January 2011 Newsletter         Sylvan Logo     

FIND YOUR SUCCESS AT SYLVAN OF WOODRIDGE

Beat The Winter Blues-

Inspire Your Child to Learn with These Helpful Tips

  

How did your child do in the first half of the school year? Were you pleased with his performance, or do you think there is room for improvement? No matter what letters appeared on your child's report card, January is the perfect time to help him get excited about going back to school and learning.

  

This can be accomplished by creating an atmosphere in your home that encourages learning. Sylvan Learning offers a few tips concerning how to get involved with your child's learning process and help motivate him in the new year.

  

  • Have family reading time at least once a week. Utilize Book Adventure, a free Sylvan-created interactive, reading motivation program that can be found at www.BookAdventure.com . Students choose their own books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading.

 

  • Set aside a specific time for homework and studying. Take advantage of this quiet time to sit with your child and work on your paperwork. This visually demonstrates the importance of "work time" to your child.

 

  • If homework was a struggle during  the first semester, set up a reward system for this semester. For example, deposit change in a small jar when homework is complete. As soon as the jar is full, treat the whole family to something everyone will enjoy.

 

  • Refresh your child's "study space." Make sure that all materials, such as pencil sharpeners, erasers, and extra paper are easily accessible and in adequate supply.

 

  • Create study plans. Have your child do his most challenging assignment first, while he is most focused, then have him work on easier tasks. finish each homework session with a fun activity.

 

  • Search the Internet with your child to learn more about topics being covered in school.

 

  • Invite your child to participate in cooking or shopping to strengthen his math skills.
  • Encourage your child to choose a classmate with whom he can study and swap reading books.
  • Get your child organized inside and outside of school. By being organized, your child will have plenty of time to complete all assignments, and he will also learn the value of time management.
  • Talk to your child's teachers. the second half of the year can be more challenging than the first. Find out if your child needs extra help in a specific subject in order to keep up with the class.
How Can Parents Know if Tutoring is Right for Their Child?

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 her potential

 

  • Misbehaves in school or loses interest in learning

 

  • Is preparing for college testing, including college entrance exams, ACT and SAT tests

 

  • Struggles to focus on a task (e.g.- spending more time day dreaming than on homework)

 

  • Has test scores that do not reflect his daily performance

 

A good personal instructor will inspire and help students- at all levels of academic accomplishment- develop the skills, habits and attitudes that will result in significantly improved schoolwork, test scores and lifelong success. 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 training 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- like Sylvan Learning.

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, such as Sylvan Online. 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.
Call us now and ask about our NEW SylvanTestPrep.com to prepare your children in middle school and High school for the upcoming PSAT, PLAN, ACT, and SAT tests.  This is a 12 month program to use at home 24/7 for preparation for all of the above mentioned College Prep Testing.

 Get started for as Low as $295!

Give us a call with any questions at 630-968-8474 or email us at sylvan3253@comcast.net.

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