Teachers and parents alike hear a lot of excuses when students don’t do their homework. “That was homework? That’s due today? But… it was the weekend.” What they often don’t hear is the research on how to help. It seems we are in the dark about engaging students in the homework process, and specifically about what contributes to homework resistance. How can we better support students in not only completing, but also learning from assigned…
Studies show that the average teenager requires 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night, but she typically only gets 7. It’s becoming more and more common for the normal life of the average American high schooler to interfere with sleep. In a recent poll of 2,000 parents, 1 in 6 said their teen experiences frequent sleep problems, here defined as “having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 3 or more nights per week.” More…
The 2019-2020 SSAT test dates have been released. Your child can take the middle and upper level SSAT test up to 8 times, or the elementary level twice. It’s important to review the test dates below and make sure you register your child in time. Standard Test Date Regular Registration Starts Aug 1, 2019 & Ends: Last Day for Registration (Without Testing Accommodations) Sat, Oct 19, 2019 September 28, 2019 Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Sat, Nov…
If your child is interested in attending an independent school, they will likely need to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) in order to apply. You’ll be set to go once you read our list of ISEE don’ts. Don’t wait until the last minute to prep. Starting early is essential to understanding and becoming comfortable with the test format, which in turn is essential for a good score. Don’t skip the practice tests. Boston…
Raising a child with ADHD means parents need to adopt different approaches to parenting. Parents must accept the fact that children with ADHD have functionally different brains from those of other children. While children with ADHD can still learn what is acceptable and what isn’t, their disorder does make them more prone to impulsive behavior. Fostering the development of a child with ADHD means that you will have to modify your behavior and learn to…
It’s hard to fault a child who resists doing homework. After all, she has already put in a long day at school, probably been involved in after-school activities, and, as the late afternoon spills into evening, now faces a pile of assignments. Parents feel it, too — it’s no one’s favorite time of day. But despite the bad rap, homework plays an important role in ensuring that students learn to execute tasks independently. When it’s…
Studies show that the average teenager requires 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep per night, but she typically only gets 7. It’s becoming more and more common for the normal life of the average American high schooler to interfere with sleep. In a recent poll of 2,000 parents, 1 in 6 said their teen experiences frequent sleep problems, here defined as “having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 3 or more nights per week.” More…
It’s safe to assume that high school students would probably cherish a little extra sleep in the morning, but did you know that studies show that starting school later for teens is actually healthier for them? Sleep experts have determined a shift in sleep cycles (circadian rhythms) in recent studies. This shift begins in adolescence and makes it more difficult for most adolescents to fall asleep as early as younger children or older adults. Typical…
It goes without saying that teachers are very busy, so it’s not unusual to hear their concerns about the lack of adequate time to do everything teachers need to do: plan, individualize instruction, test, assign grades, collaborate, innovate, reflect and of course, teach. Not even teachers can add more hours to the day, however. The key to finding more time each day may be to use strategies that make the most of your available time,…
How to respond when students finish their work early is a classic teacher challenge. Most of it boils down to creating learning opportunities where students are naturally funneled toward extending, improving, and sharing their work. This turns stopping points into more of a matter of scheduling than learning. All of the following ideas, however, are great for those moments when students finish their work early and have a little spare time. Dig: Ask the student…
