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Study Hut Finals Survival Guide

January 15th, 2019

With Final exams around the corner at Peninsula High School and Palos Verdes High School, students in the AVID program have been taking advantage of Study Hut counselors and mentors with one-on-one meetings to go over their Finals Survival Guide.  This is a new tweak on the comprehensive program that Study Hut has provided to the AVID for almost a decade, and the results and feedback have been overwhelming.

Before the holiday break, instructors came into each 9th and 10th grade classroom for a full-period tutorial on how to fill out the Study Hut Finals Survival Guide.  Students went through the Aries portal and took a deeper look at each of their individual grades, identifying any missing assignments and low test and quiz scores.  They then listed content from these assignments and tests that would be likely be coming back up on the Final exam, and they highlighted classes in which their semester grades could potentially go up or down depending on their performance on the Final exam.

The first week after the holiday break, Study Hut instructors came back into each of these same classrooms to help students construct an individualized day-by-day task list.  The content on these tasks lists was derived directly from the Finals Survival Guide.  Students broke down study tasks by class; for history and foreign language classes, students created manual flashcards, and then plotted 15-minute flashcard run-throughs each day leading up to the Final exam.  For science and math classes, students identified units and chapters that they struggled with the first time around, and then they plotted chapter reviews and study guides each day leading up to the Final exam.  The results for each student was a comprehensive task list that lined up the exact tasks that each student needs to complete in order to meet their goals on Final exams.  They then met individually with Study Hut counselors for 15-minute meetings to review the task lists and make sure that their efforts aligned with their goals.

The Finals Survival Guide is a template and service that we also provide to our one-on-one students at Study Hut.  It is a built in service for our clients that can help students maximize their efforts and streamline their studies.  If you would like to set up a free meeting with a manager or owner at Study Hut, please email info@studyhut.com.

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One-on-one Academic Tutoring

December 5th, 2018

Parents are often curious about when the ideal age is to start one-on-one academic tutoring. The truth is, the right age to begin tutoring has more to do with the specific needs of the student as opposed to turning a certain age. At Study Hut, we have tutors that specialize in working with students of all ages, from kindergarteners to college graduate students. When we are evaluating a child’s educational needs, our goal is to focus in on the student’s unique situation and provide customized individual tutoring.

So while we see each student as unique, academic needs in general tend to fall into three categories. Some students are doing OK in all of their classes with the exception of one subject where they need help. In this case, the student can benefit from extra one-on-one academic tutoring, assistance completing homework, and individualized attention while preparing for tests and quizzes in that class.

One-on-one Academic Tutoring

Others are dealing with challenges in multiple subjects. In this case it is especially important to disregard the student’s age and simply get them the support they need as soon as the problem is identified.  Students can gain tremendously from working with a tutor to learn basic study skills such as organization or how to effectively study. These techniques are often not taught in school, yet they are the very tools kids need to be academically successful. Poor grades at any age can cause students to feel frustrated and over time can lead to self-identifying as a “bad student”. This is a difficult scenario to reverse.

The third type of need we encounter is when someone is preparing for entrance to a private school or college. This often involves studying for a standardized test and potentially writing essays for the application. If a student is preparing for the ISEE or HSPE it is recommended to start studying at least six months before the test date, if not sooner. Tenth grade is a good time for students taking the ACT or SAT to come in to the Study Hut for a free practice test.

Just as we would never recommend a “one-size-fits-all” approach to tutoring, we do not have a standardized rule of thumb for what a good age is to begin academic tutoring. If you are dealing with a child who is struggling academically, whether it is in elementary, middle, or high school: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Midterm Season at Study Hut Tutoring

November 28th, 2018

It’s that time of year again. Break out the pumpkin-spiced refreshments and crack open those textbooks; it’s midterm season!!! Do you feel like that last sentence would’ve been better punctuated with a sad face emoji? Here are a few tips from the Study Hut on how to rock your midterms!

  1. Don’t wait until the last second to prepare.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you’ve heard this one since you had to study for your colors of the rainbow test in kindergarten. But avoiding procrastination is particularly important when it comes to midterms. Maybe you can skate by with one of those lunch recess cram seshes for a normal test, but midterms usually cover the entire semester’s material. You’ve gotta space out your studying. Better yet, come up with a concrete plan of attack. Use your planner to map out which material you’ll study on a given day, or a given hour.

  1. Make flash cards.

Or Quizlet. Or both. Studies show that flashcards are one of the most effective study tools in the game. If you’re studying vocabulary, don’t just write the word and the definition; include the part of speech, and synonyms and antonyms. If you’re studying for history, make flash cards for historical figures. Even in math, make flash cards for theorems and postulates and vocabulary. If you’re doing midterms right, you should be keeping Office Depot in business.

  1. Attack areas of weakness first

If you’re totally listo for Español, but not at all ready for Algebra, make sure you allow plenty of time to get yourself up to par in math. Sticking to material you already feel comfortable with is, well, comfortable, but the most effective study strategy is to allot the most study time to midterms for which you feel least ready.

