Category: Parent Resources

Ok, it’s finally time and you want to check out some GED preparation classes and start prepping!  You’ve decided to take the GED and get your certificate equivalent to a high school diploma.  Congrats to you! So, what is the next step? The next step and the most important one, of course, is preparation for the test.

Since the new GED tests came out, people are struggling more than before to pass it and earn the certificate because there is no chance of combining the scores from multiple attempts as there used to be on the older version of the test. This makes the test harder and more challenging, but it is certainly not impossible to ace it. All you need is good organization, time, dedication and strong will to pass it.

How to Prepare for the GED Test At Home

There are several steps you need to take to start preparing yourself properly for the GED test. Here are some of the most important of them:

1. Get to Know the Requirements for Your State

There are different GED exam requirements depending on the state you live in. Find out what are the requirements you need to meet for your state and double check the information you’ve found.

Get all the information you can at the official GED website and online or ask someone who has already been through the GED locally and is available to help you. They can tell you where to find all the best information can be found and what to start with. It is important that you do this step first, so you don’t study something that is not needed, and vice versa. And it also insures that you focus on all the subjects that are critical within your state.  Being exact with the subjects that you have to study will be of great help: you will focus on what is important and make sure you nail it on the exam when you take it.

2. Get Informed

The second step is to know what you have to study, kind of like we mentioned above but we’re adding emphasis here! Search the internet and visit the official GED website and get informed about the test and what’s included and covered.

• What sections are there?
• How many different areas are there in every section?
• What are the types of questions
• How long do you have for each area and for the test in general

Gather all the information you can and get to know what the GED test looks like. Find an example of the test online and check it out. We guarantee you it will be much easier getting prepared and again, later on when taking the exam to know exactly what it looks like, the format of questions as well as the types of questions that you will see.

3. The Book Hunt – GED Preparation Book
   

After you understand what you need to know and how the test is laid out, it’s time to find the right study material. GED exams are quite common in the US, and you can find prep books in any library or bookshop, all you need to do is start the hunt and find the best ones. Check the official site and see what they recommend. Ask your local librarian if he or she has any other manuals to help you out and take them too. It’s important you find the right sources for studying with up to date information and correct answers.

4. Make a Study Schedule

If you are busy (like most of GED exam test takers are), it is crucial you find enough time for your GED preparations. You know how important this test is to you, so you should re-schedule your days and make enough time for studying. Divide the sections and study one section per day so you don’t get confused or overwhelmed with all the information you’re trying to memorize. Use all the time you can efficiently. There are amazing apps for your smartphone you can download and take with you wherever you go. Check them out and use the time while traveling to work or other activities to revisit what you learned last night.

You Might Also Be Interested In: What is the ASVAB Test? Get ASVAB Tutor Help Today!

5. Study Space

Make sure you have your study space setup and ready at home. A place where you can sit in silence and study the various sections of the GED without being disturbed. Concentration is the No.1 thing when it comes to memorizing the material you’re studying. Psychological studies show if you have poor concentration, you can study for hours, and you still won’t remember much, so don’t waste your precious time.

Have enough time to prepare for studying, make sure you are alone or, at least, no one is disturbing you. Some easy to remember studying tips, such as key tips for studying, such as study 20-30 minutes and then take a 10 minute break to rest your brain. Turn off your cell phone and other electronics that may disturb you during your studying. Let me repeat that – Turn*Off*Your*Phone!  Here’s 25 of our other favorite study tips that might help you as well: Private Tutoring at Home – Study Tips

6. “GED Classes Near Me”?
   

More often than we can count, we often are asked – “Can you help us find GED classes near me?”  And we agree, find all the help you can! Search the internet for GED classes near your location and start with the classes as soon as possible. GED prep classes will help you relieve the stress and make you feel more confident about the exam. You won’t be studying at home all alone and stressing out how you won’t make it. In the class, you will meet other people who are trying just like you, and you will meet a teacher or a professional instructor who will help you with your studying. The teacher will always be there to explain you anything you are not sure about and to give you extra information if you need any. Classes can be fun, and you will feel better after taking them, rather than studying on your own.

