Parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity to connect with your children’s teachers and become more involved in their education. However, your involvement shouldn’t end there. Make an action plan to keep your children on track throughout the year.
“Parent-teacher conferences are often when parents become aware of their children’s educational deficiencies. Unfortunately, many parents expect the problems to just go away,” notes Chad Schwartz President of Tutoring Club. “The sooner parents decide to take action to keep their children on track; the easier it will be for them and their children.”
Promote Effective Communication
Parents should talk with their children about their experiences in the classroom. Find out what children feel are their best subjects and which subjects they like the least. See if there is anything your children would like you to talk about with their teachers. Moreover, assure your children they needn’t worry about the meeting; that they understand you and the teachers are meeting to help them.
Take Your Children’s Work to the Meeting
Taking samples of tests, homework, and progress reports can help parents focus the meeting on their children’s specific academic needs. It is important to know what to address when developing an action plan. Keeping a folder with these items may be helpful and could save time when parent-teacher conferences arrive.
Finding Improvement Areas
During the parent-teacher conference, make sure to discuss your children’s strengths and weaknesses. It may be beneficial to understand how your children’s teachers grade assignments so you can help guide their classroom performance. Identify skill gaps with the teacher when developing the action plan suited for your children’s academic success.
Begin the Action Plan with Your Children
After the parent-teacher conference, review notes and discuss problem areas with your children. If specific problem areas have been noted, or if their overall grades seem marginal, talk to them about possible causes and solutions. If the conclusion is your children need extra help or motivation, consider individualized tutoring.
Tutoring Club helps children reach their full academic level more quickly. Tutoring Club offers individualized instruction by professional tutors who work with your children, creating lesson plans to address their specific academic needs. According to Schwartz “When parents invest in tutoring, they show children they believe learning is a priority, and they are committed to their children’s success.”
Meeting with your children’s teachers can and should build strong parent-teacher partnerships. By participating in conferences and establishing a good relationship with teachers, you can help your children complete a great academic school year.
Tutoring Club’s exclusive TutorAid programs are guaranteed to improve individual skills in core academic areas like reading, writing, and math. Individualized instruction in science and foreign languages, as well as in basic learning skills such as note taking, outlining, time management and ACT/SAT preparation is also available. For more information on Tutoring Club, visit www.tutoringclub.com or contact Howard Stracke, Tutoring Club of Glen Allen, 804-405-4968.
Also, learn more about the how important Math is to education for kids!
Tutoring Club is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
It’s time to Finish Strong!
With the break of winter, distractions abound. Flowers bloom, spring sports begin; we feel the warmth of the sun and think summer is just around the corner. But, before we reach summer we have to finish the school year and finish it strong. With only a couple months left and SOL’s in May, it is important for students to stay focused on the end game.
As parents we need to ensure our students don’t fade during the final weeks of school. Now is the time to review the rules set at the beginning of the school year and make adjustments as necessary. With extra daylight and increased activities, it’s easy for homework to fall by the wayside, so sticking to a plan and schedule becomes more critical than ever.
Making sure your student is getting enough sleep and setting adequate time aside for study will help them stay on top of tests and projects. If your student is moving into the danger zone with grades, homework or focus, consider one-on-one tutoring to ensure a strong finish to the school year. It’s not too late to turn a C to a B or a B into an A. At College Tutors, we focus on each student’s individual needs; we create a statement of goals specifically for each student and develop a plan to help them reach those goals! And since College Tutors does not have a contract or a registration fee, you pay only for the services needed whether that’s homework help, test prep or improving subject-specific grades.
If standardized tests are on the horizon for your children, help them alleviate anxiety by utilizing practice tests. Any preparation or practice tests will make students more relaxed and confident on test day. Confidence going into the test is often the make or break factor in the test results. Taking timed practice tests can be especially effective preparation as it is often the stress of being timed, not the content, that produces anxiety.
High school students face AP tests and high school juniors are preparing to take the SAT or ACT exams. Spring of junior year is the best time to take the SAT/ACT test for the first time as it increases chances for early admission!
College Tutors offers a free SAT practice test on April 20.
The end of the school year is a very popular time for additional tutoring and tutors’ schedules will fill up fast. Be sure to get your child the help they need to finish strong.
Call today to inquire about one-on-one customized tutoring or to register for the practice test.
Glen Allen Learning Center at the corner of Cox and Broad
Phone 804-346-2242
College Nannies and Tutors is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
Does your child shrug and sigh when he or she hears the word “algebra”? Then he/she is not alone – many kids struggle with algebra and others just don’t know why it’s important to learn it to begin with.
And why is algebra such a big deal anyway? Will kids ever need that knowledge and training?
Absolutely and the Tutoring Club can explain why. The article below was written by the Tutoring Club to help kids and adults understand the value of learning algebra today for success tomorrow!
Why Algebra?
Algebra is the “gatekeeper” that lets people into rewarding careers — and keeps others out. It is used by photographers, architects, upholsterers and just about everyone in a high-tech career. It is simply a civil right, says Robert Moses, a veteran of the civil rights movement.
