Tutor Spotlight: Katherine Jacob

The first thing I do when I sit down with my students is make a to-do list for the session.  Do they need to come up with a study plan for finals?  Are there any long-term projects we should start working on?  Is there homework due tomorrow that’s confusing?  We decide together which tasks are top priority and then get to work.

This exercise was always a little interesting with one of my students whenever she had a test or quiz coming up.  She was perfectly content to study by glancing at the material during her drive to school the day of the test.  Every time she mentioned a test and I suggested studying for it, she would only grudgingly agree.  Even when she finally accepted that studying could be done in advance, she would insist that she did just fine on tests by re-reading the material rather than being quizzed on it.  For the first two months of the school year, we had the same discussion every time there was a test or quiz—and each time she got one of those tests or quizzes back, I was sure to point out that she did much better when she was quizzed on material.  Nevertheless, she didn’t seem swayed.

In one session last month, I sat down to make my to-do list with her as usual.

“Do you have any tests or quizzes in the next week?”

“I have a French quiz tomorrow.”

“How do you feel about the material?”  Oh boy, I figured.  Here comes the same old discussion.

“Can you quiz me on it?” 

Could I?  Was she serious? I decided not to dance around the room, but I said enthusiastically, “Of course I can quiz you on it!  I’m so glad you asked!”

These small successes in tutoring are often the most memorable moments.  My student’s question could’ve been completely insignificant to anyone who didn’t know her.  However, not only did this question show me that she had started to rethink her ideas about studying, simply asking it showed me that she was taking the initiative with her own education!

NW Academy Application Available

We’re excited to announce that the application for Nurturing Wisdom Academy is now available!  If you’d like to apply or pass the application along, simply follow or forward this link:  

www.nurturingwisdom.com/nw-academy-application

Once the application is complete, our process involves a "match meeting," which is a chance for us to get to know each applicant, for the interested family to learn more about our school, and for everyone to decide if Nurturing Wisdom Academy is the best fit.   

Our school has space for only 36 students, so we do encourage interested families to apply now!  As always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about our school or ideas for us to consider!  

Why I Started To Teach

I think a lot of us have a difficult time imagining exactly what we will be like as adults when we’re young. When I think about my younger self, I was pretty unimaginative about what I thought the future could hold.  Perhaps it was because I was on the timid side and felt intimidated by a lot of things. If you had told me as a kid that I would one day be a classroom teacher or work with students, I’m not sure I would have believed you.  

I was the kid in 7th grade who struggled like crazy in math and had to go in after school to see the teacher (a lot). Sometimes I felt bad for my teacher because I was in there so often. I also couldn’t help but feel that surely there was something wrong with me if I needed this much help until one day my teacher said to me, “I hope my daughter is just like you” (she was expecting a baby girl at the time). That short statement made such an impression on me and gave me a lot to think about. Fast forward to high school and I was asked to help out with grade school students at my church’s summer camp. It was so much fun - I was hooked and starting helping out the following summers. In college, I was asked by one of my instructors if I would consider tutoring other students. I gave it a try and ended up really enjoying it. These are just some of the events that fostered my love of education at an early age.

The bottom line is, I had some really great people in my life who saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to try things I wouldn’t have thought of doing on my own. I needed a major confidence booster and outlets to see what I was capable of as a young person. At Nurturing Wisdom, we focused on one of our values in October: “Pursue Growth and Learning.” I’m convinced that we all grow stagnant and lose excitement if we’re not stretching ourselves. I also think that part of pursuing growth and learning is about helping others through this process. Is there a young person in your life who could really flourish from some of the things I was fortunate enough to have experienced through the adults in my life? While you’re pursuing your own growth and learning, is there anyone in your life whom you can encourage to do the same?         

December Proctored Tests...coming right up!!

Our December proctored tests are right around the corner. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for your children to take a diagnostic practice test in a real test environment!