  1. Schedule a Session at the Study Hut

Didn’t see that one coming, did you? Our tutors are trained in the art of midterm-prep. If you’re looking to create a personalized study plan, or you’re just plain stumped in a subject, we’re here to help! All of our sessions are one-on-one, and we still have openings!

  1. Try not to Stress too Much  

Space out your studying enough to have some time to yourself. Cramming leads to burning out which leads to high stress and low test scores. Get outside. Enjoy autumn. Eat some pumpkin-spice Twinkies, or pumpkin-spice hummus, or pumpkin-spice Pringles (all real things).

Midterm Season at Study Hut Tutoring

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Thanksgiving: Good-Bye College Apps

November 20th, 2018

What are you thankful for this school year? Here at Study Hut Consulting, we balance our love for Thanksgiving with our duty to accurately teach US History (among other AP courses!). It can be a tall order, conveying both the joy of life and the understanding of hard facts. Many of our college hopefuls have submitted their first applications into the world — they can tell you all about this juggling act, as well. 

Thanksgiving: End of College Apps

Yes, if anything is more bittersweet than cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving, it would have to be farewells to my college applications students. I have gotten to know them better than their teachers through hours of one-on-one tutoring. We’ve conducted our interview, learned the art of essay writing, practiced idea generation and organization, and finally, distilled their personalities into a finely-crafted set of essays. As a tutor, I lose myself in the sheer excitement of the craft. But when that first “Submit” button gets pressed, it all needs to be perfect. At Study Hut Consulting, I’m proud to say that it is. 

For those students who may be reading — those, perhaps, without someone to guide them — let me tell you this: Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for writing college essays. Let me explain. So many of my students walk in my door thinking they have nothing to say. College applications are so competitive, what can one “normal” kid possibly write about? And yet, student after student leaves with a unique, heartfelt essay. College writing, it turns out, is an act of discovery. Get excited about your life, rejoice in the smallest of moments, because even they can show your character. In short: be Thankful.  

And it’s true, sometimes you need a fresh set of eyes to see just how unique you are. That’s where our college admissions team can help. We know every student has a story to tell. We’ve helped tell quite a few. So as you sit down to write (we suggest starting with the Contact Form), ask yourself: what will you be thankful for next year?

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December Newsletter

November 15th, 2018

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The Independent School Alliance & Study Hut

November 6th, 2018

This past weekend, Study Hut was honored to have hosted an ISEE test prep weekend workshop at Westerly School in Long Beach.  The workshop was a two-day seminar with four class sections running concurrently catering to students ranging from 5th grade all the way up to 8th grade.  The workshop catered to students from the Independent School Alliance, and represented the beginning of a new partnership between Study Hut Tutoring and the Alliance.

The Independent School Alliance

The Independent School Alliance is a leading organization in private school admissions counseling and placement. It was founded by its member schools for the purpose of placing underrepresented students at the elementary and secondary levels. Since 1985, it has provided access and opportunities to thousands of students across Southern California. Its students become exemplary members of their independent school communities, and very often its member schools comment that their campuses are better places because of the presence of Alliance students.

The mission of the Independent School Alliance is to inform members of racial communities presently underrepresented in independent schools of the option of independent school education; to identify applicants from these communities and assist them in the application process; to provide ongoing support programs for students and their families’ and to act as a resource to member schools assisting them in their individual efforts to address issues of racial diversity and multicultural education.

To learn more about the Independent School Alliance, please visit independentschoolalliance.org

The seminar included one ISEE Lower Level classroom, one ISEE Middle Level classroom, and two ISEE Upper Level classrooms running both Saturday and Sunday.  Students learned a wide variety of concepts and strategies, from process-of-elimination tips for the Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement sections, to time management strategies and active reading note-taking techniques for the Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.  By all accounts, it was a massive success, and also a very rewarding experience for the Study Hut team.

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Transition from 8th to 9th Grade

November 5th, 2018

Anyone who has gone to high school remembers the transition from 8th to 9th grade. From schoolwork to socialization, everything seems a little more difficult and a lot more important. High school can certainly be challenging, but with great challenges comes great rewards. Establishing patterns of academic success in 9th grade sets students up for an awesome high school career. No one is better suited to help students have a smooth transition into 9th grade than our team of experienced tutors here at the Study Hut!

Transition from 8th to 9th Grade

All of our tutors are college graduates from top universities, and many of our tutors graduated from local high schools. Since our inception in 2006, we’ve helped hundreds of high school students achieve their academic dreams. What are the secrets to our success? All of our tutors are experts in high school subject matter. What’s more, our expertise is not limited to helping students with homework and tests. Our staff is trained to arm students with useful study techniques and organizational skills.

Here’s how the process goes: all of our tutoring sessions are one-on-one where students meet weekly with the same tutor, developing a rapport. Our tutors work with students to make sure students are using their planners to track nightly assignments and create study schedules for projects and exams. We teach students to effectively plan ahead with projects and assignments. It’s a lot harder to get away with cramming in high school than it is in middle school. We also help students keep their folders and binders organized. We’re allergic to crumpled up papers at the bottom of backpacks!

