Back-to-school season is here, which means it’s time to pick out new clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies. As you outfit your child with the latest fashion styles, be sure that you prepare for a successful school year by understanding your child’s personalized “learning style.”
Just as there are many different fashions, there are also many different ways a child learns. Understanding a child’s individual learning style can help parents and teachers personalize the instruction or homework to ensure peak performance in school and build a child’s self confidence.
People learn in at least eight different ways, according to the Multiple Intelligences Theory: visually, verbally, physically, mathematically, musically, naturalistically, through group activity or through quiet thinking time.
When reading the following tips, keep in mind that a child may exhibit more than one of the following learning styles.
How does your child learn?
Visual/Spatial learners enjoy photography, visual metaphors, puzzles, illustrations and story maps. Seeing a bar graph on the cost of different cars, for instance, would be a better learning tool than hearing a list of prices read aloud.
Verbal/Linguistic learners shine in activities such as storytelling, public speaking, drama and journal writing. Give children journals to keep for one month. Encourage them to write detailed descriptions of what they see, taste, feel and hear.
Bodily/Kinesthetic learners thrive on hands-on experiments, field trips, body language, crafts and sports. Take a field trip to a local factory, then make a visual display of what was learned.
Logical/Mathematical learners tend to be better at problem-solving, coding, data collecting, money management and scientific models. Help your child create a budget sheet that itemizes every cent spent during a one-month period. Determine what category drew the biggest expenses.
Musical/Rhythmic students may play an instrument, sing, hum or tap during work or require background music while they study. Turn memorization exercises into rhythmic word play and set it to any musical style.
Intrapersonal learners work better alone, doing individual study, personal goal-setting and self-esteem activities. This type of student can write down one objective and record the steps to achieving it.
Interpersonal learners work better in group activities, such as clubs, peer teaching, conflict mediation and active discussions. They would enjoy volunteering at a nursing home, women’s shelter or charity and documenting the experience in a journal.
Naturalist learners tend to better understand ideas when it is related to a natural occurrence. These learners prefer outdoor activities (e.g., camping, gardening, hiking, bird-watching, etc).
As parents prepare their children for the new school year, it’s important to remember that they will be better prepared for classes if parents and the school teacher both understand their learning styles and use this knowledge to help them excel in school and on homework. Parents should also share their observations about their children’s learning style with their child’s teachers.
Sylvan Learning Directors and teachers from Flemington, New Jersey dish on the latest educational trends and what you can do to help your child achieve academic success!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Is it Homework Time?
Tips and Routines for a Successful Academic Year
It’s the beginning of the school year and just a few weeks until the first report cards start showing up! Now is the perfect time to start focusing on your grades – beginning with a homework routine that you can follow throughout the school year.
By concentrating on three important life skills – Organizing, Taking Action, and Communicating, students can simplify their life and develop habits that will help them later in college, at work, and in life. Learn to master these skills early in life, and you’ll be all set for success for years to come!
Organize
Have your own personal routine for homework. Are you the type of student who comes home from school and needs to get homework done right away so you
can have the evening free? Or, do you need a rest first, some time to expend some energy, a chance to put school on hold for a while? These aren’t trick questions; there’s no “right” answer. Either is okay. Know which describes you. Your needs may be different from your sister’s, your parents’, your friends’. Set up a routine that follows your preference.
Have a time that’s just for homework. Routines are important, and the routines that help you succeed in school are the most important routines.
Have a place for your homework.
You don’t need to have your own room, just a regular place that’s yours for the time it takes to complete your homework. It should be quiet and conducive to your work.
Have your supplies.
Keep your supplies – pens, calculator, highlighters, and papers – in a convenient place. Don’t waste your precious time looking for stuff. If you have your own desk, organize it. If you don’t have your own desk, that’s okay. Keep your supplies in a plastic organizer with a handle, so everything will be at your fingertips each evening. The last step in your homework routine is to make sure everything is ready for the next day.
Keep a planner. A planner doesn’t have to be an expensive electronic gizmo. A simple notebook will do. The important thing is to get in the habit of writing down your assignments and their duedates, and then working to get them done. If you don’t write them down, you’ll forget some of them.
Take ActionSet goals. It’s your life, take control of it. At the beginning of the school year, set goals about what you’d like to accomplish. Improve that algebra grade? Take a challenging literature course? Then at the beginning of each month, review those goals to see if you’re on track.
