AIE — Adventures In Education

Dec 18, 2006 - Happy Holidays from AIE. As students finish up their exams, we hope they'll take time to take a break and enjoy the holiday season. (Adventures In Education)

Dec 15, 2006 - Schools report urges drastic change, higher salaries. An independent commission yesterday proposed dramatic changes that would shake up American public education in an effort to make the nation more competitive globally. (Washington Post)

Dec 15, 2006 - Students invited to aid Katrina recovery. In the 1930s, the government put more than 4 million people to work in two months through the Civil Works Project, a bold step to relieve America's record unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression. (MercuryNews.com)

Dec 14, 2006 - A boost in high school courses at college level. Kay Barcus has more experience with Advanced Placement, and its alternatives, than most parents in Prince William County. Her two older children took introductory courses in college at about the same time her two younger children were taking AP courses, supposedly the equivalent of the same college... (Washington Post)

Dec 13, 2006 - Study: Raise teacher pay to improve education. A new study by education researchers concludes that the best way to improve the quality of teaching is to pay teachers more. And to pay good teachers even more. (NPR)

Dec 11, 2006 - Five tips for volunteering. Volunteering will help students develop skills, gain work experience, develop knowledge of different career settings, create a network for job finding, discover hidden strengths and talents, gain self-confidence, find references, and build a sense of independence. (Adventures In Education)

Dec 4, 2006 - Lend a helping hand. Students have probably heard about the importance of helping others. They may have even volunteered. But have they thought about how helping others helps them to improve themselves? (Adventures In Education)

Nov 29, 2006 - In Kalamazoo, a promise boosts school enrollment. A bold, new experiment in southwestern Michigan is filling public-school classrooms and reshaping a community. The Kalamazoo Promise is an offer made by anonymous donors to help pay college tuition for high school seniors. (NPR)

Nov 27, 2006 - Develop a study plan. What's the easiest way for students to learn course content? Read the recommended text passages, attend class regularly, listen intently, and take their own notes. In addition, they might find it helpful to develop a study plan. (Adventures In Education)

Nov 27, 2006 - Redesigned Web site features improved resources ''For Familes and Students.'' TG Online provides information to help students and their families prepare and pay for college. (TG Online)

Nov 21, 2006 - A snapshot of the State of U.S. Education. Did you know that most parents report being very satisfied with their child's school? Did you know that distance education courses are offered at more than half the country's two- and four-year postsecondary institutions? (Washington Post)

Nov 20, 2006 - What's your learning style? The way in which students take in information, sort, retain, retrieve, and reproduce it depends a lot on their style of learning. (Adventures In Education)

Nov 18, 2006 - To ease college admission, some say stick with the flute (or physics team). Parents: You've designed schedules, organized carpools, parlayed your way into the right camps for 12 long years. Piano lessons at 3, Spanish classes at 5, soccer games from age 8 through 14, a panoply of activities designed to give your kid the upper hand in getting into the college of her dreams. (Washington Post)

Nov 16, 2006 - Parent and administrator Chew the fat on school snacks. Dear Extra Credit readers: Occasionally I run exchanges between parents and school officials on interesting issues; essentially it's a peek at other people's e-mail. Silver Spring parent Janet Poetzschke has been looking carefully at the food children find at Montgomery County schools and got some... (Washington Post)

Nov 16, 2006 - Low-income pupils still lag on tests. Despite a consistent rise in test scores, the achievement gap between poor Californians and their middle-class fellow students might be growing, a University of California-Berkeley report shows. (MercuryNews.com)

Nov 13, 2006 - The basics of college entrance exams. Students should start getting prepared now to take their college entrance exams. (Adventures In Education)

Nov 6, 2006 - Creating a positive study environment. Making a special place where students can study on a daily basis can help them get their assigned work done faster. (Adventures In Education)

Nov 2, 2006 - Success? That's not an elective. IN his first year as principal of Jordan High School in Watts, Stephen Strachan ordered 743 suspensions - 600 more than the principal the year before - to punish students for fighting, defying authority, defacing the campus and disrupting classes. His second year, he suspended students 596 times. (Los Angeles Times)

