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DOING OUR HOMEWORK ON... HOMEWORK!
In This Issue:
More Homework For Our Kids May Be A Myth
Study Tip: Reducing Homework Time By Making It Count
Coach of the Month: Sonia Sanchez
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Academic Success Partner 
of the Month

This month we would like to introduce you to another new Success Partner doing great work in the community, Meirav Haber Bailey. Meirav is a Registered Art Therapist who specializes in working with teenagers. Meirav's fresh approach using art therapy techniques helps to unlock self-expression and insight with even the most hard-to-reach teens.
Meirav has over a decade of experience working with adolescents struggling with learning disabilities, anxiety, and emotional barriers that impair their academic performance.  Prior to becoming a therapist, Meirav worked as an academic coach with Academic Success. Since then, Meirav has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings, including CHLA, Sherman Oaks Hospital outpatient program with mentally ill adults, and Hathaway-Sycamores child and family services and transitional-aged youth outreach programs.Meirav earned her Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) with a focus in Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University.
To contact Meirav, visit her website at www.meiravbailey.com, 
call 818 624 7144 or email Meirav at Meirav.Bailey@gmail.com.
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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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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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
Homework is here to stay. 
But what should it look like?
For many years, most educators and education administrators have abided by a simple yet untested formula for how much time students should spend on their nightly homework: 10 minutes x Grade. 
This means that a third grader should do 30 minutes, a fifth grader fifty minutes and so on.
Yet in recent years, there has been a growing consensus that two hours of nightly homework for seniors may not actually be helping them gain an edge in grades- it may in fact be counter-productive. 
Just last month, the news broke that Manhattan elementary school PS 116 had stunningly decided to abolish homework, citing "frustration and exhaustion" and a "loss of interest in learning" on the part of its students. 
In this month's issue, we're not going to be drawn into a false debate about whether homework is good or bad for our kids. Instead, we're going to delve into the nuance behind the issue. We'll provide tips and ideas for how to get the best out of homework while also presenting valid arguments for a reduction and modification of the kind of homework that is draining our students of their academic vitality.
At Academic Success, we know that remaining open to new approaches and perspectives in education will keep our students at the academic forefront for years to come.
 
Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

 

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All the best,

 

The Academic Success Team

 

"One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit we didn't do our homework and are not prepared."

                                                           - Merlin Olsen

Education News 

More Homework For Kids May Be A Myth
 
While it seems irrefutable that our kids live and study in a more competitive academic environment than ever before, recent analysis suggests that homework time may have remained stable. This interesting Time For Kids piece suggests kids aren't spending any more time on homework than they did a generation ago. 

  

Taking Another Look
at Homework

 

Whether or not homework time is going up, its form may need to change to remain relevant and productive for today's kids. This thought-provoking story takes its perspective from students, educators and parents, and raises an important question: Should homework be so difficult that parents need to become part-time teachers?

 
Homework Is Crucial For The Disadvantaged

   

As the debate continues to build around how, when and why our kids should be doing homework (and how much), education administrators will also need to be cognizant of the broader academic environment that surrounds each student. This stimulating article makes a strong case for homework being an important "leveler" for kids born and raised with fewer socio-economic advantages.

When Homework Makes Kids Sick
 
No matter where you may come from, research is now showing that there is definitely a breaking point for our kids with regard to time spent on homework. This important CBS San Francisco piece sheds light on the health issues that have been plaguing many of our students as a result of overwork at home.  

Making The 
Case For Homework

Every stakeholder in our kids' education may have valid complaints about how homework is administered in our schools, but for this former Memphis schools counselor, one thing is certain: Homework is good for our kids. Read on to find out why and also pick up some excellent tips for parents looking to improve their kids' homework experience and results. 

Study Tips 

Reducing Homework Time By 
Making It Count

Beyond the arguments over how much homework kids need to be doing in order to achieve Academic Success, there lies a smarter way to make homework easier and less time-consuming: 
Optimize the time you're spending on it.  
Students sometimes come home from school with a huge workload, yet with very little idea of where to start and what to focus on.
Discussing homework with teachers is an easy way to begin optimizing your homework time. Most teachers are delighted when students take the time to stay for a few minutes after each period to check in about homework. Teachers will usually be happy to advise students on the important elements to focus on at home, which will clarify homework and free up precious time.
Once a student has that clarity and is now home and ready to study, a commitment to eliminating distractions is crucial. 
Distractions such as surfing the internet, texting and emailing friends, too much music and snacking can contribute to long homework hours. 
Students who are ready to make a firm commitment to one hour of concentrated, distraction-free homework time will often achieve more than a distracted student does in triple that time. 
If you want to reduce your homework schedule...
Make It Count!

Coach Profile 

 
Meet Sonia Sanchez,
  Coach Profile of The Month   


This month we'd like to catch up with another established presence on our team, Sonia Sanchez. Sonia grew up in New England and attended the University of Connecticut, doing her graduate studies in electrical engineering. She then wasted no time moving out to California to work in the aerospace industry and enjoy the steady climate and the constant sunshine.

Sonia started teaching and tutoring while an undergraduate, developing a pre-engineering class to introduce high school students to practical applications of their math and science curriculum. She takes pleasure in improving her students' self-confidence and watching them reach their goals. Sonia never stops learning and exploring the world around her. Now a fulltime coach, she's dedicated to helping her students discover their natural abilities and talent in order to shine. Sonia's passions include writing, playing various sports, and music; she recently formed a band which just finished its first CD.
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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.