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Appreciate the Good
The word “appreciate” has two definitions: to be grateful for something (as in, “I appreciate your help.”) to grow over time (as in, “The value of your retirement account appreciates.”) But these two...
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The Downward Spiral of Math Avoidance
Okay, so imagine I’m a student who is having a tough time in math. Because I’m having a tough time with the content, doing the homework is a struggle, and that struggle is uncomfortable. Homework is...
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Should You Skip a Year in Math?
Many parents, mostly of middle-school aged students, express a desire to see their child skip a year in math. Many students share the same desire. Sometimes they see it as a way to get ahead because...
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Rely on Reminders not Memory
Perhaps the most common error in strategy students commit is relying on memory rather than relying on reminders. Students aren’t the only ones making this mistake, of course. Adults also rely too much...
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Tie Your Shoes
No serious basketball player would ever step onto the court without first properly tying his shoes. Sure Chris, but how is this related to academics? Well, doing basic, boring things correctly is...
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Executive Function
In the world of academics, “executive function” is, to put it mildly, a big deal. A student with weak executive function will probably struggle with staying organized, setting goals, prioritizing,...
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Why We Like Skipping Steps
When I was a child, I took great pride in my ability to skip bars when swinging across the monkey bars. Skipping one bar was an important milestone, but skipping two bars made me feel really special....
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Airplane Mode
Here’s a common experience I have as an academic coach: The student I’m working with is eager to learn and wants to get things done. The student’s cell phone vibrates due to notifications or texts...
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Better Sleep, Better Mind
Disclaimer: Everyone is different. That means everyone needs a different amount of sleep, everyone handles the lack of sleep differently, and everyone reacts differently to the various methods aimed...
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Playing “The Game” of School
Our motto here at Northwest Educational Services is “Learn how to learn.” And while that is quite different from “Learn how to get an A,” learning how to learn does tend to improve grades. After all,...
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Cramming: What To Do When It’s Your Only Choice
Let’s imagine that you’ve waited until the last minute to study for a big test. This is only a hypothetical situation; I know you would never do that. Just pretend with me for a minute. The test is...
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Off-Season Training
Today’s post is a shameless attempt to convince students (and their parents) that they should continue to be engaged with academics during the summer. And, to make matters worse, I’m employing the...
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Parental Self-Improvement
The expectation of most parents is that their children be perpetual improvement machines: always learning and growing, developing greater executive function and stronger willpower. This is, of course,...
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Why Reading Still Matters
Photo by Ashley Welling Photography I recently heard someone claim that “We live in a post literate society.” The wound I received from slamming my forehead down on the table has mostly healed, and I...
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The Importance of Chores
Like most adults, I had chores growing up: mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, and the like. And it seems like a no-brainer that parents today would continue to assign their...
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Your Brain Loves Exercise
Health Disclaimer: This article is about how exercise affects the brain. It is not health advice. Before making any changes to your exercise routine, please consult your doctor and, if you’re under...
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Do you ever WONDER?
Dear readers, Today, we are pleased to introduce Tara Broyhill who has kindly written us a guest post about the importance of curiosity. Tara is a Seattle-based creativity coach. Learn more about Tara...
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Kids Can Smell Hypocrisy a Mile Away
Today’s post is about parental hypocrisy, but let me be clear, I’m not judging anyone here. No one tries to be a hypocrite. And many of the things I’m about to describe are so minor that they would...
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The Mastery Path is a Muddy Slope
In the past, I’ve written about the mastery path, and I depicted it as a line – a flat path along which you march. But I’ve come to realize that this image is wrong. The mastery path is actually a...
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What to Focus on to Get Good Grades
If you want good grades, then your goal should be to get good grades. Having a goal keeps you focused, and you’ll never get good grades unless you’re focused on getting good grades. You have to keep...
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