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FIle Photo Your guide to getting ready to hit the books Tuesday August 7, 2012 • Vol. I, No. 1 SPECIAL PREVIEW

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7

FIle Photo

Your guide to getting ready to hit the books

Tuesday August 7, 2012 • Vol. I, No. 1

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2 | August 7, 2012 Back To School www.youarecurrent.com

Going back to school isn’t just for kids.To get a better job, I needed to go back to college. At Indiana Tech, my personal admissions representative showed me how I could balance my hectic life and complete my degree. She helped me customize my schedule with a mix of online and classroom courses to put me on the fast track. If you need to prepare for a better job or a whole new career, check out Indiana Tech.

Lyndsay KnoxAdmissions

Representative

Find out more at www.IndianaTech.edu/CPS.

Call Gloria or Duncan at 317.863.3450 for classes forming now in Fishers and online.

Commentary by Jordan Fischer

Going back to school means going back to a routine of sitting down and focusing, which can be difficult after the freedom of summer.

I’m no educational psychologist, but after a four-year undergraduate degree and roughly eight years off-and-on of meeting daily and weekly deadlines, I think I’ve learned a few methods of “tricking” your mind into working. For those about to head back into the studying fray, I thought I’d share a couple:

Don’t mix work and play areas. Once you get to col-lege, this becomes a big one, but with more and more students and schools moving toward laptops, it can apply to anyone. You don’t have to get a separate computer to do your school work on, but at least sit in a different chair than where you do your lounging. If you typically sit on the couch at night to watch some TV, don’t sit there with your laptop and try to do work. Your brain habituates itself to what you typically do in a setting, so if you’re in your play seat, you’re going to be in play mode.

Design your space to facilitate work. If you have the luxury of a dedicated work space, even if it’s just your bedroom, set it up to facilitate work. Keeping floors and workspaces clutter-free has a similar effect on your brain. Find work-inspiring decorations and fill your space with those – I like books and cooler, fall colors.

Noise can be your friend. Research has shown that music at around 60 BPM (roughly the tempo of a lot of classical music) and background noise in coffee shops can

actually improve focus and learning. And, much like the first tip, listening to the same type of music each time you study can have a “training” effect on your brain. I had a roommate in college, for example, who would lis-ten to “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley each night before he began studying. It worked for him, he said, although sometimes he would hear it inadvertently and feel a sudden urge to visit the library.

Set time limits. Nothing is more disheartening than looking ahead to an endless night of studying. Keep your spirits up by setting time limits, especially for challenging subjects. For those who need a little bit of extra pressure to focus (my category), knowing you only have an hour to complete a task can help. On the flip side, knowing you’re going to be free of algebra in an hour can make it a little easier to crack open the textbook.

Write the first sentence. This is more for essays, but the concept applies. A lot of times, the hardest part of any task is getting started. So I developed the habit of just jotting something down on the page to get some momentum going, knowing I would rewrite the lead sen-tence later. For math assignments, just knock out an easy problem before tackling the big ones. Momentum is key to feeling like you’re making progress on the task ahead of you, and that feeling is the key to pushing through it.

Back to school and brass tacksBACK TO SCHOOL

Back to School ChecklistKids going back to school are pros at knowing what to bring. But for those heading to class for the first time, here’s a handy list of must-haves for your first day of kindergarten (or first grade):• #2 Pencils (12)• Crayons (24)• Glue Sticks (2)• Box of Tissues• Pink Eraser• Broad Tip Markers (8)• Pair of Safety Scissors• Pencil Case• Wide-Ruled Spiral Bound Notebook• Pocket Folders (3)

For those heading off to high school for the first time, you might consider adding some of our 9th-12th grade items to your list:• White Glue• Washable Felt Markers• Lined Paper• Blue Pens (10)• Red Pens (3)• Ruler• 1” Binders (2)• Subject Dividers (8)• Scientific Calculator• Pocket Dictionary• Thesaurus• Highlighter Pens (3)• Student Planner• Stapler• Staple Remover

Jordan Fischer is the managing editor of Current in Carmel. You may e-mail him at [email protected]

www.youarecurrent.com Back to School August 7, 2012 | 3

BACK TO SCHOOL

DISTANCE LEARNING AND NETWORKING - The Higher Education Academy has found that employers favor distance learning as a method of delivering career-related study. Stephen Hoare, writing in the guardian, reports that distance learning degrees catering to mid-career profession-als are a growth area for many universities. Another reason distance learning is proving popular among professionals is that it provides unique networking opportunities. Some degree programs give access to forums where one can ostensibly discuss assignments with students, but has the side effect of providing one with a lifelong professional network. - Higher Education Academy

