A Smooth Back To School Experience is All About Preparation

Here are some tips to help you and your family out when Fall calendars start to fill up with sports, activities and events.

1) Ease the family into a school year schedule.

The first day of school is no time for a drastic adjustment of household sleep schedules. Instead, ease children back into a school year routine gradually. During the last two weeks of summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime. Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they'll need to rise when school begins.

Don't neglect mealtimes! Younger children, in particular, need to adapt to new meal routines before the school day demands it of them. Plan meals and snacks to accustom little ones to rituals of the school day before the school year begins.

2) Create a Calendar Central

Each school year floats on a sea of schedules. School functions. Lunch menus. Scout meetings and music lessons.

Nothing calms school year chaos like Calendar Central: a centralized site for all family calendars and schedules. You'll need a family event calendar to track after-school activities, school programs and volunteer work. Add specialized calendars and schedules, and you have it: a one-stop shop for family time management.

Form is less important than function. A paper calendar with large squares lets you enter information easily. Pre-printed white board calendars are easy to revise when necessary. Color-coding entries by family member helps keep busy lives straight.

Paper planner fans dedicate a planner section to serve as Calendar Central, while tech-savvy cybergrrrlz store the info in a smart phone or tablet and sync with multiple computers. Choose a calendar format that works for your family.

Post the family event calendar in a public place near the telephone. Use magnets to attach the calendar to the refrigerator, or tack it to a bulletin board.

Add other calendars to Calendar Central: school lunch menus, class assignment sheets, sports practice schedules. When the room mother calls for field trip volunteers, you'll know at a glance whether you're free to join the group on the bus that day.

3) Plan before you shop

August is the second-biggest sales month for clothing retailers. Back to school clothing sales begin as early as July! Are you prepared to run the school clothes gauntlet?

An informed shopper is a savvy shopper, so prepare before you shop.

Take an afternoon and assess each child's clothing needs.

Empty drawers and closets of outgrown or worn-out clothing, and either store or donate the discards.

Working with your child, clean and organize clothing storage before new garments are added--and cut down on school morning calls of "Mom! I don't have any clean . . . . "

Develop a wardrobe needs list for each child. Check for possible hand-me-downs from older siblings as you make your list. If you discuss the needs list and the family budget with your children before you shop, you'll avoid in-the-store tantrums.

Similarly, ask the school for classroom supply lists before shopping for school supplies. Forewarned is forearmed ... and helps protect the family budget.

Do shop early! With back-to-school sales beginning in mid-July, tardy shoppers have a tough time locating needed supplies among September's Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations.

 

4) Gather your papers

School entry may require documentation from immunization records to report cards from the previous school year. Athletes need proof of medical examination. A little preparation can prevent frantic last-minute searches for a birth certificate or registration confirmation.

Call your child's school or check the school district Web site beforehand to find out what paperwork will be required--then find it! You won't be sorry come registration day.

 

5) Take aim on morning madness

How are school mornings in your home? Crazed and chaotic, or calm and cheerful? Plan ahead to send your schoolchildren--and yourself!--out the door in a happy frame of mind.

Each evening, think ahead to the following morning; where can you lighten the load? Set the breakfast table as you clear the dinner dishes, and make sure breakfast foods are easy to reach. Lay out children's clothing the night before. Scan backpacks or launch pad spaces for missing homework, projects or library books. Make sure musical instruments or sports bags are packed and ready to go.

Do "bathroom wars" break out daily among the small fry? Multi-child households may need a bathroom schedule so that everyone gets equal time before the mirror.

What do you do about books and papers, lunch money and permission slips? Practice the Launch pad concept! By creating a dedicated space for every family member, a Launch Pad gets the family out the door in record time--and organized.

 

6) Make a practice run

How will children get to school? The first day of school is no time to find out it takes ten minutes--not five--to walk to the nearest bus stop!

Before school begins, make a practice run to get children to the school on time.

If they'll walk, help them learn the route they'll take and note the needed time.

Car-pooling? Make sure the dry run accounts for early-morning traffic!

Bus riders will need to be familiar with the location of the bus stop; print and post the bus schedule to prevent a missed bus.

The New and Improved AP History Course?

After the US History exam received criticism for how it approached and taught issues such as imperialism, slavery, racism, and American identity, the College Board just released its latest framework for the new AP US History class today on August 5, 2015.

Although the US does not have a national history curriculum yet, the AP US History course that nearly half a million students take for college credit comes the closest to a national curriculum. In 2014, the framework was changed to reflect a shift away from teaching important names and events and instead teaching the ability to interpret, comprehend and debate ideas rather than regurgitate facts. Critics of the old framework also suggested that the history was presented in too negative and political manner. Specifically, there were comments stating that the nation's founders believed in "white superiority" and that white southerners had "pride in the institution of slavery" to a line calling former President Ronald Reagan "bellicose."

The new 2015 framework has been rewritten to create a more clear and accurate, balanced approach to teaching history.

Please visit our website at http://www.beachcitiestutoring.com for more educational news blogs.

How You Can Support Your Kindergartener! More Important Than You Think......

Kindergarten is an exciting time for everyone – little kids are entering the big kid school world while parents are having their first taste of freedom. However, even kindergarteners need support to keep them engaged as they begin their educational lives.

Here are some tips that can help you support your kindergartener to ensure a successful future.

1)   Meet their teacher and learn about classroom procedures. Also, find out what they are learning in class as well as future assignments so that you can do things at home to reinforce what they are learning at school.

2)   Find out early if your child is struggling in Kindergarten compared to the rest of the class so that you can get them extra tutoring to make sure they can keep up with the class.  Self-esteem at this age is very important and delicate.

