Online SAT Prep Classes for Homeschoolers

The following post is in collaboration with Mr. D Math. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Are you wondering what online SAT prep classes for homeschoolers are available? Read on to learn about our experience with Mr. D Math's live classes.

This post contains affiliate links.

Quick Overview

Program: Mr. D Math Math SAT Bootcamp
Religious Perspective: Secular
Format: Live Online Classes

# of Classes: 6
Grades: 9th - 12th
Price: $197

Why SAT Prep Matters

My oldest child attended a private high school that offered private SAT prep classes outside of regular school hours. More than a month's worth of Saturdays were dedicated to these prep classes and they made a huge difference in my daughter's scores. I say that in the plural because she took the classes before both the PSAT and the SAT tests. 

Taking these prep classes helped her increase her score by more than 100 points. Which was critical for the PSAT because her score on the PSAT helped her land a National Merit Recognition... which eventually led to a full ride at her current college.

Her SAT scores played an important role, too. They were an important factor when it came to acceptance into the colleges of her choice. We soon discovered how to find the SAT score ranges for different colleges and universities. The easiest way is to simply Google "what are the SAT score ranges for [Name of College or University]".

Is the SAT Mandatory?

Thanks to the pandemic, a lot of colleges are test optional now. This means students don't have to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications. Some are even considering making this permanent. Either way, if your SAT scores are above the average score (especially for that university's score range) it is really to your benefit to submit those scores.

Live SAT Prep for Homeschoolers

SO. Now I have a homeschooled junior entering the college application process. I learned a whole lot from my daughter's private school experience and have been researching the whole "homeschooler to college" process. 

All of it has led me to understand that:

1. Taking the SAT can be extremely beneficial for college acceptance.
2. Taking SAT prep classes could potentially raise your child's score by 70 points or more, making them worth the investment.

BUT SAT prep can be expensive. My son is doing two programs. One was crazy expensive, self-paced, and he hasn't stuck with it very well at all. 

The other is more affordable and comes from Mr. D Math. This live Math SAT Bootcamp meets virtually every week. And it has covered different strategies and used both practice tests and activities to help prepare him for the test.

How It Works

Once registered, my son gained access to the Mr. D Math learning portal. There he can find any of the optional (but strongly recommended!) homework downloads. But Mr. H also sent out a file via email with all the problems that they work through over the course of 6 weeks. Then each week about an hour before the class, my son received an email with the zoom link to make access the class easy no matter where we were.

My son logged in each Tuesday before his Civil Air Patrol meeting (this is why he is in uniform in these pics). He preferred to watch the videos on his phone, but you can also use your tablet, laptop, or desktop. We recommend that you have a couple of pencils and your graphing calculator ready, in addition to the printed test materials you need for each class.

Overall, it has been a positive experience and we're confident that the proof will be in the pudding when the SAT test comes around in May.

Register for the Math SAT Bootcamp

If you think this would be a great fit for your family, then register today! Mr. D Math offers three live classes and one self-paced class. We haven't done the self-paced course because the live class was a great fit for us. But you know your child best and it's great that you have the option to choose!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Self-Paced Economics Class for High School
  
  
• Book Review: TEACH by Dennis Dinoia
  
  
• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

5 Things We Love About Virtual Biology Lab

The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with College Prep Science and MommyMaestra. All opinions are my own.

One of the biggest challenges to homeschoolers can be providing science labs for their kids. From the expense of buying materials, to safety equipment and space, science labs can be difficult for homeschoolers to complete outside of a co-op or museum course.

This is why I love College Prep Science's VIRTUAL Biology Lab class! Read on to learn our five reasons for loving this program.

Before going further, I want to note here that MommyMaestra shares homeschool resources for families of all faiths. This particular program has a Christian perspective.

Quick Overview

Program: College Prep Science
Class: Interactive Virtual Science Lab   
Religious Perspective: Christian
Format: Live & Recorded
Grades: 7th - 12th
Price: Tuition is $280 for recorded and $390 for live, 2-week intensive

Why do a science lab?

Some homeschoolers may be tempted to just ignore the labs, but the reality is that labs are an integral part of science. They teach some of the very basic skills and one of the tenets of science: The Scientific Method. Kids NEED to learn the process of following a step-by-step procedure and then recording it from start to finish in a lab report.

I can't express how important this whole experience is for high schoolers. And if you are dithering about virtual labs, read on to learn the five things we love most about the Virtual Biology Lab from College Prep Science!

This Virtual Biology Lab counts as a supplement to any biology class and it has 11 lab experiments, including cell mitosis, blood type, and FROG DISSECTION! 

1) It's saves money

Flasks. Petri dishes. Microscopes. Slides. Droppers. Pipets. Test tubes. Bunsen burner. Safety goggles. Forceps...

