Testing Jitters: Four Ways to Help Them Overcome Anxiety

     Test stress happens to just about everyone, and severe anxiety can sometimes strike even the most prepared students. But for some kids, every single test is a nightmare. Their palms sweat, their hearts race, and their minds go into overdrive with negative thoughts about failure – and that can be before they even get a foot in the classroom door on test day.

     Almost 20 percent of today’s students experience test anxiety, according to the American Test Anxiety Association. They don’t just worry they might not ace the test – they actually “freeze” while taking it. High test anxiety reduces working memory, confuses reasoning, increases mistakes, and lowers test scores. Research suggests students with high test anxiety perform around 12 percentile points below their peers who are not anxious test-takers.

1. Have a Studying Strategy.
Being prepared can make a world of difference in a  student’s self-confidence. Take a good look at how,  where and when your child studies. Is it too late  in the day? Are there distractions around? Is your  child trying to learn while hungry or overtired?  Does your child procrastinate learning new  material? Do your best to address each need and  set your child up for success. That means a healthy  snack, a quiet study corner, a good night’s  sleep – and no electronics (including a cell phone  or TV!) nearby.

2. Have a Test-taking Strategy.
You can’t be there to help your child through the  test, but you can tell him how to take one. When the test is set in front of him, tell him to flip through it to gauge how many questions there are and what’s involved. Then have him answer every question he knows right away, skipping anything he’s not sure about, then backtrack carefully to answer the questions he skipped. Tell him not to fret about the clock, but try to save a few minutes to go back through and check his answers. Finally, encourage him to raise his hand and ask a question if he needs something clarified.

3. Practice Positive Thinking.
Negative, self-defeating thoughts can sap your child’s mental strength, mucking up her ability to do well even if she knows all the answers. Challenge negative ideas (“I never do well on tests.”) and reframe them in a positive, honest way (“You studied hard for last week’s spelling test and passed with flying colors!”) so your child begins to see there are no absolutes.

4. Hold Your Tongue.
The morning of the test is not the time to suggest your child should have studied more or started preparing earlier. It’s not the time to nag about how late your teen stayed up or pick a fight about what your teen chose for breakfast. Try to remain calm and positive without smothering or shoving encouragement down your child’s throat. Your anxious test taker needs all the good vibes he or she can get.

Is Your Teen Ready for the Test?

Your teen is in school mode and everything is going a mile a minute. The next SAT/ACT test date is right around the corner and parents should know where their teen is in preparing for and taking the exam.

Planning for tests such as the SAT and ACT is extremely important in a teen’s educational career. As a parent, knowing how ready your teen is to take the SAT/ACT is vital to helping them plan and prepare to do their best.

In order to help parents assess their teen’s “SAT/ACT readiness,” Sylvan Learning has created a quick quiz.

SAT/ACT Readiness Quiz:
Please answer the following questions with a “yes” or “no.” For each “yes,” give yourself and your teen 2 points. At the end of the quiz, add up your points and see how prepared your teen is for SAT and ACT.

1. Do you and your teen feel confident that his classes and school have prepared him for the SAT/ACT?

2. Have you and your teen identified her weakest subject areas and developed a strategy for those portions of the tests?

3. Is your teen familiar with the rules of the SAT vs. the ACT?

4. Have you bought a test prep review book for your teen?

5. Have you made a SAT/ACT study schedule with your teen to set aside a minimum amount of time each day or week?

6. Has your teen made his own flashcards outside of those provided in a review packet?

7. Has your teen taken more than one practice exam for the SAT or the ACT?

8. Has your teen practiced writing an essay in 25 minutes?

9. Has your teen developed a time strategy for the tests?

10. Has your teen enrolled in or taken a test prep course?


SCORING

0-5 Points
It's never too late for your teen to begin preparing for either test! Here are tips that your teen can use to begin preparing now. And remember, there are always multiple test dates!
• Buy a test preparation book.
• Make flash cards.
• Enroll in a test preparation class.
• Take a practice SAT/ACT test.

5-10 Points
Congratulate your teen on beginning to practice for the SAT/ACT. Now is a perfect time for your teen to concentrate on creating a "SAT/ACT study guide." Here are some tips you can give your teen to get started.
• Divide the study guide into three sections: math, critical reading and writing.
• For each section, write down your weak areas.
• Under the weak areas, write down any formulas, vocabulary words or grammar rules that you need to learn.
• Flip through the quick guide once a day.

