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By admin, January 27, 2010 10:20 am

Beverly Stewart, founder of Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. was recently asked to speak at the 2010 Women Mean Business Summit on January 30. The event, which will be held at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana in Newark, Delaware, is an annual women-owned business forum sponsored  by National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Delaware chapter.

“I was incredibly honored to be asked to speak at the annual event,” says Beverly Stewart. “This is a tremendous opportunity for women business owners to put themselves and their companies on a positive track for 2010 and learn to dream big.”

Stewart will be a part of an exclusive panel discussion group for the “Conversations with Women Extraordinaire: Learn the Secrets of Women Who Have Built Million Dollar Businesses” session. In this session, attendees will meet some of the state’s most successful women business owners and learn their secrets of success. In addition to Beverly Stewart, the session will also feature Ellen Barrosse of Synchrogenix Information Strategies and Patricia Troy-Brooks of Advanced Staffing.

The Women Mean Business Summit provides access to inspiring information, motivation, and small business resources that today’s women business owners need. The 2010 Summit will include a host of workshops, keynote and business resources with national entrepreneurial expert, author and consultant, Mary Cantando, networking and relationship-building opportunities and resource information and helpful seminars from small business entities and their experts.

Registration includes: continental breakfast, panel discussion, workshop, pre-lunch networking and exhibits, luncheon, keynote and choice of one sponsor seminar. For more information or to register for the event, please contact:

Event Chair:                                        NAWBO-DE Administrator:

Caren McCabe                                    Maureen Curry 

(302) 750-8363                                   (302) 559-9080

carenmccabe@comcast.net                 info@nawbodelaware.org    

For more information about Beverly Stewart, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, or to book Beverly Stewart as a speaker for your event, please call 302-594-0754 or email beverly@backtobasicslearning.com.

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By admin, January 24, 2010 9:54 am

by Beverly Stewart, M.Ed.

This article was originally printed in the Community News, January 2010:

“It’s impossible pick up a newspaper these days without reading doom and gloom about the state of the economy. And while its effects are being felt all over the country, it’s especially true here in Delaware. According to a recent Delaware Business Ledger article (January 3, 2010), “Delaware is likely to see a shrinking economy well into 2010. Delaware is being weighed down by an increase in unemployment claims [currently 8.5%] and a decrease in building permits.”

The trickle down effect of the national economy can be felt in every aspect of our daily lives, but nowhere is its effect more detrimental than in our education system. Budget cuts from every corner are forcing districts, schools and even individual teachers to make truly tough choices.

But, there is good news! Delaware most creative educators are somehow still able to provide our children with the services that they need by identifying their unique population and its individual needs! No strangers to squeezing the most from every dollar, this year Delaware education professionals been challenged to go ever further – and are answering the call with innovative solutions.

For example, most schools continue to provide important after school programs — a safe haven, homework assistance, and a sense of community. Others with a high population of non-native speakers offer crucial English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. There are free remedial math and reading programs.  And, alternatively, Talented and Gifted classes for exceptional students. Because it is crucial to address the diverse needs of all students, somehow each of these programs must be financed.

So, just how are Delaware educators able to surmount the obstacle of critical budget shortfalls? One way is the growing number of partnerships between public schools and private educational service providers.

These contracts make more sense than ever before. Independent educational services can provide teachers “a la carte” – sometimes for just one marking period — allowing the school to realize a substantial cost savings. And, by working with independent firms for certain applicable educational services, schools are able to maximize their use of budget dollars for other necessities like teachers’ salaries and classroom materials, while continuing to offer a quality education including a full range of subjects for the students.

As a nation, our economic woes will not disappear overnight. But I want to commend the educators of Delaware for their innovation and their dedication to finding educational solutions that provide the next generation with a solid foundation for success!”

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By admin, January 23, 2010 1:46 pm

Back to Basics, the largest privately-owned, full-service educational facility in the tri-state area, is currently interviewing applicants for several key positions including Middle School Math and Reading Specialists and High School English and Math Specialists for Tuesday/Thursday afternoon instruction from approximately 2:00 – 4:00. Applicants must possess a minimum of 2 years relevant teaching or tutoring experience.

Since 1985, the tutors at Back to Basics have been helping students reach their full academic potential. The firm works with remedial, special education, and enrichment students and offers instruction in more than 60 subjects. Back to Basics employs 90 tutors, all of whom are experienced professionals holding Bachelor, Master or Doctorate degrees. In addition, the firm partners with major corporations and small businesses for interpretation/translation, English as a Second Language (E.S.L.), time management, writing, foreign languages, and other skills vital in today’s business world.

Back to Basics offers a competitive salary and benefits for both part-time and full-time employees, the ability to create an individualized schedule as well as other location and scheduling options, plus the joy of making a serious contribution to the academic and personal life of another.

