Grades Grow Tutors

Many students are graduating high school and getting ready for college at this time of year, and next year’s seniors are likely whittling down their short lists of possible colleges and universities. This makes it a particularly opportune time to highlight just a few of the many wonderful institutions of higher learning in the United States.

Whether public or private, large or small, there are many great places for the leaders of tomorrow to develop the experience, critical thinking skills and training they will need to live wonderful, productive lives. Today, we will explore a few examples of great schools of all types.

Before we get to the colleges and universities we’d like to talk about, let’s cover the last several articles that you may have missed. Recently, we discussed why students shouldn’t take the summer off from learning, how to find great books for summer reading, and how to use the internet to help foster learning and growth. Also, we talked about how summer jobs can help students in and out of the classroom, how to incorporate different cultures into lessons and schoolwork, and a few suggestions of great books to reading to toddlers.

Now, let’s get on with our list of top 7 liberal arts colleges and universities that you may want to consider!

1. University of California-Berkeley (located in Berkeley, California)

This public university has a rich tradition for students to aspire to- after all, eight Nobel Prize winners are faculty members. Degrees from bachelor’s all the way up to doctoral level degrees are offered at the University of California-Berkeley, and the campus is located close to San Francisco, which provides easy access to many cultural opportunities for students. The university offers a lot of financial aid, helping to keep the indebtedness of graduating students fairly low, especially for such a high quality institution.

Wheeler Hall, University of California Berkeley

The University of California-Berkeley provides a great place for students to learn and have fun, as Cal sports teams are always among the best whether they are men’s or women’s sports. Between the wonderful academic programs and the great setting of the college itself, this university is always a top choice for graduates.

2. New College of Florida (located in Sarasota, Florida)

New College of Florida, or NCF, is consistently in the top few (or at the top of) public value colleges year after year. A demanding academic program and affordable tuition help to attract students from Florida and beyond, and the system of “academic contracts” that students enter into allow them to become more focused and accustomed to working close with faculty members.

Jane Bancroft Cook Library, New College.

An NCF education seems to encourage further learning for graduates, as well. NCF is always among the top colleges in terms of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. The campus is located along the Gulf of Mexico in the area of southwest Florida, and provides easy access to Sarasota and Tampa, where art and culture await for NCF students.

3. Loyola Marymount University (located in Los Angeles, California)

Loyola Marymount University, founded in 1911, is a great school for academics that isn’t quite as hard to get into as some other top universities, but still provides challenging coursework for students. Consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the west, Loyola Marymount University is also rated as one of the top 10 most beautiful campuses by the Princeton Review.

Ethnic diversity is also a source of pride for Loyola Marymount University, as the campus is known as a very culturally diverse one. Loyola Marymount is also a progressive school- for instance, the law school is the first in the state to require pro bono work.

4. Grinnell College (located in Grinnell, Iowa)

Grinnell College is located in the heart of Iowa, and offers small class sizes (most classes have less than 20 students) and a campus with a true “community” feel. Grinnell isn’t just a place to feel like home, but also a place to succeed academically, as it is ranked among the top private colleges in the entire nation. Of course, Grinnell is not just a place for great academics, but also a very physically fit college. One-third of Grinnell students compete in intercollegiate athletics.

Financially, Grinnell is a great school as well. Grinnell has the 7th largest endowment per student among all public and private higher learning institutions in the United States, and is devoted to making sure that all students get the financial aid they need to attend. Best of all, parents can send their kids to Grinnell without worrying about crime or big city distractions.

5. Rice University (located in Houston, Texas)

Rice University is the most prestigious college of the south, and is known as a school where students will learn to be independent, critical thinkers through rigorous academics and thought-provoking coursework. Rice offers a variety of great academic programs and is known as a school that churns out some of the country’s most promising young people.

Rice University Campus.

However, even though Rice is a private school, this type of value won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Actually, Rice has the lowest tuition of private schools that are highly selective, and guarantees to meet the entire amount of demonstrated need for any given student for four years. This kind of financial aid allows Rice’s students to enjoy the lowest debt burden among highly selective institutions.

