113. Navigating An IEP Or 504 Plan
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Release Date: 07/31/2020
414. TEST PREP PROFILE: Jeff Eisenberg
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Jeff Eisenberg, the founder of Long Island Test Prep, has been working as a test prep professional since 1991. He’s a lifelong resident of Long Island. Having just retired from the classroom after a 31-year career teaching Social Studies at East Meadow High School, he’s now working full-time to help students prepare for college by coaching them for all sections of the SAT, ACT, and GRE exams, and guiding them through the Admissions Essay process. Having done...
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413. TEST PREP PROFILE: Huzefa Kapadia
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced professional in the test prep industry? MEET OUR GUEST Huzefa Kapadia is the founder of , an education services company based in Los Angeles, CA. Moreover, he is a math video curriculum developer, math musician, and a private math tutor. His life is fully devoted to the art of teaching math, and all aspects of content creation are aimed towards helping students master mathematics for both school curriculums as well as standardized tests. Prior to launching Scalar Learning LLC, Huzefa worked as a software...
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412. HOW TO BE AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Learning and innovation, it is said, go hand in hand. Unfortunately, teachers don't always see how to bring the two together. Amy and Mike invited educator Barak Moore to describe how to be an innovative educator. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes innovation such an important cornerstone of education? What academic theories of innovation should teachers and tutors today be excited about? What do you mean when you say that you don't teach SAT, you teach ingenuity? Why is learning to transcend pattern-matching so important? What are the responsibilities of...
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411. CONSIDERING COLLEGE FINANCIAL FIT FIRST
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
So many important factors converge in the college selection process, yet one of the most critical ones is far too often ignored. Amy and Mike invited college consultant Chris Wills to make the case for considering college financial fit first. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what ways have the costs of college changed over the last few years? Why shouldn't students wait to consider costs until after they are accepted? What does prioritizing financial fit first look like? Why do different schools offer different levels of aid? At what point in the college process should...
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410. FEEDBACK-DRIVEN METACOGNITION
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Discussions about education tend to focus on those who do the teaching. Let’s not ignore, however, the abundant opportunities for improvement possible at the point of learning. Amy and Mike invited educator Patrice Bain to explain the importance of feedback-driven metacognition. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why doesn't study time always equate to commensurate learning? How can we discriminate between what we know and what we still need to learn? How are retrieval, spacing, and metacognition connected? Who is ultimately responsible for learning outcomes? How can...
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409. WHY PRACTICE TESTS MATTER SO MUCH
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Test takers have more ways than ever to prepare for important exams. However, if the way you are learning doesn’t involve actually taking practice tests, does it even count as prep? Amy and Mike invited educator Paul Pscolka to explain why practice tests matter so much. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is it really test preparation if you don’t take practice tests? What can be learned from practice tests? Why is simulating official test conditions so critical? Are timed tests necessary? What kinds of tests provide the best practice? MEET OUR GUEST Paul Pscolka...
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408. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Clear Choice Prep
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Helping Tutoring Companies Grow Their Businesses with educator Matt McCorkle What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Clear Choice Prep? What makes Clear Choice Prep the clear choice? What kinds of organizations work best with Clear Choice Prep? What kinds of outcomes do Clear Choice Prep clients experience? What should someone curious about Clear Choice Prep know about it? ABOUT CLEAR CHOICE PREP Clear Choice provides a 100% custom-branded test prep solution that includes comprehensive student workbooks and the online portal, myPREPcoruse,...
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407. MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Most new college students say they don’t want a reprise of high school, but rather a brand new world of educational immersion and independent living. So why are so many teens not only unprepared for exactly that but unable to locate the resources put in place for their benefit? Amy and Mike invited educator Perry LaRoque to share strategies for making the most of college support systems. What are five things you will learn in this episode? In what critical way does life at college differ from the high school experience? What kind of support resources do colleges typically offer? How often...
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406. WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN ADMISSIONS?
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
Most of us understand the meaning of the term “hook” in the context of a catchy song or piece of writing, but when did we start using it for college applicants? Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Aly Beaumont to explain what “unhooked” means in admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What exactly is a "hook" in college admissions parlance? Why do institutional priorities carry so much weight in admissions? Are hooks the same from one college to another? Is there really anything like a completely unhooked student? How can an unhooked applicant...
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405. ALL ABOUT THE MCAT
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Industry Podcast
We all value physicians, which means we all, by extension, value medical school. Like it or not, that must mean we all value that really challenging admissions exam all future doctors in the U.S. must excel on. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Shirag Shemmassian, Ph.D. to tell us all about the MCAT. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is tested on the MCAT? How is the MCAT scored, and what is a good score? What kinds of schools or programs use the MCAT for admissions? When should students prepare for and take the MCAT? When should students retake the...
info_outlineIndividualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans provide paths to procure formal help for K-12 students who struggle in school. However, pursuing these plans can be an education in themselves. Amy and Mike invited parent advocate Mary Jo O’Neill to explain the intricacies of navigating an IEP or 504 plan.
What are five things you will learn in this episode?
- What is the role of a parent advocate?
- What is the difference between a 504 and an IEP?
- How do you start the process to apply for a 504 and an IEP?
- Who qualifies and who doesn't for a 504 or an IEP?
- What happens if a student is denied a 504 or IEP?
MEET OUR GUEST
Special Education Advocate Mary Jo O’Neill, M.Ed., has a broad background in education. She began her career as a teacher in public and private schools, including Julie Billiart School. She was also an Advocate with Lawrence School. In addition to her time in the classroom, Mary Jo created a division within the Academic Support Center at Notre Dame College to provide quality educational opportunities and support services to students. Mary Jo most recently created her own consulting practice, in which she served as an Intervention Specialist and Parent Advocate for over ten years. She joined Hickman & Lowder in 2018.
Mary Jo serves on the national board of the International Dyslexia Association and is an advisor for the local branch and is also a member of the Julie Billiart Network Board. She authored the Forward of Expect a Miracle by Sandy and David Petrovic, Infinity Publishing (2014). Mary Jo graduated cum laude from Vermont College of Norwich University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University. She is a Licensed Intervention Specialist: Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities.
Find Mary Jo at Hickman & Lowder at 216-861-0360.
LINKS
The Difference Between IEPs and 504 Plans
What do all these special education acronyms mean?
Using an ETR When Drafting an IEP
How do I apply for testing accommodations?
RELATED EPISODES
TRANSITIONING YOUR IEP OR 504 PLAN TO COLLEGE
TEST PREP FOR STUDENTS WITH ACCOMMODATIONS
INCREASED COLLEGE COSTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.