Summer Learning in Colorado

Over their long vacation in Colorado, most students experience a phenomenon known as the summer slide where they lose much of the academic gains they made over the last semester. Summer academic losses are also cumulative so students who experience the summer slide will drop further behind every year.

The problem

According to the authors of a report from the National Summer Learning Association: “A conservative estimate of lost instructional time is approximately two months or roughly 22 percent of the school year.” While academic losses happen across the board, most of the studies which focus on the summer slide deal with reading and math abilities which are so important for today’s students who want to compete in an increasingly tough job market.

Better learning means a better life

The antidote to the summer slide is to take just a couple of sessions every week for in-home tutoring. Here your kids get personalized education that suits their personalities, abilities and learning style. Watch their confidence grow as they not only avoid the summer slide but fill in the gaps in their learning, and acquire the study skills they need to succeed in the new year.

At Tutor Doctor, we don’t want students to be dependent on our tutoring, so we teach the skillset they need to work independently and remove the academic anxiety that many families deal with on a daily basis.

Our programs

• Convenient, comfortable, one-to-one

We come to you, wherever you are, at a time that is convenient to you. In the comfort of your home, we provide individualized training and give your child the caring and confidence that they need to succeed.

• Everyone can learn with the right approach

We have a comprehensive, collaborative approach to learning and work together with your family and teachers to identify the right learning strategies and find the perfect tutors.

• Better learning, better life

Your education consultant and tutor have your student’s best interests at heart. We listen, understand, and build an educational support team and personalized coaching plan to help your student become an academic champion for life.

• Your goals are our goals

Whether your student’s needs are immediate – like passing the next exam—or long term, we build a tailor-made plan that gets results. We start with an in-depth assessment, then match the right tutor to your student to help your family improve the present and make the future possible.

Our tutors

At Tutor Doctor, we provide your children with affordable, professional academic coaching in the comfort of your own home. Our tutors undergo a rigorous selection process so we know that they are qualified, well-matched and passionate about really supporting families and helping your students to succeed. With a dedicated coach and a supportive academic team, every student can succeed.

With our Summer Success Program, your children can really get a head start on the coming semester so that they can bring their A-game. Our one-on-one tutoring style delivers results. In fact, 95% of our customers would recommend us to their friends and family.

Contact us to learn more about our summer programs!.

5 Tips All Colorado Students Should Use When Choosing Their College

It’s that time of year when prospective students are eagerly awaiting acceptance letters into their favorite schools. No doubt you have applied to more than one college and if you have several attractive offers, you want to make the right choice. It can be really difficult to decide between schools, so here is a little guide on how to go about making the right choice.

TutoringK12.com -  Helping Students become their best and taking the stress out of learning . . . 

Make a list, check it twice

Write down all the things that you are looking for in a school in order of importance. The most important option should be the course you want to take so that should go on the very top of the list. Follow this with other factors and facilities that you find essential to the success of your academic career.

The second half of the list should contain the considerations that you would like to have in your future school. These could include things like size; some students prefer the intimacy of smaller colleges while other students like big schools because they can meet new people.

Take a holistic approach

When finding the best fit for you, consider not only your academic needs, but also your personality and interests. You need to find a school that suits you in order for you to excel. You should include factors like location, sports, your budget, the facilities provided by the school, the lecturers who will be giving your chosen courses, course requirements, etc.

Now you can compare schools in terms of how many boxes they tick on the ‘essentials’ list and on your ‘wish’ list. This helps you to accurately select the best school for you.

Ask all the questions

By the time you are ready to make your choice, you should have visited each of your colleges and you should know everything you need to know in order to make your decision. Do your research on each school so you know exactly what you will be getting.

Set a deadline

There’s nothing worse than waiting in limbo, so set yourself a deadline for making your final decision. Take enough time to carefully consider your options, but don’t get bogged down in indecision. Set a date, make a decision and then more forward with your planning.

Communicate

Your family, friends and teachers are all excited and invested in your decision. While you may feel pressure from different quarters to make a decision, don’t shut down communication. Listen carefully to advice, then take time to make your own decision. Communicate with your councillors, parents and teachers so that they can help you come to the right decision for you.

Choosing the right college is a tough decision and it will affect the next four years of your life, so take your time and trust your instincts.

If you find this list helpful, please pass it on . . .

Good Luck!

If you have any further questions, please give us a call at 720-638-1373

What parents need to know about E-Cigarettes

Electronic or e-cigarettes sales are soaring, but not everyone is supporting this new fad. In his last days as New York major, Bloomberg banned sales of e-cigarettes while law-makers in the UK call for new legislation that will ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. With manufacturers touting e-cigarettes as a ‘healthy’ alternative to smoking, many parents are weighing in with their concerns about these potentially harmful products.

Electronic cigarettes enable users to inhale a mixture of nicotine and chemical flavor additives in vapor form. The battery-powered devices are crafted to look like real cigarettes and contain cartridges filled with liquids that contain nicotine and flavors like chocolate, bubblegum and mint.

Since no combustion is taking place and no smoke is produced, users can use the e-cigarettes indoors. Manufacturers are claiming that the lack of combustion minimizes the negative health aspects usually associated with traditional tobacco-based cigarettes.

A 2011 and 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that one in ten American high school students had tried e-cigarettes, a trend Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, describes as “deeply troubling.” His fear is that they will develop a dependency on nicotine which will lead to the smoking of traditional cigarettes.

Other researches are equally cautious: “They’re not safe. They’re just less dangerous,” says Dr. Stanford Glantz, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California San Francisco.

