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10 Ways to School Yourself Post Graduation

SavvySugar — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:25:16 PDT

Education and intellectual growth shouldn't stop when the final bell rings and you walk across the stage to accept your diploma. Continuing brain development, mastering your chosen field, and sharpening your reading comprehension should be lifelong projects. Not only will it keep your brain active and sharp, but you'll have a leg up on the competition. You should learn something new every day, after all. Here are some ways to sneak smart activities into your tight schedule.

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

It's Not Too Late! 8 Last-Minute Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

Lisa Horten — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:46:00 PDT

Teacher Appreciation Week may be halfway over, but that doesn't mean it's too late to do something meaningful for the men and women who have the very important task of educating our kids. There's still plenty of time left to pull together each of these eight great ideas that recognize the teachers in our lives. Need additional inspiration? Check out this amazing Teacher Appreciation Week Party, and incorporate your favorite element(s) into your own thoughtful gesture.

Should Your Child Start Kindergarten Early?

Circle of Moms — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:41:13 PDT

Here's another post from our friends at Circle of Moms! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and motherhood stories from our partners at Circle of Moms, including this post from Mo Cooper about the right time to start kindergarten.

Preparing for kindergarten can be overwhelming. While most children start at 5 years old, some public and private schools are enrolling children as young as 4. The decision about when to start kindergarten should depend not only on what is offered in your area, but on your child's abilities and maturity. Here are some questions to think about if you are considering "testing in" for early kindergarten admittance.

Related: Why I Skip Sex

Is Your Child Ready Academically?
Many parents who consider their child to be advanced academically prefer the early start route, and some schools, both private and public, will let them. Ashley F.'s school district allows 4-year-olds who will be turning 5 during the fall months to start kindergarten early. She signed her daughter up based on her academic readiness: "She knows her ABCs, 123s, Colors, Shapes, can write and spell her own name, mine, some other family member names, and a few other daily used words, and can read beginner books."

Jenny started her daughter in kindergarten early (at the age of 4) because she didn't want to underestimate their potential: It worked out fine for Jenny; her daughter excelled in kindergarten; she was reading "off the charts" by the time the year was over, "and was thrilled to be there."

But even if your child is familiar with letters, numbers, shapes, and colors at the age of 4, is she really ready to handle the rigorous curriculum of some kindergarten programs? Cassie C. advises waiting. In her school district, kindergarten is very structured: "Children are pushed very hard to read and write all day (even if they are not developmentally ready). The kindergarten curriculum has become very demanding on young children and can add a lot of undue stress and pressure to a 4-year-old or a newly 5-year-old."

(To find out where your child should be with reading, writing, and math in order to start kindergarten, this article can help: What Your Child Should Know by Kindergarten.)
Is Your Child Mature Enough?
It's hard to predict how any child will handle a major change such as starting kindergarten. You might know your child's technical reading and math skill level, but the social and emotional challenges of kindergarten are hard to predict. This is especially true if your child will be the youngest, or one of the youngest in class. As Lindsay H. says: "Some kids thrive in kindergarten and some struggle but it's hard to know how they will handle it until they are actually in that setting."

Circle of Moms member and preschool teacher Karol D. offers some advice on behavioral skills that are helpful in kindergarten: "The things I try to work on with my class are ability to follow 2-part directions (get a toy and sit on the carpet), [and] being considerate of others' feelings (Jenny is upset because you wouldn't share with her, is that OK?). Lastly, I make certain my class can sit quietly to listen and not be disruptive." Does your child have the maturity to learn in a kindergarten environment?

Some parents advise considering the possibility that your young child could face bullying, even at the kindergarten level. Being younger or smaller than the rest of the kids at their grade level can put a child at extra risk of being targeted by a bully. As Jane H. says, "Size . . . is important. He'll be developmentally behind . . . so when puberty hits, he will be left behind. Tweenagers can be cruel. All food for thought."

Keep reading for more tips on when to start Kindergarten.

7 Smart Ways to Pay for College

Kiplinger — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:20:07 PDT

Does paying for college overwhelm you? Here's a helpful post from Kiplinger.

College students who borrow graduate with an average of $25,250 in debt. That's the equivalent of a new-car purchase or a down payment on a home. Even if some borrowing is inevitable for you, first explore other options to help you pay for college.

Coverdells, 529 plans and Roth IRAs come with tax advantages for college savers. Private scholarships are sources of free money. Custodial accounts offer investing flexibility. You just need a little lead time and some background on the alternatives.

We rounded up the best payment strategies, based on Kiplinger's extensive coverage of college values, college savings and student loans. We've highlighted the pros and cons of each option, as well as resources to help you get started. Check out our list of seven smart ways to pay for college.

