1. Make small savings goals. Take baby steps toward building a savings account for their own goals, but be stern in the importance of saving. If you provide an allowance, mandate that the first 10% go directly to savings before any other spending occurs. Once this habit of saving takes hold, it will become second nature as they move through life. It is also important that with these savings, they have the ability to work toward a goal. Saving just to save is important, but it is equally important to save for something important. Ask your child what they want to have the most and help them define their goals. It could be a new iPad, a pair of new kicks, or a trip with their friends. These small goals will help motivate them to save money instead of spending impulsively.

Once they are motivated to save, open a savings account to which they can contribute consistently. Perhaps even offer to match their contributions up to a certain amount each month. At the end of each month, show them the monthly bank statement. Seeing their progress will push them to put more toward their goal each week. Once the first savings goal is accomplished, your teen can start moving to bigger, more valuable goals.

2. Work on a budget. Teenagers, especially high school students, want to have fun and enjoy their time to the fullest. This does not, though, always come with the responsibility of paying the greatest attention to their spending. It can be even harder when teenagers don’t know how their parents are managing their finances—good practices and discipline are the best example you can provide your children.

Budgeting can’t be mastered overnight, which is why it must be taught through financial education. Ask them to be involved in your weekly household goods shopping and in creating monthly budgets. If they’re working a part-time job, assist them in creating a budget plan and saving for college or other saving goals such as their own car. Children crave discipline and boundaries—and financial discipline is so very important. Budgets help teach them that fun is possible, but that it has limits and comes after their responsibilities have been met.

3. Teach them about debt. This is an essential part of financial education–high school students, regardless of their post-12th grade plans, should know about the cost of going to college and the consequences of debt. Even if parents plan to pay for the child’s entire college education, things can change. Some parents make the mistake of putting education first, but not talking about the work it took to build-up the college fund. Again, teaching and exampling discipline and focusing on a long-term goal is key to success.

Let teenagers make monetary mistakes, and show them how every action has consequences. If the teen goes over budget one month, they need to learn that in the next month, they will have to cut back on a category, such as going out for ice cream. Showing them the burden of debt will be one of the greatest lessons that every parent can teach their children, regardless of the parent’s income. While it is much easier to simply hand out cash and cover all of your child’s “expenses”, having them put some skin in the game and figure out debt management can be invaluable.

4. Instill good credit habits. Educate your child on what their credit score means and the financial consequences if can bring. One important consequence to relay to your teenager is how a credit score can affect their future finances. One avenue to help your teen have a good credit score before going to college is giving them access to a credit card; of course, before giving them a credit card be sure they have shown and demonstrated good money habits. It’s easy to overspend with a credit card, which is a financial education lesson young adults often have to learn in college when credit card companies are offering cards left and right.

Walk them through the fees and benefits of different cards, and best practices regarding credit card usage, so they can work towards the perfect credit score. Many graduates find themselves with little to no credit when it’s time to buy a car, get a loan or even rent an apartment if they haven’t started working on building their credit score throughout college. Prepare your child ahead of time, and they will thank you for it.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Financial Education Ideas for Teens appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Set the stage. It’s helpful to have a quiet, well-lit, clutter- and distraction-free spot for kids to do their homework. This should be the same place every day, whether it’s the kitchen table or a desk in their room. Make sure all the materials your child needs to complete their homework are within arm’s reach, including pencils, paper, crayons, or anything else. This is an important first step to set up the other homework strategies.

2. Find a homework rhythm. Every child is different, and so is every family’s schedule. Work together to find a time that consistently works for homework — whether it’s right after school, after a snack and play break, or before dinner. The key is to build a routine that feels manageable and sets your child up for success. If they have extracurricular activities, just be mindful of their energy levels afterward. A tired brain isn’t a productive one, and late-night homework can lead to frustration for everyone. A consistent, calm time for homework helps children know what to expect — and makes it easier to focus.

3. Get excited and be positive. As your child’s role model, your attitude toward homework can set the tone. When you approach it with interest and encouragement, your child is more likely to see it as a meaningful part of learning — and feel proud of their effort. Let them know how grown-up it is for them to have homework and how proud they should be of their hard work. Try to instill in them that it is “fun” to be able to do the assigned tasks. Let them show you their finished work. Be encouraging — it will make a difference.

