Why Our Academic Solutions Fail – Part IV: Addressing Nora’s Skill Deficit Problem

Nora was required to meet with me as a condition of her academic probation status. She’d missed several days of class and had a .8 GPA at the end of her first semester of college. Her serial absences gave her professors a seemingly clear signal that she was disinterested in college. However, after getting a more holistic perspective, I realized that Nora’s inability …

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: A Crucial Reading Comprehension Goal

You’ve undoubtedly seen one of the many versions of the Think Global, Act Local bumper stickers. The tagline is a crafty rallying cry that reminds people to consider the health of the entire planet, but to take action in their communities. The simple slogan is brilliant, as it communicates a problem that can seem overwhelming in an empowering way. It’s convincing …

5 Ways to Help Students Turn Days of Reckoning Into Days of Redemption

Many college students will face a “day of reckoning.” This is a period in their academic experience when the weight of their academic shortcomings nearly crushes them. That day for some is when their study routine generates C’s instead of A’s. For others it is when they are placed on academic probation, dismissed from a program or worse. These are …