We have a few new members of our staff this year, and we would love to take a moment to introduce them to you!

CHELSE SHAUM

Chelsea Shaum teaches Art 1, Art 2, Art Foundations, and Photography. This will be her fifth year teaching. In the past, she has taught Graphic Design and Photography (beginning through advanced) at Weber High in Ogden, Utah. Before that, she was a Special Education aid in an Elementary school and a substitute teacher. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights Academy is the ability she is given “to help people gain and progress in their talents and to be creative and see art and life in a new way.”

JENN BEECHER

Jenn Beecher teaches Social Studies and is an adviser for the Creativity Club. She has been a teacher for nine years. She taught history for eight years in California at a Title 1 school with over 3,500 students. Jenn also served as the activities director overseeing all activities at the school. She also oversaw the leadership class where she trained and developed leadership abilities in the high school students. She worked for a year at a wilderness therapy program in Arizona with youth and taught them how to work through difficulties they were facing in their lives. Her favorite part about teaching is “building relationships with the students and watching them grow and learn!”

JULIE STOKER

Julie Stoker is a Mathematics teacher at Mountain Heights Academy. She has been teaching for eight years. Prior to her experience at Mountain Heights Academy, she taught at Churchill Junior High for 7 years, teaching seventh to ninth grade. She attended BYU and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Math Education. She loves teaching and her favorite thing about Mountain Heights Academy is “Working with the students!”

KAISA FREEMAN

Kaisa Freeman is a School Counselor for Mountain Heights Academy. She brings nine years of experience to the table. Kaisa has experience counseling in all grades, K-12. In addition to her work at Mountain Heights Academy, she also oversees the Kid’s Ministry at her church called “The Well.” She enjoys working with students of all ages and likes to see them learning new things. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights Academy is “being able to help students and parents. I love sharing tools with students and empowering them to be successful in their educational journey.”

KATE PLEWE

Kate Plewe is a Special Education teacher for Mountain Heights Academy. This is her fourth year as a teacher in the industry, and she has experience with private sector instruction and with students ranging from moderate to severe in their support needs. She brings a very family focused, community perspective to her teaching. She has worked with special needs students as an occupational therapy assistant, Special Olympics coordinator, and recreational support provider for families of students who have graduated. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights Academy is “watching students find success and thrive because our unique online environment has been so rewarding. I’ve seen struggling students experience the internal reward of achieving placement on the honor roll for the first time. That is a tremendous transformation to watch!”

KATHRYN ABBOT

Kathryn Abbot teaches Reading and Study Skills at Mountain Heights Academy. She has three years of experience in the education field, and has worked as a substitute ESL teacher for adults. Due to her experience, Kathryn has learned unique ways to connect with students and present material in understandable ways. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights Academy is the chance she gets to spend more time with individual students. “In a traditional school setting, a teacher might have five minutes to spend with a struggling student between teaching a lesson, helping other kids, and having to do it all over again in sixty minutes. During my office hours, I can work with a student for twenty minutes if that’s what they need.”

KATIE HACKETT

Katie Hackett is a Music Teacher at Mountain Heights Academy. She has five years of experience as a music teacher. She has a broad musical education background, including receiving a French Horn Music Scholarship to BYU-I. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights academy is “being able to teach music from a new angle. Teaching online is a way for me to continue my teaching career while also being able to be home with my children.”

LORA GIBBONS

Lora Gibbons is a seventh grade Science and PE teacher at Mountain Heights Academy. She received her degree over 15 years ago, taught for six, and is now getting back into the swing of things. She has taught eighth grade Science, Biology, Medical Anatomy/Physiology, Physical Science, and Ecology. She ran a grant for Shelby County Schools in Tennessee that was funded through the EPA to help clean up storm water. She also taught at Alpine Academy, a school for at risk girls. Her favorite thing about Mountain Heights is the students. “I love to see them participate and love what they learn. I love to see them get excited and share with me their experiments. I love to meet with them weekly to make sure they understand the material. They are why I LOVE teaching.”

MEGAN ELLISON

Megan Ellison works at Mountain Heights Academy as a Paraprofessional and Tutor. She is just starting her career in education. In college, she was a tutor and during high school finished internships in elementary schools. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Her favorite part about working for Mountain Heights Academy is that she can work from home and spend more time with her daughter, Laura.