Nov 1, 2006 - On education: For Hispanic parents, lessons on helping with the homework. For immigrant parents, helping their children absorb lessons in an inscrutable language in a strange country has always been a distinctive challenge. (The New York Times)

Nov 1, 2006 - Schools emphasize writing, even in math class. More high schools around the country are emphasizing the need for all students to be good writers. In Indianapolis, some math teachers are even integrating lessons about writing into their teaching. (NPR)

Oct 31, 2006 - Breaking down the ivory tower. This should be a shining moment for education schools. Never has the nation paid so much attention to improving the quality of teaching. Yet the institutions that produce teachers have never faced so much criticism. (Washington Post)

Oct 30, 2006 - How to spot scholarship scams. As students sort through the information they receive about scholarship programs, they should keep in mind that not every offer is as good as it seems. (Adventures In Education)

Oct 23, 2006 - How to increase your chances with scholarships. When it comes to scholarships, there are many things students can do to improve their chances. (Adventures In Education)

Oct 19, 2006 - Preschoolers grow older as parents seek an edge. Many parents in the N.Y. region are strategizing to keep children out of kindergarten until they are nearly 6. (The New York Times)

Oct 19, 2006 - School drop-offs: A danger zone. It happened in a Gilroy intersection, to a 5-year-old boy, as he walked to school. But the tragic accident Tuesday that claimed the life of first-grader Julio Gonzalez could have been in any Bay Area city, near any school -- and that has many parents and school officials worried. (MercuryNews.com)

Oct 18, 2006 - For math students, self-esteem might not equal high scores. It is difficult to get through a day in an American school without hearing maxims such as these: "To succeed, you must believe in yourself," and "To teach, you must relate the subject to the lives of students." (Washington Post)

Oct 16, 2006 - Important definitions related to scholarships. As students apply for scholarships, they may find our list of scholarship-related terms helpful. (Adventures In Education)

Oct 9, 2006 - Finding scholarship sources: The obvious and the not so obvious. You know that you should apply for as many scholarships as you can to help finance your college education, but do you know how to find them? (Adventures In Education)

Oct 3, 2006 - Early repairs in foundation for reading. To help identify and treat children with severe reading problems earlier, new diagnostic tests are available to measure a child's fluency with the skills that are the foundation of reading. (The New York Times)

Oct 2, 2006 - Debunking myths: The truth about scholarships. You've probably heard a lot of different myths about scholarships. In this week's issue we discuss some common myths and some of the truths behind those myths. (Adventures In Education)

Sep 25, 2006 - All about your college application: part 2. This week's edition features the second part of our college application tips. (Adventures In Education)

Sep 25, 2006 - For grads, moving home again can offer security. Living with your parents after college may not be cool, but it's affordable. (CollegeJournal)

Sep 18, 2006 - All about your college application: part 1. This week's edition features the first part of our college application tips. (Adventures In Education)

Sep 15, 2006 - Marketing higher education gets sophisticated. It's not unusual for kids with reasonably high test scores to receive several hundred pieces of mail and e-mail from colleges coveting their enrollment. (NPR)

Sep 13, 2006 - Harvard to drop early admissions. Harvard College announced yesterday that it will end its early-admissions program, saying it wants to minimize what has become a high-pressure process for some high-schoolers. (Washington Post)

Sep 13, 2006 - Roommates, the online version. Many "helicopter parents," who are hovering and ready to swoop down and rescue their children, have been using Facebook to check out their children's college roommates. (The New York Times)

Sep 11, 2006 - Writing effective essays. In this week's edition, we discuss the significant role that writing will play in the admissions process. (Adventures In Education)

Sep 8, 2006 - Saying it ''messed up,'' Facebook modifies controversial feature. Facebook, a popular Web-based hangout for students, revamped its site last night to let users disable or modify a new feature that had touched off protests from hundreds of thousands of members. (Washington Post)

