Getting help isn’t as simple as asking the teacher, although usually the first suggestion parents make when a teenager doesn’t understand the assignment. Teenagers may not have been taught to identify the problem, to know what exactly the student is asking. Then, there’s the humbling of oneself to admit there’s a lack of knowledge (not…
Tag: Academics
Oh, No! Summer Reading!?!
Summer reading is a fact of life for honors and Advanced Placement students. Parents dread the looming clashes to complete summer reading. Students dread summer reading period. Yet, the assignments inevitably are finished–perhaps not the quality expected, but done. Here’s a few tips to reduce the stress:
Instant Civics Lesson–Memorial Day & California’s Tuesday Primary Election
Learning isn’t only in the classroom and for a grade. Life presents educational opportunities everyday. Tuesday’s Primary Election can spur conversations about citizenship. Why is there a Primary election? Why are voters electing delegates to the party primaries, not the Presidential candidate themselves? What’s a Proposition? Why are the voters deciding abut new expenses (i.e.…
European History in 3 Minutes…Wait, Don’t Click Away
Ever wonder how history is relevant? Do you believe history is boring–simply memorization of facts and dates? Here’s a short 3 minute history of the changes in Europe for the past 1000 years. Watch and wonder how many people’s lives changed with the shifting borders, how many cultures were exchanged after being conquered and conquering…
Why More Effort Alone May Not Improve Grades
As students head into the final weeks of the school year, last minute activity to “pull up” a grade is happening in every school. Asking teachers more specific questions, then, “What can I do to improve my grade?”, will help families and students get information that’s useful. Creative Marbles suggests the following tips:
Graduated, Yet Still Not Grown Up?
Parents want what’s best for their children. Yet, what is the cost of “the best” for both parent and child? A recent Ameriprise Financial study found the following amongst Baby Boomer Parents (born between 1946-1964) 55% allowed their adult children to move home rent free 71% paid college tuition Yet, 34% say that helping children…
Quality in Education isn’t an Entitlement
I recently read an archived article written by John Fischer in February 1965 for Harper’s Magazine titled, “Is there a teacher on the faculty?” Being a former classroom teacher, I am still fascinated by this idea of quality teaching. What is a quality teacher? Are the skills that make for a quality teacher inherent, or…
Passion + Effort = Success
There is no single action that vaults us into success–only a series of decisions, that may seem unrelated at the time, and continuous effort that define any achievement. In a recent presentation at UC San Diego, Conan O’Brien suggests from his experience: My advice is to find out what your passion is and go wherever…
College: Nature vs. Nurture
A recent study by economists, Stacy Dale and Alan Krueger, showed that college graduates from Ivy League colleges and college graduates who were denied admissions to an Ivy League college have the same earning potential. Even applying to a school, even if you get rejected, says a lot about you. –Dale Krueger, NY Times, 2/21/2011…
GUEST POST: A Mom’s Perspective on College Admissions Consultants
By Anne Ross, Ross Family CEO and Co-Entrepreneur Anne and her family first consulted Creative Marbles Consultancy in her daughter’s junior year. She graciously agreed to submit a guest post to share her insights to the college admissions process from a parent’s view. I was asked to give a parent’s perspective and first thought, “Wow,…
Parents and Academic Success
Parents often ask what they can do to support their children’s education. Elementary school parents can feel confident to assist with homework assignments and welcome to volunteer in the classroom. Yet, as students mature, mom and dad’s presence on campus at middle school and high school can be an embarrassment to teens, while mom and…
Grade Inflation is present and its effects may be more damaging then you think
The Economist this past week spoke of the notion of panflation, or better said the inflation of everything. “This ‘panflation’ needs to be recognized for the plague it has become.” I couldn’t agree more. What caught my eye in the article was the authors discussion of grade inflation. Grades have always been a tricky topic…
Spring Slide to Summer Break
With warmer weather combined with the last quarter of the school year, students and teachers start counting the days until summer break. The monotony of daily homework, interspersed with grade impacting, year-end projects, can challenge any student to stay focused. Parents often raise concerns that they’re making more frequent “reminders” about homework deadlines and trying…