Tips for Colorado Students Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA

If you are getting ready for the college application process, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form may seem a little daunting. With these tips and a dollop of patience, you can be well on your way to affordable education. Here are some of the best tips on how to successfully complete your FAFSA application.

If you are still considering your college choices, you can use the FAFSA calculator to see how much aid you would be eligible for. This can help you to see which schools you can afford. Get the FAFSA calculator here: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1.

It’s easy online

You can apply online between January 1 and June 30. You can fill out your FAFSA online here: http://fafsa.ed.gov/.

You can start by getting a PIN number which you will need to complete the application. This PIN is your personal identification and will also be used if you want to sign a loan contract, if you want to access your FAFSA information online and access several other US Department of Education websites.

When you are ready to apply for your PIN, visit the Federal Student Aid PIN website here: https://pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp.

Once your have applied for your PIN, you can complete your FAFSA application. After three days, the information you provided will be verified by the SSA and then you can use it on other websites. You do not have to wait for verification to complete the FAFSA. Do not share your PIN number with anyone else to avoid identity theft.

Gather all the necessary documentation

You will need a number of documents in order to complete your FAFSA application. Ensure that you have all these documents and your PIN number before you start the application process.

• Your Social Security number
• Your parents’ Social Security numbers
• Your driver’s license
• Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Federal tax information or tax returns including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student:

1. IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ
2. Foreign tax return and/or
3. Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau

• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
• Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate but not including the home in which you live; and business and farm assets for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student

If you are struggling with the tax information section of your FAFSA, get help here: http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out#providing-financial-information

If you are unable to enter all your parent’s information, then you can indicate special circumstances which will allow you to complete the application without this data.

If your parents don’t have a social security number, you can use all zeroes on the application where it asks for that information.

Which Schools?

Of course you have not had your college applications approved and so you can list as many as 10 potential schools. Start with a state school as some states require this in order for you to qualify for state aid. After the first state school you list, you may list your other school choices in whichever order you prefer.

The schools you list will automatically receive your FAFSA information.

Once your application is complete, a confirmation page will show that your application will be processed.

FAFSA Overview - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

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.

5 Simple Strategies for Encouraging Shy Douglas County Students

Shyness is a complex emotion that is sometimes difficult to understand. What’s important to remember is that it usually elicits feelings of anxiety, fear, embarrassment, apprehension and tension in your student. Being confrontational only exacerbates the problem, but there are ways in which you can help your student to build confidence and participate in class activities. When your students don’t participate, they miss out on vital social and academic skills.

Be Understanding

Students aren’t shy because they choose to be. Accepting their feelings as valid is the first step to overcoming them. According to family therapist, Rose McAloon: “Be sure not to criticize your child for being shy. And don’t compare her with other kids or her siblings who may be more socially adept. Instead, respect her feelings and fears and work around them.”

Discuss ways in which shyness can be practically overcome. Role-play scenarios like how to start a conversation with someone your child would like to get to know better or how to deal with bullies. Having an arsenal of prepared responses will help your child to feel more confident. You can also ask them about situations which made them uncomfortable in their daily interactions at school. Discussing the ways in which your students could have responded will help them to feel more prepared.

Meeting strangers

If you bump into a friend and want your child to greet them, but they are too shy, don’t apologize. Preempt this behavior by chatting with your friend for a few minutes before you introduce your student. When your student sees that you are comfortable, they are more likely to respond or make eye contact.

Small groups

Most shy students find large groups intimidating. Instead, arrange for one-on-one meetings with new people or new friends.

Preparing your student for large events will help to ease their discomfort. If they have to perform at a school concert, practice their part until they know it by heart. Then get them to perform it in front of your family, then add some friends so that they are accustomed to performing in front of a crowd.

Get them to visualize their performance, the stage, and all the people in the audience. They should visualize themselves giving a successful performance and feeling confident. The same technique can be used to great effect when preparing for presentations.

Small challenges

Try to give your student small, confidence-building challenges every day. Be sure to only give them challenges that they can cope with as failure only helps to reinforce shy behavior. Be patient and understanding and never push them too hard. While you should encourage them to move outside of their comfort zones, let them move at their own pace.

