Welcome to The Learning Zone Blog. We explore a variety of topics including study strategies, innovations in learning, teaching techniques, test preparation, learning differences, attention, focus, memory, technology, and much more! Our audience is comprised of educators, teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers. We seek to provide parents and teachers with the latest research on education and parenting topics so that they can make a positive impact on children by helping them to succeed in school. We are glad you are here!
Student Self-Regulation Relies on Metacognition
A recent review of the research by the Educational Endowment Foundation found metacognition and self-regulation to be the most high-impact classroom strategy taking into consideration both evidence from research and implementation cost. According to psychologist...
How to Use Deliberate Practice in the Classroom
Many of us are familiar with the idea that practice helps to improve performance. We have heard familiar mantras like, “Practice makes perfect”. We may have even read books about practice such as, Malcolm Gladwell’s, 2011 bestseller, Outliers: The Story of Success....
What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning skills are the mental abilities that allow us to engage in goal-oriented actions. Imagine that your executive functioning is like the air traffic controller of your brain. All of this information is flying in from all directions, and we use our...
What do I do if my child doesn’t know a sound when we are reading together?
Since the structure of school has changed due to COVID-19, many parents are spending a lot more time teaching reading to our young students and struggling readers. A question that has come up over and over again is, “What do I do if my child doesn’t know a sound when...
How Do We Prepare for the Upcoming School Year When We Don’t Know What It’s Going to Look Like? Part III
Part III- Distance Learning Strategies for Teachers How do we prepare for the upcoming school year? This is a question I have been asking myself a lot as a parent and a teacher. Last week, we discussed how parents could help their child prepare for the upcoming...
How Do We Prepare for the Upcoming School Year When We Don’t Know What It’s Going to Look Like? Part II
Part II- Realize That Distance Learning Is Not Going Away This blog is part two in a series that I started last week on preparing for the upcoming school year. Part one was on staying current on math and reading skills. Have those of you that are local readers been...
How Do We Prepare for the Upcoming School Year When We Don’t Know What It’s Going to Look Like?
Part I- By Staying Current in Reading, Math, and Writing Skills This is part one of a series on how to prepare for the upcoming school year when we don’t know what it is going to look like. This is a topic that I have been thinking about a lot. I have also noticed...
Do I Need to Take the SAT or ACT to Apply to College in 2020?
If you are a rising senior who is trying to take the SAT in order to apply to college during the fall or spring of your senior year, it has undoubtedly been a stressful process. Many SAT and ACT test dates in the spring and early summer were canceled and it seemed...
How to Search for Colleges Virtually: What You Can Do Even When You are Stuck at Home
Many juniors are beginning their college search and many seniors are finalizing their college search from home. Due to coronavirus restrictions and closings, most students aren’t able to do the college visits they planned. Many are also having difficulty thinking...
What Will School Look Like in the Fall?
Many parents have been wondering what school will look like in the fall. Yesterday Governor Northam released a three phase plan for reopening schools with Phase I effective immediately. Here is the detailed plan: Phase I During phase one remote online learning...
Nina Parrish, M. Ed.
Co-Owner and Director of Education
Proud mom of two adorable girls. Teacher who has developed an education business that started at a kitchen table and has grown into a thriving small business... Click here to Learn more about Nina.
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