English Articles

The Test Prep Industry

By Kathryn S. | 5/21/2013 2:39 AM CST |

I'd like to rant, if I could, about the test prep industry, specifically as it relates to the SAT and the ACT.

THEY LIE. They give their students "practice tests" that aren't real practice tests! They make up their own "SAT" or "ACT" and train their kids on that and it makes me so mad, because they have no idea how to model such a test! It's like training someone how to spike a volleyball and then telling them that they're going to do great on their basketball game on Saturday. LIES, I TELL YOU!!

And THEN, they tell you that all you need to do in order to get ready for the test is study...

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End of the school year

By Christina E. | 5/15/2013 7:32 PM CST |

The end of the school year is coming very fast! We need to ensure that our children and students are readily prepared for the tests that are coming. Through extra vocabulary practice, increased reading times, as well as checking for reading comprehension is very important. It's also important to start thinking about next year. If this had some rough spots, that could be avoided next year. We need to work together! If you child was specifically having issues in one subject area, we could take the summer time and ensure that they are more comfortable and even advanced in that subject area. Contact...

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Get Those Wiggles Out!

By Jessica M. | 5/10/2013 12:44 PM CST |

When working with children (especially 7 and below) it can be vital to their memory retention to take a break every thirty minutes.

I have had great success with my younger students who become stir crazy after half an hour of reading by leaving the study are and going outside or in a space where we wont bother others and doing some physical activities.

Since time is a concern it is important to only do this for ten minutes or so.

Sometimes we run and play tag, or we will do some jumping jacks, or just do some silly dancing.

When the student returns they are feeling a little more refreshed,...

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Spring and Summer Reading, Writing Help

By Timothy N. | 5/4/2013 1:33 PM CST |

This Spring and Summer, why not invest in yourself or your child? Effective written communication is key to success in the competitive academic and career markets.

Get help with Getting Started with Writing, Discovering Writing Topics, Finding Focus
Responding to Writing Assignments<
Reading for Comprehension and Understanding - Retaining Key Concepts, Theme, and more
... and, of course, that always challenging concept of Grammar. I teach Grammar as a Tool ... not Rules. Yuck.

Looking forward to hearing from you and hearing about your tutoring needs. See my profile for more information...

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What would I tell myself in the past ...

By Patrick C. | 5/1/2013 6:27 AM CST |

If I could go back in time and give myself some advice ...

Well, that's quite a questions. And the answers are not as easy as one might think. We are who we are based on the lessons we have learned over time. If we didn't make mistakes, we would not learn. We might avoid a pitfall here and there, but we wouldn't learn the lessons behind the lessons - the root cause, as it were, for why it was a mistake in the first place.

However, one piece of advice I would like to give myself in the past is this: listen to the advice you are given.

As I look back, I was given some great advice by a lot...

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Sink or Swim – Can You Make It in Language Immersion?

By Shannon B. | 4/29/2013 3:06 PM CST |

YES YOU CAN! And it’s, hands down, the best way to learn a language.

I thought I’d write this post in response to the news that six elementary schools in Metro-Atlanta will begin dual immersion language programs in Spanish, French and Chinese. http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/26210/schools-get-15000-for-language-immersion-programs/

Here are some tips on how to learn a language through immersion, based on my own experience learning Chinese in the US and abroad:

• Don’t insist on perfection – whether in pronunciation, grammar, or anything else – until after several months of second language...

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SAT ACT Test Taking Tips

By Aaron G. | 4/29/2013 10:34 AM CST |

Be Prepared!

The night before, collect

plenty of sharpened #2 pencils
an eraser
a small pencil sharpener (in case your pencils break during the exam)
a watch (you cannot rely on the proctor and there may not be a wall clock or it may be on the wall behind your seat)
your calculator
your admission ticket
your identification
directions to the testing center
tissues
medicine (if necessary)
disposable earplugs (if you find the background noise of people coughing and fidgeting distracting)

It may be helpful to collect these items in a clear plastic (Ziploc) bag that you can grab and go in the morning...

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If I could go back and give myself one piece of academic advice...

By Vicki N. | 4/24/2013 10:49 AM CST |

I would tell myself not to quit attending college part-time just because I had an 18 month old little boy and a baby girl "in the oven". Well, my daughter was not actually in an oven,but, my girl was in utero and I was having difficulty keeping my eyes open that first trimester. I can recall lying on my living room sofa (in Stillwater, Oklahoma) with my son sitting there beside me playing with his Lego Duplo set. The first eight weeks of my first trimester I literally slept through! A woman's body is designed to reproduce and I was in the height of my reproductive years. Little did I know...

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High School English Composition

By Vicki N. | 4/24/2013 9:50 AM CST |

English

Recent inquiries have prompted me to write this blog post. Although I focus on college student tutoring during UCF's academic semesters, I do have experience and will tutor high school English composition. Since the spring UCF semester is complete for me (this week) I will have a few weeks free which will overlap with high school students and the final 4-6 weeks of this academic school year.

I have completed my ESL/ESOL training and am currently accepting non-native speaking students. Please preview my profile and contact me via email through this website. Once your profile is setup on...

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Back for the Spring and Summer!

By Valerie H. | 4/16/2013 11:42 AM CST |

After an absence due to the busiest part of the academic year, I am back in search of tutoring clients for the spring/summer. Before June 17, I will have hours available after school. As of June 17, my hours are much more flexible!

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