I think you get the idea. Once you start adding up all the materials needed, it gets a little crazy. And very expensive! I'm pretty sure I spent close to $300 or more for materials when I was teaching General Science to 7th and 8th grade at our local co-op a few years ago.

This virtual lab saves us money. 

2) It saves space

You don't have to find MORE storage space for all of the science gear - OR for the experiments themselves, which are then sometimes forgotten only to be discovered in horror when you mistakenly stumble upon petri dishes that have been sitting for a few days or weeks in a cupboard. 

3) It's safe!

I don't have to worry about my kid blowing stuff up. Or slicing himself with a scalpel. Or my 3yo wandering up and sticking his fingers in acid. Or having to set up an eye wash station (just in case). Why? BECAUSE IT'S ALL ONLINE!!

My boy can still wear eye goggles if he wants to, but at least it's not because he HAS to. 

4) It's easy to navigate

For a kid who is a Minecraft fanatic, navigating any online portal is under scrutiny. But this one is very easy and intuitive. My 15 yo had no problems finding and manipulating the items in the online lab. But just to be on the safe side, the teacher, Greg Landry, does an introductory video explaining how to navigate the lab.

We chose to do the self-paced, recorded lab. Professor Landry also offers a 2-week intensive live program in the summer (it starts THIS MONDAY, July 12th!!). But with sporadic summer schedules, the self-paced program works better for us. You can still be assured that if you or your child have ANY questions during the recorded lessons, it's not a problem because you can just use your College Prep Science portal to send Professor Landry an email.

5) There's NO MESS

Okay. This one is my favorite. I don't have to set up or clean up. There are no stains on my ceiling or floor or dining room table (not from science experiments anyway). I like that I don't have to put down a drop cloth across my furniture or mop every time a lab is done. 

Maybe this doesn't teach my male teen not to make a mess or to clean up after himself, but he has plenty of other opportunities to practice that!

If you're convinced or just want to learn more about the Virtual Labs (Biology/Anatomy& Physiology, Chemistry, & Physics), visit the College Prep Science website.

All of this again on video...

Book for Latino Parents on Raising College-Bound Children

I have a college-bound 10th grader. We're obsessing over college. So guess how excited I am to have just found out about Flight of the Quetzal Mama: How to Raise Latino Superstars and Get Them Into the Best Colleges (aff). I have not read it, yet, but here is the book description:

Move over, Tiger Mom! Latinos now have Quetzal Mama.

A book for Latino parents of college-bound students

Author Roxanne Ocampo – aka “Quetzal Mama” –  is a proud Latina mom who has demystified the complex college admissions process for Latino students. After strategizing her own children’s pathway to Harvard and USC, Quetzal Mama shares her strategies. She created the term, “Quetzal Mama” to refer to any person (male or female) who takes a leadership role in nurturing future Latino Superstars. 

A 3-Prong Approach: 

She provides a 3-prong approach to raising Latino Superstars that ensures Latino parents are focused and informed to prepare their students for success in academia. 

First, she provides parental guiding principles to nurture future Latino scholars. She calls them the “10 Quetzal Mama Principles.” Her Principles are more than philosophical ideas. She provides tactical, hands-on activities that she employed as a parent with remarkable success. 

Second, she shows parents how to “Work the System,” the intricate, inside track of K-12 public school systems that elude most Latino parents. She provides a step-by-step guide covering K-5, middle school, and high school – all geared toward maximizing college success. 

Lastly, she explains the nitty-gritty of the “College Admissions Process,” including how to strategize extracurricular activities, manage timelines, write an effective personal statement, create a Cyber Profile, and focus on each component of the college application process. No Hype. She informs students and parents with what they need to do, when they need to do it, and how they can achieve it. 

College-bound Latino students

Her book provides resources, tips, strategies, and practical wisdom. Her book was written with the conviction that Latino parents are not looking to understand why their children should go to college but how to get them there. The content appeals to Latino students as each chapter includes culturally-authentic language and examples, recognizable colloquialisms, personal and relatable stories, and addresses our specific needs and challenges. Her writing comes from working directly with Latino students including traditional, non-traditional, first-generation, migrant, as well as undocumented students. 

This book will empower Latino parents so their children can achieve academic excellence, become the leaders they were intended to be, and make a valuable contribution to humanity. Become a Quetzal Mama!

Other Posts That May Interest You

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

The Empowered Community College Student

For several years now, I've been hearing experts recommend that to make college affordable for everyone, the most sensible choice is for high school grads to concentrate on a local community college to knock out their basic requirements before transferring to a 4-year university to pursue their degrees. Doing so, they say, saves you tons of money. 

But what do you do when you complete your first two years and are ready to transfer? What happens if you find out that you didn't take the right courses? How do you ask for letters of recommendation?

Enter the Community College Lady.