APPS FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS STUDENTS - Almost every student has a cell phone with access to the internet. Even without internet access there are educational applications for iPhone, iPad, An-droid, tablets and so on. All one must do is search with one device. The methods for teaching stu-dents and special needs students are expanding. Some schools are going "all iPad." This means all students will have iPads with digital textbooks and new learning tools. Some of the new learning tools out there that are especially helpful for special-needs students are educational applications. There are subject-specific applications that include many different learning strategies. There are interactive lessons with peaceful nature sounds in the background. There are interactive quizzes with state test questions in a game format. Daily topic-specific news updates, fun educational videos from YouTube and flash cards-by-topic are other features some of these educational apps. Search and see. - Special Education News

HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS TOTAL 4 PERCENT? - As the dissatisfaction with the U.S. educa-tion system among parents grows, so does the appeal of homeschooling. Since 1999, the number of children who are being homeschooled has increased by 75%. Although currently only 4% of all school children nationwide are edu-cated at home, the number of primary school students whose parents choose to forgo traditional education is growing seven times faster than the number of students enrolling in K-12 every year. Any concerns expressed about the quality of education offered to the students by their parents can surely be put to rest by the consistently high placement of homeschooled students on standardized as-sessment exams. Data shows that those who are independently educated typically score between the 65th and 89th percentile on such exams, while those attending traditional schools average in the 50th percentile. Furthermore, the achievement gaps which are long plaguing school systems around the country, aren’t present in homeschooling environment. There’s no differ-ence in achievement between sexes, income levels or race/ethnicity. - Education News

CURRICULUM MATCH TECHNOLOGY? - Academic performances of students won’t improve purely with the introduction of digital gadgets, like Apple’s iPad tablet computer, into the classroom. Schools that wish to get the most out of the technology must first do away with a curriculum that is geared towards the 20th century tools. But before jumping feet first into education technology, people in charge must first figure out exactly what they want to achieve from this integration. Technology

continues to play an ever greater part in society, so it’s no wonder that some view the conversion from an analog to digital classroom as a necessary step to-

wards preparing kids for that kind of future. But administrators must think beyond simply

replacing a pen with a stylus, and try to tease out the problems that

could lend themselves well to technological solu-

tions. - Education News

The iPad can be an effective tool in the presented curriculum is current.

Home-schooled students score well on standardized tests.

4 | August 7, 2012 Back To School www.youarecurrent.com

Studies show that parental involvement has a direct positive bene�t on students’ academic achieve-ment. If you’re looking for new ways to support your child’s school, here are seven ideas on how you can help make your child’s school a better place:

Join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).Your school’s PTA is one of the most important links between you and your child’s school. It is designed to enhance school-parent communication and help parents be more involved in their children’s education. PTA will help you get to know teachers and other parents and learn the most effective ways to suggest and implement changes at your school. Enrich the learning experience. Great schools do more than teach students what they need to know for standardized tests. Find ways to enhance your child’s classroom. Talk with the teacher or principal about potential enrichment activities and ask how you can help.Share your knowledge. Perhaps you have an interesting job, hobby or life experience that you could share with a class or group of classes. If leadership is your strength, consider devoting some time advising a �edgling but important student group. Improve communication. At any school, good communication with families is a key to success. You could help create a parent newsletter or start a phone tree. Ask your child’s teacher how you can help him or her stay connected to classroom parents. Be an advocate for your school. Sometimes, being a resource for your school can be as simple as writing your school board members or legislators about issues that are important to the school. Attend a school board meeting on behalf of your grade or class or in support of an initiative. If you see an area of improve-ment at your school, explore the proper channels to voice your ideas. Help increase �nancial and other resources. Aside from school fundraisers, there are other ways you can help your school secure needed funding or supplies. Help research or apply for federal or private grants to bene�t speci�c school programs. Help other parents. If you are bilingual, you could volunteer to help translate at parent-teacher meetings or translate signage and materials for the school. Volunteer to provide transportation for students or parents to attend functions they could not otherwise easily attend.

Seven Ways Parents Can Support Their Child’s SchoolBy Dr. Raymond J. Huntington

Parents who want additional information are encouraged to call the local Huntington Learning Center at 317-571-0766. Dr. Raymond J. Huntington and Eileen Huntington are co-founders of Huntington Learning Center, which has been helping children succeed in school for more than 30 years.

