Grades Grow Tutors

These days, there are ways to use computers- and more specifically, the internet- to help students of any age and ability level further their learning. When used correctly, the internet can be a powerful learning tool, indeed. What I’d like to do today is discuss a few key ways that students can use the internet to foster intellectual growth in and out of the classroom.

Help is Just a Click Away
One of the most marvelous things about the internet is that it makes it possible to communicate with anyone else who has internet access, all across the globe. In recent times, this possibility has been used to provide new educational tools that had never before been imagined. Specifically, the internet has really changed the world of tutoring. Now, with online tutoring, you’re not limited to your immediate neighborhood area or city when you’re selecting a tutoring service. Not only that, but online tutoring offers perks that traditional tutoring simply can’t match, such as detailed reports and records of tutoring sessions, and convenient, easy-to-arrange scheduling. Finding homework help has never been so easy!

Games: Not Just for Fun Anymore!
Although not every game site is going to be educational, with a little looking around you can easily find educational games that are fun and provide learning possibilities for literally every age group there is. Whether you want a game that helps students learn to type, to add or subtract, or anything in between, there is likely a game that suits your needs. Games like “Typer Shark” help students learn to familiarize themselves with the keyboard, all while zapping sharks to keep the game going and get a high score. Many other games help students learn basic skills in other subjects, all while allowing them to become more comfortable and familiar with using computers. As we all know, computer knowledge is a valuable skill in and of itself.

A Virtual Encyclopedia at Your Fingertips
The internet also functions as a virtual encyclopedia of sorts, ready to provide you information on any topic imaginable. Literally every topic or subject imaginable has some sort of information about it just waiting to be discovered on the internet. With a little diligence and searching around, it’s pretty easy to find information from multiple sources about any topic you could think of.

Of course, the internet is unique in that just about anybody can put a website up, so you can’t trust everything you read. It’s important that students consider their source when deciding whether or not to take information they find on the internet as facts automatically. Although the internet contains plenty of useful facts and information, it also contains quite a few opinions and general inaccuracies. Therefore, it’s important to have a critical mind when deciding what information is reliable and what information is not, especially if you’re researching for a paper.

All in all, the internet contains a vast number of resources of many kinds for students. If used correctly, it can be a very powerful tool that can provide students with information, homework help, even educational entertainment! Use it wisely, and you’ll see how helpful the internet can be!

Summer is one of the best times to get involved with reading. Think about it: you have the summer off from school, you have no homework or tests to study for, so you have all kinds of time to read! Even though the summer is usually seen as time to go to the pool, take a vacation and have fun with friends, I’m sure you can squeeze a little time in between the pool and the basketball court to read!

Of course, after you decide that you want to do some reading for fun this summer, the next step is to figure out just what you will read. With millions of books to choose from, where do you even start? Wonder no further, brave reader! Here are some ways you can find books that will entertain you all summer long!

Start Your Search at the Library
This may sound obvious, but if you’re looking for great books, first you’ll want to head to the library. The question is, what do you do when you get there? You don’t want to waste hours looking through the shelves and simply picking out the books with the most interesting jackets, do you? I didn’t think so!

The best way to find great books at the library is to simply talk to the librarian. Librarians are experts on great books for every age group and interest, so if you need a good starting point for your summer reading, you should really take advantage of their expertise. After all, they’re there to help!

Scour the Internet for a Good Read
Another way to find some good reading material without even leaving your home is to look around on the world wide web. Simply do a search for what you want (for example: “sports books for middle school”) and see what comes up! There are also many websites that review books of all types, for all ages and interests. Those can be a good starting point if you have no idea what you’re interested in reading.

If You Like the Author, Read On!
If you are able to find a book you really enjoy, look in the book and see if the author has written other books as well. Odds are that they have, and before you know it you’ll have several more books to give a try. The best part is, if you liked the author’s previous work, you’re more than likely to find more books that they’ve written that you will enjoy, as well. There’s nothing better than finding a great book, only to realize that the author has written many other books that you can now discover!