Basic algebra is the first in a sequence of higher-level math classes that students need to succeed. Because many students fail to get a solid math foundation, an alarming number of them are graduating from high school unprepared for either college or work. Many are taking remedial math in college, which makes getting a degree a longer, costlier process than it is for their more prepared classmates. And it means they’re less likely to complete a college-level math course. For middle school students and their parents, the message is clear: It’s easier to learn the math now than to try to relearn it later.
What Makes Algebra So Important?
The first year of algebra is the prerequisite for all higher level math: geometry, algebra II, trigonometry and calculus. According to a study by the ACT, students who take algebra I, geometry, algebra II and one additional high-level math course are much more likely to succeed in college math.
Algebra is not just for the college-bound. Students headed straight from high school to the work force will need the same math skills as college freshmen, the ACT found. This ACT study looked at occupations that don’t require a college degree but pay wages high enough to support a family of four. Researchers found that math and reading skill levels required to work as an electrician, plumber or upholsterer were comparable to those needed to succeed in college.
Algebra is, in short, the gateway to success in the 21st century.
What’s more, your child develops abstract reasoning when he makes the transition from concrete arithmetic to the symbolic language of algebra. That helps him become an abstract thinker, a benefit that will carry over into his study of other subjects.
When Should Your Child Take Algebra?
Students typically take algebra in the eighth grade. The benefit of starting the sequence of high-level math classes in eighth grade is that if your child takes the PSAT as a high school sophomore, she will have completed geometry. By the time she’s ready to take the SAT or ACT as a high school junior, she will have completed a second year of algebra. Both of these college admissions tests have questions based on algebra II.
There’s a growing movement to have students take algebra in seventh grade. That may work well for students who are motivated, mature and prepared to tackle it. But many seventh-graders aren’t, math educators say.
“Some kids get turned off of math because they start algebra too early,” says Francis Fennell, president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the nation’s leading organization of math teachers.
Parents, he said, need to “make sure you ask yourself, ‘Is this move for you or for your child?'” Fennell recommends talking to your child’s current teacher to help you assess her readiness to advance. The goal is for your child to learn algebra well and keep her engaged in math, not push her through the curriculum as quickly as possible.
Look for Homework Clues
W. Stephen Wilson is a Johns Hopkins math professor who teaches freshman calculus and is a former senior advisor for mathematics in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. He offers this advice to parents trying to evaluate their students’ math instruction:
“If a student isn’t bringing home work that requires lots of manipulation and lots of word problems, then there is probably a problem.”
Fennell suggests talking to your child and the math teacher about how homework is used. You may learn a lot from the answers if you ask:
- Are homework assignments corrected and returned in a timely way?
- Is homework reviewed in class so students can learn from their mistakes?
- Does the teacher change the pace or direction of his instruction, based on the feedback he gets in homework?
You don’t need to be a mathematician to ask good questions about the content of your child’s class, Fennell says. “Ask the teacher ‘What is the math? Is it a repeat of math that should have already been mastered? When my child finishes this year, will he be ready for high school math?'”
Bill Moore directs the Transition Mathematics Project in Washington state, which is working to better prepare students for the transition to college math. He summed up what middle school students need to get out of math this way:
“Students need to have a very solid foundation of basic procedural skills that really make problem-solving more fluid. There’s a fundamental set of stuff that just has to be memorized, and there there’s a sense of numbers, a sense of what’s a reasonable answer. That’s particularly important with the use of calculators. In some cases, in the elementary grades, they’ve been used as a crutch. Students go straight to the calculator and if the calculator says it’s right, then it must be right.”
Look at How Calculators Are Used
Talk to your child’s math teacher about how calculators are used in the classroom. Debate has raged for years over whether students are relying too much on calculators and failing to learn the standard algorithms – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. But there does seem to be general agreement with the view expressed by Fennell that “the calculator is an instructional tool. It should support but not supplant anything. You don’t use it for 6 x 7.”
For more information on algebra or any other subject, contact the experts at the Tutoring Club. They offer kids the advantage they need to excel today and succeed in life.
The Tutoring Club is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
http://www.tutoringclub.com/rx_reading.php
For many parents, the decision to have their child tutored is precipitated by a teacher conference or a report card. Poor grades or problems in the classroom are certainly indicators that a child is struggling academically, but there are often more subtle signs that parents can detect. In education, as in healthcare, intervention at the first sign of trouble can prevent a deeper crisis. For many children, problems with academic performance may have less to do with learning disabilities than with gaps in the process of building academic skills.
Particularly in the areas of reading and math, skill acquisition and retention is based on a sequential skill building process. Gaps in this process, for whatever reason they may occur, can impede mastery of those skills. Unfortunately, once these “skill gaps” manifest themselves in the classroom, parents cannot always be sure they will be alerted soon enough.
Based on the experience of Tutoring Club centers throughout the U.S., there are a number of indicators that tutoring may be beneficial to a child.