With a little creativity, you can �nd many ways to help your child’s school be an enriching academic environment - and a vibrant and welcoming community for all students and their families.

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ACADEMIC SKILLSMAKE THISYOUR CHILD’SBEST SCHOOLYEAR EVER

By Jordan Fischer• [email protected]

A new concussion law which went into effect July 1 has lawmakers hope-ful that the state will see a reduction in brain injuries for state athletes this year.

The law, Senate Bill 93, mandates proper treatment and recovery time for high school athletes of all sports suspected to have sustained a concussion. Any athlete who sustains a head injury and experiences concussion-like symptoms will by law be immediately removed from the practice or game. Student athletes will not be allowed to return to play or practice until they have been evaluated and cleared by a healthcare provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

According to Gary Chumbley, a physical therapist with Rehabilitation Services at IU Health North Hospital, research has linked concussions to adverse long-term ailments including headaches, depression and poor memory.

“What we’re starting to find out is people are having problems with memory, balance and coordination,” Chumbley said. “And once you’ve had a concussion, you’re more likely to have a second one – what we call second-impact syndrome – and once you’ve had a second concussion, you’re three to four times more likely to have a third one. So it’s very important they’re treated with proper rest and recovery, as well as vestibular rehab and balance rehab.”

The law makes Indiana the 18th state in the U.S. to pass concussion leg-islation aimed at reducing the estimated 135,000 sports- and recreation-re-lated traumatic brain injuries reported each year among children ages 5-18, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I think we have more awareness of what’s going on,” Chumbley said about the trend of state’s adopting concussion laws. “It used to be that someone would get hit, have a headache, they’d take a Tylenol and go back out on the field. Now we understand that there is actually brain trauma

happening and headaches, dizziness, loss of balance are actually pretty seri-ous indicators; so now there’s awareness that when those symptoms occur, they’d need to be dealt with properly to avoid any lasting effects.”

Chumbley added that its important to note that you don’t need to have a loss of consciousness to have a concussion.

“Only about 10 percent of all concussions involve a loss of conscious-ness,” he said.

More information about Indiana’s concussion law can be found online at indianasportsconcussionnetwork.com.

New concussion law for student-athletesBACK TO SCHOOL

NORTH SIDE SCHOOLS JOIN STATE SCHOOL vOUCHER PROGRAM – Several private north side schools have joined the more than 300 Hoosier schools which now accept school choice vouchers, a pro-gram in its second year. To be eligible for a school voucher, a student must be age 5-22, have been enrolled in a public school for at least the last two semesters and must meet income restrictions. Those deemed eligible receive a voucher worth $4,500 to attend a participating Indiana school of their choosing. North side schools now accepting school choice vouchers include University High School of Indiana (Carmel), Erman Schools (Fishers), Brebeuf Jesuit Pre-paratory School (Indianapolis), Cathedral High School (Indianapolis), Horizon Chris-tian School (Indianapolis), Guerin Catholic High School (Noblesville) and Our Lady of Grace School (Noblesville). A complete list can be found online at doe.in.gov.

Student athletes suspected of having concussions should be treated immediately

www.youarecurrent.com Back to School August 7, 2012 | 5

Commentary by Kate Robison

For the last 16 years of my life I have spent this time at the end of the summer preparing for the upcoming school year. I pack my lunch, get my backpack ready and hang up my outfit the night before. I arrange and rearrange my school supplies and ceremoniously open packages of fresh pens, pencils and markers. For nearly my entire life I have eagerly awaited the start of school. However, this year will be different. For the first time I will be entering the classroom not as the student, but as the teacher. The start of school can be an exciting and stressful time. Here is my advice, though admittedly from a novice, for children, families and teachers as this school year begins:

First, be curious and adventurous—both in the classroom and in life. Parents, support the inquisitive spirit of your children and cher-ish their creativity. Teachers, put off grading those papers for one more night and go to that concert you don’t think you have time for. Take time for yourself because when you’re a more interesting person you’re a more interesting teacher.

Second, be actively present—not just in body but in attitude and spirit. Parents, spend time at your child’s school, if possible, and estab-

lish a family attitude in which education is para-mount. I know that my family’s deep investment and involvement in my education undoubtedly shaped me into the teacher I am today. Teachers, take time to truly reflect on your beliefs about children. I would suggest reading the works of Loris Malaguzzi, as well as “To Teach” by William Ayers. These writers and thinkers will ignite your passion and remind you that your impact on the life of a child is ever-reaching.