SHANNA HAWS

Shanna Haws is a FACS Teacher at Mountain Heights Academy, teaching Child Development, Foods 1/2, CTE Intro, and Teen Living. She has been in the education sphere for five years. She has taught almost every FACS course available: Foods 1&2, Clothing 1&2, Fashion Strategies, CE Interior Design, Child Development, Pro Start 1&2, Teen Living, and CTE Intro. Shanna has also worked extensively with FCCLA, and even took a group of students to the National Leadership Conference in Washington, DC last summer. She has coached many successful Pro Start and FCCLA culinary teams. Her favorite thing about working at Mountain Heights Academy is “Working with young adults as they figure out what they want to do with their lives. I am passionate about helping students discover what they are passionate about. I also love teaching subjects that teach valuable life skills.”

TAREN GOING

Taren Going is a Math teacher at Mountain Heights Academy. She has been teaching for the past three years. She has extensive research experience in physics and mathematical modeling, and a love for numbers and learning! Her favorite thing about working with Mountain Heights Academy is “getting to work one-on-one with students.”

TIFFANY SWENSON

Tiffany Swenson teaches Biology and Chemistry at Mountain Heights Academy. She started teaching in the fall of 1998, and has been working with students ever since. She has taught a variety of science courses to students in grades 6-12. Her favorite subject to teach is Cellular and Molecular Biology. In addition to teaching, she spent a few summers studying Molecular Biology at the University of Arizona. She loves working at Mountain Heights Academy because “I enjoy working with kids and getting to know them. My students are constantly teaching me new things.”

Many people don’t like math. And that is completely understandable. Math can be hard. There are complicated rules and expectations, and if math doesn’t immediately click in your mind, it can be extremely frustrating. However, figuring out math problems can be a rewarding experience.

Find Joy in the Journey

Math is typically taught as an application of formulas; however, it’s more about figuring out how to solve problems. If you start appreciating the path math takes you on rather than just trying to get the right answer, you will start to enjoy math more. Don’t be afraid to try new things and to take risks.

Be a Detective

This goes along with finding joy in the journey. Math is about patterns and making connections. Decide to see math as detective work rather than drudgery and you may actually have a bit of fun.

Be Ok With Being Wrong

Many people hate math because they are afraid of being wrong. Until you figure out how the formulas and equations work, you might make mistakes and become frustrated. However, as soon as you allow yourself to be ok being wrong, you may find that math is clever and fun.

Learn to Appreciate Math

You know that little device in your hand that is full of unlimited knowledge (and which you use to look at cat videos)? Without math, your smart phone would not exist. Math makes travel, astronomy, air conditioning, architecture and even sewing possible. Even if you don’t feel like you will be the next Albert Einstein, you can still learn to appreciate math for how it benefits your life.

Find the Steps

Every math problem requires a process to solve it. When you stare at a problem, it may seem daunting if you have no idea how to get from A to Z. But just like the alphabet, math has a prescribed pattern to follow. Don’t hate your teachers for making you show your work – it just familiarizes you further with the math process.

Try to Make the Problem Relatable

We’ve all run into those crazy problems that go something like this “Johnny needs to buy 35 watermelons. They cost $7.50 each. There is a sale, however, that for every five watermelons you buy, you receive the sixth one half price. How much will all 35 watermelons cost?” While we highly doubt that we will find you shopping for 35 watermelons all at once, find a way to make the problem relatable. What if you were buying movie tickets, train tickets, or even gasoline for your car?

Mountain Heights Academy offers a personal learning environment. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about looking silly if you don’t know the answer, because you get one on one tutoring. Your teachers are also available to answer any questions you might have with your homework, during office hours, or by appointment. They are there to help you tolerate (and maybe also enjoy) math.

Another year has come and gone, and it is again time to make New Year’s Resolutions. While most people make the resolution to eat healthier and to lose weight, you can also make a school-related resolution. Remember to make a plan to accomplish your New Year’s Resolution so that you can actually fulfill it. Below are five school-related resolutions that you should consider for the upcoming New Year.

Actually Read the Assigned Material

We know that you’re guilty of this one. Whether you are supposed to read a textbook, work of literature, or article, most of the time you just skim it. Make a resolution to read all of your assigned material this year, instead of jumping onto SparkNotes. We’d be willing to bet that your grades will increase as a result.