529 Savings Plans

Pro: Tax breaks galore

Con: Portfolio limitations

Sponsored by 50 states and the District of Columbia, 529 plans let your savings grow tax-free, and the earnings escape federal tax completely if the withdrawals are used for qualified college expenses, including tuition, fees, and room and board. Two-thirds of states give residents a tax deduction or another tax break for contributions. You are permitted to invest in other states' 529 plans.

The appeal of 529 plans lies in their easy access as well as their tax benefits. The plans set no income limit and have a high limit on contributions. If your kid skips college, you can change the designation to a sibling without losing the tax break. But use the money for non-college expenses and you'll be on the hook for taxes and a penalty on earnings.

Another drawback of 529 plans: You lose direct control. After you pick a portfolio, usually from a limited pool of investment options, you must wait 12 months before you can change the mix or transfer the money to another plan. And a state-appointed firm manages the account, not you.

Read on for more.

Hold It! That's What One Teacher Is Telling Students

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:40:49 PST

How long can your child hold it? If she's in Stephanie Warner's class at a Brooklyn elementary school, let's hope she can hold it for a while!

The fifth-grade teacher has enacted a new policy to keep kids sitting at their desks and out of the bathroom. At the start of each week, the teacher hands out three bathroom passes to each student in the class. The kids then have three windows throughout the day during which they can use the vouchers to visit the restroom. If the tots still have their passes at the end of the week, they can trade them in for small prizes like pencils and erasers. According to one of the students, the teacher started the new program "because some kids just go for fun. They just want to skip class."

Though New York public schools do not have a bathroom limit policy, parents are up in arms complaining that their children's health - bladder infections and more - is at stake. The school's principal has put an end to the program following the uproar, but I want to know - do you agree with the teacher's reasoning behind instituting the policy?

Does Your Tot's School Have a Scream Room?

Natasha Dantzig — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:42:05 PST

Scary! Everyone's heard of a time-out corner, quiet time, or even a trip to the principal's office if tots get out of line at school, but how about a "scream room"? With images eerily reminiscent of some creepy kiddie version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, schools are implementing so-called "scream rooms," where kids in need of letting off some steam are sent to scream their lil heads off.

These rooms are technically called time-out rooms, which sound innocuous enough, but some parents claim that these areas are far more traumatizing. Described by one parent as, "scream closets, where kids bang their heads off of concrete walls." Yikes. Sounds more like a subpar mental health facility or solitary confinement chamber than a safe place for young kids to attempt to settle themselves down. Understandably, parents aren't happy about this, and are protesting the use of these rooms as appropriate ways to handle kids' behavioral issues.

What do you think? Would you be in favor of a place for your tot to go scream it out at school?

5 Steps to Rocking Your Grad School Interview

Emily Co — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:05 PST

Many of my friends are applying to business schools right now and a couple are interviewing. I've picked up a number of useful tips from friends and people with graduate degrees, so read on to find out how you can prep for your interview.

Know Your Reason For Going. Why do you want to go to school? You need to figure out your reason for going because it'll help in your interview and essay-writing process. Go into your interview with a clear objective and be sure to have examples to back it up with. You need to be convinced before you can start convincing the admissions officer why you really want to be accepted.
Showcase Your Diversity. There are going to be a lot of people with similar backgrounds so try to dig deep to find that extra something that will make you stand out. Is there a cause you're passionate about? A side project that might surprise (in a pleasant way) interviewers? Think long and hard and it'll make your case even stronger if you can display some leadership abilities.
Practice Makes Perfect. You should practice with a couple of people before interviewing. Alternatively, you can learn a lot from the interviews you do with the other schools you're applying for.

For more tips, read on.

How Often Do You Email Your Kids' Teachers?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:32:12 PST

Ask a child what he did in school today and more likely than not, he'll say "nothing." As parents, we crave information about our kids, but they aren't always very forthcoming with details. To get answers, many mamas turn to their tykes' teachers, often cornering them during inconvenient times like drop-off or pick-up. To make the system easier, many teachers have set up classroom email accounts where moms and dads can write in their questions or concerns, but in the information age, that system may be backfiring.

An elementary school in Seattle recently sent a note to parents asking them "to limit e-mails to 'important issues' keeping them to 'one paragraph' and just 'one email per week, maximum.'" Parents are outraged. Administrators say they are only trying to make things more manageable for overwhelmed teachers. What do you think?

College Sells Groupon For Cheaper Tuition

Emily Co — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:26:04 PDT

Students at the National Louis University can give their wallets a little break. The Chicago-based school is offering a Groupon for an introductory teaching course for graduate students, and buyers can save up to 57 percent off the tuition of one course. There are only four days left till the deal closes, and up to 15 coupons available - two of which have already been bought. The course normally totals up to $2,232, but people who purchase the daily deal can buy it for just $950.

If you're interested in the details, the class starts this Fall, and students will meet once a week on Monday nights for three hours. There are only 25 spots available for that class, and students will receive three credits that they can use toward the 36 credits needed to graduate from the program.

Now, if only other graduate schools started selling their courses on Groupon . . .