Finally, be respectful and appreciative. Parents, be thankful for the great schools we have here in Central Indiana as well as the tal-ented teachers inside them. You truly cannot imagine their investment (of time, money, and emotion) and how seldom they are applauded for it. Teachers, encourage and support parental involvement in your classroom, and assure them that your door is always open. Remember that we all have the child’s best interests in mind and if we communicate and work together, success is certainly within reach.

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Commentary by Kathleen Mueller

When it comes to completing a college ap-plication, most teens leave the essay to the very last minute. Can you blame them? It is incred-ibly challenging to compose a well-written, self-aware essay about oneself without sounding like a bragger.

Parents, do not let them procrastinate! The college application essay must be a priority. For most colleges requiring an essay, this portion of the application ranks #3 in importance – right behind GPA and standardized test scores. Yes, you read that right: #3.

Keeping in mind that each college admissions reader scans dozens of these essays in one sit-ting, your teen’s essay should make them stop and say, “Wow!”

Here are some questions to ask as you read the rough draft of your teen’s essay.• Is it unique to your teen? Does it thought-

fully demonstrate what makes him or her exceptional? Perhaps it describes overcom-ing a challenging experience. Maybe it shares volunteer work that has given a depth of understanding. It could even reveal a wacky hobby. The subject matter need not be earth shattering; one student accepted to Harvard wrote an engaging essay about his collection of antique Coke bottles.

• Does it tell a compelling story? This is not the place for your teen to regurgitate their

resume, but a place to reveal the thoughtful person inside – their soul. Who are they? What makes them tick? The very best essay will make the admissions team look for-ward to meeting your child.

• Does it answer the question asked, and does it follow length guidelines? This is not the place to go ‘rogue’ and extemporize on random thoughts, unless that is what the college requested. The length guideline is in place to see if your child has the ability to follow instructions.

• Has a trusted adult proofread it? This does not mean you should write it for them. Even professional writers have editors to catch little mistakes. The essay needs to be perfect in tense, grammar, and punctuation.

Encourage your teen to write their essay when other academic pressures are light. We recom-mend that students complete the essay for the Common Application before the start of senior year. Sure, it may challenging to crack the whip on your will-be senior during the summer, but once the lazy days of summer end, the college essay will be the last thing on their mind.

Application essays that ‘wow’!

BACK TO SCHOOL

Kate Robison is a graduate of Westfield High School and Butler University. She is a teacher at the Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis.

Kathleen Mueller is the Financial Aid and Essay Coach for Stress-Free College Counseling in Carmel. If you have a high school or college question for Kathleen, contact her at [email protected].

New school year, new teacher

6 | August 7, 2012 Back To School www.youarecurrent.com

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BACK TO SCHOOL

By Jordan Fischer• [email protected]

It’s no secret that listening to music while studying can help improve focus and performance, but recent research is showing the benefits of music education don’t stop there.

In a review of research published by Northwestern Uni-versity, scientists identified benefits from music to speech, memory, language, attention and reading skills. It may do this by creating new neural pathways in the brain, accord-ing to scientists like Dr. Nina Kraus, author of the North-western paper and director of the Northwestern Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory.

“Our eyes and ears take in millions of bits of informa-tion every second and it is not possible for the brain to process all of that, so the sensory systems in our brains are primed to tune into regularities or patterns in the signals it receives,” Kraus said in a 2010 interview with The Telegraph’s Richard Gray. “People who are musically trained are better at picking up these patterns because they learn to recognize notes and pitches within melodies and harmonies.

“The better you are at picking up these patterns in music, the better reader you are,” Kraus said. “This makes sense as letters and words on a page are really just patterns.”

In a separate study sponsored by the National Endow-ment for the Arts and led by James S. Catterall, from the University of California Los Angeles, researchers found that eighth graders who had been labeled “at-risk” by their school districts showed higher test scores in science

and writing when they had been exposed to high levels of arts engagement than their un- or underexposed peers. The study concluded that such students earn better grades and demonstrate “higher rates of college enroll-ment and attainment,” despite similar low socioeco-nomic conditions.

The report also showed that students with “art-rich” experiences in high school were more likely than stu-

dents without those experiences to complete a calculus course – concluding that benefits from arts education extend beyond language and the humanities.

