Summer is already here, and it is a great time for middle schoolers to take a break, recharge, and pursue fun adventures with family and friends. In between fun activities, it is also a great time to explore new areas of interest and also get ahead academically. Academically driven students can use this time to prepare for high school, giving direction to their skills and interests. With the explosion of virtual programs during the pandemic, students have more options than ever before in every subject, interest, or hobby one can possibly think of. At the same time, with pandemic…

Technology is an integral part of our everyday life —we use it for work, entertainment, communication, information, and so much more. The use of technology has only increased with the pandemic, and this trend will not likely reverse. Hence it is essential that students begin practicing healthy technology usage starting at a young age.

Here is a framework for how you can help your child navigate technology usage at any age by separating out three distinct categories of technology use: time online for entertainment and personal use, time online for academic purposes, and…

Don't miss this weekend extravaganza of classes for middle school students at MIT that is almost free ($40 for the entire weekend).

Spark is a one-weekend program designed to give students the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects. MIT students and community members from the student-run Educational Studies Program teach a variety of classes, from urban orienteering to mathematics to Chinese brush painting and everything in between!

Spark 2022 is a virtual for 7th-8th graders on the weekend of March 12-13. 

Register for classes by March 1st at <https://…

The biggest event of the year for middle school STEM students is happening this coming week.

Society for Science and Broadcom Foundation invite you to see research conducted by the nation’s top middle school scientists!

Join the virtual public exhibition of the Broadcom MASTERS 2021 finalists’ original research projects! The Broadcom MASTERS is the nation’s premier STEM competition for middle school students.

Click HERE to download the 2021 Finalist Book.

Head HERE for the Broadcom MASTERS Science and…

The school that a child attends has a significant impact on the child’s academic trajectory and achievement, their social and emotional development, as well as the kinds of opportunities and resources available to them. Parents often wonder if enrolling their child in a private school makes a dramatic difference in their children’s education. Is one preferable over the other? Unfortunately, there is no standard response to this question. There are many excellent private schools as well as many weak ones, just as there are many wonderful public schools as terrible ones. Although it is not…

Middle school is a time when students’ interests and abilities slowly start to pave the way for what classes they take in high school, what activities they engage in, and ultimately what future studies and career paths lie ahead for them. This is a great time for exploration and discovery, where students can dabble in many different things without any expectation. While grades do become more important at this stage compared to elementary school, they ultimately do not matter too much. College applications will only ask for high school grades, not those from middle school. Hence, while…

As students enter the middle school years, there is an increased emphasis on students' academic performance - how they do now will pave the way for their high school years. It is important that they need to begin cultivating habits and skills to engage with their academics effectively.  Hence, it is paramount that they lay a strong foundation on which to build their academic careers. Middle schoolers should make school a priority and build good academic skills and healthy work habits. Below, we have curated some of the essential skills that are helpful for middle schoolers to cultivate…

“Tracking" is a process in middle school wherein students are set on trajectories based on their grades and perceived abilities. Traditionally, students are broken into two or three different tracks. The tracking system is meant to provide students with a curriculum that matches their needs as a student. 

However, it can also cause a student to be slowed down due to a misconception in middle school. For example, a student may perform poorly in a math examination because they're used to the slower pace of learning in elementary school, not because they fundamentally struggle or don…

By: Jahnavi Pradeep

Summer is a time for children to continue learning and growing beyond just the classroom. Academically driven middle schoolers can use this time to gain essential study skills, explore interests, gain independence, and build on their strengths to establish a strong foundation for high school. This past year, too many children were stuck in front of their screens for most of their academic activities, and we know how taxing that can be. Here, we offer you a curated list of virtual and in-person activities that your middle school student can partake in to make…

The last day to sign up for MIT Spark is TOMORROW March 10th! We introduced Splash, classes at MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and other top colleges for Middle and High Schools Students to the Versed Community last September. Spark is the MIT program that started it all. This year, over 3 Saturdays from March 13 to March 27, 7th and 8th graders are invited to learn from MIT students on anything and everything!

From painting to cryptology to immunology, Spark classes number over 200 every year and span a wide variety of areas. Want to take a class on rockets? Build electrical…