Register Online Now!

pre-registration is required.

Chicago:

Sun. December 18^th

8:45am

Loyola University’s Water Tower Campus

Corboy Law School

25 E. Pearson 

Hinsdale:

Sat. December 17th

8:45am

Zion Lutheran School

Corner of 2nd & Vine

Hinsdale, IL

Every standardized test that we tutor will be available, including:

    

·   ISAT, TerraNova, SAT10, Iowa

·    ACT, SAT, SAT Subject Test

·  HSPT/ISEE post-tests, for students currently working with us

Managing Technological Distractions

In today’s digital age, we are all constantly faced with technological distractions, such as Facebook, YouTube, and text messages from friends. These distractions are a big challenge, especially when students are trying to focus on homework, but they’re not going anywhere and are only proliferating. Learning to manage these distractions so we can get our work done is an important life skill! 

How do you address the problem of technological distractions? On the one hand, you can take a restrictive approach and not allow any Internet access during homework time. On the other hand, you can take a permissive approach and allow your child to find his or her own way, learning to handle distractions as they become problematic.

Both of these options have their drawbacks. The permissive approach results in the loss of too much valuable homework time, or homework that is poorly completed. The overly restrictive boundaries don’t teach kids the long-term skills needed to manage distractions. After all, once they reach college and the job world there will be no one looking over their shoulder, reminding them to turn off Facebook until their work is done.

Let’s look behind door number three for a better solution. We recommend that the Internet and other media distractions become a common topic during regular family meetings. In the context of a family meeting, children are given some overall clear boundaries, or “non-negotiables,” but they are also brought into the ongoing conversation about what is working and what is not. Their opinions are valued, they are allowed to make some mistakes, and they are given the option to make choices within realistic limits. If your child is included in coming up with a solution, he or she will then be invested in the problem-solving process. Instead of parent vs. child, you've changed the dynamic – you are now on the same team, working together to solve a problem.

Keep Reading to learn how a productive, solutions-oriented family discussion about managing distractions might proceed...

Words that make us smile!

It's almost to Thanksgiving and what are we thankful for? These sweet words from parents that make us smile! We know we have a truly wonderful group of tutors, and it's nice to hear that parents agree!


Here's what a parent has to say about her son's recent work with Michael D.:

"I can't thank you enough for  working with our son -- but, perhaps more importantly, for inspiring him to work to reach his goals. He never once complained about the work -- and I credit that to your establishing a good relationship with him right from the start. Your working sessions have given him much more than test taking skills -- they gave him confidence and a way to approach a difficult task. These are life skills that everyone hopes their child will obtain. We thank you for the assist!"

Another parent had an equally positive reaction to Michael M.:

"We have been extremely happy with Michael's work with our son.  Our goal was to get him through the end of last year and into his high school schedule.  I feel Michael's work and encouragement have been invaluable in bridging that transition both in academics and executive functioning skills.  I'm happy to say that our son is doing very well and has really settled into his classes/studies easily, currently maintaining a 4.0! We are so glad we discovered your group and that it could really meet the specific needs of our son.  Every student has different struggles and we are grateful that the focus was really on what he needed and not just a set tutoring curriculum.  We have already recommended your group to some friends and will continue to do so if we hear of other students who need help.  Thanks so much for your help in all of this and for Michael's warm, encouraging style which has helped our son grow in his self-confidence as well as his academic abilities!"

Here's what a happy mom had to say about her son's work with Lauren F.:

"I just wanted to tell you that I am so very grateful for everything that Lauren has done with and for our son.  She has been incredibly patient, caring, persistent and very enthusiastic the entire time he worked with her.  Who would have ever guessed that he would increase his composite score by 8 points from his first practice test?  She is a wonderful employee and a great representative of your company and its ideals/practices.  I have told you this before, but I would be happy to be a reference for Lauren and for Nurturing Wisdom ANYTIME."

Why do we practice?

