DDC_Back to School_071826

DDC

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • July 2026

BACK TO SCHOOL

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How students can improve

Reading comprehension (Metro) Students will encounter a wide range of obstacles over the course of their academic careers.

As students progress through academia, many learn to overcome new challenges by looking back on past experiences when they faced obstacles and ultimately prevailed.

Younger students do not necessarily have that history of overcoming academic challenges to help them when faced with fresh obstacles. When reading for school, young students may not have identified an approach that can help them more easily comprehend texts.

When such situations arise, parents and educators can encourage students to employ various strategies designed to strengthen reading comprehension.

u Encourage young students to monitor their comprehension.

The national public media literacy initiative Reading Rockets notes that comprehension monitoring teaches students to recognize what they understand when reading a text and what they do not understand. Monitoring comprehension encourages students to be active readers who check what they do and do not understand while they’re reading. Young students can be taught to ask themselves, “Do I understand this?” when reading a text. Students also can summarize each paragraph as they finish it to further monitor their comprehension.

u Employ metacognitive strategies. Reading Rockets defines metacognition as “thinking about thinking.” Prior to reading, students can be encouraged to identify why they’re reading. A brief preview of the text, such as the synopsis on the back of a book or the inside jacket of the cover, can help students clarify what the book is about. As children begin reading, they can monitor their own understanding of the text relative to the preview they read.

Thinking ahead about a text and how they can process it can help students understand it better than they might if they just start reading without giving the text and what to look for any prior thought.

u Teach students to ask themselves questions while they’re reading. Reading Rockets notes questions encourage students to combine information from different segments of the text.

While reading, students can ask how a newly introduced character might relate to text or a storyline introduced earlier in the story. Or students can ask questions about characters previously introduced who they do not recall. Going back and searching through previous chapters or text to answer questions can make it easier to comprehend the text.

u Summarize the text upon completion. Reading Rockets notes that summarizing requires students to determine the important aspects of a text and to explain that importance in their own words. Summarizing also helps students identify the main ideas, connect themes throughout the text and eliminate unnecessary information. All of that helps students remember what they read, which is the foundation of strong reading comprehension.

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Sharpen math skills (Metro) No two students are the same. What makes for a challenging course for one student may be a breeze for another, and vice versa. Successful students learns to navigate the obstacles of their most challenging subjects, but no one makes that journey alone. Educators, tutors, parents, and even fellow students can make up a support network that plays a pivotal role in helping students understand challenging subjects.

As effective as a strong support network is, students also should recognize that they are their own advocates as well. Such recognition can ensure students get the help they need with challenging subjects, including math.

Math has garnered increased attention in academic settings throughout the twenty-first century, when grade schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges have touted the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). A greater emphasis on mathematics is understandable, but students struggling in math may feel a little lost. While math can easily frustrate, these approaches can help students sharpen their skills in this important subject. n Practice. Students might not feel as though practicing math is the most fun way to fill their free time, but doing some extra work can help to build confidence that can be especially important when taking a math test. Studentathletes spend more of their team-affiliated time practicing than playing, and the same goes for students who participate in additional extracurricular activities like theater or band.

The same practice-centric approach that helps students bolster their extracurricular activity performance can work with strengthening math skills. Students and their parents can ask teachers for extra practice tests so they can better understand concepts and improve their problem-solving skills.

The increased em phasis on math in school s has made now a grea t time for students to embr ace ways to sharpen their skills in this important and useful subject.

n Ask questions. A survey of more than 400 high school math teachers conducted by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics found that two-thirds of the educators surveyed feel asking for clarification when a lesson is not being understood is the best thing students can do to improve their performance in math.

Questions are a vital component of academia and math is a complex subject, so students should not hesitate or feel embarrassed if they do not understand a concept or lesson. n Try not to make it all about memorization.

Seventy-five percent of educators surveyed emphasized the benefits of understanding mathematical concepts and when to apply them as opposed to simply memorizing formulas.

When students understand the concepts, they’re in better position to know when to use formulas.

Without an understanding of the concepts, students may not use the right formula and may struggle to retain information.

n Find fun ways to use math and fine-tune your skills. According to Mathnasium, a schoolunaffiliated math instruction program, a wide range of games can help students see math in a whole new light. The board game market is booming, and many board games offer a fun way to engage with math without making students feel like they’re studying or doing extra homework. Logic puzzles and brain teasers also encourage players to employ mathematical concepts to solve them, even if students don’t recognize that.

And Mathnasium notes that even puzzles require mathematical thinking and algebra skills to solve them.

