Fast food orders, medical records, electronic payment methods– every service has an app these days, even standardized testing. The PSAT and SAT are going digital in the 2023-2024 school, breaking nearly a century tradition of paper testing.

School has been back in session in many districts for a few weeks. Students are returning to old routines or settling into new ones after a transition. Teachers are getting to know their new students, and in return, those students are learning the expectations set by their new teachers. This is a fantastic time for parents to begin prepping for end-of-quarter PTCs (parent-teacher conferences).

The beauty of public school is the opportunity to serve the broadest section of students. Students can receive education and services from kindergarten through senior year, regardless of ability. Much emphasis is put on “exceptional learners,” whose diverse needs differ from the average,

Constructive teacher feedback plays a crucial role in the ELA learning process, especially in developing writing as a skill. With a specific emphasis on correcting bad writing habits, detailed feedback helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses when writing for different purposes. Unfortunately, public school teachers

It’s a common misconception that students who love reading must be very good at ELA. Some students exhibit strong reading skills but dislike writing to the point of avoidance. This disconnect often perplexes educators and parents when book-loving students respond to homework in short, one-line answers or have trouble composing whole paragraphs.

On average, admissions officers at elite universities spend less than ten minutes reviewing a candidate's application. A memorable application is paramount to earning acceptance at the country's most prestigious institutions. Top-tier universities, like Harvard and Stanford, receive over 50,000 applications

Standardized testing has received plenty of criticism in the last few decades. Many educators claim that the results provide little more information than the ability of a student to pass that particular test. Still, there are very few other metrics by which schools can assess the overall progress of individual students and grade-level performance.

Today’s students have never known what school was like before the internet or the introduction of wireless devices. They have been raised purely in a digital age where information is accessible at their fingertips. Education has adapted to incorporate every possible technological advancement and device and now, we stand on the precipice of AI in the classroom.

Writers know the power of words. Words express, explain, and even inspire. We salute the words of innovators, revolutionaries, and masters of their craft by holding their quotes up as motivation to achieve the impossible. Words shape and define our world in many ways, but we need to understand the source of their power, remembering that we think in words.

Reading is a critical skill for life, but as we get older, we naturally lose interest in reading. Other things begin to eat up the bulk of our time, and we stop prioritizing learning. Many people desire more time to read, claiming responsibilities and social media distractions for their lack of

As summer approaches, many parents face a challenging choice: should my child keep working on skills over the summer, or do they need a break? It’s a legitimate question, especially for students who have busy academic calendars.

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful career. Crafting emails, reports, proposals, and presentations requires writing clearly and concisely. On average, miscommunication through bad writing results in $400 Billion in business losses annually, not to mention the time and resources lost to correct or revise.

In the age of ChatGPT and other AI writing generators, many people ask: why do I still need writing skills if AI can do it for me? It’s a reasonable question– after all, writing is really hard. Like any skill, good writing needs to be honed through trial and error. What’s the point in improving when emails for work or snappy social media posts are the only substantial writing people do in a day?

As part of the regular college application process, the average high school senior will write upwards of 12-20 application essays. Thanks in part to the increase in first-year applicants (up 26% from pre-pandemic enrollment, according to CommonApp) and the fiercely competitive nature of the process, most colleges ask for multiple essays upon application.

None of us are strangers to “the diary.” While it might conjure up images of Lisa Frank lock journals from the early 2000s, diary-keeping actually comes from centuries of travel and spiritual meditations. Some of the oldest records originate in antiquity ...

Grammar, simply, is the rules of and for language. Modern English grammar began in the eighteenth century with new printing technology and a rise in capitalism, which produced an explosion in printed material at affordable prices for broader audiences.

Creative writers know that words can be powerful! One word can make all the difference in an essay, novel, or scene. Yet, it can be difficult to find the “right” word. No matter what you are writing or how lost you may find yourself, one of the most useful tools in a writer’s journey is the visual “Thinkmap.”

Has your child ever been stumped on what to read next? Maybe they want to explore a new genre, or find books similar to ones they’ve previously enjoyed. Asking the school or local librarian is a great place to start finding new texts, but what happens when your child is curious at home?

Reading challenges are not only a great way of improving upon literacy skills. They are also an opportunity for your child to explore what kind of reader they are, helping them come to new and exciting understandings about themselves and the world around them.

Many parents stress not only over the content of their child’s writing, but also its appearance. “Chicken scratch” might be a parent’s worst nightmare, but it’s not as daunting as the task of teaching your child how to write legibly. Look no further, for I have the activity that will resolve many of your problems!

As an educator of ELA and writing, my students often ask me the simple, yet complex, question, “Where can I read books?” Today, there exist myriad digital resources that students often have difficulty locating. While reading physical copies of books is an enriching experience all its own...

I grew up in the age of CD-ROMS, playing educational games like Spy Fox, Cluefinders, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?, and (the dreaded) Oregon Trail. Through these games, I read extensive dialogue and storylines, and I also learned about world history and science. I often found ...

Have you been searching tirelessly on the internet to find activities that your child can do, specifically to improve their writing and vocabulary skills? You are not alone! We have been doing the same. Thankfully, we have a few resources that will become staples in your child’s day-to-day life.