Minimize Distractions While Studying

If you are an avid Snapchatter-while-studying, you should make a resolution to stop it. Decide that you will study distraction-free this new year. Put down your phone, turn down the music, turn off the TV, and close the door. Designate study time, and make sure that you do just that, study.

Get Better Grades

Resolve to get better grades this year. Make sure that you create a plan to help you accomplish this goal. Do you need to devote more time to studying, talk to your teachers more often, or do you need to discipline yourself better? Figure out what you need to do to get better grades, and do it!

Stop Procrastinating

Mountain Heights Academy gives you the incredible opportunity to make your own schedule, so that you can do your coursework when it is convenient for you. However, if you procrastinate your school work, you will be incredibly stressed at the end of the school year. Make a goal to make a school-work schedule, and then make sure that you stick to it.

Believe In Yourself

If you struggle with a certain course, be it math, history, science, etc. and your self-doubt is holding you back, decide to change your negative mindset and believe in yourself. Quit thinking things like “I can’t do this,” “I’m not as smart as so-and-so,” “I’ll never get accepted to the college I want to go to anyway,” and “I just don’t get good grades.” When it comes to getting good grades, believing in yourself is half the battle, so make a resolution to believe in yourself this year.

The stress and pressure applying to colleges may seem daunting, but it is easier than you think. Stay organized by planning ahead and your application process will be a breeze. Use the tips below to help simplify your application process and increase your chances of being accepted to the college of your choice.

Don’t Apply If You Won’t Go There

There is no point in applying for a college you are not going to attend. You will just stress yourself out trying to get everything done in time, and your applications for schools that you do want to attend will suffer. Also, college applications can be quite pricey, so use your money wisely. Instead of applying everywhere, do your research and decide upon a few colleges that you actually want to attend. If you are unsure, narrow your choices to the top four to six colleges that you are interested in, and only apply to those.

Submit Early

Make sure you know the submission deadlines for every college you’ll be applying to as they often vary. Many colleges even have a different deadline for scholarship applications than they do for general admission, so if you are applying for scholarships make sure you meet that deadline as well. College Simply puts out a list of application deadlines each year for nearly every college in the United States, so check with their list to see when deadlines are. Of course, it is also a good idea to check with each college’s admission board for exact dates. Always try to submit your application early. Your application is more likely to get a more thorough review if you submit it early, as colleges receive thousands of applications on the due date, while they only receive a couple in the weeks prior to the deadline. Unfortunately, if you are looking to apply for the 2016/2017 deadline, many application deadline dates have already passed. However, some colleges have multiple application deadlines throughout the year.

Read the Instructions

Every college application is a little bit different. Make sure you fully read the instructions before submitting your application. Also, don’t write one essay and then change a few details and use it for all of your applications. Every college asks for different things in each essay, so make sure that you meet ALL of the requirements.

For more tips and tricks, check out our next post, More Tips For Applying To Colleges.

As you are applying for colleges, you can quickly get lost in a sea of to-dos. Remember to stay organized and submit early. Also, remember to submit your transcript request form by visiting our “Counselor’s Corner” tab on the Mountain Heights website so that we can send it along to the college(s) of your choice. Read below for a few more tips to help you as you apply for college.

Remember: Quality > Quantity

When you are applying for college, it is far more important to submit quality work than it is to make your application as long as possible. It is better to write a shorter, concise and overall excellent essay than it is to write as many unnecessary words as you can. Make sure your college applications are clear and to the point. This also applies to information that you put on your application, including extracurricular activities. While you may want to put everything that you have ever done on your college application, it is smarter to put focused, relevant and exceptional accomplishments on your application than many obscure and meaningless activities.

Proofread Your Essays

Nothing is more embarrassing than submitting an essay to a college with glaring typos. Before even thinking about submitting, make sure you check and recheck your essays for errors. It may be helpful to get someone else to review your essays, as they might catch something that you missed. We recommend typing your essay in a word processing program, and then after you have edited it, paste it into the proper field on the application. Some colleges prefer that you attach the essay instead, so make sure that you read the instructions!

