Back to School Helpful Hints

It is that time again, we are headed back to school and the students that attended Sylvan for tutoring throughout the summer are ready to show off their new skills.

The staff at Sylvan of Zephyrhills is looking forward to meeting some bright new faces and to help, encourage, and educate a new class of students. Below we have complied a list of helpful hints and tools for the upcoming months to come:

1. Stay involved. Don’t let the teachers in the classroom determine what you know about your child’s education. Talk to them and ask questions. This is the only way to stay on top of any issues that may arise throughout the school year.
2. Be proactive, not reactive. If you start to notice a problem in one particular area, seek advice and assistance. Teachers, guidance counselors and Sylvan staff are always ready and willing to guide you in the right direction.
3. Always remain positive! Even though grades may slip or issues may arise, don’t get discouraged. There is always a solution for any child’s educational needs. Don’t be afraid to use your resources and research the problem and get the right help!
4. Use your school resources! Most teachers are using websites to stay in direct contact with families and to keep them up to date on the materials that are being covered during that particular time. If the teacher is not using a website, use the school’s planner to communicate.

If you use these helpful hints, your child’s success in school is inevitable.

If you do become concerned and would like to seek the assistance of Sylvan, please contact the Sylvan of Zephyrhills and we will be happy to discuss the programs that we offer and how we can find the solution that you are looking for. We look forward to guiding you and your student to a successful year.

Should I take the SAT or ACT?

The SAT is the most popular college entrance exam in the U.S., both in terms of the number of students who take the test and the number of schools that accept it. The ACT is a close second. Many colleges accept either the ACT or the SAT.

While the SAT is a “reasoning test” designed to test critical thinking skills as well as knowledge, the ACT is an “assessment test” designed to test how much a student has learned in four years of high school. The writing portion of the ACT is optional (though some colleges demand that you take it) and the ACT also contains a section on Science and Data Analysis.

SAT Prep and ACT Prep classes are being held at Sylvan of Zephyrhills. Call us to register for your SAT or ACT class. We have qualified tutors ready to help your child with these college entrance exams.

College Prep In Zephyrhills!

If you are a senior about to graduate and go to college next fall, or a junior getting ready to begin the college application process, Sylvan has several programs which can make it all easier:

"Getting into College" is a 12-hour course which will teach you:
*to integrate descriptive writing into personal writing
*to understand the purpose, requirements, and expectations of the college entrance essay
*to identify the audience and purpose of college essay writing
*to determine an appropriate topic for the college essay.

"English 101" will help you improve your research paper writing skills. In this 24 hour course, you will learn:
*to identify the audience, purpose, and process for a research paper
*to identify a variety of resources available for research
*to construct effective research questions.

Call the Zephyrhills Center for more information or to register for these classes.

SYLVAN STUDENT BECOMES A STUDENT AMBASSADOR

Selena Howsman, a former student of the Zephyrhills Sylvan, was recently chosen as a representative for the Student Ambassadors Abroad Program. This highly distinctive program of Pasco county is extremely competitive in that only 2 students from the district are chosen with teacher recommendations. Selena received the highest math average out of Pasco Middle School, which placed her at the top of the opportunity list. This program allowed her to travel to 5 countries, including France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. This 3 and a half week trip allowed Selina to learn about other cultures. The theme this year was Create Peace through Understanding, which Selena states was a "great experience for us to learn about the cultures of other people." Mrs. Howsman attributes Selena's math success to Sylvan as "their math program assisted in diagnosing her difficulties and teaching her the skills she needed."

Is your child struggling in Math?

Here are some helpful hints to assist your child at home during homework time.