No matter what type of literature you enjoy, you can’t go wrong with getting some reading done in the summer. You’ll learn new things, keep your mind active and have fun at the same time! When you’ve tired of splashing around the pool, grab a good book and relax with a glass of refreshing lemonade. Now that’s what summer’s all about!

For most students, the onset of summer means it’s time to relax and get far, far away from school books. Although it’s only fitting that hard working students get to have some fun in the sun during the summer months, it’s also important to remember that the summer is when many students can get ahead- or fall behind. For that reason, it’s important that students don’t completely forget about school during the summer. By working throughout the summer to stay sharp, students can enter the school year at full throttle- ready to learn! Here are some ways that students can keep their skills sharp during the long break.

Read, Read, and Read Some More
One of the best (and simplest) ways to keep your mind busy and active is to read some books during the summer. This is one of the easiest ways to do so because you can pretty much read whatever you’d like. Whether you’re reading a biography of someone that interests you or a novel by your favorite author, reading will keep your brain busy and ready for school again in the fall! Also, since you won’t have homework or other assignments during the summer, you can focus on reading the books that you love to read! If you want to really maximize your summer reading, work with your teacher or tutor to develop a reading list for you. They’ll be delighted to do so, and you’ll really accomplish something in the summer that way!

Work on What Gives You Trouble
Summer is a great time to catch up on subjects that you may otherwise fall behind in. Therefore, if you need help with writing, work with an English tutor. If you have a hard time wrapping your head around math, get some help from a math tutor. It may seem like the last thing you’d want to do in the summer, but remember that with a few hours here and there of work in the summer, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the school year! Again, you don’t have to work on these subjects eight hours a day; with just an hour or two a week you’ll improve by leaps and bounds! Even a little bit of work here and there can make a huge difference. Check out academic summer programs like the ones we offer here at Grades Grow Tutors.

At the same time, if you don’t work on subjects that you’re having trouble with, you’re likely to fall even further behind if you don’t try to learn more in the summer! It’s only natural to forget a few things over summer break, so if you were already having problems with your classes before, it’s likely to be more difficult still in the fall. Don’t let yourself get put in that frustrating position! Make sure that you mix in some schoolwork with all the fun and play you’ll enjoy this summer. When the new school year starts and you feel refreshed, yet sharp, and you’re reading to take on even the toughest classes, you’ll be glad that you did!

Before we get into this week’s top ten, let’s recap our recent blog entries, in case you may have missed a recent one! We recently discussed how to encourage and motivate young readers, I revealed the first of a series of tales from my educational experience, and we talked about how to go about coping with large class sizes and overwhelmed teachers. We also talked about how to get accepted into the college of your dreams, why we as a society need arts in our schools, and how students can be more productive during study hall!

Now, let’s get to today’s discussion, the top ten ways that you, as a student, can show your teacher that their hard work is appreciated. Since the end of the year is approaching (or may have already come and gone, depending on your school schedule), it’s as good a time as any to think about giving back to those who help you learn. This list could include your tutor or tutoring service, school faculty members, volunteers, coaches, and of course, teachers. Let’s talk a bit about how we can show that we appreciate teachers for all that they do.

10. Show Them That You Want to Learn!
It’s important to show interest in the subject, if you want your teacher to know they aren’t wasting their effort. There’s nothing worse for a teacher than a class full of bored students who don’t seem to care about what the teacher is doing. If you want your teacher to know that you appreciate their effort, show them by giving it your all! Not only will this make your teacher very happy, but it will send them the message that what they are doing is working. Students aren’t the only ones who can benefit from positive reinforcement- teachers can, too!

9. Bring an Apple
This may be an old and antiquated tradition, but you’d be surprised how such a sweet and simple gesture can make a teacher’s day. Apples are inexpensive, symbolic, and a timeless gift for that favorite teacher. If you have a teacher who has made a great impact on you, take a little time to show your teacher that you appreciate them!

