Math Ladder Concept

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Success in math is dependent upon mastering all the concepts, one step at a time. As each school year progresses, students face increasingly difficult challenges in math. At Sylvan, we are experts in pinpointing a student’s math needs and creating a personalized learning plan that will equip your student to climb the math ladder and achieve his or her academic goals.

Call for your FREE Sylvan Math Checkup!  888-YES-SYLVAN

Let's Build Success!!

Our Winter Tuition Sale has started and continues through February 12th.  Call now to get further details and see how we can help your student improve one grade level within 36 hours!

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

Getting in Gear: A Back To School Survival Guide - part 2

Despite the warm temperatures and sunny skies, many students are feeling a shadow looming as back to school season creeps closer. After weeks of lazy, summer days, late nights, varying routines and minimal mental stimulation, the return to school can seem overwhelming to students of all ages.

To help students get ready for the new school year, here are several tips to ease the transition from the beach to the classroom and jumpstart sluggish summer brains.

For many students, the first day of school doesn’t only bring new teachers and new friends - it can also be a source of anxiety with homework assignments and tests just around the corner. Starting the school year off on the right foot can help minimize students’ stress levels throughout the year.

Get Cleaning. A dirty, cluttered room is not conducive to studying. Get organized before homework starts piling up.
• Remove seldom-worn clothing.
• Pack away belongings not used on a regular basis.
• For smaller children, label areas so they can easily see where belongings should go.

Carve Out A Homework Spot. Whether it is in your bedroom, the basement, or a family office, find an area where you can work distraction-free and claim it as your official workspace.
• Pick a place that is always available and where you feel comfortable doing schoolwork.
• Stock the area with all of the supplies and tools that are needed to complete homework.

Get Organized. Organization is key to ensure you stay on top of the requirements for each subject.
• Use separate, labeled notebooks for each class.
• Create files for each subject. The folders can hold assignments, essays, handouts and notes taken during classes.
• Purchase a planner or calendar to keep track of important dates and deadlines.

Set Educational Goals. Whether it is striving for an A in a certain subject, handing in all homework on time or preparing for tests well in advance, setting goals can help establish a routine for the new year.
• Set goals that are measurable, specific, reasonable and have personal value.

Stay On Schedule. Minimize last minute cramming or deadline mix-ups by creating a detailed school schedule.
• Include all classes, assignments and key dates, such as project deadlines and test dates. Fill in new dates as they arise.
• Schedule specific times for studying, projects and extracurricular activities. The more thorough the schedule, the more helpful it will be to you.

Know The School. If you ever feel swamped with back to school madness, ask for help. Schools assist students with transitioning from one grade to another. Meet with your guidance counselor and/or teachers. If you are still nervous, ask your mom or dad to drop you off at school on the first day of class.

Be Adventurous. Step out of your comfort zone this school year by trying new things academically and in terms of extracurricular activities.
• Try every type of class and/or activity. You never know what your strengths are until you experience as much as you can.
• Challenge yourself. If you have the opportunity, take the hardest classes - not the easiest subjects.
• Ask questions. There is nothing wrong with not always knowing the answer. Asking questions is the best way to learn!

Think Positive. Yes, going back to school means homework and early mornings. It also means reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, resuming fun extracurricular activities, learning more about your favorite subjects and improving on your last year’s performance.

Getting in Gear: A Back To School Survival Guide - part 1

To help parents and children get ready for the new school year, here are several tips to ease the transition from the beach to the classroom and jumpstart sluggish summer brains.

While the idea of waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare lunches, fighting over appropriate school attire and regulating the amount of television watched might have you frazzled, take solace in the fact that you can play a big part in getting your children motivated and excited to tackle a new school year.

The following are helpful ideas to ease kids of all ages back into learning mode:

Help Your Child Discover His/Her Learning Style. Because each child is special, with different learning styles and academic needs, it is important to personalize the learning process. People learn in at least eight different ways, according to the Multiple Intelligences Theory: visually, verbally, physically, mathematically, musically, naturalistically, through group activity or through quiet thinking time. Talk to your child’s teachers about your child’s learning strengths and how best to support them.

