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The Adverse Effects of Larger Classrooms on Today’s Students
  • Posted on Wed, Apr 29, 2015 @ 16:04 PM

The Classroom Size Debate

The size of students classrooms have always been a topic of heated debate. Parents, teachers, state and local education departments have a hard time agreeing on this topic. Studies have shown that students in smaller classrooms achieve a better education and level of learning. The problem with smaller class sizes is that schools will need to hire more teachers to accommodate the students. This leads to the problem of funding, because smaller class sizes means more money. 

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The Benefits For Your Child When You Read To Them
  • Posted on Tue, Apr 14, 2015 @ 13:04 PM

Education Starts at Home

There is an old saying that states "education starts at home." In keeping with the spirit of that saying, it is important that you spend time reading to your pre-schooler on a regular basis. Not only will the bond between you and your child become stronger, you'll be setting them up for academic success moving forward. Here is a look at some of the many reasons that reading to your pre-schooler is beneficial.

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Tips for the Day of the ACT Test
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

Act Test Tip

Taking the ACT test, which examines students' knowledge of English, math, reading and science reasoning, can be stressful for both students and parents. Even if your child has been preparing for the test with the help of an ACT tutor, he or she may still be nervous at the thought of taking the exam. Aside from taking an ACT test prep course, here are some practical steps that you can take to make the day of the ACT test go smoothly.

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Tutoring: What You Should Know
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

Seeing your children succeed in their scholastic endeavors is one of the greatest rewards that come with the parenting territory. While it’s great when our kids can succeed with nothing more than natural talent, sometimes they may need a little bit of help to stay on the right track. Even students who typically excel academically can have difficulty with a subject that doesn’t come naturally to them.

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How to Help Your Children with Their Homework
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM
Teaching to the Left and Right Sides of the Brain
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM
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A New Way to Teach

The left and right side of the brain serve different functions, but are both just as important to learning as the other. In order for children to learn to their maximum potential, teaching methods that educate both sides of the brain are of the utmost importance. No longer is the focus of schooling simply on analysis and memorization; creativity and visualization is also important. Many academic tutoring services realize this and use a unique approach to address this new way of learning.

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Applying to College: 4 Major Factors
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

A New Way to Teach

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Senior year has arrived! Your son or daughter thought it would never come after all those eager years of fantasizing about the freedom of college. The only problem is he or she probably has little to no idea on what schools suits them, what is important to look for in colleges, or what career path to even follow. This process can be a kick in the teeth for the whole family, as everyone just wants what's best for their senior. To simplify this process, I've laid out three main considerations for the aspiring college student.

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Overcoming Shyness: A Guide by Grade Level
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

Social Influences

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Many kids experience some degree of shyness throughout their childhood. Shyness can increasingly detrimental as a child grows up, but it can be overcome with practice. Healthy social interaction has an infinite amount of benefits to anyone – child or adult. Healthy interactions aid in self-confidence building and overall success in a society where fluency in social interaction is paramount.

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How Social Circles Affect Your Student's Grades
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

Social Influences

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It is no secret that students of all ages are influenced by their peers. These influences can range from affecting the way a student dresses to the way a student performs in school. Even as adults our social networks can influence the way we eat, travel, work or think. As adults, we know that one person doesn’t often influence our way of life.

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Getting the High Score - ACT Test Prep
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 05:04 AM

Social Influences

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For the college bound high school student, there can be no more nerve-wracking experience than taking the ACTs. Years of extracurricular activities and grade point average maintenance can be undone by a score on a single test.

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Playful Learning
  • Posted on Mon, Apr 13, 2015 @ 04:04 AM
Each Student Needs The Right Tutor
  • Posted on Sat, Apr 11, 2015 @ 18:04 PM

Is your child struggling academically? are you in denial that your child is struggling? Don't stress it! Many students require additional tutoring to give recieve extra guidence in understaing the material better. As a parent you should set goals and discuss what you are looking to achieve for your child. Set long or short term goals such as improving test scores, grades, and practice skills. 