1. Make math practical. Apply math to every day life whenever possible.
2. Review previously learned math concepts before tackling new assignments. Starting with something familiar will help improve confidence.
3. Dispel the notion that math is difficult by talking math with your child as you use it in everyday activities.
4. Ask your child’s math teacher for a schedule of math topics. Take the time to develop two projects or exercises per week that will reinforce what your child is learning in school.
5. Work with your child to solve math problems using multiple methods. This will help your child develop further understanding.
6. Provide pictorial examples of math concepts. Draw or collect pictures of animals, object, or people to show addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
7. Practice percentage with items on sale in catalogs and stores. Encourage your child to compute full price, sale price, and savings.
8. Open a savings account at the back to help your child establish a savings plan. Or, develop a checkbook or credit card system for your child to use at home.
9. Allow your child to help plan the next family trip. Help him or her to compute miles, cost of gas, and expenses for food, hotel, and entertainment.
10. Encourage your family to do math aloud and to explain the series of steps involved in solving the problem.
11. Follow your child’s progress through their math book, tests, and homework.

Don’t let problems with math linger. Since math builds on previously learned concepts, it is essential to identify and address problems early so they don’t compound. The fall is a great time to take care of this! Please contact the Sylvan of Zephyrhills and we can assist you with getting started with a successful math program.

Homework Help

This class is now offered for high school to college level students. We can tailor the program to your child's needs. Call (813) 782-8219 for more information.

SAT®/PSAT PREPARATION CLASS SEMINAR

Please contact the center for schedule of classes.

All Children Can Succeed At Math

Sylvan Learning Center Suggests Fun Tips To Help Children Master Math

Are some students destined to struggle with mathematics because they're inherently "not good at math?" According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and Sylvan Learning Center, the answer is no. A study from NCTM shows that everyone can succeed at math.

Parents can help their children master math and dispel the notion that math is difficult by talking math with children as they use it in everyday activities whether it be shopping, cooking or dining out. The math experts at Sylvan Learning Center believe that by combining traditional math drills and memorization of math facts and formulas with real-life examples and activities, math becomes more approachable and math discovery becomes fun. Using games and activities is a great way to encourage math discovery and enhance basic skills.

Sylvan Learning offers tips and ideas to help your children have fun and become successful at solving math problems:

1.Play popular board games that require basic math skills. Chutes and Ladders® and RackO® develop number sense. "24" and Yahtzee® help computation speed and accuracy, and problem solving skills are developed through games like TriOminos® and Connect Four®.
2.Review previously learned math concepts before tackling new assignments. Starting with familiar concepts helps build your child's retention and confidence.
3.Ask your child's math teacher for a schedule of math topics. Take time to develop two projects or exercises per week that will reinforce what your child is learning in class.
4.Work with your child to solve math problems using multiple methods. This will help your child develop a fuller understanding of the computation concepts.
5.Provide pictorial examples of math concepts. Draw or collect pictures of animals, objects or people to show addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.
6.If your child receives an allowance, use it to formulate mathematics problems and teach them about saving. For older children, relate percentage problems to their allowance.
7.Allow your child to plan the next family trip. Help him compute miles, cost of gas, expenses for food, hotel and entertainment.
8.Encourage your child to do math aloud and to explain the series of steps used to solve the problem.
9.Follow your child's progress through her math book, tests and homework.
10.Don't let problems with math linger. Since math builds on previously learned concepts, it's essential to identify and address problems early so they don't compound (to use a math term).
11.Assemble puzzles with your child. Puzzles help children learn spatial and visual organization. These are the basic lessons of geometry.
12.A deck of cards can be a valuable math tool. Card games begin to teach the lesson of probability and reinforce addition and subtraction memorization for children learning basic math facts.
13.Dice are helpful for younger children to practice number facts to six. If they are stumped, they can count the dots to find the sum.
14.Relate math to your child's favorite sport. Keeping score is a math exercise! Ask him to calculate the number of points needed for his favorite team to win. Encourage him to create multiple point combinations to reach that score.
15.Play other car games like "guess my number." This will reinforce logic skills with children of all ages.
16.Dominoes are a great game for children of all ages. Smaller children can use them to recognize similar quantities while older children can explore the concepts of probability.
17.Use Sylvan Learning Center's online Math Activity Book to help sustain and renew children's interests in math learning and discovery. Log on to tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/parent_learning_resources.cfm and download or print math writing topics, trivia, questions and puzzles.

Does your child speak the language of mathematics?

Everyone speaks the language of numbers, whether in commerce, expressing age or calculating distance. Mathematics is the only language shared by all humans - regardless of native tongue, geography, economic background or culture.

