10 Tips on How to use an Agenda
What is the read, write, read, write method for homework agendas or planners? Not every student knows how to use an agenda or planner. Or how to use an agenda well. Time management and organization are life skills that are important to teach students. Before a student can understand how to plan out projects, they must first know how to do the basics. Many of my tutoring clients tell me they do not need an agenda because they can just look at the list of assignments on a website, but this does not teach them time management skills, nor does it help them chunk large projects into manageable pieces. Neither are most students capable of keeping all that info “in my head” as their main strategy for remembering all their homework assignments, but I do hear that option quite a bit! I find that sometimes we expect students to automatically know how to use their agenda, and we mean more than just copying down the word “homework” in today’s calendar box. To help students, I created a printable with 10 tips on how to use an agenda for beginners and the easy-to-remember “read, write, read, write” method. For a simple…
The Art of Asking Questions: How to Develop Critical Thinking in Kids
What do you value more – a good grade or a well written paper? The art of asking questions is one of the most valuable tools we can give children to help them grow into confident, thoughtful, and capable individuals. As parents and tutors, we all want to develop critical thinking in kids, but it doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with curiosity, and curiosity begins with questions. If you have a child in the younger years, you might be hearing a lot of questions already! When kids are encouraged to ask good questions, they begin to understand the world more deeply. This habit leads to better academic performance, stronger relationships, and more independent thinking. The best part? You don’t need a classroom or curriculum to begin. Everyday conversations at the dinner table, in the car, or during tutoring sessions provide rich opportunities to nurture critical thinking. Why Asking Questions Builds Thinking Skills At its core, critical thinking is the ability to process information thoughtfully rather than passively. Children naturally ask questions when they’re curious, but over time, that instinct can fade, often due to pressure to find the “right” answer. The art of asking questions helps kids shift from…
5 Ways to Build Executive Function Skills During Summer Break
Would you rather sort digital files or make dinner? Summer break offers a great opportunity to build executive function skills in a low-stress environment. Executive function includes a set of mental skills, including planning, organization, time management, emotional regulation, and flexibility, that are essential for learning and living. With the right strategies and encouragement, middle and high school students can use the summer months to sharpen these skills and prepare for a strong school year ahead. The launching years with teenage children are the perfect time to teach them to cope with the challenges around them. Let’s explore five key areas of executive function and practical at-home suggestions to support growth in each. 1. Planning Setting goals and figuring out steps to achieve them. Without a plan, summer can slip away. Older students can benefit from helping to structure their time, balancing responsibilities, and relaxing. At-Home Ideas: Weekly Goal-Setting Journal: Encourage your child to write two or three goals each week and identify action steps for each. Reflect on progress every Sunday. In the beginning, this may take more input from parents or tutors. Summer Project Plan: Choose a summer-long project (learning an instrument, planning a small business*, organizing…
My Affordable Summer Reading Strategies
How can you get your child to read more this summer? Many parents are searching for summer reading strategies that are practical and affordable, yet many families do not set aside time to read for pleasure. How about your family? Do you have books sitting out in your living room? Do you take regular trips to the library or bookstore? Do you read for fun? Recent research highlights significant benefits of children reading for pleasure, linking it to enhanced vocabulary, improved reading skills, and overall cognitive development. You can make a few easy changes to your summer and help your child improve their reading skills and reading enjoyment now and in the future. Long-Term Academic Advantages Children who engage in reading for pleasure tend to perform better on cognitive tests and achieve higher academic success in adolescence. This correlation emphasizes the role of early reading habits in long-term educational outcomes, and summer is the perfect time to put this into action. Despite the clear advantages, there’s a concerning decline in children’s reading for pleasure. A 2024 survey by the National Literacy Trust reported that only 34.6% of children aged 8 to 18 enjoy reading in their free time—the lowest in…
Ignite Learning with My Printable Escape Rooms for Kids
How do you get kids off their screens and into discussions with peers? As a teacher and tutor, I know the struggle is real. Whether you’re a parent looking for engaging activities, a tutor needing fresh ways to connect with students, or a teacher searching for that perfect lesson or sub plan, keeping kids truly engaged and thinking critically can be a challenge. That’s exactly why I create Printable Escape Rooms for Kids – activities that spark critical thinking, teamwork, and reading comprehension in the most fun way possible! Common puzzle types for printable escape rooms for kids are rebus, atbash, word scramble, final four, combination locks, sequencing, comprehension, polybius, hidden pictures, maps, matching, jigsaw, codes, number turns, cipher, and maze. For me, making them is almost as fun as playing them! 🔥Printable Escape Rooms for Kids Forget the complicated setups. My escape rooms are designed for super simple print-and-play. Just print the pages, grab some pencils, and you’re ready to go in minutes. But don’t worry, I also include tips for making them a bit harder, even turning them into a fun scavenger hunt around the room! What makes my Printable Escape Rooms a game-changer for you? Educational Powerhouse:…