8. Work Hard to Learn the Material
Teachers work very hard to make sure that they prepare students for the challenges that they will surely meet in the future. Therefore, why not put forth the same amount of effort to learn the material that the teacher is introducing to you? Get homework help if you need it, study with your peers, and meet with a tutor to make sure you master each subject. The teacher will surely notice your effort, and will recognize that they aren’t wasting their time and effort at all! It’s important for teachers to know that their students are involved in their own education, and by putting forth your maximum effort, you’ll be sending that message loud and clear!

7. Pay Attention!
Your teacher won’t feel very appreciated if they attempt to teach the class, only to be drowned out by chatter, giggling, and the sound of paper airplanes gliding through the air. Nothing says, “we just don’t care” like students sleeping or staring off into space during a teacher’s class. Therefore, one of the most simple ways you can show the teacher your appreciation is to just pay attention when they are instructing you. By making eye contact, asking questions when appropriate, and showing interest in the material that is being taught, you help your teacher to recognize how important they are to your education.

6. Help Them Out
There may come times when you can go the extra mile by actually helping the teacher out in one way or another. This could mean something as simple as erasing the chalkboard, or even something like helping the teacher take attendance. Teachers have many responsibilities, and with so much they have to do, it’s easy for them to get overwhelmed. Anything that you can do to help the teacher do their job is certainly a wonderful gesture, and will make the teacher feel very appreciated.

5. Stop By and Say Hello!
Teachers love to see how their favorite students progress as they move their lives and the world of education. If you get nostalgic for the teacher who helped you learn to read, do multiplication, or that wrote you a great letter of recommendation, stop by and see them one day! They will be overjoyed to see you, and it will help you show them that they made a lasting impression on you through their efforts in the classroom. Plus, your teachers want to know how you’re doing once you move on to the next level. Whether you know it or not, your teachers are quietly rooting for you during and even after your time in their classroom. Think about it- certainly there’s a favorite teacher from your past that would love to know how you’re doing!

4. Don’t Goof Off In Class
One easy way to show your teacher your appreciation is to not add to the already large list of challenges that they face. It’s hard for a teacher to feel appreciated when students are joking around, interrupting the class or otherwise creating chaos in the classroom. Do your part by being a good student and behaving during class time. There are many times to show your prowess with a kazoo, or to display your world-class imitation of Jack Nicholson, class time isn’t one of them.

3. Remember What You’ve Learned!
Teachers put in a lot of effort not just so you will remember what you learned long enough for the test, but to make a permanent difference in your life. One way you can show a teacher that they are accomplishing this goal is by working to retain the knowledge that you acquire in the classroom. Not only does doing so help you, as you are often required to build on what you’ve previously learned, but it will show the teacher that their work made a lasting impression on you, and enriched your life.

2. Say Thanks
Sometimes, the answer is so simple that it’s almost not obvious at all! If you really want to make your favorite teacher’s day special, simply tell them “thanks”. Tell them that you appreciate their guidance, and that they’ve helped you tremendously. You don’t have to do anything special or elaborate, a simple “thank you” will do. You’ll make their day, I promise!

1. Succeed!
The best way you can make your teachers happy is to simply succeed. Your teachers want you to succeed more than anything else. They became teachers so that they could help students like you reach their potential. By fulfilling your potential and accomplishing your goals, you’re giving your teacher the best feeling of them all.

Teachers, along with tutors, counselors, administrators and others involved in your education, work hard to make sure that you have the chance to succeed. They love their jobs because they love to see you meet your potential. Why not take an opportunity to show them that their efforts are appreciated? You’ll be glad that you did, and so will they!

Ask students what they think of study hall, and you’re likely to get all kinds of reactions, varying from dislike to indifference to gratitude. Depending on who you are, study hall can be a torturous period of boredom, a last-minute chance to complete work, or a great place to catch some extra sleep. If you’re trying to improve your scholastic performance (and why wouldn’t you be?), here are some ways that you can make the most out of your forced study time!

