It’s common knowledge these days that there are many benefits of learning a foreign language: it builds multi-tasking skills, improves memory and perception, and can even make you smarter (read more in this article by the Telegraph). But what language should you study? Read on to help you decide which foreign language would be the best choice for you. Spanish With well over 35 million Spanish speakers in the United States, and with over 40% of…
It seems that school these days is more and more stressful for students of every age. These apps are a great help for stress management and dealing with anxiety disorders, trouble sleeping or relaxing–you name it! Check them out and you’re bound to find one that works for you. Rainy Mood. Many people find the sound of rain calming, and with Rainy Mood, you can listen to it on loop even when there’s not a…
In an article for the New York Times titled, The Families That Can’t Afford Summer, DJ Dell’Antonia wrote about the reality many low-income American families face during the 10- to 11-week summer vacation. “For most parents,” DJ writes, “summer, that beloved institution, is a financial and logistical nightmare.” One reason why summer break is a nightmare for low-income families is its length: Summer vacation in America lasts longer than school breaks in many other developed…
The Richardson Middle School in Dracut, Massachusetts has gotten a little bit greener. Built in 2001, the Richardson Middle School included a greenhouse classroom in its design, but the space was never used as an operating greenhouse until this year. Over the winter, Richardson Principal Ms. McGuiness decided that the students were finally going to use the greenhouse. She emptied out the classroom, which had been being used as storage, and she contacted Bob Berube,…
Alia Wong from The Atlantic recently wrote a three-part series on the process of admissions for elite colleges Elite College Admissions (Story one: The Absurdity of College Admissions, Story two: Where College Admissions Went Wrong, and Story three: The Commodification of Higher Education). Wong outlines how college rankings have “helped shape a world in which students are seen as consumers, and colleges and universities as commodities.” She explains that elite college rankings and the admissions…
Protests. Petitions. PC culture. As of late, the question on many Americans’ minds is: Is there a threat against free speech in the U.S.? Journalists from various popular media sites, such as The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and New York Magazine have thoroughly covered this issue. Opinions range, specifically in left-wing circles. Some liberals and most conservatives agree that the threat against free speech is a serious problem in young Americans’ discourse. Other liberals, though,…
What does it mean, exactly, to be a first-generation or second-generation American? For many, it means various things: added pressure to succeed, conflict over American codes of behavior, a devoted relationship with one’s culture and heritage. In many families, first-generation or not, parents and their children tend to clash over values. Nowhere is this more true than in the American immigrant family. I am a third-generation American on my mother’s side, and a second-generation American…
Boston Tutoring Services has covered the issues of overuse and misuse of technology in education and parenting, but we have not yet delved into the childhood and adolescent health and development component. Many parents, educators, and health experts wonder, Does excessive screen time affect brain development in children? Does it matter if the media is educational or entertainment? And how do parents mediate proper screen time? The American Academy of Pediatrics has some answers. In…
Kwanzaa gives African families the opportunity to gather together and celebrate their African heritage and the true meaning of Kwanzaa. The name Kwanzaa is borrowed by the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza.” This phrase means “first fruits,” which symbolizes a harvest celebration and hard work. Kwanzaa celebrates unity, life, self-determination, hope and success. Most families celebrate with music, including African drums and dancing. In addition, families tell stories, read poetry, give gifts, and of course…
