Regardless of whether your child attends elementary school or university, studying remains an essential part of academic life. Often, the month of October ushers in a period of midterm assessments. Students might juggle oral exams, written tests and essays. Take advantage of a few study tips we have compiled to make midterms go more smoothly. Restrict Notes to One Page per Chapter – This prevents students from compiling pages upon pages of notes that they will never have the time to review. By restricting the available space, students distill notes to only the most pertinent information. Color Code Common Themes – Particularly for history and literature courses, identifying recurring themes is crucial. Assign colors to majors ideas the teacher explores in class, and continue this colorful annotation in the reading and notes. When it comes time to study, similar themes will be grouped in advance, making for associative learning. Don’t Go Crazy with Highlighters – Many students go overboard with highlighting. Efficient studying focuses only on the key information, and uses notes to help with details. If your student has a tendency to highlight everywhere, suggest that highlighter only be used for a specific type of detail, i.e. historic dates or vocabulary words. Mark Deadlines – Write down upcoming deadlines for every major assignment. Then, plot out which will require the most time to complete. Next, identify what assignments prove most challenging. Prioritize based on deadlines and difficulty and write out a plan of execution. Tiny, Daily Chunks of Study Time – Cramming can be effective for passing a test, but it is not good for retention. This means that when final exams roll around, knowledge may be forgotten. Instead, commit 20 minutes of study time to each subject, everyday. So, if your child has 6 classes, their total study time would be 2 hours. Break up these 2 hours into study chunks. Perhaps try an hour directly after school and an hour before bed. You decide what is more manageable. Talk It Out – True mastery means being able to teach the material. Have your student teach you the concepts that they are learning. And remember to set a time limit. Ideally, they feel confident enough about their material to recite the lessons at a conversational pace. Take note of concepts on which they flounder, those need more study time. Studying is a very personal activity, and no single solution suits everyone equally. If you find that one of these tips works better than another, embrace that! With the multitude of learning styles, variety equals healthy study habits. As long as your child can master their information in an efficient amount of time, midterms season should be a cinch.
You may find yourself wondering why tutoring is important for kids or when it is needed. There are many reasons that tutoring is important for kids, more than could ever be explained in a single blog post, but we did our best collecting information on why children need tutoring and what tutoring can do for them. Every child learns in their own way. What works for one child does not always work for another. At times, it does not matter how well your child’s teacher explains the material, your child may need more time to practice the skill or understand the content. Tutoring provides an opportunity for one-on-one instruction to help a child learn in their own way. One good need for tutoring occurs when children move in the middle of the school year and the new school is at a different place than the old school. Children are to be taught certain standards every year for their grade, but how or when they are taught is up to that school district. Your child may struggle because they may have missed things they should know already for their new school. A tutor can help fill the gaps that happened as a result of the move and change of curriculum timing. There are many other reasons why a child may struggle and need a tutor. It does not mean that the parent, student, or the teacher did anything wrong. Some of it has to do with the cognitive ability to receive the information and receive it well. As you may have noticed, schools have become more sophisticated with the way subjects are taught. Through these innovations, subject matters become more integrated and developed. Because of this they are more challenging for students. Sometimes, kids may find it hard to cope with their lessons. Tutoring allows your child to cope with the material they learn in school. It provides your child with the leverage that they need in handling the subject matter. Tutoring is a personal approach that allows you to convey the information to the person you’re tutoring effectively, helping them improve in school performance. Tutoring is also important because it helps children prepare for future standard tests. This is accomplished because the tutor and your child work on mastering what they are having problems with. This will effectively allow your child to tackle tests with full preparation and confidence. Many high-profile executives and inventors struggled in school at different points in their life. Some had tutors and others did not. Albert Einstein was a great example of a genius who admittedly did terrible in school. Imagine what would have come if he had tutor to help him through the difficult times? Tutoring is an important asset to the development of your child’s performance and confidence. It helps your child learn and grow to their full potential when it comes to subjects at school. This effectively provides a sense of fulfillment and progress in their studies, as challenges are becoming more evident at school. As a result, tutoring is important if you want to help your child cope with the increasing difficulty of the school system. A tutoring service will help your child out in building that confidence and coping with school. Tutoring can be very important to kids. I am not saying that every child needs a tutor. You have to use your judgment to decide what is best for you and your child.
