TeamUP! Tutors Blog

Test Taking Tips

2008-04-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

For high-school students, final exams are just around the corner. And, like it or not, third- through eighth-graders are getting ready to take federally mandated standardized tests.

Following are some best practices to help your student get the most out of testing:

Prepare in advance

Help students continue to build and maintain good homework and study habits.
Stay on top of school performance and communicate regularly with teachers.
Discuss good test-taking strategies, including: understand instructions, answer questions you know first, and be sure to review your answers if you finish early.

Know what to expect

Request information about the test schedule and format, how students are being coached at school, and what is being measured.
Find out if results could affect future placement.
Ask about test-taking strategies and how students can prepare or practice at home.

Keep testing in perspective

Consider that standardized tests are only one measure of academic achievement.
Try not to transfer your concerns or put too much emphasis on testing; children may become anxious if they are worried about disappointing a parent.
Be mindful that test results help identify strengths as well as areas in need of improvement.

Get ready the day before

Encourage students to follow instructions, relax, and do their best.
Make sure children are well rested, eat a healthy breakfast, and pack nutritious school snacks.
Pack-up the night before so you can have a relaxed morning and arrive early to school.

Interpret test results and build skills

If you are not sure how to read test-result data, request help from the school.
Ask teachers about discrepancies between school performance and test scores.
Provide additional opportunities for children to enhance learning in low-scoring areas.
Continue to build good homework and study habits; these skills support successful test taking.

Many schools have a no-homework policy during test weeks. Tutors are eager to help students use these stress-free afternoons to catch-up, revisit missed concepts, and even get ahead!

Working Memory Problems Affect Grades

2008-03-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

"Defects in working memory -- the brain's temporary storage bin -- may explain why one child cannot read her history book and another gets lost in algebra, new research suggests," according to a Reuters story.

Working memory allows people to hold and manipulate a few items in their minds, such as a telephone number. For adults, the basic box size is thought to be three to five items.

"Since there is this limit, it is important to put in the right thing. Irrelevant information will clutter up working memory," said Nelson Cowan, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Missouri.

The question many researchers are struggling with is how to help people with this problem, which appears to be closely tied with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

There is a question as to whether working memory can be improved. But there can be ways to help children work around it, including learning to take notes.

English, Science, and Math Tutors Come to Seattle-Tacoma Homes

2008-02-28T01:13:00.000-08:00

Today...

Home tutoring company, TeamUP! Tutors, offers families throughout the Seattle-Tacoma area access to qualified private tutors to help improve grades and build confidence for all school subjects.

Read the announcement of our tutoring service in Seattle.

Put Away the Toys! Free Play Builds Skills

2008-02-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

The ability of children to self-regulate is developed in make-believe play. And self-regulation is related to executive function; "a better predictor of success in school than a child's IQ. Children who are able to manage their feelings and pay attention are better able to learn."

NPR's Morning Edition has an interesting story on how "old-fashioned play builds serious skills." The story explains how children's play has changed and the effect that has had on children's development. And on the web site, they provide suggestions to help you help your child gain self-regulation skills.

Boys Want Relationships

2008-02-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

Boys want relationships more than just sex with the girls they date .

Reported in the New York Times, a paper published in Journal of Adolescence says the "overall findings are contrary to cultural beliefs that boys are interested primarily in sex and not relationships."

“Let’s give boys more credit,'’ said study author Andrew Smiler, an assistant professor of psychology at the university. “Although some of them are just looking for sex, most boys are looking for a relationship. The kids we know mostly aren’t like this horrible stereotype. They are generally interested in dating and getting to know their partners.'’

As a parent of a teenage boy, I appreciate the advice in the article:

Dr. Smiler said parents should talk to boys and girls and try to teach them about both romantic and platonic relationships, how to develop and maintain them, how to deal with ups and downs and how to forgive and regain trust.

Why You Need SAT Prep Help

2008-02-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

If you're getting ready for the SAT, then you know there's a lot to learn. In addition to the material -- the math, the vocabulary, and the writing -- there's the vagaries of the test itself. Taking the SAT is not like taking a test at school.

The SAT lasts over three hours
On the SAT, easy and hard questions are scored the same
No partial credit

"Look, there's just no way you're going to do anywhere near your best unless you prepare for the SAT; that just stands to reason." But practicing isn't enough. After all, "if you're practicing the wrong way, all you're doing is getting really good at doing the wrong things."

Want to learn more? Check out this list of articles at FamilyEducation.com. And if you want to get serious about preparing for the SAT, contact us at teamuptutors.com.

Print Your Own Graph Paper

2008-02-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

For my son's math homework tonight, he needed "dot paper," not "graph paper" (as he repeated since I am getting dafter everyday... just ask him!).

I used http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/ where I could specify the scale, color and a few other attributes and then download my custom pdf file to print at home.

Read with a Purpose

2007-11-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

Many psychologists think that the best way to remember what you read is to follow the PQ4R method. PQ4R is a mnemonic device for:

Preview,
Question,
and four R's: Read, Reflect, Recite, Review.

If you are reading a chapter in your biology book, for example, you should start by skimming the whole chapter for an overview. Then create some questions to concentrate on while you study, such as "How does photosynthesis work?" Then read the chapter.

After you've finished, reflect--think about how the chapter has answered your questions. Recite the answers back to yourself, explaining the information in your own words. Finally, go back through the book, skimming again for the main points.

Sound like a lot of work? It may take longer than a quick skim, but it's also a great way to make sure you retain what you are reading, rather than just sitting in front of the book and turning pages.

Check out Encarta for more homework memory tricks.

Some Math Better Explained

2007-11-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

I came across Better Explained, a blog that takes a straight forward approach to explaining a few math and programming problems. The math sections are great! There are just a handful of topics covered, but it is refreshing to see some gnarly problems explained simply and directly.

Studying probability & statistics? Or perhaps you're wrestling with applications of the pythagorean theorem. If so, I believe you'll find Better Explained helpful.

"I am the greatest . . . "

2007-10-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

"It's amazing what can happen to underachievers when someone believes in them and is willing to help," said private tutor and former teacher Jennifer Dutkiewicz. Of course just chanting "I am the greatest..." isn't going to help most children, but your involvement can. The Arizona Republic article continues:

"If your child is having a hard time with school, it is imperative that you get involved in their education," said Lauren Malone, a former elementary school teacher. "Go straight to the teacher and ask how you can help your child and what the teacher is willing to do to help them succeed in the classroom. Inquire about tutoring at school. Let your child know you are involved and that their education is important to you."

Parents' Guide to Report Cards

2007-10-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Do you know how you'll respond when your child's report card comes home? Whether or not grades meet our expectations or our child's, our response can help motivate our child and provide a chance to learn. Are social skills an issue? Does you son's lack of organization and poor study skills translate into lower grades? Perhaps he is struggling only in one subject.

All these scenarios are considered and tips provided in Parents' Custom Report Card on FamilyEducation.com.

Perhaps, for example, your child works very hard, but her grades are low or she's not working to her potential:

If your child's report card doesn't jibe with his ability, you may need to do a bit of detective work to figure out why. A lack of motivation can come from frustration at not being able to do schoolwork. Rather than admit they can't do it, some children will just give up or pretend not to care. Lack of motivation can also be an indicator of other problems.
Ask your child what's going on out on the playground, in class, and at lunch.
Ask him if the work seems too hard, but be on guard -- you may not get an honest answer.
You're the expert on your child. Through caring questions, you can find the underlying reasons for unsatisfactory grades.

Some problems can be addressed with outside help. Individualized tutoring is successful for many; for some students, it is recommended by pediatricians.

Tutors Can Help Students Get Up to Speed

2007-10-17T01:11:00.000-07:00

"If your child is beginning to fall behind in a certain academic area, it is important to take action as quickly as possible to help her or him get back up to speed," writes high school teacher Ruth Dalisay in the Honolulu Advertiser. "A tutor may be able to help your child by accelerating the learning process in an intimate, one-on-one setting. A tutor also can help compensate for anything that your child has missed in the classroom by offering individualized attention and teaching."

There are signs that can serve as an early indication that your child might benefit from tutoring. For example, your child may make excuses as to why they have not done their homework as a way to avoid a subject he or she is struggling with.

Ms Dalisay offers some tips for finding the right tutor:

Ask friends and your child's teacher for recommendations
Research alternative organizations. Several organizations offer informal tutoring services, often for less money.
Check credentials carefully.