7. How to Find GED Preparation Classes – Online Classes

Use the internet as much as you can to help you with the GED exam. The online community of GED prep classes and programs is vast, and there are many online classes you can take in the comfort of your home. It is a great idea because you don’t have to lose time on going to or from a class in your area and you can feel more comfortable at home than with unknown people around you.

8. Private Tutoring

If you learn better or feel more comfortable with someone one on on, you  might want to consider this option. When hiring a private tutor for the GED, you are organizing your study schedule the way it suits you best plus you get a professional who will guide you through the material and be there to answer any question you have. You can’t re-schedule a class just because you have to stay late working, nor you can ask them to re-schedule an online class. Find private tutors and invest in your studying and success, you won’t regret it. Your tutor will motivate you and keep you going when you lose interest and concentration; he will be there just for you and you get the support  and assistance needed in insure that you ace the exam!

9. Take GED Practice Test Options

There are GED practice tests online that you can and should take. Whether you have a private GED math tutor or are studying on your own, these practice tests will help.  You will get familiar with the type of the questions, and you will see what your weak spots are. Doing tests online will also show you the final score once you finish, so you will see where you stand.

Since math is one of the most problematic areas, doing GED math practice tests is the best thing you can do if you want to be sure you won’t panic when the real test comes. Preparing for the math sections are much easier when you see the real questions rather than just studying and solving problems. A math GED practice test will show you how it will look on the real exam, and you will feel more comfortable once you start doing the real math GED exam.

10. Be Positive!

When enrolling in any GED prep classes or with GED tutors, don’t have a negative attitude about the test and how you will do. It is important you stay positive because that’s going to make the preparation and studying easier. Don’t look at the GED exam as something scary and impossible to pass. Look at it as a way to widen your knowledge and secure a better future for yourself. Approach it with a positive attitude and be excited about all the new information you will get to know! GED prep classes and tutors are there to help you study better and learn everything that has to be learned, but they are also there to decrease the pressure you feel and the fear you have. Enjoy the process of learning and don’t think you can’t make it, because anyone who does prepare for the GED can ace the exam, just like you will!

Let us know which of these suggestions you used in your GED test prep in the comments section!

(Updated July 2017) Has it become a struggle for you or your child and you are looking for a private math tutor?  We’ll let you in on a little secret…..once you find the right math tutors and see fast improvements, you’ll wonder why you took so long to start!

Whether it’s elementary math or a college math tutor that you need, there’s going to be several available that can help you with whatever math class or math test prep that you need.  That’s the easy part of this process!  The more complicated part and one that needs to be done carefully is determining what you need and then matching those needs with the available tutors.

 

What to Look for in Private Math Tutors:

To start with, just choosing an online math tutor without doing some checking on if this tutor is a fit for you or your child could be a recipe for disaster.  There are a few things to consider when looking for a tutor, and they will make the difference between a successful tutoring session or sessions and ones that are not:

1. Another key point is not to simply focus on the “pedigree” of the tutors that you find.  We’re talking about the schools they went to, degree that they have or test scores they achieved.  It’s impressive and great that they have any or all of that….but can they teach?  There’s a massive difference between being a rocket scientist and tutoring Algebra I successfully.
2. This means you need to check their tutoring background and experience and determine if there’s a fit for you or your child.  Find out if they’ve done test prep in these areas or worked with other students in specific math topics.  Do they mostly work with elementary students or college level?  There’s a tremendous difference.  Speak with the tutor, check out their reviews.  Ask questions!
3. Make sure that the tutor knows what you are struggling with and do they have suggestions and the ability to assist you or your child in these areas.  Most math tutors will offer a couple of suggestions based on your questions or they might ask additional questions to gain further insight into how they can best help.  That’s a good sign!

