It’s important to get a StudentAid.gov account username and password (FSA ID) before filling out the FAFSA form. When you register for an FSA ID, you may need to wait up to three days before you can use it to sign your FAFSA form electronically. You and your parent (if you’re considered a dependent student) will each need your own separate FSA IDs to sign the FAFSA form online. Do not share your FSA IDs with each other! Doing so could cause problems or delays with your financial aid. Click here to get your FSA ID.

Unless you’re applying to only one college or already know where you’re going to school, you should include more than one. Colleges can’t see the other schools you’ve added, so you should add all colleges you’re considering to your FAFSA form, even if you aren’t sure whether you’ll apply or be accepted. You can add up to 10 schools at a time. If you’re applying to more than 10 schools,  you’ll need to remove one of the ten schools already listed on your FAFSA form. You may choose which school to replace with the new school. The school removed from the list will not have automatic access to any new information you provide after you’ve removed that school.

One of most difficult parts about filling out the FAFSA form is entering the financial information. But thanks to a partnership with the IRS, students and parents who are eligible can automatically transfer necessary tax information into the new FAFSA form using the IRS DRT. It’s the fastest, most accurate way to enter your tax return information into the FAFSA form.

It doesn’t hurt your application to add more schools. In fact, you don’t even have to remove schools in which you decide not to apply. If you don’t end up applying or getting accepted to a school, the school can just disregard your FAFSA form. However, you can remove schools at any time to make room for new schools. Note:  If you’re a resident of certain states, the order in which you list the schools on your FAFSA form might matter. Find out whether your state has a requirement for the order you list schools on your FAFSA form.

So many students answer every single question asked but fail to sign the FAFSA form with their FSA ID and submit the form. This happens for many reasons—maybe you forgot your FSA ID or your parent isn’t with you to sign with the parent FSA ID, so your application is left incomplete. Make sure you complete your application.

For more FAFSA tips, visit the official website.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post FAFSA Tips for High School Students appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Find and use games. Students don’t even realize they’re learning, because they’re having so much fun.

2. Set high expectations and believe in them. Clearly communicate that you believe in each student’s potential. When students know you expect excellence, they often rise to meet it.

3. Build strong relationships. Take the time to get to know each student—their interests, backgrounds, learning styles, and aspirations. Use that insight to personalize your instruction and interactions.

4. Provide choices. Giving students options on how they learn or demonstrate their understanding builds autonomy and engagement.

5. Incorporate student interests into lessons. Use sports, music, art, or pop culture as hooks to draw students into content they might otherwise find dry.

6. Lean on your team. Partnering with other teachers can help with your workflow and bandwidth, while also providing more support for your students. For more on team-based teaching, read here.

7. Celebrate progress, not just perfection. Recognize growth, effort, and improvement. This keeps students motivated even when mastery is still in progress.

Every classroom experience can be different. Students need to know they’re in a classroom environment where it’s okay to explore options, make mistakes, ask questions, and see what’s out there. They need to know if they say, “Hey, I like this,” they won’t be judged or looked down upon. So, motivation is highly personal, and it can take time to build that trust among students and teachers.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post 7 Tips for Student Motivation appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

Halloween – Salem Haunted Happenings 2026
Thu, October 1, 2026  –  Sat, October 31, 2026   
You’re invited to Salem’s annual Halloween Festival! It happens every year during October in the bewitching seaport of Salem, Massachusetts. Nobody celebrates Halloween quite like Salem.

Jack-O’-Lantern Nights at Stone Zoo
Thu, October 1, 2026  –  Sat, October 31, 2026
Experience the magic of autumn after dark at Stone Zoo’s Jack-O’-Lantern Nights, a brand-new Halloween experience transforming the zoo into a glowing wonderland filled with hundreds of illuminated pumpkins.

Ghosts and Gravestones Ghost Tour 2026
Thu, October 1, 2026  –  Sat, October 31, 2026   
Walk amongst the dead in burying grounds nearly four hundred years old, hear stories of those whose mortal remains lie beneath your feet, and listen to tales of many of the sordid practices that went along with them.

