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Newport Beach ACT Tutoring

September 24th, 2015

Newport Beach ACT tutoring is more popular than ever!

One thing that has surprised us tremendously here at Study Hut Tutoring over the past few months is the radical increase in demand for our ACT tutors.  Whereas interest in SAT tutoring has typically been double or even triple that of our ACT tutoring services, the ambiguity that the changes to the new SAT have carried with them has appeared to have steered many test-takers toward its fast-growing competitor: the ACT.

While students at Newport Harbor High School, Corona del Mar High School, Mater Dei, and Sage Hill, among others, are long-familiar with test preparation and training, the process of deciding between the two tests is changing and evolving quicker than school counselors and college search services are able to relay the important and relevant information.  The result is that many of our clients, both longstanding and new, seem to often be quite confused by the differences between the tests, as well as the process of determining which test is right for their student.

At Study Hut Tutoring, we strongly recommend that each student begin the process by taking a free, full-length practice test.   We offer real tests that were proctored in years prior so that your student can get a sense of exactly what kind of score to expect if he or she were to take the real ACT today.  With those results, we can then look at the student’s strengths and weaknesses, undergo some goal-setting, and make a plan of action for how to “fill in the holes” and improve strategy and content understanding.

If you have any questions whatsoever regarding which test would be a better for your son or daughter to focus on, please ask our ACT experts at Study Hut Tutoring.  Whether you are looking specifically for an ACT tutor, or rather are just seeking information and trying to get a good understanding of the process, we are here to help.  Email ACT@studyhut.com with any questions you may have.

 

Newport Beach ACT Tutoring

Newport Beach ACT Tutoring

Newport Beach Math Tutor

September 23rd, 2015

Math Tips from Newport Tutors

Despite what most students think, a new year of math is an exciting thing; every Newport Beach math tutor would agree.  No, we’re not saying cosine functions and slope-intercept form are anything to get amped about. What is exciting is that September brings with it a clean slate and a chance to get ahead early. What you learn in September and October can set you up for a really great year. Here are some tips for building a strong foundation this year.

Take Good Notes WITH EXAMPLES

It is time to start bringing your multi-colored pens to math. Write down definitions. Copy examples from the board. Highlight things that your teacher says are “important.” This will help you in the short term with homework, but also in the long term when you look back at these notes to review for the midterm and final.

Do the Assigned Homework

While doing 30 problems a night does not sound as fun as watching latest episode of Scandal or following Trout and the Angels battle for the Wild Card spot, it is of tremendous benefit to you to practice the concepts until you can do them in your sleep. Plus, homework grades are easy points if you just do it.

Ask Questions About the Homework

If something stumped you on the homework, chances are, it stumped somebody else too. Plus, asking a question shows your teacher that you put in the time, and that you are invested in the class.

Learn Your Teacher

Listen-really listen-to your teacher. When he or she uses words like “important” or “key concept” HIGHLIGHT whatever he or she says next. Another important skill is to learn how your teacher tests. Do they give partial credit for showing work? Do they tend to review homework problems that will show up on tests? Learning to catch this stuff will make you a better student, not just in math, but in all of your classes.

Make a Standing Appointment with a Tutor

We all get by with a little help from our friends. At Study Hut, we are here to support your individual needs and hold you accountable. We have been through the Common Core curriculum at every level, and are familiar with the local teachers. Whether you need support in biology, algebra, APUSH, calculus, or even SAT/ACT test prep, making Study Hut a part of your weekly routine will help establish good habits that will maximize your potential.

 

A day at Study Hut Tutoring in Newport Beach

A day at Study Hut Tutoring in Newport Beach

 

 

New SAT

July 21st, 2015

What is the deal with the New SAT?

Timeline: the revised SAT, or [rSAT], will be offered 7 times a year beginning March, 2016. The upcoming PSAT in October will be a shortened version of the [rSAT]–this PSAT is optional and scores come back 6-8 weeks after the test is administered at your high school.  Study Hut will offer the new [rSAT] in the fall alongside the ACT so students are able to experience the style of the new exam.

How can Study Hut Tutoring help?

