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Keeping Your Child Academically Active Over the Summer
With summer just around the corner, it's important not
to let brain-drain settle in. You may be asking why and
how to keep your child academically fresh during the
summer months. Here are some tips.
The "Why" of Keeping Kids
Learning
Learning over the
summer is crucial so students hold on to what they
were previously taught. In doing this they retain more
of the behavior and attitude needed for new learning in
the fall. Students who sleep in late, are glued to the
television or spend a large amount of time alone have
difficulty adapting to school again in September.
Gains from the prior year get lost when they are not
applied to learning over the summer.
The "How" to Keep Kids Learning
- Check with school about summer reading
assignments. Help your child with time management
in completing this so there isn't stress the weeks
before school starts.
- Check with teachers or local bookstores about
incentive
reading programs. Some give out special things like
free books or coupons for restarurants in exchange for
the student keeping a book log.
- Look into educational and recreational community
programs. These can be free or offered at a nominal
cost.
- Encourage your child to research a current event
and open it up for dinner time discussion.
- Involve your children in chores that are necessary
anyway, such as grocery shopping. Young shoppers
can
tell you the number of the aisles while older siblings
can find items and read labels.
For an even more structured yet fun
summer experience, visit our website for small group
and 1-on-1 instruction being offered for all levels in a
variety of subjects. Keep those brain juices flowing all
summer long!
Find out more....
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Great Gifts for Grads!
It's graduation time again! It can be difficult getting just
the right gift for that special person. Here are a few
suggestions of educational and/or practical gifts for
the new graduate, varying from middle school to
college.
Gift certificates to favorite
restaurants are always fun. Travel or alarm clocks
come in handy for the college bound student. Gift
cards to bookstores are welcomed by all. Gas cards
can be a real asset to the college grad beginning a
new job. Some "larger" ideas for family members may
include scientific or graphing calculators and laptops.
Whatever the gift, be sure to congratulate the grad for
his/her hard work and a job well done.
TRIVIA:Where did the
graduation
song, Pomp and Circumstance get its title?
(See the answer at the end of our tutor spotlight)
"The most influential of all
educational factors is the conversation in a child's
home."-Sir William Temple
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| Student Showcase...Marty F. |
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Marty F. is our showcased student for the month of
May. He is a senior in our alternative school. Marty
says he really likes it here at Back to Basics. He
enjoys the friends he's made and looks forward to
seeing them each day. He likes his teachers and the
classes he is taking.
Marty has noticed
several changes since attending school at Back to
Basics. He now looks forward to coming to school. He
is much more aware of local and global current
events. He says he has learned more in one year at
Back to Basics than he had in two years of traditional
school.
When asked what he would tell someone who was
considering Back to Basics for alternative schooling,
Marty replied without hesitation, "Definitely, do
it."
When Marty isn't in school, he keeps
himself quite busy. He likes being with friends, sports,
shopping and does glass-blowing.
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Read on... |
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| Tutor Spotlight on...Bonnie Decktor |
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This month, we feature Bonnie Decktor in our
spotlight. Bonnie just reached 5 years of service with
Back to Basics in April. She has a Masters in
Education-school counseling and has been teaching
for over 35 years.
Bonnie instructs students from Pre-K-grade 6 in the
subject areas of math, drama, ESL, general science,
grammar, language arts, phonics, readiness, reading,
reading comprehension, social studies, study skills
and writing.
Bonnie has many interests that
fill her time when she's not tutoring. She enjoys scuba
diving, gardening and animals. Bonnie is very involved
in community theater and acting. She has participated
in over 100 productions, filmed two commercials for
television and did makeup for the cast of Dead Poet's
Society. She also works for a casting agent in
Philadelphia.
Bonnie is a native Delawarean
and currently resides in North Wilmington. Thank you
for your dedication, Bonnie, and your genuine interest
in the success of some of our youngest
students.
TRIVIA
ANSWER:From Act III of
Shakespeare's Othello.
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