Pace yourself. You’ll have lots of longrange assignments as you move up the grades: book reports, term papers, and science projects—even extracurricular tasks like an article for the school newspaper or a project for student council. Start early, and break up the maxi-job into mini-jobs. This will seem much less overwhelming. Plus, it’ll eliminate the awful feeling you get when you know something’s due and you haven’t even started it yet.
Eliminate distractions. Yes, you need music. You need your phone or your Blackberry. You need to have the TV on, “just for background noise.” It is important to “focus” without any distractions. Multi-tasking is not required at least during homework time.
Communicate Speak up. Participate in class. Ask questions when you’re puzzled. From your homework, make a list of questions to ask tomorrow in class. In class, make comments when you see connections to other things you’ve learned in this class or, better yet, in other classes. Learning how and when to speak up is a skill you’ll value and will take you far. If you need help, ask for it. Get it early.
Review. Go over your assignments on a regular basis with a “study buddy,” a friend who’s as motivated as you are. Keep each other on track by clarifying assignments, studying together, supporting one another’s goals. Keep track of your grades, so you’ll know how you’re doing. Success in school is as much a team effort as success on the athletic field.
Organizing, taking action and communicating will simplify your school
life. Have a successful school year ahead!
It’s the beginning of the school year and just a few weeks until the first report cards start showing up! Now is the perfect time to start focusing on your grades – beginning with a homework routine that you can follow throughout the school year.
By concentrating on three important life skills – Organizing, Taking Action, and Communicating, students can simplify their life and develop habits that will help them later in college, at work, and in life. Learn to master these skills early in life, and you’ll be all set for success for years to come!
Organize
Have your own personal routine for homework. Are you the type of student who comes home from school and needs to get homework done right away so you
can have the evening free? Or, do you need a rest first, some time to expend some energy, a chance to put school on hold for a while? These aren’t trick questions; there’s no “right” answer. Either is okay. Know which describes you. Your needs may be different from your sister’s, your parents’, your friends’. Set up a routine that follows your preference.
Have a time that’s just for homework. Routines are important, and the routines that help you succeed in school are the most important routines.
Have a place for your homework.
You don’t need to have your own room, just a regular place that’s yours for the time it takes to complete your homework. It should be quiet and conducive to your work.
Have your supplies.
Keep your supplies – pens, calculator, highlighters, and papers – in a convenient place. Don’t waste your precious time looking for stuff. If you have your own desk, organize it. If you don’t have your own desk, that’s okay. Keep your supplies in a plastic organizer with a handle, so everything will be at your fingertips each evening. The last step in your homework routine is to make sure everything is ready for the next day.
Keep a planner. A planner doesn’t have to be an expensive electronic gizmo. A simple notebook will do. The important thing is to get in the habit of writing down your assignments and their duedates, and then working to get them done. If you don’t write them down, you’ll forget some of them.
Take ActionSet goals. It’s your life, take control of it. At the beginning of the school year, set goals about what you’d like to accomplish. Improve that algebra grade? Take a challenging literature course? Then at the beginning of each month, review those goals to see if you’re on track.
Pace yourself. You’ll have lots of longrange assignments as you move up the grades: book reports, term papers, and science projects—even extracurricular tasks like an article for the school newspaper or a project for student council. Start early, and break up the maxi-job into mini-jobs. This will seem much less overwhelming. Plus, it’ll eliminate the awful feeling you get when you know something’s due and you haven’t even started it yet.
Eliminate distractions. Yes, you need music. You need your phone or your Blackberry. You need to have the TV on, “just for background noise.” It is important to “focus” without any distractions. Multi-tasking is not required at least during homework time.
Communicate Speak up. Participate in class. Ask questions when you’re puzzled. From your homework, make a list of questions to ask tomorrow in class. In class, make comments when you see connections to other things you’ve learned in this class or, better yet, in other classes. Learning how and when to speak up is a skill you’ll value and will take you far. If you need help, ask for it. Get it early.
Review. Go over your assignments on a regular basis with a “study buddy,” a friend who’s as motivated as you are. Keep each other on track by clarifying assignments, studying together, supporting one another’s goals. Keep track of your grades, so you’ll know how you’re doing. Success in school is as much a team effort as success on the athletic field.