Common areas where we have found students need help and search for math tutors include:

• College math tutors

• Algebra I math tutor

• Algebra 2 tutors

• 4^th grade math tutoring

• geometry tutor

• pre calculus and calculus tutors

• SAT Math tutor

• ACT Math tutor

• 6^th grade math tutor

 

So when you are looking for a private tutor for any of the above math subject areas or another area, check for tutors that have experience in tutoring that subject.  Some tutors can teach certain levels of math exceptionally well but aren’t well versed in other areas.  Don’t look for a generalist, look for a specialist that can meet your needs, now!

Read the reviews of other students that were tutored to see what they have to say.  You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn about a tutor from their reviews.

The sooner that you get started with tutoring and get the help that you need, the less likely that you or your child will fall behind in school.  Unfortunately, math is one of those areas where once you slip behind it becomes far more complicated and difficult to ever catch up.  So staying on top of it and on track with what is happening in class is critical to long term success.

Good luck with math this year and your success moving forward!  We wish you all the best.

If we can assist, please do not hesitate to contact us or check out our math tutors that are available in your area as well.  They are the experts that can help you or your child achieve the results that they deserve.

Has it become a struggle for you or your child and you are looking for a private math tutor?  We’ll let you in on a little secret…..once you find the right math tutor and get started, you’ll wonder why you took so long to start!

Whether it’s elementary math or a college math tutor that you need, there’s going to be several available that can help you with whatever math class or math test prep that you need.  That’s the easy part of this process!  The more complicated part and one that needs to be done carefully is determining what you need and then matching those needs with the available tutors.

What to Look for in Private Math Tutors:

To start with, just choosing an online math tutor without doing some checking on if this tutor is a fit for you or your child could be a recipe for disaster.  There are a few things to consider when looking for a tutor.

Another key point is not to simply focus on the “pedigree” of the tutors that you find.  We’re talking about the schools they went to, degree that they have or test scores they achieved.  It’s impressive and great that they have any or all of that….but can they teach?  There’s a massive difference between being a rocket scientist and tutoring Algebra I successfully.

This means you need to check their tutoring background and experience and determine if there’s a fit for you or your child.  Find out if they’ve done test prep in these areas or worked with other students in specific math topics.  Do they mostly work with elementary students or college level?  There’s a tremendous difference.  Speak with the tutor, check out their reviews.  Ask questions!

Make sure that the tutor knows what you are struggling with and do they have suggestions and the ability to assist you or your child in these areas.  Most math tutors will offer a couple of suggestions based on your questions or they might ask additional questions to gain further insight into how they can best help.  That’s a good sign!

Common areas where we have found students need help and search for math tutors include:

• College math tutors

• Algebra I math tutor

• Algebra 2 tutors

• 4^th grade math tutoring

• geometry tutor

• pre calculus and calculus tutors

• SAT Math tutor

• ACT Math tutor

• 6^th grade math tutor

So when you are looking for a private tutor for any of the above math subject areas or another area, check for tutors that have experience in tutoring that subject.  Read the reviews of other students that were tutored to see what they have to say.  You’ll be amazed at how much you can learn about a tutor from their reviews.

If you have trouble finding a private math tutor that’s a good match, you may want to narrow your options down to a specific tutoring service. Many tutoring services work with reputable educators who have experience with a wide range of subject matters and student needs. Narrowing your search to one platform or service can ensure that you are only looking at qualified tutoring candidates. You can compare services, such as Mathnasium vs Sylvan, to identify which one is the best resource for picking a tutor.

The sooner that you get started with tutoring and get the help that you need, the less likely that you or your child will fall behind in school.  Unfortunately, math is one of those areas where once you slip behind it becomes far more complicated and difficult to ever catch up.  So staying on top of it and on track with what is happening in class is critical to long term success.

Good luck with math this year and your success moving forward!  We wish you all the best.