Get Back In The Routine. Ease the transition from lazy summer days to the structure of the school year by re-establishing bedtime, mealtime, reading and homework routines. Talk with your child about the importance of structure and how routines help ensure that he is not overtired or overly anxious about schoolwork.

Develop A Family Event Calendar. One of the most helpful tools for getting organized is a family event calendar. To ease the chaos, track school programs, volunteer work and after-school activities. Family time management is essential if you are going to avoid the tumultuous frenzy of disorganization.

• Depending on your children’s ages, this calendar can be on construction paper with large squares to write in all necessary information, or it can be produced on a white board so that it is easy to revise.

• If it is color-coded by family member, you can clearly see who has an activity scheduled and when the event occurs.

• Place the calendar near the telephone, so when a friend’s mother calls to invite your child to a birthday party, you will know instantly whether it fits within your family plans.

Purchase School Supplies In Advance. Avoid the last-minute rush by purchasing supplies at least one week in advance. Take your child. She can feel excited and in control by choosing her favorite colors and designs.

Be a Cheerleader. Encourage your child to share any concerns he has about returning to school. Reinforce positive feelings by talking with your child about learning and achievement. Support his academic interests and encourage him to get involved in extracurricular activities at school.

In Part 2, we'll discuss ways that students can get ready for that eventful time - back to school!

No More Teachers, No More Books – The last month of the school year is a time to prepare for Transition

Only about a month to go until school is out. For students, teachers and parents alike, the last weeks of school can be both exciting and challenging. Students are looking forward to the summer break and, as a result, their interest in schoolwork may wane. Teachers are completing the strenuous state assessment tests and now have a classroom of students more interested in summer than science. For parents, the end of one school year signals the impending start of another one. So, how do you ensure your child is ready to tackle the next grade?

The end of the school year is really a time to prepare for transition - the transition from one grade to another - but also the transition from in-classroom learning to the continuous learning that takes place outside of school.

At this time of year, Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels, advises parents to focus on three areas - helping their children make the most of the final weeks of school, knowing what the next grade level will bring and looking for ways to inspire learning during the summer break.

What Parents can do to make the most of the last weeks of school and prevent the Summer Loss

Take advantage of the final days of the current School Year
• You can help your children review by asking them to show you what they’ve learned or by working through homework problems together.
• Schedule a last meeting or discussion with your child’s teacher. Identify successes and challenges.
• Help your child stay motivated about school so he gains the full benefit of his final days in the classroom by putting a reward system in place.
• Have a conversation every day about school.

Know what the next grade level will bring.
• Speak to your child’s current teacher or a teacher in the next grade about the upcoming curriculum.
• Ask about new subjects and changes in focus. For example, in 4th grade, students usually begin to “read to learn” rather than “learn to read.” If your 3rd grade student is struggling with her reading, this summer would be a good time to focus on improving reading skills.
• If the next year will mean a change in schools - such as entering high school - take advantage of orientation sessions where you and your child can learn more about the new school.

Design summer vacation activities that are both fun and educational
• Continue reading throughout the summer. www.bookadventure.com. Book Adventure is a free, Sylvan-created, interactive, reading motivation program. Students choose their own books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading.
• Plan family activities that are fun, interactive and educational. To help families get started, Sylvan Learning offers a free activity booklet entitled, Family Learning Fun. The booklet provides seven different ideas and activities that will help sustain and renew your children’s interest in learning and discovery. It is available in the “Resources for Parents” section on the Sylvan Learning Web site.
• Develop writing skills by writing or emailing pen pals.
• Register students for summer camps. To make the most of summer, look for camps that provide an academic focus. Programs should offer a broad selection of courses built to suit individual needs while targeting specific subjects and offering a small group environment. When selecting an academic camp, look for programs with:
o Proficiency in the subject of your choosing
o Tutors with experience teaching children the same age as your child
o Flexibility in scheduling