4. Support without solving. If kids are stuck, it’s okay to help — but how you help matters. Try guiding them with questions (“What do you think comes next?”). If they’re consistently struggling with a skill (like forming letters or solving math problems), don’t push them to keep practicing it incorrectly. Instead, reach out to the teacher for support. Homework is meant to reinforce what’s been taught. Mistakes are part of learning, but repeated confusion may signal a need for extra help.

5. Make it a game. Turn practice into play when you can! Try setting a timer and challenging your child to “beat the clock” (without rushing), or use stickers, stamps, or a simple reward chart to celebrate completed assignments. You can even turn spelling or math practice into a mini quiz show or scavenger hunt. A little creativity can go a long way.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Back to School Homework Strategies appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

Common signs that your child is having trouble concentrating in the classroom include low grades, a dislike of school, and/or disruptive behavior in class. These signs don’t automatically mean your child has a learning difficulty, so before you start looking for solutions, the first step is to identify the reasons your child is having trouble focusing in school. Here are some of the biggest reasons students have a hard time paying attention in class.

1. Lack of understanding of the material. What might look like a lack of concentration could actually be a lack of understanding the material. This lack of understanding can lead to students to stop paying attention, and consequently falling further behind.

2. Not enough challenge. For some children, what is being taught in class isn’t challenging enough. Children who are not challenged at a high enough level can lose interest in the material and stop paying attention altogether.

3. Lack of practice. Many young children have a hard time focusing in the classroom simply because they are in a new environment. This can also happen to older children after a break from school, such as March break or summer holidays.

4. Distraction by external stimuli. The classroom can be a place full of distractions, from chatty classmates to a cluttered workstation. Some children have a harder time than others filtering out these distractions making paying attention to the teacher more challenging.

5. Mismatched learning style. Different students have different learning styles: some learn best by seeing, some by hearing, and others by doing. If your child’s teacher emphasizes a learning style that doesn’t match with how your child learns, this can result in a lack of focus and understanding.

6. Learning difficulties. If your child is having severe problems in the classroom, such as constant disruptions, distractions, or poor grades, and you have ruled out the other items on this list, it could be time to look into possible learning difficulties.

In some cases, children may have learning difficulties such as ADD, ADHD, or Dyslexia. He or she may also have auditory issues such as CAPD (Central Auditory Discrimination Disorder). Each of these can be addressed with the help of a tutor and learning plan, so your child can improve his or her focus and succeed in the classroom. Once you know what’s causing your child’s focus issues, you’re ready to start making a plan to overcome it.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Why Do Kids Have Trouble Paying Attention? appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Get into a routine. When will you make the time to do your homework every day? Find the time of day that works best for you (this can change day-to-day, depending on your schedule!), and make a plan to hit the books. A reliable routine is crucial for tackling the back to school season.

2. Look over your notes each night to make sure you’ve got it. Fill in details, edit the parts that don’t make sense, and star or highlight the bits of information that you know are most important. Interacting with your notes will help you remember them. You can also use Homework Help to get your questions answered 24/7.

3. Study a little every day. Cramming Spanish vocabulary for a quiz might work in the short-term, but when comes time to study for midterms, you’ll be back at square 1. You might remember the vocab list long enough to ace the quiz, but reviewing the terms later will help you store them for the long haul.

4. Learn how to create a distraction-free zone. A study on workplace distractions found that it takes workers an average of 25 minutes to return to what they were working on pre-interruption. Try turning off your phone notifications or blocking Twitter (temporarily) on your computer so you can concentrate on the homework tasks at hand.

5. You don’t need ONE study space. A well-stocked desk in a quiet place at home is key, but sometimes you need variety. Coffee shops, libraries, parks, or even just moving to the kitchen table will give you a change of scenery which can prompt your brain to retain information better.

6. School supplies alone don’t make you organized. Come up with a system and keep to it. Do you keep one big binder for all your classes with color-coded tabs? Or do you prefer to keep separate notebooks and a folder for handouts? Keep the system simple—if it’s too fancy or complicated, you are less likely to keep it up everyday.

7. Use class time wisely. Is your teacher finished lecturing, but you still have 10 minutes of class left? Get a jump on your chemistry homework while it’s still fresh in your mind. Or use the time to ask your teacher about concepts that were fuzzy the first time.