Making Homework Work for You, Part II (ages 6 - 9)

2007-10-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Involved parents make a big, positive difference in children's education. If you want to make homework work for your family, here are some ideas from MVParents.com of what you can do, organized by age.

For parents with children ages 6 - 9
Establish a consistent homework routine at a time that works for your family; stick with it as often as possible. Make sure lighting is bright and the seating is comfortable. Turn off TVs, radios, MP3 players, phones, organizers, and hand-held electronic games to encourage your children's concentration. Create a nightly electronics-free zone, and unless children need to use a computer for schoolwork, turn it off.
Sit near your children when they're doing homework, and do work of your own: write a letter, pay bills, balance your checkbook, or read work-related material. Continue this routine as children grow older.
Keep all commonly used school supplies in one place, including markers, crayons, pencils, paper, stapler, tape, glue sticks, scissors, and a dictionary. Buy several sheets of posterboard at a time and keep them on hand for periodic school projects. Kids enjoy choosing a variety of poster colors.
Encourage children who participate in after-school childcare programs to do at least some of their homework there so that you have more family time in the evenings.

Homework for Parents. Really! A Follow Up

2007-10-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

In response to the story about the teacher assigning homework to parents, the New York Times invited Sara Bennett, coauthor of The Case Against Homework, to write an op-ed. Her essay wasn't printed, but is available online.

While all parents want their children to develop — socially, emotionally, and intellectually — school-imposed assignments on parents are not going to help. Instead, such assignments cut into, or even eliminate, the few cherished evening hours or minutes that parents have with their children — time better spent lingering at the dinner table, for example, engaged in a good conversation.

In fact, unlike homework, there is a strong association between teens who regularly sit down to dinner with their families and academic success. Family dinner also leads to better psychological adjustment and lower rates of alcohol use, drug use, sexual behavior, and suicidal risk. Needless to say, teens’ diets are healthier as well.

Read "Teachers: Don’t Assign Parents Homework."

Making Homework Work for You, Part I (ages birth - 5)

2007-10-11T02:01:00.000-07:00

For parents with children ages birth to 5

At this age, the best things you can do to support your children's learning and readiness for school are to read, read, read to them and help them safely discover and explore the world.

Some preschoolers, especially those with older siblings, may be excited by the idea of doing homework. Consider asking a preschool teacher to send home simple worksheets, or make or buy your children age-appropriate workbooks (in bookstores, toy stores, or at the magazine stand). Don’t worry about whether the work is completed; keep it fun and make it part of the game of "school."

From Fidget to Focus

2007-10-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

Roberta Valentine has taught 5th grade for 20 years. Every year she, like all elementary school teachers, has a few students who can't concentrate or hold still more than a few moments. An article in The New York Times lists some approaches tried and failed over the years:

... setting a timer for 10 minutes to help children break up their work time into manageable chunks; giving a child a stuffed animal to hold during group discussions (a common strategy for cutting down on fidgeting); and even enlisting other students to help daydreamers stay focused. Still, every year, she felt these efforts were not good enough.

In reading a book by developmental pediatrician Mel Levine, Ms. Valentine encountered the term, "mind trip," describing children's flights of fancy.

Ms. Valentine asked six children to describe what they thought about when their minds were wandering, and wrote down everything they said. Then, each child illustrated their sentences. Finally, Ms. Valentine recorded the children saying the sentences.

Together she and the children put the written and spoken sentences onto PowerPoint, along with the illustrations. Each child’s work became a multimedia slide show about his or her daydreaming.

By describing their daydreams, she said, children are "able to figure out not only what went wrong, but what kinds of thoughts and tricks could help them concentrate."

I imagine this approach would be equally successful (perhaps more so) without PowerPoint, but it is interesting.

Homework for Parents. Really!

2007-10-07T22:39:00.001-07:00

Sounds crazy, but parents of students in Damion Frye’s ninth-grade Montclair, NJ, English class have homework too. The New York Times writes about assignments that range from commentary on a Franz Kafka story to Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" to a speech by Robert F. Kennedy. And if the dog eats your homework, it could cost your student.

Surprisingly, most parents are very supportive and appreciate the opportunity to be more involved in their teen's learning. Even the parents who complain think Mr. Frye is one of the best teachers.

Some parents say they like the assignments because they can spark intellectual conversation with teenagers who are normally less than communicative. "Searching for meaning in literary works is like stretching brain-cell-taffy in this household of literal interpretations and men of few words."

Another parent commented:

"I take it as giving back to the teacher what he is apparently giving to our kids, a lot of attention and a lot of requirements."

What would it take to get you to do some homework?

Breaking Through the 'Motivation Brick Wall'

2007-10-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Richard Lavoie, educator and author, talks to USA Today about how to motivate kids.

"The most important thing parents and teachers need to do is to keep in mind the balance between what I call support and challenge. You need to constantly challenge kids. But you need to give them the support to meet those challenges," he says.

Richard Lavoie's book, The Motivation Breakthrough, outlines six motivational strategies:

Praise. Specific, sincere praise focused on effort and improvement is effective for most children, especially for those motivated by status, recognition or affiliation (a need to belong).

Power. Offering minor choices will help motivate power-driven, autonomous and aggressive children. Avoiding power struggles means figuring out how to give kids some power without ceding your own.

Projects. Using projects to connect different disciplines can stimulate and motivate an autonomous or inquisitive child.

People. Though all children need positive relationships, it's especially important for adults to build positive relationships with people-oriented kids.

Prizes. Prizes hold huge appeal to children driven by status, recognition, affiliation or power. But because formal reward systems may divert attention from the actual task, Lavoie suggests intermittent rewards not announced ahead of time to celebrate best efforts.

Prestige. To some extent, all children need to feel important, but for autonomous, aggressive, status- or power-driven children, prestige and recognition are fundamental. Consistent encouragement and opportunities to showcase their talents are important.

The warning Lavoie gives about prizes matches what others have said. This is the reason we don't use rewards systems at TeamUP! Tutors.

Declaring a Major in High School

2007-10-05T01:16:00.000-07:00

In over 1,200 schools across the country, students are required to pick a major or area of interest. The Christian Science Monitor reports on two different approaches schools take and the criticism levied against the concept.

Some schools have an exhaustive list of specific majors -- 443 in the case of Florida schools -- mapping to particular jobs. These include fashion, agricultural machinery mechanics, ceramics, and health.

"This is a colossally bad idea," says Debra Humphreys with The Association of American Colleges and Universities. "I think the motivation behind the program is to get students more engaged with their work, and that's perfectly legitimate.... But businesses are telling us that the jobs that today's ninth-graders will eventually have don't even exist yet and that the specific training needed for technical professions is changing rapidly."

On the other hand, Brighton High School in Massachusetts has five school-to-college-to-career pathways like law, health, and business and technology.

Dr. Humphreys lauds creating learning communities and broad career clusters like the program at Brighton.

And it is hard to argue with the results at Brighton:

Since the pathways were implemented in 1998, the school has seen an increase in the percentage of its students that pass a state-wide exam, from 10 percent to 75 percent. Two-thirds of Brighton students go on to two- or four-year colleges.

In some countries, declaring a major early is the norm. Do you think this is a good idea?

The ABCs of Tutoring on CBS

2007-10-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

How do you know if your child needs a tutor? "Give them a chance to wrestle with a topic. But, if you notice that an increased effort is not helping and you see that they just need an extra connection, talk to someone about getting some help," says Nancy Cardwell, a professor of child development, talking to CBS's The Saturday Early Show.

She also provides the following tips, all ones we applaud:

Seek a child's teachers as partners
Include the child in the process
Decide on your objective

Parents & Teens Talking More*

2007-09-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

O, to be a skeptic. "The family meal may be threatened with extinction but 'High-Tech' parents are now communicating much better with their teenagers and giving them more freedom, says child psychologist Richard Woolfson."

The article, from Reuters, claims that because it's easier for parents to contact their kids -- by email, internet, webcam and mobile phone -- their children have become more confident and communicative.

* Now get this: Woolfson's survey was paid for by T-Mobile!

Colleges Ignoring SAT Writing Test

2007-09-28T00:44:00.001-07:00

The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, outscored Earnest Hemingway (& others) on the writing portion of the SAT, as reported by the Atlantic Monthly in 2004. Now, hundreds of universities, including several top schools, ignore students' scores on the writing section of the SAT in admissions decisions, according to a story in the Boston Globe.

