GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

How to Make College Learning More Relevant

How to Make College Learning More Relevant

As I help more students prepare for college, I am learning that my students need more opportunities for project-based learning experiences that help a child better understand the relevance of academic subjects to real life problem-solving. I am also learning that most students in other countries take a break from school to participate in a summer abroad program or even an internship during high school summers or before starting college to increase the background knowledge required for academic success.

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When Your College Child Comes Home for a Visit

When Your College Child Comes Home for a Visit

After attending summer school at the university, my son was able to come home for a few days to visit us and his friends. I continue to be impressed with the impact that college and living independently has had on my son. Some outcomes include:

  • My son is growing up and learning how to become a member of a larger community.
  • He is very grateful in how we raised him.
  • EJ is learning how to give back to others.
  • His living situation is very healthy and supportive.
  • EJ is living in a school sponsored co-op housing with older students. This provides him with an expanded support system of mentors.
  • Each co-op member must contribute to the upkeep of the house. My son is learning new house management skills.

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What EJ Has Learned From His First Year of College!

What EJ Has Learned From His First Year of College!

When EJ was in high school, I pushed him to pass his AP classes so he could receive credit for his lower division college courses while in high school.   By the end of his first year in college, he had just two of these courses left to complete. Typically, the advanced math and science classes are defined by the students as “weeder courses” because these courses weed out the students who question the incredible success that they achieved in high school and drop or change their college goals. The realization that a student’s hard work and success in high school can become challenging at an outstanding college is humbling.

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Yikes! Now We Must Plan for Summer College

Yikes! Now We Must Plan for Summer College

EJ has had an incredibly exciting and busy year as a college sophomore attending a university in the SF Bay Area. We have enjoyed our visits with him at school and during the winter break at home. EJ is now busy with his spring semester and taking a demanding course load.

He recently met with his advisor to plan his upper division courses for next year. EJ must complete a Chemistry Lab before he can achieve his Junior status. Additionally, the Chemistry Lab is a prerequisite for his next sequence of classes. [Read more…]

Helping High School Students Prepare for Their Futures!

Helping High School Students Prepare for Their Futures!

Yesterday, I met with our high school leadership team. We were discussing how to help our students prepare for a future career or goal. One colleague stated that we should teach our students autonomy. Another argued that we need to put family values first and help students grow with this focus. A third leader suggested that we needed to identify how those values might challenge a student’s future career and college success. The more we discussed this topic, the more I am convinced that we need to help students learn how to take care of themselves to ensure their future success. [Read more…]