Study Hut Tutoring offers free practice tests for the new SAT.  This means that once you fill out our contact form or give a call, we can sign you up for a free, full-length new SAT exam.  Once you’ve completed the exam, you get to go home, hang tight, and wait for us to grade the exam.  Don’t worry, we will call you once the exam is graded to set up a free 20-30 minute consultation to go over the entire exam.  During the meeting we will look at all of your strengths and weaknesses, and recommend the best course of action for you based on your score goal, your desired university you would love to attend, your current schedule, and how long you wish to train for the test.  We look forward to getting you geared up and ready for test day.

Content changes (the [rSAT] is now a lot like the ACT):

1.  The elimination of difficult vocabulary

2.  Added Emphasis on command of evidence

3.  Essay Analyzing a Source

4.  Math Focused on Three Key Areas

5.  Problems Grounded in Real World Contexts

6.  Analysis in Science and Social Studies

7.  Emphasis on Founding Documents and Great Global Conversation

8.  No Penalty for Wrong Answers

9.  Feel free to hit-us-up for more info or: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/

Now what?

Stick to the ACT.  Study Hut offers practice tests (previously proctored real ACT exams), free post-test consultations, small group-courses, and tailored one-on-one training. We know your kiddo, we’re masters of the ACT, and we’re here to help because we’ve been there and done that.

The New SAT

The New SAT

 

A Year in Review for PV and RB

June 30th, 2015

It has been yet another successful year at the Study Hut in Redondo Beach.  We saw improved grades, great SAT and ACT scores, and admissions to awesome colleges all over the US.  From the schools in Palos Verdes (PVHS and Peninsula), to RUHSD, and all the Torrance schools in between (South and West mostly), all our beloved Hut kiddos have truly set the bar in the South Bay.

For instance, Darrian went from getting D’s in her freshman year, to getting B’s this year after getting routine subject tutoring. Thomas was able to raise his worst subject, Spanish, from an F to a B! We were also ecstatic to see Austin raise all of his grades to A’s and B’s this year with tutoring twice a week after getting straight C’s last year. Austin’s mother has told us that her relationship with Austin has improved dramatically since they no longer have fights over his grades anymore! Connor stunned his mom and brought his tutor to tears of joy when he earned straight A’s both semesters of his junior year after receiving straight C’s during his Freshman and Sophomore years.

Many of our students demonstrated exceptional improvement on their SAT and ACT scores. Connor raised his ACT score from a 20 to a 29 in just three months after coming in for ACT tutoring twice a week. Sophia juggled her hectic life of AP classes, club soccer, and numerous school clubs by coming in once a week for four months for ACT tutoring. Sophia raised her score from a 29 to a 35, which secured her early admission to one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Massachusetts, Wellesley College. Shivani not only scored an outstanding 2300 on her SAT, but used test preparation at Study Hut to ace her SAT 2 tests as well in Math and English.

We could not be more proud of the incredible college acceptances our students earned after getting college guidance with their tutors. Olivia was not only admitted to every college she applied to, but got into her dream school, USC, to pursue studies in Marine Biology. Kelley was accepted to the incredibly competitive music industry program at USC, which only admits thirty students annually. Hayley will be attending one of the most impacted schools in California, San Diego State, which has been her dream school since she was in sixth grade. Eliza and Mollie will both be attending the most impacted college in the country, UCLA, in the fall.This Year's Favorite Books Tutor Appreciation was high this year SAT/ACT/College Success this Year

Summer in El Segundo: Tutoring

June 23rd, 2015

As summer in El Segundo arrives and the school year comes to an end, Study Hut is relishing the achievements of our students and looking forward to summertime and the next school year. The 2014-2015 academic year has been exciting and enjoyable for Study Hut, El Segundo. We take great pride in seeing the growth and progress of our students as they strive to reach their academic goals, and we put forth our best effort to assist them every step of the way.

This school year we served local El Segundo School District students from El Segundo High School, El Segundo Middle School, Center Street School, and Richmond Street School. We also had the privilege of working with students from the surrounding districts of LAUSD, MBUSD, and RBUSD, coming from Mira Costa High, Redondo Union High, Reseda High, Manhattan Beach Middle School, and Parras Middle School. Additionally, we had some wonderful students from the local private schools Vistamar, St. John Bosco, Bishop Montgomery, Loyola, and Chadwick.