Organizing, taking action and communicating will simplify your school
life. Have a successful school year ahead!
Monday, August 30, 2010
School Involvement...All Year Long
When 16-year-old Drew is at school, his mom may be just a couple of classrooms away. “At first it’s kind of weird, and my friends will be like ‘Oh yesterday I saw your mom at school.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, OK.’ But eventually I get used to it,” he says.
She volunteers at the school, which makes it easy to check in with her children’s teachers. “When one of my children has a problem in one of his classes, they’ll say we got his test grade and it’s this,” says Stacy, Drew’s mom. But many parents never get that kind of quick feedback.
According to a survey by the Michigan Education Association, a quarter of parents said they almost never talk to teachers. The same number said they never attend parent-teacher conferences. “Sadly, I think those numbers are probably very accurate,” says academic advisor Cathie Banks.
Banks says that can send kids a subtle, but damaging message: My parents don’t care about my education, so why should I? The result is that “they’re less involved in activities. ... They have lower self-esteem; they have lower classroom attendance,” she says.
In fact, earlier studies by the U.S. Department of Education found that when parents are involved – by monitoring homework, talking to teachers or volunteering at the school – children’s grades were dramatically higher and discipline problems dramatically lower.
“She’s always around at school a lot. So if I was to do something bad, she would know about it pretty quickly,” says Drew.
Experts say meeting your child’s teachers and spending time at their school is invaluable. “Find a link, whether it’s a teacher you can talk to (or) a guidance counselor that you can go (to),” says Banks. “I would encourage any parent who wants to become involved to do so, no matter what the cost.”
What Parents Need To Know
A study funded by education groups in Michigan found a pronounced rift between parents and teachers. Although parents and teachers should be partners in education, they are often adversaries. Parents can ensure a child is on time to school and then welcome them home at night, but they often leave the hours in between solely to professional educators.
Consider the following:
• Only one-in-nine working parents is active in a child’s school.
• Overall, one-in-four parents participate in a child’s school.
• Nearly a quarter of parents never ensure teachers know essential information about their child.
• Teachers are more forthcoming about academic problems than they are with behavior problems.
• Parents who communicate with the schools have a higher level of success and satisfaction, as well as a greater sense of belonging to the school community.
• Nine states have passed legislation offering unpaid family leave for school activities, with varying requirements for eligibility.
Working moms and dads might be desperate for a connection but need flexible volunteer opportunities and events timed around the workday. Conversely, stay-at-home parents want to preserve family evenings and consider daytime school involvement one benefit of staying home.
Parent involvement increases positive results. Show your child with actions, not just words, that you really care about education. Involvement extends beyond simply getting your child to school on time. If parents don’t care enough to drop
by the school and talk to a teacher, to make sure homework gets done and books get read, the child likely won’t care either. Parents of low-achievers, the students who could most benefit from parent involvement, are the least likely to visit schools.
Eventually, a parent might need to deal with the school on his or her child’s behalf. A parent is in a much better position if that’s not the first time the school has seen him or her. Children of parents who are engaged with the school receive a better education. However, most schools and educators do little to welcome reluctant parents. To combat this dilemma, parents can:
• Make regular visits to their child’s classroom.
• Share pertinent, helpful information about their child with his or her teachers.
• Ask teachers specific questions regarding their child’s performance and behavior.
• Encourage teachers to be honest with them.
• Be careful not to behave as their child’s defense attorneys. They shouldn’t automatically side with their child and go after an educator.
• Act as allies of the educator because a teacher who knows he or she has the backing of the parents is more likely to go out on a limb for that child.
She volunteers at the school, which makes it easy to check in with her children’s teachers. “When one of my children has a problem in one of his classes, they’ll say we got his test grade and it’s this,” says Stacy, Drew’s mom. But many parents never get that kind of quick feedback.
According to a survey by the Michigan Education Association, a quarter of parents said they almost never talk to teachers. The same number said they never attend parent-teacher conferences. “Sadly, I think those numbers are probably very accurate,” says academic advisor Cathie Banks.
Banks says that can send kids a subtle, but damaging message: My parents don’t care about my education, so why should I? The result is that “they’re less involved in activities. ... They have lower self-esteem; they have lower classroom attendance,” she says.