The fear that e-cigarettes will lead to smoking isn’t the only health risk. Aside from nicotine levels that are as high as or higher than regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes also contain a cocktail of chemicals that may have a poor effect on health.

Since the manufacture of e-cigarettes is not regulated, FDA officials claim that they have no idea what chemicals go into flavoring the e-cigarettes and they have no idea what effects e-cigarettes have on health. They are calling for caution until studies can be conducted to ascertain the long-term effects of smoking e-cigarettes.

While the FDA is conducting initial studies and promises to enforce regulations as soon as it has enough information to do so, it’s best if you discourage your students from trying these potentially dangerous products. Talk to your students about the use of e-cigarettes today. Until the manufacture of e-cigarettes is regulated and the long-term effects of inhaling nicotine vapor explored, students should avoid e-cigarette use.

Parents can help by not smoking e-cigarettes in front of their students and discussing the inherent dangers of smoking in general. Until studies show that e-cigarettes are harmful or safe, parents should encourage their students think twice before smoking an e-cigarette.

Community News - Recognizing great things in our community

Community News - Recognizing greatness in our community

Highlands Ranch High School

Highlands Ranch High School has been recognized for the Colorado Department of Education's John Irwin's Award for excellent performance and the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award for outstanding growth scores.  It is very rare for a high school to receive both awards. Congratulations Falcon staff and students!

Mountain Vista High School

Mountain Vista student journalists garner national award.

"Eagle Eye" news magazine honored with Pacemaker award

http://www.denverpost.com/dougco/ci_24742864/mountain-vista-student-journalists-garner-national-award

Valor Christian High School

Valor seniors were given a challenge in their Senior Seminar Class—take $5 and turn it into as much money as possible with the goal of helping those in need locally. The seniors did just that; they turned $5 into almost $5,000! They helped more than 15 non-profit organizations including Samaritan’s Purse, The Gathering Place, The Jimmy V Foundation and Children’s Hospital. Way to go seniors – Valor is proud of you!

5 New Year's Resolutions Every Parent Should Make

Your 2014 resolutions don’t just have to focus on dieting and exercise; you can set valuable intentions for your parenting too. Your resolutions for the coming year shouldn’t be vague promises to ‘spend more time with the kids’, but attainable, realistic goals for improving the emotional and academic support you are able to provide. The key is in the daily routines; small changes here can really lead to big improvements in your family life.

Listen

Take time each day to really listen to your students. When they have problems academically or socially, ask them for explanations and listen attentively. If your student is shy or going through a phase where communication is tough, don’t give up or become frustrated. Continue to ask open-ended questions even if all you get is a shrug or an “I don’t know.” It’s important to keep channels of communication open at all times and to listen without judging.

Stay the course

When it comes to getting a couple of more minutes of computer time, or moving back curfews, children have better negotiating skills than politicians. It can be tough to stay the course when you are being nagged and hounded, but it’s important to set firm boundaries.

If you’re not sure about the ‘No’, then put off the answer with “I will have to think about it”. If you have said no, then stick to your guns.

Take better care of you

I call this the ‘oxygen mask’ principle. In an airplane, adults must put their own oxygen masks on before attending to their children and you need to take care of your own needs in other situations too. You can’t be a great parent if you are stressed out or unhealthy. Take the time out you need to keep functioning optimally. Whether that means an occasional night out, exercising more, taking a day off or enabling your children to be more independent, do what you need to in order to maintain your composure.

Be constructive

Empty threats and blanket criticism can be the result of understandable frustration on the behalf of parents but a constructive, non-judgmental response will often help to solve the situation. For example, if your student is having trouble academically and has a poor attitude towards studying, parents become frustrated. Their frustration is borne from a genuine concern for their child’s future, but continuous arguments and criticism won’t solve the problem.

Instead, speaking with tutors, teachers and the student in a constructive, supportive atmosphere can help to create a game plan to improvement that suits both parents and students and results in positive academic gains.

Have fun

Laugher really is the best medicine and a family that has fun together will form tighter bonds. Take time out to enjoy yourselves and have fun with your kids. Do enjoyable activities individually with your children and together as a family. Ask your students what they want to do as participating in planning is more likely to result in participation in the activity.

This year, set yourself really attainable goals that work on your everyday habits. For example, if your resolution is to spend more time with your children and to be a better listener, then start a tradition of spending Sunday afternoons doing something together. You could take each child to a movie, shopping, or out for a meal. One-on-one time will really help to give you the space to listen and communicate.

Setting attainable, realistic changes that are tangible will mean that you are more likely to succeed. Small steps in the right direction result in small victories that are a real encouragement to keeping your resolutions past Valentine’s day.

ACT or SAT?

The SAT and ACT tests determine a student’s readiness to enter college. Getting into the best colleges requires students to score well on these entrance tests. Although most colleges accept either test, students often don’t know which one to take. There are some fundamental differences between the tests.

SAT

The SAT test was created in the 1920’s as an entrance exam for students who wished to attend Ivy League colleges on the east coast. The test is designed to measure a student’s skills and abilities. The SATs are based on IQ tests and aim to test a student’s ability rather than the number of facts that they have learned. The SAT allows 3 hours and 45 minutes to answer its 140 questions. A perfect score is 1600. Guessing is discouraged by subtracting marks for incorrect answers.