Get Good Grades Now

Applying for college is now more competitive than ever. Every GPA point is crucial in giving you a competitive advantage. While one “C” grade is not going to make or break your college career, consistently poor grades will. Make sure you stay focused in school and do everything that you can to raise your GPA. Being a student of Mountain Heights Academy gives you an incredible advantage, as you can work at your own pace to achieve scholastic success.

Ask for Letters of Recommendation Early

If you need letters of recommendation for your college application (and you probably will), make sure you ask your teacher, employer, or mentor early on. Tell them the exact date that you will be submitting your application and what day you will need them to give it to you by. Be sure to follow up with them after a few days to make sure they remember to write you one. Also, ask someone who will give you a positive letter rather than a negative one. In fact, it might not hurt to verify that your recommender is willing to provide a positive recommendation. If not, find someone else!

Just a better educational environment

My son was struggling in Middle School. The environment was bad, the teachers didn't seem to care, and his grades showed it. Halfway through the year, desperate for another option, I moved him to Mountain Heights Academy. In six months, his grades went from Cs, Ds and Fs to straight As. He is happier. He is more confident. And he is learning more than he was in his previous school. Seeing him succeed tells me we made the right choice. I'm grateful for the options Mountain Heights afforded us.

Teresa J.

Learn on their own pace and schedule

Mountain Heights Academy has been a tremendous blessing for our family! My two high school teens love the ability to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. Mountain Height’s online program has turned out to be more interactive than we initially thought it would be and their teachers are excellent and very quick to respond to requests for guidance. The flexibility has allowed Rebecca to be on track to not only earn her high school diploma, but also her associates degree when she graduates from Mountain Heights Academy. Additionally, because my daughter Rebecca has special medical needs as a Type I Diabetic, it has given me peace of mind to ensure that she receives proper care.

Kelly A.

An environment of learning

We were at a point with one of our children, where putting her in a "brick and mortar" school would have been detrimental to her learning because of her advanced level. When we discovered this school, we were thrilled that it allows the flexibility to progress and work ahead at the student's pace instead of waiting for others to catch up. It provides teacher interaction, learning in a comfortable environment and the ability for one-on-one tutoring while learning. Mountain Heights promotes an environment of learning through service projects, as they strive to focus on the student. My belief is that his type of learning provides a "window" into the "college view" and will become the norm vs. the alternative one day. Our family has benefited greatly as a result of our association with Mountain Heights.

Marci H.

We know exactly what needs to be done daily

We were so excited about the opportunity Mountain Heights Academy presented for us. My son had a lot of struggles in public school and his ADD, anxiety and test anxiety issues brought many frustrations to his experience. He’d forget to bring his assignments, homework, books, pencils, etc. to class or home and I wouldn’t be able to help him because he couldn’t remember the assignment instructions! It was a struggle for everyone. The teachers at our neighborhood school had their hands so full that I didn’t feel it was appropriate to expect more from them than they were already giving. So I had to find a solution for Nathan.Mountain Heights Academy gave us the opportunity to have all the assignments and materials on one laptop instead of juggling multiple books, papers and tools that were easy to lose track of. At Mountain Heights we know exactly what needs to be done daily and the instructions and text are all available at the touch of a button. The lesson plans are fun, interesting, and there is a great variety of courses to choose from. The teachers are always available and always helpful, responsive, and supportive. My son has gone from a D average to As and Bs. He is very happy and his confidence has increased. He has many friends through this school and we have lots of administrative support as well. I am very satisfied with our experience and would recommend this school to anyone.

Kelly B.

More than just getting a grade

It's more geared towards learning something, rather than just getting a grade and turning in assignments

Brenden

Rigorous curriculum and use of technology

I am thrilled with the rigorous curriculum that uses technology in a forward thinking manner. The teacher feedback is specific and timely and I am thrilled with the types of assignments. I see my son learning to articulate his ideas in a more mature manner and I have also been excited about the online discussions. From my perspective, they give normally very quiet kids a chance to participate, which is something that would not happen in a typical classroom

Rick S.

Who wouldn’t want to learn like this?

I love this kind of learning just because it is so flexible. And you can always make sure that you are understanding all of your lessons. It’s one-on-one learning, on your own time, and wherever you want! Who wouldn't want to learn like this?