Sep 7, 2006 - Preparing Hispanic parents and children for school. A museum on Long Island is offering a program to introduce children from immigrant Hispanic families to an American classroom before they walk into one. (The New York Times)

Sep 7, 2006 - Report finds U.S. students lagging in finishing college. A new report says that the United States ranks seventh among developed nations for 25- to 34-year-olds in college completion rates. (The New York Times)

Sep 7, 2006 - Study Faults the High Cost of Higher Education. WASHINGTON - An independent report on higher education flunks most states when it comes to affordability. It gives better but mixed grades in other areas, such as college participation and completion rates. (Los Angeles Times)

Sep 4, 2006 - Basic parts of a college application. All college applications request the same types of basic information. This week we provide a quick rundown of what students may be expected to provide as they begin applying. (Adventures In Education)

Aug 28, 2006 - Old schoolhouse rocks. The Smithsonian's re-creation of a one-room school from the 19th century is the surprise hit of the season with children. (Los Angeles Times)

Aug 28, 2006 - Understanding the college admissions process. Students should understand the different types of application before they begin the process. (Adventures In Education)

Aug 28, 2006 - College admissions mania: can't we all just chill out? Rory didn't get into Yale. Neither did Thomas. Gina did, though, and together their tales of rejection or triumph offer a lesson of considerable social significance - even if one of these students is a fictional character in a raunchy summer movie. (Los Angeles Times)

Aug 27, 2006 - In schools across U.S., the melting pot overflows. The children of baby boomers and foreign-born parents are sending a demographic bulge through the schools. (The New York Times)

Aug 21, 2006 - Getting experience. Learn how to increase the chances of getting a first job by expanding how you think about job experience. (Adventures In Education)

Aug 21, 2006 - America's best colleges 2007 Find out which schools are No. 1 in this year's college rankings. (U.S. News & World Report)

Aug 20, 2006 - College rankings could use an upgrade. As prospective college students begin their search for the perfect school, U.S. News and World Report has released its annual ranking of American universities. Michael McPherson, a former president at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., suggests ways to make the rankings more useful to school administrators, parents and students. (NPR)

Aug 20, 2006 - Students, parents gear up for fall routine. Drag the kids out of bed, fight for space in the bathroom and start packing lunch. And don't forget to stock up on the No. 2 pencils. (MercuryNews.com)

Aug 19, 2006 - Two-year schools add four-year options. Jesse Sandow always hoped he'd graduate from college with a four-year degree, but life kept getting in the way. Then, just as his long-held dream seemed in danger of fading, he found an unlikely savior: his community college. (MercuryNews.com)

Aug 15, 2006 - Younger siblings 'more amusing'. Children with older brothers and sisters find it easier to make people laugh, a survey suggests. (BBC News)

Aug 15, 2006 - U.S. pushes the use of tutors at failing schools. One of the key provisions of the No Child Left Behind law is that children in failing schools should be given extra help in the form of tutoring. Yet millions of students who are eligible for tutoring aren't getting it. The U.S Education Department is warning school districts that, this fall, they must do a better job of signing families up. (NPR)

Aug 14, 2006 - Exploring your school options. Help in choosing a college is available from the Web and many other sources. (AIEmail)

Aug 14, 2006 - Scores to measure students, schools. Facing any report card is tough enough. Now imagine four in a single month. California public schools are bracing for just that as they await public release of passage rates -- statewide to campus-level -- for two major student exams and detailed results of two influential school performance programs. (MercuryNews.com)

Aug 8, 2006 - TG redesigns college/career-planning Web site. Site provides more information to help students prepare, pay for college. (TG Online)

Aug 7, 2006 - Exploring career interests. When it comes to exploring careers interests, some students don't know where to start. In this issue we'll help make it easier. (AIEmail)

Aug 4, 2006 - U.S. issues new rules on schools and disability. School districts will now be allowed to find new ways to identify children as learning disabled, rather than relying on intelligence tests in third or fourth grade. (The New York Times)