With the holiday break over, it’s time to start getting back to classes. When it comes to classes, it is always great to have a couple of apps to help keep things organized and running smoothly. Both Apple and Android have a wonderful selection of apps to help you get started. Here are the “Top 7 Apps” to get you started for college in the New Year: Dictionary.com Dictionary.com is a great vocabulary building app. It is great for helping you get ready for exams. With over 2,000,000 definitions, you are sure to find any word you are looking for. The main app is free. It does have ad banners that allow it to be free. It has search history, word origin and history, word of the day, synonyms, antonyms, a thesaurus, and much more. The IOS version and Android version are both very popular and growing apps. Quizlet Quizlet is a great study tool. Filled with millions of flashcard study sets for several topics that have already been created by both high school and college students. If you can’t find the subject that you are looking for, it’s very easy to make your own. You can also use images and audio in your flashcard sets. It is great for adding variety to your learning process. The IOS version and Android version both average a 4.2 star rating.This is a handy app that every college student should keep around. Google Drive Google Drive is a wonderful resource for taking and keeping notes, drawing diagrams, creating spreadsheets, and building presentations. The great thing about Drive is the cloud storage, which allows access any computer or mobile device that is connected to the internet. Google Drive is a collection of cloud based “Office” programs that include spreadsheets, documents, presentations, diagrams, and more. You get 15GB of free storage and you have the option to purchase more if needed. You can sign up with an email address. If you have a Google account, you automatically have an account. The IOS version has 37,190 reviews with a 4 star rating. The Android version has 1,046,549 reviews with a 4.3 star rating. Make sure to take advantage of this wonderful tool! Wi-FI Finder Between checking your grades online to checking out what is on the menu in the cafeteria, you won’t get far in college without WiFi. This app is great for finder of all the free internet hotspots in your area. Learn more about the IOS version and Android version,as this app is a great one to keep around to minimize mobile data and keep connected. Amazon Kindle The Amazon Kindle is a great app, if you like to read e-books. You can turn your smartphone into a book library. You can use this app to organize all your eBooks and read them offline. A great thing about the Amazon Kindle is that it has a built in dictionary so you easily find the meaning of a word while you are reading. Check out the IOS version and Android version with an average rating of 4.1.. Whether it is a book for a class or for pleasure, this is an app you want to keep around! Evernote Evernote is one of the top apps for taking notes. It has cool features like bookmarking, composing, clipping, and much more. It even has a to-do list to keep you on track! You can sync it to an online account. So you are taking notes on your phone you can access them later on your computer. There is both a free version and a paid version. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the many features available be sure check out this comprehensive beginner’s guide. Check out the IOS version and the Android version with an average rating of 4.6. Mathway If Math is a weak spot for you, then Mathway is a great app for you! It does all the work for you when it comes to solving the problem. The app does everything from Arithmetic to Geometry. It also does Theorems to Calculus. It helps make your math classes a little easier, with less headaches. Check out the IOS version and Android version. Now you have a few more tools to help you better succeed in 2016. Make sure to share with other students apps that you love, as this is the best way to help one another get through the tougher parts of school. Don’t forget that these apps aren’t just for college students!