What are your best back to school tips?

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 7 Back to School Tips appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

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, 2026  –  Sat, October 31, 2026   
Our Annual Corn Maze Returns for the 2026 Season! 7 Acres of Fun! Clues to Directions and Interactive Games! Come Get Lost! Fun for the Whole Family!

Illuminate the Harbor: Boston Labor Day Fireworks
Thu, September 3, 2026
Boston’s end-of-summer tradition is back. The skies over Boston Harbor will once again sparkle with the return of the Illuminate the Harbor fireworks display marking the start of Labor Day Weekend.

Colby Sunflower Farm
Sat, September 5, 2026  –  Sun, September 13, 2026   
Come experience a sea of sunflowers at Colby Farm in Newbury! Sunflower field is open.

Great Spots To View Fall Foliage – New England
Thu, September 10, 2026  –  Sun, November 1, 2026   
There are great spots all over New England to take in the splendor of the Fall foliage. Here are just a few of our favorites for you to check out.

Calmer Con
Sat, September 12, 2026 
Calmer Con is a sensory-friendly comics and pop culture convention designed to accommodate the needs of autistic attendees and those with sensory processing and anxiety concerns.

Dino Day Featuring Lakeshore Exclusives
Sat, September 12, 2026
Join Lakeshore Learning Store in Saugus for a free Dino Day featuring hands-on dinosaur activities, crafts, exclusive products, and a special giveaway! This is a FREE event made for children ages 3+.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post September Events in the Boston Area appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Livescribe Smartpen. Livescribe offers a computerized pen that doubles as a recording device, recording what’s being said as well as what the student is are writing. The student can tap the pen on any written note to replay what was said while they were writing.

2. Speech-to-Text. Students can turn their speech into text using apps like Dragon Dictation, Google’s VoiceNote, Easy Dyslexia Aid, or just speaking into the microphone of a phone, tablet or laptop. Some speech-to-text devices are sensitive to different kinds of voices and will require some experimentation.

3. Kurzweil educational software offers study skills features and Texthelp Read&Write, plus highlighting, sticky and voice notes. Notes can be compiled into a separate study guide, and files can be imported into sound files for easy listening.

4. Google Chrome extensions are small software programs that customize a user’s web browsing experience. Users can tailor functionality and behavior to individual needs or preferences. The programs are built on technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Chrome offers several extensions for free or low cost that can help struggling readers and writers.

• Read&Write offers text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and word prediction
• Snap&Read will begin reading aloud from a click
• SpeakIt lets students highlight a piece of text and have it read to them
• Read Mode removes ads and images from websites so students can focus on the text

5. Audiobooks with accompanying readers. Amazon’s Immersion Reading and VOICEText by Learning Ally both allow readers to read and listen to a story at the same time. Each comes with a highlighted text feature that helps dyslexic students follow along, allowing them to read books at the level of their peers.

6. Franklin Speller. These mini electronic dictionaries provide the following:

• Handy lists of confusable words
• Context-sensitive help text
• Spellcheck
• Print and cursive options for words

As for reading print books, some early research has suggested that certain fonts like Dyslexie and Open Dyslexic make it easier for dyslexics to read by adding extra space between letters and weighting the letters at the bottom. Although experts have encouraged caution in using the dyslexic-friendly fonts—studies haven’t been peer-reviewed and there is still much to learn about their effectiveness. Some dyslexics say special fonts do help, and experts like Nancy Mather at the University of Arizona say they might be worth a try.

7. WhisperSync is an Amazon app that allows readers to switch between reading and listening to a book. For those whose slow reading can be exhausting, this app allows them to switch to audio to listen for a while.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 7 Technology Tools for Dyslexic Students appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

Letter grades can also focus too much on test scores and specific assignments rather than the student’s effort, improvement, or personal development, leaving parents and students with an incomplete picture of their true academic progress. This is a problem when students’ views of themselves as capable or ‘smart’ are at risk. So what can be done about it? To be realistic, many of the following alternatives to report cards may not be practical for most teachers: they may require too much time, data, or buy-in from colleagues, administrators, and parents. However, it is still worth considering alternatives.

