As most parents are now aware, students are being given the SAT during school hours on April 14, 2010. How can your student make the most of this opportunity?
1. Students at many schools were given a copy of the College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide. Encourage your students to take a look at the practice tests contained in the latter half on the book. These tests are identical in structure and similar in content to what will be on the actual SAT.
2. Have your student get familiar with the time limits for each section. If possible, have your student take one of the eight practice tests. Set up a timer and have your student adhere to the time limits.
3. Have your student grade the test, following the directions in the book. S/he will notice that some questions are more problematic than others and your student should focus on reviewing the material that is most challenging for him/her.
4. Make sure your student knows the rules for guessing. The SAT penalizes incorrect answers, so unlike on other tests your student has taken, guessing is not encouraged for all questions. Omitting is better.
5. Try to see the April 14th test scores as your student’s starting point. Many effective students take the test more than once, using the scores from the first test to help them prepare for the next one.
6. Consider a private tutor or SAT class following the April 14th test to prepare for the June 5, 2010 exam.
Best of luck on the upcoming test and feel free to contact Wellington Tutoring with any questions about your student’s test prep needs!
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Why are parents seeking tutors to help their children more and more often? There are many reasons for the increased need for a tutor’s help. As parents who want their students to be well prepared in a competitive world, you are probably all too aware of the following:
1. The No Child Left Behind Act. Because of this act, standardized testing in schools is the new measure of success. Many teachers are being forced to teach to the tests. This is robbing teachers of the time necessary to focus on their own curricula.
2. A struggling economy and less funding for education. Less funding means less rooms in the budget for programs that cater to struggling or special needs students.
3. Busier parents. With both parents working, parents have less time to help with homework.
4. AP Courses. As college admissions become more competitive, many students are electing to take AP courses. Students often need tutors to succeed in these more difficult courses.
5. Competitive college admissions. Standards are rising as the pool of applicants becomes larger.
6. Larger class sizes. With more students, teachers can’t afford to cater to high achievers or to those who are struggling, and instead must teach to the middle level students. Both ends of the spectrum suffer as a result.
7. Learning disabilities. The number of learning disabled students is on the rise.
For all of the above reasons, tutors are more necessary today than they’ve been before. A competent tutor can make a big difference in your students’ academic achievement, and as importantly, confidence. Contact us at Wellington Tutoring with any questions or to set up an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.
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There is no doubt that finding a competent and knowledgeable tutor is the first and most important step in ensuring that your student has a positive, helpful tutoring session.
However, in order for the benefits of a session to extend beyond the particular homework assignment that your student is working on, the student should do the following:
- The student should have already attempted the homework- before the session. This maximizes the session by allowing your student and the tutor to focus only on trouble-spots. It also ensures that your student has specific questions.
- The student should be prepared to take notes during the session. Actively participating by note taking gives your student a proven advantage over passive listeners.
- The student should ask for specific problems to work after being shown an example. This helps your student test her retention and prove her competence to herself. Self confidence is key to successful learning.
- The student should ask the tutor for homework similar to the material covered during the session. Reinforcing the techniques learned during tutoring is absolutely essential to the student’s retention.
A tutor can be a remarkably useful resource for a dedicated student if the above suggestions are followed.
Contact Wellington Tutoring and give your student the advantage of one-on-one help today!
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This Holiday break offers an ideal opportunity to focus on preparing for the SAT.
During the school year, schedules are tight – students are in school all day, play sports or go to club meetings after school and on the weekends, and spend evenings crouched over homework assignments.
It’s the rare student who can find time to sleep amidst these demands, let alone prepare for the SAT.
This Holiday break, help your student make the best use of his or her time off by buying a couple SAT prep books and scheduling some study time. We recommend The College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide and Up Your Score, two resources that are guaranteed to help your student improve.
Call Wellington Tutoring at 1-(561)-247-2810 to discuss our SAT Prep options, and how we can help your student get the score he or she wants in 2010!
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The School Board of Palm Beach County has decided to pay the registration fees for 12th graders taking the December SAT.
Do you think every senior needs to take the SAT and attend college?
Can some students learn a trade and start a business, or work for a family business, without attending college right away?
Even though we are in the business of preparing students for the SAT, do you agree with the district’s decision to pay registration fees?
Let us know what you think.
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It was a sight to behold. When I pulled up to the district building Wednesday night, 1,000 people – parents, teachers and students alike – crowded the streets and sidewalks wearing orange and waving signs saying “Testing is Not Teaching” and “Please let me teach”.
The Palm Beach County School Board met on October 21, 2009 to hear your complaints concerning the new curriculum framework and embedded assessments orchestrated by Jeffrey Hernandez.
I watched as teachers and parents were reduced to tears begging for the policies to be dropped or amended.
We all understand that standards and expectations need to be high. However, teachers simply do not have enough hours in the day or time with the students to both teach their lessons and train their students to pass standardized tests.
Parents told of children who used to love going to school but now dread it because the students are “overwhelmed or underwhelmed”, depending on the day, by the constant testing and irrelevant material.
One parent cried that her gifted child, who received perfect scores on FCAT in previous years, was being required to sit through hours of wasted FCAT prep lessons and wasn’t getting the stimulation he needed to stay engaged and to learn.
Students, too, spoke out. By taking the joy out of teaching, Jeffrey Hernandez was also robbing the students of the joy of learning, one Palm Beach County student claimed.
I couldn’t help noticing that student after student, and parent after parent, expressed that they aren’t getting the same quality of education that they did just one year ago, prior to the new one-size-fits-all policies that have been imposed – policies that treat students as numbers rather than individuals, and that ignore individual learning styles in favor of concern for one number – the FCAT score – which is much less relevant to your student’s future than grades and SAT scores.
Parents are increasingly turning to private education, including private tutoring, to supplement their students’ education. Consider Wellington Tutoring for your student’s needs, and feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns, or comments about the ongoing struggle in the Palm Beach County School District.
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Midterm grades are posted, and we hear your concerns. It’s hard to deny that the Embedded Assessments and new Curriculum Framework instituted by Jeffrey Hernandez are having an impact on student learning.
It’s simple math.
There are only so many hours in a day, and when students are required to take Embedded Assessments and Diagnostic Tests, the result is less classroom time. Students just aren’t getting the attention they need from teachers.
Wellington Tutoring can help fill the gap between what teachers are able to provide and what your student needs to get the grades he or she deserves.
Contact us. Our staff of certified and capable teachers is committed to helping your student through this tough time.
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