| Let's face it!!! Our children are judged based on | | | | prices, travel can be extremely expensive. |
| their grade point average and their performance | | | | However, prices drop substantially September 7 |
| on standardized test such as ACT/ SAT. Our | | | | through November 20 as this time period is |
| children's high school and college admissions are | | | | considered the travel slow season. Other lesser |
| based on those credentials. As parents, we invest | | | | known slow seasons are December 1 through |
| money in sophisticated desktop/ laptop | | | | December 20, January 3 through February 1 and |
| computers to give them access to the worldwide | | | | 2 weeks after Passover/Easter through May |
| web. We establish home offices, libraries and | | | | 20.Combine slow season discounts with internet |
| structured areas to encourage daily homework | | | | discounts, a family can experience the world at |
| and studying. We believe constant studying and | | | | the fraction of cost of your holiday (Christmas, |
| attention to homework will groom our children to | | | | Hanukah, and Ramadan) gift fund. "I spent $1500 |
| brilliant status and give them impeccable | | | | dollars for a 3 day vacation in Nassau, Bahamas. |
| credentials. To a certain extent, we are correct. | | | | That cost included air travel to Miami for 3 people |
| Homework and study skills lay the basic | | | | and a cruise to Bahamas. Since food was include, |
| foundation for school success as high grade point | | | | the trip was relatively inexpensive," states Ida |
| averages flow from high test scores.Memory skills | | | | Byrd-Hill, a parent of 7th grade twins, Kevin and |
| and repetition is the key to high grade point | | | | Karen Hill who attend Duke Ellington Conservatory |
| averages; however, they are not the key to | | | | of Music and Art (a Detroit Public School). "My |
| brilliance on standardized test. Standardized test, | | | | children learned about world colonization, but |
| such as California Achievement Test (CAT), | | | | better yet they learned about opportunities as |
| Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College | | | | they met the Bahamian Governess, a woman of |
| Test (ACT), assumes students are exposed to | | | | African descent. I am glad I was able to find that |
| different cultures, climates, countries and | | | | trip at as Karen scored 96 percentile on the Social |
| experiences at least 10 times before reaching | | | | Studies portion of the California Achievement |
| 10th grade. Students who perform the best on | | | | Test and Kevin scored 87 percentile on the |
| standardized test have exposure to diverse | | | | Science portion of the California Achievement |
| experiences. What better way to gain this | | | | Test " states Byrd-Hill.Great deals can be found |
| exposure than a vacation to another city, state, | | | | on the internet by booking at least 14 days or |
| country or continent!!!!!Wealthy families have | | | | even 21 days in advance. There are also websites |
| always known that trips, getaways and vacations | | | | that specialize in last minute travel. Often these |
| are the secret to grooming brilliant students. | | | | trips (air/ hotel combos) are for a weekend |
| Family vacations are an opportunity for students | | | | departing the same week you book the vacation |
| to apply all their classroom knowledge quickly. The | | | | or the next weekend. Since there are so many |
| average vacation is three to seven days. Some | | | | travel websites on the internet it pays to spend |
| wealthy families are known to vacation up to 45 | | | | some time price comparing. There are websites, |
| days on multiple continents. Nevertheless, most | | | | like that allow individuals to surf many of the top |
| families are on a limited timeframe requiring them | | | | websites and not so well known sites to compare |
| to make quick decisions regarding currency | | | | vacation pricing.If you want to groom your |
| exchange, climate differences, navigation of city, | | | | children into brilliant students, improve their grades |
| etc.These decisions while extremely practical | | | | and performance on standardized test, implement |
| require the use of mathematics, science, | | | | the secret wealthy families have known for |
| geography, social studies and reading. | | | | generations - Take a Family Vacation.Good Trip!!! |
| Unconsciously, students are immersed into lessons | | | | Bon Voyage!!! Viaje Bueno!!! Arrivaderci!!! Viaggio |
| fueled by sheer excitement and curiosity.Imagine | | | | Buono!!! Gut Tschus!!!Ida B. Byrd-Hill is the President |
| how productive the lesson would become if a | | | | of Uplift Inc.and She was the President of The |
| family vacation evolves around a classroom | | | | Harvard Group Wealth Management L.L.C. for 10 |
| lesson. Children learn lessons at a faster pace. For | | | | years. She created investment portfolios, |
| example, a train trip to an Indian Reservation in | | | | insurance plans and residential/ commercial |
| Arizona/ New Mexico really solidifies a lesson on | | | | financing. She has served as guest columnist for |
| Native American History. For a list of classroom | | | | the Michigan Front Page for 2 years and a |
| vacation ideas, visit and click on the link, School | | | | speaker for the Better Investing television show |
| Lesson Vacations.I know you are thinking "I don't | | | | hosted by David Chilton, author of The Wealthy |
| have the money for vacation as travel is too | | | | Barber. |
| expensive." Under normal circumstances and full | | | | |