MySpace, a social networking site, has long been a place for sexual predators to reach out to our children.  They are now taking a small but important step to help keep the bad guys out.

State attorney generals started mining MySpace accounts a few years ago in search of predators.  In North Carolina alone, 29,000 were identified.  MySpace took those names down.

MySpace has now agreed to work with 49 state attorneys to verify the identities and ages of people who use the site.  There are over 300 million MySpace accounts that exist currently.  There is a minimum age of 14 to open an account, but the challenge has been finding the adults posing as teens and luring unsuspecting children.  Since MySpace is doing something about this, it might scare off predators from even thinking about using this website as a lure.

Physical fitness has tangible effects on classroom performance, says a new study….

What’s the Latest?  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveyed 5,000 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade and found that girls who got from 70 to 300 minutes of physical education per week scored consistently higher on standardized tests.  More exercise also translated into increased classroom participation and concentration skills.

What about Boys?  The study found no correlation between gym class and test scores for boys, but that may be because elementary-school-age males tend to be more active outside school.  And according to the CDC, boys are often more physically fit than girls, meaning gym-class dodgeball might not be enough to give them the same beneficial physiological effects. 

Why Does it Matter?  Many school districts are slashing PE to meet budgets; math and reading are what count on standardized tests–and in assessing schools’ performance under No Child Left Behind.  As a result, most kids have gym class only once or twice a week.  The lack of physical exercise could be adversely affecting girls’ academic development.

College tours are an important part of the college application process. This month we provide some suggestions to help you and your teenager take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Checking out the website is a great starting point and will help your daughter rule a college in or out. Some websites even have student blogs that offer a unique insider’s view. Various criteria should be considered including how competitive the school is, location (urban, suburban, or rural), proximity to home, religious affiliation, single-sex institution, and the size of the school.

Once your teen has narrowed down the list of prospective schools, find out each one’s policy regarding information sessions and campus tours and at what times and days of the week they are offered. Many schools require advance registration either by email or by phone. Let your son or daughter make the appointments - this helps them take ownership of the process. If a school conducts interviews, have him or her schedule that also. (Be sure to dress appropriately for an interview.

* Organize the itinerary. Limit yourself to visiting not more than two colleges on the same day - more than that can be overwhelming. Allow time to visit the surrounding area since that too will be a part of your child’s college experience. * Leave much younger siblings behind if at all possible. Make other arrangements for your younger children who may grow fidgety during information sessions and may not be able to keep up with the often brisk pace of campus tours.*Brainstorm with your son or daughter about questions

they may want to ask the admissions personnel or the campus tour guides. Encourage your teen to take notes during the information session.* Parents, try to take a back seat. Let your son introduce himself to the college admissions rep and ask questions after the information session.  If your son is having an interview with the admissions office, let him be the one to check in with the receptionist.

* Be curious. Explore the campus after the tour is over. Check out the student union or have coffee at a campus café. Walk over to the playing fields or stadium. Stop by the academic department that interests you. Strike up a conversation with a student (even if it is just to ask directions) so that you can open the door to asking him about his major, whether he lives on or off-campus, the social life on campus, athletics, the neighboring community, etc.

*Last, but not least, have fun!These road trips present a unique opportunity to bond with your teen as she considers her options and faces important decisions about her future.

Although an entire class can sit through the same presentation, not everyone receives the information in the same way. Do you know which way you learn best? Identifying this can help you improve your learning technique and can even improve your grades.

There are three main styles of learning, and most students fall into one of these three categories: auditory learning, tactile/kinesthetic learning, or visual learning.

Auditory learners are more receptive to presentations that are oral.  Do you find that the information in class is easier to absorb if the teacher stands at the front the room and talks about a subject?  Do you find that you are quicker to understand information given on audio tape or MP3?  If so, one way of making your grades better would be to record yourself reading from the text book of any subjects that you find particularly difficult, and then listening to the spoken word – because of your learning style you may find that it makes the subjects easier to understand.

Tactile/kinesthetic learners on the other hand learn best in a hands-on environment.  They understand the physical form and being able to touch the material allows them to understand the subject matter easier.  Unfortunately this isn’t the easiest of learning styles to work with in a school setting as many subject areas don’t easily lend themselves to a tactile approach – and school resources may limit those subjects that do.  Consider how you can make a tactile model for subjects you find difficult and then use this to increase your understanding of it.

Visual learners are best with things they can see.  They much prefer the written word or illustrative diagrams to listening to a teacher speak.  Books and charts are the best educational tools for those of you who have this learning style, and therefore you ought to do well in a school environment.  Classes that provide handouts, or use an overhead projector will be your best classroom experiences, but for those where handouts aren’t given, your own notes should provide the best source of information for homework.

If you aren’t sure which learning style you have, pay attention to how you learn next time you’re in a classroom.  Familiarize yourself with each style beforehand, and then try to follow each style in turn to investigate which one of them gives you the easier learning experience.  Once you identify it, and can use this style more thoroughly in your school work, you’ll find that you’ll understand things faster and consequently should see an improvement in your grades.