Q: I purchased a road atlas for a trip, but my boys asked why we don't just use GPS. They have zero map skills, so I was hoping some atlas activities would teach them and keep them busy on a long trip. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Despite the wide availability of mapping services and apps, many long-distance travelers don't leave home without a road atlas. "An atlas helps you see the big picture, not just the next turn," says Bennett Moe, the director of innovation at maps.com.

Take that atlas along with you and put the boys in charge of it, says Moe.

"GPS devices are great for navigating from point to point, but an atlas gives you context to the areas you are traveling," he says. "It helps you eyeball distances. It alerts you to elevations, rivers and other topological features. Atlases often add cool information about states -- their mottos, state flowers and so on. Make that atlas your stealth teaching tool this summer."

Before you head out, cover map basics: Teach the boys how to read map symbols indicating various types of roads and highways. Show them how to read a compass rose to determine north, east, south and west, as well as intermediate points. Explain to your kids how to estimate distances. Learn how lakes, streams and rivers are denoted and how to read contour lines to determine elevation. Discover what symbols designate local, state and national parks. (For more information, National Geographic has engaging online map skills activities at education.nationalgeographic.com/education/map-skills-elementary-students.)

Next, create fun activities to align with your trip, suggests Moe.

"For example, if you plan to drive from Nashville, Tennessee, to La Crosse, Wisconsin, have the boys use the atlas to plan the shortest route," he says. "Then have them check their route using a digital mapping application. How close were their estimates in miles and hours? Have them determine the most scenic route, even though it may not be the fastest. Ask how many states the route will take them through, and so on."

Using sticky notes, have the boys mark points of interest they want to visit along the way. The more they familiarize themselves with the route prior to leaving, the more they'll anticipate segments of the trip.

"One great atlas activity is a variation of the license plate game," says Moe. "In addition to counting and graphing the state plates that you see, use the atlas to answer questions about each one. 'Where is that state in relation to where we live? Is that state larger or smaller than yours? What is the capital? How far do you think those in the car traveled to get here?'"

Use your atlas to plot geocaching, a treasure hunt GPS activity, suggests Moe.

"Geocaching combines lessons in navigation, longitude and latitude, geography, mapping, measurement, distance, satellites, strategy, teamwork and problem solving -- kids love it because it's high-tech," he explains. (Go to geocaching.com for more.)

A well-thumbed, annotated atlas is a great trip souvenir, says Moe.

"Map skills are important in many professions, from policing, meteorology, environmental engineering, to farming, city planning and marine biology," he says. "Your boys need this hands-on experience to develop strong geospatial skills they'll use throughout their lives."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: Our daughter, Meghan, starts kindergarten in August. She was excited after orientation, but now she's so anxious about it. She cries that she wants to stay home with her little sister. She's one of the youngest in her class, so maybe she's not ready. Should we hold her back a year?

A: Wanting to stay home with her younger sister isn't a good reason to hold your daughter back a year. Unless there's something that educators didn't pick up during her kindergarten screening, stick with your plan.

"Kids pick up on parents' feelings, so show enthusiasm and stay positive," says North Bellmore, New York, kindergarten teacher Robin Obey. "Questioning Meghan's readiness will only reinforce her own hesitancy."

Kindergarten jitters are completely natural, says Obey. She suggests the following activities to help Meghan overcome her worries:

-- Share books about starting kindergarten: There are many great "first day" stories that capture the feelings Meghan might be having. Bookstores, online vendors and libraries feature them this time of year. Reading and discussing them with Meghan can help allay her jitters.

Obey suggests these classics: "Kindergarten Rocks!" by Katie Davis (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2008); "First Day Jitters," by Julie Danneberg (Charlesbridge, 2000); "Timothy Goes to School," by Rosemary Wells (Puffin, 2000); "Will I Have a Friend?" by Miriam Cohen (Star Bright, 2009); "Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten," by Joseph Slate (Puffin, 2001); "The Night Before Kindergarten," Natasha Wing (Scholastic, 2001); "Countdown to Kindergarten," by Allison McGhee (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2006); "Wemberly Worried," by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, 2010); "The Kissing Hand," by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood Press, 2007); and "Tiptoe Into Kindergarten," by Jacqueline Rogers (Cartwheel, 2003).