 ACT

This test was designed in the 1950s to service colleges on the west coast. Here, students are tested on how much they have learned in high school. The test covers maths, English, reading, writing and science. The test allows 3 hours and 25 minutes for the student to answer the 215 questions. A perfect score is 36. No marks are subtracted for incorrect answers here, so students can take a guess at questions they are not sure about.

Each of the tests costs about $50 and takes a half day to complete. If you can afford the fee and the time, it’s best to take both. You can take the test over, so test early on in case you would like to improve your score before applying to college. Experts differ on which test is best; the ACT is rumoured to be easier, but the SAT does test your preparedness for college. If you only want to take one test, take a sample test of the SAT and the ACT to see which one you score best on. Sample tests are available on the internet and can help you determine which testing style is best suited to your abilities. You can find free SAT sample test on the website at http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test. You can find sample ACT tests on their website at http://www.act.org/compass/sample/

All your test scores are recorded, no matter how many times you take the test, and are available for your college admissions department to see. This means that getting the best possible test scores on your first go is ideal. Before you attempt your college entrance exam, consider getting a tutor who specializes in the entrance exam to help you with test preparation. A tutor can guide you through the process of preparing for the test and administer sample tests. You can then work with your tutor to iron out difficulties you may be having before attempting your official entrance exam.

Volunteering in Metro Denver over the Holidays

Volunteering is a great way to give your child perspective and teach them to be generous, caring individuals. Give your child a sense of community and social responsibility through volunteering.

Volunteering helps to create well rounded individuals and encourages them to be grateful for the fortunate circumstances of their own lives. Volunteering should be fun, so take care to choose an activity that suits your child’s interests and age. Volunteering does not have to be emotionally draining either; every small act of kindness is usually met with such positive feedback that your child’s confidence and self image will be bolstered by the experience. Volunteering teaches your children responsibility and commitment and makes them feel needed. Holidays are an especially good time to spread the spirit of the season through helping others. There are many activities to choose from.

Toy Drives

Many children live in circumstances that render it unlikely that they will receive gifts for Christmas. Get your children to donate toys to a worthy cause. Most toy drives take toys up until January or February for the next Christmas. You can get your child to donate some of the toys they got for Christmas to the toy drive. Your children can also ask family members to donate money that they would have spent on Christmas and birthday gifts to a charity of their choice. Your child can help to sort and label or wrap toys for distribution or they can work with teachers and classmates to organize a school toy drive.

Care 4 Colorado Toy Drive

CBS4 has teamed up with King Soopers, MIX 100.3, and the University of Denver Athletics and Recreation to collect new toys and cash donations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s 2013 Care 4 Colorado Toy Drive. King Soopers will collect new toys at all Front Range locations from Friday, November 29 through December 24. Visit their website at www.bgcmd.org/toydrive

Helter Shelter

Most shelters appreciate volunteers who can walk the dogs every day. This will be a great way for your children to get some exercise while learning more about pets. If you have no shelter near you, your children can offer to walk pets for the elderly residents in your neighborhood.

Dumb Friends League. Please visit http://ddfl.org/ways-to-give/get-involved for more information.

Buddy Center: 4556 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80109

Clean Green

If your children enjoy the outdoors, contact your local municipality for parks or trails that need to be cleaned. Your children can go on hikes and pick up trash as they go. This will not only help to beautify your area, it also helps to protect wildlife.

Food Banks

Food banks need volunteers to sort food, check expiry dates and make up food packages. Kids can also collect coupons from newspapers and magazines to help food banks stretch their budgets. Work with schools or other community institutions to collect food for foods banks, especially over the festive season.

Ansar Pantry: Aurora, CO 80010 (303) 459-2153

A study by the Search Institute found that children who volunteer for one hour a week are 50% less likely to use drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. Volunteering is also a great activity to do together as a family. Encourage your children to volunteer and spread some joy this festive season.

Pets can Make the Perfect Gifts!

As the festive season approaches, many families consider getting a pet for their students. While you may have heard all the reasons why this could be a bad idea, there are some ways

Merry Christmas from the TutoringK12 team

in which pets can add to your student’s life in a positive way.

Health benefits
Students who grow up in homes with pets have fewer allergies and are less likely to develop asthma. Petting a dog or a cat lowers blood pressure and boosts the immune system. In the same way pets are utilized in hospitals to make people feel better, they can have a very positive effect on the health and well being of your student and pet owners require fewer visits to the doctor. Having a pet also encourages students to be more active. Students with pets play outside more often and have to take their pets for regular walks. Getting outside and playing with their pets means that students get the exercise they need and are less likely to have weight issues.

Improved happiness
Students who regularly play with pets have improved self-esteem, impulse control and social skills. Sharing a pet fosters better relationships between siblings too which helps to improve the family bond. Cuddling a pet reduces loneliness and anxiety and leads to feelings of comfort and well-being. All of these factors help to improve the general happiness of your student.

Learning responsibility
Having a pet helps to foster the nurturing instinct in students. Having to regularly feed, walk and care for their pet teaches students how to be responsible and to put the needs of others first. Students learn to follow a routine as their pets need to be walked and fed at the same time every day.

Ensuring the perfect fit
One of the best ways to ensure that your student will benefit from having a pet is to plan carefully. Volunteer at a local shelter on the weekends or take care of a friend’s pet for a few days to see how your student manages the responsibility.

Make sure that your student is old enough to manage a pet and that they have enough time to spend with their new friend. You can get a smaller pet, like a hamster or a mouse, to see how your student deals with the responsibility.

