Blog

In my years working with children, teens, and young adults, I have noticed a pattern. The students who struggle most are rarely the ones who aren’t trying. They are the ones who never stop trying. They study late, skip meals, drop friendships, give up sleep, and then wonder why the material won’t stick and why they feel flat, anxious, or irritable.

As a society, we've pretty much figured out how to teach academic skills pretty well. Even when children struggle to learn we have specialized curriculum and teachers. What we don't focus enough on is teaching effort. We also struggle to define and measure it. The most useful way to assess effort in children and teens is NOT to ask, “Did you try your best?” Effort is much more measurable when it is defined as observable behaviors that occur before, during, and after a tas

Wondering if your child is ready for honors or advanced classes? A school psychologist explains the skills, research, and signs of academic readiness.