So, when you’re watching the game on Sunday, one way to challenge your children is to question them about the various ways each team can win the game. They probably won’t even realize they are doing algebra (until you tell them). Here’s an example:

It’s the 4^th Quarter.

Team A has 30 points (3 touchdowns with extra points & 3 field goals).
Team B has 23 points (2 touchdowns with extra points & 3 field goals).
What are the various ways Team B can come back and take the lead in the game?

Share your answers to the problem in the comments below!

There are many other ways to make watching the game a fun, educational experience, and resources available to help. Click here to view NBC Learn’s video series on “The Science of the NFL.”

How do you like to engage your child in learning while watching sports? Let us know some of your best ideas for this weekend in the comments below.

Navigating the world of financial aid can be tricky for students and families, but on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12 from 2-4 p.m. students across the state will receive help completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the 16th annual Arizona College Goal Sunday and Saturday Too!

With rising tuition and higher expenses, the FAFSA is a critical first step for students to receive any type of financial assistance. More than 80 percent of all student financial assistance is provide by the federal government, yet many students do not complete the FAFSA or turn it in too late, missing out on financial aid.

“Completing the FAFSA early is the key to removing one of the most common barriers students face in going to college,” explained Dr. April Osborn, Executive Director for the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education. “By completing the FAFSA early, college-bound students can be considered for all available student financial assistance to help them pay for their educational expenses.”

Twenty-five locations statewide from Northern Arizona to Maricopa County to Tucson will host College Goal Sunday and Saturday TOO! events on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12 from 2-4 p.m. Specific cities include: Casa Grande, Chinle, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Globe, Keams Canyon, Mesa, Nogales, Page, Phoenix, Prescott, Tucson, Tempe, Tuba City, Willcox and Yuma. Spanish and Navajo interpreters will be available at select locations.

“Events like this are crucial to raising the bar for Arizona education and making postsecondary education a priority for all Arizona students,” said Pearl Chang Esau, president and CEO of Expect More Arizona. “We recently launched a campaign encouraging parents to be active participants in their children’s education every step of the way, and Arizona College Goal Sunday and Saturday Too! is a great way to be involved.”

In addition to receiving help completing the FAFSA, student attendees who submit a completed FAFSA at the event will have an opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship or a new Kindle Fire e-reader.

Students attending the event are encouraged to register for a personal FAFSA PIN in advance of the event at www.pin.ed.gov and bring their parents’ 2011 tax returns (if available) or W-2s, social security numbers and other tax information.

Visit CollegeGoalSunday.com or call 602-258-2435 x117 for information on specific location addresses and line-by-line FAFSA instructions. For more information on planning for college, visit Expect More Arizona’s College and Career Planning Guide to download the guide and use the interactive planning tool.

• Create a high expectations culture in your home – Parental involvement in student academic success can help open the door to opportunities for students and increase the options available to them in the future.

• Stay Informed – One of the most effective ways to know how to make an impact on Arizona’s education system is to know what’s happening in local schools and at the statewide level. Staying current on education news and education-related legislative activities are a couple of ways to stay informed. Visit our website regularly to find current education news headlines and insights and information about Arizona education on our Blog.

• Get Involved – Volunteering at a local school or with a nonprofit supportive of education are two options for improving education and the success of our students. Some programs seek mentors, tutors, board or committee members, advocates and more.

• Become a Voice – Education needs ongoing champions year-round. Talk to friends, family and neighbors about how important a strong education system is to our state’s economy and quality of life. Write letters to the editor or contact your elected leaders to let them know education is important to you. And, be sure to encourage your friends and family to join the Expect More Arizona movement.

• Invest in Education – Teachers are challenged to do more with less as budgets continue to be tightened. Your investment can make a difference. By giving to a local school or classroom, you are making a difference in the lives of Arizona students. Click here to find an individual classroom project to support.

Thank you for your support of education in Arizona – together, we can make a difference for Arizona students in 2012 and beyond.

“With the shortage of potential principals looming, the Rodel Foundation of Arizona, in partnership with Social Venture Partners Arizona, created the Rodel Exemplary Principal Initiative to recognize the success of Arizona’s most exceptional principals and train the next generation of school leaders.“

Each of the Exemplary Principles will mentor three high-potential Aspiring Principals. (Click here to download a flyer on their aspiring principals program.) Congratulations to all of the finalists, and thank you for your high expectations of yourselves, your schools, and your students.

Meet the 2012 Exemplary Principals in Rodel’s wonderful presentation below, and click here to learn more about the Rodel Exemplary Principal Initiative.

First, Dr. Debra Duvall, Executive Director of Arizona School Administrators, talks to Arizona Midday about Common Core Standards.

Next, Center for the Future of Arizona Executive Director Dr. Sybil Francis, Yuma Union High School District Superintendent Toni Badone and Helios Education Foundation President/CEO (and Expect More Arizona Board Chair) Paul J. Luna discuss Move on When Ready on Horizon.