Consider the additional cost and ensure that you have the money and space to comfortably house the new addition to your family. Pets need food and medical insurance as well as annual shots and regular grooming. Don’t buy a pet unless you have the funds you need to cover expenses.

Having a pet can help to make your student a happier, healthier, well-rounded individual. They can learn valuable lessons about nurturing and responsibility while forming a relationship that is sure to bring the whole household tons of joy. Pets can be a really great asset and a very positive addition to the family if you get them at the right time.

Waiting Until Later To Procrastinate - Study Tips

With the midterms coming up, do you find yourself cleaning your room, organizing your closet and spending time with your younger siblings? You’re not going crazy, you’re just procrastinating. Procrastinating is the art of putting off studying at all costs. Finding a million things that absolutely have to be done is your way of delaying the tasks you find overwhelming or intimidating. You may feel like the mountain of work you need to get through is daunting, but delaying only causes more stress. Here are some ways to get going.

1. Make a schedule: Divide your study time into manageable chunks. Start slowly at first and then study for longer as you progress. Be realistic with your expectations. You know how much studying you can comfortably do in a day. Divide your time between all the tasks you have to do. Make sure that you leave enough time for each task so that you don’t fall behind. You can make a schedule on your computer, draw it out on paper or find a phone app to help.

2. Live in the now: When you sit down to study, don’t think about all the stuff you have to learn for exams, only think about the hour you have to study and the tasks you have to complete today. This will help you to feel less stressed about your workload. Completing your task for the day will make you feel successful. This will put you in a positive frame of mind about your studies. Dividing up the tasks will make your studies more manageable.

3. Minimize distractions: Tell your friends and family beforehand that you will be studying and that you cannot be disturbed. Be strong, even if your friends are out having fun. You need to stick to your study schedule or you will end up cramming the night before an exam, wishing you had started earlier.

4. Prioritize: Study the most difficult or intimidating work first. That way, you will know that the hard work is over first and will be more motivated to continue with your studies all the way up to the exam date. Keep your expectations realistic; the more times you fail to adhere to the study schedule, the less you are likely to try.

5. Reward yourself: When you successfully complete the tasks you have set yourself for the day, take some time out to relax. Meet up with friends, go shopping or spend some time outside. Rewarding yourself gives you time to unwind and relieves stress. You are far more likely to start studying if you know that there will be a reward at the end.

Should my Student Skip a Grade?

The previous generation would allow students who were excelling to skip a grade. The thinking behind it was that students who are way ahead of the curve, get bored in class and become listless. They get so accustomed to being ahead of the others that they stop paying attention and that may actually lead to poor academic performances down the line. Skipping a grade comes with social consequences however, and these may actually lead to bigger problems. If your student has an opportunity to skip a grade, you have to consider very carefully what the right course of action is.

What to consider

Schools take a number of factors into consideration when weighing the suitability of candidates including intellect, achievement, physical size, peers, motor skills, and social and emotional development. Of course intellect and achievement is probably what alerted them to the possibility in the first place. Physical size is important because if your child is so much smaller than their new peers, they may feel out and may not be able to fit in socially.

The same goes for social and emotional levels. If your child prefers to mix with adults or older students, skipping a grade may actually help them feel like they can relate better to their new peers. If they have firm friends in their current grade and enjoy a healthy, happy social life, skipping a grade could have a negative impact on their social and emotional wellbeing.

Get a professional assessment

Once you have the recommendations of the teachers and other professionals at your student’s school, ask your paediatrician for a reference to a professional education therapist. They will spend time with your student to determine their abilities in all the pertinent areas from emotional maturity to academic ability. Getting a professional opinion will help you to make an informed decision.

Gifted students can be quirky and you must be sure that they can handle the social and emotional changes. If they can’t, moving a grade may keep them academically engaged, but the social and emotional toll may be too high. However, if you don’t move them, they may suffer academically and fail to reach their full potential. The dropout rate for gifted students is much higher than the average because of problems adapting socially and academically.

There are alternatives to skipping a grade that bridge the gap for students who are academically gifted. Some schools allow gifted students to skip subjects rather than grades. This means that if your child is in second grade, but is reading at a fourth grade level, they can join a fourth grade class for reading, but stay in their own class for the rest of the day. Students who are gifted can also join advanced classes where their particular academic needs are fulfilled. Students can  take extra lessons with tutors who help to challenge them academically while keeping them in the same grade.

Discuss your options with your student, your teachers, principal, education therapist and tutor to find the very best solution for your student. Constantly monitor and reassess the situation so that you are able to provide the most suitable solutions as their needs change.

Games for Building Vocabulary and Memory Skills

When I was a child in Mexico, we used to play a game called “Te vendo una gallina,” or “I’m selling you a hen.” It’s a great game for building vocabulary and flexing the memory. It lends itself well to variations, including a bilingual variation my kids use, and it’s perfect for long trips in the car. I suppose you could play it alone, but it’s definitely more fun with at least two players. Here’s how it goes:

Player 1: I’m selling you a hen.

Player 2: A what?

Player 1: A hen.

Player 2: I’m selling you a hen and an apple.

Player 1: A what?

Player 2: A hen and an apple.

Player 1: I’m selling you a hen, an apple and a house.

Player 2: A what?

Player 1: A hen, an apple and a house.

And so on.

• Players choose their own words for the list (with the exception of the first word, which by convention has always been “hen”).
• The order of items listed, as each player adds a word, must remain the same.
• Play continues until someone messes up the order or can’t recall an item on the list.