If we can assist, please do not hesitate to contact us or check out our math tutors that are available in your area as well.  They are the experts that can help you or your child achieve the results that they deserve.

Yes, we all have more electronic gadgets than we can possible use in one day let alone at one time.  And there are very few of us that can’t navigate around a keyboard.  However, when you are trying to study and learn a new topic your handwritten notes and study sheets are going to help you more than anything that you’ve typed.

For whatever reason, one of the best ways to learn how to study is by taking pen or pencil to paper and writing out anything and everything related to your coursework, text or exam.  There’s something about that “flow” as I call it that makes your brain absorb and store what you are working on as well as learning at the time.

So simply grab some paper, note cards, index cards and even sticky notes and use those to collect the main points or topics for whatever you are going to be writing or studying.  This extra effort even if your computer, phone or tablet are near at hand will benefit you more than you know and your grades will also reflect that as well.  And for those whose handwriting is tough, write it out once and then type it up into notes.  Or use a tablet like the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro  that comes with a stylus and can translate your handwriting into typed notes for you.  It’s a more expensive option but effective as well.

As we’ve said before, if you do this throughout the semester or year, you’ll be ready when exams or finals come around.  You won’t have to cram or stay up for all nighters (unless you want to of course…) trying to get prepped in time.

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Sometimes it’s just the basics that you need to do if you want to learn how to study for exams or tests.  Nothing fancy, nothing special – just the basics.  And nothing is more basic than learning how to take good notes and creating note cards that have all the facts, details and specific information that you need for whatever the course may be.  This is really the ultimate way to study for anything to do with spelling or history!  It’s cheap, fast, easy and concise and most of all – it works!

What’s this special tip?  Note cards….Yes, note or index card studying. The best way to do this is throughout the semester as you study at night or at the end of a chapter as you prep for a test or exam.  I’ve seen some do it just for finals but it’s a mind numbing, exhausting and time consuming process if you have to crank out an entire semester’s worth of note cards for most courses.  And it takes longer then to do it than it would if you did it as you were going through the chapter initially.  So to save your brain cells for other things and to save time, create your note cards as you move through each topic, chapter, book or lesson.  You will be so glad that you did it that way!

Yes, there are fancier ways and more technologically advanced ways of accomplishing the same things.  However, I’ve yet to see one that is any faster, easier or less costly.  Nor is there one that I know of that is more effective.  You see this tip requires you to identify the fact, word or concept.  Then you have to write it down and check what you wrote.  So it’s THREE TIMES that you are going over that one point without even knowing that you are drilling it in that often already.

If you need further information on this or assistance, please let us know and check out our private tutors or in home tutors today!

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Learning how to study is a process and takes some time to figure out.  Once you understand how and when you study best, you’ll be amazed at how much better you do in school as being able to spend less time studying because you’ve actually got a system and setup in place that works.

 

An example of this is my son – He started at his school in middle school.  He was a decent student at his prior school and he applied himself in the exact same way he had previously.  Well, his grades were in the low C range.  I was not happy!  He then started to learn not only his subject matter but HOW to STUDY.  And that has made all the difference in the world!  What used to be a 2-4 hours p-a-i-n-f-u-l process is now down to 1-2 hours depending upon the time of year.  No moans, groans and delay tactics.  Oh, and the results?  Well after learning the best way to study and how to study that works for him, he’s made Honor Roll.  I don’t know about your child but for me, that’s definitely a marked improvement and a success story!

You Might Also Be Interested in: I Got A “C” In 9th Grade Math, Now What

So we’ve created some easy, short and simple tips compiled from sources all around the web to help you become the best student you can and to know how to study.  Test one, some or all and see which makes a difference in your studying!  We’d love to hear your results in the comments below or share your stories with us on Facebook or Twitter!

If you enjoyed this post, please pin it to Pinterest, share it on Twitter or Facebook and stumble it on Stumbleupon!  Thank you!

