A student can stare at a textbook without understanding a word. The same student can click through an online lesson on their school Chromebook and finish every question without being able to explain what they just learned. Either way, the assignment gets marked complete. The learning is another question. A… Read more
Universal Design for Learning: Why the Best Learning Supports Help Everyone About 25 years ago, while pursuing my master’s degree and teaching certificate, I learned about an approach to education that felt like a lifeline: Universal Design for Learning. Like many teachers, I was thinking about how to meet the… Read more
Executive Functioning Skills: “Try Harder” Isn’t the Answer When an iron rod pierced railroad worker Phineas Gage’s frontal lobe in 1848, he survived an accident that should have killed him. But survival was only the beginning of the story. In the months that followed, people who knew Gage noticed significant… Read more
How to Choose a College Consultant Who Is the Right Fit for Your Student The college application process can feel overwhelming, even for organized students and experienced parents. There are essays to write, deadlines to track, recommendations to request, and financial details to understand. On top of that, families need… Read more
Many of us are chronically online and tethered to our smartphones. I’m guilty of checking my email on dog walks, or texting while watching a TV program. I add (and then delete) addictive games, and start negotiating what time I’ll put my phone down before bed. If adults are grappling… Read more
How 1-to-1 Learning Helps Students Catch Up and Move Ahead Even five years after COVID-19 first disrupted schools, many students are still struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels of achievement. A recent article in Education Week highlighted sobering news: reading has inched closer to recovery, but math performance remains significantly behind…. Read more
Back in 2018, we shared our excitement about a brand new teen space coming to Issaquah: The Garage, A Teen Cafe. We believed then, as we do now, that teens deserve a safe, welcoming place where they can be fully themselves, no strings attached. Today, The Garage is a vibrant,… Read more
(updated May 6, 2026) When summer school emails from local school districts begin, Academy families should know they have another option: flexible, one-to-one summer school and credit recovery in Issaquah and Sammamish. Instead of being locked into a fixed schedule, students can complete courses on their own timeline, whether that’s… Read more
Is your family considering summer school, but worrying that it’ll ruin your summer plans? Good news – summer school doesn’t have to be stressful! One-to-one summer classes at Pacific Learning Academy help students push themselves forward academically by recovering credits from last year or jumping ahead for next year, all… Read more
Whether your college start is in a different state, a new campus, or at home! Some students start dreaming about college as early as middle school, or even earlier if it’s a topic that comes up often in their family. It’s a jump to adulthood, a chance to pursue academic… Read more