The list can become very long, and you will be amazed at how well your kids will begin to remember long, ordered lists.

Now, here’s a fantastic bilingual variation my kids made up. This one works better if there are three players so that players get a different language on each of their turns, but it still works with two players.

You don’t need to be bilingual to play, you just need a Spanish-English (French-English, etc.) dictionary or an app like Google Translate on your cellphone. But it does help if someone playing or observing has some basic skills in the language to help with pronunciation. It is fair to look up words you don’t know in the dictionary. So here is the variation:

Player 1: Te vendo una gallina. (Spanish for hen)

Player 2: Una que?

Player 1: Una gallina.

Player 2: I’m selling you a hen and an apple.

Player 3: A what?

Player 2: A hen and an apple.

Player 3: Te vendo una gallina y una manzana.

Player 1: Una que?

Player 3: Una gallina y una manzana.

Player 1: I’m selling you a hen, an apple, and a house.

Player 2: A what?

Player 1: A hen, an apple, and a house.

And so on.

Here are two more variations, but the possibilities are endless. Just last weekend my boys created a version using just the Spanish words for different birds (gallina, cuervo, colibrí). Another variation requires items to be added to the list in alphabetical order, after hen, of course (e.g., hen, apple, ball, cat, etc.).

I Went to Scotland Game

The next game is great for vocabulary, memory and analytical skills. Here’s how it goes. One person is the moderator. The moderator thinks of a pattern and keeps it to herself. It can be any sort of pattern and, as players become more experienced, the patterns can become very complex. For illustration, let’s begin with a very easy, recognizable pattern — the alphabet.

• The moderator starts by saying, “I went to Scotland and I brought back some apples.”
• The next player makes a guess by saying, for example, “I went to Scotland and brought back some oranges.” (This player thinks the pattern might be fruit.)
• The moderator responds, “No.” Play continues to the next player.
• If a player gives a word that fits the secret pattern, for instance, “boat” in this case, the moderator says, “Yes.”
• The player who has guessed correctly has two choices: either to declare the secret pattern or continue play.
• If he declares correctly, he wins. If not, he’s out.

After all players have guessed a word to try to fit the pattern, the moderator gives the next word, and play continues. In this example, she has given apples already and another player has guessed “boat” correctly, so her next word would be something like “cat.” Any player can try to declare the pattern on his turn. But if he is wrong, he is out! The winner is either the player who declares the pattern correctly first or the moderator for stumping everyone.

Here are more games you might find fun.

• First is a list of the top 10 road trip games. One of these looks like the “I Went to Scotland” game but is much simpler.

• Next, some online games for younger children for building vocabulary, from pbskids.org.

• Here are some online games in Spanish from pbskids.org.

• Last, is a list of vocabulary-building games from Scholastic.com.

Have fun! What are some games for building vocabulary and memory skills that you like to  play with your kids?

Silvia M. 

Dealing with Difficult Teachers

Teachers are the backbone of our education system and most of them are patient, professional and experienced. The teaching profession is one that is lucky enough to contain some of the most dedicated people who take their jobs seriously. It’s the rare occasion that parents have to deal with a teacher with whom they do not get along. It may be a philosophical difference, a discipline issue or a clash of personality, but its best to deal with disputes professionally and responsibly to ensure that your student doesn’t suffer.

Keep it positive

Don’t make negative comments about teachers in front of your students. This may cause them to lose respect for their teacher and can affect the teacher/student relationship. Remember that your students have to see these teachers on a daily basis, so it’s in everybody’s best interest to work differences out amicably.

Keep it professional

If you feel emotional or angry about something a teacher has said or done, wait until you have calmed down before you address the issue; it’s best to keep interactions professional. It’s important to address any differences as they arise. Leaving small issues to snowball into big issues is not a great way of dealing with disputes. Instead, make time to speak personally with your teacher about any minor issues and keep the channels of communication open throughout the school term.

Listen

Teachers often have more experience with dealing with behavioral and academic issues and they have some valuable insights into your student’s behavior. They have a different perspective as they see the way your student behaves in class and interacts with his or her peers. Often, parents have skewed perspectives on what is happening in the classroom as they have only had their student’s version of events.

When you have a problem with a teacher, it’s imperative that you listen to what they have to say. Ensure that you understand both sides of the story and that you give the teacher the trust and respect they deserve.

Coping with adversity

If your student is the one that doesn’t get along with his or her teacher, then this is a great time to teach social coping techniques. We meet people with whom we don’t get along in every social situation. We’ve all had a boss, a co-worker or a neighbor we have not gotten along with. Help your student to cope by teaching them how to deal with situations that may arise. Discuss appropriate responses and role play situations that could arise so that they are confident and prepared to deal with situations responsibly and maturely.

While every endeavor must be made to create positive teacher-parent-student relationships, when adverse situations occur, it’s a great opportunity for parents to teach life skills. Work to create a positive atmosphere for your students so that they can get the very best education. Remember that the best way to teach life skills is to be a good example as your students look to you for guidance on how to deal with difficult situations.

Coping with ADD/ADHD

We know that living with a student who has ADD or ADHD can be frustrating at times, but learning coping mechanism and ways in which to channel all that energy into something positive will mean that you have a happier home and a student who stays ahead of the game academically. Here are some techniques you can use to help your student to excel.

Understanding your role

Students with ADD or ADHD have trouble with executive functioning. They are every bit as capable and intelligent as other students, but they have trouble planning ahead, seeing consequences, organizing, controlling impulses and completing the task at hand. This means you have to work with your in-home tutor and your teacher to provide guidance and take over these executive functions until your student learns the skills to be independent.