Always build their confidence with praise. Focus on the positive and don’t be over critical. Focus on their positive attributes and help to build their confidence.

Get a tutor

If your student is not participating in class, you can help to build their confidence by getting an in-home tutor. Here they can work in the comfort of their own homes which helps them to feel secure and confident. They can overcome gaps in their knowledge and feel more confident when answering questions in class.

Teens who are changing the world

You’re never too young to make a difference and these inspirational stories show that young people can have a profound impact on the world. Teens the world over are mobilizing to make the world a better place, to protect the environment and save endangered wildlife species.

Julien Leitner

Julian started his charity with only $2. He started the Archimedes Alliance and asked 1 million people to donate just $2. “It hit me that I might not be able to do something on my own, but there has to be a billion other people like me who want to make a difference but feel they can’t,” said Leitner. “I thought, ‘What if everyone just pooled their resources?’”

He was right and he has managed to raise over $19,000 through online donations already. He has also given donors the opportunity to select the charity they would most like to support. When his total reaches the 2 million mark, he will donate the money to the charity with the most votes.

Leitner’s charitable concept originated from the Greek mathematician, Archimedes, who said, ‘Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and I can move the Earth.’Leitner believes that asking a lot of people for a little donation is the way to go. Leitner is hoping that his campaign goes viral and that this helps to spread the word. Watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XITpmGqLDkU&feature=player_embedded

Lexi Allen

This spunky 16-year old from Sarasota started a charity called Art 4 Niños. As an artist herself, Lexi felt that all students should have access to art. She supplies impoverished children in South America with art supplies. You can make donations of money, art supplies or frequent flyer miles here.

Cheryl Perera 

This Toronto teen is the creator of the OneChild organization which supports victims of the international child sex trade. She started the organization when she way just 16 and has raised enough money to build two rehabilitation centers in the Philippines for children who have escaped the sex trade.

Hannah Tailor

Hannah started her first charity when she was just 8. The Ladybug Foundation has raised an incredible $2-million and has helped 54 shelters across Canada. Hannah said: “I honestly believe my generation is a hopeful one. And I believe very strongly in something my friend Steven said to me: ‘Don’t be afraid of homelessness. Be afraid of a society that doesn’t care.’ He was homeless at the time. Now he has a job, and a physical home as well. He’s now 25.”

These days, the younger students are leading the way when it comes to driving charitable causes. Instilling empathy and caring for community is a great way to make the world a better place. Encourage your students to get involved with volunteer opportunities and to help others wherever possible.

Environmentally Friendly: Making your School Greener and Leaner

Greening your school carries a wealth of benefits; not only do you educate your students about the environment, why we should preserve it and how to do so, but creating a green school makes for a healthier school environment and saves on costs. Spending less on utility bills and materials will mean more money for cash-strapped schools.

Dealing with waste

Recycling can help to reduce the amount of waste that your school sends to the landfill. When you recycle large volumes of paper, glass and cans, you can get paid for your recycling efforts. Adding another source of income to your coffers while reducing your waste is an excellent way to go green.

Compost your vegetable waste and create a valuable resource for your own gardens. You can also provide parents with compost or donate compost to your local community garden.

Conserve

Make your school as paper-free as possible and print on both sides when you need to make hard copies. Switching to electronics like tablets will carry high initial costs, but you will have an excellent return on investment as you will not have to buy books or print out notes.

Turn out lights when you are not using a room. Use motion-sensitive lights at night rather than leaving lights on for security reasons and try to reduce energy and water consumption wherever possible.

Community Garden

This is a great way to get a source of locally grown, carbon footprint-free food. If you avoid pesticides and use the compost you create from your vegetable waste, you can grow organic fruits and vegetables too. Community gardening can really teach students about healthy eating, nutrition and the biology of flora. They will be more enthusiastic about eating salads and vegetables if they have grown the produce themselves.