This May Sound Crazy, But Why Not Study?
My study hall days ended not too long ago, and I’m sure that not much has changed since then. If not, then most students who find themselves stuck in study hall are doing anything but studying. That could mean sleeping, passing notes, goofing off, or any other manner of things. However, let’s try to look at this period of mandatory quiet in a different way. Let’s look at study hall as a gift. Study hall is a gift because hey, you can get your work done without missing out on doing anything fun!

When you get home, you’re going to want to hang out with friends, watch television, play sports, or do anything other than work on more homework. If you get your work done during study hall, you’ll be free to do those things when you get home! That’s an incentive if there ever was one. Again, you’re stuck in study hall anyway, why not make it productive?

Get the Help You Need
Often times you’ll be able to meet with study groups, or even get a pass from a teacher to come to their classroom for extra help during study hall. If the teacher of one of your difficult classes has an off period, you may be able to get some homework help during study hall. If not, you can probably find a way to study quietly with friends, or someone in your class who has mastered the material you’re working on. Again, whatever you get done during study hall doesn’t have to be done after school, so get started! You can also work on homework that you can get done on your own, so that after school you can focus on working with your online tutor!

Use the School’s Resources
Many schools and study hall monitors allow you to go to the library, computer lab, or other places instead of sitting in the designated room for the whole study hall. If so, take advantage of it! This is a good time to get some research done at the library, type out a paper or edit a rough draft for English class, or work with a tutor, if possible! If you have the option to go elsewhere in the school and complete work that needs to be done, why not do so?

For so many students roaming the halls of schools worldwide, the words “study hall” do not evoke good feelings or a positive reaction. However, if you have to be at school anyway, try to make the best of it and use this time to be productive, so that you will have less to do later! Procrastination is the enemy of any good student, and study hall is the opposite: a great friend!

In the last several years, budget constraints on schools at just about every level of education have caused school districts to re-evaluate their spending. Unfortunately, when the decision is made that costs have to be minimized, it seems that many schools are deciding that the arts are among the first things that need to go. If you are, have been, or know a student who is involved in the arts, you likely already know the benefits that involvement in the arts can provide. What I would like to do today is explain why having music, art, and other artistic programs is vital to our schools, communities, and students.

Creativity Can Be Cultivated
Arts related programs such as band, choir, art classes of all kinds, and drama help foster the creativity of students. This is vital, since many traditional programs, such as math, history and geography do not give children the outlet to express themselves or pursue ideas that the arts do. No one would ever argue that those subjects aren’t important, but it’s equally important to help children learn to think creatively. When students graduate high school and move on to their careers, they will be valued much more by their employers when they are able to “think outside the box” or think about things in their own unique way. It’s important to remember that if students don’t learn to utilize their creativity, they will never reach their potential in that area.

Good Habits are Reinforced
Being involved in the arts helps students to learn habits and lessons that will carry them through all aspects of life. Many tutors have participated in the arts at some level, and they themselves will tell you that the discipline, hard work and dedication that being involved with the arts teaches you will help you in every other area of your education as well. Take playing in the school band for example! Students who play instruments are learning to have the drive to stick with doing something that’s challenging, it will help them learn to pay attention to detail, and it will give them the confidence to know that they can master difficult new skills. Statistics show that students who are involved in the arts get better grades, as well. Ask your online tutor if they were involved in the arts somehow! Chances are that they probably were.

Students Need Outlets for Expression
As I mentioned earlier, some of the most essential school subjects don’t necessarily specialize in allowing students to express themselves. When students can be active in school plays, or art classes, for example, they are able to find the outlet they need to express themselves in a new way. When students are able to immerse themselves in artistic endeavors, they are able to focus better when they are in classes that require them to absorb information without being able to participate actively.

Please consider these examples of why the arts are so important to our schools, and if your area school is considering cutting music or art programs, let them know that you don’t agree! Our society needs well-rounded, versatile citizens, and for our schools to produce students who will someday fit that description, we need the arts to help students grow.

If you’re a high school senior, you may have already been accepted into the college of your dreams. For other students, it’s important to know what kinds of things you can do to make sure you end up at the best college for you. It’s vital to start thinking about college well before your senior year by the time you’re in your final year of high school, your GPA is pretty much already set! In fact, many colleges prefer having students apply in the winter of their senior year, meaning that you only have 3 ½ years to really put together a good impression to present to potential schools.