While they want to sit quietly in class, follow instructions and complete tasks, they need to acquire the tools to do so. They are rarely purposefully disruptive, but it’s important to recognize that they can be and manage the impact they have on parents, siblings and class members.

Stay positive and supportive

Remember that not being able to follow instructions or complete tasks can be just as frustrating for your student as it is for you. When you stay positive and calm, you will help them to build confidence and won’t make them think that they are always doing something wrong. Always remember that they are not being purposefully difficult and try to be supportive and encouraging.

Focus on the positive

Believe in your student and believe that they are capable of learning the skills they need to succeed. This will mean that you focus on the positive and don’t sweat the small stuff. When your student does three out of five of their chores, focus on the ones they did and praise them for those while gently reminding them of the ones they left out.

Create structure

Routines and structure will help your students to establish the tasks they need to do and the time they have to complete them. Establish a schedule for getting ready in the morning, doing homework and evening routines. Use clocks or timers to remind students of the time limits and to refocus them when their attention is diverted elsewhere. Keep routines as simple as possible.

Free time

Not every minute of every day should be structured. Allow your student some free time and their own space.

Activity

Physical activity helps students with ADHD and ADD to find a positive outlet for all their energy. Sports are a great way to get your students active and to allow them to rid themselves of all that energy.

Diet

Avoiding refined sugars and other processed foods will help your student to focus and to sleep better. Without the rush of too much sugar and with a good night’s sleep, they will be able to cope better.

Socializing

Encourage your students to make friends with their peers. Healthy social lives will help them to feel a sense of belonging and friends can provide support and encouragement.

Get involved

Every single student will thrive when their parents are involved in their lives and supportive of their academic and sporting endeavors. Keep in touch with your teachers and tutors to ensure that your student is progressing well and take an interest in them. Spend time with them and really listen to them.

Take care of yourself

Ensure that you have your own support network of friends and family members. You can also contact other parents who have students with ADD or ADHD and form a support group. Take time out and make sure that you get to focus on yourself from time to time. Happy parents make for far happier children.

DIY STEM Projects for Kids in Castle Rock

Like many of you, I recently bought bargain binders, dollar notebooks and other school supplies.  However, in the name of after-school enrichment at home and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) projects, I also took advantage of seasonal sales to stock up on supplies for my makerspace.

Makerspace?

A makerspace is basically a spot where you make stuff. It could be an elaborate community creative space, an area in your basement or garage, or just a TV tray in a dedicated corner of your family room. I’m lucky to have a home that came with a well-worn workbench in the basement, the original man cave, if you will. But like a cave, the basement workshop is a dark, dank spot that isn’t much fun to hang out in, so it functions more as a storage area. The actual tinkering and creation of things tends to take place on my dining room table. Regardless of location and aesthetics, the making is more crucial than the space.

Making is not only a creative outlet but is also an activity that can build STEM knowledge, the most sought-after 21st-century skill set. Designing, measuring, building or even taking things apart helps developing minds enhance abilities in these critical areas.

Stocking Your Makerspace

• Mark It — My boys were never big on traditional art supplies like crayons and paint, but your mileage may vary. To make markers more interesting, acquire a range of types like gel pens, permanent markers, spy pens or paint pens, taking care to note which ones may leave permanent stains.
• Build, Baby, Build — Fill your space with inexpensive building materials:

Toothpicks

Straws

Wooden skewers

Popsicle® sticks

Drinking straws

Twist-ties

Chenille stems (formerly known as pipe cleaners)

Corks (go ahead, finish that bottle of winein the name of enriching your child’s education)

Tubes from toilet paper, wrapping paper and paper towels

Sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes, as well as chipboard from cereal and snack boxes, are like giant building blocks. They can also be cut, colored and otherwise manipulated to make new things. (http://cainesarcade.com/)

Finally, PVC piping and joints are another great resource for all kinds of fanciful inventions.

• A Cut Above — Special scissors make special projects. Look for scissors that leave unique decorative marks like jagged edges, wavy edges and other intricate styles.

• When Things Get Sticky — What my younger boy lacked in attraction to crayons he made up for in his love of tape. It started when he was in preschool and last year, as a seventh grader, he came home from school with an inventive sculpture created solely out of transparent tape (created during a few stolen moments in class, apparently). This is an amazing decade for tape. In addition to old standbys like masking, painter’s and transparent tape, there’s an explosion of decorative tapes on the market that can add a splash of special to any project. Even duct tape now comes in bright colors and fun patterns that have not gone unnoticed to makers. Loads of duct tape projects are just a click away.

• Connect — Tape can also hold things together, as can paperclips and brads, those brass tack like objects that have two little legs or prongs and allow for motion between connected objects.  Twist-ties, chenille stems and magnets can also be used for this purpose. If your child can safely handle the heat, a hot glue gun really helps things stick together.

• Electrify — Help your child dabble in electronics with basic supplies, such as button cell batteries, LED lights, battery leads and DC motors.

You might feel more comfortable with a starter kit that comes with suggested projects or a set like littleBits that enables kids without prior electronics experience to easily add sensors, lights and movement to maker projects. It’s worth noting that littleBits are also the most girl-friendly electronics I’ve come across to date.

If your children are ready to take their electronics to the next level, read up on things such as Arduino, theRaspberry Pi or the Makey-Makey, which makes anything into a keyboard. You can check out one of my younger teen’s projects here.