What is tutoring? That is a very good question, When using the dictionary, tutoring is defined as “a person charged with the instruction and guidance of another.” A question many ask is why would you need a private tutor? The purpose of tutoring is to help students through teaching them to become independent learners who will eventually no longer need a tutor and have the tools to grow their education independently. A tutor provides expertise, experience, and encouragement but they do not provide “answers.” Instead a tutor assists in problem solving and helping you learn how to get the answers on your own.The challenge is to focus on assignments within the context that they are assigned. There are tremendous benefits to tutoring, let’s look at some of them. Benefits of Tutoring: Encourages a higher level of thinking Permits advanced students to study lower level material without embarrassment Increases ability to manage your own learning and study strategies Increases subject specific knowledge Increases related general knowledge Provides more empathy with the student Offers individualized, systematic, structured learning experience Provides greater congruence between teacher and learner Improves academic performance Improves attitude toward subject area Motivates self-directed learning Provides intensive practice Improves your self esteem Content knowledge is an essential ingredient for a tutor. However, to be truly effective, a tutor must combine content knowledge with empathy, honesty and humor. Empathy requires a tutor to “read” the emotional states, attitudes and perceptions of their students. It is also the ability to see others from their personal frame of reference, and to communicate this understanding to the person involved. In order for tutors to establish a supportive relationship with their students, tutors must be open and honest. We often find that students are reluctant to talk with a stranger about their academic problems. If a tutor is perceived as genuine with a strong desire to listen, students are often more willing to open up and discuss their problems. Surprisingly, Humor can play an important part in a tutoring session. Humor helps reduces tension and shared laughter is a powerful way to reinforce learning. If a tutor uses humor, it can set students at ease and increase rapport. Humor can also be used to compliment, to guide or to provide negative feedback in a positive manner. In addition, a successful tutor demonstrates a caring attitude. Caring consists of being organized for the tutoring session and being punctual. It also consists of establishing a learning relationship with the student, developing unique teaching strategies, and becoming familiar with the learning process. Ultimately, tutoring is sharing yourself with another student in a way that makes a positive difference in both your lives. All-in-all, tutoring is a wonderful resource for students of all ages and needs.
Tutoring is an easy and effective way to educate students. Much more is possible teaching a student one-on-one than in a classroom full of many students. Tutors can work with students on an individual level, on the skills the student needs to learn. Being an effective tutoring is more than knowing the areas you are teaching in, it is about meeting clients needs and helping them understand why you are important to have. Here is a great list to help your clients learn about you and help you be effective when it comes to clients and hiring you as a tutor: Call the new client and leave a professional sounding message if they do not answer. For example, “Hello my name is _________ and I am calling to schedule your first tutoring session. Please call me back at ____-____-_____. Then send a text message saying the same thing. If they don’t respond, call and text them again the next day. Email them too if you have their email address. If they still don’t respond, call them one more time the third day. It is important to call and text the client as soon as possible. The longer you wait to contact them, the more likely it is they will find a different tutor. During the first session, tell the client about your tutoring experience and educational background. Ask the client what skills the student needs to work on. Tell them a basic plan of how you will work with the student on those skills. Also, let the client know when you are available to schedule regular tutoring sessions. Most tutoring sessions last one hour and most students meet with tutors once or twice a week. Tell the client it is up to them how many hours they want to meet. Older students can work for longer than one hour. By Lara Shaffer (Tutor with Elite Home Tutoring)
Elementary students face a higher level of demand to learn and use Common Core Standards in Elementary School English Classes: Many elementary students face challenges learning and using Common Core English Language Arts (ELA) standard requirements now used in many public and private schools throughout the United States. Why do students need to know Common Core in elementary school English classes? These standards were created to help students be more competitive and prepare them for middle and high school and ultimately college and/or the workforce. Since college entrance exams, specifically the new SAT, incorporate skills students learn through common core, mastering these skills becomes even more important at the elementary school level. English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/Literacy) and Common Core Standards: ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards call for a deeper understanding of how students reach their answers and they must analyze, reason, and apply their own thoughts in class and homework assignments. There is an increased demand on students in elementary school to master a deeper understanding of reading materials and be able to implement their understanding in real-life scenarios. Shifts in ELA/Literacy Requirements at the elementary school level: Students must think for themselves and be able to use their own reasoning. They will need to be able to explain or write about what they have in read and be able to infer meaning from text. They are also required to provide evidence based on their reading and writing exercises. In addition, students are exposed to more nonfiction, informational texts rather than exclusively literature based reading assignments. How can tutoring help students with ELA/Literacy based on Common Core standards? Many tutors specialize in Common Core standards and can help students understand what is expected of them and assist them with the required skills needed to succeed in elementary school English. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning ELA/Literacy Common Core standards and tutoring, www.elitehometutoring.com.