Get Good Grades, of Course!
First and foremost, a college will look at your grades, so buckle down! Get homework help if you need it, work with an online tutor or tutoring service, be an active part of study groups, do whatever you have to do! Not only will developing good study habits earn you the grades that colleges look for in potential students, but those habits will also help you succeed at the next level of your education as well. There are many important things to consider when getting ready to apply to colleges, but having good grades is at the top of the list!

Work on Your Writing
Not only will every college course imaginable require you to have good writing skills (and I do mean every course imaginable), but you’ll want to be able to write great essays if required. In fact, most colleges will require you to write an essay as part of your application for admission, so dust off those essay writing skills and be prepared to knock their socks off! A polished, interesting essay with a dash of humor and personality is just the thing to help you stand out from the crowd of applicants, after all.

Get Involved!
Colleges love students who take part in extracurricular activities. It shows initiative, maturity, a desire to learn, and it also ensures that their college campus will be a place with many active students to liven things up. Make sure that you get involved with activities through school, whether they be sports, academic team (or clubs), the school newspaper, student government, anything you can think of! But don’t stop there! You can also get involved in your community to make a good impression on potential colleges. Doing a simple thing like helping out with a food drive, mentoring young children, or helping clean up the town you live in can really boost your application and give you that extra something in the eyes of the colleges you apply to!

With a college education being absolutely vital for success in today’s world, it’s important to be able to get into the right school for you. If you want to avoid disappointment and go to school at your first choice, rather than your tenth choice, you’ll want to plan ahead and make the best of your high school experience. Do so, and you’ll be able to choose from just about any college you wish!

If you’re a student or the parent of a student, you probably already know that classrooms are often packed with eager learners, stretching the teachers too thin to provide the kind of individual attention that they would like to give to each student. Students can have a hard time getting extra homework help or other assistance from teachers, since there are often twenty or more other students who need the same assistance. Today, we’ll talk about some ways to overcome the difficulties that arise from such large classroom sizes.

Find a Time When the Teacher Can Help You
It’s sometimes helpful if a student who requires some extra assistance can find time to speak with the teacher outside of class time. Many teachers will be more than happy to answer questions or provide extra help after class is over or during study hall or prep periods. Teachers are mainly concerned with helping you learn, and not only will they be more than happy to help students who need it, but they’ll likely be pleased that the student has taken the initiative to get extra help in the first place.

Get Help from a Tutor
If you are having trouble getting the individual assistance you need from your classroom teacher, it’s a great idea to seek out help from a tutor or tutoring service instead. Tutors can provide help during nights, weekends, and other times when your teacher is not accessible. Not only that, but they will utilize many of the same strategies and techniques that the best teachers use! If your classroom time alone is not sufficient enough for you to understand a topic, consider an online tutor or tutoring service as a source of additional assistance.

Work With Parents
Parents have many of the same troubles that teachers do when it comes to a lack of free time, but whenever possible, it’s great to have parents who are willing and able to help their children understand their school work. Not only is it a great way to spend time and bond with your family, but it will also improve the student’s grades tremendously. By scheduling a “homework time” or “study time”, parents and students alike can make sure that the proper time is devoted to school related tasks as well as just spending time together as a family.

Study in Groups
Another good source of homework help is a student’s peers at school. By working with other students who have a good grasp on the material being taught, students who are having trouble can get the extra help they need. Also, helping explain concepts to other students only cements the knowledge being learned, so students who already have ability in a subject can improve their grades by helping others!

Although increased classroom sizes have made it harder for teachers and students alike to accomplish some of their goals, there are ways to work around the constraints to make sure that every student gets a successful education. With a little creativity, students can still get all the help they need.