1. Progress reports are similar to report cards, but are generally more detailed than a standard report card and can help teachers, students, and parents create an educational plan for the student. By providing ongoing feedback throughout the academic year, teachers can keep students and parents informed, and regularly issued progress reports offer ongoing feedback throughout the academic year. They highlight areas of improvement and achievements regularly and encourage timely interventions and support for students.

2. Portfolio assessments are a collection of student work that demonstrates their progress and learning over time, like the course of a semester or school year. They showcase a wide range of student work over time, demonstrating growth and learning as well as allowing students to showcase a collection of their work, demonstrating their creativity and mastery of subjects. Portfolio assessments also encourage student reflection and self-assessment in addition to providing tangible evidence of student achievements and progress.

3. Student-led conferences are preplanned meetings in which students demonstrate responsibility for their academic performance by providing a review of their work for parents and teachers. These kinds of assessments foster student ownership and accountability for their learning and enhance communication skills and self-confidence. In student-led conferences, students present their work and progress to their parents and teachers, facilitating self-reflection and ownership of their learning. Conferences also encourage active participation from parents, creating a collaborative environment.

4. Narrative reports are written accounts that tell a story to convey a message or lesson. Advantages of this type of assessment include providing detailed, personalized feedback that can address individual student needs instead of relying solely on grades. Additionally, narrative reports provide detailed written feedback on a student’s strengths, areas for improvement, and overall progress. They offer a comprehensive view of a student’s strengths, areas for improvement, and overall progress while encouraging a deeper understanding of a the learning journey.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 4 Report Card Alternatives appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Formative assessments are ongoing processes that teachers use to monitor student learning and provide feedback during instruction. These assessments help teachers adjust their teaching strategies to improve student understanding and performance. Examples include quizzes, class discussions, and homework assignments that inform teachers about student progress. One way to think about it: Assesses a student’s performance during instruction, and usually occurs regularly throughout the instruction process. Another way to think about it: Like a doctor’s ‘check-up’ to provide data to revise instruction.

2. Diagnostic assessments are used at the beginning of a course or unit to determine students’ prior knowledge, skills, and understanding of the subject matter. This type of assessment helps teachers identify students’ strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to plan instruction that meets their students’ specific needs. Examples include pre-tests, surveys, or initial observations. One way to think about it: Assesses a student’s strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, and skills before instruction. Another way to think about it: A baseline to work from.

3. Summative assessments evaluate student learning at the end of an instructional period, such as the end of a unit, course, or school year. These assessments are used to determine if students have met the learning objectives and to assign grades. Examples include final exams, end-of-term projects, and standardized tests. One way to think about it: Measures a student’s achievement at the end of instruction. It’s like talking to someone about a movie after the movie is over. Another way to think about it: It’s macabre, but if formative assessment is the check-up, you might think of summative assessment as the autopsy. What happened? Now that it’s over, what went right and what went wrong?

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 3 Types of Learning Assessments appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

In 2006, 50 percent of participants in a survey of more than 1,000 K–12 public school teachers rated parental involvement in their children’s education as inadequate; 48 percent reported parental understanding of the curriculum similarly. And a 2016 study revealed that some of the largest barriers to productive parent-teacher communication were trouble getting to the school site, conflicting work schedules, lack of translation services, and consistent requests for donations or fundraising that seem prioritized over all else.

Research shows that the more deeply a parent is involved in their child’s learning, the larger the impact on the child’s achievement and performance in school. Check out these four incredible examples.

Empower students to explain their best work: At Design 39 Campus in Poway, California, parents attend in-school workshops. During the first half hour, students are in the driver’s seat, taking charge and explaining their work to their parents. The second half hour is reserved for parent-teacher communication—including a question-and-answer period—while students attend an elective, gym, or their lunch period.

Show off your families’ strengths: Give parents a chance to highlight their talents, experiences, and skills to get them more engaged in the classroom, says education consultant and retired teacher Terri Eichholz. Eichholz created a Google Form where families could mention any skills that they might want to share with the class—which led to her finding a parent who was a drone operator. “[He] zoomed with my students (back before Zoom was a thing!), and we built an entire field trip around his expertise,” she says.

Provide pathways for entry: At Educare New Orleans, teachers maintain a monthly calendar marked with days on which caregivers are invited to engage with their child inside the classroom. For parents who can’t attend, there’s a take-home activity that provides a similar experience.