Did I miss anything? You might have noticed I didn’t mention glitter. It’s pretty much the only craft supply I ban from my house, and with two boys, I’ve never had anyone question my policy. What are your favorite maker supplies?

Kim Moldofsky started out as a dolphin trainer and later became a potty trainer. Now this leading Social Media Mom of two teen boys blogs hosts online chats and createsvideo content in addition to consulting and speaking at events.

Kim married her love of science and passion for blogging in 2012 by launching a blog reflecting her interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). That blog, The Maker Mom, is dedicated to helping parents raise STEM-loving, Maker-friendly kids.

Kim M started out as a dolphin trainer and later became a potty trainer. Now this leading Social Media Mom of two teen boys blogs hosts online chats and creates video content in addition to consulting and speaking at events.

Kim married her love of science and passion for blogging in 2012 by launching a blog reflecting her interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). That blog, The Maker Mom, is dedicated to helping parents raise STEM-loving, Maker-friendly kids.

How to Help Your High School Student Set Goals

To your teen, it might seem as if high school is going to last forever. But you know better. Setting goals provides your teens with concrete landmarks to help them along their academic path. Having set goals to follow will give your teens focus and help them build self-confidence.

Here’s a look at the kinds of goals your teen should be setting and why they are important.

• Of Course Those Courses Matter. How can you help make your teen’s academic schedule beneficial to him or her? Keep your teen’s college and career goals in mind when choosing courses.

• Think Ahead to Test Time. Tests are a fact of life for high school teens. Whether dealing with subject tests, mid-terms and finals, or standardized tests, your teen’s high school career will be peppered with test dates. Well ahead of test time, help your teen set up test preparation goals.

• Extracurriculars Are Not Extraneous. Both colleges and employers think extracurricular activities are important because they showcase skills, commitment and responsibility. In addition, these activities benefit your teen by helping to build independence, confidence and experience. Sometimes, they even help your teen figure out a career path. As your teens set goals for the things they would like to achieve outside of school, help them keep their overall schedule in mind, as well as their college plans.

• You Talking to Me? Have your teen talk to the school’s counselor. The counselor can help your teen select courses and narrow down college and career choices. Setting up goals with the counselor provides a clear framework that helps them keep things in focus.

• Hello College, Here We Come! No matter which year of high school your teen is in, college visits should be on your goal list. Freshman year is not too soon to start looking at colleges. In fact, it’s much better to start early, and you can start locally. Visit different colleges of different sizes, with different kinds of campuses, if possible. Different campuses have different “feels” to them, and visiting will help your teen figure out which atmospheres are most appealing.

• Face the Financial Facts. High school means study time for you too. Your goal during your teen’s high school years should be to learn about college costs. That includes learning about financial aid: how it works, what’s available and if your family qualifies for it. It also includes learning about the differences between loans, grants and scholarships. The earlier you learn the ins and outs, the better, because it’ll give you the opportunity to plan ahead. Then, you can sit down with your teen and have a frank discussion about the fiscal facts. Based on that discussion, you can help your teen set realistic college goals.

The more your teens set and meet goals, the more they will realize the benefits and importance of goal setting. How do you help your teens set goals and keep them on track for meeting their goals?

Five Ideas for Helping Your Kids Be More Organized (Even If You Are Not)

Unless you grew up under the watchful eye of Captain von Trapp, the whistle-blowing patriarch of “Sound of Music” fame, organization might not come naturally. But it does have its place, and even if you haven’t been particularly organized yourself, it’s not too late.

If you’ve been organizationally challenged up until now, sit with your child and talk to him or her honestly about your own struggles with organization. Talk to him or her about solutions they think might work for both of you. You may be surprised by their own creative solutions, and they may be more likely to buy into a family plan if you’ve asked them for their thoughts.

With that, here are five places to consider starting:

1. Slow Down to Speed Up. Each Activity has a Beginning, Middle and End.Most of us are pretty good at the beginning and middle parts of an activity. Take, as an example, playing with toys. We’re all pretty good at getting them out (the beginning) and playing with them (the middle), but putting them away is often the trouble spot (the end).

Encouraging our kids to finish an activity by putting their toys or work away before moving on to the next thing will likely reduce the stress level, not to mention the mountain of toys, at the end of the day. It won’t happen overnight, so hang in there. But it does make a difference. Try a quick check at five minutes to the hour each hour, when everyone stops to see if all the activities they’ve ended during the hour are truly ended, i.e. been put away.

2. Everything Has a Place to Live. Sometimes we all get moving so quickly it ends up bogging us down. Lost keys are the perfect example. If we toss everything onto the kitchen counter as we walk in the door, those keys are more likely to get buried out of sight. But if we slow down enough to hang them up in the same place every time we enter the house, we will save ourselves from having to search for them when they’re lost.The same is true for the kids’ shoes, backpacks, homework, lunch boxes, sports equipment, oh, and cellphones.

Providing specific spots to place these things will help keep the house and your kids organized. And the closer that spot is to the door, the less chance there will be for things to get dropped like so many leaves from a deciduous tree.

3. Introduce Calendars, Schedules, and Lists. Refer to Them Often. Kids like structure and often feel more calm and relaxed with a little bit of structure in their lives. Kids’ lives are jammed with new and surprising things, so knowing what to expect can be a welcome relief. Calendars are great for a general overview of what everyone in the family is doing. Daily schedules are great for making sure no homework is forgotten. Lists are great for individual tasks like the bedtime routine:

1. Place dirty clothes in the hamper

2. Hang or fold clean clothes and put away

3. Put on pajamas

4. Go to the bathroom

5. Wash hands

6. Brush teeth

7. Read

8. Pray

9. Kiss goodnight and turn out the light

4. Counting Backward To Be on Time. An important skill for kids to learn is how to count backward in time in order to be on time.