10-15 Points
Practice makes perfect. Give your teen these testing tips to consider while he continues to map out his strategy for the big day.
• Skip an answer. If you are unsure of an answer, skip the question and go back if time permits.
• Share your time. Don't spend too much time on any single question.
• Read, read, read. Read the questions and answers critically.
• End each section by reviewing. Revisit the questions that you either circled or marked with a question mark.
• Stop and check. After every few questions, stop and check to make sure the question number on the answer sheet corresponds with the question being answered in the test booklet.






-more-

15-20 Points
Your teen is on her way to achieving a great score on the SAT or the ACT! Give her these last minute tips to top off her test preparation.
• Enter the exam with confidence. Know the instructions for each section before you enter the exam room -- don't waste time reading the instruction the day of the exam.
• The night before, read a book or a magazine. This is a good way to work your mind with a non-stressful subject.
• Get a good night sleep before the exam.
• Always eat breakfast.
• Relax! You’re prepared. Go in confident.

To find out more about SAT/ACT test preparation opportunities at Sylvan Learning, visit the “College Prep” area of www.SylvanLearning.com

“College Visits 101” - Top 10 Tips for Your Spring Break College Road Trip

Strategies for Parents Taking Their High School Juniors
on the Road for Campus Visits

Parents of high school juniors everywhere are gearing up to hit the road over spring break to visit colleges of interest to their teenagers. While families can get a tremendous amount of valuable college information online, even in today’s Internet age, there’s no substitute for an in-person visit to get a true feel for an institution, its campus and its students.

Organizing a college tour road trip can be a daunting task for parents. Which schools should be visited? How many schools? How do you make the most out of a campus tour? Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to all ages, skills and grade levels, “schools” parents and high school students in its “College Visits 101,” top ten tips for organizing a spring break college road trip that parents and students alike will give an A for information-gathering and fun.

TOP 10 TIPS - “COLLEGE TOUR 101”
1. Start by Casting a Wide Net - If you and your teenager haven’t already done so, start by putting together a big list of potential schools of interest – up to 20 schools - for further investigation and research. Carefully consider a wide range of selection criteria, such as, geographic location, rural/suburban/urban campus setting, size of student enrollment, religious affiliation, academic strengths and offerings, and athletic programs, among others. Include a range of “dream,” “target” (strong odds of acceptance based on your teen’s test scores, GPA, etc.) and “safety” schools.

2. Finalize Your Target Tour List - Once you have your initial pool of possible school targets, narrow that list to a more realistic number of schools to visit – schools that meet the criteria for your teen and your family. Fine tuning your list can largely be done by visiting schools’ Web sites, reviewing college guides from the library or bookstore and, of course, by working with your teen’s school guidance counselor. Other students, friends and family members can also offer invaluable insights.

3.Get SAT/ACT Test Prep Support - If you take a school off of your teen’s final target list because his or her SAT or ACT test scores aren’t in that school’s typical accepted student range – or you’re afraid they won’t be - consider obtaining SAT/ACT test prep support from local Sylvan Learning (http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/SAT_ACT_test_prep_programs.cfm ).
With student application submissions hitting record highs – and acceptance rates at historic lows at many schools around the country - competition to get into the “top” colleges is more difficult than ever before. Sylvan’s college prep experts will tailor a personalized plan that builds the skills, habits and attitudes to your teenager’s needs in order to score higher on test day and apply to college with confidence. Sylvan’s highly personalized and targeted approach focuses on the exact skills needed to successfully answer test questions. For many students, skills can be mastered to raise test scores in as little as five to twelve weeks.

4.Visit While College is in Session - Every family’s final “visit” list of schools is different; some travel to 12 or more campuses while others only a handful. Based on the geography of your target tour list, you may in fact wind up making a few road trips – perhaps one over spring break and then one or two long weekend treks. Regardless of how many campuses you visit, make sure to schedule your visits while college is in session and students are attending classes. Don’t visit during midterms or finals and avoid weekend visits if at all possible, since classes are seldom held then. Be sure to call ahead and check on tour times, dates offices are closed, and visit/interview policies. If spring proves problematic because your target schools have spring break the same week your teen does, fall of senior year is also an ideal time to visit.

