Curious Cardinals Blog

Your student's areas of greatest challenge can become their areas of greatest strength.

Heroes in comic books and movies usually have colorful backstories -- you have the antiheroes, the unlikely heroes, and your bit-by-a-radioactive spider heroes. 🕸️

Meet the culprit crushing your student's curiosity and confidence.

In the 1990s, Yale researcher Suniya Luthar began studying the lives of American teenagers affected by poverty, crime and substance abuse. In search of a control group to compare her findings, she uncovered a shocking truth: affluent suburban teenagers were struggling more with substance abuse and mental health than less privileged peers. 

This week we’re peering into the future of K-12 education, sharing how you can empower your student beyond the classroom.

Does school ever feel like a 9-5 job your student just punches in and out of? 

"Mother knows best"? Not according to your kid.

You know your child has so much potential, but they hesitate to put themselves out there. You remind them of all their great qualities -- they brush it off! Or you highlight their talent in XYZ -- they play it down. You make a suggestion to try XYZ activity that would be perfect for them, and they immediately push back. You just want them to thrive... so WHY won't they just listen to you?

Does it feel like a million things are being thrown at you right now?

Just when you think you're going to have a real date night or a free evening to relax at home, you get an email from the school, and your calendar is booked solid again.

I'll never forget New Year's Day 2023 - as I looked at my dusty, unfinished goals journal entry from 2022, I realized something had to change. I needed to set meaningful, achievable goals I could actually accomplish in the next 365 days.

Here at Curious Cardinals, we talk a lot about kids being afraid of failure. They're so used to being stacked up against Friday's test or a classmate's amazing science project -- the school environment is competitive, teachers are usually out of touch, and in general, failing or imperfection are discouraged.

In the 1990s, Yale researcher Suniya Luthar began studying the lives of American teenagers affected by poverty, crime, and substance abuse. In search of a control group to compare her findings, she uncovered a shocking truth: affluent suburban teenagers were struggling more with substance abuse and mental health than less privileged peers.¹

This week on theCurious Cardinalsblog, we'll hear from dynamic college admissions expert Ian Fisher as he shares his best tips for high school students and their families.

I have spent hundreds of hours mentoring middle and high school students on their writing. My key observation? They conflate eloquent writing with complex vocabulary.