The middle school years can be full of challenges for students. With a plethora of new academic and personal responsibilities, it can become difficult for students to remain confident in their ability to succeed. To promote academic confidence in your child, encourage your middle schooler to set manageable goals and to create a schedule so that they can feel in charge of their education. Looking to offer your student extra support this semester? Keep reading to learn five tactics to encourage academic confidence in your middle schooler.  1. Encourage academic confidence in your middle schooler by noting effort, not just correct answers ... Read More About 5 Tactics to Encourage Academic Confidence in Your Middle Schooler

The summer is a great opportunity for students to refresh and refocus their minds in preparation for the coming school year. With all the activities (like summer camp) occupying many students’ summer days, time spent reviewing previously learned content and preventing summer learning loss can fall by the wayside.  Learning loss during the summer months, also known as summer slide, can equate to the loss of nearly two years of academics. Luckily, studies have found that just two to three hours of focused learning per week can combat this loss. One way to get middle schoolers ready for the fall is through reading.  Looking to e ... Read More About 5 Books Every Middle Schooler Should Read

For most students, continued learning is not at the top of their must-do summer activities list. However, with the absence of regular school studies, it’s important to find ways for your student to retain the skills and material learned during the school year. Developing a game plan to prevent summer slide can benefit your student’s education and introduce fun academically-geared activities into your summer plans. Tips for creating a summer learning plan with your child include planning a variety of activities, creating a smart schedule, and focusing plans toward your child’s interests. Hoping to find productive ways to incl ... Read More About 4 Tips to Create a Summer Learning Plan With Your Child

Through report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and grades posted online, tracking your child’s educational progress is often relatively easy to do. Aside from these mediums, though, one of the best ways parents can assess progress is by having regular conversations with their student. This will help you not only gauge how they’re doing, but also teach them to reflect meaningfully on what they’re working on in school. Questions to ask your child about school include what they find interesting, areas where they encounter confusion, and their favorite activities. Looking to help your student finish the school year on a good ... Read More About 4 Questions to Ask Your Child About School

STEAM is a growing movement that gears students toward innovation, problem-solving, and high-level critical thinking. Incorporating the arts into academics teaches students valuable skills, while simultaneously aiming to deepen math and science concepts in insightful and interactive ways. There are a plethora of STEAM activities to try in 2019, specifically ones involving building structures, growing plants, and exploring nature. Looking to find new projects to enhance your student’s education? Keep reading to discover three STEAM activities to try in the new year. [RELATED: What is the STEAM Movement?] STEAM activity #1: build creati ... Read More About 3 STEAM Activities to Try in the New Year