Corrine

We watch our daughter enjoying school for the first time in her life

School has always been an anxiety-producing experience for my daughter, so, as always, last summer we were trying to figure out someway to help her have a better school experience, it seemed that Mountain Heights Academy would be a good fit for my daughter. Little did I know that it would be a lifesaver for her. She is a very good student and because traditional public education sometimes did not meet her needs academically, we loved how a student can work at their individual pace at Mountain Heights. My husband and I have literally experienced tears of joy as we watch her enjoying school for the first time in her life. Mountain Heights Academy provided the flexibility that we needed for her particular situation. We have been so impressed! We feel her level of learning is so much higher and we can’t believe how responsive and available the teachers have been. A few times I have picked up my phone and one of her teachers was calling me. Wow! That normally doesn’t happen. We can’t say enough good about Mountain Heights

Cherie S.

Amazing group of educators and administrators

Thank you all so much for accommodating our son and being so kind to him. He feels your care and concern and it has made a huge difference in his stress level, especially on his sick days. We have never met such a wonderful group of teachers and administrators!! We feel so lucky and blessed to be a part of this school. The encouragement and understanding you give him has been so helpful and I just want to say "THANK YOU!" to all of you.

Susan P.

My teachers care about me

I don't even know where to begin. The two little words of thank you are not big enough. When we left the office a couple weeks ago, he told me, "Mom, this is the first time I have ever felt like a school or my teachers have really cared about me".

DJS

Nothing like my previous school

I just wanted to point out how great of a year it’s been at Mountain Heights. Honestly, it’s been a life changing experience. I have not received education like this before–this is NOTHING like my previous online school.  This school certainly debunks myths about online schooling. I always get help whenever I ask for it. The teachers are a big factor on what make this possible.

Jizelle

Mountain Heights teaches me to manage my time wisely

Mountain Heights Academy works for me because I don't have to worry about waiting for the rest of my class to finish an assignment to move on and I also don't have to rush through assignments. I now have a lot more time to do the things I love most, like spending time with my family and cooking. I love the flexibility I have with Mountain Heights because it holds me responsible for what I do with my time, which will help me greatly when I am an adult.

Amanda J.

A unique way to combine global awareness and intimacy

Your constant presence, encouragement and the individualized educational catering you have provided for my son has far exceeded traditional expectations, and has indicated your intent to educate the minds and nurture the hearts of your students. I have felt encouraged by the content, standards and inquiry model that you provide for your students. I love the open courseware resources and the immediate access your students have to their teachers. You've found a unique way to combine global awareness and intimacy. I am glad that my son got the opportunity to be involved in the space you've created and I hope he will remember the sense of "somebodiness" that you all communicated to him"

Lisa T.

A credit to Utah’s charter community

I have been researching virtual charter schools as part of my work in Tennessee. This school is without a doubt top ranked, extremely well run and a credit to Utah’s charter community, in fact all public schools in Utah.

Matt T.

Mountain Heights Academy is my perfect school

I have been to a different school nearly every single year of my life trying to find the “perfect” school. Mountain Heights Academy is my perfect school. This is my second year at Mountain Heights Academy and the teachers here are amazing! They call me weekly just to check up on me and offer to tutor me whenever I am struggling. The courses and curriculum are great. It is easy to navigate and understand the material and if I don’t understand something, my teachers are only a video call away!

Michael D.

Students are individuals and when it comes to educational styles, one size does not fit all

Students are individuals and when it comes to educational styles, one size does not fit all. My daughter starts working on a subject, delves deeply into the material and she becomes so deep in thought or involved in her work that she would does not register what was going on around her. The class would be busy working on math for about 30 to 40 minutes and she would become heavily invested in the subject. After the allotted time, the teacher would indicate that it was time to pull out the history book. Everyone else would do so, but my daughter was so involved in the math work, taking time to think things over carefully and work out each problem with care, that she did not even register the teacher’s verbal instructions. As a result, her grades reflected very poorly on her actual abilities.I spent a great deal of time searching for a school that made an effort to post all assignments online so that I as a parent could assist her in identifying what work she needed to accomplish on any given day. Mountain Heights Academy came online offering an education alternative.All of the common concerns you would expect when considering attending an online school had been addressed by the forward-thinking educators who designed this model school: interaction between teachers and students? Addressed through the use of Google Chat, online white-boarding, video presentations, texting, proactive phone calls, and more. In person interaction among students, i.e. social skills? Addressed through frequent live activities that include service opportunities, dances, political participation and more. Too much time in front of the computer? Addressed through P.E. classes that require actual physical work, and the opportunity for students along with their parents to determine the pace of how work is completed, allowing enough time for breaks from the computer. Interaction between educators and parents? Addressed by creating an atmosphere of working together to help each child succeed, and by hiring energetic and caring professionals who are as responsive as possible to the needs of the families who have chosen Mountain Heights Academy as their education vehicle.