In today’s global economy, everyone, not just those who are mathematically inclined, must know how to speak math – understand mathematical concepts. The key to lifelong, academic and economic success is the development of critical thinking skills and numerical fluency in math curriculums from pre-kindergarten through high school.

Students should begin to develop a good grasp of numbers while they are young. Although memorizing multiplication tables and solving calculations are important, developing a solid sense of numbers is essential.

According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, by focusing on mathematics – especially algebra - across all grades, we will ensure that students develop the analytical thinking and reasoning skills needed for success in school and beyond. In essence, algebra for middle and high school students must be preceded by algebraic reasoning in the early years.

“Students who successfully complete higher level mathematics courses – beginning with algebra - are at an advantage,” says Judy Ann Brown, mathematics program manager for Sylvan Learning. Traditionally, students cannot take advanced mathematics classes in secondary school until they have mastered the foundational math concepts learned in elementary school – decimals and fractions - and successfully completed Algebra 1. “Success in Algebra 1 is pivotal because it is the language spoken in mathematics.”

An understanding of the importance of math in their lives puts students well on their way to academic success. Sylvan Learning encourages parents to play an active role in boosting their children’s numbers sense and discovering a love of higher mathematics.

Make math connections to everyday life.
There are many opportunities for students to see the value of math. Think of tasks that you do everyday – rearranging a teenager’s room is a lesson in geometry and equally cutting slices of pie can teach fractions. The more parents talk about math while completing these tasks, the more students will realize its importance.



Involve your children in real-life family decisions.
Encourage them to plan a family activity while remaining in budget. For example, ask them to plan a night at the movies or create a budget for the family vacation.



Demonstrate your math ability.
Think out loud so your child can hear your analytical reasoning. For younger children, count your change or discuss which measuring cup is needed when baking a birthday cake. For older students, calculate discounts when shopping or estimate how much money will be needed to fill up the gas tank.



“Mathematize” cool careers.
Casually talk about mathematics while highlighting the types of math needed in your children’s chosen, “cool” careers. Video game designers, architects, doctors, football coaches, musicians and chefs utilize math skills every day.



Praise your children’s academic progress.
Tell them you are proud of their math efforts even when they struggle. When students are confident in their abilities, they enjoy learning. That love of learning leads to a willingness to try new, academic experiences.

Student of the Month February 2011 Neahrika B

As her teachers, we saw her improve her math scores from start to finish. Congratulations Kaytie as our February Student of the Month!

Ready, Set, Read! How to Develop Your Child's Reading Skills at Every Grade Level

Think of why you read: to perform a task, to be informed and for literary experience. If you had not developed solid reading skills as a child, you may have difficulty completing job-related tasks or reading for enjoyment. Education experts agree that children develop reading behaviors early in life and that parental involvement at home helps children perform better in school and become enthusiastic, lifelong readers.

"Beginning early in our childhood we develop the behaviors necessary to put reading to use for different purposes and to perform various functions," says, Richard Bavaria, Ph.D., vice president of education outreach for Sylvan Learning. "Throughout our lives we read directions or instructions to perform a task, we read newspapers, magazines and other materials to be informed, and we read stories, poetry, plays and other enjoyable materials for the literary experience."

By encouraging children to read at home, parents can help their children establish a lifelong love of books, transforming reading from a basic skill to a pleasurable activity. Sylvan Learning recommends that parents spend at least one hour per week — 10 to 15 minutes a day — reading with their child.

"Children who read regularly at home do better in school. Parents play an instrumental role in the development of their children's reading behaviors and in fostering an enthusiasm for reading," says Dr. Bavaria. "Reading is an adventure that begins early in a child's life and should extend beyond the classroom. Children exhibit certain reading behaviors at a young age and by understanding and nurturing these behaviors, parents can make reading fun and motivate their child to develop a lifelong friendship with books."


Try these grade-specific tips and ideas to boost your child's reading skills!

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Read directions to your child when completing a project.
Subscribe to a magazine for your child (Ladybug, Your Big Backyard, Zoobooks, etc.) to learn about topics of interest to him. He/She will be excited about having his own reading materials.
Pick a storybook character (Arthur, Strega Nona, etc.) and pretend that character is coming for dinner. Help your child plan activities that character would like.
Help your child relate read-aloud stories to events in his/her life.

