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College Readiness Standards

14 Nov

The 2011-2012 academic first semester is quickly moving along as teachers work hard to promote a high culture of learning within their classes. For most schools, a common educational goal is to improve scores on standardized tests that all students will take in the spring.  Whether teachers are preparing their students to take the EXPLORE (grades 8-9), The Plan (Grade 10), or the ACT (Grade 11), the number one objective is to increase a student’s ability to be ready for college.

The series of standardized tests given to students is based off of College Readiness Standards (CRS). College Readiness Standards are “research-based descriptions of the skills and knowledge associated with students’ knowledge and abilities as they progress through school.” (http://www.act.org/explore/research.html). College readiness standards are provided for six score ranges (bands) along a common scale for English, math, reading and science. Teachers are working to increase the band ratio to higher levels within their classes so that all students are considered to be “college ready.”

In order to increase student scores, teachers are working hard to incorporate learning objectives based off of college readiness standards that will facilitate higher level scores in the spring. Many teachers are giving students practice tests so that they are familiar with the format that they will see when they actually take the test. Other teachers are creating bell-work (short 5 minute “mini” lessons prior to the class lesson), which includes skills that students need to practice in order to adequately ready for college. Lastly, many teachers are meeting before, during, or after school with content-related teachers and specialists so that together they can create key lesson plan components that will enhance student scores.

While teachers are working very hard to help student’s become college ready, Arrowhead Tutors is an excellent place where students can receive extra help preparing for standardized tests. Contact Arrowhead Tutors at 815-272-2605 to be matched qualified tutor to assist you on your student back on target!

www.arrowheadtutors.com

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Posted in College Prep, Standardized Testing, Study Help, Test Prep

 

Test Anxiety Causes

29 Sep

Now that the school year has kicked in full gear, students’ progress reports, midterms, and report cards are vast approaching. As parents, we rely on the majority of these reports and grades to tell us how our child is doing in school. Parents sometimes assume that their child has low grades because he/she is not studying enough or being “lazy,” but in fact the child might have test anxiety.

What are the main causes test anxiety?  

  • Cramming all the information in the night before
  • Lack of managing time
  • Inability to organize information  
  • Poor study habits

 

Other causes include worrying about past performance on tests/quizzes, how other students are doing, and the negative connotation that can come with performing poorly.

 Parents, if you notice any of these causes with your child, Arrowhead Tutors can help! Your student will work one-on-one with a certified tutor to assist with organization of test information and improve their study habits through the use of outlines, charts, note cards, highlighting.  Another great strategy is to break down the information into smaller sections along with studying it over a longer period of time. No more CRAMMING the night before can assist with lowering the child’s test anxiety. Also, implementing relaxation and calming techniques to reduce added stress, such as taking long deep breaths and rolling the shoulders and neck in circles.  All of these tips will reassure your student that they are the one in control and not the test!

 Arrowhead Tutors now offers a study skills assessment test to find out what specific areas are in need of improvement.  Contact us today for more details.

www.arrowheadtutors.com

815-272-2605

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Back to School Tips!

30 Aug

With fall in the air, we are gearing up for the start of school at Arrowhead Tutors.  Here are a few tips to get your student back into school mode!

  • Get plenty of rest
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Be prepared with school supplies 
  • Pack a healthy lunch
  • Organize desk/locker
  • Use a planner/assignment notebook-especially if the school provides one
  • Introduce yourself to the teacher
  • If the student has a question or concern ask the teacher “early on” and don’t wait
  • Parent/Student provide a multiple ways for the teacher to get into contact with you if needed (home, cell, and/or work number, email address(s), etc.)
  • Get involved in extra-curricular activities if school provides them-its a great way to meet new friends

 

If your student is struggling in class, don’t forget to call Arrowhead Tutors for some additional help at 815-272-2605.  We are conveniently located on Larkin Avenue in Joliet and will go out of our way to get you and your student back on target!

 
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Best of Back to School Apps 2011

23 Aug

The following post was taken from http://andtwinsmake5.blogspot.com/.  It was written by Stephanie Wagner who was selected as one of the 2011 nominees for Most Valuable Chicago Blogger by CBS Chicago.  Follow her on Facebook & Twitter!