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How students can

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Tips to help your student

Become a better test taker (Metro) Tests are an integral component of the academic experience. Tests assess how well students have absorbed lessons in the classroom. A two-year study conducted by the Council of Great City Schools examined testing practices in 66 public, urban school districts across the country. Findings indicated students take about 112 standardized tests between pre-K and 12th grade. This number doesn’t factor in the other tests that students take as part of the general curriculum. Testing varies based on school district and whether or not a school is public or private.

Taking tests can be a source of stress for students, particularly when they do not do as well as they would like. Pop quizzes, exams and standardized tests likely aren’t going away anytime soon, but students can look to various methods to become better test takers.

Mastering some test-prep skills also can relieve anxiety and reduce stress.

The following test-taking tips, courtesy of the University of Arkansas, Huntington Learning Center and Harvard Summer School, might help students perform better on their exams.

l Develop good study habits. The more effectively one studies, the greater the propensity to do well on a test. Students should review notes daily, write their own study guides, and take advantage of any practice tests the teacher offers. l Read all instructions carefully. Some students know the subject matter but get confused because they do not read all the directions thoroughly. Students should read every word of every question and pay attention to details before attempting to answer. l Stop cramming. Cramming for a test is not productive. One is less likely to retain the information, and cramming can increase stress and adversely affect a student’s ability to sleep. l Begin practicing pacing. Another area some students struggle with is running out of time on the test, or finishing too soon. Tests are timed, and that means that students need to work efficiently. Practice enables students to learn how long they spend on each question, and how they can cut down that time to finish in a more timely fashion. l Hire a tutor. Some students can benefit from some extra assistance through a tutor.

Professional tutors are skilled in conveying test-taking tips, like identifying which questions to guess on and how to narrow down multiple choice options. l Read over the entire test. If possible, students should review the whole test before getting started. Doing so will help them understand the structure and identify areas that may require more or less time. l Write out formulas. Particularly on math and science exams, using a scrap piece of paper to write out any memorized formulas or data at the start of the test can be helpful. l Don’t agonize. Students should move on from questions they don’t know instead of getting locked on one question. l Go back and review. Students who finish early can be encouraged to go back over the test and check their answers. l Learn from mistakes. When the test is graded and returned, students should look over the questions they missed and compare them to the right answers. This will show whether mistakes were careless errors or reflective of a lack of knowledge of the material.

(Metro)

Digital technology may have impacted life for the better in many ways, but the same devices that educate, entertain and connect users can distract students at every turn. According to a 2026 study on the habits of highly effective students published on Research.com, students are distracted for roughly 35 percent of their total study time on average.

But smartphones, tablets and gaming systems are not the only distractions that students face.

Learning to turn attention away from distractions is a key to a successful study session.

Here are some ways to manage distractions while studying for academic success.

GATEKEEP DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS.

SET ASIDE A DEDICATED STUDY AREA.

AVOID COGNITIVE FATIGUE.

ADVISE OTHERS NOT TO DISTURB.

Students can move their phones entirely out of arm’s reach or into another room while studying. When studying on tablets or laptops, students can use software to disable nonacademic platforms so they’re not tempted to check social media or browse the internet.

Study blocks should be a maximum of two hours per course before switching subjects to keep the mind fresh. Trying to maintain intense concentration for hours on end often ends with attention waning and the brain seeking other stimuli.

Students should establish a consistent, quiet and remote study spot that is physically separated from visual and auditory disruptions.

Also, a study area should be separate from relaxation spots so the brain automatically switches to focus on the task at hand.

Students can establish boundaries with roommates or family members to ensure study sessions are not interrupted. Ask roommates or family members to avoid a designated study area and to silence phone notifications and alerts.

Minimizing distractions while studying requires students to determine what works for them in a study environment. Additional measures to reduce external stimuli also may need to be implemented.

QUIET THE ENVIRONMENT.

Some students prefer complete silence for studying, and can benefit from noise-canceling headphones. Others may prefer ambient noise or instrumental music to drown out background noise.

BUILD IN BREAKS.

Study sessions can be broken up with breaks to provide a change of scenery and also to grab snacks and beverages or make a trip to the restroom.

STUDY DURING THE DAY.

People naturally get tired after dark, which means moving study times to daylight hours may lead to greater success.

BACK TO SCHOOL Shaw Media / shawlocal.com • July 2026

How to minimize distractions during study time

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WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO AVOID OVERSCHEDULING STUDENTS

5 SIGNS a student might be too busy (Metro) Many students pack all sorts of activities into their schedules in an effort to be as fulfilled and well-rounded as possible.

Parents may urge even the youngest of children to join activities in an effort to make friends and Òbe involved.Ó Colleges may require students to participate in a certain number of sports or clubs in order to be considered for acceptance, and students may even carry these extracurriculars into their higher education years to boost resumes they ultimately send to prospective employers.

While music lessons, soccer practice and dance classes are enriching activities that can offer an array of benefits, a packed schedule can quickly become too much.

