July 17th, 2011
The biggest misconception about the SAT is that it directly measures intelligence. Many students choose not to study for it because they believe their intellectual capacity is enough to earn the score they want. In reality, the SAT is a better indicator of how well the students have prepared than how smart they are. Getting a high score requires both mastery of the material and knowledge of the test taking strategies.
There is a wide range of material students have to know. The math section deals with many topics including, numbers and operations, algebra I and II, geometry, data analysis, statistics, and probability. The critical reading section requires students to be fast and active readers and have good comprehension and an extensive vocabulary. The writing section is graded on a very specific rubric. Students can learn exactly what is needed to satisfy each requirement on the rubric and earn a high score without being particularly good writers. Needles to say, a fair amount of studying is necessary to become proficient in all this material.
The SAT is a unique test and therefore demands unique test taking strategies. The score on each section of the test can be maximized using certain tricks and strategies. Knowing when and when not to guess, for instance, is a very important skill. As with the material, the test taking strategies are very teachable.
Tags: SAT, SAT test, SAT tutoring
Posted in 9-12, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Redondo Beach, SAT, Test taking anxiety, Testing, West Torrance |
No Comments
July 6th, 2011
When it comes to studying for finals, organization is key. More likely than not, you’re going to be studying for multiple exams, and will have to devote time to all of them. So, set up a schedule. This schedule should be made AT LEAST 3 weeks in advance (you should have some idea of what will be on the test by then. And once you make that schedule, stick to it! Make sure that you’ve penciled in ample time for each subject, reserving more time for the subjects that need it. Let’s face it, you’ll need to study more for that class you have a C in than the one you’re acing.
Now that you’ve got you’re time scheduled, the question is “How do I study for this?” Going through the text, and reading your notes helps a LOT, but one of the most importance study resources is going to be something you probably won’t want to revisit: OLD TESTS! Remember, the people writing these finals are the same people who wrote those tests. They are excellent guides for what to expect on the final. Look through them. What did you get wrong? What did you get right? Review the questions (some of them may even be repeated on the final), and try to get a feel for what might appear on the final exam. But remember, the tests can’t be your only resource; you DO have to review your notes and reading assignments.
And finally, get yourself in the right state of mind. Get a good night sleep the night before. 15 minutes before the tests, stop all studying and relax. If you don’t know it by then, you don’t know it. What’s important is to be calm, collected, and focused. You can’t do that if you’re using the last bit of time to memorize 3 weeks worth of notes. So, schedule, review, relax, and good luck!
Tags: summer school tutor, Summer school tutoring, summer school tutors
Posted in 9-12, high school, Summer Tutoring, Testing |
No Comments
July 6th, 2011
SP here. I am really looking forward to my lunch meeting today with all of the rad teachers from the Palos Verdes High School AVID program. Each year during the summer, these awesome teachers (Egan, Whalen, Morales) get together to reflect on the past year. They ask questions like:
What went right?
What could we have done better?
What activities to we need to make more room for?
Which activities and ideas could be eliminated all together?
Certainly the questions and ideas that get bounced around go
much more in depth than these “Level 1” questions (some students are snickering at this), but in actuality, sometimes it is just this casual approach that gets us to the gems.
We are all working together to make sure that the AVID experience is excellent for all students at all levels. We need to make sure that we are meeting the statewide expectations for the program and the curriculum, and we also need to make sure that the goals we set for the students are achieved, and that the activities we decide on and the curriculum we endorse has a direct, positive impact on those goals. Most importantly, we are all looking forward to another amazing AVID year come Fall.
Tags: Palos Verdes AVID, Palos Verdes High School, PV AVID, pv high, PV High AVID
Posted in 6-8, 9-12, General Articles, high school, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Positive Vibes, Summer Tutoring, team building, Tutors |
No Comments
June 16th, 2011
I’ve been a member of the Study Hut team for many years and we do many exciting events, get-
togethers and soirees that help to enhance the overall experience at the Hut. Over the years I remember
several different bonding experiences that aid in the development of relationships at the Hut which
in turn increases students and faculty overall moral. Tie day, Hat day, Ugly sweatshirt parties, Cinco
de Mayo extravaganzas and Cancer walks are just some of the things we do at the Hut to increase the
dynamics and overall flow in the Study Hut community.