Working with such a wide variety of students and school districts has been a wonderful way for us to grow as a service: broadening our knowledge of varying curriculums and school expectations. Whether we were working with a 3rd grader on Common Core math enrichment and reading comprehension, or helping a high school Junior succeed in challenging Spanish and calculus classes, we have been able to exceed expectations and propel students to new heights in their personal academic success. We also enjoyed working with El Segundo High this school year by administering, proctoring, and reviewing full-length practice SATs and ACTs for our local students, creating a valuable resource to them as they strive to achieve their best result on these crucial tests. Now that summer in El Segundo has arrived, we are enjoying a brief respite from the rigours of the academic year, and refocusing our energy to best assist our summer students.

We will continue to work with students through the summer in El Segundo, concentrating on varying areas determined by student need. The waning obligations of summertime offers a great opportunity for students to get a head start on upcoming classes with one-on-one tutoring. Our summer students will be introduced to forthcoming concepts, solidify fundamentals while enriching current understanding, and/or undertake a test preparation program to improve on the SAT and/or ACT. For our incoming Seniors, summer is a great time to make the final push for a solid SAT/ACT score in the fall, and to begin working with a tutor to develop a plan of attack for college applications and their entailing essays and personal statements. Regardless of the specific focus, summer tutoring is an excellent way for students to stay engaged and enter the upcoming school year with a smooth transition to more advanced coursework.

We look forward to continuing to serve El Segundo and the surrounding communities through the summer and next school year. Check out the Hut!

Summer Tutoring in Manhattan Beach

June 21st, 2015

After a fantastic 2014-2015 school year in Manhattan Beach, Mira Costa students are about to enjoy some fun in the sun.  While many have finished their SAT and ACT exams, others are starting summer school.  So for those of you who have to spend some morning time in the classroom, Study Hut Tutoring is here for you after class, at our new summer location: 1208 Artesia Blvd. in Hermosa Beach, across the street from Mira Costa High School.

Our geometry tutors are standing by– we are available for hourly sessions Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm.  Whether you are getting ahead and taking Modern World History or US history, we have the local experts and books you need in order to earn A’s over summer.  It is important to get off on the right foot because the summer classes are especially condensed, often only 4-6 weeks long.  If it’s algebra tutoring you need, our top people are locked and loaded, ready to go.

Mira Costa High School isn’t the only school letting loose.  Students from Manhattan Beach Middle School are “free at last” from the rigors of Mr. Rucker’s Boulder, Mrs. Luke’s math homework and early morning tutoring sessions on Late Start Wednesdays.  Now that school is out, a lot of students are coming to Study Hut Tutoring for summer tutoring in Manhattan Beach to brush up on their pre-algebra skills, five paragraph essay writing, and Spanish verbs.  These basics are quintessential to earning top marks in the fall.  While buoy swims are equally as important for the body, the mind requires specific tuning in order to test well in early September.

For those students who have just wrapped up their last days at Grandview Elementary, Pacific Elementary, Robinson Elementary, and Pennykamp Elementary, there is a real transition that lies ahead as they enter into Manhattan Beach Middle School.  Now more than ever, incoming 6th graders will be put to the test.  But not to worry, Study Hut Tutoring is in your corner, having just helped a plethora of students with wide ranging needs, we are ready to help you tackle these challenges: we have the books, we know the curriculum, and you’re going to have a ton of fun knockin’ it out with us. Come in for engaging summer tutoring in Manhattan Beach to keep your mind fresh!

 

Time Management

June 17th, 2015

Time management is an important skill that all students need to learn. Excellent time management skills will help students be more productive and less stressed. Managing their schedule will keep students from drowning in their work and activities and becoming overwhelmed.

 

A great first step to making time management easy is using a planner. Writing down all of their assignments will keep students from freaking out that they forgot an assignment or do not remember what day their upcoming test is on. Planners are also great for giving a visual layout of the upcoming week. This helps students see exactly what they need to get done and by when.