6. Amherst College (located in Amherst, Massachusetts)

Amherst College is noteworthy for its interesting approach to education requirements, as students at Amherst are generally free of pre-conceived requirements and are more or less free to chart their own educational voyage. Students enjoy this philosophy nearly as much as they enjoy the generous financial aid packages that Amherst offers, making the college accessible to all different types of students. Speaking of “all different types of students”, Amherst is also known as a very diverse campus that prides itself on its multicultural appeal.

Amherst College Campus.

Variety isn’t just found in the composition of the student body, but also in the many organizations available to join, which number over 140 in all. Amherst has been around since 1821, and the faculty and students alike take pride in the college’s great traditions and history.

7. Cornell College (located in Mt. Vernon, Iowa)

Cornell College is located in the heartland of the country, and provides a surprisingly progressive outlook on education amongst a traditional midwestern backdrop. Cornell is notable not just for its relatively high admissions standards and great academics, but also because it is one of only a handful of colleges that has students take only one course at a time.

Cornell College Campus.

This scheduling, sometimes known as block scheduling, allows students to fully immerse themselves in any given subject for a complete month, before moving on to another subject the next month. This allows students and faculty alike to focus on mastering one subject at a time, and provides everyone involved with opportunities that other colleges can’t provide, such as being able to spend a class abroad or take class trips. The college, which is often confused with Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, is also notable for its beautiful campus and location in a charming Iowa town.

These are just a few of the many wonderful colleges and universities that today’s students have to choose from. It’s definitely true that if a student chooses one of these fine institutions, they simply can’t go wrong!

For many students, a summer job is a no brainer, since they have more available time in the school year and would like to make some extra cash. However, what many students don’t realize is that there are many other benefits to a summer job besides just the paycheck. Here are some ways that a summer job can actually help students perform better in the classroom.

Developing Responsibility
One of the best aspects of summer jobs for students is that they allow students to develop a high level of responsibility. A summer job encourages a different type of responsibility from what is typically required in school. After all, no one is forcing you to work, unlike school, which is mandatory for most young people. No, working a summer job is usually a choice made by the student based on the fact that they will benefit from their own hard work. Just making a decision like that shows maturity on the part of the student!

Of course, a summer job will teach a student as much, if not more, than school will about being on time, working hard to get tasks done, and working with their peers under the supervision of an authority figure. Once learned and practiced, these skills will carry through to the school year and help the student perform better than ever!

Learning on the Job
A great way to develop learning skills is to simply keep learning, and a summer job helps students do precisely that. Sure, most summer jobs aren’t overly complicated, but they do involve doing new things that the student usually hasn’t done before, and learning to do these things in a way that is pleasing to supervisors and others. Even the simplest job will require at least some degree of learning, which will likely be more learning than the student will have done at the beach!

Real World Experience
Often times, students complain about school, wondering, “What does all this have to do with the real world?” A summer job is a great way to answer that oft-asked question. After all, once school is done, students will have to migrate to the work force, where if they don’t complete their education, many of the same not-so-glamorous jobs will await for them. When I worked at my first fast food restaurant, I had fun working with friends and made some extra money, but I also immediately realized the value of education! After all, I didn’t want to be doing work like that for the rest of my life!

Through getting a taste of the work force, students will realize the value of an education in a totally different way. Once they see that their hard work in school will eventually have very tangible rewards, they may find themselves more motivated and reinvigorated going into the next school year.

No matter how you slice it, getting a summer job is a great idea for any student. Just make sure that there’s still time to meet with your tutor!

Learning starts well before students enter school, as any parent already knows. However, even though most parents take the time to provide homework help to the older children and help toddlers learn their letters, numbers and other things, it’s also important that they help the smallest children get comfortable with the idea reading a book. If you take the time to read to your child, there are many different books out there that can be enjoyable and fun for your little one. Here are a few examples.

