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Getting Your Grades Up: Tips to Bounce Back After a Bad Report Card

January 2, 2012 Category :FR| General Academics| JR| Study Skills 0

Winter break is over and the new semester is kicking into high gear.

Chances are you have received or are about to receive your child’s report card. For some parents (and students) it will be a time of great discomfort. Grades may not be what either of you expected so now the question is how to bounce back?

Here are some suggestions to help your child start the new semester with a new attitude and on the right track.

Review the semester. Have your child look over their assignments, tests, final exam and class projects in classes where they did not do well. Are they completing their assignments? Do they have trouble learning concepts? Are they having trouble with grammar?

Get with the teacher. Once you identify the core issues, now your child should approach their teacher. Have your child set up a 15 minute meeting either before or after school and ask the teacher for help. Have your student find out from the teacher how they can improve. A teacher will have great advice on how to study but also insight into why your child is having difficulty.

Follow through and be committed. Some subjects require more attention than a passing glance. For example, Biology teachers will tell you students need to review their notes nightly. Concepts can be difficult to learn and you can’t cram the night before an exam and expect to do well. Have your child block out 15 minutes a night to look over notes from the school day. That way if they don’t understand something they can ask the teacher right away instead of the day before the test.

Write it down. Use a planner/calendar. If your child doesn’t have a planner or calendar then get one. If they have it, they need to start using them. Make sure your child is organized about school work. Have them write assignments down in a planner and put due dates of tests and larger projects on a calendar. This way your child can see what’s coming up and plan appropriately. Surprises can kill a grade.

Don’t over schedule. Review your child’s extracurricular activities. Soccer, baseball, club sports, music, dance… they all take time. If your child’s spends most afternoons away from home, it’s time to rethink their schedule. Every child needstime to study and do homework. After school activities are great but remember they shouldn’t interfere with academics. Also, look at how much tv your child watches and how much time they spend texting with friends. Those activities can also snatch precious time away from your child’s academics.

Get help from professionals. Finally, consider a tutor for your child. Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale offers tutoring in all subjects as well as an intensive Study Skills class that can help get your child on track. Visit our website orFacebook page for more information.

How To Understand Your Child’s PSAT Scores

December 14, 2011 Category :General Academics| HS| JR| SP| Uncategorized 0

It’s December and that means PSAT results will be coming in.

And all of those numbers can be difficult to interpret. How do you know if your child has done well? Where do they need to improve?

First thing to know is that PSAT scores do not affect college admissions. They really are an intense practice test for the SAT. But, if your child’s PSAT score is high enough they can qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

The PSAT results can help set your child on the right path for studying for the SATs.

Here’s what you need to know:

The PSAT has three sections: Critical Reading, Math and Writing Skills. Your child can earn anywhere from 20 to 80 points on each section. Most students on average earn around 50 points per section.

Below your child’s actual score on each section is a range. Add a zero to those range numbers and that’s what you can expect your child to receive on that section of the SAT.. if they don’t study anymore.

As you can see this student received a 61 in the Critical Reading section. The range is 57 to 65. So this student can expect to receive between 570 to 650 on the SAT.

The PSAT results break down even further. For the Critical Reading results, if you look at the bottom of the sheet you will see the question number, the correct answer and your child’s answer. You get the test booklet with the PSAT result sheet so you and your child can see the question they got incorrect and the difficulty level; easy, medium or hard.

In the middle of the page is a section labeled “Your Skills.” This section lets you and your child know which skills they need to work on and which ones they have mastered.

Finally, you want to look at “Your Selection Index.” The number is the total of the three sections(Critical Reading, Math, & Writing) added up. It’s the deciding factor if your child qualifies for a National Merit Scholarship. Every State has a mimimum index. For 2012. which is what this year’s results fall under, the minimum index in Arizona is 213.

Once you have interpreted your child’s PSAT results, Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale can help take your child and those results to the next level. We offer intense SAT Prep classes that can really help your child focus on where they need to improve. We also provide tips for better test taking and the skills to succeed.

If you have trouble understanding your child’s PSAT results, we offer a free consultation and evaluation. Just give us a call.

Show Me The Money:How To Find a College Scholarship

November 28, 2011 Category :SR 0

$25,000.. that’s the average debt a student will graduate from college with… and in some cases much more than that.

If you have a Senior, you are probably knee deep in college applications and visiting campuses. But, now is also the time to start thinking about scholarships and how to get them.