The College Board, which administers the test, said its surveys and checks of university websites show that 56 percent of the roughly 1,000 four-year colleges do not use the writing section for admissions, although the overwhelming majority of the nation's 61 most selective colleges use it in some fashion.

Criticism about the essay has been building for more than a year since an MIT professor's experiment indicated that students could get high scores simply by writing longer and throwing in big words.

A claimed advantage of the writing test is that students who prepare for it see a general improvement in their writing. Not so, says Les Perelman, director of MIT's writing program.

"They've learned to write paragraph essays where they don't care whether the facts are correct," Perelman said. "We have to spend a year in freshman composition deprogramming them."

Are You Punishing Your Child with Rewards?

2007-09-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Heard the wry comment that parenting is finding the balance between threats and bribes? Author Alfie Kohn explains in this interview that by rewarding our children, we teach them to work for the reward instead of for the original objective.

"More than 70 studies have found that the more you reward people for doing something, the more they lose interest in whatever they had to do to get the reward. It's not just that rewards are ineffective over the long haul; it's that they are actively counterproductive."

"Rewards work in the short term, but at a great cost. Rewards, like punishments, are useful for getting exactly one thing: temporary compliance. By bribing or threatening kids, you can get them to do what you want as long as the reward or the punishment keeps coming. You'll never get anything more substantial than that."

Alfie Kohn continues, explaining how he approaches motivating kids:

"A lot of my work turns on the distinction between doing things to kids and working with kids. The only way to help kids become generous, responsible people and life-long learners is to work with them to solve problems and make decisions. But that takes time. It also takes care, skill, and in some cases, courage because we have to reconsider the validity of our requests. We need to begin by thinking hard about what we're asking kids to do: Who benefits from our requests? Is there another way?"

Mr. Kohn's book is on Amazon.

My child fails tests. Nerves? Or poor study?

2007-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

At TeamUP! Tutors, we get a lot of calls from parents whose children suffer from test anxiety. Dr. Peters, Today Contributor, writes that:

True test anxiety is really quite rare. For this condition, psychologists generally suggest relaxation techniques, getting enough sleep the night before and not cramming for the test, among other remedies.

Most of the time, however, when parents come to me trying to figure out why their child is not doing well on tests and quizzes, I find that the answer resides in poor study habits. Most kids who seem to freeze up on the tests do so because they simply do not know the material well.

Rarely do I find a child who has “over-learned” the material -- knows it “cold” -- having difficulty with an examination. If the youngster understands the concepts as well as having memorized dates and names, most likely the test questions will be familiar and she can confidently complete the test; however, if your child has only skimmed the material or has memorized it but not understood it conceptually, the test can look quite different from what she has studied, and that can cause a cycle of fear to begin.

The fear builds on itself and can ultimately lead to failure. Bottom line: help your children really study and know their material. Check other posts here and here too.

Bio Lab on Wheels

2007-09-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

"In affluent school districts, science labs are the stuff of everyday learning. But not so for an estimated 77,000 students in poor San Jose school districts, which don't have the resources to conduct hands-on, serious bio-science experiments," reports the San Jose Mercury News. Now, some of those students will thanks to Schmal Science and their BioMobileLab, which includes equipment for advanced biology experiments.

Like many Silicon Valley start-ups, Schmal started in a garage. "Its array of 400 workshops now spans biology, chemistry, earth science, forensics, math and physics. Last year, the group conducted science workshops at 85 San Jose schools in 18 districts, serving 14,000 pre-K to 12th-grade students." They hope to serve 10,000 with the BioMobileLab and have plans to deploy several more in the S.F. Bay Area.

For more information about Schmahl Science Workshop, visit www.schmahlscience.org.

Students Fail History... Take the Test

2007-09-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

The line “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . .” is from:
A. The Federalist.
B. The Preamble to the Constitution.
C. The Communist Manifesto.
D. The Declaration of Independence.
E. An inscription on the Statue of Liberty.

This is one question of 60 on a test of "civic literacy" given to over 14,000 college freshmen and seniors. The average score for freshmen was 50%, reported USA Today, saying "Students don't know much about history, and colleges aren't adding enough to their civic literacy."

"One of the things our research demonstrates conclusively is that an increase in what we call civic knowledge almost invariably leads to a use of that knowledge in a beneficial way," says Josiah Bunting, chairman of ISI's National Civic Literacy Board [the folks who gave the test]. "This is useful knowledge we are talking about."

It is interesting that the students tested were chosen, in part, because they attend colleges that did well in the US News & World Report ranking. You can check the article and ISI's web site for more detail.

By the way, I managed an 83.3% How well do you do on the test?

(Here's a freebie, the answer to the question above is D. The Declaration of Independence.)

Junk Sleep

2007-09-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

You know about junk food. Now there's sleep that's not so good for you: junk sleep. And there's a good chance that your teenager is getting some. A BBC report says:

Too many teenagers are damaging their health by not getting enough sleep and by falling asleep with electrical gadgets on, researchers say.

A third of 12 to 16-year-olds asked slept for between four to seven hours a night. Experts recommend eight hours.

The Sleep Council, which conducted the poll of 1,000 teenagers, says gadgets in bedrooms such as computers and TVs are fueling poor quality "junk sleep".

In fact, many experts recommend even more sleep: about 9 and 1/4 hours for a teen. And all seem to agree that removing TVs, computers, phones, and other gadgets is a critical first step.

Three. Years. Old.

2007-09-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Three year olds are being pushed academically and are kicked out of pre-school for not being able to sit still. Three. Years. Old.
"A preschool teacher demanded that a 3-year-old get tested for ADHD when he couldn't sit still for the half-hour stretches required by his preschool." I can barely sit still that long! An article about competitive pre-schools in the Contra Costa Times provides a fair assessment of this trend.

Peter Mangione, the co-director of WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies in San Francisco said, "Knowing some letters is helpful to learn when you're a 4-year-old. We don't have to have them reading, but that preliminary exposure can be helpful. But should we spend all that time doing that? No. We have to keep it in balance, and play, we know, is central in children's lives. We need to look at who young children are, what their learning and developmental needs are and how adults can support that. And if we do that, we will help children be ready for the next stage of life."

Math Emergency

2007-09-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of ways to get homework help: teachers, parents, tutors. Police? A child calls 911... for help with math.

Dude, You Stole My Answers

2007-09-14T02:13:00.000-07:00

How many students do you think admit to cheating... 10%, 25%, 50%? The answer, according to a 2005 Duke study, is a shocking 75%... 90% admit to cheating if you count copying homework. Not only do a majority of students cheat at some point, but who cheats and why has changed a lot in a generation. A San Francisco Chronicle article provides great insight.

It used to be that cheating was done by the few, and most often they were the weaker students who couldn't get good grades on their own. There was fear of reprisal and shame if apprehended. Today, there is no stigma left. It is accepted as a normal part of school life, and is more likely to be done by the good students, who are fully capable of getting high marks without cheating. "It's not the dumb kids who cheat," one Bay Area prep school student said. "It's the kids with a 4.6 grade-point average who are under so much pressure to keep their grades up and get into the best colleges. They're the ones who are smart enough to figure out how to cheat without getting caught."

Academically strong students aren't the only ones, of course. Athletes bring a win-at-all-costs mentality to the classroom according to the article.

In a survey of nearly 5,300 high school athletes conducted in 2005 and 2006 by the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles, 65 percent admitted to cheating in the classroom more than once in the previous year, as opposed to 60 percent of nonathletes, a percentage that institute founder Michael Josephson says is statistically significant. And varsity athletes were more likely to cheat than nonvarsity.

This is a great article and one worth reading and talking about with your middle or high-school-aged student. As the piece concludes, quoting ethicist Josephson, "No one is putting the flag in the sand and saying, 'This is wrong! It's dishonest, it's unacceptable, I don't care what the stakes are and why you're doing it, it's wrong, and we will not permit it."

Math Homework: How You Can Help

2007-09-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

If your child comes to you with help on math you can help... even if you're not confident about your own math abilities. Figure This! has a terrific list of questions you can use to guide your student. Here are some of them:

What is the problem you're working on?
What do the directions say?
What words or directions don't you understand?
Where do you think you should begin?
What do you already know that can help you work through the problem?
Tell me what you've done so far.
Where can we find help in your textbook or notes?
Are there similar problems to look at?
Let's try drawing a picture or making a diagram.
What did the teacher ask you to do?
Who can you call to get help?
Should we tackle this when you're not so tired?