Grades 1-3
Subscribe to a magazine for your child (Spider, Ranger Rick, etc.) to learn about topics of interest to him/her. Make its arrival an event.
After reading a non-fiction story, ask your child why he/she thinks the author wrote the story.
Help your child create charts and posters about topics of interest to her/him.
Read picture books by the same author (Tomie DePaola, Bill Martin, Jr., etc.) and compare and contrast them: How are they the same? How are they different?
Grades 4-8
Help your child with the latest experiment in his/her science book. Talk through each step and discuss what you're going to do next.
Pick a different country each week, and challenge him/her to learn a bit more about that country by visiting the library or researching it online.
Encourage your child to read series books (Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, The Chronicles of Narnia, Little House on the Prairie, etc).
Create a family book club where you and your child read the same book and discuss it.
Grades 9-12
Read various types of directions (recipes, technical instructions, experiments) and determine the usefulness of the instructions to the reader's life.
Quiz your teen when he/she has a test. This not only reinforces his/her note-taking skills and study habits, but also helps reading comprehension.
Encourage your teen to talk about the latest book he/she is reading. Ask him/her to share his/her favorite scenes with the rest of the family.
Read classic works (novels, plays, myths, etc.) and compare to today's world.
Read books by the same author, comparing and contrasting style across the various books.

Ready, Set, Read - Motivating Young Children To Have Fun With Reading

Understanding and Nurturing Reading Skills for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Children

Reading is an adventure that begins early in a child's life and should extend beyond the classroom. Children exhibit certain reading behaviors at a young age. By understanding and nurturing these behaviors, parents can make reading fun and motivate their children to develop a lifelong friendship with books.

For pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children, this is their first introduction to reading. They are just beginning to understand that print holds meaning and use illustrations to give meaning to stories and words. Younger children enjoy listening to stories read aloud, and by engaging children in the world of reading, parents can help their children become more proficient readers. Sylvan Learning Center recommends that parents spend at least one hour per week — 10 to 15 minutes a day — performing some type of a reading activity with children.

To help parents nurture their children's reading behaviors, the experts at Sylvan Learning Center offer these tips and ideas for reading at home with pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students:

Make cookies together. Read the recipe aloud to your child.
Read directions to your child when completing a project.
Subscribe to a magazine for your child (Ladybug, Your Big Backyard, Zoobooks, etc.) to learn about topics of interest to him.
Pick a storybook character (Arthur, Strega Nona, etc.) and pretend that character is coming for dinner. Help your child plan activities that character would like.
Help your child relate read-aloud stories to events in her life.
Read stories aloud and act them out.
Engage your entire family with "Drop Everything And Read" time each day.

Choosing The Right Tutor Can Be As Easy As ABC

Sylvan Learning Center Offers Parents Top Tips

According to the Education Industry Association, the demand for tutoring increased 15-18% in 2006, compared to single-digit growth previously. As a result, the number of tutors has also increased dramatically. Before entrusting your child's academic future to someone, it's important to make sure that person is the best qualified to meet your child's needs.

Sylvan Learning Center, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, offers easy tips for parents to use when choosing effective tutors.

1.Make sure the tutor is licensed or certified. Tutors will need the proper qualifications to assess, diagnose, and tutor to a child's weakness.
2.Look for a tutor with experience teaching children the same age as your child.
3.Request an assessment. An individualized analysis of a student's strengths and weaknesses can determine a child's needs and help set goals. Also, insist on progress updates as a child passes through each step of the tutoring program.
4.Define your goals. Are you trying to keep your child from failing? Are you looking to challenge a child who is already doing well in school? "Be sure your tutor understands your objective and is skilled enough to meet it," observed Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., vice president of education for Sylvan.
5.Find a tutor with specific expertise in the subject of your choosing. Just because someone is a math genius, it doesn't mean he is qualified to teach other subjects.
6.Make a personality match. Determine what kind of teacher the student has excelled with previously.
7.Ask tutors how they will help your child master a specific skill. A good tutor will require that a child learn a specific skill before advancing to the next academic level. Find a tutor who will work with parents and teachers to create an individual program.
8.Ask prospective tutors for references from previous employers and students, or hire a respected tutoring company.
9.Get recommendations for tutors from family and friends.

