Blog
Say Hello to Amanda Vaughn
We are kicking off our Meet The Leadership Team series with our fearless leader, owner and founder of Connections Academics, Amanda Vaughn.
Meet The Leadership Team
Over the past year, we have introduced you to many of our outstanding tutors. We love highlighting our tutors and singing their praises because it is their hard work and commitment to students that makes Connections Academics such a success. They are on the front lines each week as they creatively work to make learning exciting and applicable to our students.
5 Ways To Make the Most of Your Tutoring Session
Deciding to bring a tutor into your child’s life is a big decision and a big investment. Tutoring will have a significant impact on a student’s life by increasing knowledge, boosting confidence, and developing pride in the hard work of education. But in order for this to happen, everyone involved needs to step in and step up
Meet Ashley Gore
We’re excited to introduce you to another one of our excellent tutors, Ashley Gore.
Ashley grew up in Beavercreek, Ohio and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Western Kentucky University. (Go Tops!) Ashley started out scooping ice cream in high school and was also a server while in college, but has now been teaching for 12 years.
Teacher Gifts
The holidays are a great time to thank those teachers who go above and beyond to make school a great place for your child. You can never go wrong with a gift card slipped into a kind thank you note. Take this chance to express your appreciation for your teacher’s creativity, commitment, and hard work!
Meet Andy McClellan
We are back with another chance to meet one of our awesome tutors. This month we talked to Andy McClellan.
Andy grew up right here in Cincinnati. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in communication from University of Cincinnati. After graduating from UC, Andy found a marketing job working for Cincinnati Nature Center, where he quickly fell in love with the natural world and sharing that joy with others, especially children.
Meet Katherine Hanson
We are talking with another one of our amazing tutors this week! Come meet Katherine Hanson!
Katherine’s family moved frequently while she was growing up. She lived in Ohio, Arizona, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, and Kentucky. That said, she claims Cincinnati as home! Katherine completed her undergraduate degree at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where she majored in English and concentrated in Peace & Conflict Studies.
Meet John Christiansen
This month we are talking with another great tutor, John Christiansen
John grew up in Hollis, New Hampshire, a small town about 45 minutes north of Boston. So yes, you can assume he is an insufferable Patriots fan. Having lived through the dark times when he was a kid, he is now basking in the past 20 years. “It will end soon, I know this, and retribution from my students will be merciless.”
2019 Summer Reading Recommendations
Summer is here! What are you reading? If you’re still looking for the perfect books, Connections has got you covered!
Meet Allyson Schuler
This week we are chatting with Allyson Schuler, a Cincinnati native!
Allyson grew up in Fairfield and returned to Cincinnati after graduate school. She studied horn performance at the Eastman School of Music and economics at the University of Rochester, earning a BM in Applied Music and a BA in economics, respectively.
Summer in the City
Memorial Day weekend makes the perfect official kick off to summer, so I think it is safe to say that summer is finally here! Pools are opening, school is ending, and bedtime is being pushed back as we enjoy the warm evenings. This is the time to start looking into all that Cincinnati has to offer this summer!
Meet Greg Faulhaber
We are excited to introduce you to another one of our outstanding team members, Greg Faulhaber.
Greg grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math Education from Indiana University of PA. He then went on to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University.
This Is How We Prepare for Finals
It is hard to believe that May is already here. The end of the year brings mixed emotions and a long to-do list, with one of the most crucial tasks being: study for finals. This month we are talking with parents to find out how they help their high school students stay organized and prepared for these exams.
10 Great Podcasts for Kids
If you’re anything like me, you have a podcast library filled with favorite shows ready to tune into the latest episode as you drive, fold laundry, cook dinner, or go for a walk. There is such great variety in the world of podcasts - everything from crime mysteries to politics to hilarious pop culture banter. And recently, I’ve been checking out some podcasts for kids and was blown away by all the outstanding options.
Meet Nicole Bouldin
We are excited to introduce you to another one of our excellent team members, Nicole Bouldin!
Nicole was born and raised in Cincinnati. She is the oldest of three and the only girl. She grew up playing sports and went to McAuley High School where she played basketball. Nicole graduated from Miami University in 2010 with a Middle Childhood Education degree and began her teaching career with Cincinnati Public Schools.
This Is How We Finish Strong
The end is in sight. It’s been a great year, and our students have so much to be proud of. It is not uncommon for students to hit a slump this time of year and lose motivation. This week we are asking our families just two simple questions to gain some insight about how to finish strong.
Third Quarter Slump
This time of year can bring challenges for our students because it is difficult to stay motivated and complete work to the best of one’s ability. It is not uncommon for a restlessness and complacency to set in during these last winter months. This “third quarter slump” is often defined as the time of year when students’ grades drop, and unfortunately, this can happen rather quickly.
Meet Lee Honig
We are continuing our Meet the Tutor series this month and are excited to introduce you to Lee Honig.
Lee grew up in Brooklyn, NYC and attended Hofstra University, where he graduated with a B.S. in chemistry and minors in math and community health. After college, he worked as an industrial chemist at a vinyl plastic manufacturing plant.
This is How We Do Parent-Teacher Conferences
For many schools, another round of parent-teacher conferences is just around the corner. This face-to-face meeting with your child’s teacher is a valuable time to find out what happens during the school day and how you can best support both your child and the teacher.
Summer Camp Preview
Once again Connections is excited to offer a wide range of summer camps for students of all ages through Cincinnati Country Day School. And for the first time , we are thrilled to extend our camps to Summit Country Day School as well. Check out all the camp descriptions below.