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Occupation: TV Writer, Producer, Videographer, Washington Redskins

Degree/Major/College: BA, Print Journalism, American University

Favorite subject and why? History. There’s nothing I like better than learning about people and places.

Why do you tutor? I grew up in a family of teachers (Mom, aunts, grandparents) who early on instilled in me a love of learning and helping others. Plus, I got a little bored of listening to the endless educational discussions that are a staple of any family gathering without having anything to add.

Best tutoring moment: The mother of one of my students forwarded me her son’s report card. His English teacher  mentioned how much progress he had made in the past few months, saying she couldn’t believe it was the same student. Knowing how far my student had come since I began tutoring him, made me so proud that he might as well have been my son. It is moments like that that make tutoring worthwhile.

What are you reading now? Re-reading one of my favorite books, “Balkan Ghosts” by Robert Kaplan.

Extracurricular Activities: the three R’s: reading, writing and karaoke

Interesting tidbits: Besides working for the Redskins I spent one season with the Washington Nationals, working for a team that lost 102 games. Thanks to that horrific season, the Nats had the #1 pick in the draft the next year, taking Stephen Strasburg. You’re welcome, Washington.

Like any other muscle, the brain must be constantly exercised and used to stay in the best shape possible and some experts’ estimate that children lose one to two months of academic gain over the summer.  Research from John Hopkins University suggests that summer learning loss is a crucial factor in children falling behind in school. Their study showed that 65 percent of the achievement gap found in children in some families was due to a disparity in learning opportunities over the summer. With summer just around the corner, you can take action now to make sure your child can keep their brain active!

Parents can show their children that learning happens all year round.  Summer tutoring is a great option because your child does not have the homework demands of the school year and the tutor has more flexibility of what to cover.  Therefore, the tutor can fill holes from the previous year and also prepare your student for next year’s challenging classes.

For those interested in a group learning environment this summer, Ashley Tutors and Peer2Peer Tutor’s DCSummerLearn program in August is a great, affordable opportunity designed to help your child stay on track over the summer and prepare for the workload ahead.  With small groups of 12-15 students, your child gets the hands-on attention and structure he or she needs, but in a fun, social setting that integrates learning and physical activity. For more information and to enroll your child, please go to www.DCSummerLearn.com.  Parents of students in grades 1 through 5 can check out Ashley Tutors’ DC BoostCamp, where they receive similar, customized training in a fun, academic setting. Check www.DCBoostCamp.com for registration.

Some of the best learning happens when children are having so much fun they don’t even realize it and summer is a great time to demonstrate to children that learning can take on creative forms and doesn’t always have to feel like work. Trips to the library, grocery store, parks, and museums can lend itself to numerous learning opportunities.  Here are a few effective tips for summer learning that you might not realize at first glance:

A Trip to the Library

The library may not exactly be on your radar, with the Internet, e-books and other forms of technological media at our fingers. But sometimes nothing is more powerful than a good book to throw in the summer beach bag. What’s great about libraries is that they have so much specialized material that your child is sure to find a topic that really interests them. Let them choose something a little more creative than the usual summer reading list—the more interested they are in the subject or book, the more likely they are to follow through and read it.

Sneak in Some Math

Because math is an accumulative subject, and one that doesn’t necessarily get daily practice, it’s important to keep math skills fresh over break. Here too, you can be creative and innovative. Trips to the grocery store and cooking are both great ways to integrate mathematics like fractions, and other less obvious activities such as playing an instrument helps students learn more abstract skills like pattern recognition and timing. Many board and online games also involve mathematical concepts in subtle but fun ways.

Be of Service

Some activities allow for more social or emotional learning, which is just as important to your child’s growth and development. Volunteering at soup kitchens and other community service activities often create life changing experiences, and help children feel grateful for what they have and compassionate for those with less. Research has shown links between community service and effective learning. There are numerous organizations and causes that need your help. Let your child choose one that is meaningful to him or her.

Mini-vacations

Not everything has to be a grand excursion. Planning day trips to local parks, museums and nature centers is a great way to combine an adventure with new knowledge. Scavenger hunts are a tried and true fun exercise, or you can purchase guidebooks and seek out and identify local flowers, insects and birds. Activities like these help build observational and analytical skills, and teach an appreciation for the beauty of nature.

Source: Weinstein, Anna. “Summer Learning on a Budget,” www.education.com.

