As schools closed in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID 19 virus, parents across the nation witnessed their students struggling with virtual learning.  Proficiency in reading and math plummeted in multiple states .  Clearly, the pandemic created enormous challenges that impacted academic progress for countless students.  How can parents plan for a successful start this school year for their children?

Matthew Kraft, an associate professor of education and economics at Brown University, said the research is “overwhelming” that tutoring is one of the most effective ways to help students improve academically.  www.wfyi.org/news/articles/can-tutoring-help-students-recover-from-the-pandemic-this-indy-school-hopes-so   

Personalized tutoring  is seen by researchers as the "the single most powerful strategy for responding to learning loss. " www.edweek.org/leadership/high-dosage-tutoring-is-effective-but-expensive-ideas-for-making-it-work/2020/08   Furthermore, they have found that even high school students who have fallen far behind can benefit from tutoring.  annenberg.brown.edu/recovery  

Even studies at the college level verify the fact that the more academic support students receive, the more likely they are to pass their classes and stay enrolled.  www.valleycollege.edu/about-sbvc/offices/office-research-planning/reports/student_performance.php

It has been an unprecedented year and a half of school which has had led to lagging skills for some students; many of them will require tutoring and/or academic coaching to achieve success moving forward.  Does your child need structured, focused assistance?  You know him or her best. Carefully consider your child's academic needs, motivation, and stress level as you evaluate the necessity for support as school opens this year.

The global pandemic created a huge group of involuntary homeschooling families.  Research is now revealing the extent of learning loss among the new American "home schooled" students as well as drawing attention to the gaps teachers will be expected to fill when schools open in the fall.

It has been reported that a majority of students did not consistently complete remote assignments, did not earn traditional grades, and were sometimes unable to receive necessary help from parents who were working (from home or otherwise).

According to research, "The average student could begin the next school year having lost as much as a third of the expected progress from the previous year in reading and half of the expected progress in math..."

School administrators and teachers know they will need to spend significant time in review of skills and content (that should have been taught the previous year) while they must also teach the new grade level curriculum.  Parents will need to be more involved than ever, to quickly communicate with the teacher if concerns arise and to promptly engage the help of tutors and/or academic coaches if their children begin to struggle academically.

In addition, students are going to need increased social and emotional support due to the impact of social isolation, family struggles, economic hardship, and health concerns.  Unicef and the National Association of School Psychologists offer strategies for parents as they guide their children through the evolving changes and emotional impact related to COVID-19.  KidsHelpLine offers a guide to supporting your children as they return to 'normal' after the pandemic.   

You know your child best when it comes to knowing when he/she is struggling. If you need support and guidance, NC State Institute for Emerging Issues has a detailed list of resources available to parents and caregivers.

Many books and articles have been written that offer strategies to improve a child's organizational skills at home and/or school.  Parents and teachers often view disorganized children and teens as irresponsible. However, there is more to the story of organization.  Dr. Korb identifies neurodevelopmental abilities required to develop thinking skills necessary to "show insight, plan ahead, and grasp the big picture" - key elements of organization.  From infancy through the teen years, parents can intervene and support their children at every stage of development with the information provided by Dr. Korb.

Whether a child is just the average "chaotic" kid or one with learning challenges, this guide will give parents the confidence to assist their children in developing the necessary thinking skills for social and academic success.

"Many parents fall into the trap of giving their child new skills instead of strengthening his/her ability to think.  Teaching a 2 year old to say the alphabet or a 3 year old to read is a cool party trick.  ...in reality, they (these skills) do very little to prepare your child for later social and academic success."

It is never too late (or too early) to help your child become an organized thinker!  If you are tired of fighting over a messy room, poor hygiene, homework, grades, or chores -- you need to read this one.  I have shared this with parents of my students; they are already raving about it!

(BTW - If you want to understand current research related to child development and brain organization, the author begins there before launching into the 5 steps to raising an organized child.)

Summer is the time for family vacations, camp adventures, leisurely afternoons at the pool and … well, tutoring. We know your child would rather be carefree this summer, but it’s crucial to reinforce what he or she has learned during the school year and prepare for next year. Here are 7 reasons to make time for summer learning:  