Making your curriculum transparent: High school history and journalism teacher David Cutler posts two weeks’ worth of lessons and assignments online. The practice provides transparency to families about what their children will be learning—and when— while also allowing him to carve out time to meet with students and parents as they prepare for more challenging assignments.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Building Better Parent-Teacher Communication appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Take a look at the classroom environment first. It’s easy to overlook the most important step in any teaching strategy: to build a positive class culture. When classroom rules are negotiated with students, they feel a greater sense of ownership and commitment toward them. Often these “rule-setting” sessions at the start of the year generate fairly similar (and effective) sets of rules. Student-negotiated consequences for breaking these rules, and ensuring they are followed throughout the year, can also reinforce a cohesive and positive learning environment. Students are more likely to meet expectations and interact positively with others when they’ve agreed on both the rules and consequences. A set of class rules may look as follows:

• We should listen to each other
• We should try not to hurt each other, verbally or physically
• We should respect each other’s ideas and values
• We shouldn’t make fun of each other’s learning / it’s OK to make mistakes
• We should help each other

2. Combat negative emotions. At the start of the school year, discuss with students how different moods and emotions help or hurt learning, as students often aren’t aware of how much their emotions affect their schoolwork. Then you can ask students to create a positive “mantra” they can refer back to if feeling unmotivated or anxious. Teachers can also prompt students to reflect on their moods when evaluating how they are progressing toward their goals, and note these observations in their learning journals. For example, a student might write: “I didn’t learn much new vocabulary this week. I was feeling angry and I couldn’t focus.” Once the teacher knows what’s going on in the emotional lives of students, it’s easier to offer targeted advice on strategies to ensure learning continues, even when a student is in a heightened emotional state.

3. Boost student interest. Students are more motivated by their schoolwork when it is interesting, so offering students choice is a common way of building interest, along with the quality and relevance of learning materials. Teachers may also allow students to negotiate twists on a task that makes it more interesting to them, while still working toward the learning outcomes of the lesson. Not every learning goal will naturally pique student interests, so ask students to reflect on tasks they find uninteresting in a learning journal to help them identify patterns in these moments and to react in a positive way. The journal entries are also great feedback for the teacher on how to make content more engaging for students.

How would you build motivation in the classroom?

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 3 Tips for Building Student Motivation appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Foster an early love of reading. Reading can be a family activity, and instilling this value of reading at a young age sends a powerful message that can be for kids. You should model reading, make reading pleasurable, read aloud to your kid in situations that are warm and create positive associations. Let your kids know your family is one that loves to learn about the world, and reading is a big part of that.

2. Put books everywhere. Look at environments that have a lack of entertainment and put books there. Put books in the car, in the bathroom, and at grandma’s house. Bring them to waiting rooms, restaurants, and on errands. It’s amazing how much kids will read when there are books in places where they have nothing else to do. In order to encourage summer reading, you can also restrict kids’ access to screen time in favor of books sometimes.

3. Build a summer schedule around reading. At the beginning of the summer, let kids know that weekdays are not going to be an absolute free-for-all. Think about the categories of things you’d like to happen–strategies like contributing to the house through chores, having time outdoors, keeping a reading log, etc. In the middle of the afternoon when it’s hot, if you’re not at the pool, you can do some sort of quiet indoor activity — and that can very easily be reading. This is a way of doing a soft restriction of children’s activity in order to encourage summer reading.

4. Start young readers with graphic novels. Graphic novels have become very popular in the last decade, and that makes them perfect to start. They can be a kind of gateway to other books, and a great tool to reach kids who think that reading is not worth their time. Getting to other reading will come in time, but it’s not a problem if graphic novels remain the mainstay of your child’s reading routine.

5. Replace naps with quiet time. For young readers at the age of giving up their nap, it’s very smart to institute quiet time. You can say that they don’t have to sleep, but they must have a half-hour of quiet time. For a child who is too young to read on their own, this can be a time for either picture books or reading with a parent or older sibling. In many families, quiet time before bed can easily go up through middle school. Let older kids stay up a half hour later if they want to read, but only books are allowed during this time.