It’s getting closer every day: summer! With less than 75 days left in the school year, it’s crucial to make sure your child is prepared for the whirlwind days that wind down the academic year.  Read more…

Here are some tips to help your child be prepared for the days ahead, and to keep their spirits and focus high before summer days are upon us.

Ducks in a Row

Perhaps most important in finishing up the school year strong is that students should really take this time to reflect upon the past year and the course material. A good, simple way to start is to take a look at what is on your child’s plate. Make a list of all the final projects and assignments, and their due dates, so your child can begin to plan their schedule accordingly and avoid cramming last minute or rushing important projects with heavy grade value.

Stay Focused

This is also the time of year where teachers are figuring out and assigning final grades, so it’s very important that students show their best efforts and continue to participate in class and follow up on anything they don’t understand. One easy way to help your student stay focused is to keep an emphasis on their school days as the year winds down. Continue to ask about what they learned each day, what exams they are nervous about, and what material they feel they’ve aced. This kind of continued effort to be involved reinforces the importance of these last school days, and helps students realize summer is not here just yet! Also, remind students of any special goals they set earlier in the year. Did they want to bring their math grade up, or get better feedback on their essays? Whatever the goal, show them that you are there to help them achieve it.

Plan of Attack

Make sure students pay special attention to any courses where they have struggled in the past, and particularly those where they are trying to bring their grades up as much as possible before the year ends. It’s very likely that students will have final tests and exams that cover the scope of material learned throughout the entire year. This can seem daunting, especially with subjects or lessons they struggled with early in the year that seem far away to them now, but with a little review—whether with your help or the added help of tutoring sessions—children can feel confident with their grasp of the course material. Maybe your child needs the benefit of extra tutoring sessions, to help drive lessons and course material home and help keep their frustrations down. This kind of help can work wonders towards a positive approach to the last weeks of school and avoid the common burnout students face anticipating the freedom of summer.

Summer Schooling

Finally, it’s a good idea to not give students the impression that once the final school bell of the year rings, learning is on a hiatus until fall. Make it clear that your child will need to continue to learn over summer, and that keeping their scholastic skills up to par will benefit them next year. Be clear on any plans for summer tutoring, or other academic-related activities they have on their plate. They should be looking forward to summer, but not expecting to spend their days wasting away in front of the TV or computer. Make plans for summer reading, to visit museums or special camps, libraries, and other educational, but fun activities.

While snow days are nothing but fun for students, those in our area are now paying the price for those wintry days off with more pressure in the classroom.

Regardless of what was decided for each individual county, with the end of the year approaching, and the potential of fewer school days, the snow days leave for a lot of material to be covered in a short amount of time.  Read more…

There is always a bit of the “crunch feeling” to the last months of school. However, with the added impact of a generous winter, this year many teachers now have to move through lesson plans more quickly, to ensure they cover all the material before breaking for the summer.

This not only adds pressure to teachers and administrators, but also to the students, who are expected to keep up with the faster pace, and who may experience less time to grasp materials and practice course lessons than usual. In situations like these, a tutor can help your student fill in the gaps and help them practice and reinforce any weak areas or subjects. Tutoring sessions help guide your child through the end of the year push, keeping them at their best, and ensuring that they finish off the year confident and feeling positive about their ability to “get it.”

Strauss, Valerie. “MoCo schools won’t make up snow days.” March 17, 2010, www.washingtonpost.com.

“How will schools make up missed days?” Feb. 16, 2010, www.wtop.com.

There is a lot of information, classes and books available on how to master your test taking abilities for the SATs and ACT tests. While it is important to practice the skills that are necessary to do well on these tests, it is also very important to know the differences between them. Being informed on each test’s highlights, challenges and implications will help you and your child decide which one is best for him or her.

Generally speaking, the SAT and ACT tests attempt to gauge a student’s readiness for college. However, each test has a slightly different focus when it comes to material.

The ACT
The ACT exam is made up of four main sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The test is a multiple-choice test that takes place over approximately three hours. Recently, the ACT has also added a writing section, which includes an essay response that adds another 30 minutes to the test.

The scoring for ACT is based on a scale of 1 to 36 for each test section, with the final score being an average of all sections. Students are not penalized for incorrect answers, so there is no penalty for guessing. Colleges receiving scores see both the individual score and its relation to the percentile rank of national test-takers.