Aug 4, 2006 - States are adding CDs to college-savings plans. Find out how these federally insured financial products can boost your 529 investment. (CollegeJournal)

Aug 3, 2006 - All-day kindergarten gets fast-track push. Fairfax County school officials want to speed up the addition of full-day kindergarten programs, making them available at all elementary schools by 2010. (Washington Post)

Jul 31, 2006 - Learning about music. High school students already know a lot about their favorite type of music; however, it's important for them to expand their horizons and learn about styles they are not so familiar with. (AIEmail)

Jul 26, 2006 - On education: In kindergarten playtime, a new meaning for 'play'. Across the nation, there is less time for play even for the youngest students as many schools try to teach reading, writing and arithmetic as early as possible. (The New York Times)

Jul 26, 2006 - Public vs. private school report spurs controversy. A new report from the U.S. Education Department counters the popularly held notion that private schools outperform public schools. (NPR)

Jul 25, 2006 - Most states fail demands in education law. Failure to meet standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act leaves several states in danger of losing some aid. (The New York Times)

Jul 24, 2006 - Learning about history. Students taking a summer vacation can do a bit of research to learn about the history of the place they are visiting. (AIEmail)

Jul 19, 2006 - GOP unveils school voucher plan. The Bush administration and Republican legislators yesterday proposed a $100 million national plan to offer low-income students private-school vouchers to escape low-performing public schools. (Washington Post)

Jul 17, 2006 - Learning about art. The visual arts can provide inspiration for just about anyone. (AIEmail)

Jul 13, 2006 - Grads find it tough to build new social ties. For twentysomethings used to making friends in the classroom, networking can be daunting. Here's how to overcome shyness in unfamiliar places. (CollegeJournal)

Jul 10, 2006 - Learning about science. Student can get some good ideas on how to improve their science knowledge this summer. (AIEmail)

Jul 10, 2006 - The new gender divide: Small colleges, short of men, embrace football. Colleges eager to attract men to increasingly female campuses have found that football teams can be a lure. (The New York Times)

Jul 10, 2006 - Man who died at 30 inspires legacy of learning. When Anuj Mohan was a boy, his parents — who both hold doctorates — told him he needed a good education if he wanted to make a difference in the world. (MercuryNews.com)

Jul 9, 2006 - The new gender divide: At colleges, women are leaving men in the dust. A quarter-century after women became the majority on campuses, men are trailing in more than just enrollment. (The New York Times)

Jul 9, 2006 - It's a top-grade achievement. Many graduates of charter high school never thought they'd receive their diplomas. (Los Angeles Times)

Jul 3, 2006 - Gain a different perspective. By understanding where other people are coming from and stepping out of their comfort zone, students can begin to see things in a different light. (AIEmail)

Jun 30, 2006 - Graduation rate improving, schools chancellor says. Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein reported strong numbers for the senior classes at 15 new small high schools. (The New York Times)

Jun 26, 2006 - Naming rights to public schools sold in Wisconsin. Milwaukee's school district is selling naming rights to everything in sight, from rooms and hallways, to gyms. School administrators think it will be easier to enter into marketing agreements with companies than raise more money from taxes. (NPR)

Jun 26, 2006 - Avoiding debt and saving for the future. As you gain financial independence, keep in mind that you are the only person who can keep an eye on your money. (AIEmail)

Jun 20, 2006 - Charter schools joining mainstream, no longer on fringes. A decade ago, charter schools existed largely on the fringes, but they have joined the mainstream. (MercuryNews.com)

Jun 20, 2006 - Deadline nears to consolidate student loans. The deadline for student loan consolidation at lower interest rates is June 30. (NPR)

Jun 19, 2006 - Learning to increase income and decrease expenses. Look at ways to increase your income, decrease your expenses, and put your plans to work. (AIEmail)

Jun 19, 2006 - Real degrees through cyberspace. Arizona universities are responding to skyrocketing demand for online diplomas by offering more degrees to students as far away as China, who want the convenience of learning from home. (azcentral.com)