How to Handle a Poor Report Card

Tips for Helping Your Children When They Are Struggling To Get Good Grades

Sylvan offers the following tips for dealing with a poor report card:
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.



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.



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.



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.



Establish a 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.



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.



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.

College Competition Means New Stress for Today's Teens

The pressure is on. To compete in today’s global economy, which includes international students attending North American colleges in record numbers, U.S. teenagers must obtain collegiate degrees now more than ever. According to the latest research of the U.S. Department of Education:

College enrollment grew 16 percent between 1985 and 1995.
Between 1995 and 2005, enrollment increased at a faster rate (23 percent), from 14.3 million to 17.5 million.
The number of graduating high school seniors is expected to peak in 2011, with 67% trying to gain admission to an institution of higher learning.
What does this mean for students with college aspirations?
Acing the college entrance exam is critical. Most students applying to competitive colleges now take the SAT*/ACT® more than once, and as early as sophomore year.

"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 increases the competition. Thus, making it more difficult for students to gain acceptance into the top institutions and colleges that were once seen as ‘safeties,’” says Rusty Greiff, vice president of Sylvan Learning College Prep.

With students reaching for their “dream” schools, many realize increasing their scores on their college entrance exams is critical. More students and parents today are learning the secret that top colleges have known for years - systematically preparing for the SAT/ACT gives students more confidence and more confidence can lead to higher SAT/ACT scores.

New college admissions rules now allow students to score their best by taking the SAT/ACT as many times as they like, but educators suggest taking the tests no more than two or three times. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring, offers the following advice to ensure students properly prepare for their college entrance exams.

Sylvan’s 10 Steps to Reduce the Stress and Ace The Test!

Studying and preparing for the SAT*/ACT® takes weeks, even months, of review. Don’t try to cram overnight.
Trust yourself. Rely on your instincts. Never leave an easy question blank.
Read, read, read. Read the questions and answers critically.
Easy questions have easy answers.
Stop and check. Every few questions, ensure the question number on the answer sheet corresponds with the question being answered in the booklet.
Save time. Don’t spend too much time on any single question. Make sure you have enough time to answer as many questions as possible, in order to rack up as many points as possible.
Focus on what the question is really asking. If you don’t fully understand the question, finding the correct answer is going to be tough.
Rushing only hurts you. Work at a good pace and keep track of the time remaining for each section.
Eliminate answers. If you can eliminate at least two incorrect answers, make an educated guess.
End each section by reviewing. If time permits, revisit the questions you didn’t answer.

Strong Study Skills Can Help Your Child In All School Subjects

In school, your child takes english, history, math and other classes. But a key area of academic development isn't taught in a specific class and, without it, a student will struggle to excel in school. That skill is studying.

By improving key skills such as organization and time management, effective note-taking, reading and study strategies and test-taking techniques, a student can learn faster, retain knowledge for longer periods of time, and recall that knowledge with greater accuracy. That means better performance on tests and exams, less time on homework and greater confidence in the classroom.

Sylvan recommends the following tips for elementary and secondary-level students to help improve their study skills:

Keep a schedule: All students should keep a schedule of classes, assignments and other key dates. As part of that schedule, they should set aside specific time for studying and project work. That way, they're less likely to find themselves scrambling to complete a project at the last minute or cramming the night before a big test. The schedule should also set aside time for non-school activities like sports. In fact, the more comprehensive the schedule, the more efficient most students will be in completing their schoolwork.



Take effective notes in class: Most students take notes in classes, but often when they review them, they can't make sense of the content. Effective note taking is a key academic skill that is rarely taught in the classroom. At Sylvan, we work with students to help them develop note-taking skills that include identifying key information and capturing it in a style that makes for effective studying later. Different students need different types of notes. It's important for a student to find the note-taking approach that best works for them.