• Paul J. Luna, President & CEO, Helios Education Foundation and Board Chair, Expect More Arizona
• Vince Roig, Chairman, Helios Education Foundation
• Keynote: Jerry Colangelo, Principal Partner, JDM Partners and Co-Chairman, Arizona Commerce Authority
• Shelly Esque, Vice President, Intel Corporation
• Pearl Chang Esau, President & CEO, Expect More Arizona

Expect More Arizona also presented the inaugural “Excellence in Business and Education Partnerships” award to the Intel Corporation and Ms. Esque for their dedication to high expectations for education in our state.  Intel’s impact on Arizona education reaches throughout the state with programs like Intel Math which provides professional development for teachers as well as Intel’s involvement in organizations such as ABEC, Science Foundation Arizona, The Arizona Tech Council and Expect More Arizona.   Intel is a role model for other businesses and a vocal, bold champion for bar-raising measures in education.

Thank you to Intel Corporation, Mr. Colangelo and all of our speakers, and to everyone who attended the breakfast this year. Below, you can watch a video of highlights from our speakers:

Higher education has never been more important to individual success, economic growth and global competitiveness than it is today.  In fact, it is estimated that 2/3 of the jobs of the future will require some form of college or other postsecondary education.  However, Arizona faces many challenges when it comes to ensuring that postsecondary education is a priority for all students.

A recent report by the Arizona Board of Regents shows a distinct connection between higher education and earning potential. Currently, only 52 percent of Arizona’s high school graduates pursue any form of higher education after graduating high school.  And of those who do pursue higher education, only 17 percent receive a bachelor’s degree within six years of graduating high school.

Lisa Budinger, President & CEO of the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, says Arizona must raise expectations for our students. “As a state, we don’t have a college-going culture,” she says. “Our message to our kids needs to be: continuing your education is important and possible.”

Budinger says that creating a high expectations culture in the home, from your child’s youngest years, is key to putting him or her on the track to success in college and career. She encourages family discussion with younger children about careers and the kind of education a student will need to get different kinds of jobs. As your student gets older, ask specific questions to help them prepare. Ask them to identify their top three college choices , and review together specific requirements for admission. This way, they will better understand how the classes they take and how they perform will impact their future education.

There are many resources available to parents and students to help make sure you are on the right path. One example is the College and Career Planning Guide, created by Expect More Arizona and Northern Arizona University’s GEAR UP. The Guide is distributed to students throughout the state, and is available on Expect More Arizona’s web site for download and as an interactive tool. It’s never too early to ensure your child is prepared to succeed in college and a career.

1) Give to nonprofits that support education – Whether you choose to give to a school district or university foundation, mentoring and tutoring programs, local early learning program or other nonprofits tied to education, you’ll be helping Arizona’s children and your contribution may be tax deductible.

2) Take advantage of state tax credits – There are several tax credits available to Arizonans who give to educational institutions.  These tax credits allow you to take a dollar-for-dollar reduction on your Arizona State taxes.  Mailed in donations must be postmarked by midnight December 31, 2011 to be eligible for this year’s taxes. Visit the Arizona Department of Revenue for state tax credit details.

3) Help a teacher in a classroom – Did you know that the average teacher spends $500 of his or her own money each year on supplies for their classroom? You can help supplement a teacher’s needs by adopting a classroom this holiday season. By providing books, gift cards and other supplies, you can affect the learning of an entire group of children. Click here to learn more about local classroom needs and how you can give a tax deductible donation through Donor’s Choose.

*Expect More Arizona is not a tax advisor. Please consult your personal tax advisor for state tax credit and tax deductible charitable contribution details and benefits. 

Rachel Bennet Yanof is the Executive Director of the Phoenix Collegiate Academy. She encourages the parents of her students to be actively involved in their children’s education, especially when it comes to reading. “Through 3rd grade, kids are learning to read,” she says. “But, from 4th grade on, kids are reading to learn.” Yanof explains that a lack of reading comprehension skills inhibits students’ ability to advance in other areas of schooling as well.

All parents, regardless of their own background and skill level, have the ability to help their students learn to read proficiently. There are many ways to help your student advance, and Yanof points out that each student is different, so parents should partner with teachers to determine the best approach for their students. Best practices for parents include:

• Make sure your child has access to books.
• With younger children, make sure to read with them at least 15 minutes each day.
• As your children get older, encourage them to read independently and talk with them about what they are reading.
• Ask them questions about what they are reading, including: Who is your favorite character? What is the conflict or main issue of the story?
• Ask the teacher if your child is reading at grade level. If not, ask how you can partner with the teacher to ensure they are reading at grade level by the end of the year.

Last year, Arizona lawmakers passed a bill known as “move on when reading,” which will be implemented in the spring of next year. Under the bill, students in the lowest levels of proficiency of reading in the 3rd grade will not advance to 4th grade. According to the current AIMS results, this would only apply to a small percentage of our students. The goal of the bill is to ensure that when students move on to 4th grade, they will have the essential skill of reading that will help them perform better in all aspects of their education.

Yanof says there are many resources available to assist parents as they help their students advance as readers. First, talk with your student’s school and ask how you can support their reading curriculum. Go to your local public library, where they have resources for all families to help their students. Finally, visit Expect More Arizona’s parent resource section for a grade specific tool with tips, information, and more resources to help students succeed.