Before you even enroll in community college, check out this new eBook to help you navigate your way through the system. Inside you'll find information on how to:

• Create a transfer plan by choosing the right classes that count for transfer.
• Revise personal statements and essays.
• Take advantage of dramatic changes to statewide placement test policy standards to enroll directly into transfer-level classes, which are not guaranteed.
• Time management to stay on the transfer plan.
• On-and-off campus resources for success.
• Much more!

So if you know a college-bound high schooler, share this book with them and their family. It might save them time, money, and even hardship.

DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers

(This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Study.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

If you are a homeschooler, you've probably enjoyed a summer break for several weeks or more now. So if you are like me, your thoughts are beginning to turn to the coming school year. You may be thinking about curricula and planning extracurriculars. 

So I wanted to share with you a new resource available for those of you with high schoolers. Earlier this year, I told you about the study guides for the CLEP tests that are available from Study.com. Today, I want to tell you about an additional test prep resource for students looking for college credit through DSST exams.

DSST Exams

The DSST Program allows students to gain college credit for their prior knowledge or learning that happens outside the traditional classroom. While some test areas overlap with CLEP (like college calculus), there are also some DSST exams that don't have CLEP equivalents, like technical writing, public speaking, and several specific history exams, like "History of the Vietnam War".

DSST Study Guides 

I counted 33 DSST Study Guides covering so MANY fascinating topics! Some of the themes are:

• Environmental Science
• Lifespan Developmental Psychology
• Business Ethics and Society
• Introduction to World Religions
• Human Cultural Geography
• Criminal Justice
• Astronomy
• and many more!

There are thousands of prep questions, more than 3,000 prep video lessons, and help available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You'll have access to:

1. Practice tests with areas of strength and weakness
2. Tools for tracking progress
3. Video lessons paired with quizzes to help you solidify your knowledge

What is in the DSST exam study guides?

So let's take a look at the actual courses. I selected DSST Personal Finance because I think that ALL children should take this course in high school and before they leave home to be on their own. 

There are three tabs for (each) course:

Overview

The overview tab includes a course summary with a brief description of what you'll be learning.

You'll also find your Progress Tracker on this page. The great thing about this course is that you can go as fast or as slow as you'd like. And when you finish for the day, it notes where you stopped so that the next time you login, you just open this page and click on "Your next lesson" to pick up where you left off. It also tracks the number of quizzes you've completed.

Before you begin the lessons, you can click on "Course Practice Test" to check your knowledge of this course with a 50-question practice test. After you complete the test, you'll immediately see your score, how long it took you to complete the test, and your areas of weakness and strength. You'll also see which questions you got wrong, the correct answers, and the option to watch the video that explains the correct answer.

On the overview page, you can also see that this course has 12 chapters and each chapter has anywhere from five to 12 lessons. Each lesson has a quiz at the end.

Syllabus

 
This page gives a more detailed description of the course. But what I really like is that it also includes a section called "Course Uses" which gives a bulleted list of all the benefits of taking the course.

There's also a list of the course topics.

Exams

This page lists all of the tests and quizzes available for this course. If you feel that you already know quite a bit, you can take the Placement Test to see which lessons you need to cover.

And of course, you can find all the practice tests for each chapter.

The Lessons

The actual lessons are presented in a simple and easy to understand format. There's a short video to watch, followed by a lesson transcript so you can review what you've just learned. But if you prefer to take your own notes, there's a little tab on the upper right corner that allows you to type up things you think are important or questions you want to research later.

Access

Study.com offers three subscription levels:




You can try it out yourself with their five-day free trial. And I do encourage you to try it. But be sure to cancel your subscription if you decide it's not for you or your child.

Overall, this is a fantastic resource for homeschoolers! I think the video courses are perfect for students and deliver the information in a way that is easily understood. And I always love it when my kids can earn college credits and SAVE US TIME AND MONEY!

Am I right?

So don't wait. If you think this is the right tool for you to incorporate into your homeschool, head over to Study.com to learn more and sign up!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students
  
  
• Thanks to the College Board
  
  
• Book for Latino Parents on Raising College-Bound Children
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos

CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

(This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Study.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Did you know that your high schooler can take a test that would count as college credit if he or she passed? Did you know that a great way to save money when sending your kid to college is to go ahead and have them earn college credits so that they don't have to retake basic classes in math, history, literature, foreign language, and more?

Two ways to do this is by taking AP or CLEP exams. You may be familiar with the AP program since many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes. At the end of the school year, students can take the 3-hour test in May.

But there's also the College Level Exam Program (CLEP), which are generally considered to be a better fit for self-motivated students with strong study skills, as they will need to prepare for the material on their own. Unlike the AP Exam, CLEP is offered year-round. This means that students may take as long as they need to master their chosen field or skill set. And for these reasons, I highly recommend them for homeschool students.

CLEP Study Guides

Today's post is for all of my readers with children in (or going into) high school. I frequently get questions about preparing high school students for college. So when Study.com approached me about sharing their CLEP Study Guides, I agreed to take a look and see if it is a good fit for MommyMaestra readers...and it definitely is!

