Long time, no see!

Hi folks!  We have to apologize for the extended absence, it has been a very busy school year and our blogging time has been limited.  We promise to try harder now since daylight savings gave us an extra hour of light at the end of the day!  In the meantime, we came across this app for the iPhone and iPad that is absolutely essential to parents of middle school or high school kids.  It is called LRN the Lingo and it translates texting lingo and numerical codes for parents trying to understand the text messages on their kid's phone.  In the age of "sexting" (sexually explicit texting), it is more crucial than ever that parents institute a daily check-in/check-out policy that gives them time to peruse their child's text messages.  This app is the best $0.99 you will ever spend!  Download it at www.learnthelingo.com.

Food additives linked to ADHD

One of the most common diagnoses we see in school is ADHD.  And is it any wonder?  According to CNN.com, this diagnosis has risen 22% in the last few years!  Why is that?  According to Health.com, this is in part due to the use of the following food additives: Blue #1 and Blue #2, Green #3, Orange B, Red #3, Sodium benzoate, Red #40 (the most widely used food coloring in the U.S.), Yellow #5 (the only food dye tested and officially linked to hyperactivity) and Yellow #6.  What can a parent do to be sure they aren't feeding the family a big helping of ADHD?  Some good rules of thumb are to limit processed and pre-packaged foods, always read labels in the grocery store, and limit eating in restaurants.

Should bullying be a crime?

This is an interesting piece from Psychology Today regarding the new anti-bullying legislation.  It's controversial and provocative but full of logic and wisdom.  Let us know what you think!

The Intangibles

High school hockey practice starts at 4pm.  At 1pm, the coach gets a phone call from one of his players.  He's not going to make it to practice today because he has a paper due tomorrow.

Tomorrow?  Really?  What has this young man been doing for the last few days?

Schools are great at teaching reading, writing, and math,  but time management, arguably the most important life skill, is severely neglected in schools today.  Administrators and, subsequently, teachers are driven to spend all of their class time on the tangibles, knowledge that can be measured on a scantron sheet.  This era of testing and accountability for teachers sounds like a good plan at the surface but when we look a little deeper we can see that important life skills such as time management, organization, communication, and critical thinking are often overlooked in favor of the curriculum.  What does this prepare our students to do?  Obviously it prepares them to pass the test.  But what about the life that comes after all this testing?  Let us know your thoughts!

Is Academic Coaching right for me and my child?

Are you curious about whether or not Square 1 Academic Coaching is the right fit for you and your child?  Simply download our brochure and read about our services!  If you have any questions you can contact us at info@sqre1.com.

Should the school be able to dictate your child's diet?

The newsmedia was buzzing earlier this year when a girl brought a cookie in her brown bag lunch and was told by the school she couldn't eat it. Watch this video clip from Fox2 News Detroit as three local experts debate who should have input into what kids are eating.  http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/health/school-lunch-menu:-who-decides%3F

Tips for Testing

Here in Michigan, we are a few days in to the MEAP test, a mandatory standardized test for public school students in grades 3-9.  As school counselors, we have a short list of tips for parents to help their children give 110% on MEAP days.

1. Get a good night's sleep.  Sounds pretty simple, right?  Well kind of.  With the consolidation of bus routes many schools have had to stagger their start times.  In the same district there may be an elementary building with a 7:45am start time and another with a 9:15am start time.  The kids in these two schools should not have the same bed time.  Work backwards.  Look at your school's start time and subtract 10-12 hours for elementary students and 8-10 hours for middle school/high school students.  This is a good tip for every day, not just a MEAP day.

2. Eat a good breakfast.  The Standard American Diet tends to consist of sugary cereals and pastries.  These foods tend to give a quick burst of energy but taper off quickly.  The best way to get your student through the morning is to give them a more protein-heavy breakfast such as scrambled eggs or yogurt mixed with a handful of raw almonds.

3. This one will depend on your school rules.  Studies have shown that chewing gum while taking a test can improve a student's test scores.  Mints have also been shown to have this effect.

4. Talk about the test with your child the night before.  Reassure your son or daughter that you know they will do well if they give their best effort.

5.  Make school a priority in your home.  This is not just a tip for test days, but one that will make every day a priority for your student.