Dont let these Manhattan Beach middle school students fool you. Please stay active with them and keep them engaged.

Go through his “edline” acct with him and talk to him about each of his grades. He could use practice quizzes and he can make them himself.

He needs to focus on his daily planner too, as do ALL of our middle schoolers, and even most of our high schoolers, and have all his tests written on the day they will be given, and have a detailed study plan written out for the days leading up to his test(s).

The study tasks should say, “Make 20 flashcards for spanish verbs” and that would be on Monday for example, even if his test isnt until friday. The next day should read, “review flashcards for 2 [20min] chunks”…. you can make him difficult practice quizzes where you will be able to see if he is not only comprehending the material, but retaining it.

You’re def going to want to make mini quizzes (they can be as small as 3-5 questions based on the material he just covered). If no practice quiz is given, there is no real way to ensure comprehension.

He can work on HW, but that shouldnt be his number 1 or even number 2 priority, unless the difficulty of the assignment is a pressing concern. He needs some management help, and probably a little conceptual help, you can evaluate the needs of all this at the beginning with an interview process. You will be able to gauge and feel more comfortable after working with him a second time…that kind of thing builds as you get to know your student.

It’s that time of year again, kids are getting ready for school. The back to school commercials are present during your favorite television shows, kids are counting down the days they have left in summer, and everyone is trying to squeeze that last minute vacation in. With all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for school, tutoring may be the last thing on a parent’s mind. What most fail to realize, is that it should be the first.
Each and every year at the Hut, without a fail, we see kids who come in after they have already received their first disappointing test grade. At this point, the student comes in and has already started digging themselves a hole. This automatically creates a negative self esteem that doesn’t set the right tone for the school year. We have found, time and time again, students and parents are happier getting their kid in here from the very start. Even starting them prior to that first day of school gets them back in the mindset. They have a chance to brush up on those skills that caused them trouble the previous year.
Our tutors are so equip with the curriculum for the Manhattan Beach School District that some of our students even have the chance look ahead and get a running start in their curriculum for the up and coming year. Even if kids do not get tutoring prior to the school year, that first week of school is an ample opportunity to get situated and come up with a game plan for the year. A good majority of our kids are in middle school and need help understanding how to prioritize their classes. A schedule with multiple teachers is a new concept. It is crucial to set up this plan in order to keep on task with each and every class. Starting at the beginning of the school year will allow for more time to study and less time figuring out how to balance multiple subjects with multiple classes. Bottom line, don’t wait for your kid to fail to start thinking about tutoring. The sooner the better.

As a parent, you know that your child is a complex individual, full of surprises.  You know their dreams and aspirations, their fears and dislikes, what influences and what motivates them.  You know that though they may grow bored at school, frustrated with teachers or affected by their peers, that if someone could find the key to tap into your child’s potential they would shine as brightly as they do in your eyes.  It is this uniqueness that we try to cultivate.  There are a few special ingredients that make Study Hut such a sweet place to learn and one of them is that we recognize each student’s individuality.  Tutors are paired students that allow us to foster genuine connections and have a real positive influence.  That’s why we enjoy being tutors.  While many of our tutors can teach multiple subjects, Study Hut takes the time to place students according to their personality and ambitions.  Seeing our students strive for the same goals we’ve have strived for inspires us and we pass this inspiration onto our students.

A real understanding of who your child is also helps us tutor more effectively.  Biology becomes a basketball team, physics becomes skate boarding and statistics becomes the probability the Lakers will win the championship (100%, of course!)  Students are no longer just another face in a sea of students but part of the Study Hut family.  Every child learns differently, and relates differently.  Parents know this for their children; tutors should know this for their students.  We don’t just teach a child, we teach your child.