In fact, earlier studies by the U.S. Department of Education found that when parents are involved – by monitoring homework, talking to teachers or volunteering at the school – children’s grades were dramatically higher and discipline problems dramatically lower.
“She’s always around at school a lot. So if I was to do something bad, she would know about it pretty quickly,” says Drew.
Experts say meeting your child’s teachers and spending time at their school is invaluable. “Find a link, whether it’s a teacher you can talk to (or) a guidance counselor that you can go (to),” says Banks. “I would encourage any parent who wants to become involved to do so, no matter what the cost.”
What Parents Need To Know
A study funded by education groups in Michigan found a pronounced rift between parents and teachers. Although parents and teachers should be partners in education, they are often adversaries. Parents can ensure a child is on time to school and then welcome them home at night, but they often leave the hours in between solely to professional educators.
Consider the following:
• Only one-in-nine working parents is active in a child’s school.
• Overall, one-in-four parents participate in a child’s school.
• Nearly a quarter of parents never ensure teachers know essential information about their child.
• Teachers are more forthcoming about academic problems than they are with behavior problems.
• Parents who communicate with the schools have a higher level of success and satisfaction, as well as a greater sense of belonging to the school community.
• Nine states have passed legislation offering unpaid family leave for school activities, with varying requirements for eligibility.
Working moms and dads might be desperate for a connection but need flexible volunteer opportunities and events timed around the workday. Conversely, stay-at-home parents want to preserve family evenings and consider daytime school involvement one benefit of staying home.
Parent involvement increases positive results. Show your child with actions, not just words, that you really care about education. Involvement extends beyond simply getting your child to school on time. If parents don’t care enough to drop
by the school and talk to a teacher, to make sure homework gets done and books get read, the child likely won’t care either. Parents of low-achievers, the students who could most benefit from parent involvement, are the least likely to visit schools.
Eventually, a parent might need to deal with the school on his or her child’s behalf. A parent is in a much better position if that’s not the first time the school has seen him or her. Children of parents who are engaged with the school receive a better education. However, most schools and educators do little to welcome reluctant parents. To combat this dilemma, parents can:
• Make regular visits to their child’s classroom.
• Share pertinent, helpful information about their child with his or her teachers.
• Ask teachers specific questions regarding their child’s performance and behavior.
• Encourage teachers to be honest with them.
• Be careful not to behave as their child’s defense attorneys. They shouldn’t automatically side with their child and go after an educator.
• Act as allies of the educator because a teacher who knows he or she has the backing of the parents is more likely to go out on a limb for that child.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Kickoff a Stress-Free School Year
For many children, the first day of school doesn’t only mean new teachers and new friends – it can also be a source of anxiety with homework assignments and tests just around the corner. Starting the school year off on the right foot can help minimize a child’s stress level throughout the year.
The experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, suggest parents help their children prepare for the transition to the next grade level and the return to school by encouraging a structured routine from day-one and staying actively involved in their child’s education.
To help children get ready for the new school year and to minimize academic stress, Sylvan Learning offers these tips and ideas to make the transition from summer to school easier. Tips include back–to-school suggestions and specific hints for the transitional years:
Back-to-School Tips (for each new school year):• Get back in the routine. Ease transition from lazy summer days to the structure of the school year by re-establishing bedtime, mealtime, reading and homework routines. Talk with your child about the importance of these routines and how they help ensure that he is not overtired or overly anxious about schoolwork or the next day of school.
• Set education goals. Help your child set goals at the very beginning of the year. Whether it is striving for an A in reading, handing in all homework on time or preparing for tests well in advance, setting goals can help set the routine for the new year.
• Develop a relationship with your child’s teacher. Take the time to meet your child’s teachers at the beginning of the school year. Teachers can be the best source for information about your child’s scholastic performance and they can recommend ways to help your child or resolve any difficulties he or she is having.
• Homework routine and place. Designate a specific time and place for homework time and help your child discover a regular, quiet place where he can study. Make sure that the area is free from potential distractions and that study tools are at your child’s fingertips to keep him focused on homework and studying.
• Stay on schedule. Your child should keep a schedule of all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. As part of that schedule, she should include specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more efficient your child will be. Organization minimizes late nights completing homework assignments, cramming for tests at the last minute and can ultimately reduce student anxiety about school.
