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Making lessons both memorable and fun brings the magic into any classroom. Instead of looking to a room of passive, bored faces, you can transform your learners into active engaged participants. I work with students one-on-one, and this is what makes my practice a success. I often tell my students, if you don’t love coming to our sessions, I’m not doing my job.   16 Strategies that Can Transform Your Classroom or One-to-One Sessions: Don't call home assignments, homework, but come up with a name that is more appealing and motivating such as home fun. Also, when introducing a new lesson or assignment, think like you are selling a product, and be sure to create fun and enticing names. For instance, I do not teach script or cursive, I teach roller-coaster letters! Furthermore, generate excitement for upcoming topics by showing your own enthusiasm. Bring the arts, music, and games into assignments.  Many students enjoy fine arts, acting, music, and making as well as playing games, so t

Deciding on a post, high school, educational plan can be a challenging task. With the changing landscape of training and career options, traditional values and approaches may not be the best solution anymore. This week I will be focusing my discussion on out of the box, creative learners that are interested in careers in the arts.  What are the options?  What can students do to prepare for the application process? Formal Training Options: There are a number of choices for high school students that are thinking about having a career in the arts.  For formal training, one can consider a liberal arts university and major in art, enroll in a fine arts college, or attend ateliers (schools that train students in realism).   4-Year Liberal Arts College - Bachelors of Arts: A liberal arts degree can provide you with a well-rounded education that gives you greater career options. Many students dismiss this option, because they don’t want to take the SAT or ACT college entrance tests. However, t

Self advocacy is one of the most important skills struggling students can learn. Whether it is communicating with a teacher about a best learning approach, a needed testing modification, or a classroom accommodation, self advocacy can assure that students get what they need to learn. What is Student Self-Advocacy? Student self-advocacy is when a learner communicates what he or she needs to a teacher or administrator in an academic environment. This skill should be taught in middle school so that students are knowledgeable about the process and procedures by high school.  Although it sounds easy, it’s actually quite complex, because students must be savvy about: Individual needs: Students should have a comprehensive understanding of their strengths, weaknesses as well as their accommodations, so that they can monitor services and manage their own needs. Mandated rights: Students should know about the laws that protect students with disabilities, so they can evaluate whether they are ge

Here is an update on a prior post: Most kids love to play card and board games, but did you know that many offer benefits far beyond the obvious social gains. Many of these activities are actually good for cognition and can exercise the brain. There are three types of benefits: 1. Brain Breaks : Some games offer quick “brain breaks” that can be used during homework completion. A quick reward, when stamina is low, can energize the brain and regain focus. 2. Brain Integration : Other games can help integrate the brain. Some students can lack integration between the two hemispheres of the brain and these activities activate the whole brain. 3. Cognitive Remediation : Finally, there are games that help to strengthen specific areas of cognition and they can serve as a form of cognitive therapy. By exercising these parts of the brain, new neural pathways can develop and areas of weakness can be strengthened and even remediated. I have also written two other blogs that review more games th