School is just around the corner. We face another school year filled with hours of homework and cramming until midnight for tests. Is there anything we can do to help our son improve his study skills? Have we waited too late in the summer to get started?

It isn’t too late. Tutoring Unlimited offers a course that helps with homework, test prep and general study skills – and it can easily be completed within two weeks! The skills we teach will provide your son with tools to make class work easier, homework time more productive, and studying for tests less daunting. For more information, please contact us today!

How do I instill good organizational habits in my child?

Good organizational skills lead to reduced anxiety and more success in school. Children who are poorly organized often struggle.

These are some common characteristics of unorganized students:

• Completes homework but can’t find it when it’s due.
• Packs backpacks with books, folders, wadded papers and a variety of items they don’t need at school.
• Puts papers from multiple subjects in varying stages of completion in one folder.
• Waits until the last minute to begin assignments.
• Frantically searches for homework, papers, backpacks, shoes, coats, etc., when it’s time to leave.
• Starts the same assignment repeatedly because they cannot find the work they’ve already done.

Parents of unorganized students can help by providing consistent guidance on how to be organized. Here are some examples:

• Homework area: Designate a space that includes essential homework items. Fill a desk drawer organizer with pencils, glue, scissors, paper clips and stapler. A desktop accordion file or file drawer labeled for each subject including extra paper eliminates the mass of loose papers.
• Backpack: Choose a backpack with lots of pockets and zippers. Organize folders and books by size. Purge paper frequently. Be sure only school related items are in the backpack. One folder with dividers is easier to manage than multiple folders.
• Desk or locker: Add accessories to make organizing easier. Be sure there are extras of essential items such as paper and pencils.

Unorganized students can’t maintain a system of organization by themselves in the beginning. Be patient and monitor their progress until they can manage alone.

Tutoring Unlimited offers instruction on organization and study skills for students of all ages. If you would like more information or need assistance in evaluating your child’s progress, contact us for a free consultation.

We spent the entire last semester battling our high school student over school work. She is very bright and outgoing, but her attitude toward studying and homework isn’t so good. When we try to help her or offer suggestions it just goes from bad to worse. We don’t want to start the next semester the way we ended last semester. Can you help us?

Children are often resistant to their parents when it comes to learning – from math to tennis. A tutor can be a great solution. Tutors often work as a “study coach,” not focusing on one subject but offering support in all areas. They can help with general homework, studying for tests, staying organized and prioritizing, building up areas of weakness and making sure the student is accountable. The tutor can also stay in contact with teachers to ensure assignments are being turned in and to keep a check on grades.

If you would like more information about this support service from Tutoring Unlimited, contact us today.

We were disappointed when we received our son’s report card for the first six-week period. We had really focused on trying to make study time more productive by monitoring how he was spending his time. Every night we asked if there was anything that needed to be worked on or if we could help in any way. My son assured us he was prepared. Based on his report card, he wasn’t prepared enough! Can a tutor help us?

Parents often try to work with their children on organization, study skills and subject matter, to no avail. By the time they call a professional who is trained in these areas they are very frustrated.

If your child isn’t performing well in certain subjects, proper organization can make an impact right away. Often an assignment isn’t turned in because the student is unorganized and can’t find it when asked. The teacher has no choice but to put a zero in the grade book. Study skills can be improved by simply making a plan to attack the workload and discovering how to better prepare for tests.

On-on-one instruction can impart these skills and strengthen understanding in subjects your child is struggling with. A tutor can make homework, class work and tests more manageable and less intimidating.

For more information on how our professional tutors can help, contact us now.

How can I help my teen with the transition from middle school to high school?

Parents are often as anxious as their teen about the changes high school will bring.

• High schools are most always larger than middle schools. Lots of new faces. And classes are often spread out. Will they ever figure out where their classes are?
• It will be different going from being the oldest to being the youngest.
• There may be more homework than last year.
• Making new friends is important. Will my teen make good friend choices?

Parents can help teens with transition to high school by:

• Being positive in discussions about what to expect
• Attending the freshman orientation
• Being clear about transportation arrangements to and from school
• Taking time to really listen when they talk about their day
• Assuring them you are there to help whenever needed – as are counselors and teachers
• Making a detailed calendar scheduling homework, tests, reading activities and free time
• Discussing what you expect of your teen at home and at school

If  your teen’s transition is likely to be more challenging than most, contact us for a free consultation.