Students are individuals and when it comes to educational styles, one size does not fit all

Students are individuals and when it comes to educational styles, one size does not fit all. My daughter starts working on a subject, delves deeply into the material and she becomes so deep in thought or involved in her work that she would does not register what was going on around her. The class would be busy working on math for about 30 to 40 minutes and she would become heavily invested in the subject. After the allotted time, the teacher would indicate that it was time to pull out the history book. Everyone else would do so, but my daughter was so involved in the math work, taking time to think things over carefully and work out each problem with care, that she did not even register the teacher’s verbal instructions. As a result, her grades reflected very poorly on her actual abilities.I spent a great deal of time searching for a school that made an effort to post all assignments online so that I as a parent could assist her in identifying what work she needed to accomplish on any given day. Mountain Heights Academy came online offering an education alternative.All of the common concerns you would expect when considering attending an online school had been addressed by the forward-thinking educators who designed this model school: interaction between teachers and students? Addressed through the use of Google Chat, online white-boarding, video presentations, texting, proactive phone calls, and more. In person interaction among students, i.e. social skills? Addressed through frequent live activities that include service opportunities, dances, political participation and more. Too much time in front of the computer? Addressed through P.E. classes that require actual physical work, and the opportunity for students along with their parents to determine the pace of how work is completed, allowing enough time for breaks from the computer. Interaction between educators and parents? Addressed by creating an atmosphere of working together to help each child succeed, and by hiring energetic and caring professionals who are as responsive as possible to the needs of the families who have chosen Mountain Heights Academy as their education vehicle.

More help than at a regular school

People are really surprised when I tell them I get more help than I would at a regular school.

Mackenzie

Mountain Heights Academy has been a blessing to me and my son

My son was having a wonderful, normal childhood with lots of friends and traditional school was working just fine. Then two extremely challenging things happened that upset the balance of our family, negatively impacting my son’s ability to do well. He was failing his classes and people were not understanding, mean and pushed him away. When I heard about Mountain Heights Academy, I was a little apprehensive about the concept and if it was the “real deal,” however, I have been pleasantly surprised because my son has applied himself and is an honor students. I normally don’t write letters like this, but am so impressed with what you are doing for our community and for my boy. Mountain Heights Academy has been a blessing to me and my son.

Name Withheld

From the projects to the activities, I’ve loved it all!

Mountain Heights Academy is a great fit for everyone, whether they want to be involved for a more flexible schedule or just being able to stay home while doing school, it is all around fantastic. I swim and snowboard, so the flexibility that Mountain Heights offers has come in very handy. It allows me to review media, send in the assignment and receive real-time feedback on the same day which makes it easy to see if I want to improve my grade. The overall experience I’ve had at Mountain Heights Academy has been outstanding. From the projects to the activities, I’ve loved it all!

Ashlyn H.

Structured, but flexible

In my own humble opinion, Mountain Heights Academy is the best high school ever. It is more structured than home school, but more flexible than public school. We take field trips, do service learning projects, have class officers and even fun activities like “Crazy Hair Day”. You can totally have the whole social aspect of high school if you want it.

Jessica W.

A school for all kids

It's a school for all kids. They have whatever level they need. If your kids do want to get ahead, they can do that. If they have a harder time, they're willing to work with you.

Mary Ann

It’s still regular high school but I can work on my own schedule.

I’ve done my local school and it just didn’t seem like it was working for me. I hated sitting in that hard desk almost all day long. I really like Mountain Heights Academy because it’s still regular high school but I can work on my own schedule. I can do my work on my bed and take breaks when I need to.

Amber R.

I was always rushing school, until now.

