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of the Month
This month we're excited to introduce you to a brand new Success Partner, Dr. Dana Chidekel. Dr.Chidekel is a board certified Pediatric Neuropsychologist, with a successful practice in Tarzana. She helps both children and adults referred to her due to a variety of academic, behavioral and interpersonal problems. Dr.Chidekel's background is as diverse as it is successful: in addition to serving as a consultant for schools, she is also a published author, having co-written ADHD as a Model of Brain-Behavior Relationships, published in 2013 by Springer. She has gone on to co-author another book and has contributed many articles for prestigious peer-reviewed journals in her field. Dr.Chidekel has also been a guest on the Today Show and was featured in a PBS Special called Great Parents, Great Kids with Dr. Dana Chidekel. She is co-founder of Theory in Practice, Inc, an educational company with the mission to provide clinicians, parents and educators a clear and practical understanding of the relationship between brain development and behavior in everyday life. For more information, visit her website
or call at 818-705-4305.
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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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Welcome To Part One of Our Summer Series!
By this time, students should be engaging in the final steps of an  enjoyable, reinvigorating summer break.
Sometimes that break includes a summer camp- usually focused on physical activities and the outdoors. While the benefits of that kind of camp are obvious, more and more kids are now taking time over the summer to cultivate their creativity as well.
Although drama and arts programs are in jeopardy in many of our schools, they are a growing source of summer education for our kids. Research suggests drama and arts classes can be a boost to academic performance and build confidence.
This month, we'll provide examples of drama and the arts stimulating kids' minds and enriching their lives. We'll also explore the concept of 'Arts Integration' in our schools, as a way of demonstrating the academic value inherent in drama and art programs. Finally, with a large part of the summer break remaining, we'll offer some information for anyone interested in a summer arts or drama program.
At Academic Success, we know that our kids' academic performance blossoms when they are drawing on both intellectual and creative sources.
Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or
All the best,
The Academic Success Team
"A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind." - Eugene Ionesco |
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Arts Integration Lifting Grades
One of the positives of summer arts camps is that  students often bring back new perspectives and a fresh approach to problem-solving. The Integrated Arts Academy in Vermont is finding ingenious ways to help kids use art to raise academic performance- and the results are stunning.
10 Of The Best in Los Angeles
 There are many advantages to growing up in California, not the least of which is that as one of the creative hubs in the country, it is home to a large number of excellent summer arts and drama camps. This informative list provides parents and students with a range of stimulating options for the remainder of the summer.
Acting A Vehicle For Summer Transformation
Professional kids' acting classes in LA have long been  considered only for those committed to a career in acting. However, more and more parents are realizing that summer acting camps help their kids to grow in poise and confidence, not to mention being a lot of fun! This overnight acting camp, considered one of the best in the US, could be a source of summer inspiration.
 Those who advocate for more arts and drama education in our schools are often long on enthusiasm but sometimes found wanting when it comes to specifics on how it might help kids academically, both now and in the future. This insightful article makes a great case for arts and drama classes, this summer and beyond.
Art For Art's Sake
A Good Idea
... and yet it may be that there is no such thing as art purely for art's sake.  A recent study out of the University of California has shown that participation in the arts greatly improves academic performance. Yet the study revealed even more: that children who are involved in arts and drama education are more likely to seek out peer and community engagement as well.
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Access Your Creativity Through Free-Writing
One of the mistakes many students make when doing  their work is separating out academic tasks from what they label ' creative' or 'artistic' tasks. Yet it is the use of our right brain (the creative, intuitive side) that releases the potential for our best work.
This is where the process of free-writing comes into play. Let's use the example of needing to write an essay. The first move is often to collect your notes and attempt to begin writing your finished work.
Instead, first take the time to free-write! This means giving yourself a time period (10 or 20 mins is a good number) to just write down every idea and thought that enters your mind. Without knowing it, you'll create a map for your essay that will probably contain the most important elements you'll need and a basic structure might even appear as well.
Free-talking is another version of this, often incredibly useful for math study. Instead of being trapped in your head, speak out loud and navigate your way through problems. It's a wonderful "clearing out" process, allowing you to move to the center of the problem to find solutions.
Those who are prepared to tackle tasks creatively and intuitively usually end up producing superior work and setting themselves apart.
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Coach Profile of The Month
 This month we'd like to catch up with an established presence on the Academic Success team who now works with us in an expanded role, Cassandra Chase. In addition to being one of our very best tutors, Cassie now works in the Business Development arm of the company, planning and helping to host company events. Born in nearby San Diego, Cassie attended California State University, graduating with honors and a BA in Visual and Performing Arts. Cassie loves to help her students achieve a healthy balance between school and family life. She also utilizes her vast knowledge of communication skills learnt in acting school to make her coaching even more effective, fostering a sense of individual connection with each student in order to facilitate growth and instill effective study habits. In her spare time, Cassie loves attending comedy shows, traveling, and exploring Los Angeles. She is positively thrilled to have taken on more responsibility as a member of the Academic Success team.
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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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