Becoming a lifelong learner starts with a love of reading that is for
more than just information, but to expose our brains to ideas we have
not yet stumbled upon. Parents can enhance their children’s education
in simple ways. Take the simple tradition of a bedtime story for
example. Parents can engage their children in conversation that will
challenge the idea of the story. A starting point for a great dialogue
could be as easy as: What did you think of this story? Are you like
the main character at all? If you could change one part of the story
what would it be, how do you think it would change the ending? Parents
don’t be afraid to disagree and challenge your child’s ideas and
thoughts, they will be eager to challenge yours once a safe
intellectual environment is created!

The Thoughtful Literacy Book Club for children can help your child
apply skills and techniques learned during their one-on-one sessions
with Ashley Tutors. It is a complementary program to the engaging and
irreplaceable one-on-one instruction your child is currently receiving
with their individualized tutor. The book club program will enhance
your child’s confidence among peers, allowing them to shine in the
21st century classroom. Registration is now open for the April book
club sessions. For times and locations please visit www.tlbookclub.com.

The commonly forgotten aspect of exam week to think about it stress. Stress levels have a major impact on performance during exam week.

We have collected some tips from our tutors, students, and past experiences that we thought would be valuable to share before exam week begins.

1. Avoid stressful people – Stress seems to be contagious this time of year. Make a schedule and stick to it so unexpected surprises don’t come along — if you are able to stop studying for long enough to hang out with a friend, make sure it is someone who relaxes you.

2. Eat healthy, sleep, and exercise – Remember to take care of yourself during exam week and don’t spend all night studying.

3. Be optimistic – A positive outlook may bring more favorable results upon you. Make sure you have a confident attitude and study so you have the knowledge to back it up.

4. Force yourself to take breaks – Your mind can only focus for so long without being distracted. One practice is to have clear objectives and to break after each short task is complete. Another is to take a scheduled break every 45 minutes to let your brain relax.

5. Learn how to say NO to friends, family, and other things that take up your time – Let them know you have a plan and what you are doing to study and stays stress free.

Good luck during finals! Read more about how to stay stress free at eHow and see what others are doing to improve stress levels for students in the NYTimes.

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.

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.

Families in our area are already scheduling tutoring sessions throughout the fall. They recognize the importance of consistently working with their tutor to have the most successful school year yet. It is essential to make a commitment to learning early in the school year so that you don’t have to worry about falling behind or cramming over the next few months.

Look at your calendar and choose the Ashley Tutors’ Learning Package that best fits your needs. Remember, packages are good through June 30, 2012 and may be split among multiple children in a family! If you decide you need to buy more hours in the middle of the year, email Joshua@AshleyTutors.com and we will be happy to honor your package rate.

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful summer – filled with fun and lots of learning!   My team of tutors and I have mixed in some tutoring with time off as well, recharging our instructor batteries. We consider it a great privilege and responsibility to be a part of your child’s education and development. I am very proud of the great work this team has done the past five years, and want to share some remarkable new opportunities for our families this fall.

• Ashley Tutors will offer discount packages to all clients during the school year for the first time. The $75 fee for hourly tutoring will also stay the same. Even better, the new cost-saving packages are valid for the entire school year. If you have more than one child, don’t forget that hours can be shared among siblings in families! The hourly fee and new packages will go into effect on September 1, 2011.
• You’ll receive even more information about your child’s progress this year. In just weeks, parents will receive an email before each tutoring session, detailing the session’s goals. You can easily compare this preview to the post-session report to track your child’s progress.
• As we continue to enhance our communication tools about your child’s progress, I will set up monthly online “classroom” chats. The chats will have specific topics about education, a guest tutor who will be our expert, and a Q&A session. The first chat is slated for mid October. More details will follow shortly.
• Later this fall, families will have the option to book online tutoring with their instructors. This is not designed to replace our one-on-one, in-home tutoring, but will undoubtedly help during any last minute, possibly late night questions.  It should also provide an option for “meeting” when schedules don’t match up or there is severe weather.
• To protect your privacy and streamline the payment process, Ashley Tutors has a new automatic payment program. This is a hassle-free and secure system, using a new triple encrypted, state-of-the-art online payment gateway. No card information is ever shown to any Ashley Tutors employees.  We will still charge cards twice a month and cards will be charged right away when you purchase a package.

As many of you share with me and my team, communication between parent and tutor is essential to a child’s overall success. This communication will continue to be strengthened this year, and I welcome your suggestions about any part of our program.

Please call me directly or schedule a face-to-face appointment with me if you want additional information about your child’s progress or any way that Ashley Tutors can help you and your family. As the new school year begins, I look forward to working with your family again to help make your child’s learning enriching and enjoyable.

Sincerely,

Joshua Chernikoff
President, Ashley Tutors

ENTER TO WIN! Purchase your package by September 1, 2011 and you will be entered to win two PREMIUM CAPITALS TICKETS for this upcoming season! Email Joshua@AshleyTutors.com for more information.

Do you know what “Brain Drain” is?
MSNBC reports many children lose more than 2 months worth of knowledge without academic reinforcement over the summer. Educators call this loss “Brain Drain” and it can be avoided easily by participating in active learning over the summer.

Ashley Tutors research showed:
- 85% of parents Ashley Tutors surveyed say it takes more than one week to “get back in the groove” each September
- Reports show students lose two months of progress on average over the summer when they don’t work to maintain knowledge
- Organization, math, and motivation were the top three areas where parents would like to see their child gain skills

Thinking about getting started?
Summer learning packages are available in all sizes (as little as 5 hours) — customized to fit your summer needs. Give us a call or email today if you are interested!

Here are some fun, educational activities that students and their families can do to make those long ummer days more productive. This will keep your child sharp and ready to learn when September rolls
around.

1. Take a walk to the library or bookstore and pick out a fun book that the student didn’t get to read during the school year.  Then, parents need to make time for family reading time.  Discuss story lements, character traits, and do vocabulary activities to learn and understand the meaning of new words.  In a word: read!

2.  Just because it is the summer doesn’t mean kids have nothing to do.  Have your child keep a daily planner for walking the dog, mowing the lawn or going to swim practice.  A planner for each day will
keep them in the habit of staying organized.

3.  Take a “field trip” to get ice cream, go to a museum or the grocery store.  Make sure to read words all around you such as signs on the streets and the menu at the ice cream shop.  Before you pay for the
ice cream, have your child count the money and keep those math skills up.

4.  Have your child keep a writing journal to keep them in the habit of writing on a regular basis.  Kids can write for 20 minutes about 3 times a week.  They can write about their summer, compose a creative story, or even write a play.

5. Take time to invent a new math game using dice, cards, and dominos for the whole family to play.  Make fun flash cards to help practice math facts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division.

6. Get out there and play!  Being outside and physical activity is proven to have a positive effect on students.  Explore nature, go to a park and the zoo – just be active.

The first day of school quickly follows summer vacation.  MSNBC reported many children lose more than two months’ worth of knowledge without academic reinforcement over the summer. Educators and psychologists call this “Brain Drain,” and there is a good chance your child has experienced this more than once!

Sound familiar?

Watch Ashley Tutors talking about “Brain Drain” on NBC4 here!