6. Self-concept is essential. Your kids have to see themselves as readers. They can understand that reading is a good thing to do and that it makes them smarter, and most kids do know that, but they still don’t read. It’s the same as someone who knows broccoli is really healthy, but doesn’t eat it. Talking about kids’ reading attitudes is important, however. If you read anything–a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a comic, and online article–you are a reader. That’s all it takes.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 6 Tips for Getting Your Child to Read This Summer appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Let them be in charge. Children have a lot to offer. To merely stand in front of the class and speak would be ineffective and it would curb the kids’ confidence. Let them be in charge of the discussion activities and bring out the talent of each student by urging everyone to get involved in the activity or discussion. Student confidence will increase if they are given a sense of leadership and importance.

2. Set realistic expectations. If the level of an assignment is too difficult, it can create anxiety among students, whereas an easy assignment may not push the child enough to boost their learning. Teachers should try to offer a balanced assignment with optimal and realistic expectations that students can achieve. It will also help students gain a sense of accomplishment once they are able to solve the assignment.

3. Provide constructive feedback. Studies have shown that constructive feedback helps students learn and grow. You can’t grow if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong. Teachers should provide necessary constructive feedback to their students. Teachers should be supportive of their students and have faith in their talents.

4. Acknowledge accomplishments. Praising student work and acknowledging their contributions boosts their confidence. Students will have confidence in their capabilities and strive to do more. Praise should be targeted and related to the process rather than student intellect, for instance, “Good Work! I can see a difference in your work compared to yesterday.”

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 4 Ways to Build Student Confidence appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

It can be hard to tell whether or not the summer slide is happening over the vacation period as nothing seems to change on a day-to-day basis. If a child is forgetting the answers to simple math questions; forgetting simple grammatical rules, such as capitalization of proper nouns; forgetting the difference between their, they’re and there; and/or is not reading as fluently as they were previously, then it is a sign that a loss of learning has taken place. Here are 4 quick and easy ways to stop summer slide.

1. Set some learning-based goals. When school ends for the summer, learning does too.’ Try to avoid this mindset. Regular practice can help to prevent the worst of the brain drain. This can be split into slots over the week so that it can be fitted around any planned activities. Start small by introducing 15 minutes of daily work practice, regardless of the topic, and by doing this children will be able to track and monitor their own progress over the summer. Print off a simple weekly calendar from the internet and pin it to the fridge. Then sit down with a child to make ‘math Mondays’, ‘science Saturdays’ etc.

2. Bring math into the real world. The variety of activities that most children partake in over the summer presents the perfect opportunity to test out some real-world math skills. Something as simple as going for a walk or heading to the swimming pool can lead to any number of math problems being discussed. Whatever is planned over the summer vacation, see if an element of math can be added to it. A trip to the supermarket becomes “the deal says I can get three packets of burgers for $10, but they are $3.50 each. Is the deal worth it?” Or a simple walk could be elevated by asking “If every tree has 2,000 leaves on it and there are 10 trees, how many leaves are there in total?” The possibilities are endless.

3. Introduce a summer reading program. Whether it is 15 minutes of reading per day, or finishing 3 books over the break, creating a summer reading program for children can be a simple yet highly effective way to keep them learning over the summer break. Ask a child to choose 2 or 3 books (that are appropriate to their reading level) to finish over the summer break. Then, when they have finished each book, ask them to prepare a 5-minute presentation on some of their favorite things about the book.

4. Visit an educational place that isn’t the classroom. If you can arrive early enough to beat the lines, summer is the best time to take a trip to a museum or other place of learning with children. After a while, classrooms can lose their allure to young minds, but a trip to the science museum, the zoo or even a national park can help spark or rekindle a love of learning in children, and this is something that could prove invaluable come the start of school! If there are hands-on activities taking place in the museum or another educational location, then try and sign children up for them as this is a fantastic way to help them learn more from the experience.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 4 Tips for Preventing Summer Slide appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

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.

Accessible Adventures: A Fun Day at Deer Island
Sat, August 1, 2026
Enjoy an inclusive, accessible day out at Deer Island featuring guided harbor walks, adaptive recreational games, scenic views, and community connection. Fun is not limited here!

Feline Fun Day
Sat, August 1, 2026
Enjoy a beautiful summer day of cats, crafts, music, and community fun at the Brimfield Winery to support a great cage-free cat shelter. Bring your friends, bring your family, and enjoy a relaxed summer day!