5. Schedule Smart - Be sure to make long trips efficient by planning several visits along the route. Figure out driving distances between schools so you and your teenager can determine which schools to visit on the same day. When you have a tentative itinerary, you and your child can begin calling colleges to schedule the visits. Be sure to reserve in advance official campus tours, and/or interviews with the admissions office, coaches, or professors. Make your appointment calls at least two weeks in advance of your target visit date.

6. Ask Questions to Make the Most of Your Visit - Encourage your teen to ask as many questions as possible – and ask different people the same questions to see if you get different answers. In addition to the official tour guide, speak librarians, coaches or other representatives based on topics of interest to your student.

Speak with at least two professors or students from your teen’s intended major. Now is your -and your teenager’s - time to determine if this learning environment is right for your family. Ask a student, “What is the quality of faculty advising? Which outstanding professors or courses does he/she recommend for that specific major?” Speak to a professor about general education requirements, which classes are most popular and fill up quickly, and which classes should be completed in the first year.

7. Go Beyond the Official Campus Tour to Get the “Inside Skinny” - Official campus tours are almost always 30-60 minute student-led affairs that give a good overview of the college, its facilities, academic offerings and student life. They’re a good place to start, but by doing a little advanced homework, your family can round out your visit with other campus experiences that can help you and your teen get the “inside skinny” on the school. If any family members, friends, or recent graduates of your teen’s school are enrolled, have coffee or meet with him or her. If your teen is an athlete, musician, artist, or has another special interest, call in advance to arrange a meeting with the coach or other relevant faculty members.

8. Eat on Campus - What teenager doesn’t place a high priority on food? Most schools allow visitors to eat on campus; so eat in the dining hall or other on-campus eating establishments to give your teen a firsthand “taste” of the school’s food while also saving money. Likewise, if you need overnight lodging, consider allowing your teenager to stay in a dorm. Even if you don’t know a student with whom your child can stay, many schools will arrange for your teen to stay overnight with a current student - if you call in advance. Parents will save money by only paying for one hotel room (or booking a smaller room) and the prospective student will gain an invaluable chance to experience dorm life.

9. Explore the City/Town of the University. A student’s college experience extends beyond the university’s campus. Visiting the surrounding town is one of the best ways to know
if a college is right for you. Experience the beauty and history of a university by visiting its local landmarks, town square, and student “hang-outs.” Use local transportation so you can gauge travel times and distance to off-campus activities that are integral to college life.

10. Create a Photo Diary - Believe it or not, once your family arrives home from your college tour road trip, the campuses may start to blur together – especially if you visit numerous schools. Use your digital camera to take a lot of photos - even videos - during your visits to create a record of each school. Your first photo of each school should show the college name on a sign or building to ensure you remember which school you visited. You and your teen can create an online folder for each school or print out the photos and keep them in folders with the other informational material you’ll pick up on your visits.

Good Attendance Matters

The holidays are over. It’s a New Year, and a time for renewed academic resolutions.
Here’s a goal that many students will find compelling and achievable this year: Good Attendance.
While academic goals take a while to show results—students organize, study, break down big tasks into smaller ones, and wait for grades and report cards to appear—maintaining a good attendance record is more immediate. It’s easily understood. Each day is a small achievement.
Good attendance is not an empty achievement, either. There’s a strong correlation between attendance and achievement, behavior, post-secondary schooling, and drop-out rates. There’s plenty of research, and our common sense backs it up. Good attendance numbers also tell us something about the school and the instruction that’s going on there.
Here are some ways to motivate students to keep attendance up.
Show you care. Good attendance is important to you as a parent. Show that you don’t approve of lateness, fake illnesses, or dodging responsibilities. Have high expectations. Your child should bereally sick before missing school. High fever? Okay. Lethargy? Unprepared? Not so much.

Communicate with the school. When your child must be absent, call or e-mail the school to tell them. Let your child see you do this. Now the school will know that they can expect to hear from you in the future, and your child will know that adults are monitoring his health and academics.
Schedule when you can. Help your child keep up her good attendance record by making routine pediatrician, optometrist, and dentist appointments for days when school is not in session. This won’t always be possible, but your child will see that you’re serious about school attendance when you try.