Here at the Study Hut, we love what we do, and we really care about our students. We know how to create a stress-free environment and inspire students to plan for their tests, take ownership of their schoolwork, and rock their first year of high school! Our tutors know what it takes to succeed in high school, and understand how difficult the transition from 8th grade to 9th grade can be. By the same token, we know how rewarding success in 9th grade can be. Early success in high school can set the tone for the rest of a student’s academic career, so don’t hesitate to call the Study Hut!

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Freshman Year of High School Counts

October 16th, 2018

Freshman year of high school can be overwhelming. All of a sudden, your school is the size of a small city, the students you pass in the hallway have facial hair, and your classwork becomes a heck of a lot harder. Colleges understand that the freshman experience is one of acclimation more than acceleration, even for the most gifted students. Having said that, there’s a dangerous misconception that the freshman year of high school doesn’t count at all. Here at the Study Hut, we want to dispel that myth. The maiden voyage of high school does count, and if it goes something like the Titanic’s, that could be a problem.

Freshman Year of High School Does Count

Freshman year grades are a slim, diet-sized slice of the pie chart of factors colleges consider–but they are a factor. If a student’s freshman report card reads like the sound of a deflating tire, colleges will take notice. Some say that if a student’s freshman year grades fall between so-so and oh-no, the student will be alright if they show steady improvement throughout the remainder of high school. In a lot of cases, this is true, but improving steadily is easier said than done. If a student gets Cs and Ds, C-and-D work ethic and study habits got them there. Those poor patterns can be tough to break, especially because classes get harder the further a student progresses.  

Contrary to popular belief, we at the Study Hut believe freshman year counts. Colleges consider freshman year grades. Equally important, students establish academic habits, for better or worse, which will endure throughout their academic careers. Here at the Hut, our tutors are trained to instill in students the skills they need to ace the first stop on the path to college. We teach students to track their assignments effectively, create study plans tailored to their unique schedules, and learn accountability. Our tutors have an masterful grasp of the high school curriculum and can help with any and all subjects. If you’ve got the freshman year blues, stop by or give us a call!

 

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Transition Year Tutoring at Study Hut

October 14th, 2018

Transition Year Tutoring

Transitioning into middle school or high school can be a scary prospect. Fortunately, Study Hut is here to help! The Summer can be a great time to learn or enhance those skills that will be critical to success at a new school. Students often find the expectations at their new school to be higher than what they’re used to. Study Hut will work with your student to create organization skills that will keep them on track and completing work on time. We’ll teach them how to set up an effective planner to stay on top of their work.

In this age of technology, we often find that students are resorting to taking photos on their devices instead of taking traditional notes. Study Hut will spend time with your student to help them learn to take effective electronic or paper notes, so they’ll get the most out of their lectures next year. We’ll also spend some time perfecting study skills so students can be studying for their classes in the most effective way possible and make the transition year as smooth as possible.

Transition Year Tutoring

In addition to higher expectations, students may also face harder content than they were used to in fifth or eighth grade. Study Hut can help your student get a jump start on some of the material they’ll face when they start school. Whether it is math, science, reading, or writing for future middle schoolers, or biology, algebra, geometry, or english for future high schoolers, we can help! We’ll start out with an assessment in their subject area to locate the areas that need the most work, and we’ll work through the Summer to build a solid foundation for the subject. Your student will be able to start the first day feeling confident and familiar with the material.

Study Hut knows it can be intimidating to start a new school with new classes and new material. Fortunately, Study Hut can alleviate those fears and get your student ready for the next few years in a new environment.

Check out our Summer page for more information on packages!

 

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Semester Finals Preparation at Redondo Riviera

October 9th, 2018

Semester Finals

Holiday break will soon be upon us. As most great rewards tend to go, such a relaxing time can also come with substantial risk: without proper attention, you may find yourself returning to classes behind, and this is only more of a concern if your school holds first-semester finals immediately after break. Here are four tips to ensure you stay on top of your classes during the holidays.

Semester Finals Preparation at Redondo Riviera

Compile a list of all your missing assignments and complete them, regardless of whether you can still get credit for them. Most of the time, the assignments you’ve skipped wind up being the subjects on which you require the most review, and even if there are no points to be reclaimed (often, especially if you communicate with your teacher beforehand, there will be), making them up will help you anyway.

Take note of all your lowest exam scores and re-study for those tests. Similar to the first tip, even if you won’t be able to retake any of them, reviewing for the exams on which you struggled most is a way of covering the material you are most likely to struggle with on the final.  

Make Cornell notes from your textbook. They’re a way to absorb the material more deeply, and to think about the “Why” and “How” questions—i.e., to critically think—while reviewing the factual material as well. If you don’t know how to take Cornell notes, or if it’s been a while, you can review with this guide.

Reread the chapters you found the hardest to understand. Students are frequently surprised at how easily the topic comes together the second time they go through it, especially if it’s been a while since they covered it.

Hopefully you see the common theme here: if you want to be fresh and in as strong a place as possible heading into finals, you should first turn to your weak spots. Break is a great time to iron them out.  Feel free to call our office anytime – we’ll be open all break helping kids get ready for their semester finals!

Redondo Riviera

310-540-5888

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