Other Recent Articles
Quick Tip: Create a college application portfolio to stay organized
OK, high school students and the parents who love them so: Do you want to avoid that last-minute scramble for information to include on your college application? Of course you do!
Melissa Janak, who manages the middle and high school counseling program in the San Diego Unified School District offers this great tip: Keep a portfolio [...]
Reading: One of the best ways to prepare your teenager for college
By Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Author of “The College Solution”
One of the best ways you can prepare your teenager for college is to encourage her to read. As a practical matter, a teenager who reads is not only likely to achieve better grades in high school, but also earn higher scores on the SAT or ACT.
I understand [...]
Do-Re-Mi video makes a powerful point: California kids can’t afford education cuts
Sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to do. Just ask Helen Mendoza and Deb McCurdy.
These two moms from South Pasadena noticed that a crucial voice was missing from the discussion over California’s shrinking education budget: the kids who stand to lose the most. So with little time and even less money, [...]
Help your kids stay smart this summer
How do teachers make sure their kids keep learning during the summer? We asked some veteran educators to share their secrets to success; here are two ideas that are certain to work in your home.
Sarah McNary, who teaches at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, recommends that parents take their children on summer [...]
Take the SAT Parent Challenge
How long has it been since you took the SAT? Twenty years? Thirty?
If you have a high schooler who will be taking the college entrance exam anytime soon, the Princeton Review has a challenge.
The test prep company is offering the SAT Parent Challenge, a 12-question quiz that will take no more than 15 [...]
Saving for college: What are worried parents to do?
Between the sharp drop in the stock market and the ever-higher cost of a college education, parents like us have every reason to be worried. REALLY, WORRIED!
Even if we started saving dutifully for college when our kids were born, chances are we’ll fall far short of being able to cover the cost of a college, [...]
Family-friendly staycation ideas for San Diego County
As we celebrate the birth of our nation, let’s not forget that San Diego County has a rich history of its own. Here are three family-friendly staycation ideas that celebrate our history.
No-cost: Take a hike through Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
Surrounded by a mass of humanity and minutes from two of San Diego’s busiest freeways, [...]
Help teens, kids avoid the summer reading slide
If teens and younger kids don’t read during the summer, their reading level can decline two, three or even four months. Educators have a name for it: the summer slide.
Tim Shanahan, director of the Center for Literacy at the University of Chicago, said parents with a ready supply of great reads are a great cure [...]
More summer fun ideas from teachers who are parents, too
Looking for ideas to keep your kids smart and satisfied this summer? Here are great suggestions from veteran educators who are also parents that are guaranteed to help you and your kids make the most out of your time together this summer.
Alex Kajitani, an Algebra teacher from Mission Middle School in Escondido, is this [...]
Simple suggestions and great Web sites for college planning this summer
Summer is the perfect time for low-key college planning. Sure, hard-working high school students deserve down time to enjoy the summer. Ditto for their hard-working parents.
But setting aside time for exploring college options without the pressure of homework, tests and term papers is a smart use of your time.
Here are five simple [...]
