In our academically demanding schools, organization is a must for students of every age.

Last week, the Montgomery County Public Schools Parent Academy hosted a workshop to provide parents with information and tools on the topic.

The presentation on Wednesday was hosted by Peer2Peer Tutors, a tutoring company that pairs students in need of extra help with an older student mentor. Peer2Peer Tutors CEO Erik Kimel, who started the company as a senior at Churchill High School, spoke to parents about three of Montgomery County Public School's Seven Keys to College Readiness.

"The first key is advanced reading in Grades K-2, the second key is advanced reading MSA in grades 3-8, and the third key is advanced Math in Grade 5," said Kimel.

The seven keys were developed by MCPS as a more demanding set of standards for students than the state's high school graduation requirements in hopes that they would better prepare them for college, he said.

"Due to the rigor of the curriculum, a student can be left to feel inadequate because they are required to learn really fast, really young. We can't let our students feel like they can't do it at such a young age," Kimel said.

Peer2Peer tutors helps students to reach organizational and rigorous academic goals with confidence by pairing them with a current MCPS student with similar interests.

"A parent will call and say I want an algebra tutor for my son, and then that parent tells us that they want a boy that's into sports," said Kimel. "The peer-to-peer only works when two people like each other."

While the tutor aids in the college readiness process a love of learning and self-awareness is also a major factor, Kimel said.

Hosted at the Carver Educational Services Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the workshop also included an open forum portion. One mother voiced her concerns with her daughters organization, and said even she struggles with it. Kimel suggested that she ask her daughter for help.

"The clearest way to improve kid's organizational skills is by involving them in the things that you are doing. Ask her to help you become more organized and in turn she will have the self realization that she needs to do the same thing," Kimel said. "We have to get students to internalize their own sense of urgency. If they don't feel they need to be organized, they won't be."

The presentation is just one way that Kimel says he likes to give back to MCPS.

"We are one of the leading job creators for MCPS students. We have in just this current school year alone over 200 MCPS students working for Peer2Peer," Kimel said. "The students who use our service in 4, 5th, and 6th grade often become out tutors in 10th, 11th and 12th grade, so it all comes full circle."

The new schedule for the MCPS Parent Academy workshops will be posted in January and can be found on the county website at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org.