What is the SMART way to make Educational New Year’s Resolutions?

An estimated 50% of people in the United States make New Year’s Resolutions… only 20% actually keep them after 1 week… and only 10% of those people keep their resolutions after 1 month. That is an average of only 1 person out of 100 who can actually stick with a goal for a full month after the New Year! Why is there such a disparity in the number who can keep a resolution versus those who cannot? The answer resides in the SMART methodology...

The S.M.A.R.T. method of goal setting involves 5 principles:

1. Specific

2. Measurable

3. Achievable

4. Relevant

5. Timely

Your goal must be specific, such as start studying for all Tests at least 3 days in advance. It must also be measurable; for example, achieve nothing lower than a 90% on any Assignment. The goals must also be achievable. Trying to run a marathon in under a half hour is not humanly possible at this time (we shall see what jet-pack technology in the future may say about that), therefore it is not a SMART goal. Your Educational New Year’s Resolution should also be relevant. Hence, being accepted to a Top 25 University is an example of a relevant goal for one who has above a 4.0 GPA and is working on College Admissions. Finally, the goal must be bound by some sort of timetable, such as finishing all College Applications by December 1st, even the ones that are not due until January 1st. That will allow you to enjoy your Holiday Break without worrying about scrambling to finish before the deadlines. Set a deadline for yourself, because as a wise man once said, “Set your own deadlines or they will be set for you!”

Here’s to NO PROCRASTINATION in the New Year!

What is a “Pod,” and why should you be forming one for your student in order to get the most out of online Distance Learning?

Whether you call them Learning Pods or Study Pods, they have been all the rage recently. Parents across the nation are scrambling to put together a group of 3 to 4 students to work together on learning the information presented during online Distance Learning. These Pods also serve as a study group for doing Homework, studying for Quizzes, and preparing for Exams as well. I’m sure you’ve read and heard about them by now, so it’s time to start forming them for the Fall semester!

Pods are directed by a Teacher or an Educational Therapist after school. We offer Pod group services in order to reteach and reinforce the class material, while incorporating Homework assistance and Educational Therapy to address special needs. With Dow Educational Solutions, you always have an Advocate. During this time of Distance Learning, the accommodations that are pursuant to federal law need to be implemented for students with an Independent Education Plan IEP or 504. Now is the time to bring in an experienced Advocate who will fight for your student!

Pods are usually formed among students of the same grade due to the fact that they traditionally are taking the same course, but with different Teachers. For example, 4 Freshman high school students may not all be in the same class, but they may be each taking Biology. This allows for flexibility in forming your Pod. The key is that students learn the material that is mandated for them to learn under state guidelines and be able to complete the Homework, and prepare for Assessments such as Quizzes and Tests. This time it counts, meaning their grades can go down and will appear on their official transcript and permanent record. Be on the forefront of Education during this challenging time, and get the help you need in order to make online Distance Learning successful for you and your student.

“What makes a College Application Personal Statement stand out?”

Everyone is unique… Each of us has something special about us. It may be a special skill or accomplishment, or it may just be an experience that shaped the person you are today. Yes, the College Application Personal Statement is a way for Admissions Officials to get to know you, but it requires a strategic approach. There is indeed a formula for a successful Personal Statement. We go through this in a systematic way during our Personal Statement Workshops…

Tell a story. No one likes to hear someone ramble off a bunch of facts with no context. Tell us what you could hear, see, feel, and smell… Take the reader back to the setting and tell us YOUR story. The most successful Ivy League Personal Statements incorporate this style and approach. Focus on a life changing experience, then the other components of the formula will simply fall into place around this experience. What unique characteristics set you apart from all of the other applicants? What makes you stand out among the over 100,000 College Applications received at that University? These are the questions that you need to ask yourself before embarking on the most important essay of your academic career.