Have back-up plans. Snow? Car trouble? Alarm not working? Have back-up plans, so your kid doesn’t get the idea that any disruption is a convenient excuse for taking a day off. If you want a good laugh, ask a teacher for some of his or her favorite absence excuses. You won’t believe what you hear.

Don’t be an accomplice. Don’t allow your child to talk you into making excuses for him. Follow your instincts. Your job is to teach him responsibility and self-discipline. His job is to go to school. Don’t upset this balance of power.

Show why good work habits are important. Good attendance is a good habit. Help your child by establishing helpful routines, having a study area, monitoring her homework, keeping her on schedule for important school projects, and celebrating success. Show how you maintain good work habits to be successful in your job or other important activities.

Watch confidence rise. Good attendance isn’t the only criterion for success, but its part of a wide range of characteristics of highly-achieving students. Watch your child’s confidence rise as he sees more success, starting with the perseverance needed for good attendance.

Don’t give up. Like so many other child-rearing goals, staying positive is key. Let your kid know that his health is paramount, but his academic achievement isn’t far behind. Absences from school are going to get your strictest attention.

Regular Practice Creates Better Writers

With winter break just around the corner, children are enjoying the cold weather, the fun activities with friends and family and some vacation time. But winter break can also be an enjoyable learning experience. The winter break provides many memorable moments, and writing about them is a good way to record those memories and practice writing skills at the same time.

Parents tend to focus on their children's reading and math skills, overlooking that writing is an education fundamental. It's fast becoming the forgotten ‘R’, This is unfortunate, as writing is an important part of every facet of education, not just in English class. Writing proficiency can have a major impact on other subject areas too.

Winter Break provides an excellent opportunity for children to explore their creative writing skills. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, has developed the following tips to help parents encourage their children to write over the holidays:

Pick an Engaging Topic
Persuading your child to write over the winter break may be easier if you help them identify fun and engaging topics. Suggest timely subjects.


• For example, Christmas Day or New Year's Day are good opportunities for your children to explore their own feelings about family and to reflect upon the year that was as well as to plan for the year ahead.

• Ask them if they would like to write about a New Year's Resolution for the start of 2011 and help them come up with short, measurable goals to attain this Resolution. Mom and Dad, you can be a great example by setting one for yourself!

Give Story Starters
Sometimes the most difficult part of writing can be getting started. Help your children write their essays by giving them topic ideas, such as:

• I am proud to be part of this family because….
• On Christmas (or Hannukah or Kwanzaa), my family and I usually…
• If someone asked me what the holidays mean to me, I would say…

Sylvan Tips on Writing
• Good writing takes time. Spend time organizing your ideas and thinking about what you really want to say in your essay.
• Use the Internet or library to research your topic.
• Prepare an outline before you begin to write.
• Use transition words – such as “after,” “although,” “before,” “however” and “therefore” to help your ideas flow together.
• Be willing to revise. Change your sentences and paragraphs around, add material that lends to your writing and delete material that doesn’t work.
• Avoid clichés and jargon.
• Always keep a dictionary handy to help with spelling.
• Use a thesaurus to help you think of a new way to say something.
• Ask someone else to edit your work.
• Proofread everything. Make sure grammar, spelling and punctuation are perfect before you declare anything “finished.”
• Don’t rely on a computer’s spellchecker to ensure proper spelling.

Sylvan Learning can help students improve their writing skills before the beginning of the new school year. The Sylvan Academic Writing program is designed to help students understand many writing formats and styles, including illustrative and descriptive essays, comparative passages, persuasive writing, expository writing, summaries and outlines. Students in the program also complete exercises in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, paragraph structure and essay development. In addition, Sylvan can help juniors and seniors in high school prepare for college and the workplace with its new College Prep Writing program. College Prep Writing is a 36-hour program providing a solid foundation in upper-level writing, including “how-to” help with college applications and essays, targeting efforts on SAT* and ACT® writing sections, refining research skills and understanding source documentation.

The Power of Free Play

Everybody needs a little playtime – even turtles – according to new research from the University of Tennessee. They say that playtime, may, in fact, make for a life worth living. So what about kids, who with academics and sports and dance and theater are too-often often-scheduled and over stressed? Some experts have a solution...to schedule in free time. Tessa, for example, spends five days a week, four hours a day after school at gymnastics class. “By the time I get home, it’s like eight [o’clock] or so,” she says, “and I eat and do my homework and take a shower and talk to my parents about how the day’s gone - and then I go to bed.”