Times are tough and competition is pretty fierce. But knowing where to look for scholarships is half the battle.

Check out a free Internet service. Places like the College Board or fastweb.com are great places to start. Fastweb actually matches you to relevant scholarships that meet your requirements either based on your interests, your major or how much money you might be looking for. No matter which Internet service you choose, never pay for this service.

Look locally. There are plenty of scholarships available all around you. Check outyour local Rotary club or Kiwanis club. Check with family friends or with your church, synagogue or mosque. Check around with local businesses. Read the newspaper. Oftentimes, businesses or organizations will advertise a scholarship contest. Ask your school counselor. They will be well informed as to what is available. Also, many state schools offer scholarships to students with strong GPAs.

Talk to the college of your choice. They should have a list of scholarships they offer to attend.

And when it comes to applying for that much needed cash, here are some things to keep in mind.

Don’t get hung up on the amount of money being offered. Remember $500 or $750 may not sound like alot, but that cash could pay for books or food for a semester. So, while you may try for the big payday don’t skip past the smaller amounts. They add up.

Concentrate on your essay. Make sure it is strong. You want to answer the question and really demonstrate why you deserve the money. Show your uniqueness. Say the scholarship is from a local Kiwanis club. Tell a story about yourself and some volunteering you do. Make them see why volunteering is important to you and the lessons you learn from it. Show how you did something to help someone else and the difference it made.

Double check your application. Mistakes happen to the best of us. But in this case, a small mistake can cost you thousands of dollars. Check for spelling errors, punctuation, and grammar. Did you sign the form? Did you put the date on the form? Have you filled out the form properly?

Finally, don’t miss the deadline… even by a day. That’s the biggest mistakes students make. They take the time to fill out the forms, write a great essay and then miss the deadline. Mark it on your calendar and be sure to send it out with at least a week to spare. If you really want to make sure it arrived, attach a delivery confirmation form from the USPS to your envelope. You can track the envelope through the USPS’s website.

And if you need help with your college application or finding scholarships, give Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale a call. We are here to help.

How to Take Good Notes in Class

November 17, 2011 Category :Are You Prepared| FR| HS| JR| SP| SR| Study Skills 0

What’s your method for note taking?

Do you try to write everything down the teacher is saying only to wind up with hand cramps and afraid you missed something?

Do you jot down a few phrases and have no clue what they really mean?

Effective note taking can make your high school career so much easier. But, it’s one of the hardest aspects to tackle.

There are several professional note taking methods like the Cornell Method. Look at these methods and glean from them helpful ideas. Meanwhile, here are a list of tips you can follow that will also help you become a better note taker.

Sit in the front of class if you can. And if you are in the back of the class, make sure you can see the board and hear the teacher. If you can’t, ask to move. It’s not too late.
You should take notes on loose-leaf paper. That way you can take them out of your notebook easily when you are studying.
Always put the date and topic at the top of your paper. That way you can find topics more easily while studying.
Don’t try to copy everything down that the teacher is saying. It’s impossible and unnecessary. You wind up missing important points.
Listen for verbal cues. If the teacher says. “This is important…” then write it down. If they say “There are three main points…” , listen for all three main points.
Look for written cues. If the teacher writes something on the board, he/she considers it important. Write it down too. It may be a date or a formula or a vocabulary word.
Create your own shortcuts. (w/=with, b/c=because). Put stars next to important points. Use arrows to connect concepts.
When you get home, review your notes. Yes, yes.. you have a million other things to do. But, try to get in the habit of reviewing notes at least twice a week. That way if you have a question you can ask the teacher right away, instead of the day before a test when they are less likely to want to help you.
If your notes are not legible, write them over. You will retain the information better too.

Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale offers all kinds of help when it comes to Study Skills. Call us today to make an appointment.

Why Does GPA Matter?

November 9, 2011 Category :FR| General Academics| HS| JR| SP| SR 0

It’s the high school equivalent of a good credit score: the GPA.

The higher the number, the better off you are. Maintaining a strong GPA is just like earning a high credit score; start early and pay attention.

Freshman year can be a trying time; there is more homework than middle school and studies require a more rigorous approach. It is easy to fall behind and catching up is difficult. Make sure your child has the necessary study skills to do well. This means they understand how to take effective notes in class, they have a clear understanding of how to study for tests, they have a plan of action for dealing with their new, busy schedule. If they are interested in attending college, this is where it starts. Make sure their class schedule is academically challenging and that they have a few extracurricular activities. Have them talk about what they want to pursue as a career and think about where they would like to attend college.