Study Skills ... Learning to Learn

2007-09-10T02:39:00.000-07:00

Students are expected to do a lot of homework and to spend hours each week studying but many don't know how. Middle school is a pivotal time for students to learn study skills. An article in HowToDoThings.com gives the following tips.

Create an appropriate study environment. Many students have a difficult time keeping up with their studies merely because they feel frustrated and uncomfortable when they sit down to begin them. You must be in an environment that allows for full concentration.
Take good notes (and pay attention in class). Class time is when much of learning takes place. Paying attention in class familiarizes you with the material, and taking notes firms it up until further studying solidifies it.
Develop effective memorization methods. Learn when to make lists, use flash cards, and create other memory tools.
Focus on the areas that need the most attention. Many students feel that any time studying counts as real studying, but studying is less effective if you do not target the areas that need study.
Work in groups, but only when everyone is focused on studying.
Practice essay writing.

Tips for ADHD Youngsters

2007-09-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

More and more young children are diagnosed with ADHD. Via the Boston Globe [free registration req'd] is this list of actions you can take to help your child.

Look for a very structured preschool or day care. All preschool-age children do better with consistent routines, but that is critical for youngsters with ADHD.
Provide a choice of activities throughout the day.
Use timers and transitional warnings when it's almost time to switch activities.
Use role-playing and other practice sessions to teach the child social skills.
It's easy to ignore good behavior. Don't. Praise it.
Try token systems where good behavior earns rewards, and misbehavior costs tokens.

Are You Paying for Grades?

2007-09-07T01:10:00.001-07:00

With school upon us, worries about grades begin to build. Last year I wrote about some ways you can motivate good grades. Today's Christian Science Monitor has a humorous look at what not to do... Pay for grades.

There's the inevitable inflation: "Beware the slippery slope. It begins with the third-grade ice-cream cone and ends with the 11th-grade Mustang convertible."

And once you've loosed the beast, where does it stop? "Would every goal attained by my two children fetch a reward? A high GPA? A good class ranking? Would sports achievements be included in this reward system: soccer goals, touchdowns, runs-batted-in? What about orchestra? Would first chair pay more than second?"

Worst of all, you end up destroying what you believe you're giving: motivation.

"We never paid anything for good grades," said my neighbor across the street, whose son was recently accepted at MIT. "He just did it on his own. Maybe once in a while we went out for pizza, but that's about it." Don't you just hate that? We're all running around looking for the MP3 player with the most updates, and she's spending a few dollars on pizza. She gets motivation; we get negotiation.

Doctor's Orders... Develop Good Habits

2007-09-07T00:29:00.000-07:00

Help your child develop good homework and study habits and you'll be helping them succeed in every subject. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some back to school tips including these:

Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
Set aside ample time for homework.
Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child's homework for her.
To help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying, it's recommended that youngsters close the books for 10 minutes every hour and go do something else.
If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren't able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child's teacher first.

Save on College Textbooks

2007-09-04T00:43:00.001-07:00

Does the cost of college texts have you bewildered? There are some options, as this New York Times essay humorously explains.

One suggestion: check out BookFinder.com. They can help you save a significant portion of the cost, though not without some caveats. It helps to know before classes start what text you'll need, what edition, and whether it must be the U.S. version.

If you want to take a more activist approach, you can also check out MakeTextbooksAffordable.org.

Relinquish control of this Junebug or burn!

2007-08-30T03:55:00.001-07:00

Manga - Japanese-style graphic novels - account for 20% of books checked out from libraries, according to this Bloomberg News story. So it must have seemed a great way to help teens build their vocabulary in preparation for SAT and ACT tests.

Kaplan has produced three vocabulary building manga, each with 300 prep words, their definitions in the margins. Characters shout threats like, "Relinquish control of this Junebug or burn!"

Students can learn definitions in context. But really, how does "relinquish control" make for better reading than "let go!"?

Ranking Community Colleges

2007-08-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

Did you know "43 percent of college freshmen begin their education at two-year institutions"? Nonetheless, community colleges don't get the respect they earn.

Via The Quick and the Ed, Kevin Carey points to his Washington Monthly essay on America's Best Community Colleges. Mr. Carey discusses why 4-year colleges get all the attention, points to some reasons why community colleges should get a lot more respect, and argues that -- like 4-year colleges -- community colleges should be ranked. Mr. Carey gives us his own Top-30 list. "Great teaching can happen anywhere," he concludes, "and if America is to succeed in the future, it needs to happen everywhere."

Taking Notes

2007-08-27T00:06:00.001-07:00

We've all been told to take notes in class. We've all told our kids to take notes in class. But did you know there are different ways of taking notes? Cal Poly's excellent Academic Skills Center site summarizes the Cornell, Outline, Mapping, Charting, and Sentence Methods of note taking. For each approach you learn the method, when to use it, and its advantages and disadvantages.

This is a MUST READ for any high school or college student.

Back to School

2007-08-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

The transition from summer to school can be difficult for many children ... and their parents. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make it easier. KidsHealth has an article worth reading which includes the following tips:

get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning)
eat a healthy breakfast (kids are more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day)
write down the need-to-know info to help them remember all of the details, such as their locker combination, what time classes and lunch start and end, their homeroom and classroom numbers, teachers' and/or bus driver's names, etc.
use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc.
have them organize and set out what they need for the school day the night before (i.e., homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the front door, and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms)

Tutoring: Recommended by 4 out of 5...

2007-08-22T20:22:00.001-07:00

4 out of 5 pediatricians recommend tutoring for management of ADHD. According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) usage among AAP members:

Nearly all pediatricians (97.2%) follow standard guidelines for management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ie, recommend medications such as Ritalin, Cylert, etc. In addition, most recommend environmental strategies such as more structure and one-on-one attention (85.6%) and an individual learning plan and tutoring (85.3%). More than half of pediatricians (57.0%) would also recommend psychotherapy. About one-fourth would recommend, as adjunctive therapies caffeine (29.5%), Yoga (24.5), or mind-body therapies such as hypnosis, relaxation or distraction (21.5). Fewer than 5% of pediatricians recommend other forms of CAM.

Back to School

2007-08-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics has some recommendations for back-to-school. Suggestions for making the first day easier are:

Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She'll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her memory about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.

Failing Our Geniuses

2007-08-20T01:10:00.000-07:00

The U.S. spends $8 billion each year on programs for the mentally retarded, but not even 10% that amount on the gifted. As this article in Time asserts, "it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential."

We spend incredible resources helping those who obviously need our help, but virtually ignore a group just as vulnerable. Did you know...

"gifted students drop out at the same rates as non-gifted kids"
"one-fifth of dropouts test in the gifted range"

One of the contributory factors to lower funding for gifted children is No Child Left Behind, which "has forced schools to deeply subsidize the education of the least gifted, and gifted programs have suffered." The most important factor, though, is that as a society we have a feeling that smart kids will figure it out on their own. "[Yet] we know Alex Rodriguez had to practice to become a great baseball player," and "like a muscle, raw intelligence can't build if it's not exercised." But unlike athletic prodigies, there are few resources for academic prodigies.

So, are we ignoring some of our country's brightest young minds? And what can be done to help? The article profiles one effort to provide education to the gifted. But one of the simplest solutions is also the cheapest: Grade skipping, "[which] research shows ... usually works well both academically and socially for gifted students."

Tutor Gods

2007-08-16T01:05:00.000-07:00

The pressure on Hong Kong students is so great that some tutors, considered "tutor gods," have become fabulously wealthy. One such tutor, Richard Eng, drives around in his Ferrari and takes shopping holidays to Europe.

The Wall Street Journal article tells how tutors market themselves to attract the attention of students. Would this rap video work in the U.S.?

Avoid the Summer Brain Drain

2007-06-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Check out some expert advice on ways to mix learning with pleasure during the lazy days of summer.

