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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.

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.

Math skills are inherently important to your child’s schooling; especially as they get closer to high school, where more advanced concepts are taught. Math skills can also be important for college admissions, and a variety of careers. If your child is struggling with math, here are a few ways to help them brush up on and improve their skills.

Cover the basics
Make sure your child understands the basic concepts and facts of math or they will have difficulties as they advance through the grades. Flash cards can be helpful in practicing areas where their skills need help, and some students can benefit from using objects or visualization to better understand problems.

Do Homework the Right Way
Math homework is a central part of driving home the lessons taught in the classroom. Teach your child to start each assignment by first reviewing the examples given. It’s also a good idea to have them try to redo the examples before starting the assignment. This calls to attention any gaps in knowledge or places where they are working incorrectly. It also avoids the frustration of them struggling through an assignment they don’t properly understand.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Practicing math problems is one of the best ways to check for understanding. The teacher may have only assigned one page of problems, but encourage your student to do a few extra problems here and there. The more they work on the concepts, the more they will become second nature to them.

Math Vocabulary
Mastering the concepts with numbers is one thing, but when it comes to word problems, many students get intimidated or frustrated. You can avoid this by helping students in their approach to word problems. Have them read the problem multiple times and identify exactly what they are trying to figure out. If they have to draw diagrams or describe it out loud, that’s okay. If they are having problems with certain steps in a sequence, try substituting smaller, easier numbers to work with and then move up to larger numbers or decimals. Word problems also require a fair amount of vocabulary, so it’s important to check for understanding of basic and new terms. Sometimes working through actual examples is the best way to teach new vocabulary.

Encourage Math in Their Head
It’s not always appropriate, but your child should be able to do math in their head. Discourage them from using a calculator with numbers that are easy to work with. Using a paper and pencil reinforces their knowledge and leaves them less dependent on a machine to figure out the work for them. Doing math in their head doesn’t only have to involve homework. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to do some simple arithmetic, keeping the brain fresh. Ask them to calculate the change you are owed at the store, or to help you double a recipe or balance the checkbook.

Don’t Wait to Help
It’s very important that math questions and uncertainties be addressed as they arise. This is especially true for math because it is always building upon previous knowledge and concepts. Children who feel lost can quickly get discouraged and become uninterested in or intimidated by math. If you feel your child is not grasping the material, tutoring is a great alternative for them to practice specific skills, brush up on class material, and build their confidence.

Source: Gisler, Peggy and Marge Eberts. “Top 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math.” www.school.familyeducation.com.

Aside from those people who enjoyed reading Shakespeare and Wuthering Heights, many of us may remember inching through difficult literary tomes in middle and high school. You can imagine that to today’s technologically-savvy students, making their way through Macbeth or War and Peace is just as hard as ever. But with some preplanning, you can help your student make it through the reading in time and with a fine grasp on the material.

Plan the Attack

It’s important to start daunting assignments with some kind of logical plan. Figure out how long the reading assignment is and how many days the student has to complete it. Make a general plan of how many pages must be read per night. However, remember to be flexible: some students will benefit from reading just a few dense pages per night, while others may like to “get in the zone” and do larger chunks of reading, less often.

Consider Different Media

Maybe your child needs an extra boost in making it through the difficult reading material. It’s okay to bring in audio recordings that they can listen to while reading along in their actual book. Movies and onscreen plays can be helpful (just make sure they stay true to their original version) in extending your child’s grasp on the plot, character development and main messages. Some children are more visual learners and would benefit from seeing the play in action, rather than trying to illuminate it with just their imagination alone.

It’s Okay to Get Help from Other Sources

No teacher would be disappointed or upset to hear that your student is using a study guide to help them make their way through a difficult text. As long as the study guide or cliff notes aren’t used in place of the real thing, there’s no harm in having it explained more in depth and in clearer language. Some of these things were written a long time ago.

Help From Parents and Tutors

In place of study guides, students may also benefit from seeking help from the adults around them. If you’re motivated, suggest reading the book at the same time as your child, so you can help them through difficult passages or unclear meanings, and also try to get them excited about the subject, or make modern day comparisons to the topics being addressed. If you feel your child is truly struggling, you may want to approach the teacher for his or her suggestions, or have a tutor walk through and review the material closely with your student.

Source: “Tackling Tough Reading Assignments.”www.life.familyeducation.com

A new study conducted by researchers at Rutgers University has found surprising results regarding struggling students and mathematics. The study focused on minority and low-income students at low performing schools for seven years, and found that those students who struggled their way through difficult math problems eventually had improved test scores and achievements.

According to associate professor Roberta Schorr, researchers found “there is a healthy amount of frustration that’s productive,” and that students gain satisfaction after struggling with a difficult problem. She further explained that many student’s talents go unnoticed without them being effectively challenged. The important piece is that this challenge takes place in a nurturing environment.

Schorr points to the common misconception that a student’s motivation has to do with his or her general preference toward or against math. But what her group found was that students who worked on tough problems with support felt satisfaction in addition to their frustrations, and were driven to work harder in the future—whether they reported “liking” math or not.