• Emphasize organization. For some students, having color-coded binders for each subject helps them stay on track throughout the school year. Keeping notes organized helps test preparation later in the year, so work with your child to determine the best method for him.
• Encourage learning at home. Promoting learning outside of the classroom helps children perform better in school. To nurture reading skills spend at least one hour per week – 10 to 15 minutes a day – reading with your child. To enhance math proficiency, try allowing your child to help plan the next family trip and encourage him to compute miles, cost of gas, expenses for food, hotel and entertainment.
Transition Year Back-to-School Tips (Children Starting Kindergarten, First Grade, Middle School or High School):• Visit the school. If your child is changing schools with the new year, make a special trip together to visit the school before the first day of classes. Checking out the new classroom and the new teacher before school starts will help ease feelings of anxiety and help get your child into his or academic routine. If it’s available, review the class schedule with your child and prepare him for the new grade.
• Discuss changes in routine. Talk with your child about how the routine for her new school may differ from the previous year. It can be difficult for children to adjust to changes in schedules and workloads. Explain how her schedule may differ from last year. Will there be more homework assignments? Does she have to wake up earlier? Will she have more than one teacher this year?
• Provide extra support. When starting the new school year, especially if it’s a transition year, a little extra support can’t hurt. Talk with your child about her fears regarding school and maintain an open dialogue throughout the year. Discuss what subjects she’s anticipating and any areas she finds particularly challenging. Don’t forget to talk about homework and tests.
• Transition into Kindergarten. Kindergarten is your child’s introduction to elementary school and a first opportunity to learn basic math and reading skills, not to mention a first look at routines and expectations of group learning. As a parent, you are your child's first teacher. The skills that he learns from you – how to get along with others, follow directions and listen to directions – will help him start the year off right.
• Transition into middle school and high school. Transitioning from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school brings many questions and concerns. Organization becomes even more important in middle school and high school when your child must keep track of multiple subjects, homework, teachers, classrooms and books. You can help him to reduce stress by giving him a calendar/planner to help him organize these new items and encouraging him to build good study habits.
The experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, suggest parents help their children prepare for the transition to the next grade level and the return to school by encouraging a structured routine from day-one and staying actively involved in their child’s education.
To help children get ready for the new school year and to minimize academic stress, Sylvan Learning offers these tips and ideas to make the transition from summer to school easier. Tips include back–to-school suggestions and specific hints for the transitional years:
Back-to-School Tips (for each new school year):• Get back in the routine. Ease transition from lazy summer days to the structure of the school year by re-establishing bedtime, mealtime, reading and homework routines. Talk with your child about the importance of these routines and how they help ensure that he is not overtired or overly anxious about schoolwork or the next day of school.
• Set education goals. Help your child set goals at the very beginning of the year. Whether it is striving for an A in reading, handing in all homework on time or preparing for tests well in advance, setting goals can help set the routine for the new year.
• Develop a relationship with your child’s teacher. Take the time to meet your child’s teachers at the beginning of the school year. Teachers can be the best source for information about your child’s scholastic performance and they can recommend ways to help your child or resolve any difficulties he or she is having.
• Homework routine and place. Designate a specific time and place for homework time and help your child discover a regular, quiet place where he can study. Make sure that the area is free from potential distractions and that study tools are at your child’s fingertips to keep him focused on homework and studying.
• Stay on schedule. Your child should keep a schedule of all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. As part of that schedule, she should include specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more efficient your child will be. Organization minimizes late nights completing homework assignments, cramming for tests at the last minute and can ultimately reduce student anxiety about school.
• Emphasize organization. For some students, having color-coded binders for each subject helps them stay on track throughout the school year. Keeping notes organized helps test preparation later in the year, so work with your child to determine the best method for him.
• Encourage learning at home. Promoting learning outside of the classroom helps children perform better in school. To nurture reading skills spend at least one hour per week – 10 to 15 minutes a day – reading with your child. To enhance math proficiency, try allowing your child to help plan the next family trip and encourage him to compute miles, cost of gas, expenses for food, hotel and entertainment.
Transition Year Back-to-School Tips (Children Starting Kindergarten, First Grade, Middle School or High School):• Visit the school. If your child is changing schools with the new year, make a special trip together to visit the school before the first day of classes. Checking out the new classroom and the new teacher before school starts will help ease feelings of anxiety and help get your child into his or academic routine. If it’s available, review the class schedule with your child and prepare him for the new grade.