Brick-Or-Treat – Kid’s Halloween Event at LEGO Discovery Center Boston
Thu, October 1, 2026  –  Sat, October 31, 2026   
The Minifigure Monsters are taking over LEGO® Discovery Centers and they’re bringing a frightfully fun Halloween adventure with them this October!

Topsfield Fair 2026
Fri, October 2, 2026  –  Mon, October 12, 2026   
Enjoy America’s oldest and finest agricultural fair w/ New England‘s largest carnival midway, cool demos (ranging from beekeeping to miniature trains), a Grange Museum, pumpkin weigh-offs, live entertainment and more.

Somerville Fall Festival
Sat, October 3, 2026
Fall Festival is bringing ALL the vibes. Join us on Saturday, Sept. 13th from at Conway Park– FREE! Grab your friends to celebrate the event of the season that you don’t want to miss!

Milford Pumpkin Festival, NH
Fri, October 9, 2026  –  Sun, October 11, 2026   
Join us for 3 fun, festive, & flavorful days at our annual pumpkin festival. Enjoy musical entertainment, vendor booths, pumpkin carving, community lighting, and a great pumpkin weigh-in.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

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

In other words, all reading is good, but reading on paper is linked to vastly superior achievement outcomes. It’s impossible to say from this study whether paper books are the main reason why students become better readers. It could be that stronger readers prefer paper and they would be reading just as well if they were forced to read on screens. Dozens of previous studies have found a comprehension advantage for reading on paper versus screens. But these studies are usually conducted in a laboratory setting where people take comprehension tests immediately after reading a passage in different formats. This report is suggesting the possibility that there are longer term cumulative benefits for students who regularly read books in a paper format.

It’s noteworthy that the 2018 PISA reading test was a computer-based assessment in the vast majority of countries. Paper book readers are correctly answering more questions about what they have read on screens than digital readers! Strong readers who had higher scores on the PISA reading test also read on screens at home, but they tended to use their devices to gather information, such as reading the news or browsing the internet for school work. When these strong readers wanted to read a book, they opted to read in paper format or balance their reading time between paper and digital devices.

Every three years, when 600,000 students around the world take the PISA test, they fill out surveys about their families and their reading habits. Researchers at the OECD compared these survey responses with test scores and noticed intriguing relationships between books in the home, a preference for reading on paper and reading achievement. The report, “Does the digital world open up an increasing divide in access to print books?” was published on July 12, 2022.

In the United States, 31 percent of 15-year-olds said they never or rarely read books, compared with 35 percent worldwide. Meanwhile, 35 percent of American students said they primarily read paper books, almost matching the international average of 36 percent. Another 16 percent of Americans said they read books more often on screens and 18 percent responded that they read books equally on both paper and screens.

Digital books have become extremely popular among students in some regions of Asia, but students who read books on paper still outperformed even in cultures where digital reading is commonplace. More than 40 percent of students in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand reported reading books more often on digital devices. Yet in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan, students who read books mostly on paper or read in both formats scored higher than those who primarily read digital books. Both Thailand and Indonesia were exceptions; digital readers did better. Hong Kong and Taiwan are two of the highest performing education systems in the world and even after adjusting for students’ socioeconomic status, the advantage for paper reading remained pronounced.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Why Paper Books Make Stronger Readers appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

“We’re not saying that all these activities are bad, but that the total is bad,” said Carolina Caetano, one of the study’s authors and an assistant professor of economics at the University of Georgia. Homework and scheduled activities, she said, were eating away at time for sleep and socializing, which are also important. The downsides of homework and scheduled activities were most pronounced during the high school years, when students are feeling pressure to earn high grades and load up on extracurriculars for their college applications, the researchers found.

Unfortunately, the researchers weren’t able to put a precise number on how many hours is too much, and Caetano explained to me that the number might not be the same for everyone. Parents worried about overscheduling should ask themselves whether they feel their days are so busy that their children don’t even have time for spontaneous play dates, Caetano said. “If you feel stretched, you’re probably on the too-much side of this,” she said.

