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of the Month
This month we're thrilled to introduce a brand new Success Partner to our readers, Jan Esterkin.
Jan brings a deep background in education to her work, having begun her career as a classroom and resource specialist teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District before going on to work as a Learning Specialist in several schools in the community.
She has been practicing Educational Therapy in Santa Monica since 2001, having graduated from UCLA's prestigious certificated Ed Therapy program. Jan also has degrees in Education and Counseling from UC Berkeley, Boston University and Loyola Marymount. Through her 12 years of practicing educational therapy, Jan has developed a unique approach to working with her students, creating an energetic atmosphere through her empathy, sense of humor and enthusiasm.
Jan is also a member of the Association of Educational Therapists (www.aetonline.org), an international organization dedicated to "helping individuals become successful learners". For more information on Jan, visit her website at
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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,
or call (800) 200 3320.
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Check out Our YouTube Video!
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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?
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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
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We're Back To School In 2014!
If we see our new semester as one long school day, what
better way to begin the "morning" than by tackling the  most difficult work first?
And for most of our kids, that probably means confronting that most challenging yet wonderful of subjects, Mathematics!
No matter what direction our students wish to take as they head toward college and beyond, Math remains a central part of every high school's curriculum. Yet, for many of our kids, it can be a titanic struggle to keep up, let alone excel in their Math exams. Conversely, kids who begin earlier and learn to enjoy the challenge and wonder of Math tend to achieve a consistently higher performance over time.
This month, we're devoting our back-to-school issue to the joys and wonder of Mathematics! We'll explore the different ways in which this amazing field can be experienced. We'll also offer helpful hints for students looking to improve performance. Just as importantly, we'll give parents some strategies they can employ to get their kids to - believe it or not - make friends with Math!
At Academic Success, we believe that every student has the potential to be productive and passionate about all aspects of their academic agenda.
Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or
All the best,
The Academic Success Team
"Mathematics has beauty and romance. It's not a boring place to be, the mathematical world. It's an extraordinary place; it's worth spending time there."
-Marcus du Sautoy
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Parents Hold The Key To Creating
Young Mathematicians
As much as we'd love our young children to fall in love  with math all by themselves, it has become apparent that parents' attitude to the subject plays a major role. This fantastic Washington Post parenting blog can help to parents gain a head start on their kids' math education.
Math & Music Becoming Educational Siblings
 While we may have suspected for some time that math plays a part in the study of music, studies in recent times are now proving that it also flows the other way. This fascinating Scientific American piece explores the links between the two subjects and how students who study both might be at a distinct advantage.
Solving The Numeracy Problem
Last month, we looked at the literacy crisis our country  faces. However, what may be going unnoticed is the struggle for numeracy, the mathematical equivalent of literacy. This remarkable Wall St Journal article details the advantages many of the Asian languages have due to the greater clarity and simplicity of their "number names"- and how English speakers can bridge the gap.
Math Apps Helping Kids Large and Small
TV Star
Flying The Math Flag
A fundamental challenge continuing to face educators is  how to enlist more girls and women into math and science. One way to open parents and kids' minds to the possibilities of math is to present exciting role models. Mayim Bialik, three-time Emmy nominated actress of The Big Bang Theory, holds a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA. In this inspiring article for CNBC, she encourages boys and girls to embrace their "geekdom". |
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Becoming An Active Studier
For many students, allotting study time and following  through can be a major victory. That said, showing up is only the first step: how we use that time, especially in difficult subjects like Math, can make all the difference.This is where being an Active Studier will be key.
Active Studiers get actively involved in managing their learning process. This is critical for students who may be struggling in Math.
One of the hallmarks of active studying in remaining clear on what you know and don't know.
Students can then make their next Active Study move, which is to approach their teacher for help on trouble spots.
Attending every class and taking clear, concise notes is crucial. Educators base test questions on class material- Active Studiers stay on top of this.
Be an active classroom participant. Students who look ahead to future study tasks get a head start on future problems.
Ask questions in class! Smart people don't worry about looking foolish and know that every question asked brings them closer to the solution. Following up after class with teachers is an active move that can be transformative.
The more difficulty a student has with a particular subject, the more essential it is to be an Active Studier.
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Coach Profile of The Month
 With this month's issue devoted to Math, we decided to check back in with one of the elite Math tutors on our team, Dave Berube. Dave's passion for math and science is infectious and, whether he's helping a seventh grader with algebra homework or a junior on a physics exam, he loves to help students to see the beauty behind numbers.
Dave is truly one a kind. Having grown up in New York and moved to Los Angeles to attend college, he got his undergrad degree in Physics from LMU and his Ph.D. in space physics from UCLA. Dave often jokes that his thesis "Using Ultra-Low Frequency Field Line Resonances to Study the Inner Magnetosphere" isn't about to be optioned as a major motion picture; however, this innovative paper did earn Dave his doctorate, and later, his job as a professor of Physics at LMU.
When not teaching and exploring Math and Science, Dave loves to explore many of the local hiking trails in Los Angeles. He also continues to be obsessed with peanut butter.
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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.
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Outside of science, there might not be another subject as well suited to the digital age as Math. While parents need to remain vigilant in protecting kids from over-reliance on smartphones, students now have access to incredible digital study aids.