Lifestyle & Trends - Education

Tips to save money while back-to-school shopping

Your children will soon be heading back to school, which means you have shopping to do. Your younger children will need notebooks, pencils, clothes, shoes and all those other things that teachers like to throw on school supply lists. But if you have college-aged kids, they're also going to need textbooks, computers and software before school starts. Read More

Fight summer 'brain drain' with online summer schools for K-12th grades

Cash-strapped school districts across the country are cutting summer school programs in record numbers. In fact, more than a third of administrators polled in a recent American Association of School Administrators survey said they are considering eliminating summer school for the 2010-11 school year. The good news for parents is that the recent boom in online K-12 education means many high-quality, engaging online summer school programs are now available to students. Read More

Adult learners: the fastest-growing student group

The single fastest-growing segment of the student population is the proportion of students aged 25 and older. There are as many motivations for returning to college as an older student as there are, well, students, but when asked, many non-traditional college students give one of several reasons. Read More

Tips to sharpen your child's reading skills

The end of summer vacation may be approaching, but there is still plenty of time for youth to read a few books to refresh their reading skills before starting school. While many grown-ups jump at the chance to read books and magazines on vacation, children are often quick to drop the book and run toward the waves when hitting the beach, pool or campground. While everyone reminisces about those summer days from childhood, the truth is that in this age of video games, DVD players in cars and text-messaging teens, youth are less likely to pick up a book than ever. That may come at a price. Read More

Enjoying life after the kids leave the nest

It's a scene right out of summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." While not many parents are faced with a child destined to save mankind from the attack of an alien species, many can certainly identify with the life changing event that can lead to "empty nest syndrome." Read More

Improving your child's math skills with fun, educational programs

How do you tell the difference between an online game that is a valuable educational tool and those that are merely fun? It may be difficult to assess the educational value of computer programs aimed at children - especially those aged 4 to 9. Read More

A new twist to test prep for college admissions exams

Walk into a typical high school classroom and you'll see the same story: A few kids will quickly pick up every concept, a few kids will struggle to understand the lesson and many will fall somewhere in between. Historically, all would receive the same lesson plan, no matter what their aptitude and ability. A more modern approach, shaped by growing research on effective learning, requires teachers to adjust how and what they teach according to each students' learning needs, rather than expecting all students to absorb the same curriculum. Read More

Protect your college kid's laptop

A laptop has become an essential tool for college students. Parents have more choices than ever - and more opportunities to save - when purchasing a laptop for their college kids. But the cost of a new laptop goes far beyond the price tag on the computer - especially if a new laptop is stolen or damaged while a child is away at school. Instead of risking a costly replacement, parents can take several effective measures to ensure their student's laptop, and the valuable information stored on it, are well protected. Read More

College students: Take 5 steps to jump-start your career

Each year a new crop of students graduates from colleges and universities, and joins the millions of unemployed across the nation in seeking work. To prepare for life after graduation, there are steps college students can take to bolster their appeal in the job market. Read More

Tools to make back-to-school supplies a little lighter

The school bell will soon ring for your children, whether they're boarding the elementary school bus or unloading a car full of furnishings into their tiny college dorm room. Before their classes begin and assignments start rolling in, make sure they have everything they need to succeed during the school year. Read More

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