 

There’s nothing worse for a parent than to watch your child struggling in school. No matter what the situation or subject, we would all love to be able to ease their burden and resolve any problem that comes along. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way and there are times when we simply have to step aside and let them work through it. Sometimes the effort is on their own and sometimes with the assistance of a private tutor or teacher.

So what are some basic steps you can take to assist?

1 – Check in with the school or teachers that your child currently sees.

See if something is going on that they have noticed? Are there social issues? Or is it academic? Are new topics or studying methods being introduced? Like a detective, you want to see what has changed or is different that might be causing the impact on your child.

2 – Review grades and homework.

How consistent is the work and grades that you see for the last month or several months? If you notice any changes that you can pin point, now is the time to address them. Perhaps it is one course in which case certain topics might have been introduced that are not being fully understood by your son or daughter. If there’s a general downward trend then that takes additional digging to find out the cause of that issue. Are your child’s friends and acquaintances the same or have there been changes? Is there a change in free time usage? New sports, activities or work can have impacts as well.

Whatever the case, the burden falls on you to determine what has happened and what options exist.

3 – Talk, talk, talk

When dealing with teens this can become more difficult since they are not the most chatty of creatures but whatever age, it’s now time to start finding out from the source if there’s anything happening.

You might have to be subtle and wait for the best time to have this talk but it is critical if you want to help them to help themselves. Check in on what is going on, use any and all tactics to get them to share what is the latest with school and their classes.   Asking direct and specific questions can help you get the information out of them. Many times they are aware of what’s going on but at a loss as to what to do about it.

4 – Determine what are some options?

Once you have an idea of what is the root of the cause for the drop in grades you can start taking actions. It always feels better to take action! (At least I’ve found that to be true)

If it’s social pressures or other topics along that lines, you want to find the assistance to help cope with and resolve those types of issues.

If it’s academic, you can now create a game plan to help your child get back on the road to academic success.

5 – What assistance from your school is available?

Depending upon your perspective of your child’s school and district, you might want to again ask them for options and assistance. Many schools have tutoring or after school programs that can provide assistance to their students. Based upon what your child needs, this might be an avenue for exploration. Make sure that you check out these options in advance and see if there is a fit. You know your kid and what will work well for them.

6 – What outside tutoring or study skills assistance are there?

Depending upon what your child needs, you might want to explore private tutors or even private tutoring at home depending on the crazy schedules that we all are keeping these days! This option allows you to hone in on exactly what is needed and the tutor will provide focused programs designed to address exactly those areas.

Like PrivateTutoringAtHome.com offers, these types of tutors cover just about every subject you could think of from early education through graduate university studies. Best of all, you can find the right tutor in your area which makes it even more convenient.

Tutors provide individualized attention that fits a child’s learning style, and many tutors work to make the sessions “fun enough that the students actually want to be there,” says Fleming. The fun and games teach the student that learning can be a positive experience. Positive tutoring can help a child learn the material, get better grades, and even form a better attitude about school. Having a positive attitude about school and being interested in it really has a tremendous impact on the results that a child gets in school. Any assistance that you can provide will help insure your child is one of the students that thinks of their education in a positive light.

7 – Implement and monitor

Just because you started a plan for your child doesn’t mean you can rest easy. Now is when you have to help your child stay on track. In addition, monitoring and seeing if there are positive results is critical.

If your child has fallen behind, there will be a catch up period that might include additional struggles. Playing catch up is never fun and it’s frustrating for you to watch as a parent and for the child to go through. However, both of you will make it out the other side with a little bit of time, patience and focus.

Getting through school successfully is frequently a group effort. Parents, children, schools and various other resources like tutors all combine to help make it a successful educational process. By initiating the first steps today, you can insure that your child will continue to grow, learn and flourish and with an education, be successful later in life as well. And, after all, isn’t that what we each want for our kids? I know that I do!

