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 EXPLORING STANDARDIZED TESTING  

 

In This Issue:
Standardized Testing: A Brief History
Study TIp: Creating an In-Home Filing System
Coach of the Month: Inessa Dombrovsky
Quick Links

 

Academic Success Partner of the Month

Ruthanne Iliff 

 

This month we highlight Ruthanne Iliff, a LMFT with office in Brentwood and Sherman Oaks who specializes in

neurofeedback

(NFB).  NFB is a cutting edge technology that works by activating the brain's natural ability to form new connections where they are no longer working.  During the training, sensors are strategically placed on the scalp and the earlobes.  Brainwaves are measured as the participant looks at their visual manifestation on a computer screen.  The treatment is non-invasive.  Instead, it relies on training the brain to relax and focus as it is rewarded for activating certain desirable brain wave frequencies.  This promise has shown promise in treating sleep issues, depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, addiction, mood swings, concentration, focus, stress and other critical issues.  Call Ruthanne at 818-669-0207 or e-mail her at [email protected] 

for more information.

  

Looking for a Student Community Service Opportunity?

  
Meet Rickey Smith, social entrepreneur and owner of the sustainable food business Urban Green. He's started a community education venture called the Urban Green Kids Row program, creating opportunities for kids from diverse backgrounds to participate in many activities related to food sustainability, from planting seeds  to learning about how organic food is grown and harvested. For more info on a terrific community service and volunteering opportunity for kids, email Rickey, visit the website at www.urbangreenla.com

or call (800) 200 3320. 

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 The Higher Road life skill coaches work with teens in the most challenging aspects of their lives: social skills, managing stress, motivation, organization, health and wellness and oppositional behavior.

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Check out The Higher Road website to learn more about this dynamic program.
Check out Our  YouTube Video!

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Academic Success
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
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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Looking for a College Counselor or Ed Therapist?
We work and 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.

Greetings!  

 

Summer break is approaching for

students! It's critical to take the time to rest and relax in order to recharge the batteries for the fall. Additionally, summer break can also be an ideal opportunity to prepare for one of the most important events on the academic calendar, the standardized test, the focus of our newsletter this month.

 

Although there's much debate over the effectiveness of these tests in helping to educate our kids and accurately measure academic progress, standardized tests like the ISEE, SAT and ACT remain a necessary tool in the world of education.

 

In this issue, we'll look at the some of the current perspectives on standardized testing, some strategies for studying and how these tests affect a student's prospects as they move forward.

 

At Academic Success, we're invested in keeping our students one step ahead as they work to create a successful future that's rich with opportunity.

 

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398, or

 

Find us on Facebook 

 

All the best,

 

Jamie

 

"Teachers are reservoirs from which, through the process of education, students draw the water of life."

                                                  - Sathya Baba 


Education News

Meeting The Challenge

How did we arrive at standardized testing as way of measuring our students' progress and why did it gain such prominence in our education system? TIME  

 magazine takes us through a brief history.

 

Taking the Global Test

 

With college graduates entering an increasingly global job market and a greater focus on how our education system stacks up against the rest of the world, this report on how our students fared in the PISA, the global standardized test, reveals some interesting facts.


Differing Opinions

 

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing found that many colleges do not use the SAT or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor degree applicants, reinforcing their negative view of standardized tests.

 

High-stakes, value-added assessment (such as standardized tests) is an excellent way to hold schools, teachers and students accountable, in addition to preparing students for more of the same in the outside world, says this Houston education director.    

 

Strategies For Success

 

These tips for teachers on all aspects of standardized test prep will not only benefit students, but may also assist parents in helping their kids to focus on the key areas of study as well as giving them useful techniques to alleviate stress.  

 

Study Tips

Creating An In-Home Study Filing System 

   

Students juggle many different tasks: daily homework, completing longer projects, and studying and preparing for exams. With all this, it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the study material that's needed. A student can only carry so much in their bag! One way to lighten the load, make studying easier, and stay organized, is to create an in-home study filing system.  

 

Ideally, the file system would be right next to the student's desk, with files created for different subjects and study topics, right at their fingertips. Not only is creating a filing system fun (different colored labels and folders add to the enjoyment), but an efficient study filing system can be an enormous time-saver, allowing for extra study time, less stress and higher grades.  Some ideas for filing systems can be found here.   

 

Coach Profile

  As a recent graduate from UCLA with a degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Inessa has earned a breather.  She is currently applying to medical school while working in the Emergency Room as a scribe. Inessa has always loved to teach children. In middle school, she assisted in teaching a second grade Hebrew school class, and in high school she tutored several of her classmates as well as younger students.   Inessa started working for Academic Success as a junior in college and loves the impact she is able to make on her students. In addition to medicine and tutoring, Inessa also involves herself in many non-profit charity organizations. She founded a branch of   Operation Smile at UCLA and continues in her role as president, raising over $16,000 to provide surgeries for children with cleft lip/palate conditions internationally. Inessa also loves to travel the world, play tennis, spend time at the beach, and hang out with her friends.  

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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.

Sincerely,
 
Jamie Altshule
Academic Success, Inc.