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GREAT TEACHERS MATTER!

In This Issue:
Let Teachers Know They Matter
Study Tip: Improving Your Reading Comprehension
Coach of the Month: Robert Johnson
Quick Links

 

Academic Success Partner of the Month

    
    
In an age of heavy competition and a vast array of choices when it comes to applying for college, it is crucial to receive expert guidance when it matters most. This month we're delighted to feature an outstanding college counselor, Debbie Liebert, founder of DCL College Counseling Services. Debbie is passionate about the college experience. Her own time as an undergraduate was life-changing and served as a bridge to her future success. Debbie takes multiple factors into account when guiding her clients toward their perfect university. She believes that for a college to be a good "fit" for a student, it must suit not only their career goals but also the student's personality and individual needs. Through deep experience in the field, Debbie has found that parents and students can sometimes focus solely on academics at the expense of other factors that will make a school "just right" for a particular student. 
Debbie holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from USC, a Master's degree in Education from Pepperdine University and stays current with the constant changes in higher education through enrollment in the UCLA College Counseling Program. For more information call her at (310) 208-8080, email her or visit her website.

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. 

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.

310-823-4398
The Month of May Is About Teachers
 

Why? Because May 7 is the day we celebrate our

educators on what is now known as National Teacher Appreciation Day
We were inspired this month by a recent Ted Talk educational series titled "Connection Makes Learning Stick". It featured a series of educators focusing on the idea that the best academic results are achieved when teachers make a personal connection with their students. 
In this issue we'll provide inspiring and illuminating examples of teachers going beyond the syllabus in order to raise their students to new heights. We'll delve into the details of what makes a great teacher and the benefits that come with reaching hearts as well as minds. 
In a time of tight budgets and unique pressures on our educators, it's never been more important to find new ways of connecting with and inspiring our students.
 
At Academic Success we've made it our mission to hire the very best academic coaches  for our students, combining teaching excellence with a caring, personalized approach.  
 

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

 

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All the best,

 

Jamie

 

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." 

                                    - William Arthur Ward

Education News 

Let Teachers Know They Matter
  
In the quest for better grades, thinking about college or
preparing for that next exam, it is easy for students to forget about the work their teachers are putting in. This lovely piece from the Superintendent of Wausau School District serves as a reminder to let our educators know when they're appreciated. 
 
              What Makes A Great Teacher?

 

While it may be true that some people are born with a natural talent for teaching, there are definitely certain elements which can be developed that are common to all great teachers. This interesting exploration into the traits that make up a superlative educator may be useful to parents when evaluating the people guiding their kids' academic lives. 

 

A Master Teacher's Legacy

 

In an age of more and more standardized testing, it can be tempting for teachers to stick rigidly to course material without ever making it their own. This inspiring story about a master teacher, written by one of his former students who has since gone on to become a renowned teacher himself, is an example of the difference outstanding teachers can make. 
 

 

Life Lessons From Great Imaginary Teachers

 

Sometimes we can learn amazing lessons from our favorite characters from fiction- whether they be in novels, films or, in this case, television shows. In honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, the Huffington Post compiled this fun selection of life lessons offered from great teachers on the small screen.

 

Simply The Best

 

If one had to pick a difficult subject to teach to high school students, it's likely Quantum Mechanics would be at or near the top of the list. That didn't stop a small-town Washington State science teacher from winning National Teacher of the Year. This NBC News report covers the unlikely story of an innovative teacher from a town of 3,000 winning the big prize. 

Study Tips 

 Improve Your Reading Comprehension

 

No matter how fantastic your teachers may be, it may all come to nothing if you struggle to retain information you're taking in, both in the classroom and when studying the material those teachers have assigned.
While some students may be more naturally gifted in Reading Comprehension than others, it is a skill that gets better with practice and can bring handsome rewards to those who develop it.
Thankfully, there are concrete ways to strength your Reading Comprehension muscle. 
Highlighting important information tells your brain it's significant and is a quick way to guarantee you'll remember to review it. 
Summarize your reading with a friend or use a voice recorder or your smartphone. Read a page, put it down immediately and summarize for your friend (or your recorder/phone) the information you took in. You'll be amazed how quickly and effectively this improves your comprehension.
Make the information personal by asking questions: "has anything like this happened to me?" "Has anything like this occurred recently and how did I feel about it?" You can also take faces and names and see if they remind you of anyone or thing in your own life. Forming associations is a powerful memory tool.
Spending a little time and effort on improving Reading Comprehension can actually save study time (and stress) later, making you better prepared and giving you greater access to your information when you need it.

Coach Profile 

  Meet Robert Johnson,
  Coach Profile of The Month
 

When the focus of this month's Coach Profile, Robert Johnson, began tutoring his fellow 8th graders in geometry, he sensed teaching might be a natural fit for his abilities. Over the past 15 years Robert has successfully worked with pupils of all ages, from fifth graders all the way to graduate students. He tutors across a range of subjects including math, history and writing.

Today, Robert specializes in standardized test preparation for exams such as the ISEE, SAT, SAT II and ACT, working with small groups as well as individuals.  But it's the one-on-one coaching that he finds most rewarding. "The most satisfying aspect of my work," Robert says, "is seeing the sudden light of understanding turn on in a student's eyes." 

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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.