Sophomore year is all about focusing efforts on building an academic resume. Take Honors classes. Honors classes can add weighted grades to a GPA. Some colleges will ignore the extra weight. Don’t let your child rely on honors classes alone to raise their GPA or maintain one. Build up Reading and Writing skills. Think about taking the PSAT for the first time; as practice for next year. Vary up the extracurricular activities. If your child has a definite idea of a career path, look for camps or after school activities that align with this. It will give them an idea of what they can expect. It can also help them to see what it will take to get there.

Junior year is about kicking it into high gear. Focus on maintaining a strong GPA. If your child has fallen behind, it won’t be easy to catch up. They will have to work extremely hard. Colleges look closely and critically at the Junior year’s GPA. Your child’s needs to be on point. The GPA in the Junior year is a true reflection of the amount of work and effort your child has put into their education. Make sure your child takes the PSAT in October. If their score is high enough, they can enter the National Merit Scholars competition and earn a scholarship to college. You should also have them take the SAT or ACT. They can take it again as a Senior, but at least this way they understand what the test is all about and where they need to improve. Taking a prep test class with a tutoring company like Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale(click here for schedule of classes) can really help pinpoint where your child needs to improve on these tests. Start researching colleges to see what SAT or ACT scores are needed, what GPA is required and if the college is a good match for your child. Keep track of colleges in a journal or a file so you can add to it as you do research.

Senior year is the culmination of all that hard work. Don’t let your child slack off. Colleges are paying attention to GPAs and academic work ethic. Take the SAT or ACT again if you want to improve your score. Consider SAT subject tests. It will show the colleges how serious your child is about their academic career. By now, you and your child should narrow down the colleges they want to attend. Take time out to visit the schools to get a feel for what they are about. Work closely with a school counselor to make sure the college is the right fit. Look at taking an AP course or two.. and take the AP exams. If your child scores well, they could receive college credit. Start writing college admission essays early, don’t let your child wait. (Chyten’s college essay class)

Watch this video to see advice from one of our successful students about maintaining good grades and earning high test scores.

If you want more information about SATs or ACTs, study skills or tutoring in general visit our website or just make an appointment to stop by and visit our newly expanded facility.

How To Write a Good College Admissions Essay

November 3, 2011 Category :Are You Prepared| HS| JR| SR 0

Writer’s block. It does exist. Ask any 17 year old struggling to write a college admissions essay.

Sitting in front of the computer, hands poised over the keyboard, waiting for inspiration to hit. Time creeps by slowly. Ideas swirl around but nothing takes hold.

Should I be clever, should I be serious, should I use lots of SAT words, should I be deep or challenging?

While most college admissions counselors will tell you there are no hard facts on what makes a good essay, all will agree that a good essay alone won’t get you into college. It won’t make up for low SAT or ACT scores. It won’t make up for an average GPA or a lack of extracurricular activities. What it can do is turn you from a student that simply meets all of the academic requirements into a student that stands out and grabs a college’s attention. It’s that important.

So go ahead and print this blog post out and leave it on your teen’s desk. They have questions. And we have answers.

What should I write about? That’s up to you. But pick something you are passionate about. The best essays are the ones where someone can feel your emotions and get a better understanding of you as a person. Look at everyday topics. Some of the best essay ideas come from unlikely places. Brainstorm for a few days on topics. Think outside of the box. Say you are a middle child. Think about your experiences as a middle child. Is there something about being a middle child that we can all relate to? Is there something that sets middle children apart? What experience defined you? Don’t judge any of your answers, just let them flow. Then after you develop your list, whittle it down. Your essay angle will come to you.
Don’t just tell, show. Don’t write things like “I am a compassionate person who loves animals.” Tell how you are compassionate. Did you start an animal shelter in your community? Share a story of an animal adoption.
Don’t try to cram everything into your essay. There are lots of ways to describe yourself. You don’t need to share all of them in your essay. Focus on an important aspect of your personality and let it shine.
Use your own voice. You may be tempted to sound “super academic.” Don’t. This year alone, college admissions personnel throughout the country will read 500-thousand essays. It can get tedious. Yes, they want to make sure you have a strong grasp of grammar and vocabulary. But, they also want to “hear” your voice. Remember they don’t get to meet you. Keep that in mind as you write. What impression do you want to leave admissions personnel with?
Answer the question. The prompts are there for a reason. Don’t go off on tangents and never answer the question.
Essays take time. At least the good ones. Don’t expect to write your essay in a weekend. It can take you as long as a month. Give yourself plenty of time to edit. Remember to proofread. Now is not the time for silly spelling mistakes.
Relax. Yes, the essay is important. Yes, you want to write a good one. But, don’t stress yourself out. Do a rough draft. Put it aside. Pick it up in a few days. Tinker with it. You will know when it’s done.

Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale offers an intensive class on College Essay Writing. Our experts can help you craft a strong essay that you can be proud of.

How to Prepare for the SATs

November 1, 2011 Category :Are You Prepared| JR| SR 0

This Saturday, students all across the country will take the first step towards their future… it’s SAT time.

The SATs are a college admissions exam that tests a student’s knowledge and skills in English and Math.

By now students have finished most of their studying and practicing for the exam, but we wanted to offer a few last-minute tips that will make the big day go even better.

Before the Test

The night before, eat a well balanced dinner.
Avoid sugary treats
Get at least 8 hours of sleep
Pick an outfit that makes you feel good
Prepare all of the items you will need: calculator with fresh batteries, watch, a good eraser, at least two no.2 pencils, water, a healthy snack, photo ID and your SAT admissions ticket (you cannot use mechanical pencils or pens)

Test Day

Eat a healthy breakfast with protein
Arrive about 15 minutes before the test starts
Keep yourself calm with deep breathing and reminding yourself that you will be fine.
Read all of the instructions before you answer any questions
On answer sheet, make sure you fill in the entire circle
If you must erase an answer, erase it completely
NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED

If reading over this list is the closest your child has come to preparing for a college admissions test, then give us a call at Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale. We offer intensive boot camps that really focus on the ins and outs of the SAT as well as the ACT. We get results. Check out this video to see what parents are saying about the help their kids received from us.

Can We Talk? Tips To Help Parents Talk to Teachers

October 20, 2011 Category :FR| HS| JR| SP| SR 0

Faculty lounges are filled with horror stories… especially around report card time.

No other time creates such fear and discourse in the parent-teacher-student relationship as a report card. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Creating an open dialogue with a teacher is imperative and contributes to the well-being of your child.

Every parent thinks when their child walks out the door, there is a halo floating above their head and that they are on their best behavior at school. They want to believe their child listens in class, does their homework, and studies for their tests. But, that’s not always the case.

We asked teachers for their best tips to help parents create a better relationship with the teacher. And even though we are a few months into school, you can start putting them into action tomorrow.

Tip 1. Make contact early and fairly often. Don’t just show up to Open House never to be seen again. Call or email the teacher. Let them know what your expectations are for your child. Ask what you can do at home to help your child in class. Check in to see if your child is having difficulty.

Tip 2. Teachers are not mind readers; keep them informed. Let teachers know information about your kids as it pertains to their learning. Do they need to sit in the front of the class because they can concentrate better there? Are they on medication that makes them sleepy or unable to concentrate? Do they have an outside activity that requires a large amount of their free time? Are you going through a divorce; yes this is important. Teachers aren’t being nosy, but any upheaval in your child’s life can cause problems at school. Also effectively communicate when your child misses school. If you can give the teacher a heads up, they can let you know how that will affect school work.

Tip 3. Don’t be your child’s bulletproof vest. If your child is having trouble with the teacher or didn’t get the grade they expected, have your child talk to the teacher before you step in. Around 4th grade is a great time to teach kids about consequences and how to communicate their needs. Allowing your child to handle their own concerns encourages them to stand up for himself or herself. Practice with your child first and let them know that the outcome may not be what they want (a higher grade) but instead the point is to understand where they went off track (didn’t study enough, didn’t understand material). Encourage your child to ask the teacher for help or to find out what they can do differently. Having a game plan will help your child in communicating effectively with the teacher.

Tip 4. Like Aretha says R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Be mindful of a teacher’s time. Most work from 7:30am to 3:30pm. Don’t expect to hear back right away from a teacher if you call during those hours. Also, remember your child’s teacher has other students they are teaching so forgive them if they don’t remember which homework assignment your child skipped or which exact answer they missed on a test. They will need to look at their records. So when leaving a message for the teacher or sending an email be specific. Most teachers have a 24-48 hour rule. They will respond within that time. Be patient. You know how busy you are, so are the teachers.

By keeping the lines of communication open, parents can take an active role in their children’s lives and set them on a great course for learning. It also lets the teacher know you are in this together. After all, you both have the same goal… to help your child reach their potential and beyond.

Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale offers students a safe and nurturing academic environment. If your child needs help with English, Reading, Math, AP courses, SAT/ACT you can count on us. Visit our website www.chytenaz.com for more information on classes.

Preparing for the PSATs

October 11, 2011 Category :Are You Prepared| JR| SP 0

Are you ready?

The PSATs are this Saturday and all across the country… hundreds of thousands of kids will walk into a classroom and spend 2 hours answering all kinds of questions testing their English, Reading and Math skills.

Succeeding on the PSATs is up to the student; it requires an investment on their part to study hard, practice and be prepared.

Here are some tips to help students face the test with their best foot forward.

The night before the test:

Eat a well balanced dinner. Skip fast food and empty calories.
Avoid sugary treats, yes chocolate tastes good, but you will crash from the sugar and become tired.
Get at least 8 hours of sleep. No texting while watching Gossip Girl on the DVR at midnight.
Pick an outfit that makes you feel good. If you feel like a million bucks, your confidence will soar.
Prepare all of the items you will need to take with you: calculator with fresh batteries, watch, a good eraser, at least two no.2 pencils, water, a healthy snack, photo ID and your PSAT admissions ticket (you cannot use mechanical pencils or pens)

The Day of the Test:

Eat a healthy breakfast with protein. (try egg white omelette, Greek yogurt with some granola, pb & j sandwich)
Arrive about 15 minutes before the test starts. Don’t be one of those kids that comes running in at the last minute or worse yet one of those kids who comes late only to find the door to the classroom shut and locked.
Keep yourself calm with deep breathing and reminding yourself that you will be fine. This is not the end of the world. It’s one test.
Read all of the instructions before you answer any questions. Trust us when we say this. It happens all of the time and the end result is not pretty.
On answer sheet, make sure you fill in the entire circle.
If you must erase an answer, erase it completely.
NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED

If reading over this list is the closest your child has come to preparing for a college admissions test, then give us a call at Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale. We offer intensive boot camps that really focus on the ins and outs of the PSAT as well as the SAT and ACT. We get results. Check out this video to see what parents are saying about the help their kids received from us.

How to Help Your Child When They Get A Bad Progress Report

October 5, 2011 Category :Uncategorized 0

Right now many high schools are handing out student progress reports… kinda like a sneak preview at the upcoming report card.

If you don’t like what you see on the progress report, don’t lose hope. There are some steps you can take to turn around your struggling student.

Ask your child about the grades. Have them explain why they think they aren’t where they should be. Ask them what they could have done differently as a student. Did they miss homework? Did they study as hard as they could have for a test?

Talk to the teacher.

Find out if your child is behaving properly in class. Let your child know disrespecting the teacher and the class will not be tolerated. Kids want to sit by their friends; make sure your child understands that classroom time is not social hour and that they need to control themselves. Check back with the teacher in a couple of weeks, if the behavior has not stopped, have the teacher move your child’s seat.
Did they complete all of the homework? Ask the teacher if they can have a chance to make it up for partial credit. Make sure your child is using an assignment planner and calendar to mark down due dates.
In what specific areas is your child struggling? A tutor can help your child work past these challenges and get back on track.
Are they squinting at the board? Your child may need glasses. Have their eyes tested. If you can’t see the board, you can’t learn.
Do they seem distracted or frustrated? Do they act bored? Are they not listening to the teacher? These could be signs your child is not being challenged academically or signs of a possible learning challenge. Work with a school counselor to have your child tested.

Look at your child’s schedule. Nowadays, many students are overloaded from morning til night. Sports, dance, volunteer work, and a busy social calendar. A packed schedule can adversely affect your child’s grades. Make sure there is a balance between after school activities and schoolwork time. High school students can count on at least 2 to 3 hours of homework per night. Keep that in mind as you sign up your child for activities.

You should strongly consider a tutor. A tutor can really help a child gain confidence and do better in school. Tutors provide extra learning opportunities in a safe and scholastic environment. They can work with your child in any subject and focus on a learning strategy that works best for your child. If time management or test taking is the issue, you can sign your child up for a Study Skills class.

Chyten Tutors of Scottsdale is the premiere supplemental education company in the Valley. All of our tutors have teaching experience and Master’s Degrees. We offer a wide range of classes on all subjects including college admissions tests and AP exams. We also offer free diagnostic testing. Visit our website for more information.

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