When 16-year old Drew is at school, his mom may be just a couple of classrooms away. "At first it's kind of weird, and my friends will be like 'Oh yesterday I saw your mom at school.' And I'm like , 'Oh, OK.' But eventually I get used to it," he says.

 

She volunteers at the school, which makes it easy to check in with her children's teachers. "When one of my children has a problem in one of his classes, they'll say we got his test grade and it's this," says Stacey, Drew's mom. But many parents never get that kind of quick feedback.

 

According to a survey by the Michigan Education Association, a quarter of parents said they almost never talk to teachers. The same number said they never attend parent-teacher conferences. "Sadly, I think those numbers are probably very accurate," says academic advisor Cathie Banks.

 

Banks says that can send kids a subtle, but damaging message: My parents don't care about my education, so why should I? The result is that "they're less involved in activities...they have lower self-esteem; they have lower classroom attendance," she says. 

 

In fact, earlier studies by the U.S. Department of Education found that when parents are involved- by monitoring homework, talking to teachers or volunteering at the school- children's grades were dramatically higher and discipline problems dramatically lower.

 

"She's always around at school a lot. So if I was to do something bad, she would know about it pretty quickly," says Drew.

 

Experts say meeting your child's teachers and spending time at their school is invaluable. "Find a link, whether it's a teacher you can talk to (or) a guidance counselor that you can go (to)," says Banks. "I would encourage any parent who wants to become involved to do so, no matter what the cost."

 

 What Parents Need to Know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In today's society, everyone, not just those who are mathematically inclined, must understand  algebraic concepts. The key to lifelong, academic success is the development of algebraic thinking in math curriculums from pre-kindergarten throughout high school.

According to Foundations of Success, the 2008 final report of The National Advisory Panel, by focusing on algebraic concepts across all grades, we will ensure that students develop the analytical thinking and reasoning skills needed for success in high school, in college and in life. In essence, "Algebra for middle and high school students" must be preceded by preparing students with "Algebra in the early years!"

The National Mathematics Advisory Panel states that developing algebraic thinking can begin when students start their study of mathematics, because most children develop considerable knowledge of "math" before kindergarten. Educators believe that children are born with a natural love of mathematics, and their curiosity is a strong motivator as they try to describe and extend patterns of shapes, colors and, eventually letters and numbers. "In pre-kindergarten and elementary school, children begin to make generalizations about patterns that seem to be the same or different. Does a square look similar to a circle? This kind of categorizing and generalizing is an important developmental step on the journey toward algebraic thinking," explains Cathy Seeley, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Throughout the primary grades, patterns also become tools. As students develop number comprehension, they use patterns to help them add and subtract. For example, to help students learn the basic facts of addition, students work with missing numbers, such as ___ + 4=12. Here, the blank represents and unknown number. This is how young students begin to understand the concept of variables. Later in middle or high school, students will learn, if x+4=12, then x=8. The process of noticing and exploring patterns sets the stage for looking at more complex relationships in later grades.

As students transition into middle school, their math experiences continue to help them learn how to think abstractly- the basis of algebra. As students shift to thinking abstractly in middle school, they become capable of using reasoning to analyze a situation and, ultimately, create a solution. A strong foundation in algebraic concepts should be in place by the end of eighth grade, and ambitious goals in algebra should be pursued by all high school students.

Fortunately, parents can nurture and build comprehension by incorporating state-of-the-art equipment to ensure a positive learning experience. In order to make competent decisions, children must learn to analyze facts and understand complex situations.

Encourage children to take algebra early in their educational careers-if they have the necessary foundation of algebraic concepts. Nationally, the percentage of seventh and eighth-grades taking algebra or higher math courses is on the rise, from approximately 27 percent in 2000 to approximately 42 percent in 2007, based on data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Students who do not take formalized courses covering algebraic concepts early in their schooling risk missing important opportunities for growth. Some high schools require children to complete specific math and science courses in order to graduate. By the end of junior and senior years, students who have not planned ahead, have fewer options in what classes they can take and may not be able to complete prerequisite courses. This can restrict a student's college options and limit their career aspirations.

Persuade children to take additional math classes in high school. Many students indicate that they do not plan to take math classes beyond their school requirements. Math classes offer critical learning skills that are needed throughout life. Judy A Brown, mathematics program manager for Sylvan Learning, states, "Success in algebra correlates with success in higher education and learning reasoning skills. Taking additional math classes helps children to become logical, independent thinkers."

Incorporate technology. Technology should support math instruction and students should be encouraged to use all of the modern tools at their disposal to gain an understanding of the underlying reasoning and computations used in problem-solving. Educators believe that infusing learning aids and technology during in-school math instruction and homework completion provides an advantage at test time because it allows students to easily absorb and retain crucial math concepts.

According to research from Ohio State University's Center for Cognitive Science, math technology and how-to instructional videos allow students to "come to the understanding themselves using their critical thinking skills instead of relying on memorization."

If you think your child may need assistance during the school year to catch up, keep up or to get ahead in higher mathematics, Sylvan can help. The Sylvan Advanced Math program combines learning Algebra 1 and skill development with homework support from highly trained and certified teachers. The program also complements school curriculums and class syllabi to ensure students acquire skills that build upon the concepts they are learning in their individual math classes.

Most students struggle with some portion of algebra, and parents are always searching for answers to help their kids. Recognizing that success in math during middle and high school is increasingly tied to success in college and beyond, Sylvan Learning has an enhancement that complements our superior math program, SylvanMathPrep.com, an online math resource for students grades 7-12. With SylvanMathPrep.com, students can receive on-the-spot math guidance during homework time via the interactive Web site. SylvanMathPrep.com features approximately 750 math lessons and nearly 2,000 videos of experienced teachers giving step-by-step instructions on how to master specific math concepts. Parents and students can search for topics or select a child's textbook and enter the page number of the homework problem. Then, a one to three minute, "how-to" video corresponding to the specific homework assignment is available for viewing.

Most importantly, parents can utilize the video math lessons to work with their children to recall "forgotten" math concepts so students are ready to tackle math in the new school year. Families can access lessons in a variety of topics including pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and math test preparation programs for the ACT and SAT.

Additionally, SylvanMathPrep.com offers practice problems showing both the work and the solutions. To further assist students in honing their skills before the ACT/SAT exams, there are printable worksheets and tests with scoring.

To learn more about SylvanMathPrep.com or to see a demonstration of the program, call us today to set up a consultation.

We will rebate your test fee of $149 at point of enrollment, and an additional $125 after the first 36 sessions attended.