One of the first major tests that your child will face in school is learning how to read. Learning how to read rivals even learning basic math as one of the most essential skills a child can develop. The majority of kids who are “left behind” at a young age and made to repeat a grade have to do so because of an inability to grasp basic reading concepts. Simply put, it’s vital that your child learn how to read at a proper pace! With the help of yourself, a tutor, and teachers, your child will be well-equipped to tackle the task of reading. With so much importance being placed on learning how to read, it’s a good idea for us to go over some ways you can help your little reader progress.

Read to Your Child Often
It may seem like reading to your child would have little effect on their own ability to read, but it makes a huge impact! Reading to your child makes your child comfortable with the idea of reading books…therefore, reading to your child is just as important as giving them homework help! It shows them that reading can be fun and helps open the door to thinking of reading as a pleasing experience, not a frustrating one. You can also do things while reading to your child to encourage their learning. You can point at the words as you read them, and even allow them to read a word or two if they are able. By reading as a “team”, your child gets valuable practice without feeling that the pressure is all on them.

Make Reading Fun
Like with any other activity, your child will be much more encouraged to give it their all if you make reading a fun time. When I was a child, I loved to read about my favorite topics, such as dinosaurs, sharks, and sports. Your children will likely be more interested in reading if you get them books about things they love and enjoy. If at all possible, let your child pick out their own books as well. This will help them have a feeling of ownership and make them more likely to want to follow through on reading the books they pick out.

Provide a Good Environment
Reading takes a lot of concentration, especially when you’re still learning the fundamentals. Your child will have a lot more success if they can read without distractions such as loud noises, other kids playing, or the television. If you can have your child read in a comfortable, quiet place, they’ll be able to concentrate much better and will be comfortable and cozy during reading time. It’s also a good idea to have a special place for your child’s books.

These are just a few simple things that parents can do to encourage their little readers to improve. Your child’s teachers and tutors (or tutoring service) will notice the improvement when you take these steps, and so will you! By helping your child embrace the world of reading, you’re getting your child off to a great start and giving them a huge advantage.

Even though the school year is quickly winding down for most students, there’s one thing that won’t be taking in a restful summer- your brain! I know, it’s a cliché, but nobody ever really stops learning. Hey, that’s not a bad thing, either! After all, whether you’re in class, working with your math tutor, or working at your summer job, there’s always something to learn more about. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the ways you can learn a little in the summer while having a good time.

Find a New Hobby
There’s no better time than the summer to take up a new hobby. It doesn’t have to be the first thing you’d think of, in fact, if you pick something completely random that’s always interested you, you’ll have even more to learn! Maybe you’ve always had a passing interest in gardening, or bird watching, or surfing- anything that’s always interested you! Pick something and really find out all about it. Go to the library, search the internet and talk to people who know more about your new hobby than you do. You’ll feel like you accomplished something, and you may just make some new friends in the process.

Catch Up, or Pull Ahead!
Even though you don’t have to go to school, the summer can be a great time to catch up with the students in your grade level, or to master the skills you’ve already started to learn. It’s important to keep your brain sharp so you don’t forget everything you worked so hard to learn during the school year, so meeting with a tutor or working with a tutoring service in the summer is a great idea. Of course, I would suggest an online tutor due to the ease and convenience involved. Plus, an online tutor can “travel with you” when you go on vacation or visit family that lives far away! Working on school subjects during the summer may not seem like the most fun idea, but you’ll be happy you did when you don’t have any frustration adjusting to school again in the fall!

Get Involved!
Summer is also a great time to get involved in your community. Summer sports, volunteer organizations, and clubs are wonderful ways to have fun while boosting your standing with colleges and employers (they both love extracurricular activities) and learn a new thing or two. Without having school every day, you’ll finally have more time to help out around the community or take in new experiences. Try to use this opportunity to do things that will not only provide a good time, but that will also look good on a college application or a resume. When you apply to a college, or start looking for a career, the fact that you used your free time to better yourself (and those around you) will be noticed!

Remember, even when you’re not a student, you’re still a learner. Try to learn new things whenever possible, and have as many positive new experiences as you can. Your experiences will make you a better student as well as a better person. Here’s to a happy, fun and productive summer!