The SAT
In comparison, the SAT consists of three test sections: Math, Critical Reading and Writing. The SAT runs about 3 hours and 45 minutes, similar to the test time for the ACT. The writing section of the SAT is not optional and one section of the SAT is experimental, but the test taker does not know which one it is. SAT students will be faced with both multiple choice and constructed response items in the math section. The critical reading section is multiple-choice only, and the writing section is multiple-choice with one essay response.

Scores are based on a scale from 200 to 800 points. Students are penalized for incorrect answers, so knowing when to guess is important (random guessing is not recommended). Like the ACT, colleges and universities see both the individual’s test score and a percentile rank relative to national test-takers.

Origins Reveal Important Difference?
Many educators feel there is an important distinction between the two exams. The SAT, created in the mid 1920s, was crafted as a test of aptitude (it was originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test). The format, content and scoring has changed several times in the years since it was created, and it is now said to be an aptitude test that covers a broad area, and is not tied to a specific course or curriculum. The College Board, who creates the test, claims that it calls upon the cognitive skills necessary for college success.

Developers of the ACT, on the other hand, cite its link between test content and the curricula of high schools. It was not designed as an aptitude test. Instead, the test makers claim, it directly tests students on what they have learned in school courses in English, math, and science.

Which One Should Your Child Choose?
Most colleges and universities accept both the SAT and ACT. There are conversion scales available online so you can compare an SAT score to an ACT score. Keep in mind what your child’s target schools require for admissions as this may sway your decision.

Don’t let yourself get too crazy over the choice–the tests are not vastly different. The difference could be described by the difference between milk chocolate and dark chocolate: there is a difference, but in the end they are both just types of chocolate. Many experts claim that most students do fairly similarly on either test, and that has been our experience working with students who take both. Your child may have a tendency to do better on one or the other, but it most likely will be a relatively small difference.

To figure out which test is a better fit, consider what your child’s strengths are. Students who enjoy and excel in writing often prefer the SAT, given its mandatory timed essay and vocabulary questions. The ACT doesn’t test vocabulary directly, but through it’s reading test items. Students who have trouble with scientific thinking may feel challenged by the ACT’s science reasoning section, but those who like to reason scientifically may excel on this section. The ACT math section features 60 questions, some of which include concepts of trigonometry, while the SAT does not contain any trigonometry and has more math logic questions (tricky!) than the ACT.

Ultimately, students and parents have to decide which test will best showcase the student’s skills. Taking a timed practice test in each can be a good way to get a better idea of which test suits a child’s strengths and academic goals.

“Source: “Preparation for College Admissions Exams: Comparing the SAT and ACT and What They Measure.” Education Resources Information Center: eric.ed.gov.

Ashley Tutors recently paired up with One on One Basketball, a local youth basketball camp, to put this new concept into action. Once a week, from April to June, participants in the Homework and Hoops program (for grades K-5) will meet for two-hour sessions where they strengthen their academic skills while playing in basketball drills and supervised games. Each session is with a certified, accredited teacher from Ashley Tutors. Broken into four quarters—studying, shooting hoops, study skills building, and then a real basketball game—the program helps identify opportunities for individual growth and provides a way for children to brush up on their schoolwork in a fun setting they will look forward to each week.

Mixing tutoring with supervised play is better for exercise and academics, according to Ashley Tutors CEO Josh Chernikoff. “Studies from Duke and the University of Michigan show this type of kinesthetic learning improves test scores and retained learning,” he said. “With supervised play and professional teachers, Montgomery County parents know that their children are learning, getting ready for the end of the school year and having fun while exercising.”

Besides being a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy, exercise can directly help in the learning process. According to John Ratey, a Harvard University psychiatrist, incorporating exercise into learning has actual, measurable effects on the brain. When stimulated, a child’s heart rate will increase, says Ratey, changing the blood flow and “activating the brain differently than when they’re sitting down.” While this doesn’t necessarily ensure that kids will grasp the lesson before them, it can make them more attentive, clear headed and ready to learn.

While this catches on in classrooms, you can easily bring it into your home by adding physical activities as a study break for your child. Instead of the snack break, try rewarding your child with 10 minutes of playtime after they meet a certain study goal. Or, if you find that your child is zoning out in the middle of their work, encourage them to take a short break.

This can include a brisk walk around the block with you and the family dog, shooting some basketball, doing a yoga DVD, dancing to a favorite album, or any other physical activities. This type of physical relief after time spent studying has obvious affects for those students who have a hard time sitting still, or who are more kinetic learners. Expending energy helps students refresh and get back on task without being distracted or bored. It also brings a little bit of fun into the otherwise dry task of homework and studying, so it feels like less of a chore.