Consider this example: We need to be at school at 8:30 a.m. It takes 10 minutes to get in the car and drive there (8:20 a.m.). But you need a margin for error of 20 percent. Unpredictable things can happen like traffic, a horse in the road, that sort of thing, so that’s two minutes more (8:18 a.m.). You need five minutes to make your lunch (8:13 a.m.). You need five minutes to brush your teeth and put your shoes on (8:08 a.m.), and so on.

So if you haven’t started all this by 8:08 a.m., you’re already late! You will be amazed at how eye-opening this exercise can be for kids.

5. Be Supportive. Imagine and Discuss the Benefits of Organization Together.Chances are you weren’t born naturally organized and neither were your kids, so the goal is progress, not perfection. Discuss with your kids your own problem areas. Point out how an organized life means less busy, repetitive work overall, less frustration from looking for misplaced things, more tranquility in the home and more free time to do what you want.

What tips do you have to keep your family organized, and what organizational struggles do you face?

-Silvia M

5 Amazing Halloween Costumes you can make from a Box

The scary season is nearly upon us and it’s time to start thinking about this year’s unique costume. Homemade Halloween costumes don’t have to take up tons of time or cost a fortune. In fact, making your own costume often earns you extra treats because you went to the trouble to do something original. Making Halloween costumes from cardboard boxes is inexpensive and it’s really great for the environment as you recycle materials instead of using new ones. Here are some of our favorite Halloween box costume ideas from Greenmoxie.com.

The Dinosaur

You can make this costume in an house with a couple of boxes and a pair of scissors. Simply glue (or tape) the boxes together to make the body and the head. Toilet paper rolls work well as the eyes. Open a box and cut out the tail and the spikes for the back. You can paint the box green for a more realistic dinosaur.

Fortune Teller

Use a single box to cut out a front view panel and two side panels as well. Attach straps to the back of the box so that you can wear the costume like a backpack over your shoulders. Paint the outside of the box brightly and write the name of your fortune teller persona on the front. Make a little slot for fortunes in the front of the box. Print out a list of fortunes and cut them out so you can hand out funny fortunes. An alternative to the fortune teller is the claw game costume. Create the same box that your would for the fortune teller, but bend the front of the box up to create a shelf. Fill the shelf with toys from the dollar store and use your hand as a claw machine. This works even better if you have an old joystick from a computer game on the outside so that people can play your claw game. 

Sponge Bob

This is a great homemade Halloween costume when you don’t have a lot of time. Just paint the box yellow with Sponge Bob’s face on the front. Add a pair of brown shorts and yellow leggings to complete the look.

The Lego Block

This is the perfect homemade Halloween costume for the more environmentally friendly student. You will need a cardboard box and eight yogurt containers. Glue the containers to the front of the box and paint. This is a wonderful way to use recycled materials this Halloween.

The Toy Box

Choose any toy action figure or doll that you like and recreate the look with a cardboard box! Gift wrap makes for the best background and you will have to paint the front of the box with the name of the toy. Attach straps to the back of the box so that you can wear it over your shoulders for added comfort.

How do I know I'm Not Failing as a Parent?

All parents ask themselves: I don’t want to fail my kids, how do I know I am a “good” parent? No parent will do everything well, and that’s OK. Focus on what you are doing well instead of where you think you are failing. If you are a parent who does each of these nine things listed below, you get a gold star. As for me, and most likely a lot of other parents, I do not excel at every one of these, and that’s OK!

• I meet my child’s needs. My children have food to eat and a place to sleep, and they are loved. As basic as this sounds, providing these necessities helps me know that my children’s basic needs for childhood development are being met.

• I help my child. It can be overwhelming when my child comes home with a project and needs to be able to name all the periodic elements or write an essay on the deepest lake in Guam. I know little about these topics, but I am there to help him through it. It can be overwhelming for my child, so I play it cool and learn something along with him.

• I am present. I am in the school gymnasium for my child’s award for perfect attendance, at the soccer field for the soccer participant award and will be there to see him receive his Ph.D. I am present when I can be and proud of his accomplishments. My children will remember that I was present well into their adulthood and know I care.

• I provide routine. Since my children were young, we’ve had routine in their lives. I know children need structure and routine to thrive. I have provided structure in our home from an early age, which will help them transition to school with little disturbance. My children feel safe in their predictability at home.

• I am consistent. I am consistent and firm in the way I parent. I have realistic rules in our home and am able to enforce them. Being consistent from an early age helps my child feel secure.

• I am a parent, not a friend. My child will have many friends over the course of his life, and I am their mom. My children need me for the roles their friends cannot fill. I’m happy to be that person.

• I am involved. I know the people who are educating my children. I volunteer at their school and talk to their teachers. By being involved, I know what is happening in their world.

• I know my child’s friends. “Show me a child’s friends, and I will show you their future.” I find much truth in this statement. I help my children to be aware of who their friends are and what a positive influence can mean in their lives.

• I am not too hard on myself. I don’t have to be the June Cleaver of the 21st century. I look after myself and my children, and I can feel good about that.

Give yourself some credit and brag to us about what you are doing well as a parent.

-Jody A