We encourage our tutors to be broken records with their students, especially when it comes to attitudes about homework. We want tutors to help their students define the right attitude and create a mantra to help their students believe in its purpose and significance. An effective homework mantra and resulting attitude adjustment can have real long-term benefits when it comes to homework completion.

While students are told that homework matters, they tend not to believe it. I’m sure you’ve heard about teachers who quickly check homework just to see that it’s done – the “effort” grade. So students rush through the assignment to have something to show, but they’re not really using homework as an opportunity to practice and master skills. Their attitude is that homework doesn’t really matter. We want their attitude to be that doing homework thoroughly will help them truly understand concepts and processes, that it will help them do well on the test, and that it will help them down the road when they use that foundation to learn a new skill. So a mantra to reinforce this attitude might be “Trying really matters.” Homework is a great place to learn from mistakes, so another mantra may be “Mistakes are good.”

When I meet with students who are ready to start ACT prep, I talk with them about the importance of homework. I tell them that in the beginning homework is important so they can practice using new skills and strategies independently. Once they get the hang of it, they must continue to do the homework so the processes become automatic and they can open up space in their brains for doing the trickier work. With some students, I make a sports analogy: Tom Brady doesn’t quit going to practice because he’s a really good quarterback; he’s a really good quarterback because he keeps going to practice. Think about what analogies you may use with your students or children to help them understand that effort and practice will lead to improved performance. And then remind them of that analogy often!

-Erin Doyle

November Practice Tests

Our next proctored tests are coming up in Hinsdale and Winnetka in November!

These opportunities are the perfect chance for your child to take a practice test in a real test environment. We offer every single standardized test that we tutor, including the ACT, HSPT, SAT, ISEE and more.

Learn more:

www.nurturingwisdom.com/proctored-tests/

Register Now:

www.nurturingwisdom.com/practice-test/

NW Academy: We've Chosen a Location!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we've selected a location for our first Chicagoland NW Academy!!

We will be opening in Hinsdale for the 2012-2013 school year. We're still working on finding a space in the Hinsdale area, so if you have any ideas on facilities we should check out or people we should connect with, please let us know.  We are still planning to open an NW academy in the city of Chicago in the future, but we'll be focusing our efforts in Hinsdale for the Fall of 2012.


Amanda Vogel is currently meeting with families who are interested in learning more about our school, so pelase don't hesitate to pass this message along to anyone else who might be interested in learning even more about a unique school for students in grades 5-8!

academy.nurturingwisdom.com 

What If the Secret to Success is Failure?

We were fascinated by this New York Times article, written by Paul Tough. He profiles Dominic Randolph, the headmaster at The Riverdale School in New York City. The article discusses character and how it's possible to teach it.

For the headmaster of an intensely competitive school, Randolph, who is 49, is surprisingly skeptical about many of the basic elements of a contemporary high-stakes American education. He did away with Advanced Placement classes in the high school soon after he arrived at Riverdale; he encourages his teachers to limit the homework they assign; and he says that the standardized tests that Riverdale and other private schools require for admission to kindergarten and to middle school are “a patently unfair system” because they evaluate students almost entirely by I.Q. “This push on tests,” he told me, “is missing out on some serious parts of what it means to be a successful human.”

Read the rest of the article here!

What does "Pursue Growth and Learning" mean to you?

One of the things "pursue growth and learning" means to me is going outside of my comfort zone to try something new or difficult once in awhile.  This is hard to do but when I do, I find that the thing I initially thought would be really impossible isn't as scary as it seemed.

-Christian

To "pursue growth and learning" to me means to reflect on the areas where you excel or have an interest and try to learn more about those areas.  Doing this helps me to find areas where I can enhance my strength, learn more about a topic that interests me, and find new ideas related to this area.  I've always had an interest in music.  This year, I started learning how to play the piano.  I was able to build on an interest of mine and find a new creative outlet that has also helped me design orientation materials for our music program.