All of this interaction allows us to develop the appropriate environment we wish to have at
the Study Hut. We attempt to make the environment at our locations loquacious and positive thus
inundating the students with the vibes necessary for an appropriate learning environment. I happen
to also work at the Sylvan Learning Center once or twice a week and they lack in this area because
the environment at the location I work at is monotonous and mundane which makes learning less
appetizing for all students. They claim that Sylvan is boring and students dislike attending their tutoring
appointments which is far different from the reactions we get at the Hut. We feel that allowing the
tutors and students the chance to interact inside and outside the tutoring environment helps to
separate us from the other corporate tutoring centers.
Study Hut tutors and students tend to get along really well and all of the activities and fun things
we do really help to solidify these relationships. I have become friends with some of the students I’ve
tutored over the years and one in particular I can think of I’ve been tutoring for over four years and
helped him recently get into The University of Arizona and we’re stoked about his accomplishments!
Tags: study hut community, Study hut team, The Study Hut
Posted in 9-12, Manhattan Beach, Positive Vibes, Self esteem, team building, Tutors |
No Comments
June 15th, 2011
This Summer, Study Hut will be offering an Algebra 2 Prep class from 8/1 to 8/25 for those students who need to strengthen their required math skills. The Classes will be 2 hours long, 2 times a week and are designed to prepare students for success at the next level. The first section will be a review of Algebra I, followed by a complete overview of Algebra 2.
This course will make Algebra 2 a manageable subject for all who attend. Algebra 2 continues students’ study of advanced algebraic concepts including functions, polynomials, rational expressions, systems of functions and inequalities, and matrices. Students will be expected to describe and translate among graphic, algebraic, numeric, tabular, and verbal representations of relations and use those representations to solve problems.
Research shows that students who earn a C or better in Algebra 2 perform better on college entrance exams, are less likely to need remedial college courses, and are more likely to earn a four-year college degree.
Leave high school prepared for college and career success, prepare to take and do well in college-level classes, unlock your full mathematical potential.
If you are interested in enrolling in one of these sessions contact us by phone at 310-540-5888 or by email justin@studyhut.com.
Tags: A tutor, A tutoring, A tutors, academic success, academic successes, confidence has soared, el segudno math tutor, el segundo math tutoring, good tutor, good tutoring, good tutors, grades up, hermosa math tutor, hermosa math tutoring, hermosa valley math tutor, hermosa valley math tutoring, Hut's Success, improvement through tutoring, manhattan beach math tutor, manhattan beach math tutoring, math tutor, Math tutoring, palos verdes math tutor, palos verdes math tutoring, PV Math tutor, PV math tutoring, redondo beach math tutor, redondo beach math tutoring, redondo math tutor, redondo math tutoring, south bay math tutoring, staying focused, student success, Successful tutor, successful tutoring, successful tutors, Torrance Math tutor, Torrance math tutoring, tutor, tutor success, Tutoring, tutoring success, tutoring successes, Tutors
Posted in 9-12, Algebra 2 |
No Comments
June 14th, 2011
Last weekend Study Hut held its 2nd free tutoring seminar at West High and Redondo Union High School. For two hours after school last Friday, and for three hours on Saturday, Study Hut was on campus for free group tutoring coordinated with school administrators. Over one hundred students from West and over 50 from Redondo came to receive free tutoring with highly specialized tutors. The students were separated into group by school subjects, ranging the whole high school academic spectrum from geometry to U.S. History; where one to two Study Hut Tutors prepared them for the upcoming finals. Last time was such a success that teachers at West High rewarded students with extra credit for attending both days. The best part of the whole event was the great attitude of all the students who came. They were all eager to receive the help and get the most they could before the all important finals. We at The Hut would like to thank the helpful staff of both West High and RUHS, our great tutors for their effort, and the all students who came down to make this another great experience.