1. Helps prevent summer loss. All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in math skills during the summer months.
2. Is a confidence building experience. If you’re child has struggled at all during the school year, the summer is the perfect time to focus on challenging areas. After a summer of tutoring, your child will head back to the classroom more competent and confident.
3. Is a great time to master difficult concepts. As you know, material and concepts get repeated throughout your child’s education. If your child could use some extra help and reinforcement, take the time this summer to make sure that he or she has mastered necessary information.
4. Can be used to preview next year’s material. Knowing that your child may be facing more challenging classes and subjects next year, get ahead by reviewing material now.
5. Keeps students engaged in academic activities.To prevent learning loss over the summer and to continue with progress made during the school year, it’s a good idea to keep your child’s academics up over the summer. The routine will also make it easier to head back to school at summer’s end.
6. Is a stress-free time of year. Since there’s more time and less pressure in the summer, it’s a good time to catch up or focus on skills. Your child may benefit from coming to tutoring late morning when he or she is fresh instead of in the evening after an already busy school day.
7. Prepares for the SAT or ACT. With busy schedules during the school year, summer is the perfect time for your high school student to focus on SAT and ACT preparation. Individual tutoring can strengthen key areas for your student.  (from A Step Ahead Academy Center)

Contact me now to secure your spot for individualized summer tutoring and coaching!

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Don't let your child's progress come crashing down this summer! Start planning summer activities for your tweens and teens soon.  Remember it is important to keep your child engaged in learning over the long break to prevent loss of skills.  Many families use the time off from the classroom to seek out academic tutors and coaches to remediate weak skills, give their children a head start for the next year, or begin ACT/SAT test prep.  
Plan now to keep your child on track over the summer.

The College Board, which administers the SAT and the ACT, has announced test date, security, and other changes for this year.  This article explains the changes as well as providing links to other hot topics related to these tests.

If you are wondering when is a good time to start test prep, you can find some thoughts about that here.

Other related topics:
Helping Your High Schooler Achieve
Stay Involved in Your Teen's Life
Should We Let Our Kids Fail
Preparing Your Child for College - Start Early...Even in Middle School

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Nobody, I mean NOBODY, wants to argue with a tween or teenager about school work.  Some students do not want to complete homework, or they struggle with just getting it finished each night.  Others think school work is ONLY about completing a homework assignment.  These are the two biggest problems I see with students.  

Sometimes parents take the position that their children are old enough to take on school responsibilities on their own.  However, if kids aren't stepping up their game as work increases in volume or difficulty, then it probably is time to take a more hands on approach.

Forcing your child to complete homework and study each night is not sustainable, nor does it build goodwill and better relationships. So what CAN you do?

1. Create a homework friendly space.  Sometimes that is at the kitchen table; sometimes in a child's room.  Talk to your child and figure it out together.  Think collaboration.
2. Some students claim they don't have time to work on school work each day.  You may need to help your child create a study schedule and write it out or put it on his/her phone.  (Reinforce the idea that school work means completing homework, reviewing notes and handouts nightly, and working on projects.)   
3. Manage distractions.  Some families have a media free time for the entire family.  Phones are in charging stations; televisions are off.  Yes, this requires an investment from all family members, but what a great message a parent can send about what is important.
4. Encourage your child along the way.  Sometimes you are frustrated and find this difficult. However, nagging is pointless.  Instead, set a family standard for grades.  Offer recognition for meeting the standard.  Find opportunities to praise productivity not just a good grade as you child progresses towards a goal.
5. If your child continues to have problems with school work, consider getting help.  Start by talking to the teachers to be sure there are no indications of a learning problem that has gone unaddressed.  There are coaches and tutors who can provide direction for you and assistance for your child.  



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I often get calls from parents seeking help to prepare their high schoolers for the college entrance exams.  Sadly, most inquires come when it is almost too late to make much of a difference in the test scores.  
Think about these tests.   Both include an essay (It's optional, but should be taken as part of the test.) and multiple subtests.  Students must prepare for the content as well as receive instruction regarding the structure of the test ad the best way to approach each subtest.  Honestly, this cannot be accomplished in 4-6 weeks of one hour weekly sessions.  Exception:  I have worked with a few gifted, highly motivated students and helped them reach their goal scores with about three months of coaching.  Most students need more time.
Recently, I picked up a new client who wants to start prepping for the SAT.  She is a freshman!  This is fantastic.  She wants to be prepared for the PSAT that is taken in the fall of her sophomore year.  We have plenty of time to practice.   And...skills she is learning/reviewing will help her in her high school classes.  Winning!

Which test do I prefer?   I'm a fan of the ACT.   I think it is more coachable and the essay is simplier. Plus, the support materials are limited for the new SAT.  Read my previous blog to learn more about the choices.

It is an ever-changing world out there, especially when it comes to technology.  Our kids seem to have less face-to-face time with friends -- even when they are in the same room -- because they would rather text each other or use social media to stay connected.

13 Tips for Monitoring Kids' Social Media reports some current statistics about frequency of use as well as provides tips for parental involvement in monitoring your children.  (Would you believe that nearly 1/4 of teens log onto social media more than 10 times a day?) 

This site also contains links to tools and software that can assist parents who want to learn more about limits and monitoring teens in this area.