Summer Brain Drain: "Kids lose one to three months of learning"
http://school.familyeducation.com/summer/cognitive-processes/38453.html

Staunch Your Kid's Summer Learning Loss
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8146912/

Summer Home Learning Recipes from the National Education Association
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Recipes/index.html

Make learning a part of your everyday routine
http://school.familyeducation.com/summer/family-learning/36089.html

Great Free Stuff on the Web - Part 5

2007-05-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

You can check out the contents of any of over 1500 courses from the MIT faculty... for free! The Open Courseware project is easily and freely accessible at ocw.mit.edu. MIT OCW provides users with open access to the syllabi, lecture notes, course calendars, problem sets and solutions, exams, reading lists, even a selection of video lectures, from 1550 MIT courses representing 34 departments and all five of MIT's schools.

Tips for Final Exams

2007-05-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

It's finals time again! Here are some tips for preparing from West Chester University.

The first reading of the material should be followed by a break of several hours before a second reading of the same material.
Predict exam questions using as possible questions the textbook headings, class notes, and previous quizzes and exams.
Keep all previous tests and review them prior to taking the final exam.
Get a good night's sleep before your exam.
Eat a good breakfast.

Children's Book Awards

2007-01-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

This year's Newbery Medal was awarded to Susan Patron for The Higher Power of Lucky. Illustrator David Wiesner won the Caldecott for Flotsam.

Gene Luen Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese won the Printz Award, a newer prize for books in the young adult category.

Why Procrastinate Now when you can do it Tomorrow?

2007-01-11T22:51:00.000-08:00

Procrastination makes people poorer, fatter and unhappier. Ten years after starting his five year project, a Canadian industrial psychologist finds that while in 1978, only about 5 percent of the American public thought of themselves as chronic procrastinators, now it's 26 percent, CNN.com reports. He also found that the young are more like to procrastinate than the old; three out of four college students consider themselves procrastinators.

The article provides some tips avoid procrastinating:

Precommitment. Force yourself to do what needs to be done, like Ulysses tying himself on the ship's mast to get past the tempting songs of the Sirens.

Do unpleasant work when you have the most energy, early and in the morning.

Set attainable goals and do the work in steps.

Unplug distractions, such as television and computers.

The five-minute rule. Commit to doing the job for five minutes. At the end of five minutes, commit to another five minutes.

Examine the reasons you procrastinate. Ask yourself what makes doing the work too difficult and why would it get easier with time.

College Financial Aid Tip

2007-01-10T01:59:00.000-08:00

USA Today provides some advice when applying for financial aid for your college student. New laws can have a big impact.

The biggest change concerns the way state-sponsored 529 college savings plans are treated. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 [...] clarifies that 529 plans are considered the parents' asset for purposes of calculating financial aid — even though their dependent child is usually named as the beneficiary. Likewise, the law states that prepaid college tuition plans and Coverdell education savings accounts are the parents' assets.

The distinction is crucial, because student-owned assets can torpedo your child's eligibility for financial aid. In calculating how much a family can afford to pay for college, the federal formula for the 2007-08 school year counts 20% of assets owned by the student. For parent-owned assets, the maximum assessment is much lower: 5.64%.
Under the new law, custodial 529 plans owned by a dependent child aren't counted at all. Custodial 529 accounts are usually created when parents transfer a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act account to a 529 plan.

Check the deadlines for the schools your child is interested in attending. A handful of private schools impose January deadlines for FAFSAs, but most schools don't require you to send in your financial information until February or later.

For more information on FAFSAs, go to fafsa.ed.gov

Education Leads to Longer, Healthier Life

2007-01-07T22:43:00.000-08:00

What does it take to live a longer, healthier life? Education, many studies show, is the answer. The New York Times features (free registration required) an explanation of this conclusion.

The one social factor that researchers agree is consistently linked to longer lives in every country where it has been studied is education. It is more important than race; it obliterates any effects of income.

And, health economists say, those factors that are popularly believed to be crucial — money and health insurance, for example, pale in comparison.

What may make the biggest difference is keeping young people in school. A few extra years of school is associated with extra years of life and vastly improved health decades later, in old age.

Scranimals is a Childhood Favorite

2007-01-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

An article in CNN.com introduces the wonderful poetry of Jack Prelutsky, creator of a variety of improbable animals, and provides a fascinating sketch of his life. Share the joys of "sailing to Scranimal Island / It doesn't appear on most maps. / The PARROTTERS float on the tide there. / The STORMY PETRELEPHANT flaps. / We may find a rare OSTRICHEETAH, / There's never been one in a zoo. / We're sailing to Scranimal Island / You're welcome to come along too."

"Books happen in odd ways," said poet Jack Prelutsky, creator of the bananaconda, a constrictor with the skin of a fruit.
So it was one sleepless night several years ago that he descended the stairs in his home for a snack, a banana, and settled into an easy chair. He found a TV documentary on the giant snake from the Amazon, noticed the coincidence of syllables, and inspiration struck. His poem begins:
"Oh sleek bananaconda
You longest long long fellow,
How sinuous and sly you are,
How slippery, how yellow."
Soon, he had invented "broccolions" and "potatoads," and within weeks had written "Scranimals," a compilation of logic-defying verse.

High Schools Consider Sleeping In

2006-12-19T21:36:00.000-08:00

Via EdNews, Newsday.com writes about a trend to start high school classes later in the morning.

According to behavioral experts, adolescents generally need eight to nine hours' sleep each night, beginning around 11 p.m., when most start feeling drowsy. Ideally, then, most students wouldn't awaken until about 7:30 a.m -- about the time most on Long Island are expected to arrive at first-period classes.

There's a body of research on the impact of sleep and learning. Still, there is resistance to change and concerns about the impact of shifting schedules: "Sixty-five percent of students favored keeping the bell schedule the way it is. Many predicted that a change would make it more difficult to hold after-school jobs, or to participate in clubs and sports."

Motivating Good Grades

2006-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Times article on student motivation says learning should be its own reward.

For students who don't see why they need to apply themselves in school, rewards can kick-start academic interests. But for students in general, experts discourage conditioning students to expect treats for school work.

So what can you do? The article gives these suggestions:

Celebrate hard work and improvement, not just grades.

Reward with special time. Acknowledge a child's success with a family outing or activity. Recognizing a child's effort afterward is different than offering an advance enticement, experts say.

Encourage children's dreams. "After a certain age, the child will not 'perform' for parents and teachers unless they can see their own goals being met as well," notes Anne Rambo, author of I Know My Child Can Do Better. "Your child should ideally perceive you as an ally, someone who wants to help him or her achieve goals."

Find natural consequences. For example: Stop weeknight video-game time or friend visits until students can balance these activities with school work. Or have teens who don't qualify for a good-student discount make up the difference with the regular insurance rate.

See how kids perceive rewards. A recent study found rewards worked more effectively for boys; teacher rewards, even more than parent rewards', linked positively with boys' academic goals and motivation. Girls received more rewards, but that wasn't associated with higher motivation.

Blackberry Orphans: Kids Fight Back

2006-12-15T00:02:00.000-08:00

"The growing use of email gadgets is spawning a generation of resentful children. A look at furtive thumb-typers, the signs of compulsive use and how kids are fighting back," writes the Wall Street Journal.

As hand-held email devices proliferate, they are having an unexpected impact on family dynamics: Parents and their children are swapping roles. Like a bunch of teenagers, some parents are routinely lying to their kids, sneaking around the house to covertly check their emails and disobeying house rules established to minimize compulsive typing. The refusal of parents to follow a few simple rules is pushing some children to the brink. They are fearful that parents will be distracted by emails while driving, concerned about Mom and Dad's shortening attention spans and exasperated by their parents' obsession with their gadgets.

Says one parent, "Even though I'm home, I'm not necessarily there." I'm going to have to think about this too.

10 Gift Ideas from CA Schools Chief

2006-12-13T22:44:00.000-08:00

Jack O'Connell, California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, offers his top 10 gift ideas for the holiday season. They include educational toys, books, and magazines. Buy tickets to a zoo or aquarium, join a theater, volunteer at a non-profit, or get fit together. Or, just spend time together: "The ultimate gift you can give your family is your time. Research shows that quality time with parents actually helps children succeed in school."

Remember, it is better to do than to have.

Parents Key to Teen Driver Safety

2006-12-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement on teen driving that includes guidelines for parents and a contract you can use with your teen driver.

Here are some things you can do:

Give permission for them to obtain a license;
Control access to the vehicle;
Set family restrictions and punishments for infractions;
Assure that the vehicle is safe;
Be a driving instructor and supervisor or provide driving lessons;
Serve as a role model for safe driving.