“What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?” by Sandra Boynton
This book is a “board book” that is durable and suitable for all ages, including babies. It’s actually a great book for babies, because it can withstand being chewed on, tossed around, and other things. Plus, it has a very cute story about a sad little piggy that is easy for young kids to remember and participate in as they learn the story through multiple readings. The art and story are both great, so this is a good book to read to your baby to get them used to the idea of sitting with you and reading a book together.

“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw
This is a very popular book that tells a heartwarming story that may even choke you up a bit at the end! The illustrations are vibrant and will hold any child’s attention, and the story itself is one of a parent’s never-ending love for their child, so it’s easily relatable for any parent. This book has parts that will be easy to remember for most toddlers so that after a few readings, they can “read” along from memory, enhancing their experience.

“The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper, George Hauman and Doris Hauman
You’ve almost certainly heard of this classic story of determination to overcome obstacles. This great book has bold, colorful illustrations to go along with a story that will resonate with younger kids and older ones alike. The book isn’t one that is difficult to read for beginning readers, and it’s also an appropriate story for those that are still a little young to read, but who like to be read to. Every parent should have this book!

“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
This is yet another classic children’s book and is a personal favorite of mine as well. A winner of the Caldecott Medal, “Where the Wild Things Are” is a book that is adventurous and explores the power of imagination. This theme is great for all young readers, and the illustrations are nothing short of top notch, with a distinctive yet accessible style all their own.

Even if your youngster is too little to understand your words, or read on their own, it’s a great idea to read to them so they get accustomed to the idea of books. This will set them on a path that will spur them on through early reading all the way to English classes in high school and college. Show your kids early on that reading can be fun!

With schools having students from all different backgrounds and cultures, it’s important for teachers as well as other students to celebrate the diversity that’s found in the classroom these days. Sometimes, it can be difficult to know how to help students embrace the diversity of other children’s backgrounds, and it’s certainly hard to figure out how to fit such a lesson like that in between multiplication and gym class! These tips provide helpful and easy ways to include multicultural learning and appreciation in your classroom without it being overly forced or out of place.

Use Holidays as a Platform to Teach Multiculturalism
While you can take a break in your summer vacations, taking out some time to study good books would not be something much hard. Some schools are rather conservative about celebrating holidays that are based on specific religions, but if you’re not able to have a celebration for a holiday, perhaps a short time spent explaining the holiday, its significance, and what is done during it would be a good idea. If it’s allowed, a little celebration during a specific holiday is a great way to get the students’ attention, while providing them with a tangible crash course in a different religion or ethnic background. Simple foods, games and other traditions can be utilized on a holiday to help students embrace different cultures.

Show and Tell, Multicultural Style
Show and tell is a game that usually is reserved for younger students, and this version would also work well with them. Instead of simply having kids bring in objects from home, try to get them to bring items that are significant to their cultural background. This can be a great way for students to open up with each other about their backgrounds, as well as a way for them to appreciate each other’s heritage. Of course, you can also provide information to go along with what the students say, or ask questions that lead to more information or discussion from those sharing.

For older students, this game can work as well. In fact, older students may be more able to really identify with and speak about their backgrounds than their younger counterparts. Their parents are also more likely to trust them with important family items or antiques. Just make sure you don’t tell them it’s “show and tell”! Also, as the teacher, you can bring in items that you find that represent different cultures, and plan a short lesson around them.

Find the Culture in School Subjects
Finally, it’s important that teachers today look for opportunities to talk about important social and cultural issues. For certain teachers, like history and social studies teachers, this can be easy. For others, it can be more difficult, but is still possible. Math teachers can discuss the backgrounds of important mathematicians, music class is a great place to explore different cultural sounds, science can easily be a platform to talk about the scientific contributions of many cultures, and so on. This is something tutors can do, as well.

As you can see, if it’s truly a priority to you to talk about many different cultures in your classroom, it’s something that you can do. If you make an effort to include an appreciation of differing cultures as a lesson that is learned in your classroom, your students will be much better for it.