Source: Aubrey, Allison. “Deskercise: Staying Jazzed and Focused At School.” February, 26, 2009, www.npr.org.

It seems like the New Year just started, but it’s true—summer vacation is not too far around the corner. While it may not feel like it to you, chances are students are starting to feel the spring fever, and will soon have their sights set on the upcoming vacation.

While the students may have visions of mornings spent sleeping in and lounging in swimming pools, many teachers are gearing up to grade big, final assignments or major tests and exams. This is why it’s important that your student stay focused until the very end of the academic year.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t start to get them excited about the reward of summer break that awaits them. It’s wise to start planning for summer now, to make sure your student has the tools he or she needs to finish the year strong and stay sharp over break.

Checking in Now
Before the school year ends, it’s important to check in with your child’s school status. Are they struggling in any specific areas? Has their interest, and grade, in a certain subject begun to wane? Are they having a hard time staying organized on their final paper or project? Regardless of what the issue is, it’s important to address any school troubles now, so that students can finish off the year strong and confident.

It may be beneficial to check in with your child’s teacher to ask if he or she has noticed any particular areas of struggle. Perhaps your student could benefit from longer tutor sessions as they review course material for the final exam. Or maybe they just need a little more practice with their math problems to drive the lessons home.

Planning Ahead
Depending on your child’s age, it may be wise to start making some plans for summer now. Teenagers may want to start applying for summer jobs in the areas they’re interested in, or perhaps they want to begin to make arrangements for a summer internship. Younger students may want to sign up for classes, workshops or summer camps that allow them to explore their interests. Finding something they’re interested in makes it easier for them to get excited about activities that keep their minds and skills fresh. Whatever their interest, it’s a good idea to set the standards and expectations now, so kids know the summer won’t be spent lying around.

Squeeze in Schooling
Students can also greatly benefit from tutoring sessions over the summer. This is a great way to give students an edge for when they return to school after the break. It also allows them to focus on trouble areas without the added stress of other classes and assignments. Make your tutoring plans with your child now, so you can mark the calendar so there’s no excuses when it’s study time.

Set Goals and Rewards
Talk to your child now about what his or her goals are over the summer. Do they want to spend time with friends and family they don’t get to see often? Travel to a special museum or park? Enroll in an art class or sports program? Again, it’s important to work with kids, so together you can agree on activities that are a good combination of fun and learning.

It’s probably one of the age-old challenges for teachers, parents and tutors alike—the average student just doesn’t like doing homework. But the fact remains that homework is a crucial part of the learning process and needs to be done. Growing up, most of us didn’t like homework, but we recognized or learned quickly that it was a necessary part of schooling and we did it.

Whether students lack the motivation, don’t care about their grades or don’t see the real value in it, the excuses for skipping out on homework are numerous. If homework time turns into a fight every night in your house it’s time to get to the bottom of it. Talk to your child and find out why homework is such a struggle. They may have never really thought at length about this, and making them put it into words may lead to some important revelations.

In the meantime, here are some of the classic excuses for trying to get out of homework, and how you can try to work around them.

What’s the point?

Students who use this excuse are having a hard time seeing the relationship between homework and the real world. They need to be taught that homework goes beyond practicing the material learned in class and is also a lesson in responsibility and time management. This cycle of assignments and deadlines put them in practice for their eventual career and builds responsibility skills.

Homework turns into an argument!

Homework is one area where students can exert control and ignore their parent’s instructions. Whether they realize it or not, students often use homework as a power play when they feel like they don’t have control over other areas. The best way to address this is to give your child some more control. A good way to do this is instead of giving complete control, offer your child choices, so either decision is a good one: “You can choose from 3 topics for your history essay; which one do you want to do most?” Or: “Do you want to start with science or math homework first?” Giving children a choice and then following through with it teaches them that their opinion matters, and helps boost their own motivation.

It’s just one assignment. No big deal!

Students don’t always realize the impact a single “zero” can have on their overall grade. Show them some simple math to demonstrate that one missed assignment can do some serious damage to their grade, or if you can check grades electronically, log in to see how the grade changes after assignments.

I lost my homework!

