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By admin, February 27, 2010 10:16 am

Susan Said What?! www.susansaidwhat.wordpress.com is a lifestyle blog created by Delaware-based freelance writer Susan McNeill. Recently, Susan enrolled her son at Back to Basics for test taking preparation. She recounted her experience on the blog, an excerpt of which follows.

“It’s hard for me to believe, but my son Matt will be entering high school in the fall. In Delaware, the choice-magnet-charter-private school competition is nothing short of fierce. He’s extremely bright and has top grades, so initially we weren’t concerned. He took the placement test for the Charter School of Wilmington (the state’s top academic public school) along with 800 other students for a chance at 225 freshman slots. When he didn’t make the 1st cut and was assigned to “interview status,” we were understandably worried (although after his interview he was accepted).

For his next placement test we targeted prestigious private prep school Archmere Academy (Vice President Joe Biden is an alum). This time we decided to take no chances – so we looked for some testing taking / test prep help, so that that he could do his best. Enter Back to Basics Learning Dynamics.

If you aren’t from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you’re probably not yet familiar with this firm. Back to Basics is the area’s undisputed leader in one-on-one tutoring, homeschooling, testing like SAT prep and ESL instruction. For over 24 years Back to Basics has served the varied educational needs of over 11,500 children and adult students!

Matt was paired with an exceptional tutor who proved to be the perfect match — both in teaching style and personality. Sessions on test taking, timing, eliminating answers on multiple choice questions, and many, many practice tests later, we thought Matt was ready.

He took the placement test last week. Not only did he score well, he scored so well that he was eligible for several thousand dollars academic scholarship money. Not too shabby!

I can’t thank Back to Basics enough! Many of the firm’s policies and procures differentiate it from a Sylvan of Huntington – or really any of the big chain services you may see advertised. Although Back to Basics is small in comparison (just under 100 tutors) their careful matching of a student and tutor make a student’s success much, much more likely. In fact, Matt has made such dramatic strides in such a short time, that I think we will be continuing with weekly sessions to get him ready for the more challenging academics he’ll face in September.

If you want to learn more, you can visit them at www.backtobasicslearning.com. You’ll be glad you did!”

This excerpt was reprinted with permission by Susan McNeill, www.susansaidwhat.wordpress.com. For more information, please visit www.backtobasicslearning.com or call 302-594-0754.

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By admin, February 26, 2010 7:12 pm

STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPS
Learn time management, goal setting, learning styles, organization, note taking, outlining, reading for meaning, memory techniques, test-taking strategies, and test preparation. This small group workshop helps students study efficiently and effectively during the school year.

August 16-August 27, 2010
Mon-Fri, 1.5 hrs/day
Morning and evening classes offered
$375.00

For more information visit www.backtobasicslearning.com or call 302-594-0754.

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By admin, February 19, 2010 12:38 pm

Homework can be one of, if not the, biggest after school battle. But it shouldn’t be. Help your child take responsibility for his/her own assignments. Here’s how.

• Eliminate Distractions- Make sure your child has a quiet place to work, away from the TV and siblings playing.
• Develop a Routine-Have a regular homework time. Make it clear that recreational activites must wait until homework is done.
• Guide But Don’t Do the Work-Give your child ideas and direction, not the answers.
• Set a Timer- Require work to be finished within the allotted time.

These tips and the others listed in the full article, accessed via the link below, will help your child take control and successfully manage his/her homework load. A great homework tool for help and some fun, reinforcing activities is www.infoplease.com

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By admin, February 18, 2010 7:27 am

The acceptance letters for colleges are arriving and a decision may or may not have been made on attendance. But now what? There are several things that need to be done at this point, some by the student, some by parents. Many are a joint effort.

1. Complete a FAFSA- All financial aid, including grants, student loans and even work-study opportunities stem from this form. You can select as many as 10 schools to receive and many schools like to receive this information by March 15th.

2. Apply for scholarships- This is largely a student responsibility as many ask for essays or personal statements. However, some of those based on financial need as well as academic merit may ask for parent tax forms, etc.

3. Commitment and Housing-If the student has made a decision on attendance and will be living on campus, be aware of deadlines for submitting deposits to secure registration and a room on campus.

Although senior graduation isn’t far off, much of this year is consumed with getting ready for the road ahead. With careful planning, it can be a relatively smooth trip.

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By admin, February 17, 2010 8:33 am

If your child attends a Delaware public school or parochial elementary school, chances are that annual testing is right around the corner. DSTP and Terranova standardized tests are often administered in March of each year. For some, the thought of these types of tests can raise feelings of anxiety, apprehension and fear. Here are some suggestions for putting these concerns at bay and raising confidence and self-esteem instead.

Ask for Relaxation Tips-If your child gets anxious about testing, ask the teacher for some relaxation tips.

Assure Student is in School-Don’t plan doctor or other appointments during the test dates unless it’s an emergency. This avoids stretching out the testing over a longer period of time and disrupting your child’s post-test school routine.

Encourage Your Child to Listen- Instruct your child to listen very carefully during the administering of the test, especially to the directions given for each section.

Rest and Breakfast- Be sure your child gets sufficient rest leading up to and during the testing dates. Allow time for a healthy, not sugary breakfast in the morning. It re- fuels the brain and “breaks the fast” of not eating overnight.

Do His/Her Best-Tell your child to just do the best he/she can.

If you want to help your child accomplish this goal and relieve much of the stress and anxiety that accompanies standardized testing, call us at Back to Basics. We can prepare your child for testing by teaching and reinforcing subject matter and test-taking strategies, as well as build self-esteem and confidence. Your child will be ready and relaxed when he/she walks into the classroom with #2 pencils in hand!

For more information, please visit www.backtobasicslearning.com.

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By admin, February 16, 2010 10:27 am

Now Enrolling for May 1, 2010 SAT Prep Class

Class now forming for test prep for the May 1, 2010 SAT. Class will run Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m. here at our center. Class starts March 9, 2010 and runs through April 29,2010. No class 4/6 or 4/8/10. SAT Prep book and notebook included. $749.00

Space is limited. For more information, please call 302-594-0754 or visit www.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 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, 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