Reading assignments: As students move into higher grades, they're assigned larger and more complex reading assignments. Poor reading skills or an inability to read for important information will make these assignments a burden and undermine overall academic success. We advise that students need to deliberately learn to read for key information. If reading skills are weak, it's important for the student to seek help improving them; otherwise performance in many subjects would be impacted.



Test-taking strategies: A poor test result doesn't always mean that the student doesn't have a good grasp of the academic material or skill gaps. It's possible that the student understands the material but doesn't take tests well. An effective test-taking strategy includes: learning how to prioritize material when studying for a test; preparing for a test over a number of days and not just the night before; coping with stress during the test; and managing time during a test so that all sections or areas are completed.
By deliberately focusing on improving study skills, students can see improvements in all aspects of their schoolwork.

The Summer Slide

Studies show that students can lose 3 to 5 months of learning over the summer!
The average summer vacation lasts about 12 weeks, during which time millions of children have little or no
enriching or reinforcing academic experiences. When young minds sit idle for these three months, the result is a
phenomenon known as “summer learning loss” or the “summer slide.” Because of these learning losses, teachers
must often spend the first six to eight weeks of the school year—or roughly 22% of the year according to a study
at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning—re-teaching forgotten information to students
instead of teaching new information and skills.

Don’t let your child ride the Summer Slide—Sylvan Learning Center can help!

Let Sylvan design a personalized program of mastery, motivation, and positive reinforcement for your
child in whatever subject areas are needed: Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Advanced Reading
Skills, Math Essentials, Algebra, Geometry, Study Skills, Academic Writing
Enroll your child in an interactive, small group instruction: Math, Writing, Study
Skills, State Test Prep Strategies, SAT Prep

Ask a Sylvan Director or see our online resources for family reading, math, and writing activities at
www.educate.com.

Summer Learning

It’s summertime, and, as the song says, the livin’ is easy. Summer vacation is an American tradition, as honored as apple pie, almost a sacred cow, not to be tampered with. For us adults, it conjures up halcyon days of leisure, carefree, with plenty of time to let our imaginations and adventures roam. I have my own memories of summers with neighborhood “shows” we’d put on, of hours of sitting in my grandparents’ grape arbor with Cousin Denny and stuffing ourselves, of endless games and play. How sweet. Could it really have been that idyllic?

Other adults have similar memories, according to websites I’ve seen recently and folks I’ve talked to. Some people lament that today’s youngsters don’t have the same experiences, that we’ve “scheduled” them too much, that we expect too much from them, that they don’t have the freedoms just “to be kids” as we did. Some people even belittle the idea that kids actually learn something during the summer, that the “brain drain” educators talk about is somehow false, misleading, or irrelevant.

As a teacher, I know summer brain drain is real. Nothing’s more frustrating to a teacher – and students – than spending the first few weeks of a school year reviewing and re-teaching skills that students have forgotten to maintain during the summer. There’s plenty of research to back it up – summer learning loss is real. You can look it up.

So it surprises me when so many otherwise well-meaning American parents say to me that summers should be the equivalent of learning-free times for kids. Forget about schedules and routines, let the little dears find their own happiness, indulge in what will somehow magically become future memories of summers gone by. They’re “learning” all kinds of unspecified things.

Baloney.

Summer, of course, is a time for different schedules and routines, a time to be away from the formalities of school. But it’s a time for slowing down, not shutting down. Summer’s no excuse to put kids’ brains on hiatus. Summer’s for a different kind of learning.

•The truth is that many kids could benefit greatly from a couple of hours a week reviewing math or reading or writing. Just as any skills improve from a couple of hours a week practicing (think athletics or music or art or horseback riding or video game designing or, well, you get the idea), so will their academic skills improve from the same investment of time and effort. Confidence rises, and the new school year suddenly seems that much less scary.


•Many parents know this and make sure their kids’ summer time is a good balance of free discovery, play, leisure, and a realistic eye to the inevitable beginning of school in the fall.


•They find it compatible with summer memory-making to have their kids read a book or two, maybe with the whole family, and then discussing it, acting out favorite scenes, or seeing the movie.