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We’d love to hear your stories.

If you are considering hiring a private tutor for your child or if you need one, do not think that you are alone.  According to Dr. Sandi Ayaz, executive director of the National Tutoring Association, private tutoring in the U.S. alone has “exploded tenfold” over the past eight years. That is a tremendous growth increase!  The reasons for looking into private tutors are almost as many as there are kids.  Some parents hire tutors to help their children overcome academic obstacles, others contract with tutors to encourage and challenge their children in ways that might not be possible in a classroom setting, and still others are looking for tutors to fill in gaps or add to the knowledge their kids are getting in the classroom.

Whatever the objective of the tutoring may be, it’s important for parents and students to take the time to find and hire a tutor who will work well with the student’s learning style and personality.  Here are some great questions to help make sure that that you find a tutor that is right for you:

Questions to Ask Private Tutors Before Starting:

 1. What is your teaching style?

Students learn in a variety of styles and at different paces, which is why it’s impossible for teachers in schools  to structure their classroom lessons to match each individual student’s preferred learning style. The right private tutor, however, can adapt lessons to cater to your child’s strengths whether he is an auditory learner (learns best by listening), visual learner (learns best through sight) or a kinesthetic learner (learns best through experience). Before you hire a tutor, make sure to find out if he can structure lessons in a format that works with your child’s preferred learning style.  And if you don’t know your child’s learning style, check in with his teachers and current school for an assessment or update on that information.  It will be a huge help for both you and any tutor you finally work with.

2. What is your tutoring plan for working with my child?

While this is a pretty open ended question and is difficult for someone who has not yet met your child or even seen examples of their school work, the response will reveal the tutor’s thought process for diagnosing your child’s needs and creating a plan to achieve the desired results. The right tutor will have a strategy, and may even have specific methods, for identifying problem areas and understanding the child’s learning behavior. An effective tutor recognizes the importance of working with the student (and in some cases, the parents) to establish performance improvement goals that are both measurable and attainable.  Bottom line – open ended questions like this show the tutor’s comfort level and confidence with respect to their ability to work with your child.  Finding that out early on is critical.

3. Why do you tutor?

Successful tutoring is really about developing a productive learning relationship between any private tutor and their students. Those tutors who are most effective are passionate about teaching and are able to derive value from seeing their students succeed. While many tutors provide lessons and tutoring as a primary or supplemental source of income, the ideal tutor to find will take a vested interest in your child’s progress and have the patience and willingness to do whatever it takes to help your child succeed.  And when you find a tutor like that, you will recognize the difference and the student will also notice the results are measurable as well.

4. Do you have any private tutoring references, or have you worked with students in a similar situation as my child?

Ideally you would find a tutor that is able to provide references and referrals for you to contact.  But they are hard to come by for several reasons.  Not the least of which is that some students or families would prefer to keep their tutoring requirements private.  That’s where an online tutoring source like PrivateTutoringAtHome.com compile lesson ratings and written reviews from actual students who have previously worked with tutors. That allows you to read third-party reviews from parents and students who have worked with a tutor.  It makes it much easier for you to determine what you can expect from a tutor in terms of subject proficiency and personality.  And if you need a tutor, you don’t want to waste time on someone that doesn’t know the material you need to learn or has a different teaching style than will work for your child.  If you choose to hire a tutor on your own rather than through a reputable marketplace, you still want to make sure to ask for references.  Do realize that the reference you receive that way may not be a completely impartial source.

5. How can you help my child become an independent learner?

The most effective and valuable tutoring relationships will help the student become a more engaged, independent learner.  After all, isn’t that what we would all want for our kids?  Memorizing and mastering very specific topics or skills may yield some results, but it is ultimately a short-term solution to the student’s broader educational needs. While certain lessons may focus on a particularly troublesome topic, learning to understand and appreciate the learning process, theory and logic behind concepts will help your child overcome subsequent obstacles, avoid future frustration and flourish as a student.  Looking for your private tutors via our network which includes more than 75,000 active private tutors nationwide in subjects that range from math and science to test preparation and music is sure to offer you a wide range of tutors to help in whatever subject and via any learning style that you may be looking for.