At Mountain Heights, I get the quality education that I have always wanted. In my other school, I felt like I was rushing myself, trying to get everything done in a short period of time. Here, I can pace myself, I don’t have to rush and I do better than I did at the local school.

Emily L.

There are five identified learning styles, or preferences: auditory, visual, kinesthetic, social and intrapersonal. Note that auditory, visual, and kinesthetic are one category of learners, while social and intrapersonal are another. Students can be categorized in multiple learning preferences, and even if you lean more toward one preference, you can still learn to use the other preferences to your advantage. Understanding your learning preference can help you study more efficiently, learn more quickly, and improve your grades.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners learn best by listening to material. They are good at finding patterns in speech and recalling what they have heard. They prefer to discuss material rather than to write about it. If you are an auditory learner, it may be useful for you to read your textbooks out loud and to record yourself talking through your notes for review later on. To study more efficiently, you should also minimize auditory distractions, such as music and background noise.

Visual Learners

Visual learners learn by seeing the information. This type of learner likes to read and is good at gleaning information from things that they watch, like television shows or video lectures. If you are a visual learner, it will benefit you to take detailed notes for later review. Visual learners should experiment with color coordinating their notes to make information stand out and using flashcards to help them memorize material. They may also want to try minimizing visual distractions in their workspace, such as clutter or background video.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners are typically referred to as “hands on” learners. These students learn best by immersing themselves in the material with hands-on experiments and by their own trial and error. If you are a kinesthetic learner, use your body to study. Create actions to help you remember words and phrases and try to role play your lesson material. It may also be helpful to pace, twiddle a pencil, play with a stress ball or ride a stationary bike while you are studying.

Social Learners

Social learners prefer learning in groups. They are often talking to their friends and attending parties. They just really love being socially involved. If you are a social learner, try to find ways to do your school work with friends. Just be careful that you don’t get distracted!

Intrapersonal Learners

Intrapersonal learners like to do things by themselves. They prefer to analyze material at their own pace. If you are this type of learner, you may benefit by creating a private workspace or studying in a quiet place like the library.

Countless studies have been conducted to understand the effect of exercise on the brain, and most have come to the same conclusion: physical fitness increases your brain power.

In fact, one study found walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes increased student’s problem-solving skills by 10 percent (that’s a whole letter grade)! This is because regular exercise enlarges the basal ganglia and hippocampus – parts of the brain that help with memory and focus. While the word “exercise” often conjures images of football and basketball, you don’t have to play an organized sport to work out. Instead, you can throw a Frisbee around, take a walk, go swimming, jump rope and so much more.

How Much Should I Exercise?

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends that adolescents and children exercise at least 60 minutes a day. However, if you find that daunting to work into your schedule, 30 minutes of aerobic exercise is sufficient. Spend 30-60 minutes every day doing something to get your heart rate up: jog on a treadmill, walk around the block, lift weights, do an exercise video, or play a sport with friends. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you get out and do it! You also don’t need to exercise for a straight 60 minutes. You can spread your workout time throughout the day.

Other Benefits of Exercise

Exercise increases oxygen flow to the brain and neurotransmitter actions. It also releases endorphins (making you feel better). It has been proven to help you sleep better, decrease the risk of disease and reduce stress. Exercise also helps you control your weight, boost your energy, and meet new friends.

Mountain Heights Academy and Exercise

As a student enrolled in Mountain Heights Academy, you have a flexible schedule you can easily work exercise into. Not to mention, you’re required to take a three Physical Education classes to graduate. You could also watch a few of your course videos while working out. You may be able to get credit at Mountain Heights by participating in a local school’s sports team as well.

Do you freeze up when it’s time to take a test? Do you know the material, but when you get tested on it, you seem to forget everything? Use these tips and tricks to help you ace your next exam!

Minimize Distractions

In a digital setting, you have the ability to take many of your quizzes in the comfort of your own home. However, that means that you need to be able to minimize distractions in order to be successful. Go to a quiet place, put your phone down, go to the bathroom, close the window, ask your family not to bother you for an hour or so, and do anything else you need to do before you begin.

Review Your Notes Right Before

Right before you take a test, review your notes one last time. This will put the material into your short term memory as well as your long term memory.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Nothing is worse than trying to stressfully finish a test because you didn’t give yourself enough time to complete it. If the test is timed, make sure you set aside the entire time to complete the test. If it is not, give yourself an extra minute for every question there is on the test if it is multiple choice, and an extra 5 minutes per question if it is short answer.