You may or may not know that CLEP exams are prior learning assessments offered by The College Board that allow students to earn real college credit just by passing a test. Study.com's product includes comprehensive study guides and practice tests to help students prepare for these exams, earn that credit, and save money on their college education.

(Please note that College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which is not affiliated with Study.com!)

At the time of this post, Study.com has 31 CLEP Study Guides covering Business, Composition & Literature, Foreign Language, History & Social Studies, and Science & Mathematics. There are thousands of prep questions, more than 3,000 prep video lessons, and help available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So let's take a look at the actual courses. Just for haha's I selected Spanish because I figured that would interest many of you.

There are three tabs for each course:

1. Overview
2. Syllabus
3. Exams

The Overview section gives you a course summary and lists the actual chapters for the entire course. Each chapter contains a certain number of lessons (the number of lessons varies according to the chapter topic).

What I like best on this page, though, is the Course Progress bar that shows you how much you've accomplished and how much you have left to go. And to pick up where you left off, you can just click on the video next to the bar to resume your lessons in order.

The Syllabus section not only tells you about the course but also about the actual CLEP exam, and how you can register to take it.

And finally, under the Exams tab, you'll find practice tests for each chapter of the course, as well as a study guide and test prep for the actual CLEP. For example, in the Spanish course, there are 34 chapters that you cover, and therefore, 34 practice tests that you can take.




Once you finish, you will also receive a certificate that proves you completed the course.

One of Study.com's company goals is to help students earn the most credit possible, and their CLEP product is a great avenue to help them further that goal by helping students pass their CLEP exams so they can earn transferable college credit at a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost compared with taking a course at a traditional college or university.

As far as pricing goes, it appears that there are three subscription levels. Take a look:




You can try it out yourself with their five-day free trial. And I do encourage you to try it. But be sure to cancel your subscription if you decide it's not for you or your child.

As a homeschooler, I really like the fact that the courses are self-paced. So my kids can move as slowly or as quickly as they'd like. If my daughter has time to do 6 lessons one day, but only time to watch one lesson video the next, then it's not a problem.

My oldest child will be starting high school next year. Before we moved back to Texas, we had planned to enroll her in early college so that she would have already completed two years of college by the time she finished high school. Now that we've moved away from that opportunity, I'm exploring other options to help us get those courses completed and out of the way so that a) we can save money when it is time for her to go to college, and b) allow her to focus primarily on the courses that interest her once she gets there. Taking the CLEP tests is one way we can do that and using Study.com's CLEP Study Guides is definitely worth the time and money.

On a side note, I happened to notice that Study.com isn't just about CLEP and college prep. While looking through their courses, I found that they offered lessons for K - 12, College, and Graduate & Post Grad. I'm looking forward to exploring this more with my 6th grader. :)

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students
  
  
• Thanks to the College Board
  
  
• Book for Latino Parents on Raising College-Bound Children
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos

Verizon Innovative Learning Program

Yesterday, I shared an NBC article on the MommyMaestra Facebook page that talks about how the Latino high school dropout rate has hit a new low while the number of Hispanic students enrolling in college has reached a record high.

Despite this enrollment increase, however, Hispanic students still have a very low college completion rate. Latino males still earn less than 9% of Bachelor's among graduating college students.

And Latinos account for less than 10 percent of the STEM workforce. In today's technology-driven world, that's disappointing. And that's why it's imperative that children get a good education in STEM classes. Because that college degree and subsequent STEM career can make the difference in pulling a family out of poverty.

Did you know that by 2020, 77percent of all U.S. jobs will require the employee to have computer skills? And yet an alarming number of schools in low-income neighborhoods lack the funding or support for technology tools, such as computers or iPads. And who suffers as a result? Yep! Minority students.

So now, Verizon Innovative Learning, the education arm of Verizon Foundation, is focusing on helping Latino students break down barriers in the hopes that they will consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

They are doing so by expanding their STEM & entrepreneurship program for minority middle school boys in 16 cities including areas with high Hispanic population. The program gives students acess to intensive hands-on courses such as

• mobile app development, 
• 3D design, 
• drone creation and execution, 
• and development of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. 

As participants in the Verizon Innovative Learning program, students are connected to college mentors and paired for continued programming during the school year. So far, over 2,000 students have participated in the Verizon Innovative Learning program and the results are awesome:

• 64% are more interested in attending college 
• 53% are more interested in STEM careers 
• 47% feel more confident in what they can do 

Currently there are 4.4 million open tech jobs, but millions of kids don’t even know they exist! 

That’s why Verizon Innovative Learning is giving free technology and tech education to kids in need. 

To learn more and see if there are any programs going on near you, visit the Verizon Innovative Learning website.