Reading Fluency vs Reading Comprehension
What’s the difference between reading fluency vs reading comprehension? Reading fluency vs reading comprehension might sound like “teacher talk,” but with a few clear explanations, it becomes easier to understand, spot the differences, and support children in developing both of these foundational reading skills. Many parents assume that if a child can read words out loud, their reading skills must be fine. If they can pronounce a list of grade-level vocabulary, they must be on track. But true reading comprehension goes far beyond saying the words—it’s about understanding, interpreting, and engaging with the text. Without strong comprehension, students often struggle with tests, writing assignments, and thinking critically across subjects. Both reading fluency and comprehension are essential. A child might be strong in one area and weak in the other, and identifying the gap is the first step to helping them grow. What is Reading Fluency? Reading fluency includes the ability to recognize words automatically, use decoding skills, and read with expression. A fluent reader reads smoothly, accurately, and at an appropriate pace. However, fluency doesn’t guarantee comprehension. Some students may read aloud beautifully but have no idea what the text actually means. In tutoring, I often see older students who…
How Summer Tutoring Sets Your Child Up for Success
What are benefits of summer tutoring? As a parent, you want to give your child every opportunity to thrive, especially when it comes to their education. But national testing data from 2024 reveals a concerning truth: math and reading levels among students have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, many students in grades 3–9 are still struggling with foundational skills, widening the academic gap and impacting their confidence and long-term success. This summer, you have a chance to change that trajectory. Why Do Parents Choose Summer Tutoring? Most parents enroll their children in summer tutoring for a few key reasons: Skill Gaps That Don’t Go Away on Their Own During the school year, teachers are pressed for time. They move quickly through the curriculum, and students who fall behind often don’t get the individualized support they need. Summer tutoring is a powerful way to address those persistent skill gaps—especially in math and reading—before they become even harder to close. Preventing the “Summer Slide” Without consistent academic practice, students can lose up to two months of progress over the summer. This slide is even more severe for students already struggling. Tutoring during the summer months helps students retain what they’ve…
6 Proven Strategies to Help Teens Study Smarter Not Harder
What are good study skills for teens? Have you been searching for “how to study smarter, not harder” or “study skills for teens”? You’re not alone! Many students struggle with how to study effectively, but the good news is that there are proven strategies to help you study smarter, not harder. Not every study technique works for everyone, but trying a few new methods can boost your learning, improve recall, and make studying less stressful. Whether you’re wondering how to use your notes more effectively or how to study beyond just rereading your textbook, this list of study skills for teens will help you take control of your learning. By organizing your study time and space, you’ll improve your ability to retain information, recall it when needed, and have more free time for the things you enjoy. Here are six proven ways to study smarter, not harder! 1. Take Notes the Smart Way (Cornell Note-Taking Method) Better notes = less stress when it’s time to study! Whether you use a notebook, digital app, or Word document, the way you take notes matters. One of the most effective strategies is the Cornell Note-Taking Method, which divides your notes into three sections:…
Turn Your Knowledge Into Income and Side Gig Jobs: Everyone Can Tutor Something!
What subjects could you tutor? When it comes to making some extra cash from side gig jobs, everyone can tutor something. Choose a topic that fits your expertise and passion when choosing your tutoring subjects. Some of the best teachers and tutors are those who are passionate about their tutoring subjects and show up to work because they love their jobs. Think back to your favorite classes in school or a class you took to learn a hobby, and I bet that one of the reasons you loved the class was because the teacher loved teaching about it. The same goes for choosing side gig jobs. Start with something you love. Choose what you are comfortable with and knowledgeable about. If you love math, decide if you prefer tutoring younger or older students and go from there. If you enjoy sewing, what about starting with teaching a class on hemming a pair of pants or making a tote bag? Are you great a coding? Offer a week-long coding class to kids in your area and see where it goes. Everyone can tutor something. The list below can help you get started when choosing side gig jobs and tutoring subjects. Here…
My Child’s Teacher Emailed Me About Academic Concerns—Now What?
Which school teacher has the best communication style? If you’ve ever received a note from your child’s teacher about academic concerns, saying they’re struggling to organize ideas in writing, apply math concepts to real life, or make inferences while reading, you’re not alone. Many parents see these messages and wonder, What does that actually mean? And how can I help at home? I hear this concern from friends and family all the time. Instead of asking the teacher for clarification, they turn to me for advice—worried they might sound uninformed. But here’s the truth: It’s not ignorance or bad parenting. It’s a language barrier! Teachers often use academic terms that parents may not be familiar with, making it hard to translate concerns into actionable steps. That’s where I come in. I break down what these academic concerns actually look like in the classroom and offer practical, at-home strategies and academic resources to support your child. And here’s my number one tip—don’t be afraid to email the teacher back! Teachers and tutors are on your child’s academic team and can provide valuable insight into what will help. Below, you’ll find 10 common academic concerns for elementary and middle school students—what they…