Jun 12, 2006 - Spending smarts: Wants and needs. As you venture forward, more financial responsibilities will become yours to manage. (AIEmail)

Jun 7, 2006 - Hard choices as loan interest rates rise. Thousands are trying to determine how to deal with the big rise in interest rates that will soon hit their federal student loans. (The New York Times)

Jun 7, 2006 - On Education: Can tough grades be fair grades? At Boston University, some students suspect the school is forcing grades to conform to a curve, which may not be a bad thing in the end. (The New York Times)

Jun 7, 2006 - Friends, family often serve as career consultants. How three professionals turn to personal confidantes for counsel on work-related matters -- and avoid the potential pitfalls such dual roles can pose. (CareerJournal)

Jun 6, 2006 - A helping hand for higher education. Many college students need to combine a job with student loans just to finance their education. Scholarships are available, however -- commentator Amy Alexander, an author and media critic, talks about one scholarship in particular that rewards young black students who celebrate their past while overcoming hardships. (NPR)

Jun 6, 2006 - A helping hand for higher education. Many college students need to combine a job with student loans just to finance their education. Scholarships are available, however -- commentator Amy Alexander, an author and media critic, talks about one scholarship in particular that rewards young black students who celebrate their past while overcoming hardships. (NPR)

Jun 5, 2006 - Income and expenses: A balancing act. Have you ever sat down to compare what you ''make'' with what you ''spend?'' (AIEmail)

Jun 5, 2006 - Teacher of the year on turning a school around. Kimberly Oliver, an elementary school teacher in Silver Spring, Md., was recently named National Teacher of the Year. Over the last six years, she has helped turn around the underperforming school. (NPR)

May 29, 2006 - A college representative on the importance of work experience. AIE chats with Brother Victor Monette, associate director for student financial services at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. (AIEmail)

May 25, 2006 - Test shows drop in science achievement for 12th graders. Scores rose among fourth graders and held steady among eighth graders, but the drop among high school seniors is likely to raise anxiety about America's academic competitiveness. (The New York Times)

May 24, 2006 - In search of standouts who may not stand out enough. The nonprofit Posse Foundation looks for students nationwide as likely to excel at a selective college, but also as likely to be overlooked by admissions officials. (The New York Times)

May 24, 2006 - Game and theory converge on a coach's field of dreams. For nearly 20 years, Steve DeCaro had longed to fuse the two parts of himself, jock and geek, and to offer both to the same students. (The New York Times)

May 23, 2006 - College no guarantee of top-dollar pay. David Wessel, deputy Washington bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, talks with Steve Inskeep about why having a college degree doesn't guarantee the pay graduates would like to see. (NPR)

May 22, 2006 - Beating summer boredom. Before things slow down too much, consider taking on some of the summer projects on our list. (AIEmail)

May 15, 2006 - First impressions. You've applied for the perfect job, and the organization calls to schedule an interview. Now what? (AIEmail)

May 12, 2006 - Who should foot the bill for college? As education costs rise into the stratosphere, families are debating the best way to pay. (CollegeJournal)

May 11, 2006 - Pepperdine business school welcomes mothers. Pepperdine University is working to make its MBA program more accessible to mothers interested in getting an advanced business degree. (NPR)

May 10, 2006 - Two setbacks for exit exams taken by high school seniors. A judge said that he was inclined to ban tests as a graduation requirement in California, and a Massachusetts school board voted to issue diplomas to students who had failed. (The New York Times)

May 10, 2006 - When the professor is a tough grader, and your dad. For many college students, in search of their own identity, being on the same campus as a parent may be as much togetherness as they can stand. (The New York Times)

May 10, 2006 - Los Angeles school struggles to leave violence behind. Last year, Jefferson High School in Los Angeles got national attention for brawls and fights that occurred during school. It raised questions about the ability of students to learn in an environment where they don't feel safe. Jefferson High has been struggling to re-invent itself since then. (NPR)