Tags: extra credit, finals, finals tutoring, free tutoring, high school, high school tutoring, Redondo Beach, redondo high school tutor, study Hut, Study Hut Tutoring, Torrance tutoring, Tutoring, west, west high, west high school
Posted in 9-12, AP US History, high school, Learning, Redondo Beach, Self esteem, South Bay, study skills, Teaching, Testing, Tutors, West Torrance |
No Comments
June 14th, 2011
When I’m not tutoring at Study Hut in Manhattan Beach, I like to volunteer my time as a baseball coach at Westchester Babe Ruth. I see a lot of similarities to coaching and tutoring. One of the most important aspects to both is being able to relate to players and students. I was never very receptive to the old, over the hill baseball coaches because it’s hard to relate to them. Besides baseball, there’s not too much we have in common and it’s very hard to build a rapport with them. I feel the same can be said with tutoring, because I’m not too far removed from high school its a lot easier for the other tutors and me to relate to the students. When you are in a comfortable environment, it just provides a solid learning experience. Another very interesting relationship is the amount of work both students and baseball players put into their respective fields. No one is born an All Star or brainiac, it takes a lot of effort and hard work. The best players on the field and the best students in the classroom share a common characteristic and that’s work ethic. The ones that put the extra effort in more often than not are the ones who excel in sports or school. One thing I try to stress to my students from Mira Costa and Manhattan Beach Middles School is that they should never sacrifice their schoolwork for sports. A few of my high school students think that just because they play sports they can just cruise through high school. This is most definitely not the case. If they have ambitions to play collegiate they first must have the grades to get in college, and they will also need strong study skills. Road games in college drag student athletes out of classes for days if not weeks. If they haven’t established strong study skills in high school, they are doomed in college. Luckily the student athletes have a resource like Study Hut at their finger tips, and can learn the skills to succeed in the classroom.
Tags: High school tutor, high school tutoring, high school tutors, manhatta beach middle school tutor, Manhattan Beach Middle School tutor, manhattan beach middle school tutoring, manhattan beach tutor, manhattan beach tutoring, manhattan beach tutors, mb tutor, mb tutoring, mb tutors, mira costa tutor, Mira Costa tutoring, Mira Costa Tutors, study hut tutor, Study Hut tutors
Posted in 6-8, 9-12, Learning, Manhattan Beach |
No Comments
June 13th, 2011
Here at Study Hut, we’re more than just good tutors: we pride ourselves on being good human beings! After all, the same qualities that make a good teacher–passion, care, dedication, responsibility–also make a good person. That’s why I thought it was perfectly fitting that Study Hut participated in and had a team at last Saturday’s Relay for Life event in Manhattan Beach.
It was truly impressive to see my coworkers stay late and long after work in order to plan out team activities, and even more admirable to see them put in all the extra hours needed to fundraise for the American Cancer Society. After a long day of leading SAT prep, correcting Chemistry and Trig problems, and editing students’ essays, a box of whole grain crackers and a jar of natural peanut butter practically beg you to their side; however, my fellow tutors met up at 10 PM to figure out how we could raise money for such a worthy cause, and then took their usual day off to put on a car wash at Mira Costa High School. I was so proud of them for working to make a difference!
Because here at Study Hut, we are well-versed in the science of cancer: we pride ourselves on knowing and teaching biology, AP Chemistry, psychology, and anatomy. But we cannot know or explain the actual experience of having cancer. Instead, we can come together to support our community, whether in Manhattan Beach, the greater Southbay, or the nation as a whole, of cancer survivors and help fund research that will ease or prevent future suffering. I’m glad Study Hut got the chance to prove that it doesn’t just have the best tutors–it has the best people!