These days, there are ways to use computers- and more specifically, the internet- to help students of any age and ability level further their learning. When used correctly, the internet can be a powerful learning tool, indeed. What I’d like to do today is discuss a few key ways that students can use the internet to foster intellectual growth in and out of the classroom.

Help is Just a Click Away
One of the most marvelous things about the internet is that it makes it possible to communicate with anyone else who has internet access, all across the globe. In recent times, this possibility has been used to provide new educational tools that had never before been imagined. Specifically, the internet has really changed the world of tutoring. Now, with online tutoring, you’re not limited to your immediate neighborhood area or city when you’re selecting a tutoring service. Not only that, but online tutoring offers perks that traditional tutoring simply can’t match, such as detailed reports and records of tutoring sessions, and convenient, easy-to-arrange scheduling. Finding homework help has never been so easy!

Games: Not Just for Fun Anymore!
Although not every game site is going to be educational, with a little looking around you can easily find educational games that are fun and provide learning possibilities for literally every age group there is. Whether you want a game that helps students learn to type, to add or subtract, or anything in between, there is likely a game that suits your needs. Games like “Typer Shark” help students learn to familiarize themselves with the keyboard, all while zapping sharks to keep the game going and get a high score. Many other games help students learn basic skills in other subjects, all while allowing them to become more comfortable and familiar with using computers. As we all know, computer knowledge is a valuable skill in and of itself.

A Virtual Encyclopedia at Your Fingertips
The internet also functions as a virtual encyclopedia of sorts, ready to provide you information on any topic imaginable. Literally every topic or subject imaginable has some sort of information about it just waiting to be discovered on the internet. With a little diligence and searching around, it’s pretty easy to find information from multiple sources about any topic you could think of.

Of course, the internet is unique in that just about anybody can put a website up, so you can’t trust everything you read. It’s important that students consider their source when deciding whether or not to take information they find on the internet as facts automatically. Although the internet contains plenty of useful facts and information, it also contains quite a few opinions and general inaccuracies. Therefore, it’s important to have a critical mind when deciding what information is reliable and what information is not, especially if you’re researching for a paper.

All in all, the internet contains a vast number of resources of many kinds for students. If used correctly, it can be a very powerful tool that can provide students with information, homework help, even educational entertainment! Use it wisely, and you’ll see how helpful the internet can be!

Summer is one of the best times to get involved with reading. Think about it: you have the summer off from school, you have no homework or tests to study for, so you have all kinds of time to read! Even though the summer is usually seen as time to go to the pool, take a vacation and have fun with friends, I’m sure you can squeeze a little time in between the pool and the basketball court to read!

Of course, after you decide that you want to do some reading for fun this summer, the next step is to figure out just what you will read. With millions of books to choose from, where do you even start? Wonder no further, brave reader! Here are some ways you can find books that will entertain you all summer long!

Start Your Search at the Library
This may sound obvious, but if you’re looking for great books, first you’ll want to head to the library. The question is, what do you do when you get there? You don’t want to waste hours looking through the shelves and simply picking out the books with the most interesting jackets, do you? I didn’t think so!

The best way to find great books at the library is to simply talk to the librarian. Librarians are experts on great books for every age group and interest, so if you need a good starting point for your summer reading, you should really take advantage of their expertise. After all, they’re there to help!

Scour the Internet for a Good Read
Another way to find some good reading material without even leaving your home is to look around on the world wide web. Simply do a search for what you want (for example: “sports books for middle school”) and see what comes up! There are also many websites that review books of all types, for all ages and interests. Those can be a good starting point if you have no idea what you’re interested in reading.

If You Like the Author, Read On!
If you are able to find a book you really enjoy, look in the book and see if the author has written other books as well. Odds are that they have, and before you know it you’ll have several more books to give a try. The best part is, if you liked the author’s previous work, you’re more than likely to find more books that they’ve written that you will enjoy, as well. There’s nothing better than finding a great book, only to realize that the author has written many other books that you can now discover!