May 8, 2006 - The high school student resume. A resume gives you the ability to sell yourself, to include and highlight the information that you want the potential employer to focus on. (AIEmail)

May 7, 2006 - From a piece of the past, a lesson. I took my 12-year-old son to work last month, but I was the one who learned the most about the hows and whys of the work I do. (The New York Times)

May 1, 2006 - Good setting at home will help kids at school. Jason Robertson is sure if parents create a smart school at home, their students will be better learners. Here are his tips. (azcentral.com)

May 1, 2006 - Colleges pressure students to say ''Yes.'' Universities are bending over backward to woo accepted applicants. (CollegeJournal)

May 1, 2006 - Find your next job at a job fair. Follow our simple guidelines to make the most of your job fair experience. (AIEmail)

Apr 27, 2006 - New York City schools cut parents' lifeline (the cell phone). Parents said cell phones, which are technically banned in city public schools, are essential for maintaining a daily link to their children. (The New York Times)

Apr 24, 2006 - Year-end study success. As you begin your end-of-semester review, our checklist may come in handy. (AIEmail)

Apr 18, 2006 - Councils give parents a voice. If parents in the Scottsdale Unified School District have concerns about something going on at their child's school or just don't know whom to ask about an education-related issue, they can ask for help at the Scottsdale Parent Council. (azcentral.com)

Apr 17, 2006 - Making use of helpful study techniques. Get ahead with these study time tips and tricks. (AIEmail)

Apr 12, 2006 - Show children respect, and they pass it on. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you is the value that makes the world a more decent and civilized place, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (azcentral.com)

Apr 10, 2006 - Top colleges reject record numbers. Admission officials say they are accepting an unusually low percentage of applicants, concluding a brutal admission season. (CollegeJournal)

Apr 10, 2006 - Figuring out your teachers' expectations. One of the easiest ways to improve your grades is to follow some basic steps to determine your teachers' expectations. (AIEmail)

Apr 9, 2006 - Overly wired? There's a word for it. The frenzy of our wired world is giving nearly all of us the symptoms of attention deficit disorder. (The New York Times)

Apr 9, 2006 - How much should parents help on college applications? If you have a high school senior in your house, he or she may be haunting the mailbox right now, waiting for college acceptance letters to arrive. It's the time of year when the college admissions ordeal reaches its climax. (NPR)

Apr 6, 2006 - Good setting at home will help kids at school. Jason Robertson is sure if parents create a smart school at home, their students will be better learners. Here are his tips. (azcentral.com)

Apr 3, 2006 - My space, my time: How to study. Although studying can be a challenge, it must be done if you want to achieve academic success. (AIEmail)

Mar 27, 2006 - Explore your interests. With the end of the school year fast approaching, now is the time to start searching for a summer job that will give you a taste of the working world. (AIEmail)

Mar 27, 2006 - Where to draw the line on helping kids get jobs. Sue Shellenbarger answers questions about helicopter parents. (CollegeJournal)

Mar 26, 2006 - Colleges say SAT mistakes may affect scholarships. The biggest effect of the mistakes made by the College Board in scoring the SAT will be on eligibility for scholarships, not on admissions decisions. (The New York Times)

Mar 26, 2006 - Florida bill asks high schoolers to declare major. The bill would make the state the first to require high school students to declare a major, just as college students do. (The New York Times)

Mar 22, 2006 - Lightning rod for fury over schools' gifted programs. Anna Commitante, the official in charge of New York City's gifted programs, is at the receiving end of angry e-mail messages, letters and phone calls. (The New York Times)

Mar 20, 2006 - Leadership and college admissions. Activities that give you the chance to take on leadership roles can show the college admissions counselors at the colleges you're applying to that you're a top candidate. (AIEmail)

Mar 16, 2006 - Book touts "colleges that change lives." For thousands of nervous parents, a popular college guide listing little-known, but highly-regarded, campuses has attracted a cult following. (NPR)