Caetano and her research team analyzed the time diaries of 4,300 children and teens, from kindergarten through 12th grade. The diaries had been collected over the years, dating back to 1997, as part of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), a large nationally representative household survey overseen by the University of Michigan. Children, parents and survey workers kept track of a random weekday and a random weekend day for each child, allowing the researchers to see how children spent every minute.

The researchers described a wide assortment of activities intended to improve children’s skills as “enrichment.” Homework was the largest component, adding up to two thirds of the total enrichment hours. The remainder of the enrichment time was occupied by reading (14% of the enrichment time), followed by before- and after-school programs (7%). In the diaries, relatively little time was spent being read to by parents, tutoring and other academic lessons, and on non-academic lessons, such as piano, soccer lessons or driver’s ed. On average, children spent 45 minutes a day on all of them, ranging from zero to four hours a day. The researchers then compared time spent on these enrichment activities with academic test scores along with non-cognitive psychological measures, which were based on parent surveys of their children’s behaviors, such as being withdrawn, anxious or angry.

A lot more research is needed to understand if some activities are harming students more than others. One question Caetano has concerns timing. She wonders what would happen if little kids were less scheduled in elementary school. Would they then have more resilience to deal with the time pressures in high school? The statistical techniques in this study are new and researchers debate about how and when to use them. Josh Goodman, an education economist at Boston University who was not involved in the study, commented that the causal claims between overscheduling and academic skills and mental well-being aren’t “perfect,” but called them “good enough.”

Of course, parents aren’t entirely to blame for overscheduling. Schools assign the homework and their children’s grades will suffer if it isn’t done. College admissions departments value applicants with high grades and activities. Caetano sympathizes with parents who find it hard to individually push back against the current system. It’s similarly difficult for one school to unilaterally change homework policies when colleges could penalize their students. Indeed, schools that have tried reducing the pressure have sometimes felt the wrath of parents who are worried that less homework will cause their children to fall behind the competition. Ultimately, Caetano says that education policymakers on the state or federal level need to set policies to ratchet down the pressure for all.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Signs of Overscheduling in Children appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

1. Night Of Madness by Ryan Douglass. Mara is a horror buff whose only fond memories of her dad are bonding over movies by Jack Stanley—the producer of the eighties, but the man himself has faded from the public eye…until he announces a contest centered around Asylum, his most terrifying film. Five teen influencers will be invited to spend the night on the fully constructed set; whoever sticks it out until morning wins a hundred thousand dollars. But of course, that would mean everyone staying alive, too.

2. Trust Fall by Lynn Painter. A rags-to-riches rom-com about a small-town girl whose family inherits a fortune and moves to New York City, where she meets a big-city boy hiding an explosive secret. As main characters Damion and Julia figure out where they belong, can they see past their differences and act on their feelings, or will the trust Damion has worked so hard to gain fall apart?

3. Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo. An emotional and powerful story about family, loyalty, and resilience from the National Book Award winner. In Acevedo’s latest, a high schooler faces another interaction with the juvenile justice system, but a family crisis is foremost on her mind. Impulsive 17-year-old Liliana Pantaleon-Ortiz has repeatedly gotten into trouble. Now, despite her lawyer’s best efforts, Lil is released to her parents with an ankle monitor. Acevedo’s masterful narrative handles the issues Lil faces with believable sensitivity and insight. The culturally rich language and authentically portrayed characters who are full of complexity make this work shine, and the blend of prose and poetry enhances the compelling storytelling.

4. Golden Flight by S.K. Ali. The breathtaking conclusion to a gripping dystopian duology that tackles complex real-world themes. Amid a revolution to end the oppression of Lower Earth’s inhabitants by Upper Earth, an operation is conceived to bring disparate resistance groups together in hopes of liberating humanity. In this thrilling sequel to Fledgling (2024) set in a dystopian future shaped by climate catastrophe, brutal technology like scalplinks allows Upper Earthers to control Lower Earthers; the new program SomaScape even allows them to play games using their bodies. Lower Earth refugees are funneled into so-called safe zones that function as concentration camps, where parents are separated from children, fueling the exploitative system. The Ahraar, a Lower Earth rebel group leading the revolution, has splintered into factions, but they plan to unite for Operation Golden Flight, a mission to infiltrate Le Vol Doré.

