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To get started, visit SylvanMathPrep.com to sign up - a FREE trial is available! Select your textbook and page number and the video will explain exactly what you need to know.

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Book Adventure

Book Adventure is a great way to get your child excited about reading. Ask one of our Directors for more information.

Writing Contest

Look for our annual Brazos Valley Writing Contest to come in the Fall.

FREE SAT or ACT Practice Test and FREE Consultation!

Saturday, August 27, 2011 8:00 AM

Rodeo Week

Our Students had lots of fun learning how to rope from one of our own teachers during Rodeo Week.

Tips for a Successful School Year

2011 –2012 school year has officially started and now we all can look forward to the first report card of the school year. Parents play a key role in monitoring how students are adjusting to their new teachers and classes. In order to make this school year the best that it can be, we want to share with you some ideas that you can use:

1. Ask your child about their day when you have dinner together.
2. Establish a routine for when homework is done and when to go to bed.
3. Take notice of any significant changes in behavior.
4. Be familiar with your child’s school’s calendar. Know when progress reports and report cards are distributed as well as school holidays.
5. Don’t wait to get help when your child is struggling in a particular subject. The longer it takes to get a student back on track academically, the greater the potential of negatively impacting a student’s self-esteem and confidence.

We hope that this school year is a great one! Remember that Sylvan of College Station is here to help.

Give Yourself a Pep Talk Before a School Test

by Dr. Rick

Lots of kids get anxious before tests. Spelling words get confused. Math facts falter. Writing skills flounder. History timelines snarl. In my long career, I’ve seen students study, master facts and skills, and still work themselves into a lather before taking a test. Then they ace the test! All that worry for nothing!


Here’s a list of a dozen reminders kids can use when they’re fretting about a test they’re actually prepared for. I tell my students, “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t do well on this test. Just look at what you’ve done to prepare!”


1.“I make goals with my friends and
parents.” When you make clear goals
about what you want to achieve,
you’re targeted on success. It’s
even more powerful when you have the
support of your parents and friends.
2.“I study.” When you make good use of
your time by studying – either by
yourself or with a study buddy –
you’re building a strong foundation
that will hold up during the test.
3.“I keep helpful, healthy routines.”
Have a time for work and a time for
play. When you have good routines –
for homework, study, rest,
recreation, family, friends,
worship – you’re establishing habits
and attitudes that will serve you
well in school and work.
4.“I take good notes in class.” Taking
good notes in class and then
reviewing them nightly lets you
learn the material naturally,
allowing you to discern questions
right away. Much better than
cramming.
5.“I avoid distractions in class and
when I’m studying at home.”
Distractions are tempting but
dangerous. When you concentrate on
your studies and block out
disturbances, you’ll be able to
retain more learning.
6.“I break big projects into small
chunks.” A good practice, always.
A book review, a science experiment,
a social studies presentation, a
math project can be intimidating.
Break them down into small tasks
that aren’t so scary.
7.“I stay up-to-date on my
assignments.” Letting an assignment
or two slide will only get you
behind schedule. And we all know
the stress of trying to catch up to
a class that’s moving along without
you.
8.“I get help when I need it.”
Everyone needs a little help from
time to time. When you get help –
either from a tutor, a smart friend,
a helpful teacher – you avoid
falling further behind. Then, if
you can help others, return the
favor.
9.“I’m organized.” Keeping a planner,
a neat notebook and backpack, and
orderly subject files will help you
stay on top of your studies.
Doesn’t have to be anything fancy or
complicated. Just treat your work –
and yourself – with respect.
10.“I pay attention in class.” Paying
attention is definitely not
overrated. Sit up. Concentrate
on what your teachers are saying.
Listen to your classmates’ comments
and questions. You’ll be amazed at
what you’ll learn.
11.“I participate in class.”
Participating in class is a
valuable way to extend your
knowledge. Raise your hand, give
your informed opinion, ask your
genuine questions, and engage
others. A deeper understanding
will follow.
12.“I have helpful and supportive
friends.” True friends care about
your welfare and success, just as
you do theirs. Study with them,
compete amicably with them,
celebrate with them, help each
other. Don’t tolerate “friends”
who try to distract you from your
goals. They’re not really friends.
If these statements reflect your
attitudes and habits, you’re on the
right track. If you’re a little
apprehensive – a little “up” – at
test time, that’s okay. It may
even be a little motivating, a
little sharpening. But you have
nothing to get your undies in a
bundle over. You’re ready.

