Section 1: Understanding the Growth Mindset The Growth Mindset, pioneered by psychologist Carol Dweck, is rooted in the belief that intelligence, abilities, and talents are not fixed traits but can be developed through effort, strategy, and learning. This mindset represents a shift from viewing intelligence as static to understanding it as something that grows with ..read more

Calendars and planners may seem like similar tools, but they serve distinct and complementary functions. Calendars are essential for scheduling events, while planners are key to managing tasks. Regardless of age, background, or responsibilities, everyone can benefit from using both tools. However, the real art of time management lies in mastering the use of a ..read more

The Challenge of Exams Exams are often a source of anxiety and pressure for students, but the challenge isn’t always rooted in a lack of knowledge. Many students understand the material, but struggle to perform under the time constraints and pressure of exam conditions. It’s similar to a skilled mechanic facing a new type of ..read more

Rethinking Class Preparation As students progress through school, their approach to class time evolves significantly. Imagine a boat navigating a river, with two distinct banks on either side. One bank represents “pure learning,” where students encounter new concepts through reading, lectures, or group activities. The other bank symbolizes “organizing and predicting,” where the focus shifts ..read more

Conquering College The leap from high school to college is one of the most transformative—and challenging—experiences in a young adult’s life. It’s a time that promises newfound freedom and the chance to carve out a path of one’s own. However, beneath the excitement lies a truth that many students and their families underestimate: the transition ..read more

Why We Take Notes Let’s talk about note-taking. This will not be a drawn out post about the Cornell method or venn diagramming. Instead, we’re going to explore why students should take notes in the first place. Tactics are only helpful when you understand the rationale behind the activity. Students can endure hundreds of presentations ..read more

Students often struggle with assignments during the first week or two. To be clear, this isn’t because there are too many assignments; rather, it’s often because there aren’t enough. This period, instead of being busy, can seem like an extension of summer. Students might find themselves with little to do, leading them to maintain their ..read more

As students head back to school in the next few weeks, there’s a sense of optimism. Back to school season is a time of fresh beginnings and new challenges, but one old habit often reappears: cramming. While cramming might seem like a quick fix for last-minute studying, it’s actually one of the least effective ways ..read more

Parents often ask us what their students should be working on over the summer. Summer break is an excellent time to fill in content gaps from prior years, build a stable foundation for the next year, or utilize advanced coursework to strengthen compensatory skills. Although every student is different, one skill we generally recommend working ..read more

Parents often ask us what their students should be working on over the summer. Summer break is an excellent time to fill in content gaps from prior years, build a stable foundation for the next year, or utilize advanced coursework to strengthen compensatory skills. Although every student is different, one skill we generally recommend working on over the summer is writing. Writing is one of the most cross-disciplinary skills students work on during high school, and once they matriculate to college, it can be tough to compensate for a weak writing foundation. That being said, high school is a vi ..read more