On the flip side, to "pursue growth and learning" also means to reflect on areas where I can further improve.  Reading more about these areas can help me find fresh ideas for making myself better in those areas.  For example, when I wanted to work on my communication skills, I read a chapter about candor in Jack Welch's book Winning.  This chapter really opened my eyes to the importance of open, honest communication.  I had no idea how much I needed to improve in this area until I started reading more about it.  

-Heather

I think the key part of “pursue growth and learning” is the word “pursue.” To pursue something is to make the effort to go out and actively seek it, rather than waiting for growth or learning to happen magically. It's so important to stretch yourself – even if you’re scared, even if you might fail. It’s about having a curious and open mind, wondering what’s possible, and then taking action to achieve it. With risk comes reward. You may not be able to predict what the reward will look like, but if you’re self-reflective, patient, and allow yourself the opportunity to try and to fail, some measure of wisdom and experience can be gained from every experience. Growth isn’t always comfortable – in fact, at times it can feel distinctly uncomfortable – but that does not mean that it's bad.

-Sonja

"Pursue growth & learning" has two equally important meanings for me:

First, it means not taking the easy way out or the easy route. It means accepting the challenge, being adventurous and taking risks because that's how you uncover the most information about a situation and about yourself and your own potential. It means putting yourself in situations where you will have to bring out your best and continually make your best better.  I think challenging yourself to learn and grow also puts you in situations that are more interesting and engaging, so you are in a position to make your best contribution as well as realize your full potential.

Second, it is an outlook that allows you to see the value of any experience, even if it was difficult or upsetting. It means pursuing a growth mindset; realizing what was gained (learned) from the experience and putting that new knowledge it into practice moving forward. 

-Bryce

The "Successful" Child: NW's second event with NPN!

Amanda Vogel recently joined up with the Neighborhood Parents Network to give a free talk to parents: Establishing Homework  Habits in Young Learners. She spoke about how to set up routines for academic success, how to foster indpendence, and how to strike a balance between being supportive and "over-helping." It was a very successful event, and a wonderful time was had by all!

Bernadette Pawlik, of NPN, put many of Amanda's techniques into practice. Read what she has to say a month later:

I can't truthfully say that homework is our son's favorite activity---but it has ceased to be his least favorite. In addition to reinforcing his academic skills, my sense is he is developing life skills he can use whatever the work might be throughout his life. 

Our next event with NPN is right around the corner: The "Successful" Child: Developing Persistence and Independence, coming up on Oct. 22nd.

RSVP with NPN at the link above - we would love to see you there!

Read for your Life!

It can be hard to decide what to read. There are so many options! I asked for recommendations from our tutors and got a wealth of suggestions for learners of all types and ages.


The "Uglies" series by Scott Westerfeld. For students who liked The Hunger Games (or, for students who aren't quite ready for the intensity and violence of The Hunger Games), Uglies is a similar type of story, about a dystopian future in which teenagers challenge a broken system and fight for a better world.
-Laura K.


Do Over by Robin Hemley was by far one of the best books I've read this year.  Hemley is at once insightful, funny, honest, confused, humble, and open in his approach to learn from his past "mistakes."  I respect the courage it takes for someone to address the "goofs" they've made in their lives, especially when it takes the form of doing a task over, which is what Hemley attempts - over and over again.  In each "do over," Hemley articulates the difficulty in identifying the "right thing to do" as he plays the role of both child and adult (often at the same time).  This book helped me see how my students can struggle to impress adults, and I think many adults who read it may gain perspective on the value of second chances.
-Kristi H.


A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers-- because it's a beautiful memoir, and is an honest story of true humanity.  It is full of emotion, and reminds the reader to spend time in gratitude and to enjoy the little things in life.
-Michelle W.


The Taqwacores. It's similar to The Catcher in the Rye but from the perspective of individuals in the Muslim  punk rock movement. 
-Chandani J.