No matter what type of literature you enjoy, you can’t go wrong with getting some reading done in the summer. You’ll learn new things, keep your mind active and have fun at the same time! When you’ve tired of splashing around the pool, grab a good book and relax with a glass of refreshing lemonade. Now that’s what summer’s all about!

For most students, the onset of summer means it’s time to relax and get far, far away from school books. Although it’s only fitting that hard working students get to have some fun in the sun during the summer months, it’s also important to remember that the summer is when many students can get ahead- or fall behind. For that reason, it’s important that students don’t completely forget about school during the summer. By working throughout the summer to stay sharp, students can enter the school year at full throttle- ready to learn! Here are some ways that students can keep their skills sharp during the long break.

Read, Read, and Read Some More
One of the best (and simplest) ways to keep your mind busy and active is to read some books during the summer. This is one of the easiest ways to do so because you can pretty much read whatever you’d like. Whether you’re reading a biography of someone that interests you or a novel by your favorite author, reading will keep your brain busy and ready for school again in the fall! Also, since you won’t have homework or other assignments during the summer, you can focus on reading the books that you love to read! If you want to really maximize your summer reading, work with your teacher or tutor to develop a reading list for you. They’ll be delighted to do so, and you’ll really accomplish something in the summer that way!

Work on What Gives You Trouble
Summer is a great time to catch up on subjects that you may otherwise fall behind in. Therefore, if you need help with writing, work with an English tutor. If you have a hard time wrapping your head around math, get some help from a math tutor. It may seem like the last thing you’d want to do in the summer, but remember that with a few hours here and there of work in the summer, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the school year! Again, you don’t have to work on these subjects eight hours a day; with just an hour or two a week you’ll improve by leaps and bounds! Even a little bit of work here and there can make a huge difference. Check out academic summer programs like the ones we offer here at Grades Grow Tutors.

At the same time, if you don’t work on subjects that you’re having trouble with, you’re likely to fall even further behind if you don’t try to learn more in the summer! It’s only natural to forget a few things over summer break, so if you were already having problems with your classes before, it’s likely to be more difficult still in the fall. Don’t let yourself get put in that frustrating position! Make sure that you mix in some schoolwork with all the fun and play you’ll enjoy this summer. When the new school year starts and you feel refreshed, yet sharp, and you’re reading to take on even the toughest classes, you’ll be glad that you did!

Before we get into this week’s top ten, let’s recap our recent blog entries, in case you may have missed a recent one! We recently discussed how to encourage and motivate young readers, I revealed the first of a series of tales from my educational experience, and we talked about how to go about coping with large class sizes and overwhelmed teachers. We also talked about how to get accepted into the college of your dreams, why we as a society need arts in our schools, and how students can be more productive during study hall!

Now, let’s get to today’s discussion, the top ten ways that you, as a student, can show your teacher that their hard work is appreciated. Since the end of the year is approaching (or may have already come and gone, depending on your school schedule), it’s as good a time as any to think about giving back to those who help you learn. This list could include your tutor or tutoring service, school faculty members, volunteers, coaches, and of course, teachers. Let’s talk a bit about how we can show that we appreciate teachers for all that they do.

10. Show Them That You Want to Learn!
It’s important to show interest in the subject, if you want your teacher to know they aren’t wasting their effort. There’s nothing worse for a teacher than a class full of bored students who don’t seem to care about what the teacher is doing. If you want your teacher to know that you appreciate their effort, show them by giving it your all! Not only will this make your teacher very happy, but it will send them the message that what they are doing is working. Students aren’t the only ones who can benefit from positive reinforcement- teachers can, too!

9. Bring an Apple
This may be an old and antiquated tradition, but you’d be surprised how such a sweet and simple gesture can make a teacher’s day. Apples are inexpensive, symbolic, and a timeless gift for that favorite teacher. If you have a teacher who has made a great impact on you, take a little time to show your teacher that you appreciate them!