Experts have come up with a solution for kids like Tessa: Schedule in free time. “Almost by definition a ‘schedule of free time’ sounds kind of paradoxical to all of us,” says psychologist Nadine Kaslow, “but I do think planning for free time or for down time is very, very important for
children.” She says along with creative play and spending time with family and friends, free time provides moments away from competition. “With all these activities and schoolwork, there’s tremendous pressure to perform - often to compete, to excel,” says Kaslow, “and that leisure time and free time doesn’t have those demands.”

On the other hand, she says, some kids don’t handle free time very well. That’s something Tessa discovered last year, when she decided to take a break. “I didn’t like it as much as being in gymnastics, even though I had time,” she remembers.

Experts say let your children choose their after school activities, choose how busy they want to be, but watch for signs of burnout. “They will tell you, whether it’s through words or tears - or they’ll say, ‘when are we going again,’ or they’ll start screaming when you say it’s time to go,” says Kaslow.

What We Need To Know
Organized activities outside of a child’s school day certainly have their benefits: social skills, self-discipline, physical exercise and sportsmanship, exploration and enjoyment, to name a few. For some families, however, an over-scheduled existence may be fueled by a desire not to be left out or to build the resume of extracurricular activities that students and parents view as necessary for college admissions.

According to experts at Kids Health, even those parents who try to help their children cut back on some activities can run up against coaches who won’t tolerate absences and kids who want to keep up with their friends. The key is to schedule things in moderation and choose activities with a child’s age, temperament, interests, and abilities in mind. Here are some
simple suggestions:

Agree on ground rules ahead of time:
For instance, plan on kids playing one sport per season or limit activities to two afternoons or evenings during the school week.

Know how much time is required:
For example, will there be time to practice between lessons? Does your child realize that soccer practice is twice a week, right after school until dinnertime? Then there’s the weekly game, too. Will homework suffer?

Keep a calendar to stay organized:
Display it on the refrigerator or other prominent spot so that everybody can stay up-to-date. And if you find an empty space on the calendar, leave it alone!

Try to balance activities for all of your kids — and yourself:
It hardly seems fair to expend time and energy carting one kid to activities, leaving little time for another. And take time for yourself, to do the things you enjoy, and to spend time together as a family.

Create family time:
If you’re eating pizza on the run every night, plan a few dinners when everyone can be home at the same time — even if it means eating a little later. Schedule a family fun time, too, whether it’s playing a board game or going on bike ride or hike.

Know when to say no:
If your child is already doing a lot but really wants to take on another activity, discuss what other activity or activities need to be dropped to make room for the new one.

Prioritize:
If your child's grades are beginning to slip, would it be wise to sacrifice extra help for school for soccer, football or basketball? Getting them the help they need for school is critical to helping them to foster their independence, and tutoring may only be for one of the sports seasons for the year.

Remember the importance of downtime:
Everyone needs a chance to relax, reflect on the day, or just do
nothing.

Signs that your family and your child are overscheduled include always eating meals on the go, the kids are always tired, there’s a drop in grades, and constant complaints about going to practice or games. Make sure, despite their busy schedule, to keep lines of communication open with
your children. Use time in the car to listen - and to talk about their lives.

Why Word Problems are Worrisome to Children

Why are mathematical word problems worrisome for children?


Word problems take math concepts, such as arithmetic, geometry and algebra, and relate them back to the real world. But somehow, in the conversion from numbers and symbols to the written word, even students adept at math can become confused and discouraged. In fact, children often find it easier to solve a problem that explicitly asks them to multiply two numbers rather than tackle a word problem that requires the same mathematical skills.

In addition to knowledge of core math concepts, word problems also require strong reading comprehension skills. Before a child can solve a word problem, he needs to be able to translate the problem into a math equation.

Once a child deciphers a word problem and is able to convert it into a simple equation, most students can easily calculate the answer. Unfortunately, determining the right equation is often the most challenging part of problem-solving. By applying reading comprehension skills to their math homework, students are better able to solve word problems correctly.

