Gov. Sarah Palin came into the national spotlight in September, 2008 and so did her small hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. Americans in the 'Lower 48,' as named by Alaskans, were given a crash course on Alaska and all things Alaskan. This has started dreams of snow machine races and moose stew in the heads of some of my friends and I'm sure, many of you reading this article.

Obtaining the services of a private tutor is an excellent choice to help your child if they are falling behind in school or lacking motivation and confidence. The time spent with a private tutor can provided the needed skills to boost student's grades, attitude and performance. Keep in mind, however, that there are certain things a professional private tutor cannot, or will not, do for your child.

Strategic thinking is a most valuable skill for children to develop. It requires the ability to observe, take in different pieces of information, analyze information, plan and analyze possible solutions and select appropriate actions.

Strategic thinking is a form of problem solving. Everyday we are required to solve problems. Everyday we need solutions.

I want to share a secret with you, and it is probably the biggest secret of the adult world; no matter how much you study or how well you do in school, most employers will only care about the fact that you finished. Many employers will ask to see a diploma or transcript only to verify that you have completed something. While a diploma can do this, nothing shows your accomplishment or the potential ability to hold down a strong work load like a transcript.

The end result of years of schooling for many is the coveted diploma. A simple piece of paper signifies an accomplishment reflecting years of work and toil. For many, achieving this through high school is impossible due to real life butting in, so another route is available, the GED. Even here, people still tend to find difficulty completing the necessary requirements for that single piece of paper on time.

National Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated for 39 years on September 17, 2007. Enacted into law on that day in 1968, this Public Law set aside a week to honor our Spanish-speaking citizens. When the 100th Congress enacted a new Public Law, the celebration period increased to 31 days, from September 15, 2008 to October 15.

The initiative for National Hispanic Heritage Month is an acknowledgement of the over 45 million Americans of Hispanic origin.

I remember the listening center I set up in my elementary school classroom as if it was yesterday. It was my first year of teaching, and I was so proud of that blue denim beanbag chair and cassette tape listening station that I had put together to introduce Spanish to my second graders. I had decided not to subject the little seven year olds to me singing acappella on the tapes I made at home, but I did incorporate some rhythmic beat to make the learning easier.

Going back to school can be stressful for kids. They've had all summer to have fun, but now they have to focus on learning. A little pick me up can do wonders for their attitude toward school.

1. Start with a good breakfast.

There's a reason why "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is such a cliche. It's true. If your family consistently has trouble making time for breakfast in the morning, try getting up a bit earlier.

Everyone Loves Exploring - Whether your ideal place to explore is a deep dark jungle, a long, sandy deserted beach or a marketplace in a distant, exotic land, we all have an idyllic place that we could spend hours and hours exploring and making wonderful discoveries.

Children are certainly keen explorers too, perhaps even keener than adults.

For many children, math is neither fun nor easy. Many children find it difficult and uninteresting and unfortunately this attitude can lead to less chance of success and further distress. But changing a negative attitude towards math into a positive one can be as easy as making math more fun.

One of the best ways to do this is with the use of math games.