Debra Joseph-Charles, a former Newark middle school math teacher who is now a math coach in the district, put these findings to work. She gave her students complex word problems and then allowed them time to work at them in ways that pulled from each student’s individual strengths. In other words, visual learners could draw out the problem on paper and so on, integrating the theory of multiple learning types into the way she instructed the math class.

Using the Rutgers group learning method, the students in Joseph-Charles’s class then split into groups and explained how they arrived at their answer. Others in the group could give feedback about their methods, and then each group presented the best method to the class. Joseph-Charles saw a vast improvement in the students who were formerly failing or struggling. This improvement lead to better confidence, and these same students began showing more interest in math and, in turn, test scores began to rise.

This interesting study points back to motivation and its direct relation to success in math. When students are presented with difficult mathematical problems, but are supported as they work through them, they come away with a positive feeling, recognizing that frustration can be an opportunity for success, rather than a precursor to failure. It’s an important lesson that can be employed in other subjects, and in life goals in general.

Source: Yeung, Bernice. “Arithmetic Underachievers Overcome Frustration to Succeed,” www.edutopia.org.

By Ellen Dye, PhD

The first step in combatting homework problems is developing an understanding of the reasons your child is having difficulty.   Some kids neglect their work due to personality characteristics or normal developmental challenges.  Still others may be bored by a particular subject and make their homework in that class a low priority.  For many kids, effective tutoring can be an important part of the solution.

Other kids may have more significant learning issues.  Some bright students have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or unidentified learning disabilities.  The best approach to identifying the cause of homework problems is to discuss the situation with your child.  Even teenagers can be surprisingly forthcoming when parents have a positive attitude and show a genuine desire to comprehend the student’s perspective.

Kids who continue to struggle despite the best efforts of parents, teachers, and tutors may need more thorough evaluation by a psychologist. Recommendations can include homework strategies, school accommodations, diagnoses, and referrals to appropriate resources.  Parents and students are also educated about the child’s learning style, which is critical in deciding how to approach a problem and to make future academic decisions.  Tutors can work with parents and teachers to implement the recommended strategies.

In some cases, psychotherapy may be a critical component of solving academic problems.  Students are often more willing to communicate with a neutral professional who is not involved in monitoring their academic progress than they are with parents, teachers, and even supportive tutors.  A therapist is essential if underlying psychological disorders, such as depression, are at the root of the problem.  Family therapy can be helpful in improving parent-child communication and helping a student to understand that parents are on her/his side and are the student’s best advocates and advisors.

Ellen Dye is a Licensed Psychologist in Rockville, MD Ellen Dye, Ph.D. For additional information, she can be contacted at (301)770-0275 or EDyePhD@aol.com

Standardized Tests Don’t Reflect Real Education. It’s true that some students naturally perform better on standardized tests than others, but there are important academic skills that are covered by these types of tests. For example, the ACT and SAT tests each have students write a timed essay, in which they must develop a thesis, organize information, and use persuasive strategies to drive their point home. This is an important skill that will pop up again in their college courses, as well as in their future place in the job market.

SAT and ACT tests also allow students to better recognize their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to grammar, reading and mathematics. Each of these disciplines, while they may not be the student’s favorite, will be important in their academic careers. Throughout their lives, students will be judged by their ability to communicate clearly, comprehend and respond to the written word, and employ basic mathematics.

Students Attending Good Schools Are Well Prepared. A good school curriculum does not necessarily directly relate to the material in standardized tests. In the SAT and ACT tests, students may encounter content that was taught to them several years ago, or that was never taught in an effective way. Some students are surprised to see material from middle school pop up on these tests, such as certain math or grammar foundations. That’s why it’s important for students to review their whole body of knowledge, not just rely on what they’ve learned recently to carry them through the test. Often sessions with tutors addressing SAT/ACT prep can help them review some of the foundation concepts that more advanced skills are built upon, making sure they are comfortable with their knowledge across the board.

Don’t Try to Beat the System. It’s true there is some strategy to taking the SAT and ACT tests, but be weary of general advice that doesn’t rely on a true demonstration of what the student has learned. For example, picking a random letter when unsure of a multiple choice question isn’t always in the student’s best interest.

Other advice regarding essay questions can also hurt a student’s performance. For example, some people believe it doesn’t matter what students write their essay about, as long as the essays sound good and fill the given space. The truth is the scorers of these tests are well educated and are looking for appropriate tone, style and substance more than length and fancy wording.

When it comes to the math sections, some advise students to plug in each answer and use their calculator to test them. While this may allow students to arrive at the correct answer, it not only wastes time but also eliminates their efficient modes of thinking and reasoning through each question. It undermines the very knowledge the students have worked so hard to gain.

The same goes for the reading sections and those who suggest skipping a thorough reading of the passage and simply testing each answer. Many of the questions on the comprehension sections not only ask for specific details, but also test student’s understanding of the author’s tone and overarching message-an important part of developing proper reading and comprehension skills.

So how can you help your student avoid these tempting but inefficient strategies? A timed practice test goes a long way in locating areas where students can use some brushing up with their parents, teachers or tutors.

Source: “SAT and ACT Myth Busting.” www.education.com