Youth mental health has steadily declined in the years prior to and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the worst affected are pre-teen boys and teenage girls, according to the August 2024 report, “A Nation’s Children At Risk,” published by the Center for Applied Research in Education at the University of Southern California. According to the study, teen girls were more than three times as likely to experience abnormal levels of emotional symptoms compared to the…
Looking back on 2024, young adult fiction readers saw many smart, thrilling, and fantastical books emerge. In this list, we have some of the most exciting reading available for teens and YA readers of all ages from the past year. Add these fast-paced, heartfelt, and fresh reads from our 2024 reading recap to your “to be read” pile. 1. Snowglobe by Soyoung Park. In Soyoung Park’s award-winning dystopian young adult novel, all is not what…
For parents, teens, and children alike, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety in our fast-paced, ever-changing world. Chances are that everyone is dealing with stress and anxiety in their bodies and minds at one time or another. Thankfully, there are tips and techniques to help children and teens respond skillfully to stressful situations. Dr. Katelyn Anderson, a pediatric psychologist at CHOC, offers various skills to help combat anxiety. Here are some techniques…
Communities around the country had been experimenting with free community college programs since 2005, usually with private funding, but Tennessee was the first to make it a statewide policy, and it inspired 36 states to follow suit. This year, Massachusetts was the most recent to make community college free. But as free-tuition programs have multiplied, so have questions and doubts. Are low-income students benefiting? Is free tuition leading to more college graduates? Unfortunately, we have…
On a spring afternoon last year, students in Melissa Alter Smith’s class bustled around the room, filling 16 ounce plastic bottles with hot water, food dye, glitter and glue. “You can mix colors if you want. Just use one whatever you think represents the theme of your poem,” Smith instructed as students moved between stations. This was English, not art class, and the goal was not just to make a pretty, calming bottle. Each student…
Last year, Roosevelt Middle School in San Francisco, California introduced a campus-wide cellphone and smartphone ban. That meant devices are “off and away at all times while you’re on campus,” said Emily Leicham, Roosevelt Middle School’s principal. Among those in favor of the policy was Marta Lindsey, whose child started sixth grade at Roosevelt in fall 2024. She said that the cellphone bans were the reason her family chose the school as their first pick…
There will always be some students that are revolted by the prospect of reading, and reluctant readers certainly have their reasons. Perhaps they haven’t found a book, author, or genre yet that they like, and they don’t know where to begin. Maybe they would prefer to occupy their time with different forms of media or more kinesthetic activities. Or they could find reading boring — not long after they start reading, they lose track of…
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open to all students and families hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 school year. After weeks of testing the online form, the U.S. Department of Education released the official application on Thursday. The paper form is also now available. This year’s FAFSA may not look new, but it’s certainly improved compared to last year’s version. “It’s a piece of cake, honestly,”…
Are you willing to spread the holiday cheer this year? Boston Tutoring Services is happy to promote organizations who help people in need. There are plenty of fantastic organizations that provide us all with the chance to give back through donating or volunteering, and the holidays are always a time of year in which people need some extra help. If you are able to help those less fortunate, please consider donating to the following organizations…
What are human rights? It’s a question more and more kids are starting to ask as they see adults around them sporting “women’s rights are human rights” t-shirts and hear people on the news talking more and more about social justice issues. December presents a perfect time to talk about this challenging topic with our students and bring some relevant activities for kids into the classroom — after all, it’s Universal Human Rights Month. Add…