Since so many households have an iPhone or iPad that will be utilized this year in some part of their back to school routine, I thought I’d share a list of some of my current favorite back to school apps.

Have any favorites I missed?  Let me know and maybe I’ll follow up with a second part, but for now here’s my list:
 
Todo for iPad:  Mommy or the older Student will love the ability to make multiple to do style lists complete with due date reminders.
 
ReaddleDocs:  You’ll need a good document viewer and organizer to make your iPad work for you and this is currently the best one I have used.
 
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:  Even in the modern world of technology one still needs a good dictionary.
 
Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus:  Admit it, you knew this would be next on my list.  The need for a good thesaurus and good dictionary go together like peanut butter and jelly.
 
Calculator:  It has all the basics as well as the advanced mathematical and scientific buttons too.  Having the little ones check that math homework when they are done is twice as fun on the iPad.
 
Flash Cards:  Create your own flash cards to study with on your iPad or iPhone.  Flashcardlet lets you add images and star cards as you go for further studying.
 
Spelling Test:  Type in a list, name the list, record your voice saying each word … Use this app to study and even email results to a parent at work. 
 
ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard:  The uses for this app are bountiful.  Use it as scratch paper, demonstrate a concept, show the basketball team a play, or doodle a few minutes before digging into that term paper.
 
Evernote:  Create text, photo, and audio rich notes.  Multiple ways to organize and search for items later.  You can use this as your starting point to work on papers or in my case blog posts.  Once you sink your teeth into it, you’ll fall in love.
 
For more useful back-to-school tips, conact Arrowhead Tutors!
 
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Posted in Back to School, Study Help, Tips

 

Hate Studying for a Test? Beat that fear!

07 Mar

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“Class, we are going to have a test this Friday on chapters 1-5. The test will be multiple choice, short answer, and essay.  Study hard, as this is worth a lot of your final grade!”  Students hear this type of quote at least every two weeks, and most of the time, many of them feel sudden anxiety and fear.

Kids of all ages know that the dreaded word “test” means that they are going to have to give up their time playing Nintendo, going to the mall, or watching their favorite shows on TV to spend countless hours in the library studying for this exam.  Student’s also become nervous knowing that their score on this exam is a huge part of their final grade, and become extremely fearful as they bust of their class notes, flashcards, and books.  Almost all students can come to the conclusion that studying is not fun and can be scary.  At Arrowhead Tutors, we sympathize with you!  We have created the following study guide tips that will hopefully make you less nervous for an upcoming test as well as increase your chances of acing it!

1. Study in Advance: Coming home each night after school to read a chapter or study class notes from that day’s lesson does not sound fun.  However, studies have shown that students who take the time to review what was learned in class each night have a higher chance of success on their exams.  Students who study a bit of what is going to be covered on a test each day reduce the chances that they will have to “cram” the night before, which ultimately means less sleep and less brain retention of what is studied.  To avoid a night of cramming and crying, study a little each day; you will feel so much better when you hear those dreaded words “Test Time.”

2. Have a Study Partner: Everyone has heard the saying “Two brains are better than one.” It is perfectly acceptable to apply this quote when studying for a test.  When your teacher gives you a study guide that is so long it can be a book, don’t fret! Instead, find a reliable friend and work on the study guide together.  The two of you will be able to bounce ideas off of one another and find the correct answer to questions.  When the study guide is finished, the two of you can even take the time to quiz each other!

3. Get Plenty of Rest and Eat Healthy: While many students are busy with extracurricular activities or sports and will still have to find time to study for a test, it is still extremely important to get plenty of sleep and eat healthy before an exam.  It is amazing how much of a difference physical factors can affect the nature of student’s ability to ace a test. Thus, go to bed at a reasonable time and make sure you wake up and eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast.  You certainly don’t want your stomach to start growling when you begin the first question on your exam.  To all of those students who have a sweet tooth, you are in luck: studies have shown that eating a mint before a test increases memorization!

 4.     Feel Confident: No matter how well you are prepared, you still need to go to class and feel confident that you can ace the test. You can do it- just have faith in yourself.  Take a deep breath and count to ten, and then walk into that classroom and show that test who is boss!