Great Expectations, Great Results

2006-12-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

Holding students to high standards and providing the support they need to succeed is a winning combination. The Washington Post profiles a program focused on helping average students.

School leaders in Seaford, Del., had noticed for some time that very few average students took the most challenging courses in the town's secondary schools. As was the case in most small school systems, many Seaford families did not expect much. Parents and teachers did not want to push kids beyond their limits.
But Seaford educators became convinced that with extra help, many more students could be taking algebra in middle school and college-level courses in high school. Four years ago, they began offering special tutoring, summer classes and Saturday classes. The number of Advanced Placement classes at Seaford High swelled from four to 14.

Here is another example of the impact of expectations on results.

Fantasy Football Math

2006-11-28T23:13:00.000-08:00

Working with students who have proven to be resistant, San Jose teacher John Hagen uses fantasy football to teach math concepts (story in the San Jose Mercury News).

Like many high schoolers, John Hagen's algebra students worry about passing.

But they also worry about rushing. And receiving. And scoring.

They've become miniature NFL coaches, tracking the performance of key players in their own fantasy football league. In the process, Hagen's previously math-resistant students have joined a growing number of kids who get a kick out of multiplying and dividing points and yards so they can see whose team came out on top.

The book Hagen uses is by Dan Flockhart, a former Bay Area math teacher. As described on amazon.com, "Fantasy Football and Mathematics is an innovative program that uses real-world sports data to capitalize on the fun and dynamic phenomenon of Fantasy Sports to teach kids math." Additional books focus on baseball, basketball, and soccer.

Abuse of the Apostrophe's (wink)

2006-11-26T23:50:00.000-08:00

The apostrophe. I've seen this simple punctuation mark misused in newspapers, magazines, and in material sent home by teachers. The UK's Sunday Telegraph article about teachers' grasp of grammar was headlined by apostrophe abuse. Apostrophe use can be arcane. But for most of our needs, it's easy!

Apostrophes are used to denote missing letters in a contraction.

can't

cannot

isn't

is not

it's

it is

Apostrophes are used to denote possession. However, they are not used for possessive pronouns!

The teacher's book.

The teachers' book.

The teachers' books.

yours

Its

His

Hers

Apostrophes are not used for plurals.

hundreds

CDs

90s

For a great review, check out Lynch's Guide to Grammar on the apostrophe and it's versus its.

Don't Make Me Do School Projects!

2006-11-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

An opinion piece in the Christian Science Monitor had me smiling. We often comment at home about elementary school projects that seem aimed more at parents (read: moms) than students.

It can wreck marriages and destroy family life, and it's more burdensome than travel soccer, football practice, or the Boy Scouts: It's the school project.

Ask a bunch of mothers how they spent their week, and they will tell you that they built the Parthenon with sugar cubes, the Pyramids from milk cartons, and Mount Olympus using Cocoa Puffs.

CA Math Standards are the Best!

2006-11-15T23:44:00.000-08:00

Did you know that California's state math standards are the best in the nation? Only three states scored an 'A' and another three a 'B.' This information coming from a Fordham Foundation study published January of 2005. While not qualifying as news, I came across this only today.

California’s standards are excellent in every respect. The language is crystal clear, important topics are given priority, and key connections between different skills and tasks are explicitly addressed. Computational skills, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning are unambiguously supported and integrated throughout the standards.

California’s Framework is not perfect. But it comes as close to perfection as any set of mathematics standards in the country, and should be a valuable model for other states.

The Testing Effect

2006-11-13T22:04:00.000-08:00

An article [link free 4 weeks only] in Science says testing boosts memory.

Students who break into a cold sweat at the thought of a pop quiz might feel better once they learn about a side effect of test-taking: The practice appears to enhance memory, possibly even more than studying. What's more, according to a new study, testing also helps students remember material that wasn't on the exam in the first place.

The results are likely small comfort for Steve Lindsay's students at the University of Victoria where every class now begins with a pop quiz of the previous day's lecture material.

More on the Testing Effect.

Great Free Stuff on the Web - Part 4

2006-11-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Jack Lynch's fabulously readable Guide to Grammar and Style will be useful in making your writing clearer and more effective. Mr. Lynch, an Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University, himself writes in an approachable and entertaining style. Organized by topic, the Guide is fun to peruse. Here are a few samples:

Ain't. There's a venerable bit of schoolyard wisdom: "Ain't ain't in the dictionary, so ain't ain't a word." There's only one problem with this pithy apothegm: it ain't true. ...

Clearly, Obviously, Undoubtedly. My English professor instincts kick in — my Spidey-Sense starts tingling — whenever I see these words. Too often they're used when something is unclear and doubtful, but the author simply doesn't know how to make the point convincingly. ...

Wasted Words. Many words and phrases rarely add anything to a sentence. Avoid these whenever you can. A very short list of some of these offenders: Quite, very, extremely, as it were, moreover, it can be seen that, it has been indicated that, basically, essentially, totally, completely, therefore, it should be remembered that, it should be noted that, thus, it is imperative that, at the present moment in time. These are fine in their place, but they often slither into your writing with the sinister purpose of tempting you into the sin of padding your sentences.

Is Your Child Too Busy?

2006-11-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

In talking to parents, it's often the case their children don't have the time it takes to study, read, or just relax.

KidsHealth offers a way to determine if your child is too busy and presents tips to lighten the load. KidsHealth says that your over-scheduled child may:

feel tired, anxious, or depressed
complain of headaches and stomachaches, which may be due to stress, missed meals, or lack of sleep
fall behind on their schoolwork, causing their grades to drop

What can you do?

The key is to schedule things in moderation and choose activities with your child's age, temperament, interests, and abilities in mind. If something's too advanced, the experience may be frustrating. If it isn't engaging, your child will probably be bored. And if your child doesn't want to do it in the first place, he or she may do it only to please you, which defeats the whole purpose.

10 Tips for Getting Organized

2006-11-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

FamilyEducation.com has some pointers to how you can help get your child organized:

Use checklists.  Use checklists to post assignments, household chores, and reminders about what materials to bring to class.
Organize homework assignments.  Before beginning a homework session, encourage your child to number assignments in the order in which they should be done.
Designate a study space.  Your child should study in the same place every night.
Set a designated study time.  The best time is usually not right after school — most children benefit from time to unwind first. Include your child in making this decision.
Keep organized notebooks.  Help your child keep track of papers by organizing them in a binder or notebook.
Conduct a weekly cleanup.  Encourage your child to sort through book bags and notebooks on a weekly basis.
Create a household schedule.  Try to establish and stick to a regular dinnertime and a regular bedtime.
Keep a master calendar.  Note dates when your child has big exams or due dates for projects.
Prepare for the day ahead. Cut down on morning confusion and allow your child to prepare quickly for the day ahead.
Provide needed support while your child is learning to become more organized.  Help your child develop organizational skills by photocopying checklists and schedules and taping them to the refrigerator. Gently remind her about filling in calendar dates and keeping papers and materials organized. Most important, set a good example.

UC System to Better Balance Admissions

2006-10-29T19:12:00.000-08:00

An article in Friday's San Jose Mercury News reports on a recommendation made to overhaul the eligibility process for the University of California.

The move would expand economic, racial and geographic diversity in one of America's premier public educational institutions -- and boost the number of educated people in a state that is falling far behind others by urging a shift away from the current focus on grades and SAT scores to a broader review of students' personal achievements, such as initiative and leadership ability.

"GPA is one single measure of a student's academic achievement. But there are many other things to look at, as well," he said. "Doing things the way we do now does not necessarily result in admitting the students who do best at UC."

High school GPAs and SATs have been shown to account for only a minor part of a student's ultimate success in college, according to the paper. But the emphasis causes teachers and students to "treat UC admissions as a high-stakes game, won by those who can play it best," it said.

ADHD... How Can You Tell?

2006-10-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

A great introductory article on ADHD (pdf) is available in the Fall issue of Healthy Children, a magazine produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Between 4 and 12 per cent of children have ADHD, but boys outnumber girls three to one.

A child with ADHD may have a very hard time getting along with siblings, friends, and classmates. Learning can be very difficult for an untreated ADHD child, and their impulsiveness can lead to physical danger.

Of course, you have to see a pediatrician to get a diagnosis. The good news is there are quite a few effective treatment options.