3)   Establish habits and patterns such as reading a book at night or doing homework for 30 min after school at a specific time and place so students learn good routines and study habits at a young age.

4)   Make sure they know that homework/reading/discussion time isn’t something “extra” that they have to sit through each day but it is part of the learning process at home.

5)   Try to keep a friendly open line of communication with your child’s teacher and with your child so you can find out easily if they are struggling with certain concepts.

6)   Before your child enters kindergarten try to develop oral language, listening skills and social skills as well as fine motor skills (writing and drawing). Read to them and ask them comprehension questions. These are skills that are expected early on in kindergarten.

7)   Nurture your child’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning outside the classroom to show that education is fun, rewarding and exciting. Take them to children’s museums, the Science Center, zoos, aquariums, cultural events and festivals, and classes that interest them (i.e. music, art, etc). Watch educational programs for children.

8)   Teach by example. Try to have a library in the home and make sure your children see you reading.

Finally, encourage your child to take responsibility for his behavior and explore, ask questions and talk about new ideas. This will help improve vocabulary and also build curiosity and determination.

For more educational articles, visit our website at http://www.beachcitiestutoring.com

We'd love your comments and questions.

Study Tips for Finals-Easier Than You Thought!

Tip 1: Start early
Yes, that means now. You should begin to gather you materials a few weeks in advance as well as start preparing study guides at least 2 weeks before exams.

Tip 2: Organize
Design a study plan based on the dates of each final so you can decide which material to cover each day. Schedule in your agenda the times you will study for each final so you are less likely to skip or not have enough time in your day.

Tip 3: Outline

Creating outlines is a great way to not only review material but to decipher which material is most important. If you already have outlines, highlighting the most important materials or creating cornell style notes could be another option.

Tip 4: Make flashcards
Flashcards are similar to outlining but you can quiz yourself more easily and take them with you. By copying the material onto the flashcard you are also studying without even knowing it.

Tip 5: Get help
Here is where your tutor or teacher comes in. After you have reviewed the material a few times, you can see which concepts you need to get help on. Ask your teacher or tutor about these specific items.

Tip 6: Sleep
Sleep is often underrated but without it you can set yourself up for failure even if you have put in the proper study time.

Tip 7:Stay calm
This tip is very important as well as even students who are prepared may feel overwhelmed or panic during the test. Use techniques such as doing the easiest questions first, crossing out answers that you know are wrong, taking deep breathes, pacing yourself with the clock so you know where you should be about 1/4 and 1/2 way through the test.

Tip 8: Don’t rush

You have spent at least two weeks studying.Work through the exam slowly and read all the questions before answering them. Make sure to check your work if at all possible whether it is an essay, math problems, or multiple choice.

Good luck Mustangs!!! Hope these tips help.

For more articles on educational topics, please visit our website at http://www.beachcitiestutoring.com

Computer Science Education Week- Dec 8-14!

Get ready for Computer Science Week! A special focus on this week is go get students to participate in Hour of Code. This is a one hour introduction to computer science and programming meant to teach students the basics. Many of our Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach students already have access to computer programming classes as electives but the Hour of Code is a basic introduction that students of many different ages can enjoy.

http://www.hourofcode.org  features online tutorials, videos and curriculum for classrooms. STEM education nurtures problem solving skills and creativity which the Common Core Curriculum highly encourages. Hour of Code is meant for K-12. Hope you will take advantage of it and visit their site for more info.

On a personal note, for many of my students last year at RUHS their favorite period of the day was computer programming. It offered a creative outlet and taught them skills they will use in their future jobs. They actually felt a real world connection to their learning which unfortunately not all students do feel in many of their academic core classes.

The Good News about Smarter Balanced Assessments

Last Spring, 4.2 million students in California participated in the Smarter Balanced Assessment field test. The purpose of the test was to give students an opportunity to try the online computer assessment as well as collect information from the scientific sampling from every state for use in developing cut off achievement levels. 

Ultimately, the panels of educators decided on four achievement levels or cut off scores for math and English for grades 3-8 and grade 11. Level three is proficient while level 4 is the highest level. Classroom teachers had a lot of input in creating the four achievement levels, which they based on achievement level descriptors. 

The good news about smarter balanced assessments was that although students experience high anxiety prior to the test, the actual test experience was positive. Additionally, the field test served as preparation for the computer based testing. Technology at many schools has been upgraded. The testing experience gave us information about the need to improve the accommodations for students with IEPs. Finally, the best news is that the SBAC are untimed. Students are encouraged to take as much time as they need.

How to Set Up Your Teen for Financial Success

Although we focus on tutoring and helping students achieve academic success. I am always reading articles from different sources about topics that involve children and teens. Since so many college graduates are taking longer to find their dream job, it is important to help them establish good financial habits early on. Yes, even as early as high school and college. Here are some ideas to jump-start your teen on the road to financial freedom.

1)   Help him/her list their expenses and create a budget- If they have part time job, discuss what their paycheck will cover and how you will supplement it. Be careful about just giving your teen money without knowing what it’s for.

2)   Encourage saving- Have him open a savings account where he can save money for an apt, car or other goals. Also talk to him/her about having an emergency fund and if you can match a portion of his savings that may also help provide an incentive for savings.

3)   Teach money management and investing skills- If they are earning some money, consider helping them open a brokerage account and/or Roth IRA to start investing.

4)   Promote joining professional organizations/clubs in college-This can provide networking opportunities to increase his/her chance of obtaining a job after college.

5)   Create goals-Help your teen develop career and financial goals and brainstorm the steps to achieve these goals.

Although there are many different paths to financial success, the above suggestions can help your teen develop habits that will teach responsibility and independence.

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