What is the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)? The CHSPE is a timed test that measures a student’s knowledge and proficiency in reading, writing, and math. Passing students will earn a Certificate of Proficiency by the California State Board of Education, which is recognized in California as an equivalent to a high school diploma. The exam allows students currently enrolled in high school to earn the certificate and leave high school early to go to college or start working. Who can take the CHSPE Exam? Students currently enrolled in public high schools in the state of California can take the CHSPE Exam if they are at least 16 years of age and are in the second half of their their sophomore year or later. The exam is only valid for students in the California public school system. If the student plans on attending a college in another state, they must verify with the college if it will accept the exam. Which subjects are on the CHSPE Exam? The CHSPE Exam covers English Language Arts, including an essay, and Math. The English section covers reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, and writing skills which correspond to tenth grade English in the California public school system. There are 84 multiple choice questions in the English section, plus an essay. The essay question is open-ended and requires students to outline and present their point of view. The Math section covers math skills learned in seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade in the California public schools system. There are 50 questions in the math section and the focus is on daily math problems and situations. The CHSPE Exam is timed test, and lasts three and a half hours. Students must pass both the English and math sections of the exam, but can retake the test as many times as needed. How can tutoring help prepare for the CHSPE Exam? Since the CHSPE Exam covers several years of high school, a specialized tutor can help students prepare for the exam. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning the CHSPE Exam, www.elitehometutoring.com
What is Everyday Math? Everyday Mathematics is a curriculum created to align the Common Core State Standards and was developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP). Everyday Math includes a comprehensive curriculum and is taught to students from Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade. How is Everyday Math different from Traditional Math? Traditional math focuses on equations, numbers, and answers; often taught in a one-dimensional manner. Everyday Math follows another set of criteria and requires that students use problem solving techniques in order to solve real-world situations. This approach builds upon the student’s understanding and frequently revisits and builds upon their current mathimatical knowledge.Students are encouraged to apply different methods in coming up with the correct answer. The objective it to give elemantary school students the comptetive edge as they transition into middle school. Why is Everyday Math challenging? The Everyday Math curriculum raises the bar on what students are expected to understand and apply throughout their educational growth. This method of learning requires that students recall current and past knowledge and understanding of mathimatical concepts, while adding to and building their knowledge base. It offers several techniques to problem solving which is important in helping students find the best technique for them to implement in problem solving. Students must show that they can take a problem from the abstract lesson to a concrete answer. What is the role of Everyday Math in the classroom? Everyday Math follows a set of guidelines used in classrooms throughout the United States. These guidelines are meant to help instructors build solid foundations in math during the critical elementary school years. Students will be expected to solve more word problems related to everyday situations. They will take part in small group activities, which may include hands-on exercises. They will also be shown multiple ways to come up with the same solution for a given math problem. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning Everyday Math, www.elitehometutoring.com
What is Common Core Math? States used to be able to set academic standards for math, which varied greatly from state to state. With Common Core Standards public schools must follow guidelines, or standards. Common Core Math is based on concepts and skills that a student must apply in order to solve real-world math problems. These standards have been implemented from kindergarten through high school (K-12) in more than 42 states. They serve as benchmarks to determine how prepared students are for life in college and in the workforce. The ultimate goal is to make U.S. students more adept at solving real-world problems and be more competitive in the workforce. How is Common Core different from Traditional Math? Common Core Standards require students to use reasoning in real-life situations, whereas traditional math was equation and calculation based. With Common Core math, students must have a solid understanding of the concepts involved in reaching their answers. With traditional math, the student could simply remember tables and memorize answers. Traditional math is about getting the correct answer, whereas Common Core math requires students to demonstrate their deeper knowledge and ability on how they arrived to the correct answer. What is the best way to transition a student into Common Core when they are used to traditional math? Since students must demonstrate a greater and deeper understanding of math concepts used in real-world situations, there is more pressure on them to actually understand the concepts rather than memorizing the answer and coming up with the correct solution. They must now demonstrate their understanding of methods used in reaching the correct answer. This has become a challenge for students and teachers and puts more pressure on them. School books are aligned to these current standards but students still have difficulty applying what they have learned in the real-world problem sections. The best way to transition a student into Common Core math standards is by hiring a professional tutor who is educated in these standards. Contact Elite Home Tutoring for questions or information concerning Common Core Math: www.elitehometutoring.com