What Parents Need to Know
A child's ability to understand the language in word problems influences his or her ability to solve them. One of the best ways to help children learn math and make it more enjoyable is to demonstrate how everyday activities incorporate core math skills.

Parents can make it easier for their children to understand word problems by making math a part of their child’s daily life. By showing how math skills and concepts are involved in real-life situations, you can help children learn to use math in practical ways.

Students must first have a good understanding of the basic math principles that each word problem utilizes. For example, if a child struggles with basic division, then a word problem that involves division will also be difficult to solve. Get to the root of the problem first, and then work on a solution.

What Parents Can Do
Parents can help their children approach word problems with more confidence by offering tips and suggestions for tackling them. Encourage children to draw pictures and look for key words that indicate certain mathematical operations. For example, “and” indicates addition, while “less than” is a sign of subtraction.

Parents should urge their children to do more than the assigned problems, particularly those that are more challenging to them. The extra practice will help children learn the mathematical formulas and techniques they need to know while helping to improve their problem-solving skills. In turn, this will lead to greater confidence in their abilities to tackle the more difficult problems.

To help children boost their critical thinking and word problem-solving skills, the math experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, offer parents the following tips to help their children decode word problems, gather key information, solve equations and check their answers:

1. Read the question carefully. Ask your child to read and reread the question to make sure that he understands what he is being asked to solve. Encourage him to read the question aloud and pay close attention to the final question of the word problem.

2. Understand the problem. Encourage her to simplify the word problem by highlighting the main words and important ideas. Have the student ask herself the following questions: What am I being asked to do? What are the important facts? Do I have enough information to solve the problem? What operation will I use?

3. Convert the verbal statement into a mathematical equation. Help him break the word problem into manageable, ordered steps. It's a good idea to do the work step-by-step, particularly if it’s a complicated problem with several parts. It's easier to keep the pieces of the problem in order if he works this way and easier to avoid mistakes. Have him begin by identifying key words such as “add,” “less,” and “product of” that indicate certain mathematical operations.

4. Generate the result. Encourage her to solve the mathematical problem using a technique such as drawing or mentally acting out the problem. After she finishes, make sure the results make sense and that she writes the answer in the appropriate units (e.g., hours, meters, kilometers, etc.). As a final step, have her translate the answer back into English. For example, “The son is 13 years old.”

We hope that these tips make solving word problems just a little easier for your son or daughter. If they continue to struggle with word problems, their reading comprehension may also be the cause of these struggles. It is important to have your child's reading level evaluated to determine the cause of this frustration.

Sylvan offers parents a variety of tools and fun activities to help encourage math learning and discovery outside the classroom, including a free online math activity booklet. The booklet is available in the “Parent Resources” area of www.SylvanLearning.com and contains 30 days of math writing topics, trivia, question and puzzles. For additional information on how you can help your child play the game of math, visit the “Math” area of www.SylvanLearning.com

How Parents Can Help Build Their Child’s Self-Esteem

Approximately 20 to 45 percent of school-aged children do not reach their full potential because they suffer from low self-esteem. Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself. It includes self-confidence, self-respect, pride in oneself, independence and self-reliance. Success builds self-esteem. Because underachieving students do not experience as much success in the classroom, low self-esteem is often the result. Many parents assume that their underachiever may have a lower IQ. In fact, most underachievers have high or average IQs, but their low self-esteem prevents them from succeeding in the classroom.

A school-aged child’s self-esteem is cultivated primarily at home. It is important that parents have a complete understanding of what self-esteem is and how to help build positive self-confidence in their child. It is the way a child feels about himself/herself regardless of how others view him/her. A secure home environment that establishes confidence, respect and an open exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings is crucial to building self-esteem. The more positive a child’s self-esteem, the more successful he or she will be at dealing with life. Confident children will try harder, be happier and have greater self-respect. At Sylvan, students work with one teacher and no more than two other students and are able to build their confidence.

For the first 5-6 years, parents are the most important influences in a child’s life. When children begin school, teachers and friends begin to play a role. When a child reaches adolescence, peer groups begin playing a more significant role in guiding a child’s self-esteem. The more positive a child’s self-esteem is before adolescence, the easier it will be for him or her to resist negative peer group pressures. Children who constantly put themselves down have low self-esteem. Children who face new experiences with confidence and positive expectations, and shrug off disappointments with an “it will be better next time” attitude, have high self-esteem.

Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, offers the following communication tips to help build or restore your children’s self-esteem:

• Have easy-going conversations on topics that are of interest to your children.
• Ask questions that require in-depth responses.
• Be optimistic.
• Encourage children to express their true feelings.
• Listen to how your children fees without making judgments about those feelings.
• Be patient.

Positive self-esteem not only helps students in the classroom, but also contributes to success later in life. Self-esteem must be established at an early age and strengthened throughout every child’s life.

To build positive self-esteem, parents must strive to:

• Help their children to set goals.
• Assist their children in identifying obstacles to success and developing ways to overcome them.
• Remind their children to think positive thoughts.
• Praise their children everyday.
• Everyday, say “I love you” and mean it.
• Allow their children to be free to succeed and to make mistakes.
• Compliment their children and don’t compare them to other siblings.
• Make time to talk to their children every day.

In today’s society, there is a definite demand on students to succeed, and positive self-esteem is crucial. It may be beneficial to send your child to a supplemental education provider that reinforces positive self-esteem. Sylvan Learning has helped more than two million students develop the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success. Sylvan also helps bolster self-esteem by focusing on strategies for success and providing consistent positive reinforcement to demonstrate that learning is its own reward.

How to Handle a Poor Report Card

Tips for Helping Your Children When They are Struggling to get Good Grades


It will soon be that time of the school year again – report card time. While many students will come home with good grades, others would rather stuff their report cards deep into their backpacks than show them to their parents. As parents, you want your child to do well in school, so what do you do when your child’s report card isn’t as good as it could be?

Children get frustrated and upset when their report cards show they are doing poorly. Understanding your child’s personal ability and determining if your expectations are too high will allow both you and your child to set appropriate goals for each class before report cards are distributed. It will also help establish an environment in which your child is not apprehensive about sharing his report card with you.

Sylvan Learning Center, would like to offer the following tips for parents on how to deal with a poor report card:

1. Set expectations. Not every child will earn all A’s, but that doesn’t mean your child should strive for less. Talk with your child before the school year starts and explain that you won’t be upset if he doesn’t bring home all A’s -- but that you will be upset if he doesn’t try his hardest and doesn’t ask for help.

2. Communicate with your child. Don’t wait until report cards are issued to talk with your child about school and grades. Talk with her every night and every week about homework. Ask how she is doing in school and what subjects she finds challenging.

3. Discuss your child’s performance with his teacher and/or guidance counselor. Your child’s teacher and/or guidance counselor is the best source for information about your child’s scholastic performance. Your child’s teacher can recommend ways to help your child or point out difficulties he is having. His guidance counselor can provide progress reports between reports cards or help set up additional parent-teacher conferences when necessary.

4. Set goals for improvement with your child. If your child is currently a C student -- then setting a goal of getting all A’s may not be reasonable. However, creating an improvement goal for each subject will help her work toward an attainable level for each class.

5. Establish a personalized study plan with your child. Your child should keep a schedule of all classes, assignments and key dates (e.g., project deadlines, big exams, etc). As part of that schedule, she should include specific time for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more comprehensive the schedule, the more efficient your child will be in completing her homework and the better she’ll do in school.

6. Seek outside help. Some children may need additional attention that can’t be provided in school. Speak with your child’s teacher about tutoring or supplemental education providers to help your child work towards better grades in school.

7. Praise your child’s successes. Praise your child for what he is doing well, whether it’s a specific academic subject or an extracurricular activity. If your child is not doing well in English, but loves to read the latest Harry Potter book, show him the connection between the two.


Remember, report card and progress report time does not have to be a stressful time! The first Marking Period is a great benchmark for your child's progress for the rest of the school year. If your child needs help in school, this is the perfect time to start getting help so that they can keep up with the rest of the class rather than slip behind!

Welcome to Directors' Dish

Hello educators, parents, and interested parties!

The Directors of Sylvan Learning Centers of Flemington and Clinton have decided to begin a blog. We will be posting information regarding local educational trends as well as advice on our most commonly asked questions. Please do not hesitate to email with a question or a topic you would like discussed.

Take time to get to know the directors and learn a little in the process! Enjoy and stay educated!