Be Confident

There is something to be said about positive thinking — Henry Ford once said “If you think you can do a thing or you think you can’t do a thing, you are right.” It’s true. If you go into a test thinking about how unqualified you are and how you’re terrible at test taking, you will do poorly. Instead, take a few deep breaths and tell yourself things like “I studied well, I know the material, I am awesome, I can do this.” If you start to get stressed during the test, put down your pencil, and repeat your affirmations.

Read the Directions Carefully

Make sure that you take the time to read the directions on every question. If you don’t, you may accidentally make errors that could have been cleared up if you read the directions. For example, you may be asked to pick the BEST choice, but if you think it said to pick the WORST choice, you’ll get it wrong.

Review Your Answers

After you have completed the test, review your answers if you can. Look over the ones that you had questions about and see if you had any realizations during the test. Sometimes, the answers to one question can be found later on in the test.

We would like to inform parents about some new laws that affect students transferring from a charter school to a district school so that you can plan accordingly and not be caught off guard. Unfortunately, if these new requirements are not followed, a student could lose their spot in the charter school and subsequently not be able to enroll in the district school of their choice either.

Utah state law establishes procedures that govern the withdrawal of students from charter schools for enrollment in district schools. See Utah Code. § 53A-1a-506.5 and Utah Admin. Rule R277-472.

Specifically, Utah law states that parents are to provide notice by June 30th of their intent to withdraw from a charter school and enroll in another school (either a district school or another charter school) for the following year. If the parent applies for admission to their school district of residence for the following year before June 30th, the school district must accept the student into the student’s school of residence.

For example, if, during the 2014-2015 school year a parent intends to withdraw their student from a charter school and re-enroll in their neighborhood district school for the 2015-2016 school year, they should notify both the charter school and their local school district of that intent prior to June 30, 2015. The district is required to enroll the student in their local neighborhood school.

If a parent wants to withdraw a student from a charter school after June 30th or during the school year, state law requires the parent to first go to the school district or other charter school and obtain a letter of acceptance for enrollment in the new school. The parent then needs to give the charter school a copy of that letter of acceptance. Also, in this situation, the local school district is not required to accept the student into their school of residence if the parent did not notify the district before June 30th. The district is only required to accept the student into a school in the district that has adequate capacity.

For example, if the parent in the above example fails to enroll in the neighborhood district school prior to June 30, 2015, the district doesn’t have to allow the student to enroll in their neighborhood school if that school doesn’t have adequate capacity for the 2015-2016 school year. The district would then tell the parent which school has capacity for their child and the parent would be responsible for transportation to that school.

School districts should post information to their website about which schools in the district have adequate capacity. If they have not done so, you should contact the district office and request that information.

We don’t want anyone to be caught in a difficult situation, so if you plan to enroll your student in a district school next year, please understand and follow these requirements.

If you choose to unenroll your student from our school, then change your mind, you will have to re-enroll through the lottery, and we cannot guarantee re-entry into the school regardless of the situation.

Withdraw from Enrollment

In accordance with Utah State Code Section 53A-1A 506.5 (2), the parent of a student enrolled in a charter school may withdraw the student from that charter school for enrollment in another charter school or a school district by:

– submitting notice of intent to enroll the student in the district of residence for the subsequent year to the student’s charter school no later than June 30 of the current school year;

– submitting notice of intent to enroll the student in another charter school for the subsequent school year to the current charter school of attendance, together with a letter of acceptance from the proposed charter school of attendance, no later than June 30 of the current school year; or

– obtaining approval from both the charter school of attendance and the school district or charter school in which enrollment is sought, if the parent desires to change the student’s enrollment during the school year or after June 30.

This means that a family has the right to withdraw from [school] and re-enroll in a local district school without further procedure through June 30th before the school year starts. However, after June 30th, both the school from which a student is withdrawing as well as the prospective school for enrollment must authorize the change. Families run no risk of being denied re-enrollment in the local district school up through June 30th before the school year starts. The intent of the law is to help all schools, both district and charter, to have a solid projection of enrollment no later than June 30th for the purposes of staffing/hiring.