One of the biggest mistakes high school seniors in the college application process is waiting too long to begin their essays. Many students come to us having procrastinated until the nth hour. Despite parental cajoling and advice, they “wait” until the looming deadlines rear their ugly heads! This is clearly not the best approach! It’s […]
Read MoreMore important than “brainpower” to academic and career success? Being able to communicate what’s in your brain. This was Warren Buffett’s message to a young entrepreneur in 2018. The best investment students can make in themselves, says Buffett in a video posted to LinkedIn, is learning how to speak and write effectively (posted by Michael […]
Read MoreEssay writing on the SAT may be optional, but good writing skills aren’t! All students with college or career aspirations should develop their writing skills. Beyond the obvious advantages, knowing how to write well also helps us think better. This is why Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos insists that employees write out their ideas in narrative […]
Read MoreReading skills predict college attendance Reading skills matter when it comes to getting into college. This isn’t new information, but a study just published its sobering findings. As Michael T. Nietzel’s headline in Forbes sums these up, “Teenage Boys’ Lower Reading Skills Helps[sic] Predict Why Fewer Males Attend College” (June 11, 2020). Reading scores for […]
Read MoreSummer is the perfect time for college-bound seniors to begin working on their application essays. For many, though, getting started is a major hurdle. Parents so often try to help, but even the best parental nudging can create added tension, as we hear regularly from our CT and NY families. The Learning Consultants has the […]
Read MoreA few years ago, Kaleigh Moore wrote a story for Inc., in which she headlines a study that found the majority of employers–73%–favoring job candidates with strong writing skills (https://www.inc.com/kaleigh-moore/study-73-of-employers-want-candidates-with-this-skill.html). Fast forward to May 2020. And the impact of COVID-19 on the economy has surely upped the ante for workplace communication skills. With companies shifting […]
Read MoreAcademic Ramifications of COVID-19 School Closures Just what are we going to do about “covid slide?” After about 8 weeks of “remote learning” in CT and elsewhere, many educators have begun asking this question. Despite the tremendous efforts of everyone involved, our kids just aren’t learning as much remotely as we’d hoped after CT schools […]
Read MoreCT parents, like those across the country, have suddenly found themselves “home schooling.” Many are trying to juggle work, parenting, and education all from the confines of home. But, this isn’t “home schooling.” It’s “CRISIS schooling,” as one principal from Arizona puts it. And this is far more stressful, even “trauma-inducing.” So how can parents […]
Read MoreSchools in CT may be closed indefinitely, but teaching and learning continues, thanks to teacher dedication and innovative technology. It didn’t take long, though, to realize the challenges with remote learning, like time management. Writing instruction presents another main challenge for teachers–essentially ensuring that writing assignments lead to genuine learning and don’t devolve into busy […]
Read MoreBegin Early When it comes to writing college essays, starting early is key. The best college essays–the ones that really stand out–take time to write. Unfortunately, many high school seniors realize this too late. They procrastinate and end up with a rushed essay that doesn’t reflect their best efforts or selves. The typical CT student […]
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