•They find ways to write about summer – scrapbooks, family memories from grandparents, picture books, photo albums – that reinforce skills while still being fun.


•They find ways to sneak math into days by having kids help with travel plans (What’s the most direct route? What’s the most economical motel?), or preparing for family events (What’s the best buy for hamburgers and charcoal?)


•If their kids need extra help to catch up for next school year, they get that help, from tutors, from bored but smart high school kids who can offer help, from libraries, from online sites, from any number of other sources.
None of this detracts from summer fun, especially if it’s done with light-heartedness, an absence of pressure, and plenty of family quality time. Going back to school with a sense of readiness, confidence, accomplishment, and happy memories will more than make up for any time lost idly watching reruns on TV or worse.

It’s never a good idea to let a day go by without leaning something. That’s true the world over, any season. Including summer in America.

Dr. Rick

Sylvan's Recommended Summer Reading List

Keep your elementary, middle or high school student reading this summer with these great books!

Elementary School
Kindergarten: Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Krause
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Grade 1: Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
Cork and Fuzz by Dori Chaconas

Grade 2: The Principal's New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson
Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant


Grade 3: 10-Step Guide to Living With Your Monster by Laura Numeroff
Aladdin: The Magical Tale of a Boy and his Wonderful Lamp by Rosalind Kerven


Grade 4: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
If You Lived 100 Years Ago by Ann McGovern

Grade 5: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh


Middle School
Grade 6: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley and Keith Ward

Grade 7: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Grade 8: Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas


High School
Grade 9: The Beekeeper's Apprentice, or, on the Segregation of the Queen by Laurie R. King
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Grade 10: Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket
Grade 11: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Grade 12: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Success Begins With the Homework Environment

We all want our children to get good grades in school. So, how can parents maximize their child's chances of academic success? Start by creating a home environment that is conducive to homework and learning. Sylvan Learning Center created these tips to help parents maximize the time their children spend on homework assignments.

1.Set Goals. Help your child set attainable goals for each class and help her identify what will need to be done to reach each goal. For example, to get an A in American History, she will need to turn in all of her homework, participate in class, etc.
2.Know Your Child. 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. If you help your child work in his style, he will work more effectively.
3.Create a Homework Zone. Set up an area in your home for studying, complete with a dictionary, paper and pens. Make sure the area is free from potential distractions and that study tools are at your child's fingertips to keep her focused on homework.
4.Develop Class Files. Develop a color-coded file for each of your child's classes. Make separate tabs for homework assignments, exams and projects so your child can refer back to class materials when studying for comprehensive tests.
5.Set Weekly Milestones. For big projects or exams, get a large calendar for your child's desk area and help him set short timelines to ensure projects and studying aren't left until the night before. Celebrate with your child when each milestone is met.

Outfit Your Child For School Success

Understand His Or Her Unique "Learning Style"

Back-to-school season is just around the corner, 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 "learning style."

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. Parents can talk with their children about components, such as numbers, music, people, self, body, language, images and nature, but it is up the child to develop study habits that mesh with his or her personal learning style.

To help students understand their individual strengths, try these activities.


Elementary School:

Using old magazines, children can cut out pictures that demonstrate the way they have fun learning. Do they show musical intelligence by playing an instrument? Are they word smart, always with their noses in a book? Do they love sports and show strength in being "body smart?" Paste the pictures in a notebook and make notes about the types of intelligence they feel are their strongest so they can try to pursue them in the classroom.


Junior High School:

Students can make their family trees. Have them identify and discuss each member of the family's occupation and how he or she demonstrated the various intelligences. Were they musicians, accountants, sports enthusiasts or artists? Do any intelligences seem to "run in the family?"

Label eight boxes with the various forms of intelligence. The children should place their names in the box (or boxes) that they feel are their strongest forms of intelligence. Have them do the same for each immediate family member. Share the results with the family or anyone who assists the children in learning so they understand how the child learns too.


High School:

Explain the multiple intelligences. Have students pick one of the eight categories to explore during the year. For instance:

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).

