How Healthy Are Your Child’s Math Skills?

How Healthy Are Your Child’s Math Skills?

Sylvan Learning Located In Cleveland, Youngstown and Cincinnati Offers Free Math Check Ups For 1^st-12^th Graders To Measure Preparedness For New School Year

With school back in session, many students and families are now focusing on homework and grades—paying special attention to crucial subjects like math. Developing strong math skills during the school years is critical, since success in math during middle and high school is increasingly tied to accomplishment in college and beyond, and basic math skills are now a requirement for almost every career opportunity that exists today. To help students gain a better understanding of their math skills, Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, is offering a free math assessment, "Math Check Up,” from now through October for students entering first through twelfth grades.

Based on the Ohio academic achievement standards and the Ohio math curriculum, Math Check Up is a 30 minute skills locator that measures a child's math proficiency and skill level in math. The assessment provides parents with a free analysis of their child’s preparedness in math and some actionable steps aimed at helping their child achieve lasting math success in school.

“Mastering the fundamentals in math at an early age is critical for student success in algebra, trigonometry, and other advanced mathematics,” says Randy Rohde, Executive Director of Sylvan Learning. “Most students often struggle with some portion of math and algebra and parents are always searching for answers to help their kids. With these assessments, our aim is to help families take the first step in measuring their child’s math proficiency at the beginning of the school year.”

An understanding of the importance of math in their lives puts students well on their way to academic success, so it’s critical that parents play an active role in boosting their child’s understanding of math, and in cultivating an interest in numbers. According to the Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009, a little more than a third of American 4^th and 8^th grade students performed at the ‘proficient’ level in mathematics for their grade levels. And there was “no significant change in the performance of the nation’s 4^th graders in mathematics from 2007 to 2009.” This marks the first instance of stagnation in the almost 20 years since the national test was first administered in 1990. While education officials evaluate big-picture mathematics policy and instructional issues for our nation as a whole, parents can act now to become vocal mathematics champions for their children.

The free math check-ups are available through October. Parents can call (888) YES-SYLVAN to register their child for the assessment.

“My son took Sylvan’s free Math Check Up recently and it’s amazing how much we learned after the assessment! We now have a solid understanding of where he needs the most help at the beginning of the school year and are looking forward to working with his teachers to make sure he can improve his math skills.” said Mrs. Hooper. “ The assessment is indeed very valuable and timely.”

For more information on math resources offered by Sylvan Learning, please visit www.sylvanlearning.com or call (888) YES-SYLVAN

Unlimited Learning at Sylvan

We’re excited to announce a very special promotion for January! For this month only, parents can purchase unlimited tutoring from now until the end of June.

Unlimited tutoring includes:

• Unlimited Tutoring in any Sylvan Subject
• Unlimited Homework Support
• Unlimited Use of BookAdventure.org
• Unlimited Skills Assessments
• School Conferences
• Parent Conferences
• Unlimited Sibling Skills Assessments
• Unlimited Practice SAT or ACT Tests
• Unlimited Test Prep (SAT, ACT or ASVAB)
• Unlimited Early Learning Academy
• Unlimited College Prep (College Writing and Advanced Reading)

Choose the payment option that works for you:

• Financing
• Prepayment
• Four Monthly Installments

This is a great time of the year to get students into Sylvan and a great opportunity to help students finish the year strong! We have never done this before and are very much looking forward to seeing students more often in the center. Call us today to get started!
1-800-EDUCATE

Surviving the Teen Years - pt 2

Facing Academic and Emotional Challenges
As students make the transition into middle and high school, many adolescents encounter a larger-than-life, more impersonal, more competitive, and grade-oriented environment than they experienced in the primary grades. The National Association of Secondary School Principals states, “In this environment many students’ grades decline, and they do not attend school as regularly as they should. They also develop a more negative view of themselves and feel an increased need for friendships.”
Studies have shown students’ perceptions concerning high school reveal both excitement and fear. According to the National Middle School Association, “They look forward to more freedom and more personal choice. However, they also admit to being ‘nervous’ and ‘scared’ about older students teasing them; getting lost in a larger and unfamiliar school; and, most troubling to teens, is making bad grades.”

What Parents Can Do
Teach your children how to develop the skills, habits, and attitudes that lead to lifelong success. That means recognizing the importance of higher education, actively supporting the goals of the school, and encouraging/requiring school attendance.

You can help your child in many ways:

• Set a good example and turn off the television, iPod or cell phone – and read or write.
• Understand your child’s personal learning style and work with him or her in ways that complement the individual learning process. To determine your child’s learning style, visit the “Parent Resources” area of www.SylvanLearning.com and take the Learning Styles Quiz.
• Keep open communication with your child’s teachers to ensure you are aware if struggles arise.
• Be aware of academic requirements needed for future classes. Does one version of middle or high school algebra lead to college preparatory math, whereas another version fulfills the math requirement but does not prepare the student for more advanced courses in math and science? Help your child keep his or her college and career options open by helping to select the “right” courses.
• Foster your teen’s strengths, talents and interests. Give praise for increased effort and celebrate successes.

Summer is the Perfect Time to Prepare for the ACT/SAT

Two of the most important college entrance requirements are a student's academic record and performance on the SAT or ACT achievement test. Increasing a student's SAT or ACT score can increase the likelihood of acceptance into a student’s first choice of college and help bring opportunity for increased scholarship money to the school. Also, successfully graduating from a college or university can help increase earnings by more than four to ten times than a student without a college degree. Therefore, a vital first step in helping students realize their dreams is to help them effectively prepare for the SAT or ACT.

“Interesting and targeted summer programs and test prep can help your teen better prepare for the competitive college admissions process,” explains Rusty Greiff, vice president of Sylvan Learning College Prep. “Summer is a perfect time to ‘get ahead’ through SAT/ACT test prep classes as well core subjects that will help your teen reach his or her full potential.”

College admissions today are more competitive than at any time. New tools, such as the common application, encourage students to apply to more schools. This increases the competition, making it more difficult for students to gain acceptance into the colleges and universities that were once seen as safe bets.

What does this mean for students?

“A well-rounded application, including strong SAT and ACT scores, is critical,” adds Greiff. “Getting into the right college requires a great deal of time, effort and careful planning – as early as Freshman year of high school – for students and their families.”