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So Many Tests, So Little Time Means Test Prep
  • Posted on Fri, Apr 10, 2015 @ 06:04 AM

The testing season has begun. Juniors are getting ready for the ACT and SAT's right now. They should also be thinking about which SAT Subjects Tests they will be preparing for as well. Seniors, and some underclassman, are in the moving along in the AP classes, preparing for the exams in May.

With so many tests on the horizon. We thought we could help make sense of them for you.

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How To Get Over Pre-College Jitters
  • Posted on Wed, Apr 08, 2015 @ 14:04 PM

A fairly common complaint amongst potential college students, from high school freshmen to those seeking where they’ll be attending university, is that they don’t feel adequately prepared to make it at a university.There are ways, however, to lessen these seemingly unsolvable anxieties. Students seeking assistance need look no further. Whether it be with an Academic Tutor or on your own, the following tips could prevent you from putting a stop to a much needed education due to fear.


Speak with Your Teachers                 
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Make Learning Fun
  • Posted on Wed, Apr 01, 2015 @ 14:04 PM
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Learning does not always have to be a chore. Children often dread having to learn outside of the classroom, fortunately there are great ways to help children learn besides homework, lectures and tests. Adding playful learning to a family’s schedule is not only fun, but is also a great way for students to synthesize the information they learn in school.
 
It may seem like an arduous task for a busy family to incorporatate more learning opportunities into their schedule, but it does not have to be. Playful learning is a fun and easy way to help explore various subjects such as math, science and reading outside of the classroom through memorable activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family. 
 

Each year, our school systems require students to be taught a standard curriculum. Since there is such a vast amount of topics that are required to be taught, lessons are often rushed and or skimmed over in order to begin next lesson.

Due to this, students are often deprived the proper amount of time that is needed to explore the concepts they are taught. In essence, children miss the opportunity to “play” with those ideas and tasks. Playful learning can help make those lessons more memorable, tactile and enjoyable.

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Playful learning does not have to be complicated. It can be as easy as gamifying everyday tasks.

For example, one way to work on math is to have your child help you the kitchen. Not only can those tasks be yummy and enjoyable for you both, but they can also help your child to conceptualize measurement, time, calculation and basic counting.

Another example is to have fun with spring cleaning by having your student race to count how many action figures they have, or have them guess how many toys can fit into a bin. These spatial and counting skills are great assets to develop and finding active ways to include them into daily tasks can be easy and fun.

Geometry and physics are examples that can be difficult for many students. Investing in blocks, engineering toys such as Littlebits, Legos and rector sets help to set a student up with an understanding of the scientific method. Through continued use, students will learn from their mistakes as well as how perseverance pays off. 

Take a short afternoon trip to a Lego store and work with your student on not just creating the image on the box, but the infinite other creations that can be built. Another benefical game is to task your student with getting a marble from one end of the room to the other. Student will hone their spatial and engineering mind in order to come up with a solution

Not convinced? Call us for some added tips. Our tutors can help you devise some playful learning opportunities for you and your family.

Indoor/Outdoor Gardening/CultivationSuch activities might include:

  • Performing bedtime stories – or any book.
  • Exploring Nature - local parks and forest preserves can be an easy way to find learning opportunities.
  • Geocaching – “treasure” hunting in the digital world.
  • Making games/toys from everyday objects - Bozo Buckets, paper plate masks, building forts, etc.
  • Homemade Chemistry - i.e. vinegar and baking soda, food coloring, etc.
  • Family poetry and stories.
  • Photo Contests - nature or around the house.
  • Green Technology - composting, rainwater collection, etc.

There are so many ways to make learning playful and productive. In the end, these types of activities are more beneficial than the common routines of cartoon, video games and social media.Playful learning makes learning simple and even complex concepts more tangible, relatable and fun. Take some time and think about how you can integrate more playful learning into your student’s life.



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Spring Advice For High School Seniors
  • Posted on Wed, Apr 01, 2015 @ 11:04 AM

Finally! This is the month.

This is the month you’ve been waiting for, working towards over the past three years of high school, and now it’s time to make your choice.  Here are some things to think about:

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