Other Posts That May Interest You

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Fabulous Resources for College-Bound Latino Families
  
  
• Book for Latino Parents on Raising College-Bound Children
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos

This is a sponsored post with Hispanic Scholarship Fund. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I was growing up, there was never any question about whether or not I would attend college. My mother talked about it in everyday conversations.

"When you go to college..."

"Work hard so you can pick the college you want..."

"While you are in college..."

"You should think about that after college..."

So in my mind, it was always a part of my future. It was a goal toward which I was working. I was excited about it. I knew that it was the path to fulfilling the plans I had for my future. And once I was actually in college, my whole life changed (but that's another story).

I never really worried about how we were going to pay for it, though. I know now that my mother did. She agonized about how we would afford for me to attend. I applied for a couple of scholarships, and received one, but in the end, I was fortunate because my mother was offered a position teaching journalism and broadcast news at our local university, which enabled me to attend at a greatly reduced rate.

But not every Latino family has that opportunity. And for too many Latino families, the expense is what causes them to not even consider college as an option for their children. Some have no idea that there are tools available to help them financially afford to send their children to college. They don't know about student loans, work-study program, or scholarships that are available specifically for Latino students.

Even more important is that too many Hispanic families don't realize that a college degree can be their ticket out of poverty. Because people with a college degree are more likely to make $1,000,000 dollars more in their lifetime than those who don't graduate from college.

RELATED: Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College

The point of all this is that as parents, we have many powerful tools at our disposal for making college a reality for our kids. Daily conversations is by far, the most impactful tool because it creates a mindset that sets everything else into motion. And we have to start when our kids are little, so they are conditioned to love learning and to view education as one of the keys to a happy life.

Taking this cue from my own mother (and childhood), I've been talking about college with my own kids for years. Even though the are only in 4th and 6th grade now, I can see the impact when my daughter asks me questions about which colleges have the best bioengineering programs, or when they ask me questions on what it was like when I went to college. I love it best when I hear them say things like, "After I get out of college, I'm going to..."

If we talk about our kids going to college starting when they are small, then it becomes a part of their future - they take it for granted that they'll be going to college and will work toward that goal. And as they get closer to it, they'll actively look for other resources to help them with the financial side of things.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is one of the companies that is making it possible for Hispanic students to attend community colleges or large universities. 

Students and parents can visit the The Hispanic Scholarship Fund website to find the latest information and to apply for scholarships. You'll also find the HSFinder, an online tool  to share and find great information about scholarships, financial aid, careers, internships and more. They even have resources for DREAMers.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is supported by many companies across the country, including Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. who is now an official partner. All these companies are showing their support of Hispanic students by financially backing the Hispanic Scholarship Fund so that it can make so many scholarships available.

How much does the Hispanic Scholarship Fund give?

For the last 40 years, they've provided merit-based scholarships to undergrads and graduate students ranging from $500 - $5,000. This type of funding helps pay for tuition costs, living expenses, books, etc.

Please share this with any family and friends who have teenage children that are thinking about going to college! This program could make the difference in whether or not they apply and/or attend.

Here are some important dates for you to remember:

• Scholarship Application opens: January 1
• Recommender Portal opens: January 15
• Recommender Online Form due: March 30
• Scholarship Application closes: March 30
• Notification for Scholarships: June- July
• Scholar/Waitlist Documents due: August- October
• Scholarship Awards disbursed (pending receipt of all required documents): November-December

So what are you waiting for? It's never too early to starting thinking about college! Get over to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and explore all that they have to offer.

And if you are the parent of a college-bound teen, check out all of my posts with resources for you here.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Thanks to the College Board
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

Preparing The Class of 2025

Diego should graduate high school in the year 2025, so the cover of this month's Time Magazine really caught my attention. The two articles in this week's issue ask more questions than I originally had, but enlightened me with a nice history on education and a great number of current facts.

The first one, What Colleges Will Teach in 2025, reports that college students are spending less and less time studying (just above 25 hours a week). At the same time, college education costs are growing at alarming rates. Unfortunately, employers are having a hard time hiring qualified graduates. The math doesn't add up to me and when I read that "higher education is facing a real crisis of effectiveness," I really became worried.

Every state is trying to make sure every teacher is implementing Common Core standards so that our children know the basics in Math and English and know facts about our government and History. I shrink a little when Diego asks me a science question I should know but don't. Should it matter in this day in age? People argue that perhaps we should start focusing on teaching children how to do things instead of memorizing simply for the sake of test taking. Many also say we should hold different people and systems accountable for those results.

One of my favorite things to do is to listen to people discuss pop culture and politics while gracefully moving on to the discussion of a great book. The foundation of the American university education was based on exactly this; well-rounded individuals who knew a lot about everything. The university setting then focused (and spent a great deal of money and resources) on research. It will be interesting to see if it will take a turn to technology intensive education.

The second article, MIT's President: Better, More Affordable Colleges Start Online says that "Digital learning is the most important innovation since the printing press." For us, no question is left unanswered when little Diego is asking. In fact, he knows what tools to use to find it. Children are navigating through technology at a fascinating speed. Is it time to take the next step with higher education?