• Discuss changes in routine. Talk with your child about how the routine for her new school may differ from the previous year. It can be difficult for children to adjust to changes in schedules and workloads. Explain how her schedule may differ from last year. Will there be more homework assignments? Does she have to wake up earlier? Will she have more than one teacher this year?
• Provide extra support. When starting the new school year, especially if it’s a transition year, a little extra support can’t hurt. Talk with your child about her fears regarding school and maintain an open dialogue throughout the year. Discuss what subjects she’s anticipating and any areas she finds particularly challenging. Don’t forget to talk about homework and tests.
• Transition into Kindergarten. Kindergarten is your child’s introduction to elementary school and a first opportunity to learn basic math and reading skills, not to mention a first look at routines and expectations of group learning. As a parent, you are your child's first teacher. The skills that he learns from you – how to get along with others, follow directions and listen to directions – will help him start the year off right.
• Transition into middle school and high school. Transitioning from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school brings many questions and concerns. Organization becomes even more important in middle school and high school when your child must keep track of multiple subjects, homework, teachers, classrooms and books. You can help him to reduce stress by giving him a calendar/planner to help him organize these new items and encouraging him to build good study habits.
Monday, August 9, 2010
PLZ PRACTICE UR WRTIN
Millions of children and adults use language like this to make weekend plans nad chat with friends via email, Twitter, and Instant Messaging (IM). It is important that this informal writing style of shortened words, improper grammar, lack of punctuation, and use of emoticons, such as smiley faces and other keyboard-created graphics, does not follow them into the classroom.
To help children boost their effective writing skills, we offer the following tips to avoid email-style language making its way into schoolwork:
1. Talk to children about using different writing styles to communicate with different audiences. Describe the importance of personalizing messages and why it's important that students know their audience. While it's okay to close a letter with "C ya" to a friend in an IM, it is not okay to include this slang in homework assignments. Remind them that formality is required in school.
2. Have fun with writing. Provide children with enjoyable ways to practice their writing. Involve your child in writing grocery lists, thank you notes, dates on calendars, and messages. Or, play games like Blurt!, TriBond, and MadGab that help build language and vocabulary skills.
3. Review schoolwork for IM and email-style language. Encourage your children to write properly and take the time to carefully review assignments several times before submitted them to the teacher. Review your child's homework to ensure he or she is not using shortcuts or slang.
4. Talk with teens to establish ground rules for using texting, Twitter, and email. Work with your child to develop a plan for using IM and email to make sure other responsibilities, such as completing homework and chores, are met before going online to chat with friends. Discuss time limits with your children and ensure they are kept.
5. Create a writing zone. Whether writing on a computer or with a notebook and pencil, it is important that your child has a well-organized place to write. Set up an area in your home for writing - a desk to table with a flat surface and good lighting. Ensure the area is free from potential distractions and that writing tools, including a dictionary, paper and pens, are at your child's fingertips.
Sylvan offers parents a variety of tools and activities to help students practice and have fun with writing, including tips for boosting effective writing skills and free online writing journal. Parents can download the free writing journal, complete with suggested writing topics and decorative pages, from the "Family Learning Activities" section in the "Parent Resources" area of www.SylvanLearning.com.
To help children boost their effective writing skills, we offer the following tips to avoid email-style language making its way into schoolwork:
1. Talk to children about using different writing styles to communicate with different audiences. Describe the importance of personalizing messages and why it's important that students know their audience. While it's okay to close a letter with "C ya" to a friend in an IM, it is not okay to include this slang in homework assignments. Remind them that formality is required in school.
2. Have fun with writing. Provide children with enjoyable ways to practice their writing. Involve your child in writing grocery lists, thank you notes, dates on calendars, and messages. Or, play games like Blurt!, TriBond, and MadGab that help build language and vocabulary skills.
3. Review schoolwork for IM and email-style language. Encourage your children to write properly and take the time to carefully review assignments several times before submitted them to the teacher. Review your child's homework to ensure he or she is not using shortcuts or slang.
4. Talk with teens to establish ground rules for using texting, Twitter, and email. Work with your child to develop a plan for using IM and email to make sure other responsibilities, such as completing homework and chores, are met before going online to chat with friends. Discuss time limits with your children and ensure they are kept.