All of these study guide tips are great but if you still are feeling uneasy about an upcoming test, please schedule a session at Arrowhead Tutors with one of our qualified and certified teachers.  We are dedicating to helping you learn and review test material and will make sure that you are well prepared and confident for your exam.  Contact us at 815-272-2605.  We look forward to hearing from you!

 
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Posted in Study Help, Test Prep, Tips

 

Grades: Where Do They Come From?

04 Oct

According to a recent article in the Herald News, many local schools are creating standards of grading by which a student’s final grade is derived 30% from homework and projects and 70% is determined by their score on their final exam. Proponents of this policy believe that homework and projects are positive in that they allow for practice and mastery of a certain skill, but do not actually measure the total knowledge that one is gaining from the lesson. Also, many feel that students may receive help on homework and projects, thus not showing their own individual success. Based on these premises, some schools are raising their standards claiming that final exam scores more accurately show that a student mastered all the lessons on their own with absolutely no outside help.

While some people advocate for having a final exam determine the bulk of a student’s grade, others believe that the student’s official grade should be an equal mix of all homework, quizzes, tests, and projects from the entire semester. These educators and parents often base this opinion through observation of their own students and children. They maintain that one score on an exam does not always accurately show a student’s mastery of all the lessons taught and argue that many external and internal factors such as test anxiety, feeling sick or lack of sleep can have a negative effect on the score of a test. For example, students who are bad at taking tests may have difficulty answering questions correctly on an exam, but if given the chance to present their knowledge through another means, may accurately do so.

These educators and parents believe that teachers should create multiple methods of assessment that meet the various learning styles of the students and weigh these scores equally. Teachers can find out what drives student learning in their class, and create multisensory approaches to both teaching and assessing the students through a mix of auditory, tactile, oral, kinesthetic, and visual means. This type of teaching and evaluation guarantees that students are taught the lesson in a variety of ways, and are given the opportunity to show what they have learned through multiple venues, one of which meets their preferred method of learning and thus showing accurate mastery.

Arrowhead Tutors is dedicated to helping your child meet mastery, no matter how their official grade is determined! Call Arrowhead Tutors at 815-272-2605 or visit http://www.arrowheadtutors.com to schedule an appointment with our certified and highly qualified teachers. Whether it is receiving help on homework, a project, or preparing for a tedious final exam, our tutors are dedicated to helping you meet academic success!

 
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Back to School Bliss

18 Aug

        

It’s that time of year again – time to go back to school! It feels as though it was just yesterday that kids of all ages patiently awaited the final bell at school to ring so they could run out of the halls chanting and singing the infamous Alice cooper song, “Schools out for summer!.” Time flies by so fast and students of all ages know the dreary, most dreaded, typical routine of exchanging  their water guns,  goggles, and bathing suits, for books, pencils, and folders. While nothing can compare to the freedom and fun of summer, why does going back to school always have to be such a gloomy, dreaded process? Well, keep the following things in mind and it is sure that you will trade in your blues for back-to-school bliss!

1. School is a great way to make new friends: Everyone has heard the saying “Make new friends and keep the old ones, one is silver and the other’s gold!” Well, being in school with so many different types of people gives everyone the opportunity to become extremely rich in the amount of friends they have. Whether it is through staying up late to study for the horrible science test with someone, or hanging out at lunch while you talk about the latest, hip CD that hit the stores over the weekend, you are sure to have a blast getting to know your classmates!

2. School is a perfect time to find out your hidden talents: While some people are mathematic wizards and others the latest Shakespeare of 2010, everyone finds that they enjoy and are good at different things from their peers. School will expose you to SO many different subjects and you will get the opportunity to discover just how talented you are!

3. Going back to school means getting back in the game: Whether it be through joining the baseball team, making “NFL star” throws on the football team, or exciting the crowd through cheerleading, being on a team is such a fun way to distract you from the stress of homework! Not athletic? Don’t worry! Join a foreign language club, or even run for student council! Do whatever you can to get involved, and you will have school smiles guaranteed!

See? Going back to school does not always have to be so bad!!!

If you or your student is struggling in class, get back on target by contacting Arrowhead Tutors.

 
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Posted in Back to School, Fun Facts, Tips