Cleaning products

Use vinegar and water to clean windows and other surfaces. Vinegar is a great antibacterial and can be used to create great cleaning products (see more here) that are healthier too. When you use chemical cleaning products, they leave a residue which then releases harmful toxic fumes and makes your school’s indoor air unhealthy for students.

Rainwater collection

Use rain barrels on downspouts to collect valuable rain water which can then be used for cleaning and in your gardens. Reservoirs on rooftops can be utilized for flushing toilets too.

Get moving

Ask students to opt for greener ways to get to school like walking or riding bikes. This will also help you to get your students moving. In inclement weather or for students who live far away, the bus, train or carpooling will help to reduce the carbon footprint of their commute.

Green your scene

Plant trees to mitigate carbon footprints, put plants inside classrooms to improve the air quality and create large outdoor gardens. When making a garden, use indigenous varieties of plants that are accustomed to the local conditions and require little additional care or watering. Avoid lawns by using lawn alternatives. These lawn alternatives will reduce the carbon footprint of moving and reduce the need for watering while providing lush, green ground covering. 

Three Back to School Mistakes You Don't Want to Make

Parenting is the most difficult job you will ever have and, while trying to do your very best at all times, you will make mistakes. We all do. I know I make mistakes every single day, and the mistakes I’ve made with my oldest child far trump the mistakes I’ve made with my second and third children. We learn as we go. As a teacher and a parent, I want to offer some advice to parents when it comes to school and schoolwork, so you can avoid making common mistakes.

1. Over Scheduling –Setting kids up for not one but four or five activities a week is way too much, especially for those first few years of full-day school. Kids need a break, big time. Downtime is fine, necessary and needed. And though we all want our kids to be well-rounded, happy young human beings, there’s no research that says kids need to be busy 24/7 in order to live fulfilled lives.

2. Not supporting kids–All kids, though they may need a break after they get home from school, want their parents to play an active role in their lives. They want to tell parents about their day. They need parents to help them process the good parts of their day and their more challenging parts.

Kids need to learn from a parent how to properly manage homework. They need parents to sit near them, help them through assignments and help them plan for upcoming projects. Even big kids—middle and high school—should have their binders and assignment books monitored by parents. Children carry heavy workloads, and time management is extremely difficult for many of them.

Parents need to be confident in their ability to support their children. Parents are their child’s first teachers—they taught their little ones how to eat, sleep, walk and talk—so it is natural and normal for parents to continue helping and teaching as children grow.

3. Not communicating with teachers–Success in school is a partnership between parents and teachers. Teachers need parents’ help in order to most effectively reach children, and parents need teachers’ help in order to most effectively parent their children. It must be a two-way street, and children need to know this.

And because of that, parents need to know that it is OK, permissible, encouraged and embraced when parents reach out to teachers. There doesn’t have to be a reason—it can be a quick check-in now and again. Just ask how the child is doing and if there is anything the parent can do to help the teacher in the classroom or the student at home.

It’s easy and simple, and the teacher will be grateful and the child will be happy. The parent will make it clear from the outset that he or she views the teacher as a partner—and together you’re a team supporting the child.

By Amy Masott

Student Inventors: Girl Power

Students can be creative innovators and inventors to whom we owe some of our most impressive technological breakthroughs. Today we honor three teen inventors who have achieved great success by thinking outside of the box.

Ann Makosinski

Ann has invented a hollow flashlight that is powered by the heat of your hand. Ann is a grade 10 student from St. Michael’s University School in Victoria, Canada who beat out hundreds of other entrants to get her flashlight into the finals of the Google Science Fair. “I’m really interested in harvesting surplus energy, energy that surrounds but we never really use,” said Ann.

Ann is interested in utilizing alternate energy sources for everyday tasks. While researching alternative energy sources, Ann stumbled upon Peltier tiles which create energy when they are heated on one side and cooled on the other.

She ordered some tiles off the internet and found that body heat produced more than enough energy to light an LED, but not enough voltage. Ann tried several transformers to up the voltage; she even built her own. Finally after months of research and experimentation (along with her regular schooling and extra mural activities) she finally found a circuit that worked.

