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…
This list of the best public high schools in Massachusetts is based on a ranking by this website, which ranks schools using statistics, student and parent reviews, and expert insights. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality, and more. To see exactly how this ranking was calculated, click here. Lexington High School–Lexington, MA Lexington High School has a current enrollment of approximately 2,100 students. The school is ranked #9 within Massachusetts and…
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…