Tags: ap chemistry tutoring, Biology tutor, Biology tutoring, biology tutors, south bay tutor, South Bay tutoring, South Bay tutors, Southbay tutor, southbay tutoring, southbay tutors, teaching biology, tutor AP chemistry, tutor biology
Posted in Uncategorized |
No Comments
June 10th, 2011
Finals Week at The Study Hut!
Finals week is here and the tutors of Study Hut have been very busy gearing students for success on their final exams. Students will be in-and-out for the next few weeks starting with Palos Verdes High School’s finals, then Redondo Union High School, Torrance High School, and finishing up with Mira Costa High School.
Palos Verdes High School students were the first out of the gate and the first to finish for summer. Students from PV High have been intensely focused on their exams over the past week, some students scheduled 5+ hour study sessions. Tutors have been called on to teach all areas of subject matter, but it was mostly the higher end math and science classes that were the main focuses for these High School students. Students studied courses such as, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Biology, Marine Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, as well as Spanish and English.
It’s these higher classes that require more attention and time, and for the college bound students, college will only be an extension of what they are learning today. The more they are prepared today the less stress they will feel tomorrow.
Study Hut tutors help structure their students plans for success by giving the students the tools they need to succeed. Dedicated study times in one-on-one sessions can me very helpful and will show returns in better grades. Now that Palos Verdes High School has there finals out of the way the students can relax for summer and the Study Hut team can gear up for the next batch of successful students.
Tags: A tutor, A tutoring, A tutors, academic success, academic successes, confidence has soared, el segudno math tutor, el segundo math tutoring, good tutor, good tutoring, good tutors, grades up, hermosa math tutor, hermosa math tutoring, hermosa valley math tutor, hermosa valley math tutoring, Hut's Success, improvement through tutoring, manhattan beach math tutor, manhattan beach math tutoring, math tutor, Math tutoring, palos verdes math tutor, palos verdes math tutoring, PV Math tutor, PV math tutoring, redondo beach math tutor, redondo beach math tutoring, redondo math tutor, redondo math tutoring, south bay math tutoring, staying focused, student success, Successful tutor, successful tutoring, successful tutors, Torrance Math tutor, Torrance math tutoring, tutor, tutor success, Tutoring, tutoring success, tutoring successes, Tutors
Posted in high school, Palos Verdes, Peninsula |
No Comments
June 7th, 2011
If pushed to describe the biggest change I have seen at the Study Hut from A year ago to today, I think I could some it up in one word: Organization. There is a fancy new scheduling system and absolutely no confusion when a student comes in; the managers know exactly where the students are going and when they are going to be here. Of course I may not be in the inner circle, but it certainly seems there are no mishaps or surprises, at least on the staff side of The Hut.
Of course this wouldn’t be any sort of claim if the Study Hut had many less students than it did before, but this couldn’t be farther from the case. The Hut is BOOMING right now, with more students and Tutors than ever before, and the space to accommodate all of them. I’ve tutored kids from Palos Verdes High, Peninsula High, West Torrance High, and know a few students from my alma mater, Chadwick High School. All in all there has been incredible expansion, and all without making any compromises and concessions, but rather with an impressive
The Study Hut is more streamlined than ever. The hitches that face many young enterprises are all but forgotten, with near seamless scheduling and communication between tutors, supervisors, students, and parents alike. Students are learning and excelling academically more than ever with one-on-one tutors who are more than qualified, with many, if not most, of my peers in graduate programs and experts in more than one field of study. To top it all off, the fun, energetic, friendly core of Study Hut that I grew to love a year ago is itself booming. The tutors love their students and the students their tutors. People are learning, and having fun doing it. Rather than pressure students with the threat of grades or financial success, students here focus on their academics because they are working with tutors whose opinions the students genuinely care about. I feel very grateful and proud to once again be associated with the Study Hut name!
Tags: Palos Verdes, Peninsula tutoring, study Hut, Tutoring, West Torrance High School
Posted in 6-8, 9-12, General Articles, high school, Learning, life skills, Manhattan Beach, math, middle school, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, study skills, Teaching |
No Comments