Address her concerns. Meghan may worry about something that you assume she already knows, such as, "How will I get to school?" or "How long do I stay?" or "Will I be able to play?" and so on. The more details you provide -- such as driving the school route and showing her how long the trip takes -- the better.

Visit her new school if possible. Some schools allow short visits prior to the first day. If yours does, show Meghan her classroom, cafeteria and gym, and check out the bathrooms. (Show her how to flush those noisy toilets!) If you can't get into the building, visit the playground.

Polish her kindergarten skills: Find opportunities to model and describe problem solving, resilience and independence, says Obey. Look for things Meghan can do to assume new responsibilities, such as helping set the table, unpacking groceries and laying out clothes. Give positive reinforcement when she seeks attention appropriately and waits patiently.

Remember, it's a transition: If Meghan is still apprehensive when school starts, let her teacher know her concerns and what you're doing to ease them, but don't hover at school. Avoid overscheduling Meghan during the first few months. Make sure she gets enough rest and free play to balance the structure of kindergarten.

Be sure to ask those all-important questions: What did you learn today? Who did you meet today? What questions did you ask your teacher? You'll build Meghan's language skills, along with her confidence as a learner.

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: My son just finished middle school and got a notice from his high school encouraging him to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes this fall. I was shocked. He's smart, but he's just leaving eighth grade. This is so much pressure! Why are schools pushing freshmen to take AP courses?

A: Advanced Placement courses, essentially first-year college courses, are offered in almost 60 percent of the nation's high schools, according to the College Board, which administers them and oversees their academic standards. Courses are given in subject areas ranging from English language to statistics.

The number of students taking AP classes has more than doubled in the last decade. Currently, more than a million students take AP exams each May. Good scores mean that students can "place out" of certain college courses, which is why they are called Advanced Placement tests.

Increasingly, high school teachers encourage enrollment among students whose records suggest that they're capable of succeeding in AP classes.

There are good reasons, says Lindsay Cohen, who heads up precollege programs for The Princeton Review: "AP classes offer four key benefits."

One, they prepare students for college.

"AP courses are more similar to college courses than regular high school classes," she says. "Exposure to the next phase of a student's educational journey as early as possible helps a student get ready for what awaits in four short years."

Two, they can help your son stand out in college applications.

"Taking AP courses as early as freshman year opens up a student's high school schedule to additional AP courses in subsequent years, allowing him or her to display an additional level of mastery to colleges," notes Cohen. "Universities look closely at a high school student's 'strength of schedule' when making admissions decisions. Taking AP courses shows admissions committees that a student is committed to a rigorous course of study and is a strong candidate for college success."

Three -- and this is a biggie for families taking out college loans -- AP courses allow students to earn credit at many colleges, resulting in substantial tuition savings.

"Students who earn scores of three or higher (on a scale of one to five) on AP exams can place out of certain college courses," Cohen explains. "High scores can save as much as a semester of college tuition costs."

Four, taking AP courses in high school allows a student to look into college electives that interest them.

Cohen says that there's "no compelling research suggesting that there's a benefit in waiting to take an AP course." While AP courses are more rigorous, the growth in enrollment among freshmen shows that many rise to the challenge.

Research AP courses with your son before making a decision. Check out apstudent.collegeboard.org. Browse AP guidebooks. Talk with students who have taken the classes. Meet with his high school counselor.

No one knows your son better than you, says Cohen, who advises, "If you feel like he isn't ready, or you would rather have him ease into the high school experience, that is a decision for you and your family to make. If he decides to pursue the AP path, there's lots of help available along the way."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)