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Tips For Easing Test Anxiety
Even the smartest of students can sometimes perform poorly on tests when they become anxious. Keep reading to learn how to ease test anxiety in public school students.

If your student attends public school, you are undoubtedly familiar with standardized testing. Standardized testing is designed to determine the effectiveness of a school’s curriculum and teaching staff as well as the degree to which students understand core concepts.

Many schools engage in standardized testing once a year or more in grades 3 through 8, focusing particularly on subjects like math, science, and language arts. Though these tests are partially designed to measure the effectiveness of a school program, they are also used to determine funding for public schools – this puts a lot of pressure on schools to ensure that their students perform well.

With so much riding on these tests, it is no wonder that many students develop test anxiety. Anxiety over testing can turn even the smartest, most intelligent student into an F student. But what is text anxiety and how do you deal with it? Keep reading to find out.

What is Test Anxiety?

According to the American Test Anxiety Association, test anxiety is a psychological condition in which students experience extreme distress before, during, and/or after a test or exam. This level of stress makes it difficult for the student to do their best work – it even causes some students to freeze up entirely and to forget everything they’ve learned. As many as 20% of school children have severe test anxiety and another 18% have a more moderate form of the condition. Understanding what test anxiety is and how

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10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College

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10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College
Are you preparing to make the transition from high school to college? Many things are going to change for you in the coming years, so prepare for them academically by learning strong study skills now that you can apply during your college years.

Preparing for college can be nerve-wracking for a high school student, even if you’ve already been accepted by a school. During that final year of high school, it may be difficult to concentrate on academics, but you want to show your college that you aren’t slacking off just because you’ve already been accepted. It is always important to do your best.

This video offers a step-by-step plan to help you organize your week.

As you prepare for college, not only should you be keeping up with your schoolwork, but you should take some time to evaluate your study habits to see if you are properly prepared for college. In this article, you’ll receive the top ten study tips to get you ready for the transition into college.

How Much Studying Do College Students Do?

According to a national study, the average full-time college student spends about 15 hours per week studying. Of course, the number of hours a student spends studying doesn’t necessarily correlate with their level of academic success. For example, students who studied an average of 20 hours per week or more were not always fully prepared for class, according to the results of a campus-wide student engagement survey. The amount of time students spend studying may also depend on their major and their class load. For example, senior engineering students reported 19 hours of study per week while students in the

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Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right

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Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right
Though many students move straight into college after high school, there is some benefit to taking a "gap year". Keep reading to learn what a gap year is and how it might benefit you.

Every year, millions of high school students graduate and move on to attend college or university. So many students follow this path that it has almost become an expectation for high schoolers to move immediately on to college after graduation. Of those millions upon millions of high school graduates, however, some don’t follow tradition – some take a year off between high school and college. This is called a gap year.

What exactly is a gap year, and what are the potential benefits? In this article, you’ll receive an overview of what a gap year is and the associated pros and cons. You’ll also receive tips for making the most of your gap year, should you choose to take one.

This TED Talk explains the benefit of taking a gap year.

What is a Gap Year?

Though many high school graduates move immediately to college in the fall after graduation, many students do not. The term “gap year” refers to the year off some students take between graduating high school and college. There are many reasons why a student might take a gap year. For many, a gap year is a time to work and save money to pay for tuition, lodging, and supplies while attending college. For others, it is something unexpected – an unplanned setback caused by an injury or significant life event.

Gap years first became standard practice in the United

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A Quick Guide to U.S. Public and Private School Options

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A Quick Guide to U.S. Public and Private School Options
When it comes to public school, you may think that one school is like any other but you would be wrong. There are more than a dozen different types of public school - keep reading to learn more.

School is school – or so many parents think. What you may not realize, however, is that there are many different types of schools, even within the category of public schools. The school you send your child to will largely depend on where you live and what options are available, but if you have multiple options to choose from, it is essential to learn what you can about each one before making your choice. The right school for one child may not be suitable for another, so consider your options carefully.

Not only is a public school very different from a private school but there are over a dozen different types of schools (both public and private) scattered across the country. In this article, you’ll receive a brief overview of each of these school options, so if the choice becomes yours, you’ll be fully equipped to make an informed decision. Keep reading to learn the basics about different schooling options in the United States.

How is Public School Different from Private School?

The main difference between private and public schools is the source of funding. Public schools are funded by local, state, or federal government, while private schools are generally funded through student tuition. Because public schools receive federal funds, they must also follow federal guidelines, which sometimes limit what public schools can teach. Private schools are not subject to the same standards, so they have more freedom in developing their curriculum. Licensing requirements are pretty strict for

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How to Help a Child with Depression Excel in Public School

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How to Help a Child with Depression Excel in Public School
Mental illness does not descriminate - it can affect children as well as adults. Keep reading to learn more about mental illness in children and how to support your own child.

Has your child started to withdraw from friends and family? Does he spend a lot of time on his own, seemingly uninterested in activities he once enjoyed? Have you noticed changes in his behavior, sleep, or eating habits? If you answered “Yes” to any of these, your child could be depressed. Many people think of depression and other mental health issues as adult problems, but the truth is that they can affect young adults and children as well.

Mental health problems are nothing to scoff at and they certainly shouldn’t be ignored. Childhood mental illness can affect the rest of your child’s life, depending on whether he gets treatment at a young age or not. Every child experiences mental illness differently so it is your job as a parent to know your child well enough to identify the signs and to take the initiative in seeking treatment. Keep reading to learn more about mental illness in children and to receive tips for supporting your child.

Mental Health Issues in Public Schools

According to the CDC, as many as one in five kids in the United States will exhibit signs of mental illness in any given year. This means that in a typical classroom of 25 students, as many as five of them will be struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other forms of mental illness. Unfortunately, about 80% of children who suffer from mental illness don’t get the treatment or support that they need which ultimately leads

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