Five Ways to Get Merit Aid
Merit aid is financial aid that is awarded to students based on their academic, artistic, athletic, or other achievements. This type of aid is usually awarded in the form of scholarships, grants, or other awards, and does not require repayment. Merit aid can help reduce the cost of college tuition and other educational expenses, making…
Are You Ready for College? Ten College Readiness Skills
College readiness is the ability to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully transition into, and succeed in, college-level courses and programs. This includes having a solid academic foundation in reading, writing, math, and other core subjects, effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks, and having the confidence to ask questions and seek out…
Summer Programs to Consider for High School Students
Summer is a magical time to expose yourself to new people, places, and ideas. It’s also a great time to step outside of your comfort zone and explore possible areas of interest before committing to a major in college. Take advantage of your summers and the programs below that offer something for every interest.
5 Reasons to Start with a College Advisor your Junior Year
It’s your Junior year of high school. You may not be thinking about college just yet, but you should be! Your junior year is an important time to start thinking about and planning for college, and a college advisor can be a valuable asset in this process. Here are five reasons to consider a college…
Foolproof Ways to Spend Less Time on Your Phone
Are you looking for ways to spend less time on your phone? This post takes your current habits into consideration and gives you four ways to drastically curb your phone habits. The electricity went out last night for a full six hours. After two hours, our phones were dead, and everyone retreated to a different…
How to Respond When Your Kid Gets A Bad Grade
This post is about how to respond when your child gets a bad grade on a report card. How you respond to your child can make all the difference. School is almost out! It should be an incredible time of year. Only for some kids, it isn’t. If you’re anything like my household, sometimes your…
5 Easy Breakfasts for Pre-diabetic Teens
I assumed that the dark, discolored skin on the back of my daughter’s neck was dirt. My son had something similar on the creases of his arms, and with a bit of rubbing alcohol, it came right off. I tried it again, but the stubborn streaks would not go away this time. “This one is…
3 Reasons You Should Start Golfing in Your 40s
Before this year, I had never given golf a second thought. The only golfer I knew was Tiger Woods, and the only reason to watch it was, well, Tiger Woods. Then I turned 45, and golf suddenly became part of my life. Things changed when I turned 40. My friends changed. My work changed. My…
10 Things Teachers Can Do If a Student is Failing (for the Pandemic and beyond)
It’s the the second semester of distance learning, and I am beginning to read the news — students are failing, and the systems have failed them. The failing of students will have unimaginable consequences that will not only affect college eligibility, but their emotional well-being as well. I know. My son just failed chemistry, and…
An Open Letter to Superintendents: How to support teachers in an online school
Note: The following email was sent on July 14 as the district was trying to determine whether or not to reopen our schools during the pandemic. At the time, I was too afraid to publish it, but now I regret not sharing it with the education community. Please enjoy my actual sent letter (district removed).…
I’m In! Using the Grounding Strategy to Set Student Intention
In my student teaching seminar, students arrive to the live session after a wicked week of teaching. They are mired in lesson plans, addressing student needs, attending meetings, not to mention, managing their daily lives, which is still happening all around them. On the night they meet with me, it can either be a welcome…
Four Steps to Prepare for Breakout Rooms
You’ve delivered a fabulous mini-lecture and you’re ready to send your students to the breakout rooms to discuss in small groups. Before you send them off, take some time to think through a few items that will foster a robust group discussion. Step 1: Select a discussion protocol that aligns with your lesson objectives. A…
Four Chat Box Strategies for the Online Class
The chatbox is the most overlooked tool in a live session. When used regularly, it can provide the professor quick access to student questions, comments and responses. The key to enacting the chat box is to make its purpose intentional. Below are four key strategies to activate your chat box and engage students in learning.…
Three Tips for Your First Live Session
The first live session is an exciting experience. In an online class, your students have downloaded the digital textbook and are ready to tackle the learning at hand. As you prepare for your first live session, here are a few items to consider. Break the Ice The worst part about the first night of class…
Use Module 0 to Foster Student/Teacher Connections
How can I provide a place for my students to ask questions? Do you want your students to have the ability to send a question or post a resource that is not connected to anything specific. The most efficient way to do this is in good ol’ Module 0. Under Module 0, create an ungraded…
Setting Up Your Module 0
What components should I include when I set up my online course? The first module in many online courses is Module 0. Module 0 is the single source of information that students need to be successful. It can include any of the following: Course Overview Syllabus Milestone Assignments Course Readings and Texts Course Outcomes and…
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