5. The House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas. A gothic young adult thriller filled with atmospheric tension and haunting imagery. A brooding manor house hides more than family secrets in Cañas’ YA debut. Minerva Treviño is accustomed to hardship—after all, she’s grown up in an impoverished part of the Capital with many siblings. A chance to escape appears when Minerva answers an ad for a lady’s maid. Soon, she becomes the sole companion to Encarnación del Valle, an aging socialite with connections to the recently deposed Viceroy’s family. Her employer’s looming house fills Minerva with unease. Strange occurrences, hostile servants, and sinister residents convince her that something far darker lurks within its walls. The atmospheric worldbuilding and steadily mounting tension create a delicious genre-blended mix of gothic horror, historical fantasy, and anti-colonial fiction.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Best Young Adult Books of Fall 2026 appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

Active learning is dependent upon the act of critical thinking. With the strategies and accompanying rationale provided above, teachers working with multiple grade levels in a variety of content areas can find at least a few approaches that work to increase the involvement of everyone in the room. To get started on the active learning journey, below is a list of seven strategies and the benefits of each one to share with students. That way, each time you try one of the tools in practice, students will understand how this approach supports their growth with a clear explanation of the “why” behind each activity.

1. Question Everything. For a specific timeframe within the class period, students are asked to phrase any response to a question in a shared space (an online document, chart paper, board, etc.) as an open-ended question. Then, students answer the question by posing yet another question of their own in the same space. This activity engages students in critical questioning, and all participants have a chance to respond to one another in an accessible space. The teacher can also be on the lookout for misconceptions and adjust instruction accordingly.

2. Images and Inspiration. Using a visual image (a photograph, drawing or similar), the teacher asks students to “free write” for a short period of time about what the image inspires. Depending on the course subject, students could write their conjectures about what they see or engage in a more creative approach. This activity allows students to make their own meaning of an image before the teacher directs learning more specifically toward the daily lesson. It also encourages students to learn in a different way (i.e. visually) and helps to facilitate a more inductive approach to course content.

3. The Big Question. Midway through sharing new information, the teacher pauses and asks students to write down an area of confusion so far. Then, students either post their questions on the wall and respond in writing or hand them to the teacher to share with the group anonymously. This activity quickly clears up confusion, encourages a culture of welcoming mistakes and misconceptions, and normalizes not knowing and asking questions. It also allows students to communicate in a variety of modalities and gives everyone in the classroom a voice.

4. Stump the Teacher. Students form groups and create a series of quiz questions on course content. Then, groups take turns posing questions in an attempt to stump the teacher. If the teacher cannot answer enough questions correctly, the class wins! This gamification technique increases student engagement as teachers can provide students with the opportunity to engage in a role reversal. By creating the quizzes, students learn the material more actively.

5. Rephrase, Please! Sometimes, ideas get lost in translation. In this activity, students are asked to take the key ideas taught during direct instruction and phrase them in their own words. They can then post their phrases on a wall, share in groups, or be called upon randomly. This helps students make meaning of new concepts in their own heads and acts as a check for understanding for the teacher to see where struggles might still exist. Additionally, this activity empowers students to think critically about the salient ideas presented.

6. One Sentence. For an upcoming extended writing project that may be intimidating, ask students to write just one sentence from the assigned prompt. Then, put them in small groups to examine one another’s sentences and discuss the challenges they face. This activity embraces the concept that all learners struggle, and that collaboration is key to surmounting obstacles. It also teaches students with multiple points of view to help one another and breaks a formidable task down into more manageable chunks.

7. Connection, Prediction. Before starting a daily objective, students pose a question or idea that makes a connection to prior learning. Then, they develop a prediction about what they are about to learn and share their thoughts with classmates via pairings or small groups. This activity is great because it encourages the use of higher-order, critical thinking skills and provides an avenue for students to share at low risk (i.e., in smaller groups) rather than in front of the class. Additionally, the teacher can see how students make meaning of the daily objective in front of them by observing.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services

The post Active Learning Strategies for Teachers appeared first on Boston Tutoring Services.

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.