So before you throw in the towel or continue to plow on alone, why not check out some of the private tutors at home that are available today?  You will be amazed at the results that you get!  And don’t forget to let us know how you do in the comments below.

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The other day while driving to work, I was listening to the radio. On the radio, the commentator interviewed a professor from Duke University about the Year Round School Pros and Cons. The Duke University professor was very pro year round school and he began his argument with the following question:

If aliens visited the earth, what would they say about our school buildings that are empty 3 months out of year?

I laughed at the question – I thought it was funny. But then, I realized how right he was. For as much as we claim education as a priority, it doesn’t really show in our actions by choosing to wholesale close our schools down during the summer.

So, from a public policy perspective and, more importantly, what is best for our children? Year Round School or the traditional 3 months off type of school year?

Pros of Year Round School

As a parent, I can think of several reasons why year round schooling might make sense. Here are a few:

• Consistency: As with most things, learning comes in small bite sized pieces. That usually means learning a little bit everyday for a long period of time. Having a year round school supports that idea. For parents, this is a good thing. It allows parents to plan for the year and prevents issues around finding child care during the summer, as for some households, both parents work.
• Mental Dullness: When taking breaks from learning for long periods of time, such as 3 months, it takes longer to get back into the groove when school does start again. Moreover, our memory is weakened and we remember less from the last 90 days. And, because of all of this, we likely learn at a rate slower than if we had continued to learn throughout the year.
• For the teachers, this is a good thing. It ensures more consistent pay and earnings. This creates stability and also allows the teachers to plan more effectively by having a year round schedule.

Cons of Year Round Schooling

The concept of year round school isn’t perfect or is it a panacea for learning or education. It has some weaknesses and here’s some I could come up with:

• Kids need breaks. And, some kids actually need 90 days of breaks.
• Parents plan for vacations during the year and really rely on the 3 months summer vacation. One way to get around the lull of not learning for 3 months is to hire a private tutor. Doing that however is an added cost that could be avoided if we had year round schooling.
• Teachers often have a second job during the summer to supplement their income. Taking that away would impact some teachers pay.

I’m not sure where I fall in the debate exactly. I do feel that year round schooling has significant advantages and can’t help but think it’s better for students. I think the public policy debate often ignores the recipients of the change. In this case, it’s the kids. What do most kids think?

Academic credentials can be a key differentiator for your child and could shape his or her future. You can certainly find an academic tutoring service that your children can attend in the Summer. But, that need certainly hinges on the key question: How can kids keep up on academics during the Summer?

Summer time is what most school kids wait for since the first day of school. On the last day of school the bell rings and all the kids run out the door never to think of school again until it starts again three months later. But you, as parents, don’t want your children to forget everything they’ve learned or fall back during the summer months. So what do you do to keep them in check with schooling but still allowing them to have fun? Here are some suggestions:

1. Have them practice a couple of times a week.

You decide how often, but there are plenty of websites you can print work sheets off. Even just asking your children, “What was you favorite thing you learned?” will help them retain the information.

2. Have your children teach others.

If you ask your children to help others learn, it will make the work seem less daunting. They will most likely feel honored or proud of themselves because they were chosen for the task. Quite the sneaky way to help them remember what they’ve learned! Whether you sign them up to be a tutor, ask them to teach a younger sibling, or teach the kid down the street, it will be an effective way to help them stay in check.

3. Help them retain information bu making it fun, keeping a balance.

You can make them play games using skills they’ve learned. Give incentives for after they’ve done a worksheet, do a fun activity where they have to do their own independent thinking and solve problems.

Your children will thank you for a fun time when really they’ve been learning too! Then when school starts again, the transition won’t be so hard.