Some students just have a harder time staying organized than others. Make it easy for your child to keep all important papers in their right place, whether he or she needs to put all homework into one folder, have separate binders for each class, or some other arrangement. Staying organized avoids students getting frustrated before they even start their assignments.

It takes too long!

This may be for a number of reasons. Often, homework takes longer than expected because the student is distracted, or multi-tasking. Make sure your student isn’t watching TV, texting or surfing the Internet while working on homework. This goes a long way toward time-management lessons and skill building. However, remember that some students may have a real issue with the material that does make homework hard to get through in a timely manner, and would benefit from reviewing it with the help of a tutor.

Source: Kruger, Susan. “Homework: What to Do When Students Don’t Do It.” www.soarstudyskills.com.

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has gotten a lot of attention recently. When children fall behind or are struggling in class, ADHD is often the first thought. But, according to Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide, authors of The Mislabeled Child, a potential attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be covering up the real issue—dyslexia. Thought to occur in as many as one in 10 people, dyslexia is a commonly misdiagnosed issue.

Children struggling from dyslexia are often considered to be slow, sloppy, or inattentive, which, according to the Eides, is a major misrepresentation. “Dyslexics are overrepresented in creative and inventive fields like art and architecture, or computers and engineering,” says Fernette Eide. “As young people, their gifts and talents may be overlooked because society only sees their weakest link.”

While dyslexia is a common learning disability, parents and teachers may not be aware of some of its telling signs. Because of this, the Eides feel its even more important for parents to watch out for signs so they can get their child the proper evaluation and help he or she needs.

Here are some red flags, according to the authors:

-Slow and strained reading, especially when reading aloud

-Difficulty understanding or appreciating rhymes

-May skip small words, such as “a”, “an” or “the” while reading

-Dislikes or avoids reading aloud

-Performs better with oral tests

-Better listening comprehension than reading comprehension

-Mixes up order of letters

-Reverses letters or has unusual spelling errors

-Makes wild guesses with new words

-Careless errors in reading test instructions or in math problems

If your child is struggling, the important part is to address the situation right away to figure out the underlying problem. Whether it’s ADHD, dyslexia, another learning disability, or simply being behind in class material, the sooner the diagnosis, the sooner you can get your child the help he or she needs.

Source: Wood, Danielle. “Not ADHD? Think Dyslexia.” www.education.com.

The types of things teenagers spend their time worrying about can seem like small potatoes compared to real-world, adult issues. But, adolescent years are very important years filled with change and development, as young adults begin to figure out who they are and what is important to them. While many teens process these difficult, identity-forming changes by pulling away from their parents, it’s important to stay connected with your teen and be there when they turn to you for support. Peer pressure and media-delivered messages can be powerful and persuasive to young adults. It’s normal for teens to want to spend more time with their friends, but research shows that when parents offer an open, supportive environment at home, kids are more likely to make the right choices on their own.

Even though it may not always seem like it, your teen does want to feel connected to you. Here are some steps parents can take toward keeping the lines of communication open and creating an encouraging parent-child relationship.

Listen Up

Teenagers often complain that their parents don’t really listen to them. It’s important to them that parents are interested in what they have to say. Show your child that you are paying attention when they decide to share with you by asking questions, or discussing topics that interest them.

Time Together

Even though they want to run off with their friends at any free moment, it’s important to still do things together as a family. Movie night or shopping trips are classic examples, or you can get creative by participating in an organized activity, class or workshop. Family dinners are an important and easy time to sit down together too.

A Little Help From Friends

Since teens want to be everywhere with their friends, it’s important to integrate their friends into certain activities. Knowing about their friends also shows that you listen and care who your child spends his or her time with. It’s a good idea to know the friend’s parents too, so you know what kind of environment your child will be in when they are with their friends.

Great Expectations and Goals

While it may not always seem like it, teenagers still turn to parents for praise and encouragement. They want to make you proud, so talking about your expectations and values teaches kids how to make better, more informed choices. Setting long-term goals is also a great way for kids to start taking responsibility for their own actions and future. Young adults who have plans to go to college or enter a specific career typically make smarter choices.

Be Open

It’s important to not only be open when it comes to communication, but also to be open to your child’s individuality. When kids feel that they are supported for who they are, they often find it easier to discuss difficult topics with their parents, getting the guidance they need to discover their own identity and easing the transition into adulthood.

Source: Allen, Kim, “What Can Parents Do To Keep Connection With Their Teens?” www.missourifamilies.org.