionally been offered in October, but never as early as the end …

Late homework?  Messy locker?  Lost papers?  Children and young adults with ADHD/ADD know these problems all too well and here’s why.  There is a neurological process in our brains to help us with self-regulation called “executive function.”   Executive function skills …

There’s no denying that a day at the beach or the theme park can be a great break from reality, but not all vacations need to be brain-atrophying time-wasters. Indeed, some trips can reap incredible educational benefits—and the best part …

Everyone looks forward to the relaxation, freedom (no school), and fun of Summer break.  Having a great summer is important but being idle with your learning for an entire summer can be detrimental to your academic progress.  Working with a …

Just because you may not be the next David Beckham or Lebron James doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate a successful career in the sports world. There are, in fact, many sports-related fields that don’t require you to be an ace …

It has taken the adolescent world by storm: this spinning toy that claims to relieve stress and help students with attention deficits and other disorders to focus. Indeed, the fidget spinner has become ubiquitous in schools, camps, and homes across …

One thing you don’t hear students say much anymore is “I’m going to the library.” The library today is often seen as passé, and why not? Almost everything you need research-wise is at your fingertips. I mean when’s the last …

In a world of apps and virtual reality, we sometimes forget about the old standards like board games and card games. Some of these “old” games, however, can help young people pick up important lessons as well as keep their …