Looking for an Educational Speaker?

Contact Wendy Kunz if you are interested in having an educational speaker for your service organization. Wendy is the Center Director for the DeKalb/Sycamore Center. She is an energetic speaker who enjoys going out in the community to speak about educational topics. wendykunz@sylvan3231.com (815)899-8909

Introducing SylvanMathPrep.com: Sylvan’s New Online Homework Support Service

Finish your homework faster and easier! With SylvanMathPrep.com, you’ll see short videos, corresponding to the exact pages and concepts in your textbook, that explain the math lessons you’re studying.

SylvanMathPrep.com presents math problems in a new way, shows you the work so you can see how to do it, and provides practice problems (with the answers!), so you can master the concepts in no time!

To get started, visit http://www.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.

Getting ready for the SAT or ACT? SylvanMathPrep.com can help you study for the math portions of these tests as well. Sign Up Today!

To Sign up for SylvanMathPrep.com or for more information, please call us at (815) 899-8909.

Junior Year is a Critical Time for College Prep

Sylvan Learning Offers Tips to Create a Winning College Admissions Strategy

College admissions today are becoming very competitive, and understanding what you need to do to get ready for college is sometimes the toughest part of the preparation. While most college application deadlines have passed for local high school seniors, juniors are in the beginning stages of the college process -- researching colleges, meeting with guidance counselors, scheduling campus visits and taking the SAT/ACT. Junior year is a critical time for college preparation.

"Obtaining a college education requires a lot of time, effort and careful planning by parents and students working together. With students reaching for their ’dream’ schools, many realize increasing their scores on their college entrance exams is only part of the planning process. Systematically preparing for university-level classes gives students more confidence and more confidence can lead to higher SAT/ACT scores," said Kim Sanchez, Director of Sylvan.
There are simple steps that families can take now that will help students ace their college entrance exams and develop the college readiness skills needed for lifelong success. Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages and skill levels, offers simple tips for high school juniors.
• In January/February, register for the SAT/ACT dates in March - May.
• Prepare for the SAT/ACT by taking a practice test. Or, enroll in a SAT/ACT prep class.
• Concentrate on doing your best in class and seek supplemental assistance when needed.
• Meet with your guidance counselors to select college prep courses for your Senior Year.
• Study and take any AP exams.
• Take SAT Subject Tests for any AP classes.
• Plan visits to colleges that are high on your interest list. Schedule campus tours and meetings with college staff.
• Request applications from colleges. Confirm submission deadlines.
• If planning on taking summer enrichment programs at local universities, obtain class registrations.
It is never too early - or too late - to begin preparing for college and lifelong success.

Sylvan Learning is a one-stop-shop for navigating the college prep process by offering interactive tools that provide superior test preparation and programs teaching academic life skills needed for university classes.

Offered in small group settings, Sylvan’s SAT/ACT Prep classes are six weeks in length and focus on the exact skills needed to successfully answer test questions and successfully prepare for the ACT. Additionally, Sylvan provides specialized instruction in specific subject areas such as Reading, Math, Algebra, Geometry, Writing, and Study Skills.

To obtain proven test-taking strategies that give students the confidence to raise their test scores, visit the "College Prep" section of www.SylvanLearning.com or call 815-899-8909!

New Total College Prep Program

Students are applying to college in historical numbers, making the application process more competitive than ever. Recent studies have shown students may not be as adequately prepared for college as they should be, as evidenced by a 50% college drop out rate. There seems to be a growing disparity between the level of work that is expected in high school versus what is expected in college. Once enrolled, many students are finding they are not as prepared as they should be to make the transition. Sylvan College Prep is a personalized program designed to ensure your high school student meets with success when heading off to college.

Total College Prep(1.61 MB)

Choosing the Right Tutor Can Be As Easy As ABC

According to the Education Industry Association, the demand for tutoring has increased 15-18% in the past year, 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 is important to ensure that person is the best qualified and will personalize the tutoring to fit the child's individual needs.

Choosing a Tutor(109 KB)

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Book Adventure

Book Adventure is the free, online reading incentive program that makes reading fun for students in grades K-8. Children use Book Adventure to create personalized book lists from over 7,000 titles, read the books offline, take online quizzes on the books, and earn prizes for reading. Based in Baltimore, MD, the non-profit Book Adventure initiative was created by the Sylvan Learning Foundation.

BookAdventure.com is a free online reading program that uses technology and incentives to motivate children to read. Book Adventure has more than 4 million registered users, with more than 130,000 classrooms using the site as a reading source. Children have taken more than 14 million quizzes since the site was established in April 1999.

To sign up for Book Adventure, students, parents and teachers can log onto the site at:

www.DrRickBlog.com offers educators and parents educational news, tips and expert advice.

Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., has nearly forty years of education experience, in both the public and private sectors, including more than a decade with Sylvan Learning.

We moved to our new location!

Come visit us at our new location at 1715 DeKalb Avenue in Sycamore, attached to Energym! We are located across the street from Burger King. We know you'll love the new look and feel, combined with the same high quality customer service.

Sycamore Sylvan earns Operational Excellence Award!

Sycamore Sylvan Named a National Leader
in Operational Excellence!

