In recent years, subjects like math and science have been pushed as being most important in school and society. This trend is increasingly reflected in the decisions of college students choosing their majors, but also in the decision making process of elementary and middle school students. More than 80% of US school districts have seen their funding slashed since 2008, and fine arts disciplines such as music, art, and foreign language are almost always the first…
Applying to colleges can be tricky, but if you make sure that you fully understand the process, things will go more smoothly. Many students believe the following “facts,” but doing these things will lead you down the wrong path. Here are some college application myths you should know about. 1. When applying early, there’s no real difference between early action and early decision. Early action and early decision applications have similar deadlines, but they are very different. Early…
Service-learning can be a wonderful tool for taking students outside of the classroom. There are many benefits of service-learning for students, teachers, and the community alike. Essentially, it is a research-based teaching and learning strategy that engages students in service to meet learning objectives and address real-world issues. As an example, I participated in a service-learning project in the spring of 2016 while taking a Victorian Fiction class at UMass Lowell. This class involved many…
Are you ready for college? If you haven’t ticked these items off your to do list, the answer is probably no. 1. Save money, plan a budget, and get financial aid straightened out. I’m sure you’ve heard the trope of the “poor college student,” but if you’re able, it’s a great idea to work and save as much money as you can before you leave for school. To avoid bank account panic later on, you should…
One of the biggest differences between college professors and high school teachers is that most professors genuinely start treating you as adults. Meetings with professors will feel more like discussions between equals, so it’s important to step up to this new responsibility. Your professor can’t help unless you effectively communicate what you need. Here are some tips for being professional in successful communication with professors. Start talking before problems develop. Too often, students wait until…
Not sure what to read next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite young adult books for high school readers. Reading levels provided by Scholastic and Lexile. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Before Steven Spielberg’s 2018 film adaptation is brought to the big screen, read this futuristic story about a young man seeking fortune, adventure, and escape from reality in a massively multiplayer online world. He must dodge obstacles and solve puzzles for…
Not sure what your child should be reading next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite books for middle school readers. Reading levels provided by Scholastic and Lexile. How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found by Sara Nickerson. This book was probably my all-time favorite as a child. Any reader would enjoy unraveling this curious, exciting, and dramatic mystery tale about two young sisters, the boy next door, a series of strange homemade…
Not sure what your child should be reading next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite books for elementary school readers. All reading levels provided by Scholastic. Peppermints in the Parlor by Barbara Brookes Wallace. I first read this book when I was in the third grade, and I reread it countless times over the years. It’s an exciting mystery set in a cobweb-filled mansion; the orphaned Emily must unravel the secrets of Sugar…
When I was in high school only a few short years ago, it seemed like everyone around me had their whole lives mapped out. They knew exactly where they wanted to go to college, what they wanted to study, where they wanted to be in eighty years…you name it, they already knew it. No one else seemed to have problems with choosing a college major. Meanwhile, I felt like I had nothing figured out. I…
Duolingo is one of the best tools available to modern students of foreign language. Read on to learn more about this wonderful program. What is Duolingo? Duolingo makes learning language fun by turning it into a kind of game. You can answer questions about vocabulary and grammar, earn points for buying power-ups in their virtual store, and challenge your friends to do the the same. What languages are available? There are currently lessons available in…