8. Work Hard to Learn the Material
Teachers work very hard to make sure that they prepare students for the challenges that they will surely meet in the future. Therefore, why not put forth the same amount of effort to learn the material that the teacher is introducing to you? Get homework help if you need it, study with your peers, and meet with a tutor to make sure you master each subject. The teacher will surely notice your effort, and will recognize that they aren’t wasting their time and effort at all! It’s important for teachers to know that their students are involved in their own education, and by putting forth your maximum effort, you’ll be sending that message loud and clear!

7. Pay Attention!
Your teacher won’t feel very appreciated if they attempt to teach the class, only to be drowned out by chatter, giggling, and the sound of paper airplanes gliding through the air. Nothing says, “we just don’t care” like students sleeping or staring off into space during a teacher’s class. Therefore, one of the most simple ways you can show the teacher your appreciation is to just pay attention when they are instructing you. By making eye contact, asking questions when appropriate, and showing interest in the material that is being taught, you help your teacher to recognize how important they are to your education.

6. Help Them Out
There may come times when you can go the extra mile by actually helping the teacher out in one way or another. This could mean something as simple as erasing the chalkboard, or even something like helping the teacher take attendance. Teachers have many responsibilities, and with so much they have to do, it’s easy for them to get overwhelmed. Anything that you can do to help the teacher do their job is certainly a wonderful gesture, and will make the teacher feel very appreciated.

5. Stop By and Say Hello!
Teachers love to see how their favorite students progress as they move their lives and the world of education. If you get nostalgic for the teacher who helped you learn to read, do multiplication, or that wrote you a great letter of recommendation, stop by and see them one day! They will be overjoyed to see you, and it will help you show them that they made a lasting impression on you through their efforts in the classroom. Plus, your teachers want to know how you’re doing once you move on to the next level. Whether you know it or not, your teachers are quietly rooting for you during and even after your time in their classroom. Think about it- certainly there’s a favorite teacher from your past that would love to know how you’re doing!

4. Don’t Goof Off In Class
One easy way to show your teacher your appreciation is to not add to the already large list of challenges that they face. It’s hard for a teacher to feel appreciated when students are joking around, interrupting the class or otherwise creating chaos in the classroom. Do your part by being a good student and behaving during class time. There are many times to show your prowess with a kazoo, or to display your world-class imitation of Jack Nicholson, class time isn’t one of them.

3. Remember What You’ve Learned!
Teachers put in a lot of effort not just so you will remember what you learned long enough for the test, but to make a permanent difference in your life. One way you can show a teacher that they are accomplishing this goal is by working to retain the knowledge that you acquire in the classroom. Not only does doing so help you, as you are often required to build on what you’ve previously learned, but it will show the teacher that their work made a lasting impression on you, and enriched your life.

2. Say Thanks
Sometimes, the answer is so simple that it’s almost not obvious at all! If you really want to make your favorite teacher’s day special, simply tell them “thanks”. Tell them that you appreciate their guidance, and that they’ve helped you tremendously. You don’t have to do anything special or elaborate, a simple “thank you” will do. You’ll make their day, I promise!

1. Succeed!
The best way you can make your teachers happy is to simply succeed. Your teachers want you to succeed more than anything else. They became teachers so that they could help students like you reach their potential. By fulfilling your potential and accomplishing your goals, you’re giving your teacher the best feeling of them all.

Teachers, along with tutors, counselors, administrators and others involved in your education, work hard to make sure that you have the chance to succeed. They love their jobs because they love to see you meet your potential. Why not take an opportunity to show them that their efforts are appreciated? You’ll be glad that you did, and so will they!

Ask students what they think of study hall, and you’re likely to get all kinds of reactions, varying from dislike to indifference to gratitude. Depending on who you are, study hall can be a torturous period of boredom, a last-minute chance to complete work, or a great place to catch some extra sleep. If you’re trying to improve your scholastic performance (and why wouldn’t you be?), here are some ways that you can make the most out of your forced study time!