The Secret Life of Pronouns is a fascinating non-fiction book. It's about how our use of the simplest, most boring words in the English lanugage reveals so much about our personalities - without us even realizing it! In the Woods by Tana French is a gorgeously written and suspenseful mystery that takes place in Ireland. If you like Law and Order and luscious prose, you should definitely pick it up.
-Sonja F.


For ages 12 - 15: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AVI or Fallen by Lauren Kate
     These books both have the drama of the Kardashians, but would challenge a student in one of two ways.  Confessions deals with more complex relationships and societal conflicts, but is told as a historical fiction. Fallen deals with all of the common teenage emotions, but from a different viewpoint of the world.  It could be related to Twilight, I suppose, but the main character is stronger.  This story is about fallen angels, the war of good and evil, and (probably most importantly to a teenaged girl) the beauty, power, and strength of eternal love.

For ages 16 & up: Identical by Ellen Hopkins or Sula by Toni Morrison
     These books both deal with the complex relationships of women who love each other and hate each other at the same time.  I think that they would be great for a more mature student who wants all the drama of gossipy women, while also challenging their reading skills.  Identical is the story of twin sisters and how they separately deal with their parents' messed up relationship told entirely in the form of poetry, which is unique and impressive.  Sula is about the lifelong relationship of two frenemies as told by the amazing Toni Morrison, so of course the writing style is unique, beautiful, and ambitious.  I would, however, be careful with these books because they both do deal with some adult issues, such as confusing sexual relationships, drugs, and abuse.
-Jessica S.


Peeling the Onion by Gunter Grass is an artful memoir of the Nobel Laureate, which recounts his childhood up through the writing of his first novel. He grew up in Germany as the Nazi party was taking hold. He was a member of the Hitler Youth and fought in the last year of the war for Germany. He discusses the accountability and guilt associated with these events, even though he was only 17 when the War ended. It's a very good read and gives a good background for understanding his novels, such as The Tin Drum and The Flounder.

I would also strongly recommend The Man Who Loved Only Numbers by Paul Hoffman.  It's a loose biography of the prolific mathematician Paul Erdos, an infamous eccentric in the mathematical community, who contributed greatly to the fields of number theory, combinatorics, probability theory, etc.  Even though it deals with mathematics, this is a very playful biography and discusses mathematical puzzles in a very intriguing and refreshing way.  It is very informative and fun! 

-Meagan D.

Anything by Ayn Rand will make someone think. Anthem for younger students. We the Living if they're into historical fiction and The Fountainhead for older students. I wouldn't recommend Atlas Shrugged until someone is in college. For high school students, Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 is also an excellent and thought provoking work.
-Pari S.

I'd suggest Moloka'i. It's about lepers and Hawaii and was really interesting. I would also recommend The Help or The Hunger Games trilogy (even though it's geared towards high school aged kids I think, I found them to be interesting and thought provoking - like Harry Potter meets V for Vendetta).
-Gretchen S.


102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers and Miracle on the Hudson.  Both books made me think about how people react in high stress situations and made me wonder if I could have done some of the things those people did on that day.
-Jackie D.


The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman discusses the events leading up to WWI, all the government secrets, paranoia and treaties that resulted. Not a Good Day to Die by Sean Naylor is a great non-fiction about the failings of those in command (micromanaging, withholding critical intelligence, refusal to provide needed support), but how those on the ground prevailed regardless.
-Peter K.


Right now I'm reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave about a Nigerian refugee and her friendship with a British widower.  It's really good!
-Gabrielle S.


Did we miss your favorite book? Let us know in the comments!

NW Values: Pursue Growth and Learning

What does "Pursue Growth and Learning" mean to you?

To me, to pursue growth and learning means to seek out resources, to consult the experts as well as those in the trenches, to question and to listen and to attempt and to reflect. It means to be open to making mistakes and learning from them. Pursuing growth and learning means avoiding complacency and embracing change.

