SAT Score Heaven

How do you find peace of mind when it comes to your child's SAT score? Is there ever a number that you can put aside and say, "That was it!"? These are the teenage years and the SAT scores identify them with a number that will carry them through their high school and early college years. It's a number that most parents worry about, cause teens much apprehension, and colleges rate them among the most important gauges of scholarship.
When I took the SAT test, there were only two indicators, English and Math. My scores, from what I can remember, were in the 600's. Somewhat average, or slightly above. There was never a conversation about re-taking the test. I do remember getting a 27 on my ACT. That was a pretty good score, but not all colleges accepted that. Certainly, these scores did not qualify me for any academic scholarship, and in fact, I was turned down by one of my four choices of schools.
To get more heaven out of your SAT experience, you can enroll in a review course, with a pricetag of about $1000. You can invest in tutors, or send your child to summer school. We got more heaven already, in my opinion, by enrolling our two daughters in SuperCamp last summer.
And we're considering doing it again. In full disclosure, I know the people who run the camp. I've been doing marketing work for them for nearly 15 years, off and on. And, I have considered the caliber of instruction and resources they have during this time. What I see is that slice of heaven where a parent says, "Yes."
The SAT score is improved by the experience, but so is the character. The confidence is improved, and with less angst and drama. Our daughters are blossoming into young women in front of our eyes. They are taking on leadership roles at their high school and church that have never been considered. This weekend they are planning to hold a major regional event with their friends, without help from adults. My daughters are in charge of the fund raising and on many committees in the group. They expect to bring hundreds of kids to their church for an outreach, and are hiring Christian rock bands and speakers with money they have raised themselves through bake sales. They are far surpassing what my husband and I ever did in high school.
If any parent is considering the SuperCamp experience for their child, no matter what the level of achievement, they should follow through and make the connection. The people at SuperCamp are genuine. Mostly they are teachers and educators who have seen that the interactions improve students, making good kids great. And now I have seen it for myself, real. No high schooler or parent is without some weaknesses. My weakness would be that we didn't send them to camp sooner. Their weakness is that they sometimes get cranky without enough sleep. That is temporary.
My kids proudly wear their SuperCamp t-shirts to school and around town. They are comfortable in their own skin, thanks to the interactions made, in part, at SuperCamp last summer. Maybe it's only 10 days, but the lessons learned are valued for a lifetime.
If anyone wants to contact me directly about this experience, I'll be glad to speak to you. My cell phone is 858 488 2867.

Distracted Driving Teenagers and Insuring them

Numerous public opinion surveys show most drivers believe that using cell phones while driving is dangerous. Indeed, talking on cell phones while driving is estimated to increase crash risk fourfold.

Over 50 research studies have shown that using phones while driving is risky. Each year, cell phones are a factor in 1.3 million crashes, hundreds of thousands of injuries, and thousands of deaths.
(Source: www.nsc.org)
About 10 teens a day die in traffic accidents. That's a number who needs a reduction.
Rocky Mountain Insurance Information gives us these facts and some tips for saving money on insuring teenage drivers.

The risk of crash per mile driven is thee times higher for 16-19 year olds than for drivers age 65-69. But, there are some things teenagers and parents can do to save money on insurance rates.

Get on your parents’ policy.
It’s usually cheaper to add a teenager to their parents’ policy, rather than be insured separately. Most companies won’t charge an additional premium until the teen is a licensed driver. Parents need to inform their insurance agent or company that their teenager is being added to the policy. Deliberate concealment could impact coverage.

Good grades pay off.
Most insurers offer a discount, some as high as 25%, for students who maintain a B average.

Driver experience.
Graduated Driver Licensing law requires teens to log 50 hours with an experienced driver, but taking a formal drivers training course will likely save on insurance. Many companies offer up to a 10% discount.

Penalties can land you back in the passenger seat.
Death and injury are the highest price drivers can pay for drinking and driving, but even if you manage to survive, a D.U.I. ticket will cost teenagers big time. As a teen driver, you’ll likely be cancelled and if you can get insurance, expect to pay a much higher rate for the next 3-5 years. Traffic crashes and citations will also impact your premium. Rack up more than three and teens face cancellation or non-renewal.

Drive an "insurance friendly" vehicle.
Cars that are a favorite target for thieves, are expensive to repair, or are considered "high performance" have much higher insurance costs. Before you buy a car, contact your insurer to get a quote on what it will cost to insure.
So there are many things you can do to save money, drive without distractions, and have a safer driving experience.
Safe driving everyone.