The Back to Basics’ employment application and filing instructions can be found at www.backtobasicslearning.com

 For more information call 302.594.0754 or visit www.backtobasicslearning.com

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By admin, January 21, 2010 7:55 am

There have been requests made by districts and schools in recent years to have students assessed regarding college even before entering high school. Their concern was to have some measure as to whether students approaching 9th grade were being prepared properly for high school curriculum leading to college readiness. Enter ReadiStep by College Board (similar product offered by administrators of the ACT, called Explore).

It’s not a new model of stair- stepper exercise equipment. ReadiStep is a two-hour multiple choice test created from college-readiness standards that represent rigorous academic content matter. Some see it as a scaled down version of the PSAT, containing 1 section of each of the following: critical reading, writng and math. The test was made available in the fall of 2009 for initial administration.

As with any new concept, there are pros and cons being voiced. Some say it’s a good idea to have early benchmarks to work with so that the most can be made of the high school years in preparing students for college. Others debate that more emphasis should be put on classroom assessments instead of what they call “snapshot” tests. Whatever the case, most would agree on one account: Any investment in furthering the education of students who will be our future is a worthwhile cause.

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin, January 12, 2010 6:51 pm

The following is an excerpt from a recent interview and article on outstanding University of Delaware alums, including Beverly Stewart, ‘79 and ‘85. To read the article in its entirety and to see the other 9 outstanding graduates, please visit University of Delaware Career Services Center

“Describe your current position and what led to your job.

I am currently the President/Director of Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. I began my tutoring company and private school in 1985 after leaving classroom teaching. I felt a very strong need to tutor and teach 1-on-1 so that I could reach every student.

What has been the most rewarding/challenging moment in your career?

The most rewarding moments are nearly daily. We have so many testimonials from students (children and adults) and parents about how we’ve changed their lives, given them self-esteem, and set them on a positive path, that this is why I do what I do.

The most challenging times are the ones we’ve been in the past couple of years due to the economy.

What is the best career advice you have received?

The best career advice I have received is to never give up. The best career advice I give others is to follow your passion. When I left classroom teaching to begin my business, I had (and still have) a passion for educating and building self-esteem and I had to follow my vision and mission.

What would you recommend to someone interested in working in your field?

I would recommend to someone working in my field to have an education background as well as some business courses. It is also crucial to have
drive and a ton of commitment.

What skills are necessary or what prepared you the most for your career?

I earned both a Bachelor’s (1979) and Master’s (1985) degree from the U of D. My bachelor’s is in Elementary Education and my Master’s is in Special Education. These have been invaluable in my business. The other skills that are critical in running a business are common sense, a willingness to ask for help, the ability to see the bigger picture, and perseverance.

What professional associations have aided in your professional development?

The professional associations I belong to are Education Industry Association (EIA), New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), and Wilmington Women in Business (WWB).”

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin, December 15, 2009 7:20 am

Is your child in the right school? Perhaps you’ve seen signs throughout the early months of the school year that made you question this issue. However, you decided to wait before making a change, thinking your child may be readjusting from “summer” mode. Or maybe he/she started at a new school and a transition period was in order.

Now that we are almost midway through the year, if you are still questioning your child’s placement, this is a perfect time to reconsider. Evaluate and assess the situation, getting feedback from your child, teachers, administration, and maybe an Educational Consultant. If you reach the conclusion that a change is necessary, here are some tips to help your child transition smoothly.

Ask current teachers and administration to speak with new school staff. In this way, new teachers will know child’s strengths, difficulties and learning style.

Deliver school records to the new school yourself. This will allow you to review them and make sure they are accurate, fair and relevant information is included.

Sit in on one of the new school’s classes or attend a school event. Your child will know what to expect and will be more comfortable with his/her new surroundings.

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin, December 10, 2009 7:06 am

December is here and that dreaded ailment – senioritis – is already running rampant. Senioritis comes in two (almost) deadly strains. First, either your senior has received early acceptance to college and feels that no further schoolwork must be done between now and September 1 of next school year, OR, your senior is so paralyzed by fear – staring down a mountain of applications or waiting for college letters of acceptance – that he is unable to focus on the tasks at hand. Either way, senioritis is a problem for you and an even bigger one for your teen.

For a high school senior who has received early decision from their preferred college, he might think that school’s over and the living is easy. Opening the mailbox and finding that fat package from Dream University provokes a euphoric reaction akin to finding the golden ticket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Early decision can be a wonderful thing. The college pressure is off for most seniors, but temptation to simply coast until mortarboards are tossed into the air is almost overwhelming.

For wise parents, however, it’s important to note that many colleges and universities require mid-year transcripts, even after acceptance. Does your son or daughter really want to jeopardize that acceptance to Dream U? Also, there are still your student’s Advanced Placement (AP) classes to consider. These classes count toward college credit only upon course completion and a successful score on the AP exam. Or perhaps your senior is already enrolled in online college courses through their local high school? Again, these classes count towards college credit only if they are successfully completed.