5. Create a writing zone. Whether writing on a computer or with a notebook and pencil, it is important that your child has a well-organized place to write. Set up an area in your home for writing - a desk to table with a flat surface and good lighting. Ensure the area is free from potential distractions and that writing tools, including a dictionary, paper and pens, are at your child's fingertips.
Sylvan offers parents a variety of tools and activities to help students practice and have fun with writing, including tips for boosting effective writing skills and free online writing journal. Parents can download the free writing journal, complete with suggested writing topics and decorative pages, from the "Family Learning Activities" section in the "Parent Resources" area of www.SylvanLearning.com.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Countdown to College
The pressure is on. To compete in today's global economy, teenagers must obtain collegiate degrees now more than ever.
"Our growing global economy has made it necessary for more students to attend college in order to obtain good paying jobs. New tools, such as the common application, encourage students to apply to more schools - which increased the competition," says Rust Greigg, vice president of Sylvan Learning College Prep.
With students reaching for their "dream" schools, many realize increasing their scores on thier college entrance exams is only part of the planning process. More students and parents today are learning the secret that top colleges have known for years - systematically preparing for university-level classes gives students more confidence and more confidence can lead to higher SAT/ACT scores, early admission to the college of your choice, and a smoother transition into higher education.
With the fall season rapidly approaching, we have developed a list of what high school students can do during the Fall/Winter season to ensure they are adequately prepared for the college process.
Freshman Year
*Meet with your guidance counselors to ensure you are enrolled in college prep courses.
*Focus on doing well in your classes and seek extra help from peers, teachers, and supplemental education providers when needed.
*Join a sports team or club to become involved in school.
*Volunteer for local activities to become a part of your community.
Sophomore Year
*Take the PSAT in October for practice.
*Attend college fairs and open houses in your area.
*Talk to friends and relatives attending college and ask them about their experiences.
Junior Year(This is a critical time for college prep)
*Take a leadership role within your sports teams, clubs, or volunteer organizations.
*Register to take the PSAT/PLAN offered in October.
*Attend college fairs and open houses in your area. Question school representatives and recruiters about thier academic programs, majors offered, application fees, and admission deadlines.
*Analyze what you want in an institution of higher learning:
- Small, medium, or large school?
- Urban, suburban, or rural campus?
- Distance from home?
- Rigorous admissions requirements (SAT/ACT scores, GPA, class rank, etc.)?
- Intended major offered?
*Create a first list of schools that meet your personal requirements.
*Begin to research national and regional scholarships. Note the requirements and deadlines.
Senior Year
*Take the SAT/ACT again. Prepare by using prep books or enrolling in a SAT/ACT prep program.
*Create a master calendar that includes:
- Collegiate application due dates
- SAT/SAT Subject Tests/ACT/AP dates, frees and registration deadlines
- Financial aid form deadlines
- Recommendations and transcript due dates
- High school deadlines for information requests
*Narrow down your list of universities to 5-10 and review your choices with your parents and teacehrs.
*Complete and mail your scholarship applications.
* Ask your teachers to write letters of recommendation. Give each person your resume, any requred forms, and a stamp and addressed envelope.
*Write your admissions essays. Ask your teachers and families to proofread.
The college process is involved, but Sylvan Learning Center can help you navigate. We offer free diagnostic SAT/ACT practice tests for students and free parent seminars and resources including college planning guides. Interested in how Sylvan can help you and your child? Call (908)638-6788 or (908)806-4010. It's never too early - or too late - to begin preparing for college and lifelonge economic success.
"Our growing global economy has made it necessary for more students to attend college in order to obtain good paying jobs. New tools, such as the common application, encourage students to apply to more schools - which increased the competition," says Rust Greigg, vice president of Sylvan Learning College Prep.
With students reaching for their "dream" schools, many realize increasing their scores on thier college entrance exams is only part of the planning process. More students and parents today are learning the secret that top colleges have known for years - systematically preparing for university-level classes gives students more confidence and more confidence can lead to higher SAT/ACT scores, early admission to the college of your choice, and a smoother transition into higher education.
With the fall season rapidly approaching, we have developed a list of what high school students can do during the Fall/Winter season to ensure they are adequately prepared for the college process.