Of course, none of these personal reminders works if you haven’t really done them. So, what’s it going to be? Confidently prepared? Or panicked and stressed? I know which line I want to be in.

How to Handle a Poor Report Card

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

It’s 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.

Dr. Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D. and senior vice president for education outreach for Sylvan Learning, offers 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.

TEN WAYS TO ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY IN KIDS

By Dr. Rick

Everyone’s in a rush. We dash from here to there, our schedules packed with work, school, grocery shopping, errands, play dates, and activities. We’re always running late. With all this haring around, with all the reminders to, “Hurry up! We’re going to be late,” is it any wonder our kids think “greased lightning” is the only speed for life? That they don’t know how to slow down? That they don’t know what patience is, let alone that it’s a virtue?

Look what we’re doing to them.

I notice the littlest ones in schools – interrupting each other and teachers, literally tugging adults’ clothes to get attention, trying to get ahead in lunch lines, unwilling to wait for a turn in a recess game. They’re not naughty; they just don’t know any other way.

Patience is a virtue, yes, but it’s also so much more. It brings calm, reduces anxiety, and smoothes the way in life. It’s a good lesson for kids to learn. Some kids come by it naturally. Most don’t. They need to learn it.

Here are some ways to help kids learn the value of patience.

1.Be a role model.
Like just about everything else we
want them to learn – reading,
organizing themselves, keeping their
rooms relatively straight, being
respectful, valuing learning – we have
to show that we’re walking the walk.
When they see us yelling at strangers
in frustrated impatience, they’re
getting a pretty clear message.
Remember, don’t give a sermon, be a
sermon.

2.Start young.
Again, just like every other good habit
and attitude, start them young. So much
easier than trying to teach patience to
a teen-ager who’s gotten his own
immediate way for years.

3.Show what you do when you’re
frustrated. Impatience is normal. We
all get frustrated from time to time.
Things go wrong. We’re not always – or
ever – in control. Instead of losing
it, show kids how you cope. Taking a
break for a minute or two is the
easiest way. Counting to ten.
Stretching. Singing a song. Saying a
quick prayer. We all have our little
coping strategies. Share them.
(Smoking a cigarette is -- Do I have to
say it? – off limits.)

4.Listen and explain.
Listen carefully and with patience when
she’s chafing and demanding. “I know
you’re eager, honey, but here’s why we
have to wait a little bit . . .” Repeat
when necessary. Use the same words if
you have to. Ask her to explain.

5.Help solve problems.
Help him figure out how to solve
frustrating problems that cause
impatience, rather than solving them
for him immediately. Our initial
inclination, I know, is to fix things
right away. Easier. But if we create
little problem solvers, they’ll
eventually have the independence to fix
their own impatience.

6.Be prepared.
When you know you’re going to be in a
situation that will pose a predicament
– the waiting room of a pediatrician’s
office, say, or a car repair place –
come prepared with a snack, some games,
or coloring books, or a favorite toy or
two.

7.Teach about time.
For the youngest ones, show how long a
minute is. Tell about the second and
minute hands on a clock. Use a kitchen
timer – you use it when he’s studying
for his spelling test, why not use it
now? For older kids, keep a calendar
handy. The old stand-by of breaking
down big jobs into smaller, manageable
tasks is always effective.

8.Distract their attention.
This works particularly well with young
kids. Tell a story. Sing a song. Point
out something interesting. Come to
think of it, it works with older kids,
too. Just takes more creativity.

9.Teach how to take turns.
Taking turns in games and sports feels
natural for kids. There’s a sense of
fairness about taking turns. And there
can also be some fun in watching what
the other players are doing as we’re
waiting. So, give them plenty of
chances to learn. Play board games and
activities that need players to take
turns.

10.Keep your own schedule.
Always in a hurry? No wonder your kid
is, too. Try to stay organized, to
leave in plenty of time, to get up on
schedule, to keep the rush to a
minimum. Remember, they do what we do.
If we’re always in a run-and-a-fall-
down, they will be, too.

It won’t always work. Sometimes schedules get quirky, occasionally tempers flare, and we’re human after all. But if we keep on trying to live as calmly and patiently as we can, our kids will see that mad rushes don’t have to be the only way to live. The important thing is they see us trying. Then they will, too.

Even when we don’t win, it’s best to be caught trying.