Overloading a schedule with school work, a part-time job and other activities can keep a student involved, but it is essential that students and their families learn to recognize when they may be too busy for their own good. According to the University of Rochester Medicine, studies show that children need free time to decompress, use their imaginations and develop thinking skills. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found nearly half of 128 surveyed students reported feeling very stressed on a daily basis.

Here are five signs a student is taking on too much.

1. Not getting enough sleep According to a national study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about seven out of 10 high school students report that they do not get enough sleep. Students who are staying up later and later to get things done because of jam-packed schedules may be too busy.

2. Grades are slipping Sudden difficulty with school is another sign of being over-extended. Activities may be taking up too much time and grades can start to drop as a result.

3. Newly occurring health problems Students who complain of stomach pains or headaches may be stressed out. These problems can arise from anxiety, irregular meals and lack of sleep. Kids also may become more moody from having too much to do.

4. Complaining about tasks Students who start to complain regularly or show diminished joy about participating in extracurriculars may have too much on their plates. There may be mention of not getting a break to hang out with friends or family.

5. Parents are stressed, too Adults who are responsible for managing kids’ schedules and getting them to and fro also may feel the stress of a schedule that is too hectic to handle.

A 2024 study published in the journal Economics of Education Review found students could face adverse consequences from how much is piled onto their plates during the school year. According to the study, the amount of homework students are assigned coupled with an abundance of extracurriculars can harm mental health by increasing feelings of anxiety, anger and depression. Choosing where to draw the line regarding students’ schedules is not an exact science, but parents can consider a number of strategies to avoid overscheduling their kids. n Take an age-based approach. Some childhood development experts say organized activities may not be as beneficial to younger children as they are to older kids. Andie Stallman, a clinical and developmental health and psychology specialist and the childhood and play expert at Imagination Playground, notes that childhood development professionals suggest organized activities prior to age 6 are not developmentally appropriate.

Stallman says at this age, kids should be encouraged to discover their own interests through self-directed play and exploration.

Kids can still engage in organized activities at this age, but the focus should be on fun and socialization more than building skills and improving performance. n Keep a running dialogue about the schedule. Parents understandably don’t want kids to quit, but it’s also important that kids are encouraged to let parents know if they feel they have too much on their plate. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends parents encourage kids to be open about their schedules, especially if they feel overwhelmed by their obligations, and let them know that it’s healthy to take a break. n Learn to spot the warning signs of an overscheduled child. The AACAP notes early warning signs that a child may be overwhelmed include:

• Making excuses or refusing to go to the activity • Feeling over-tired or not having enough

time to sleep

• Exhibiting problems with organization or

struggling to meet deadlines

• Declining school grades • Unexplained physical symptoms, such as

headaches or stomach aches

• Increased anxiety

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE P

(Metro)

eople choose to learn a second (or third) language for a variety of reasons.

Career opportunities, travel plans or enriching an academic portfolio are some reasons to learn a foreign language, but the benefits to becoming multilingual don’t stop there.

UNESCO notes that roughly half of the world’s population is bilingual. Ninety-two percent of students in Europe learn another language in school; nearly 25 percent of Canadians can hold a conversation in both English and French; but only about one in five K through 12 students in the United States are enrolled in a world language class, says ACTFL Language Connects. Knowing more than one language pays numerous personal and professional dividends, and here are some of the top benefits to consider.

BOOST BRAIN RESERVES

Bilingual people may have more impressive brains than those who speak one language. With the help of MRI technology, researchers are able to compare the differences between monolingual brains and bilingual brains on a visual level.

Bilingual people have been shown to have more neurons and dendrites, which are the connections between neurons. These components are known as gray matter. People who are bilingual have denser gray matter, says World of Better Learning.

Bilingualism also impacts white matter, which is the system of nerve fibers that connect all four lobes of the brain. Bilingual people have increased white matter integrity.

COGNITIVE BENEFITS

Ithaca College notes bilingual people typically exhibit greater attention and task-switching capacities than monolingual individuals. They may also be more creative and better at developing visual-spatial skills. A more active brain might delay neurological diseases like dementia.

INTRODUCTION TO A NEW CULTURE

Language is one of the first introductions to a new culture, and can be the gateway to learning more about a country or a people. Taking part in the language makes for a more immersive experience.

BETTER MEMORY

Practicing vocabulary and learning grammar skills in another language can boost memory power. According to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Cognitive Psychology, people who speak a second language regularly perform better on memory tests than those who are monolingual.

PERSONAL GROWTH

Language study helps students to develop new interests and push themselves in new directions.

Learning a new language is challenging, and overcoming obstacles can offer a lesson in resilience. There are scores of reasons to learn another language. Students who add language classes to their schedules can benefit in myriad ways.

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The benefits of learning a

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