-Erin Doyle

I believe this means to make yourself better.  People should want to better themselves and learn- like in Mindset :) It is way of thinking. I think forcing yourself to pursue or look to change for improvement will not only make a person feel better, but also be a team player. Kids should not be the only people who need to grow and change, adults should too.  Learning is never ending as long as you let it.

-Jeanne

Pursue Growth and Learning means that you never have all the answers and there is always more to learn. It is important to always be interested in learning new things that might be out of your comfort zone or something you have always been interested in but never had the time to devote to it. It is important to always face a challenge head on and realize that no matter what happens, you will come out of it a better person. Being open to change and new things is an important trait to have.

-Lauren

Pursue Growth and Learning in October!

Perhaps it goes without saying, but here at Nurturing Wisdom, we’re a bunch of school nerds. We love learning!! There’s such a sense of satisfaction that comes from mastering a difficult skill, figuring out the solution to a complex problem, or learning how two seemingly unrelated concepts are connected.  As much as we try to enrich and engage our students, we also try to constantly challenge and improve ourselves.

That's why we've made October the official “Pursue Growth & Learning” month here at Nurturing Wisdom. To lead us off, here are some words from Pari on what that value means to her:

I bet "Pursue growth and learning" for a lot of people brings up images of taking classes, maybe going back to graduate school, or reading as many books as possible. 

To me, "Pursue growth and learning" is a mindset. I am a person who loves to grow, improve, and challenge myself. Yes, I read books and enjoy taking classes, but there is so much more to it than that! On a daily basis, I take the time to reflect on my day.  Did I have a good day? Why? Why not? What do I wish went differently today? What did I learn today?  

Taking the time each day to do this has accelerated my learning, but most importantly, it's accelerated my happiness in life. By constantly reflecting and learning from my own experiences, I've been able to grow as a person and enjoy my life. Every year of my life is better than the year before. So for me, "Pursue growth and learning" = "Pursue happiness."

-Pari Schacht

Changes to the 2012 Prairie State ACT

Every April, students in Illinois public schools take the Prairie State ACT and submit the scores to their colleges of choice.  We at Nurturing Wisdom love the Prairie State ACT – since students take it at school during the day, they traditionally do very well! However, due to recent changes, submitting these scores to colleges just became a lot harder. How will this affect your child?

What is the Prairie State ACT?

The Prairie State ACT is a real ACT taken by all Illinois public school students in late April. It is funded by the state of Illinois and taken as part of the state’s achievement testing. Students at private schools do not take this ACT.

How is it changing?

Due to funding cuts, the state of Illinois has eliminated the writing portion of the Prairie State ACT.

Why does this matter? Isn’t the writing section of the ACT optional?

Although the writing portion of the test is considered optional by the ACT, many colleges require this section for admissions. These colleges will not accept a student’s ACT scores unless the student took that particular ACT with the writing portion.

Other colleges don’t require the writing portion, but will accept it in lieu of SAT subject tests.

So does this mean my child can’t use their Prairie State ACT scores for university admissions?

Possibly. Check with the individual colleges your child is applying to, to see if they will accept the ACT without writing.

Can I opt to pay for the writing portion of the Prairie State ACT myself?

No, currently individual students and schools are not allowed to pay for the writing portion on their own. This means that no high school in Illinois will be offering the writing portion of the Prairie State ACT.

This is frustrating! What can I do?

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do to change the state’s decision. However, we’d recommend that you register your son or daughter for the national ACT test date on April 14^th, which is taken a few weeks before the Prairie State ACT.

That sounds like a lot of testing. Isn’t that overwhelming for students?

It can be, but many of our students have found the repetition of taking two tests so close together to be helpful. Also, keep in mind that the Prairie State ACT is taken during the school day, and doesn’t require any additional time commitment.

Is there any possibility that the state will reinstate funding for the writing portion?