College Essay Pointers

High school seniors have had plenty of practice sharpening their essay-writing skills, but that doesn't mean they are prepared for the first - and arguably most important - essay of their college careers. Although the college application essay relies on a similar set of guidelines as a traditional essay, there are additional items to consider:

An Original Claim

Like an essay, a college entrance essay requires a claim or argument. The primary difference is that this thesis pertains to the student's life and it cannot be supported with research from a library. Many admissions offices, weary of reading the same tired essay again and again, now post tips for applicants. Their suggestions are nearly unanimous: Don't simply reformat what you have already listed on your application. Think of this essay as another chance to showcase your personality beyond your activities, grades or test scores.


A Well-Organized Structure

With the thesis decided, the mission becomes sticking to it. The goal is to be convincing. While the essay should be descriptive, personal and somewhat more conversational than a typical essay, it should still maintain a structure - one that provides several examples to back up the argument.


Coherence and Clarity

A personal essay is a tempting place to be fascinating - and long-winded. But this essay is not just about personal experience; it's an indicator of how well the applicant can write. The essay should be concise and consistent by closely adhering to the chosen argument while supporting it with as few well-chosen words as possible. A winning story and a clear voice speak for themselves.


Precision

As with any essay, the impression comes down to one misspelled word. The "rules" may be lower for this type of writing, but good grammar remains as important as ever. Several readings should uncover errors such as passive voice, spelling mistakes and misplaced modifiers.

Step Up & Stand Out

The Right Way to Write an Essay

A fundamental mainstay in the classroom - writing - is here to stay. The key is to have your child approach the task in stages, concentrating on each step as he goes along.

Here's a five-part formula for writing an A+ essay.


Interpret the Question.
Although this seems obvious, it is the most frequently overlooked part of the whole essay process. The writer must begin by analyzing what is being asked by reading the question carefully, re-reading it, writing down key directions (compare, describe, etc.) and clarifying anything that is unclear. There are various methods of writing for different types of essays. Students should identify both what the teacher is asking and what type of essay is required before advancing to the next stage.


Research.
Writing the essay is only half the battle; the brunt of the work comes in the research stage. Students should pinpoint what they already know about the topic and for which questions they will need outside sources. By identifying these two elements first, they'll avoid overloading their paper with every piece of information they find. Make sure your child develops effective organizational strategies to keep all of the information straight, from using index cards for each point to creating file folders. Whatever form the research takes, the key element is preparation.


Plan.
Notes in hand, your child is armed for phase three. A child who says that he can't write probably just doesn't know where to start. The hardest time to write is when you don't know what you want to say. Too often children blame their inability to write on their writing skills, when they really just haven't thought it through.

After giving the topic considerable thought, students can organize their collected facts into a clear structure with a definite beginning, middle and end, recalling what exactly is being asked and how best to answer it. To create this structure, students can use a traditional outline or try another approach, such as creating an essay roadmap on a large sheet of white paper, freely marking and connecting ideas until the ideal structure is generated.


Write.
All that remains is elaborating on the core structure and expressing the facts into a clear, flowing piece. The introductory paragraph should be well-written and a convincing proof of that thesis. Maybe supporting paragraphs should be ordered by increasing importance. Maybe each point should compare and contrast. Or, maybe something else will work better. With the information already organized and the structure established, the emphasis in this stage is on maintaining a flawless style - with active voice, good transitional statements and purposeful structure.


Revision.
While your child may be breathing a sigh of relief when he places that last period on the paper, he has not crossed the finish line yet. Revision can be the difference between an A and B essay. Beyond merely running a computer spell check, he must re-read his essay, making sure the question has been, answered the paragraphs are linked effectively, the conclusion is consistent with the introduction, and if references are used, the proper citation form is used.

Writing Tips For Students Of All Ages

Writing is a skill that's critical to your child's success in school and life, not just in english and language arts class. To help keep writing skills sharp, Sylvan is pleased to offer the following tips you can share with your child before his/her next writing assignment:


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. Don't rely on your computer's spell check tool.


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."

FCAT Prep

If your student needs help to pass the FACT contact the Center. Enrolling for Seminars begins in February 2011. Space is limited, call now to schedule an appointment to discuss schdedule and fees.

Sylvan's Report Card Guide for Parents(352 KB)