So what’s a parent to do? Here are five simple strategies to help motivate your senior to excel during their last year of high school, and still enjoy all of those special senior year events.

1. Back off (a little). With senior projects, college application deadlines, and scholarship essays all due, due, due, you may be tempted to push your senior to do, do, do! With the stiff competition for space in the nation’s top colleges, this makes sense. But maybe it’s time to reevaluate your college application list. Does your senior really need to apply to 20 colleges? Or can you lower the number of applications and still include enough “reach,” “possible,” and “safety” schools? Whenever feasible, don’t forget to utilize that life saver, the Common Application.

2. Help out (a little). I am not advocating that you take over applications. But I am suggesting that help in filing necessary forms, providing data when needed, and maybe running to the post office to meet deadlines is helpful for the overwhelmed senior. The number of forms, essays, supplements, teacher evaluations and letters of recommendation needed for many colleges requires almost military precision. Try to keep your cool when your 18 year old can’t seem to remember his Social Security number (again). Keeping track on an Excel worksheet will be helpful.

3. Set up a study group. This is especially helpful for Honors and AP classes and preparation for these important exams. Teens are also much more likely to hit the books if food is involved, so prepare a healthy snack. Set aside a dedicated space in the dining room. And monitor (unobtrusively) to make sure that the work is getting finished.

4. Dangle a carrot. Some might call this bribery — I call it smart. One of the best strategies I’ve heard for motivating seniors to fill out scholarship applications is to split the rewards. The amount is up to you. If you choose, for example, a 70-30 split and your senior wins a $1000 scholarship, the whole $1000 goes to school, but you pay him $300 out-of-pocket. Having a fat bank account to start freshman year off right is a powerful motivator for him and you’ve still gained a $700 discount on the college bill.

5. Enlist outside aid. This can take many forms. Does your sister-in-law have the best proofreading skills around? Ask her to proof your son’s essays for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Does your mother have the organizational skills of a four-star general? Ask her to help your senior set up a spread sheet to track acceptance and deadlines. Or hire a short-term tutor who edits essays.

These strategies will help your senior regain the momentum necessary to propel him through the rest of senior year. And don’t worry parents, June is just around the corner!

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin, November 30, 2009 7:19 am

This fall, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. celebrates 24 years serving the varied educational needs of children through adults. Since 1985, the firm has provided educational instruction to over 11,500 students in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Today, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics is a vibrant, full-service educational facility providing instruction in 60+ subjects, the most comprehensive range of subjects available.

 Back to Basics also operates a private school with a focus unlike any other school in the state. With a cap of 20 students, this unique private school provides students one-on-one instruction for state credit toward graduation, through personal, customized instruction.

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin,

Beverly Stewart, a Delaware-based educational entrepreneur and founder of Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. was recently asked to join the Board of Directors of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. 1,700 members strong, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce is involved in government affairs, special events, providing emerging businesses with support and services, offering health and insurance benefits to members, and overseeing a wide range of programs for businesses of all sizes.

“I was incredibly honored to be asked to join the Board,” says Beverly Stewart. “For almost 85 years, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce has been supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for its members. Over the next three years, I am looking forward to making a real difference in my local business community.”

Stewart’s own business success will make her a valuable addition to the Board; by sharing her knowledge and experiences, she will be able to help other companies grow and succeed. Stewart is the President and Director of Back to Basics Learning Dynamics, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 1985, Stewart began her business as its sole employee. Now, over 24 years later, her firm employs over 90 professional, degreed tutors, offers 60+ subjects for children and adults, and has served the varied educational needs of over 11,000 students in the tri-state area. Back to Basics is also a state-approved private school, providing a full-time curriculum of math, English, social studies, and science, plus electives for students in grade K- 12th.

In addition to her recent appointment to the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Stewart is also a Board Member and valuable committee member for several diverse organizations and firms including the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Superstars in Education Selection Committee since 2003, and founding Board Member of the Wilmington Women in Business Foundation, Inc., (currently Director Emeritus). Stewart also currently serves on the Boards of Success Won’t Wait (literacy non-profit), McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds (educational game company), Horizon House (mental health non-profit), New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, and the Leon Weiner Education Foundation, where she is a Founding Board Member.

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com

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By admin, November 22, 2009 8:05 am

The 3rd Annual Red Clay Consolidated School District Family Resource Fair was held this Saturday, Nov. 21 at Conrad Schools of Science in Wilmington, Delaware and, of course, Back to Basics Learning Dynamics was in attendance! The event was a perfect opportunity to introduce new families in the district to Back to Basics’ unique private school option, award winning one-on-one tutoring facility, enrichment opportunities, SAT prep services, and more.

Congratulations to Red Clay Consolidated School District for hosting such a wonderful event – we’ll definitely be back next year!

For more information, please visit Back to Basics website at http://www.BacktoBasicsLearning.com