This May Sound Crazy, But Why Not Study?
My study hall days ended not too long ago, and I’m sure that not much has changed since then. If not, then most students who find themselves stuck in study hall are doing anything but studying. That could mean sleeping, passing notes, goofing off, or any other manner of things. However, let’s try to look at this period of mandatory quiet in a different way. Let’s look at study hall as a gift. Study hall is a gift because hey, you can get your work done without missing out on doing anything fun!

When you get home, you’re going to want to hang out with friends, watch television, play sports, or do anything other than work on more homework. If you get your work done during study hall, you’ll be free to do those things when you get home! That’s an incentive if there ever was one. Again, you’re stuck in study hall anyway, why not make it productive?

Get the Help You Need
Often times you’ll be able to meet with study groups, or even get a pass from a teacher to come to their classroom for extra help during study hall. If the teacher of one of your difficult classes has an off period, you may be able to get some homework help during study hall. If not, you can probably find a way to study quietly with friends, or someone in your class who has mastered the material you’re working on. Again, whatever you get done during study hall doesn’t have to be done after school, so get started! You can also work on homework that you can get done on your own, so that after school you can focus on working with your online tutor!

Use the School’s Resources
Many schools and study hall monitors allow you to go to the library, computer lab, or other places instead of sitting in the designated room for the whole study hall. If so, take advantage of it! This is a good time to get some research done at the library, type out a paper or edit a rough draft for English class, or work with a tutor, if possible! If you have the option to go elsewhere in the school and complete work that needs to be done, why not do so?

For so many students roaming the halls of schools worldwide, the words “study hall” do not evoke good feelings or a positive reaction. However, if you have to be at school anyway, try to make the best of it and use this time to be productive, so that you will have less to do later! Procrastination is the enemy of any good student, and study hall is the opposite: a great friend!

In the last several years, budget constraints on schools at just about every level of education have caused school districts to re-evaluate their spending. Unfortunately, when the decision is made that costs have to be minimized, it seems that many schools are deciding that the arts are among the first things that need to go. If you are, have been, or know a student who is involved in the arts, you likely already know the benefits that involvement in the arts can provide. What I would like to do today is explain why having music, art, and other artistic programs is vital to our schools, communities, and students.

Creativity Can Be Cultivated
Arts related programs such as band, choir, art classes of all kinds, and drama help foster the creativity of students. This is vital, since many traditional programs, such as math, history and geography do not give children the outlet to express themselves or pursue ideas that the arts do. No one would ever argue that those subjects aren’t important, but it’s equally important to help children learn to think creatively. When students graduate high school and move on to their careers, they will be valued much more by their employers when they are able to “think outside the box” or think about things in their own unique way. It’s important to remember that if students don’t learn to utilize their creativity, they will never reach their potential in that area.

Good Habits are Reinforced
Being involved in the arts helps students to learn habits and lessons that will carry them through all aspects of life. Many tutors have participated in the arts at some level, and they themselves will tell you that the discipline, hard work and dedication that being involved with the arts teaches you will help you in every other area of your education as well. Take playing in the school band for example! Students who play instruments are learning to have the drive to stick with doing something that’s challenging, it will help them learn to pay attention to detail, and it will give them the confidence to know that they can master difficult new skills. Statistics show that students who are involved in the arts get better grades, as well. Ask your online tutor if they were involved in the arts somehow! Chances are that they probably were.

Students Need Outlets for Expression
As I mentioned earlier, some of the most essential school subjects don’t necessarily specialize in allowing students to express themselves. When students can be active in school plays, or art classes, for example, they are able to find the outlet they need to express themselves in a new way. When students are able to immerse themselves in artistic endeavors, they are able to focus better when they are in classes that require them to absorb information without being able to participate actively.

Please consider these examples of why the arts are so important to our schools, and if your area school is considering cutting music or art programs, let them know that you don’t agree! Our society needs well-rounded, versatile citizens, and for our schools to produce students who will someday fit that description, we need the arts to help students grow.