There is a remote possibility that the state will decide to reinstate funding, but given the state’s financial situation, it is unlikely. We recommend that parents assume that the writing section will not be included on the test unless you hear otherwise.

Do you have any additional questions?

Feel free to contact us at 312.260.7945. We’d be happy to help!

-Alyssa DeCesari

Cultivating Homework Attitudes

Your child may have one of the following attitudes about homework:

          Homework is work: It's challenging, frustrating, and time consuming. Children with this attitude often have to be forced to do homework, which can lead to tears or even yelling.

          Homework is a learning experience: It's an opportunity to showcase hard work, to refine skills, and to learn new things.Children with this attitude realize that homework may be hard, but they see value in the work.


These are two distinctly different attitudes with very different consequences. The first focuses on difficulty. The second focuses on opportunity and growth. Which of these do you want to be the "tone" of homework in your household? And why is it important to consciously cultivate a productive and positive attitude?

Choosing your attitudes.

Children develop attitudes about homework that play over and over in their heads like tapes. If we, as parents, don't make a conscious effort to convey productive and positive attitudes, children will absorb the negative beliefs of those around them.

So how do you counteract negative ideas about homework? Decide on two to four "homework mantras" to consistently convey to your kids. Every household can have their own set of mantras. Here are some examples:

• Homework is your opportunity to learn.
• Mistakes are good!
• Effort matters most.

Be a Broken Record.

Once you've chosen your homework attitudes, you need to say them out loud. Over and over. It's easy to feel like you're just a walking cliché, but kids need to hear these messages loud and clear. They need to trust that you believe them, and they need time to internalize them.

It's just as important to engage your kids in conversations about these messages. When something goes wrong on a math assignment, try to remember to ask, "Is it okay that you made a mistake? Tell me why." Encouraging children to say the mantras for themselves is much more powerful than simply listening to you say them.

Modeling Matters.

Actions really do speak louder than words. It's so important for us to model the attitudes we want our children to adopt. When our children earn a poor grade, getting upset or disappointed doesn't show them that mistakes are learning opportunities. Similarly, when dinner is overcooked or you get lost driving to a new destination, getting angry and berating yourself or your spouse won't communicate the positive sides of mistakes.

Homework time can be stressful for children, but it doesn't have to be. Reinforcing positive attitudes about homework early on can set the tone for a successful school year ahead!

Motivation, Action, Reflection

How do you help an unmotivated student?

First, it can help to unpack the label of "unmotivated." Most of us feel unmotivated or reluctant toward a task at one time or another. Instead of overt labeling, it's usually helpful to talk with students directly about the specific times they feel least motivated.  When given the chance, most students can articulate reasons why they don't want to do a particular task, which can help them address a roadblock to performance.

Second, my personal understanding of motivation is stolen directly from Nike: Just Do It.  Many of us believe that motivation comes from thinking or feeling a certain way toward a task ("I'll do it just as soon as I feel eager to do it"), but that's not how motivation works. Motivation is fueled by action. In the context of tutoring, getting a student working on something right away and then reflecting on that action can help him or her understand this concept.  That self-reflection after action is key to reinforcing both the student's behavior and his/her confidence in the task.


-Kristi Harreld

"The Trouble with Homework" by Anne M. Paul

There was a fascinating article this week in the New York Times, exploring the functions and pitfalls of homework.

"WHEN you think of America’s students, do you picture overworked, stressed-out children bent under backpacks stuffed with textbooks and worksheets? Or do you call to mind glassy-eyed, empty-headed teenagers sitting before computer screens, consumed by video games and social networking sites, even as their counterparts in China prepare to ace yet another round of academic exams? The first view dominates a series of recent books and movies, including the much-discussed film 'Race to Nowhere.' The second image has been put forth by other books, with titles like 'The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future.'

Divergent though they are, these characterizations share a common emphasis: homework."

Check out the rest of the article here!