Writing is an important academic skill for students to develop even if they aren’t destined to be English majors. Throughout their coursework, they will encounter term papers, paragraph answers, timed responses, and all kinds of opportunities to express their ideas as well as their mastery of the subject. Being able to do so skillfully will not only keep their grades up, but also deepen their understanding of the topic.

Writing is also a very practical, applicable skill. High schoolers have college application essays, the reading section of standardized tests, and other high…

It is easy for students to overcommit early in their high school career. Understandably, your child may have enthusiastically signed up for a number of activities at the clubs fare or accumulated them over the course of their freshman year. In the beginning, it’s relatively easy to continue showing up for these activities without questioning their purpose. However as the semesters ware on, it’s important to stop and evaluate. Encourage your student to take time and determine which of their groups are of value and which they want to focus on as high school progresses. 

This may…

Splash is back, and the number of participating Universities have increased to over 30 from 20 when we first introduced this phenomenal program to the Versed Community a year ago.  Splash, run by Learning Unlimited, is “a weekend extravaganza of classes at a local college or university, where pre-college students are invited to learn about everything and anything from passionate university students.” For a nominal fee of $0-50, middle and high school students can sign up for 1 or 2 full days of weekend classes on college campuses. Splash currently runs at MIT, Stanford University,…

Enrichment courses are an excellent way to assure that your child has the math skills necessary to continue to succeed in school. However with a variety of tutorial programs and online classes available, it can be hard to choose the right option for your student. 

Before enrolling anywhere, it is important for you and your child to understand what their strengths and weaknesses are. This will give you a better idea of the type of enrichment they may benefit from. Keep in mind that not every student masters concepts at the same rate. If your child needs to refresh, review, or…

Tutors are an excellent way to help your child improve their grades, prepare for an exam, learn organizational skills, or hone study skills. They are also a great way to stem academic problems early on. One mistake many students make is waiting to seek help until late in the semester or year when there isn't enough time to make impactful changes. 

The first step to finding a great tutor is choosing what kind to enlist. In addition to your child’s individual preferences, there is skill level, location, and price to consider: 

Skill Level

The first factor…

Time management is one of the most important skills to develop in high school. With a rigorous academic course load, countless extracurriculars, and the ever encroaching college admissions process, it is one of the busiest and most stressful periods for young students. With that being said, it’s important to equip your child with the know-how and knowledge to stay successful and happy during this time. 

Here are some tips to help your child learn to manage their time. Whether your child is already a strong student or proven procrastinator, they can benefit from streamlining their…

By Zoe Marquedant

Gifted and Talented programs are opportunities for your child to explore their potential beyond the classroom. Participation may have been suggested by a perceptive teacher, a trusted academic advisor, or perhaps by yourself after careful research. 

What are gifted/talented programs and how can your child benefit from participating in one? 

These programs are often a mix of testing opportunities, online courses, weekend enrichment programs, academic-year programs, service-based trips, summer residential programs, and other events geared towards…

By: Virginia Young

As I flew home from yet another fencing competition, I mused over a conversation I had with a group of parents as we sat around waiting for pools to begin. We were reminiscing about how simple life used to be when our children were younger. Now that the kids are older, we’re all worrying about high school curriculums and college applications, not to mention driver’s licenses and first dates.

When we spoke about middle school, we agreed that that was the time things started to change. Changes in our kids’ hormones, attitudes, and body odor called for a…

Tutoring is a hot topic with parents. Many parents wonder what signs they should be looking for that indicate it’s time to engage a tutor. To make things even more confusing, tutoring services aren’t just for kids who are having trouble understanding a subject in school. There’s a wide variety of tutors whose work goes beyond remediation: Pre-K and elementary tutors, subject matter tutors, homework helpers, test-prep tutors, and enrichment tutors.

All of these choices can make you question whether your child needs a tutor lest he fall behind. Prior to making this decision,…

Splash programs are a fantastic, inexpensive way to get your child fired up about learning and discovering new passions. The program was started in 2007 by Learning Unlimited, a group that began at MIT, whose mission is two-fold: 1) to create and make accessible educational opportunities for middle school/high school aged children, and 2) to provide teaching and leadership opportunities to college students. 

What is it?

Each Splash program is run by college students who design the curriculum and teach subjects that they are passionate about. The result is a class catalog…