“My child is not good at test taking.”  That’s how many of our conversations begin.  And, so it began with Michael (not real name).   We met him sophomore year at Xavier High School in Middletown, CT which he started after a very average freshman year at Lyme-Old Lyme High School in Old Lyme, CT.

Michael attended class, did his homework, and put in time studying.  In most every class, he had a solid B plus-A minus average going into mid-terms and finals.  He averaged Cs on his big test...