If there is a way to combine these three evolutionary education eras, then we could (in my opinion) be up to something.

"The most important elements of a true education-are transmitted most effectively face-to-face: the judgement, confidence, humility, and skill in negotiation that comes from hands-on problem solving and teamwork; the perseverance, analytical skill and initiative grow from conducting frontline research; the skill in writing and public speaking that comes from exploring ideas with mentors and peers..."

I want all three of my children to take advantage of every resource available to them. I hope for an affordable education for all our kids that keeps them balanced, questioning, researching and quite simply, just respecting and loving the institution of university.

What worries you about your child's college future? 

Betty Galvan, is helping her readers "find the positive and seek the benefits" over at her blog, MyFriendBettySays.com.

She is the mother of three beautiful little boys and a teacher.

The Final Rumbo al College Webinar Airs Wednesday

This is the final webinar in this four-part series. The bilingual webinars are free to all who register. Click here to sign up and watch.

Thanks to the College Board

The College Board is one of the best and most comprehensive online sites for college-bound students and their families. Their goal is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college. They run a number of College Readiness programs including-

• Advanced Placement (AP®)
• SpringBoard®
• ReadiStep™
• CollegeEd®
• CLEP®
• PSAT/NMSQT®
• EXCELerator™

They also manage the SATs, SAT prep programs, and provide online tools like BigFuture, financial aid and scholarship search options, and a local/national college search.

The reality is that even though more Latino students are applying for and getting accepted to college, many are unprepared and lack the skills necessary to successfully navigate the system and earn a college degree. AP classes not only allow students to develop the skills they'll need for college classes, but they also give students the opportunity to get credit for college courses so that they can concentrate on other subjects or take more advanced classes once they enter.

There have often been critics of Latino students who take Spanish AP classes, but in fact this class is a great introduction to other AP classes and helps to build their confidence making them more likely to enroll in other AP classes. Unfortunately, many Latino students attend low-income schools that do not offer these courses. Teachers may require extra training and materials that schools cannot afford, or do not want to allocate. So the College Board advocates for these opportunities for students across the country.

If you know a high school student who is serious about college, take the time to direct them to the College Board where they'll find plenty of information to help them on their path to higher education.

Other Posts That May Interest You

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

Apply NOW for the #DestapaSuFuturo Scholarship Fund

When I was growing up, I was completely immersed in my culture. Spanish was my first language, and my childhood was filled with culture like Las Posadas, making tamales, driving to our town's tortilla factory to pick up fresh corn tortillas, the smell of chilis in the blender, big family birthdays, piñatas, annual trips to Mexico to visit family or simply to relax, and a million other little things. We moved in with my 'Buelita (she was actually my great-grandmother) when I was about 8 years old, and I spent my nights sleeping curled up next to her short, huggable body, and days playing in the kitchen while she sang and cooked, stirring giant pots bubbling with Mexican culinary masterpieces. 

But my 'Buelita died when I was 12. And after that, I began to lose my culture little by little.

I attended excellent schools, and eventually graduated from college with a degree in English - Writing Emphasis and a minor in Social Work. I didn't know where those fields would take me, because I was working as a zookeeper at the time, but I pursued them anyway. For years they settled quietly in the back of my mind, silent dreams waiting to be put to use.

But when my daughter was born, something beautiful happened. My sweet, love-filled childhood came back with a vengeance. Memories long forgotten surfaced and I was heartbroken that my own children would never know those wonderful traditions, would never experience those cultural ties that bind us together with our families and friends in such meaningful ways. I was afraid that my kids would not learn to think about how others struggled to survive yet found happiness even in hardship. That they would never experience laughter in friendships built on shared culture, traditions, and even language. So I found my college education again and put it to work.

Today I am a writer. I write about education for Latino families. I'm working to make a difference, not just in my own children's lives, but those of others, too. And I was trained by excellent schools, but inspired by my children and my heritage.

If you, or someone you know, is thinking about college, but worried about the financial aspect of it, then you should know about the Coca-Cola #DestapaSuFuturo campaign. Coca-Cola has had an extraordinary relationship with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund for more than 30 years and are committed to helping them meet their goal of having a college degree in every Latino household by the year 2025. Through the Uncap Their Future Scholarship program, more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

From now through October 31st, students can apply for a scholarship at www.hsf.net/cocacola by answering three thought-provoking essay questions. Students must reflect on how their heritage affects their career goals, the importance of education in their lives and their community service experiences.

Hurry and spread the word, because students only have 12 days left to apply for this scholarship!

Be inspired. Make the decision to go to college. Follow your dreams and don't let little (or big!) things hold you back.


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Coca-Cola and Latina Bloggers Connect.