The following are the most common signs:
- Homework frustrations. If parents have to constantly help a child complete homework, or if the child experiences continual frustration, there’s a problem. While it is natural for parents to want to minimize their child’s frustration, getting into the habit of helping them complete homework rather than identifying the cause of the frustration and strengthening the learning skills will not help the child become a successful learner.
- Lack of motivation. When a child seems unwilling to try, it is a clear sign that the assigned tasks are either too difficult, or that the requisite skills to accomplish them are lacking.
- Weak math skills. Contrary to the belief of some parents, there is no “math gene.” Success in math is based largely upon mastery of basic skills – and the critical period for establishing this foundation is between 3rd and 7th grade. If a child falls behind during this period, his or her ability to grasp 8th grade algebra is very problematic. A child who does not complete algebra by the 8th grade is behind in the math course sequence for typical college-bound students.
- Inability to read at grade level. The foundation for reading skills is laid down from Kindergarten to 2nd grade. If that foundation is shaky, it can affect virtually every other learning skill that children need to acquire.
- Inappropriate classroom behavior. Children who “act up” in class or are constantly seeking help from other students may be having deeper problems than being “troublesome” or “lazy.” Frequently, a child with these behaviors is masking gaps in his or her academic skill building.
While tutoring is an effective means of addressing all of the above, it has an additional underlying value: it sets an expectation for success. When parents invest in tutoring, they are sending some very important messages to their child: First and foremost, they are telling their child that learning is a priority, and that they are committed to their child’s success. They are also demonstrating that learning is a process, not just an outcome.
When children learn to master that process, which is what an effective tutoring program should accomplish, they gain a sense of competence and confidence that is ultimately more important than the grade level at which they are reading by the time their tutoring program is complete.
For more information, contact:
| Glen Allen Tutoring Club 11219-A Nuckols Rd. Glen Allen, VA 23059 Phone number: 804-967-6278 |
Glen Allen Tutoring Club is an advertiser on Richmondmom.com
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LearningRx has lots of ways to help children reach their full potential.
Are you giving your children the best possible chance to succeed in school and in life?
Every parent believes they are doing everything possible to support, encourage, and help their children. Sometimes, it’s hard to know what to do though. That’s why LearningRx has such a tremendous amount of information and learning resources for kids of all ages.
LearningRx offers revolutionary testing and training techniques that help kids overcome many life-long struggles. Instead of struggling and not feeling confident, children can excel with just a few of the techniques they utilize. Helping children reach their full potential is the objective of everything they do and that makes life easier for everyone. One key to helping children is to really understand the root of the problem, and that starts with effective testing and evaluation.
Many parents don’t realize their child is struggling until it has been going on for a while – and by then, a child’s grades and self-confidence can be negatively impacted. LearningRx helps uncover problems early so they can begin to find solutions for life-long learning. They offer an online 5-minute, FREE assessment to help you understand why you or your child might be struggling.
Once the problem is uncovered, there are a variety of solutions available. LearningRx shares some of their thoughts on children and their motor/cognitive skills in this month’s newsletter. We’ve included some of that information here.
- At LearningRx, they realize that motor and cognitive skills are developed throughout childhood, with a strong emphasis on the early childhood years. They also take advantage of the link between hand-clapping songs to enhance those skills. Singing, playing, clapping, moving, and staying on beat is vital to helping children fully develop skills. Their programs are based on credible research and studies in the field.
- Another technique utilized by LearningRx is teaching children to think quickly and react by doing activities such as counting cubes as they stack up. Eye/hand coordination is enhanced when children participate in these types of activities.
- At LearningRx, they know that children enjoy eating. That’s why taking advantage of healthy fruits and other ingredients are all part of their teaching. Filled with antioxidants and nutrition, they offer lots of tips on the healthiest smoothies and drinks your child should have. Brain-food starts by knowing what’s healthy and what’s not – that’s where LearningRx can help.
Autism, learning difficulties, reading problems, and other challenges faced by children every day can often be overcome by the many programs at LearningRx. They don’t just take care of the symptoms – at LearningRx they get to the root of the problem, identify and strengthen weak cognitive skills, and provide brain-based programs to help children reach their full potential.
As one parent explains to LearningRx, “As parents of a child with learning issues, we struggled to find a program to help improve Paige’s reading skills. We made training a priority and after it was done, Paige was motivated to complete ALL her work on time!” (Read her full story at this link).
Don’t let your child struggle and grow up with a lack of confidence and low self-esteem. Help him or her excel. Contact LearningRx and find out all that they have to offer and decide for yourself.
Use your Richmondmom.com Savvy Saver card and get a $249 assessment for just $99! That’s a huge savings and it will go a long way towards offering your child the best possible chance to excel in school and life.
They are located at 9770 Gayton Road, Richmond, Va. You can also call them at 804.612.9959. Programs are available for children, adults and anyone suffering from brain-related problems such as dementia. Stop by and tell Ed that Richmondmom sent you.
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