You can see more on Ann’s invention here

Elif Bilgin

Elif comes from Istanbul, Turkey and is the country’s first winner of the 2013 Science in Action award at the Google Science Fair for her bioplastic which she developed from banana peels. It was a long process for Elif who tried 10 different iterations of plastics before she found one that didn’t biodegrade too quickly and was strong enough for commercial use. “Even Thomas Edison said, ‘I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,’” Elif said about the long road of trial and error that eventually led to a successful prototype.

Elif hopes that her plant-based plastics will replace some of the petroleum-based plastics on the market and improve the environmental impact that plastics have.

Eesha Khare

Eesha is an American student who has invented a supercapacitor. This incredible device will replace conventional batteries in everyday electronics. Eesha’s electrochemical supercapacitor can be charged in 20 seconds, hold a charge for longer and lasts for more recharges than conventional batteries. Eesha’s invention can be recharged 10,000 times as opposed to the 1,000 charges a conventional battery is able to endure. Eesha hopes that her invention will help to reduce waste and improve the environment.

Student inventors remind us that a good idea and a lot of hard work mean that anyone can be successful at any age. Inspire your students to greatness for their next science fair projects.

See Eesha’s interview with Conan O’Brian here:

http://teamcoco.com/video/young-scientist-award-winner-eesha-khare-pt-1-06-13-13

Choosing the Right Tutoring Program will Ensure Success

It’s back to school now for millions of students and vicariously for their parents. And as they hit the books, virtually all have the same goal: raise grades and test scores substantially to get into a good college and have a chance in an increasingly competitive job market. But the bad news is that many students are falling short of their academic goals.

“Low or failing grades produce shame, frustration, helplessness, hopelessness and peer group rejection,” says Larrie Reynolds, Superintendent of Mount Olive Township Public Schools. “This allows the student to convince even themselves that their lacking success in school is actually a personal lifestyle choice, rather than an inevitable fate.”

The good news is that through an effective tutoring program, students can overcome the academic and resultant social difficulties.

There are many causes of poor academic performance, but it almost always leads to negative consequences for the confidence of the student. “They may be upset with parental pressure, have no strong drive, lack confidence, have learning problems or face other apparent barriers. So to simply start ‘tutoring’ them so often backfires, turning out to be an exercise in futility,” says Frank Milner, president of Tutor Doctor, a global network of academic coaching companies.

“That’s why our academic coaches begin with what our process refers to as a personal discovery. Our people find out what is in the student’s heart and mind before we begin to deal with English, mathematics or history. If we know that there is something working against the learning process, we can address it quickly and effectively,” says Milner.

As an example, we look at a sophomore in High School and a competitive swimmer who failed most of his classes during his freshman year. Family stress reached a boiling point and his parents reached out to a tutor for help. Sophomore year, the student went through the personal discovery process and was seen by an academic coach for both English and Math. The student proceeded to get A’s and B’s and his parents couldn’t be happier.

The personal discovery looks for five key issues that can be blocking the student’s academic success:

• Working parents have little time to help students with academics.
• Students that “struggle in silence.” These students are too embarrassed to reach out for help at school.
• Too many extra-mural activities impede the student’s ability to perform academically.
• Gaps in educational fundamentals.  These gaps need to be filled in while working on current studies.
• Situations where moving is involved. Moving from state to state, elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, public to private and vice-versa.

“We know that by conducting the personal discovery first and also by filling in gaps in the student’s knowledge before trying to go to the next level, “says James Zazeski of Tutor Doctor, ” our system proves that it is highly effective in accelerating the trajectory of learning.”

“Dakota has only been with her academic coach for two months and already her test scores in grammar, science and history have gone from D’s and F’s to high A’s,” says  Tracy Healey, a Tutor Doctor client. “Your careful selection in matching the right tutor to the student was spot on. Dakota’s confidence level is through the roof and she now feels that she is very capable of achieving great success as a student. As a parent, I’m thrilled!”

- See more at: http://tutordoctorhelpsallage.com

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