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Academic Success Offers ISEE Classes this Summer
Academic Success will be offering a two-week class preparing students for the 7th and 8th grade version of the ISEE. The classes will be taught at St. Matthew's school in Pacific Palisades the weeks of June 28 - July 9 and July 12 - July 23. Our innovative class will teach and practice all the strategies, tricks and techniques needed to maximize your score. Call us at 310-823-4398 for more details.
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Academic Success Partner of the Month
Kari Miller has long been a friend of Academic Success. If you are the parent of a smart, underachieving child who has special learning needs such as ADHD, learning disabilities, dyslexia or autism, and are disappointed and frustrated that your child is struggling in school and has lost faith in his or her ability to succeed, Miller Educational Excellence can help! Their educational therapists work with students to achieve higher grades, a willingness to devote more time to studying, confidence in the ability to succeed in school, and getting on track for college acceptance. Miller Educational Excellence gives special needs students the tools they need to be successful and change their lives forever. |
Looking
for a Student Community Service Opportunity?
Vista Del Mar is one of the most comprehensive care facilities for children experiencing mental health, behavioral, emotional, or social problems. Vista branches out into areas of foster care, adoption, and the treatment of children
with developmental difficulties. Vista remains one of the preeminent social service agencies serving children and their families in Southern California. They have several different kinds of volunteer programs for youth from being a teacher's helper in their K-12 program to helping in their theater program. Vista is one of the great jewels of our community and a perfect place for any student looking for an opportunity to volunteer. |
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| Looking for a College Counselor or Ed Therapist? |
| We partner with excellent Educational Therapists and College Counselors throughout the L.A. area. Give us a call and we can recommend the right fit for your child. |
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Check Out Our YouTube Video!!
Academic Succes is very proud of the two-minute video we recently produced to give you a feel for who we are, our philosophy and the way we approach our work. |
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Introducing The Higher Road - Life Coaching for Teens
The Higher Road life coaches work with teens in the most challenging aspects of life: social skills, managing stress, motivation, organization, health and wellness, and oppositional behavior.
Check out The Higher Road website to learn more about this dynamic program. |
How Academic Success Can Support You
At Academic Success we take great pride in finding the right coach to support the unique needs of each student we help. Please check out the areas where we work on our web site and let us know how we can support you. | |
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Greetings!
Many people were fascinated by Temple Grandin, the recent HBO movie based on the life story of the woman who, despite her autism, became the one of the foremost experts in animal husbandry. Grandin, now a university professor, changed the way American farmers handle cows by redesigning their equipment and processes in a more humane way. Grandin is an intriguing example of how a person with autism views the world in a wholly unique way, and as a result can change it for the better.
For some students, school is more than just a lot of work; they have learning challenges and processing disorders that make academics a tremendous struggle both socially and scholastically. This newsletter is dedicated to a portion of that population.
For children with social and communicative disabilities, including Asperger's Disorder, Autism, and nonverbal learning disabilities, many traditional forms of learning are not effective. With knowledge about learning differences and programs available to support teachers, more schools can better serve these students and offer them additional opportunities to grow and develop.
Academic Success works with children with a variety of learning differences and can assist you at (310) 823-4398.
Fondly,
Jamie and Eric |
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Autism Is a Not a Single Disorder - There Is a Spectrum
 For many, the word "autism" has a scary ring - many think of people with autism as being completely lost in their own world and unable to relate and communicate with others. That is a bit of a misconception. Mental health professionals refer to autism as a spectrum rather than a single disorder. On one end of the spectrum are the severely autistic - individuals without language ability who can only interact with others at a minimal level. However, those individuals represent the minority of people on the autism spectrum. Far more prevalent are people with moderate social and communicative difficulties who struggle with social interactions. One of the more well-known forms of autism that exists on the high-functioning portion of the spectrum is Asperger's Syndrome. Children with Asperger's syndrome generally have normal to high intelligence and near-normal to advanced language development. However, many Asperger's kids have problems relating to their peers, picking up on social cues, can be pre-occupied with rituals, and exhibit eccentric behavior.
While there is no "cure" for autism, many autistics develop compensation strategies that aid them with their academics and social interactions. Over the past 20 years, many schools have opened to specifically address the needs of high-functioning autistics and other children with learning disabilities. With their specialized curriculum and teaching techniques, students on the spectrum can emerge from these schools as outstanding students.
Several Academic Success clients are on the high-functioning side of the autism spectrum. While we do not assume the role of an educational therapist for these clients, we do know that these clients benefit from the calm, patient, one-on-one coaching that we provide. Some aspects of learning can be unmanageable in a classroom and a one-on-one environment can fill in those gaps.
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Some Jobs are a Perfect Fit for People with Aspergers and High-Function Autism
 Although Asperger's Syndrome and other high-functioning forms of autism present challenges, there are jobs where those disorders can be an advantage. While social interactions may be difficult, autistics often possess a tremendous ability to do highly repetitious work and possess a keen ability to notice details and spot imperfections. National Public Radio recently broadcast a story about a Chicago non-profit called Aspiritech that offers job training and finds high-tech jobs for people with Asperger's and high-functioning autism. One Aspiritech success story can be found in a recent group of graduates who now have jobs in data entry and computer program testing. The skills necessary for these tech jobs come naturally to many with the disorder. Not only do these jobs generate a meaningful paycheck - they give a sense of self-worth that is more valuable than any salary.
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Study Tip - Go Over Your Goals With Your Teacher
 One more semester of school left, and the time has come to check in with each teacher (and not just the ones you like!) The best way to begin the process of raising grades is to make appointments with your teachers in their office. Find out where you stand, and what (if any) advice your teacher has for moving forward. Then take a deep breath and tell your teacher what your goal grade is for their class. Teachers are much more likely to support your efforts, after they have been clearly stated! Also, by sharing your goals out-loud with your instructor, you are less likely to let yourself off-the-hook by turning in your homework late or not studying enough. In fact, share your ambitions with friends, parents, coaches, and anyone else who will listen! The outside support and acknowledgment will make achieving those good grades all the more likely.
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Meet Lauren Eveland
Coach Profile of the Month
 Lauren has a supportive, caring and inspiring teaching technique. Lauren's style of coaching comes from her own passion for learning, knowledge and the academic experience. Not only does she support her students with their school work, but she nurtures their sense of personal responsibility and academic potential. When a student experiences a little bit of success, that achievement becomes its own reward, and keeps motivation high. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with dual degrees in Economics and Biological Basis of Behavior. In college, Lauren tutored student-athletes, and was an athlete herself, as a member of the Women's Golf Team. She is currently in a pre-med program at Loyola Marymount on her way to a career in medicine. In her free time, Lauren can be found surfing, practicing yoga, and playing the piano.
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We consider it a privilege and an honor to support students and their families throughout the Los Angeles area. Please call us at any time; we welcome your thoughts and input. We are available at 310-823-4398.
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