For students, and even adults, who’ve had little expo-sure to music or the arts until now, it’s not too late to gain the benefits they confer, either. Research has shown that music has positive effects on memory even for 80-year-old Alzheimer’s patients.

Music education can strengthen brainCARMEL TEACHER AMONG NEW APPOINTMENTS TO INDIANA EDUCATION RE-FORM CABINET – Superintendent of Public Instruc-tion Dr. Tony Ben-nett appointed 19 teachers last month to the Indiana Education Reform Cabinet (IERC). The IERC was created in 2010 to provide classroom teachers a recognized forum for asking ques-tions and providing thoughtful feed-back on the state's newest education initiatives. Among those selected for the cabinet was Cristen Cassler, an English/language arts teacher at Car-mel High School. More information about the cabinet can be found online at doe.in.gov.

Learning to play an instrument can improve your skills at all sorts of things, from math to languages.

www.youarecurrent.com Back to School August 7, 2012 | 7

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Commentary by Rich Allen

True or false: Any college degree will help your student land a job.

Answer: Not exactly.Back when the late Boomers and Generation

X-ers graduated, it was true that any college degree was a ticket to success. But the job mar-ket faced by today’s college graduates is more demanding and complex. Acquiring a compe-tent level of knowledge about a subject is no longer enough, so it’s critical that families look beyond book-learning to measure the success of any college degree.

Today it is not the degree, per se, that will help a student land a job. It is the top-notch job skills they learn while pursuing their degrees that will truly set them apart. Instead of focus-ing on the long list of degrees offered by colleges and universities, perhaps families should focus on this short list of skill sets during their college search. Some colleges excel at offering their stu-dents powerful, real-world opportunities – some still have their heads buried in the books.

Meaningful internships. Students may feel like slave labor doing free or low-paid work for a company, but the important skills learned dur-ing an internship can fill out a thin resume. In the end, a student with a strong internship will be rich in measurable results.

Senior projects. These capstone projects should be ‘real world’ in nature and tie together all of the previous coursework. Often, these projects respond to actual corporate problems - and occasionally are submitted to the actual company for review.

Portfolio demonstrating multiple capabili-ties. In today’s leaner companies, each employee wears many hats, so students must show that they have versatile talents; problem identifica-tion, idea generation, plan development, proj-ect leadership, and follow-through to project completion.

Demonstrated teamwork. More and more, colleges and universities understand that suc-cess beyond the classroom involves the ability to work successfully in teams. The old college paradigm of pitting individual students against one another for the best grades is archaic.

Effective communications skills – written, oral and media. This means more that typ-ing a great text message. Many of today’s teens struggle with the one-on-one contact that makes any business run smoothly. This includes the ability to make a confident presentation, write a coherent business letter, and create impactful PowerPoint presentations. It may sound old-fashioned, but this also includes correct spelling and punctuation. Oh yes, eye contact and a firm handshake, too.

As parents and students visit potential col-leges, they should look beyond the dorms, cafeteria, and sports complex to measure a truly successful college. Ask administrators how they prepare their students for the real world - out-side the ivy.

The ‘real world’ college checklist

NORTH SIDE SCHOOLS TAKE HOME SEvERAL U.S. NEWS ‘BEST OF’ RANKINGS – Several north side schools were listed on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Indiana High Schools,” including Carmel High School, which was ranked third in Indiana and 547th nationally. Other recognized schools include Westfield High School (ranked 7th), Hamilton Southeastern High School (ranked 8th), Fishers High School (ranked 9th), and Noblesville High School (ranked 10th). For the complete list, visit usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/indiana/rankings.

NON-PROFIT RELEASES ‘12 INCONvENIENT TRUTHS’ REPORT ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION – A report is-sued recently by Richard Vedder, professor of economics at Ohio University and Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, outlines what the author sees as “12 inconvenient truths” about American higher education. Criticisms include the high and growing costs of a college education, a lack of guarantee for success from a college degree and what the author sees as a “costly and corrupt” intercollegiate athletics system. Vedder levies sharp criticisms at the American higher ed system, saying many colleges are run “to benefit staff, not students,” adding that colleges often hide vital infor-mation from consumers. More information, and a PDF of the complete report, is available online at centerforcol-legeaffordability.org.

Rich Allen is the college counselor for Stress-Free College Counseling in Carmel. If you have a high school or college question for Rich, contact him at [email protected].

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