Sylvan Named on CBS-Pittsburgh "Best of ..." List

On September 30, 2011, Sylvan was named on the CBS-Pittsburgh Best of Tutoring Resources List.  This is what they had to say...

Best Tutoring Resources In Pittsburgh

Whether your child is getting ready for the SATs or needs some extra help with reading, writing or ‘rithmetic, the Pittsburgh area has a number of first-rate tutoring resources.

By Christine Mouser 

Sylvan Learning Center

Best Study Skill Service: For some lucky students, study skills and organization come naturally. For many others, this isn’t always the case. For fourth and fifth graders looking to improve their study skills, Sylvan Learning Center has a great program designed to do just that. The program focuses on organization (organizing binders), time management (utilizing study time and setting goals), note-taking (listening skills, managing information, basic note-taking), reading and studying (how to use notes and textbooks to study) and test-taking strategies (how to approach test questions and preventing test-related stress and anxiety). Developing these skills at an early age will only pay dividends in the more challenging years ahead. Call Sylvan for pricing information, or visit their website for more tutoring services.

Hutchinson Elementary School Receive Sylvan Eddy Award

Sylvan Learning Center in Greensburg presented a Sylvan EDDY award to Ms. Molly McMaster, 4th grade teacher at Hutchinson Elementary School in the Greensburg Salem School District on November 16, 2011 at the weekly faculty meeting. Ms. McMaster was chosen by the principal, Mrs. Lisa Hauswirth, and the award was presented by Sylvan Learning Center Director Terri Trathowen.

The Sylvan EDDY award is part of a community outreach program called Sylvan Gives Back. It recognizes teachers for innovative teaching strategies and provides some necessary resources for the implementation of these strategies. Ms. McMaster is supplementing her classroom literacy program with additional books and listening equipment for her class to use to promote a love of reading. She will use the $100.00 grant that she received as an award recipient to purchase these items.
 
Congratulations to Ms. McMaster and Hutchinson Elementary for their work to promote literacy with their students!

Are You Ready for Math?

The Sylvan Math Checkup is a short math skills analysis that will pinpoint specific areas in which your child may need extra focus to be successful in math. This checkup is proctored and assessed by our certified math specialists - and it’s FREE!

A quick checkup of your child’s math skills could make this year the best school year ever!

Register now for your FREE Sylvan Math Checkup!

Is Your Child Ready for Algebra?

Known as a "gateway course," algebra is the foundation for higher-level high school math and science classes and thus a critical stepping stone to student's success. Make sure your child is ready by having them take a FREE Algebra Readiness Check-Up!

Weak algebra skills can lead to:

• Lower ACT/SAT^® scores
• Limited access to colleges and universities
• Restricted careers

This 21-question Algebra Readiness Check-Up will help your student determine if they are ready for Algebra. Their personalized Algebra Fitness Breakdown will highlight their strengths, areas that require focus, and provide online resources to help them get in tip-top shape for algebra!

Register today: www.Fit4Algebra.org

Introducing Sylvan Homework Help!

Get on top of homework today! Sylvan Homework Help is designed to give students the extra help they need in current subjects using their school assignments. Sylvan Homework Help offers a small group setting and various scheduling options, including advanced scheduling and drop-ins. Sign up today!

Get Your College Coach at Sylvan!

Sylvan is proud to offer our College Coach programs for college-bound students.

Why does a student need Sylvan College Coach?

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 dropout rate.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS MORE COMPETITIVE
Not only are there more students than ever applying to college, they are also submitting an average of six to seven applications per student. This flood of applications can make the admissions process challenging.

STUDENTS NOT PROPERLY PREPARED
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.
• Only 36% of students earn their
Bachelor’s Degree in four years.
• Nearly 50% of students attending
college will never finish
However, those students who earn their degree earn 72% more than those who do not get their degree.

Free ACT/SAT Testing!

More than three million college admissions tests are administered each year, making the SAT and the ACT two of the most important exams that a high school student will ever take. In order to perform at their best, students should become familiar with the style and types of questions on the tests, in order to avoid “trap-door answers.” Above all, students need to work through as many practice questions and tests as possible in the weeks and months leading up to the actual exam.

Contact us today to reserve your spot for a free practice exam.

*SAT is registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination Board, which makes no endorsement of this program.

Sylvan Gives Back!

We know that inspiring students to reach their full potential requires a team.  That's why Sylvan Learning has been an enthusiastic participant in school and classroom partnerships.  Through Sylvan Learning's Give Back Initiatives, we are bringing our extensive resources, knowledge and passion for education directly to your students (at school and home) with an array of awards, grants and customizable programs. As allies in education, together we can inspire learning, increase confidence, and improve academic outcomes for children.

Sylvan Eddy:
Schools K-12
Educational Excellence Award - Sylvan Learning understands that the time and resources needed to support innovative learning strategies are not always readily available.  The Sylvan EDDY awards are monetary prizes designed specifically to encourage educators to take risks and be creative in their approaches to teaching.

Adopt-a-Classroom Grant:
Schools K-6
Let us adopt a lucky K-6 classroom in your school.  In collaboration with the classroom teacher, Sylvan will work to customize a program designed to enhance the classroom experience.  We'll bring our knowledge, expertise, and passion, along with supplies, prizes and pizza parties.

Contact us today!
To learn more about any of these programs or to learn how we can partner with your school or organization contact us today --  888-YES-SYLVAN  (888-937-7958)

Complimentary PTO/PTA Presentations

Sylvan Learning Center of Greensburg has a variety of presentations available for your PTO/PTA Meetings! All workshops are provided at no cost to schools and organizations. If you would like more information on workshops, please call us at (724) 834-2255.

Various topics include:
Building Strong Realationships with Teachers
Cooperative parent-teacher relationships are important to parents too. The materials provided will allow parents to discover ways to get involved in their child's school in productive ways. Each parent will receive ideas and strategies that are immediately actionable at home and school.

At-Home Strategies for School Success
Develop homework strategies and create independent learners

Avoiding the Report Card Surprise
Using the tools of organization and communciation to handle a problem report card

Confidence with Computation
Straightforward techniques to help you child and the value of practice

From Stress to Success
Test taking strategies and creating the right conditions

Learning Styles
Identify learning styles and determne your preference and your child's preference.

Reading and Your Child
What is reading, developmental factors and suggestions

Motivating Students
Discuss ability,desire and encouragement and learn about Study Contracts

Survival Tips for School Success
Goal setting, time management, organizational skills and test anxiety

Book Adventure - Read. Click. Win!

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 4,000 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. National sponsors of the Book Adventure initiative include Sylvan Learning Center, R.R. Bowker, Barnes & Noble.com, and Houghton Mifflen.

BookAdeventure.org is a free online reading program that uses technology and incentives to motivate children to read. Book Adventure has more than 500,000 registered users, with more than 74,000 classrooms using the site as a reading source. Children have taken more than 1.8 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.bookadventure.org