Sycamore, IL, May 23, 2008– The Sycamore Sylvan Learning Center, which has been in operation since December of 1999, has been named as one of Sylvan Learning’s top operations by Sylvan’s National Quality Assurance Team. Quality assurance status certifies that Sylvan’s educational services, staff and facilities meet and exceed essential standards of service and quality.

This award honors the Sycamore Sylvan Learning for its continued excellence in customer service and the delivery of personalized learning programs to its students. “The Sycamore Sylvan Learning has demonstrated Sylvan’s highest standards in the delivery of educational programs,” said Richard Bavaria, Ph.D. and senior vice president for education outreach for Sylvan Learning. “Recognized as one of the most quality-focused centers throughout the United States and Canada, we are proud that the Sycamore Sylvan Learning provides a proven system of learning that helps its students to reach their full potential. As a result of a perfect score on the Quality Assurance criteria, Sycamore Sylvan consumers can be assured a top notch educational experience including outstanding program quality, strong customer service, and solid relationships within the community.”

In order to achieve this honor, the Sycamore Sylvan Learning underwent a lengthy, individualized evaluation process, which included a self-study and site visit and which assessed all aspects of the customer service provided and educational programs offered by Sylvan Learning.

How can you tell if your child needs tutoring?

The notion of tutoring, whether it’s to catch up, keep up or get ahead, has been around for a very long time. Socrates, for instance, tutored Plato and Plato tutored Aristotle. These were all bright philosophers and scholars who learned from someone who knew more. So, how can parents know when a personal instructor is right for their child?

Supplemental education may be the answer, if your child:

• Demonstrates a pattern of slowly worsening grades in school
• Develops low self esteem and thinks negatively of himself in relation to his school performance
• Makes excuses as to why she is not working up to potential
• Misbehaves in school or loses interest in learning
• Is preparing for college testing, including college entrance exams, SAT and ACT tests
• Struggles to focus on a task (e.g. - spending more time daydreaming than on homework)
• Has test scores that do not reflect her daily performance

A good personal instructor will inspire and help students - at all levels of academic accomplishment, develop study habits and organizational skills that will result in significantly improved schoolwork and test scores. Taking the time to consider whether to hire supplemental assistance means parents are giving their children an opportunity to excel in the classroom.

When children are successful in school, they build confidence that translates into all areas of their life, helping them build a strong foundation for a successful future. The purpose of tutoring is to teach children efficient learning skills and techniques to use in the classroom and, ultimately, in the workforce as adults. It is important that parents take action early and seek a reputable supplemental education service that personalizes and develops these skills for success.

If you notice that your child is struggling with homework, the first step is talking with your child and determining the underlying cause. Once you know the potential source of difficulty, it will be easier to develop a strategy for changing the struggle into success.

Even a child who is doing well in the classroom may benefit from outside help to sharpen study and test-taking skills. A supplemental education provider can help your child prepare for a test, catch up or get ahead in a particular subject area.

What should parents look for when selecting a tutor? Make sure the instructor is licensed and certified. Get recommendations from family, friends and teachers, and ask prospective tutors for references from previous employers and students. Or, hire a respected supplemental education company with a proven record of academic success.

Ask personal instructors how they will help your child master a specific skill and request an assessment to gauge your child’s current level. A good teacher will require that a child learn a specific skill before advancing to the next academic level, and, by utilizing the results of an assessment, you can benchmark your child’s progress. Most importantly, ensure the instructor will work with you and your child’s teachers to create a personal learning program based on your child’s current needs

If you’re looking for maximum flexibility, consider online educational services. Look for online programs that offer real-time assistance where students obtain individualized attention and personalized programs taught by highly trained and certified teachers – from the convenience of home.

Although parents may not have the necessary skills to tutor their child, they can take the right step by obtaining the proper academic help.

Do You Know Your Child’s Homework Personality?

Sprinter? Traveler? Sylvan Learning’s Quiz Helps Local Parents Tailor Homework Strategies for Success

With the school year fast approaching, area parents of school-age children are planning for nightly homework routines. Most parents are aware of the basics of fostering homework success, such as providing a quiet and distraction-free study area, but many parents don’t know about perhaps the single most important factor determining a student’s homework success - their child’s "homework personality."

Just as students have their own individual learning styles, they also have their own homework styles. "Sprinters" are bundles of energy who rush through assignments. "Travelers" are inquisitive students who want to experience different situations. Determining a student’s "homework personality" is key to tailoring homework and study strategies that foster success in school.

"Because each student is unique, with different learning styles and academic needs, one child may need to escape from potential distractions in order to study while another student multi-tasks and maintains good grades. If grades slip, change the way homework is completed in your household and readdress your child’s homework technique," states Wendy Kunz, Director of the Sylvan Learning. "The key is understanding your child’s unique homework style and helping him create a personalized learning plan that develops the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success."
To help local parents decipher their child’s "homework personality" and inspire homework success, the education experts at Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages and skill levels, have created a "homework personality" quiz. Parents should take the quiz for each of their school-age children and add up their scores to determine the optimal homework formula for each child.

Parents can take the "homework personality" quiz online and obtain additional educational resources for children in grades pre-K through 12 by visiting the "Parent Resources" area of www.SylvanLearning.com. Contact Wendy at 815-899-8909 to discuss how Sylvan Learning can help your child achieve academic success this school year.