Freshman Year
*Meet with your guidance counselors to ensure you are enrolled in college prep courses.
*Focus on doing well in your classes and seek extra help from peers, teachers, and supplemental education providers when needed.
*Join a sports team or club to become involved in school.
*Volunteer for local activities to become a part of your community.
Sophomore Year
*Take the PSAT in October for practice.
*Attend college fairs and open houses in your area.
*Talk to friends and relatives attending college and ask them about their experiences.
Junior Year(This is a critical time for college prep)
*Take a leadership role within your sports teams, clubs, or volunteer organizations.
*Register to take the PSAT/PLAN offered in October.
*Attend college fairs and open houses in your area. Question school representatives and recruiters about thier academic programs, majors offered, application fees, and admission deadlines.
*Analyze what you want in an institution of higher learning:
- Small, medium, or large school?
- Urban, suburban, or rural campus?
- Distance from home?
- Rigorous admissions requirements (SAT/ACT scores, GPA, class rank, etc.)?
- Intended major offered?
*Create a first list of schools that meet your personal requirements.
*Begin to research national and regional scholarships. Note the requirements and deadlines.
Senior Year
*Take the SAT/ACT again. Prepare by using prep books or enrolling in a SAT/ACT prep program.
*Create a master calendar that includes:
- Collegiate application due dates
- SAT/SAT Subject Tests/ACT/AP dates, frees and registration deadlines
- Financial aid form deadlines
- Recommendations and transcript due dates
- High school deadlines for information requests
*Narrow down your list of universities to 5-10 and review your choices with your parents and teacehrs.
*Complete and mail your scholarship applications.
* Ask your teachers to write letters of recommendation. Give each person your resume, any requred forms, and a stamp and addressed envelope.
*Write your admissions essays. Ask your teachers and families to proofread.
The college process is involved, but Sylvan Learning Center can help you navigate. We offer free diagnostic SAT/ACT practice tests for students and free parent seminars and resources including college planning guides. Interested in how Sylvan can help you and your child? Call (908)638-6788 or (908)806-4010. It's never too early - or too late - to begin preparing for college and lifelonge economic success.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
In The First Person
Books written in the first person-stories told by an "I" narrator about him or herself-expose readers to the concept of a unique voice, as well as to story lines in which the narrator is one of the characters.
A story changes when only one person's subjective point of view can be shown. First-person narration "sounds" different from the more typical omniscient third-person narration, where an all-knowing, all-seeing narrator is not part of the story.
Suggested books for students at all levels:
Elementary Level
Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Little House on the Prairie series
John D. Fitzgerald, the Great Brain series
These books, set at the turn of the 20th century, combine fascinating historical details wiht engaging characters and humorous and poignant situations.
Middle School Level
Mary Rodgers, Freaky Friday
Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank
These books are opposites in many ways: funny and serious; contemporary and historical; absolute fantasy and all-too-real reality. Yet both have universal messages about establishing one's own identity as well as timeless observations about family relationships.
Secondary School Level
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Alex Haley, The Autobiography of Malcom X
While one is more fictional than the other, both focus on introspection and striving for growth, giving young people a great deal to think about.
Exposing your child to a variety of literature will help to foster that love of reading. By hearing someone else's voice, it may inspire your child to find his or her own.
A story changes when only one person's subjective point of view can be shown. First-person narration "sounds" different from the more typical omniscient third-person narration, where an all-knowing, all-seeing narrator is not part of the story.
Suggested books for students at all levels:
Elementary Level
Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Little House on the Prairie series
John D. Fitzgerald, the Great Brain series
These books, set at the turn of the 20th century, combine fascinating historical details wiht engaging characters and humorous and poignant situations.
Middle School Level
Mary Rodgers, Freaky Friday
Anne Frank, The Diary of Anne Frank
These books are opposites in many ways: funny and serious; contemporary and historical; absolute fantasy and all-too-real reality. Yet both have universal messages about establishing one's own identity as well as timeless observations about family relationships.
Secondary School Level
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Alex Haley, The Autobiography of Malcom X
While one is more fictional than the other, both focus on introspection and striving for growth, giving young people a great deal to think about.
Exposing your child to a variety of literature will help to foster that love of reading. By hearing someone else's voice, it may inspire your child to find his or her own.
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