Why My Children's Education Matters



© lenets_tan - Fotolia.com

As a mother of two young children, education is subject that I am extremely passionate about. I know that a good education is the best gift I can give my kids. It provides protection from poverty, increases their self-esteem, and gives them an opportunity to pursue their own dreams.

Earlier this year, I heard education expert Mariela Dabbah say that college graduates typically earn a million dollars or more as adults than those without a degree. I expect this has to do with the fact that college students are motivated to work hard and excel in their field of interest - otherwise, why bother going to college, no? And the fact that the knowledge and training they receive in college makes them better qualified for higher paying positions. And while making money is not really the point I want to emphasize with my kids, it certainly is nice when you can get paid well for making your dreams a reality. 

I've always felt that if you go to college, you're investing in your career. And to me there is a big difference in a career and a job. A job is a place you go to earn some money. You may or may not enjoy it. But a career is where you invest your time, effort, knowledge...in effect, a little part of yourself. You build a reputation and rely on it to provide you with additional opportunities to better yourself and your field.

Education Matters to Me

I know that for me, college was one of the best times of my life. I learned so much about the things I was passionate about and laid the foundation to my current career. (I was an English major with a writing emphasis.) I travelled, met my husband, and learned without a doubt who I was, what I valued, and what I wanted to do with my life.

I want the same for my own children. I want them to find fulfillment in knowing their work is valued, that they've done their best, and made a difference in the world.

I look around me now and see so many people who have lost their focus and are leading lives they have "settled for" rather than ones with which they are joyful and satisfied. I don't want that for my kids. And I know that the one thing I can give them to help them avoid this lackluster future is their education.

In our house, there is no question about whether or not they will go to college. We talk about it openly and they take it for granted. Though they are only in 1st and 3rd grade, I am always keeping an eye out for resources to help me pave their path to higher education.

And I'm always willing to share those resources with you so that you, too, can encourage and support your college-bound children.

Here are a few of the college-bound resources for Latino families that I have shared here on MommyMaestra: 

• Top Five Reasons Why Latino Children Need to Go to College
  
  
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund Makes College a Reality for Latinos
  
  
• The Empowered Community College Student
  
  
• DSST Online Study Guides for High Schoolers
  
  
• CLEP Study Guides for High School Students

Third Latinos Rumbo al College Webinar Airs Tonight

Don't miss tonight's third episode of the four-part bilingual webinar series, Latinos Rumbo al College. Tonight's episode centers around the theme, Finding Mentors and Building a Support System. It will be presented in English at 7 p.m. EDT, followed by the Spanish version at 8:30 p.m. EDT.

Registration is free and is only necessary once for access to all the webinars in the series. Hosted by Mariela Dabbah, an award-winning author and expert on education and career
issues, this bilingual series is geared for both English- and Spanish-speaking families who are interested in sending their children to college, but are wondering if they can afford it financially or have questions about the college application process. Mariela gives sound advice and step-by-step information to help students and their parents make a college degree a reality.

Your Child's Education: Whose Responsibility Is It?

Let me ask you a question: If your child is doing poorly in school, whose fault is it? The school's? Your child's? Yours?

Perhaps a better question would be: Who is responsible for your child's education?

I for one know that I didn't have two kids just so I could send them off to school to sink or swim and wash my hands of their education. In our family, my kids know that education is extremely important. And they know that my husband and I will do whatever we have to do (within our power) to give them a great one.

The fact that we homeschool is a result of circumstance. I live in a failed school district and we chose not to send our kids to schools that are barely passing their students. Yes, we do have a private school nearby, but sending them to it would have required my going back to work and at the time, I still had a little boy who was not old enough to go, too. I was not willing to leave him with strangers. So we decided to give homeschooling a try.

We are lucky because even though we are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, we're able to make it on my husband's salary. Yes, this means we don't get to enjoy a lot of the "extras" that other families do. I don't own a smart phone and we don't have cable/satellite/dish or whatever. My kids are not wearing the latest fashions or playing with $300 toys. But what they do have will last a lot longer.

And even if my kids were in a traditional school setting, I know that their academic success would ultimately depend on me and how involved I am in their education. Studies have shown that parental involvement is one of the keys to academic success. And over the last few years, I have learned about numerous families who have proven this to be true.

Luis Duran, Mariela Dabbah, Luis Duran Sr., and Maria Duran.

Take, for example, the Duran family. A little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Luis and his parents at the Latino Rumbo al College webinar in Orlando. Originally from El Salvador, Maria and Luis Sr. fled the country in 1989 during its civil war. They received political asylum here in the United States, and settled in Arizona where they own a small recycling business. Both of their children, Luis and Jennifer, were born here.

The Durans have been richly rewarded for their involvement in their children's education. Even though they speak very little English, both of their kids received complete scholarships to cover the cost of their college educations.

