in Events
There are many September events for families to enjoy in the Boston area this year. Check out our list of September events and activities happening in the Boston area. An Afternoon with Roy, G., & Biv Tue, September 1, 2026 Come on a colorful adventure with us as we explore color through music and movement! Hosted by Little Songbook Opera and Opera Untapped at the Melrose Public Library. Connors Farm Corn Maze Wed, September 2,…
Read More »Even after years of intensive intervention and tutoring, dyslexic students can continue to struggle with reading and writing. That’s why advances in technology tools have been invaluable to students who read and write slowly. Dyslexic students are finding they can complete assignments faster when they employ special features on a laptop or iPad that help work around their dyslexia-related issues. In order to fully maximize how technology tools can help students with learning differences, educator…
Read More »While the report card is a common tool for communicating a student’s academic performance, they have several shortcomings, such as reducing a student’s complex learning journey to simple letters and numbers, as well as failing to capture the nuances of their strengths, challenges, and overall growth. In almost every case, report cards do not effectively reflect a student’s understanding of content or mastery of skills. They also fail in attempts to ‘report’ their progress in…
Read More »in Education
From formative and summative assessments to criterion-referenced and benchmark assessments, all types of learning assessments have unique function. But what are the types of learning assessments, and more importantly, when should you use them? If curriculum is the “what” of teaching and learning models are the “how,” then assessment is what challenges our assumptions about the what and the how. Assessment is commonly referred to as formative assessment–that is, assessment designed to inform instruction. Below,…
Read More »in Teachers
It’s no secret that when schools make a concerted effort to foster healthy, strong relationships with families, students benefit in a number of ways. Studies suggest that parental involvement and communication can lead to academic gains for students: higher grades and test scores, improved social skills and time on task, better attendance and participation, and decreased behavioral problems in the classroom. But parent-teacher communication can be challenging, say teachers. In 2006, 50 percent of participants…
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Looking around any classroom at the start of another school year, you will probably see a range of reactions from students. Some are eager to get started, returning from the break with a desire to start the year off in a positive way. Others appear less confident and seem to have approached the end of the summer with a sense of dread. Throughout the school year, you can also expect students to slowly lose motivation…
Read More »in Reading, Summer Tips
Just because school’s out doesn’t mean books should be returned to their shelves! Reading routines are an essential part of your child’s development, and summer is the perfect time to make reading strategies a regular part of the day. Think about it–without the pressures of a curriculum, homework, and after-school activities, your child has plenty of free time to explore the topics and genres they really want to read about. Here are our top summer…
Read More »Student confidence plays a critical role in academic performance. Confident students are more likely to participate in class, ask questions, and engage in discussions, which enhances their understanding of the subject matter. They are not afraid to tackle challenging assignments or exams, believing in their ability to succeed. This positive mindset can lead to better grades and a more profound grasp of academic content. Here are four ways to build student confidence. 1. Let them be…
Read More »The summer slide is a decline in a child’s academic skills that occurs over the summer vacation when school is not in session. Summer slide goes by a number of names, including the summer learning loss and the summer brain drain, but in essence, they all mean the same thing: over the summer vacation, children are likely to forget a lot of the information and knowledge they have picked up over the past academic year. Summer…
Read More »in Events
There are many August events for families to enjoy in the Boston area this year. Check out our list of August events and activities happening in the Boston area. August Adventures with Highland Street Foundation Sat, August 1, 2026 – Mon, August 31, 2026 August Adventures with Highland Street Foundation! During the month of August, we are excited to partner with special Massachusetts cultural institutions to provide one free activity each day for 31 days.…
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