Five-day adventure in New Orleans with my spouse and 10-year-old. We delved into the heart of this vibrant city, exploring its rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. I share the highlights and hidden gems of our family vacation in the Big Easy.

Discover the secrets to enhancing your working memory with our comprehensive guide. From practical tips like chunking information and using mnemonic devices to engaging in brain training activities, mindfulness, and physical exercise, we delve into effective strategies to boost your cognitive function. Whether you're a student aiming to improve study skills, a professional looking to sharpen focus, or anyone interested in cognitive health, this blog post offers valuable insights into developing a stronger working memory. Learn how to manage multiple tasks efficiently and improve your academic and personal performance with our expert advice.

Emotional regulation includes self-control, resisting harmful impulses, and prioritizing tasks. It’s the ability to deal with difficult situations and modulate their emotional experiences.

An update on the multidisciplinary project at HCC.

As long as the instructor provides clear goals, instructions, and structure, group work in online classes centers the learner(s) because they collaborate with each other, take responsibility for their part, and use the highest order of Bloom’s Taxonomy (creation) to make and present a meaningful project together.

Executive function refers to a set of cognitive skills that play a crucial role in managing and regulating various aspects of our lives. Often referred to as the brain's "CEO," executive functions encompass a range of abilities that enable us to plan, organize, initiate tasks, focus attention, shift between tasks, regulate emotions, and exhibit self-control. These functions provide the foundation for goal-setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and effectively navigating daily challenges. From accomplishing everyday tasks to achieving long-term objectives, understanding and honing executive function skills is essential for successful functioning in both personal and academic spheres.

We visited 12 national parks over the course of the year, thanks to getting in free with the awesome fourth-grade pass and the Every Kid Outdoors program.

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is not actually a canyon - it’s bowls. It is most renowned for its geological formations known as hoodoos, which are tall, thin spires of rock. My friend described it as both futuristic and ancient! This is one of my favorite parks, for sure.

In addition to the awesome junior ranger program, we did the #IHikedTheHoodoos challenge. My kiddo found the plaques to complete the pencil rubbings as we made our way through the trails. We visited in July as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

Located in Southwest Utah, Zion National Park welcomes 4 million visitors each year. We had a series of issues and frustrations during our day in Zion (crowds, heat, closed trailheads), but we still enjoyed the scenery. We visited as part of our fourth grade pass tour.

Not a reef nor a capitol, but one of Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks. We drove from southeast Utah through pretty barren lands and arrived to find both canyons and orchards. Yes, orchards! We visited in July as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

If you want rugged terrain and rocky adventuring, Canyonlands is for you. I knew very little about this park before our visit!

There’s no water in the park (except at the visitor center) and very few facilities, so bring salty snacks and more water than you think you need. A lot of the park is void of roads suitable for normal cars. There’s a lot of difficult and long trails as well as backcountry camping. BUT, there are plenty of shorter trails and viewpoints to make this well worth a visit. We visited in June as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

There are over 2,000 arches in the namesake park. We did Balanced Rock and Double Arch day one. Got way too hot, so we went back to Delicate arch a different day.

We visited in June as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

This Colorado park is one of the only National Parks dedicated to the work of humans. It’s home to the famous cliff dwellings of ancestral Puebloans. We visited in June as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

What I finally realized, with the help of some friends, was that I put off my assignments because I was afraid of getting them wrong. Afraid of not being perfect. If I waited until the last minute, I had an excuse for why it wasn’t good. I created unhealthy patterns to support my unhealthy thoughts.

So, if you’re wondering why you or the student in your life struggles to manage their time, think about the emotional root.

Lauran Kerr-Heraly writes on Grown and Flown that community college has rigorous courses, takes care of their students, and provides unique connections.

While I enjoyed helping students with test-taking strategies, I became frustrated that many of them were missing the essential knowledge and skills to be successful at standardized tests.

Students need critical thinking and emotional intelligence to do well on standardized tests.

I learned a lot about college preparation and admissions for different countries. A university in England operates differently than a university in Japan. American colleges have different prerequisites than colleges in Brazil. But whatever higher education track a student pursues, the required skills are the same. It’s what I call “The Four S’s of College Prep.”

How homeschooling prepared me for college and why it makes me a great professor. Learn how my story can help you get your kids ready for higher education!

“Welcome to the detective’s study. He’s been called away and has asked you to decipher the puzzles he left behind.” With a customizable escape room, Lauran Kerr-Heraly writes in #AHAPerspectives, assessment becomes collaborative and fun.

College readiness is not about cramming for standardized tests. It’s not about writing the perfect personal statement. It’s not even about choosing the right school.

In short, it’s not just about getting into college.

It’s about being ready for college. That’s what makes students persevere and succeed.