 

Setting reminders and alarms in your phone also works really well if you are forgetful. For many students simply writing something down is not enough. Set an alarm a few days before a test or quiz so you know to start studying. Or set a reminder for a certain time in the day to start working on your homework.

 

 

An important part of time management is making room for everything. Between school, projects, sports, community service, and a social life, the average teenager has a lot on their plate. If they know they have a lot of practice on certain days each week, they should plan to have that night’s homework done early. Students should not take on more obligations than they can comfortably handle. They will become too stressed out and do poorly at everything. Large amounts of stress impacts a student’s grades as well as their overall health.

Succeeding in Summer School

June 11th, 2015

It’s difficult to keep up in summer school classes. Five to six hours a day of the same topic is a long time to concentrate. Not only that, but teachers are trying to cram in an entire year’s worth of material into just a few short weeks.

One strategy to make sure you stay on top of summer school is to make sure that you take amazing notes. Great notes are detailed, organized, and easy to read. Make sure that you are writing legibly. Organize your notes by topic. This way, if you are looking for information on a certain topic you can easily find it. Make sure to take notes on what your teacher is saying, not just the lecture slides. They often go into important, more detailed information than just what is on the slides. You can bet that that same information will be on the test.

Try and stay focused. The hours are long, but the tests are very frequent so you do not have time to slack off. If you miss a concept, make sure to see a tutor before you are tested on it. It is also a good idea to schedule regular tutoring sessions. One-on-one time with a tutor can allow you to explore the material in more depth and assure that you fully understand all of the concepts. There is very little time to play catch up because of the rushed schedule. Turning in all of your homework assignments is crucial. Do not get lazy because the lost points will add up and hurt you.

As long as you stay on your A game, summer school is an amazing way to knock out some classes quickly.

Choosing a Summer School

June 10th, 2015

It’s time for choosing a summer school! Once you have made the decision to take summer school, the next choice you will need to make is where to take it. Do you want to go to school every day, or do you want to take classes online and remind yourself to keep up with the schedule? There is an option that works for everyone.

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One advantage of choosing a summer school for classes at a physical school location is that you actively have to be present every day. If students are unmotivated while taking online classes, they can often easily click through the notes and not actually take in any information. There is a teacher in the classroom who can monitor behavior and engage students. Often times, it is also much easier for students to learn when they actually have someone in front of them teaching them, rather than trying to figure it out from an online textbook and videos on their own. Summer school is also great for procrastinators because unlike online summer school, they cannot just ignore everything until it piles up one week before the entire class is due.

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Choosing a summer school that is online has its advantages as well. For students who do not want to sit in a classroom over summer, online summer school provides a completely flexible schedule. It is also easier for students to take multiple summer school classes at once, because they are not limited by the daily time allotment of each class. Students can also go at their own pace, or knock the whole thing out in a couple of weeks if they so desire.

 

SAT Test Day

June 6th, 2015

Getting ready for SAT test day is easy and a little preparation can make all the difference in your score. Outside of one-on-one test preparation, there a few things you can do the day before and the week leading up to your test to maximize your score.

The Week Before

Go over your diagnostic practice tests with your tutor to see if there are any glaring errors or mistakes that you keep repeating. Do you always fall for the trap answer because it is listed first? Do you continue to answer math problems even when you venture into the sections that are too difficult for you? All these little mistakes can add up and cost you big points on the SAT Test Day.

⌚SAT Test DayThe Night Before

Make sure you get a great night’s sleep the night before SAT Test Day! Do not drink any caffeinated tea or beverages late in the day. If you go out with your friends, make sure you are home at a reasonable hour and relaxed enough to get some sleep. Do not do any practice tests or practice problems the day before your test. You will burn yourself out and not do as well on the real thing.

 

 SAT Test DayThe Day Of

Make sure you eat a big, healthy breakfast. Bring a snack for the break they will give you. Bring two calculators in case one of yours has a freak accident and breaks in the middle of the test. Make sure that your bring all the materials that they tell you to have, including any sort of print out and identification. It would be horrible to get there and not be allowed to take the test. Most of all, be confident and you will do great!