91��������

There are approximately 4,500 colleges in the United States. Whether your child wants to attend a traditional four-year institution, community college, musical conservatory, or an art institute, higher education is a viable option for everyone. As a college placement counselor, if I had to choose the most important thing for students and families to remember about the college process it would be that college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.

What does college preparation mean? Quite simply, it’s being ready to embrace and succeed with the rigors of college by the time you receive your diploma.  That is a four-year process that requires focus, discipline, and planning.  Many students are unsure of how to prepare for college in high school.    When should you start preparing for college?

This week marked the final presidential debate prior to Election Day 2016. In just under three weeks, we will head to the polls and select our next president. For history teachers, election years provide a wealth of ready-made lesson topics and fuel for class discussions. However the premise has been tested this year, as the election has become increasingly contentious and the political debates have become personal instead of substantive.

Every student is unique. We know this better than anyone and we’ve spent the last nine decades making it possible for this uniqueness to complement a top-quality education. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, with their specific ways of learning, particular interests, and distinct aspirations. This individuality is celebrated by the flexibility and the choices they are able to make for themselves at 91��������.

Popular wisdom says this generation of students is digitally native, and that they have facility with digital technology that people even of my generation (I’m just on the upper edge of millenial) don’t have. Indeed, in my household we had a family computer all through my years in high school. Cell phones were still relatively novel, and the iPhone was not even a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. This difference in perspective led to my over-enthusiasm for introducing digital technology in the classroom.

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Internship.”  Even though this piece was intended for an audience of college students working as short-term summer interns, as a teacher of high school students, I was struck by how much of this advice should be taken to heart by teenagers.  And so I offer my own “6 Ways to Make the Most of High School:”

It’s no secret to parents and educators that most students dislike the thought of summer ending and school starting up again. For some children it can manifest through the usual complaining and reluctance to wake up, while others can feel paralyzing fear also known as school refusal disorder - a condition that affects children of all ages, including high school students.

"Photomath” is an app. It's free. Its name alone conveys its purpose: take a picture of a math problem and the app will instantly provide you a step-by-step solution to it.

You’re in high school—hurray!  It feels like a huge accomplishment to get through your first day (and it is—go you!), but there are some things to keep in mind as you start at a new school. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.  Figure out how much time it will take you to do your homework before you sign up for Student Council, Chess Club, and the yearbook staff.  It’s great to be involved, particularly in a new school, and it can help you make new friends.  But you don’t want to feel so overwhelmed that you feel like you can’t accomplish everything.

It had been a year since Angela stepped foot in a classroom. Her anxiety disorder had taken control of her daily routine and manifested in serious social and academic struggles, resulting in her being homeschooled – the only option that provided the flexibility and comfort she needed to successfully complete the school year. Over time, however, her desire to be part of something bigger than her immediate family circle, to build friendships and to grow as an individual, led to the decision to transition back to the classroom environment.