Because scientists have learned so much about ADHD through
ongoing research, the treatment of ADHD is more effective than
ever before for the majority of children. There is no specific cure,
but there are many treatment options that pediatricians can tailor
for your child.

Why Take the ACT?

2006-10-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

For years students (and their parents) have been sweating the SAT. Now, the ACT is increasing in popularity, with many students taking both. An article in CNN.com explains why many students opt to take both:

Last year, many students reported being worn out by the length of the newly revised SAT, which is has been expanded to three hours, 45 minutes of official testing time. The ACT lasts just under three hours (plus a half-hour for the optional writing section).

The ACT has gained broader acceptance by colleges, and may allow students to do less testing overall. Some selective colleges require both the SAT and SAT subject tests, but will take the ACT alone. The ACT also gives students more flexibility to submit to colleges only the scores they wish them to see.

There's an easy way to check out samples of each test; they're available online: SAT & ACT sample questions.

Yes, Sleep Matters

2006-10-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

Is your high schooler (or middle schooler) driving you crazy with her sleep schedule? If you think it matters, you're right! A new study (reported in Science), measures how an all-nighter impacts the ability to learn new information.

Your child may not (yet) be doing all-nighters, but the study "suggests that just as sleep is important for consolidating new memories after they're learned, as other studies have shown, it's equally important for preparing the brain to learn new things the following day."

Stereotyping Study

2006-10-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Do you believe your daughter is not as capable at math as your son? If so, you're part of the reason. In a study of the effects of stereotyping on the performance of women in math reported in Science, researchers concluded there is a significant negative effect with negative stereotyping.

In other words, when we tell our children that they're not good at something, we're setting them up for a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Great Free Stuff on the Web - Part 3

2006-10-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

What's greater than a great book? A free great book! A terrific resource, Project Gutenberg is "the first and largest single collection of free electronic books." If you're looking for a classic text, check Project Gutenberg before you check Amazon or Border's. Entries range from Great Expectations to The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter, from Tolstoy to Chaucer to Cervantes.

You can read the Bible, the Koran, and the Talmud. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Magna Carta are here.

Some of the most influential books ever published like Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Einstein's Special and General Theory of Relativity are available for download.

Of course there are many, many more titles. Just explore!

Overachievers' Guide to Getting an A

2006-10-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Get on the Bus author Scott Elliott harvested some tips from high school overachievers about how to get an A in an AP class. Funny thing, this advice will work for any student in any class. Basically, it's aligned with one of our tenets: know your stuff! There is no substitute.

Read the textbook, assigned or not. Take thorough notes on reading and lectures, go over them, rewrite/type them if you need more review, and have a highlighter system.
Make flashcards. Even if you don't use them, writing them out helps a LOT and they're a quick way to review/test yourself.
Do your homework. And do extra problems/questions, if that helps.
Be engaged in class. Participate in discussions, and try to get yourself interested in what's going on.
Even if there aren't discussions in class, discuss things with people. Try classmates, friends, your parents….
Get a tutor if you need one, or ask your teacher for help.
Understand how you're graded.
Read. Just read a lot in general - this improves your writing SO much. Also, learn to diagram sentences. Even if you have all the facts write, (hopefully) you're also graded on how you write, so you want to write well.
Aside from the obvious "listen/do your work," become interested in what you're learning. Build rapport with your teachers, drink lots of coffee, and create mnemonics for everything. Confidence/outlook definitely plays a huge role…if other people think that you're smart, you'll feel the pressure and rise to the occasion, etc.

School Succeeds with Focus on the Individual

2006-10-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

A San Jose public school placed on a federal watch list for under performance has turned around. The key? An intense focus on "improving reading and shaping instruction to individual students' needs." The article in this Saturday's San Jose Mercury News highlights how teachers are addressing their students' varied needs.

A focus on individual needs makes a lot of sense to me. After all, one-on-one instruction is what TeamUP! Tutors provides. But it's far more challenging to provide that type of attention with a class of 34! Kudos to the teachers.

Tried & True Test-Taking Tips

2006-10-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some test-taking strategies to reduce anxiety and build confidence. Featured on the West Bloomfield (Michigan) School District web site, these tips capture a lot of what students need to do to be more calm when taking a test. However, it misses out on the most important thing one can do: Know Your Stuff!

Here's some of what they recommend:

Be rested and comfortable.
It's OK to feel some nervousness.
Read test directions carefully.
Show your work; you may receive partial credit.
Answer the easiest questions first.
Work neatly.
Review your work.

Video Killed the Studious Star

2006-10-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

The first video ever shown on MTV blamed television for the demise of radio. The Buggles (iTunes link) were onto something. In the October issue of Pediatrics, Sharif and Sargent write about media exposure hurting school performance. "According to the study [says the press release], the odds of poor school performance increased with growing weekday television viewing and cable channel availability, and decreased with parental restriction on television content."

Must College be in Your Child's Future?

2006-10-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the pursuit of a college education, the goal is seldom questioned, even if the methods occasionally are. As a parent, I am often quick to forget that my child may not fit someone else's model of the ideal student. And perhaps the ideal of college is not the right choice.

I grew up in the late 1970s, when a strong vocational alternative to the college prep curriculum was offered. In the last 25 years in California, three-quarters of our schools' technical training programs were cut. Now, investment is up. This according to an article in the Christian Science Monitor. "High schools, community colleges, universities, parents, and employers are all beginning to realize that ... to be competitive, our educational system needs more than academic theory."

But don't expect to see wood shop make a resurgence:

Fields of study today are likely to include more forward-looking careers: crime forensics, composite-plastic fuselage design, robotics, nanotechnology, radiological diagnostics, 3-D animation, and the burgeoning field of "industrial maintenance technology" (keeping the high-tech systems in a modern industrial building up and running).

I am reminded every day that there are many roads to success. Perhaps your child's cuts through a different landscape.

Homework: Not Just For Kids

2006-10-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

LeapFrog, makers of the LeapPad and other educational toys, sponsored a homework study by the NEA (National Educators Association). Some of their results are a foregone conclusion (something about the internet and the wonderfulness of educational toys). But several of the study's results looked like they came from my own home.

Parents' and students' responses indicate that they are both struggling to adjust to the demands of the middle school workload, which is both heavier and more varied than typical grade school assignments:
Two-thirds of parents (66 percent) say that their middle school student seeks the parent's help with homework.
More than one-half of middle school students (57 percent) and their parents (59 percent) report that parents spend at least one hour a night helping them with homework.
Parents also report helping their middle school students with homework almost two and one-half nights a week on average.

Look familiar to you too? There are a number of things the NEA says you can do to help - what they call "bridging the great homework divide." These include:

Be prepared . Assume your children will have studying to do every night and work with them to create a comfortable, distraction-free homework zone.
Understand teachers' policies and expectations . Encourage your children to ask their teachers questions, reminding them that an in-person visit before or after school is often most effective.
Be available and teach by example . Check in with your children while they work, offering to be a sounding board or source of advice. Help them cope with feelings of failure or frustration.
Identify other resources . Encourage your children to find homework buddies, and do not hesitate to line up extra support if needed.
Stay in touch with your children's teachers . If teachers have access to e-mail, it can be an effective way to maintain regular contact in addition to telephone calls and in-person visits.
Inspire learning outside school . Nurture your children's personal interests, perhaps finding activities that parallel what they're studying in school, thus fostering their enthusiasm for learning as a life-long endeavor.

Back to Basics for Math

2006-10-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Via EdNews.org, comes a pointer to Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee writing about changes in math instruction proposed by the National Council of Mathematics Teachers. In essence, the national organization is adopting changes already in place in California; changes that emphasize a back-to-basics approach.

We Americans used to understand the concept of educational progression -- of instilling fundamental skills early and completely so that they became natural extensions of children's lives, thus equipping them for moving into higher realms of learning and reasoning. But somewhere and somehow, we lost our way and began embracing panaceas that promised educational gain without pain.

As Walters points out, "Innumeracy -- a chronic inability to understand and apply mathematics to work and daily life -- is rampant." Our children have to invest the time to learn the basics. Then they can continue to build their knowledge. Not just knowledge of what's in a text, but an understanding of the world around us. There are just no shortcuts to learning. It takes time, patience, and guiding hands - teachers, parents, tutors, and friends.

Great Free Stuff on the Web - Part 2

2006-10-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

Does your student have to do a country report? When I had to write them, back in the stone age, the "World Almanac and Book of Facts" (2007 Alamanac at amazon.com) was an essential reference. It's still a good book to have at home, but it's not free. Two terrific (and free) online resources are Wikipedia and the CIA World Factbook.