Luis was the recipient of the $100,000 RMHC/HACER Scholarship in 2009, which is covering his college tuition and helping him earn his degree in housing and community development. Jennifer attended college as a Gates Millenium Scholar and doubled majored in Supply Chain Management and Global Health. She just recently finished her International Business Certificate while studying abroad in Italy for a semester. Her scholarship covered her college expenses, and paid for half of her Masters' tuition. Luis credits his parents for his academic success and claims their involvement and expectations made the difference. His mother always made time to get involved at her kids’ school. She talked regularly with their teachers, sometimes using Luis as an interpreter when the teacher didn’t speak Spanish. She also volunteered for class field trips and other functions so that she could build a relationship with the school staff and stay aware of what was happening in the classroom.

Mrs. Duran says that children have to be programmed. And since they were very young, she always referred to her children as "little lawyers" or "future doctors" to help them see the possibilities in the future and internalize the importance of their education.

So next time you are talking with your children about school and education, be mindful of your words...then do what you can to help them succeed.

Con mucho cariño...

Free, Bilingual Webinar for College-Bound Latino Students

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Friday, June 29th, beginning at 10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT, is the Latinos Rumbo al College webinar. I will be there to cover the event live and will be tweeting, in case you'd like to follow along on Twitter. But it would be even better if you registered (remember - it's FREE!) and watched it live on your computer so that you don't miss any of the information that Mariela Dabbah will provide to help you or your child get on track to college!

Be sure to share this information with any families you know who have a college-bound student in their lives.

Un abrazo!

Free Bilingual Webinar for College-Bound Latinos

I'm so happy to announce that on Friday, June 29th, the first in a series of free bilingual webinars - titled "Latinos Rumbo al College" - for Latino families with college-bound students will take place.

MacDonald's®, Latinos in College, and LULAC National Educational Service Centers have banded together to bring this valuable series to Latino families across the nation. Education expert, Mariela Dabbah, will be presenting information on how students can prepare themselves for college and what resources are available.

Of course, the best part is that this series is free - all you have to do is register once, and you'll be able to login to all of the webinars in the series.

Friday, June 29th is the first webinar. But the Latinos Rumbo al College series will continue in the fall with the following bilingual webinars:

-   "Acing Scholarship Applications" - Wednesday, September 5th
-   "Finding Mentors and Building a Support System" - Wednesday, October 3rd
-   "Mastering the College Application Process" - Wednesday, November 7th

I will be attending the webinar (in person) and sharing some of the information Ms. Dabbah shares, but I would encourage you to watch the webinar on your home computer so that you don't miss anything.

Hope to see you there!

Un abrazo...

Fabulous Resources for College-Bound Latino Families

College is a long way off for my kids, who have just entered kindergarten and 2nd grade. But I have been thinking about it even before they were born. I am determined that they both attend college so that they can pursue the careers of their choice.

Already I feel the stress of the financial burden that comes with putting two kids through college. I worry that my husband and I won't have enough saved for both of them.

But I have hope.

I am fortunate to have friends with older children who are going through the process of applying to various universities, and who are navigating the financial aspect associated with this tremendous endeavor. And lucky for me - and others! - they are sharing their experiences online.

But I also have hope because it seems as though almost every week, I am running across great opportunities for Latino students. The number of scholarships is rising across the country.

Here then, are some of my favorite resources for Latino families with college bound children:

College Bound Latinos™ E-Mentoring Group

Created by NewLatina.net, this group is for parents and students interested in academic success and preparing for college applications. It is composed of individuals who are ready and willing to answer any questions regarding academic success in middle school and high school, as well as information on college applications, financial aid, and college admissions standardized tests. Take the time to scroll through the posts. You'll find some good information.


Mariela Dabbah

Mariela Dabbah is a valuable resource. She is the author of numerous books on education, including Latinos in College: Your Guide to Success. Dabbah is also an education and career coach, as well as an education columnist. One of her websites, Latinos in College, is a goldmine for students and parents, and I would encourage you to follow its Facebook page. She is a smart lady, as you can see from this Mamiverse interview.


Vida y Familia

Univision's Spanish-language, digital magazine is dedicated to education and covers everything related to it: from preschool to college, to science, language and more, you'll find some excellent articles to help guide you through your child's education process. I think my favorite is the "Inspírate" section which shares inspiring stories to help keep parents and students motivated. It also has a huge section on scholarships.

MeEncanta.com

A week ago, I was invited to attend a blogger breakfast with McDonald's. I knew that they were active in the community, but I had no idea the amount of focus they place on education and in helping community educational efforts. Most notable, perhaps, is their RMHC/HACER scholarship, which is one of the largest college scholarship programs for Hispanic students. It has awarded more than $20 million in scholarship funds to nearly 14,000 Hispanic students! (Guau!)

Their bilingual website is wonderful and you can find lots of information about the scholarship, as well as an education guide, videos, and a school planner. McDonald's also works with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) to offer free, bilingual college workshops to Hispanic families across the country.

Con mucho cariño...