Extended August Evenings at New England Botanic Garden
Wed, August 5, 2026 – Thu, August 27, 2026
Make the most of the summer season’s long days and beautiful twilights with golden hour experiences at New England Botanic Garden. Savor delicious dinner specials, and catch colorful sunsets over the Wachusett Reservoir.

Cinderella’s Enchanted Garden Party
Tue, August 11, 2026
Step into a fairy tale at Cinderella’s Enchanted Garden Party, a magical celebration set on the breathtaking seaside lawn at the Hammond Castle Museum. Enjoy sing-alongs and a lively garden party fit for young royals.

Summer Member & Family Night: S’mores Under the Stars
Thu, August 13, 2026
Join Hale Education for a cozy family night featuring lawn games, stargazing over Noanet Pond, and a classic campfire with delicious s’mores. This event is all about fun and connection with family and friends.

Gloucester Waterfront Festival
Sat, August 15, 2026 – Sun, August 16, 2026
Historic Stage Fort Park along Gloucester Harbor hosts this colorful festival, with live music and children’s activities, delicious ethnic & New England foods, and more.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post August Events in the Boston Area appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Read every day. Develop a routine for reading each day. Find a time that works for your family—after dinner, before bed, on the bus ride home or in the laundromat—and either read to your child or with them.

2. Use resources from the library. Visit your local library either in-person or virtually. Libraries are great resources for summer reading lists, family activities to promote reading and local community activities. Libraries also help identify age-appropriate books to read to children and for children to read independently.

3. Talk about the book. Ask your child questions about the book as you are reading to see if they are comprehending it. If your child is reading independently, ask them questions that invite them to tell you about the book. Also, while reading, explain the meaning of words you think your child may not know. After reading, talk with your child about the book using some of the new words they learned and help connect new information to things they already know.

4. Read aloud as a family. Gather your children of different ages and read a book out loud for all to enjoy. Give your child who reads independently a chance to read aloud too. And ask questions about the book.

5. Select books with your child’s input. They will be more motivated to read a book if they participate in selecting it. The Association for Library Service to Children provides reading lists by grade.

6. Make sure there are books in your home. Explore community resources that offer free books so that you always have books in your house to read.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 6 Summer Reading Tips for Parents appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

So how do you create a SMART goal? Consider the following 5 criteria while thinking about what you want to achieve.

• Specific: what do you want to accomplish? What specific outcome do you want to achieve?
• Measurable: how will you measure your success? What type of data will you include? How will you evaluate it, and how frequently will you check?
• Attainable: do you have all the necessary skills and resources to achieve this goal? If not, can you obtain them?
• Relevant: is this goal aligned with your other goals, or the overarching goals of your team or organization?
• Time-bound: what is the timeframe for achieving this goal?

To create a SMART goal, decide what you want to accomplish, and then address each component of the SMART acronym. Make sure that your goal centers on an outcome, not a practice or set of behaviors. A SMART goal should, in the end, achieve something.

Learning how to frame goals as SMART goals and being willing to adjust them to get SMARTer is an important skill that can help every student get off to a better start and have a better school year, this year and into the future. Here is a practical example, starting with a typical (but not especially SMART) goal: “I will do better on my report card in the next marking period.”

Here is a way to make it SMARTer: “In the next marking period, I will get at least a C on all my math tests, and at least a B on most of my quizzes and homework assignments.” But it’s not SMART yet because it has no action plan or benchmarks. Here is a pretty SMART goal: “In the next marking period, I will take careful notes and review them at least two days before tests and quizzes so that I can ask the teacher questions about what I don’t understand. I will do my math homework before I do things with friends, and when I hand it in, I will ask the teacher about anything I am not sure about. When I get anything wrong, I will make sure to ask the teacher, or one of my classmates how they got the right answer.”

It’s not easy to write SMART goals. This skill takes time to develop, and it’s especially important to have in place for students at the secondary level. A goal is an outcome, something that will make a difference as a result of achieving it. It can’t be too ambitious to be out of reach, but also not so simple that it does not challenge. A goal has to be realistic with a stretch, requiring effort and focus to achieve it. That’s why goals need timeframes and measurable action steps along the way so that students can keep track of progress and make adjustments as necessary.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post SMART Goals for the Classroom appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.