Start with the CIA World Factbook. This easily digestible compendium includes essential facts about every country in the world, including an introduction, the geography, people, government, and more. It features maps and flags of the world too. The CIA World Factbook is frequently updated - most recently last week! As a bonus, many younger students will enjoy knowing they're using a reference written by our nation's spy organization.

Wikipedia is a little more free-wheeling. Entries are not necessarily consistent, and editing is a tad rough at times. Nonetheless, the information tends to be well-balanced and accurate. It links to dozens of other sources of information and includes a host of additional photos to illustrate the articles. Wikipedia tends to be too comprehensive for younger students, but is certainly useful for high school and some middle school students.

AAP says Kids Need to Play

2006-10-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Stunning "finding" from the American Academy of Pediatrics says that all the pressure of school, homework, and structured extra-curricular activities is stressing our children.

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says free and unstructured play is healthy and - in fact - essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.

At TeamUP! Tutors, we've long counseled parents of pre-schoolers to send their children outside to play rather than gain an early advantage in reading and arithmetic. At the same time, home tutoring is a way to relieve some structure and, for many children, is a way to avoid some of the stress of homework.

Harvard in Second Life

2006-10-07T00:34:00.000-07:00

Are you concerned your child is spending too much time online? Has he disappeared into a virtual world? Maybe he's going to Harvard!

Via joannejacobs.com an article in the Christian Science Monitor reports on university classes being held within Second Life.

For the first time this fall, a Harvard University class is meeting on its own "Berkman Island" within Second Life (SL). "Avatars," visual images that represent the students and teachers, gather in an "outdoor" amphitheater, head inside a virtual replica of Harvard Law School's Austin Hall, and travel to complete assignments all over the digital world.

In fact, the article says, "Some 60 schools and universities have set up shop inside Second Life." Within Linden Labs, the company that operates Second Life, education is a focal point. No doubt we will continue to hear about online education conducted in this virtual world.

BTW, your child likely isn't really going to college in Second Life, at least not now. You must be enrolled in Harvard Law or the Harvard Extension School to attend.

Get Organized!

2006-10-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

When it comes to getting the most out of school, how children manage their work is often as important as getting it done. Getting organized, like learning a new subject or playing a new sport, requires practice. Here are some tips for your child on using a planner:

Write down homework and test dates as soon as your teacher assigns them.
Divide long-term projects into small, manageable daily tasks.
Review your planner before leaving class to confirm all assignments are included.
Look at your planner while doing homework to be sure you're on track.
Check that all assignments are marked as complete at the end of each day.
Put finished work neatly into a binder or folder to return to school.

A Child Development Tracker

2006-10-06T01:34:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking about tutoring for your pre-K child, don't be too hasty. Find out what "typical" is at PBS's Child Development Tracker.

AP Tests? One High School Says NO!

2006-10-05T01:30:00.000-07:00

As a parent, I struggle with balance like most parents do. I like to make sure my kids have some down time, but I feel the pressure of living in a community of over-achievers. According to an article in yesterday's NY Times, Scarsdale High School, where 70 percent of the 1,500 students take an Advanced Placement course, is thinking about eliminating the courses.

The article includes blurbs from teachers, parents, and the College Board - the folks who give us AP exams and the SAT. The parent who said, "“the one who is going to get hurt is my daughter,” reminded me of a parent who called the other day. Her child is doing great, straight As, but she wants a tutor to stay ahead and because a lot of the other students have tutors.

I guess we all have to find our own balance.

Chicago Manual - Save it for the Pros

2006-10-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

One of TeamUP! Tutors' new writing tutors is also a professional copy editor. I spent some time going over a couple documents with her. What incredible attention to detail! More than that, she has a superb knowledge of grammar and usage. Several times she referred to her bible, The Chicago Manual of Style (at Amazon). At a daunting 900+ pages and $55 list price, it's not for casual use!

There are many sites online (like the Write Place Catalogue) where you can find some similar information free, but it won't sway anyone - and it might be wrong.

If you're looking for a great student's writing guide, then get Strunk & White's Elements of Style (at Amazon). Recently updated, this guide (first published as Strunk & White's in 1959) is still required reading in many English classes. And, at 100 pages, it's an easy and (I recall) an enjoyable read.

Tales of a Blogonaut... There's No Life!

2006-10-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

So I went exploring last night. I was in search of signs of life: blogs that would be of interest to me as a parent. Pointers and tidbits I could use at home with my own children. The blogosphere is vast - stunningly so - but while I found a few worlds worth revisiting, there were none teeming with the life I sought.

Primarily, education blogs focus on a system that appears broken to almost everyone: parents, teachers, students, and politicians. Many of these are interesting. Certainly, the passion that fuels them is inspiring. Check out some of the best that I found by linking from "Education-related Blogs" on the right.

In the meantime, continue to look here for pointers on study skills, finding great tutors, getting help for students, and more.

Ad Targets Dangers of Teen Driving

2006-10-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

"The #1 killer of teenagers doesn't have a trigger." The headline from a new ad (warning: pdf) focusing on teen driving couldn't be more prescient as our news is dominated by school killings in Colorado, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

The message is powerful and true - though it isn't "news" so you won't see it on TV. The insurance company, Allstate, has a series of ads that are part of its Advocacy Campaign. They also have a novel program aimed to helping teens become safer drivers.

Consider this scary stat from their site: "Last year in the United States - and every year for the past decade - nearly 6,000 teenagers were killed in motor vehicle crashes and another 300,000 were injured."

Casio's Smarter Math Calculator

2006-10-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

BusinessWeek's Stephen Wildstrom reviews Casio's ClassPad math calculator which you may want to consider for your high school or college student. The exec summary: $150 graphical calculator with a touch-sensitive screen that lets you get a hands-on feel for geometry and algebra. The downside: Texas Instruments dominates this segment and there are entire curriculums built around it. Bottom line, says Stephen, "It's the best sort of educational technology: a tool that can deepen understanding."

Great Free Stuff on the Web - Part 1

2006-10-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

I'm from the government, and I'm here to help. Makes you smile, doesn't it? After all, what kind of help can you really expect? Well, if you're a parent of younger students start with the Helping Your Child series. "These booklets feature practical lessons and activities to help their school aged and preschool children master reading, understand the value of homework and develop the skills and values necessary to achieve and grow."

Testing: Know Stuff = No Anxiety

2006-10-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

I often get calls from parents whose children study hard, get 'A's on their homework, and then do poorly come test time. Many times, these parents tell me their child suffers from test anxiety. I'm certainly in no position to doubt their conclusion. But let me ask you a question: Did you ever blow-off studying the night before a test? Perhaps you went out with your friends or there was a terrific infomercial on TV? If so, I bet you went into that test feeling pretty nervous: the dark curtain of impending doom coming down.

It turns out there's a pretty good correlation between knowing your stuff and doing well on a test. Sometimes we're not sure if we really know our stuff, so we're nervous. Maybe we feel a lot of pressure to do well, so we're nervous. But the better we become at really learning the material and feeling confident, the less we'll feel anxiety, and yes, the better we'll do on our tests!

My recommendation to the parents of anxious testers depends on their situation, but can be summarized: let's make sure that your son or daughter learns how to study, really knows the material and learns how to better assess their own knowledge.

Biting Off More Than I Can Chew

2006-10-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Really, nobody has any expectations about this blog. No one (yet) knows of its existence. I have started it primarily as an experiment. Not an experiment in web publishing; I did that in 1996 or so. At that time, I even had a database-driven blog (though of course it wasn't called a 'blog') that I built with AppleScript and FileMaker. This is an experiment in creating a communications vehicle that might be of interest to someone other than the grandparents of my then infant first son.

I've been watching for some time trends of more personal and intimate communications. Perhaps, prospective and actual clients of TeamUP! Tutors will be interested in what other clients are experiencing. I may be able to let clients know how we plan to invest in the company so we can better serve them. Maybe they (you?) will turn around and feed back information that can help others.

This experiment will be a success, then, if I can consistently post; if I can keep the blog interesting -- not too self-serving and not too polished; if I can find a way of letting people know about it; and if I can make it valuable.

Especially in the last attribute, I'm afraid I may have bitten off more than I can chew. We'll see.