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Summer Study Skills

August 1st, 2012

It’s summer time! The much anticipated vacation time, where school becomes a distant memory, and the beach and the sun the relevant priority! While vacation time is extremely important in rejuvenating the academic soul, a total abandonment of study and study skill practice can prove harmful when the first day of school arrives. Over the summer, it is highly recommended that a basic study routine be established to keep up the academic brain. If you know you have a difficult subject encroaching the following school year such as chemistry or physics, setting a designated time aside each day to familiarize yourself with the content before class actually begins can give you a head start when school begins. Here at Study Hut we can help you maintain and continue developing your study skills through individual one on one sessions where one of our expert tutors can help design an introductory approach to any academic subject that will be taken the following school year. Summer time is also an excellent time to brush up on literacy skills, especially for those in the younger academic grades. Regular scheduled reading, as well as vocabulary cards, created to memorize and understand newly introduced Summer relaxation is important in maintaining a healthy balance in the pursuit of rigorous academic endeavors, however, it’s important to always keep the study mindset sharp!

Reading comprehension Tutoring at Study Hut Tutoring

July 26th, 2012

It’s summer, and most kids cringe at the thought of spending their carefree days
in tutoring. However, a few hours here and there can help students stay sharp and
get one prepared for the coming year. This is especially true when it comes to reading
comprehension.

We live in a digital age, and many kids think anything over 140 characters seems
needlessly detailed. But reading comprehension is a skill that influences performance
in nearly every other subject. If your child is scoring low, it’s an issue better addressed
sooner than later.

We offer multiple approaches to reading comprehension for kids of all ages. Subjects/
topics include:

Identifying the main idea

Summarizing articles and passages

Paraphrasing

Making inferences and identifying faulty logic

Identifying unknown words and expanding vocabulary

Formulating summaries and responses

We have age-appropriate materials and can work with students of all levels.

Reading comprehension is important at all levels of schooling, but there are a few critical
ages to keep in mind. If your student is going into middle school or high school next year,
both curriculum and expectations are about to change dramatically.

It’s one thing to parrot the main points of an article, book or essay, but it’s quite another
to internalize and think critically about the material. Around middle school, essays
become as much about content as form, and your student will be consistently tested on
their ability to respond to a text in their own voice. Now is the time to prepare them for
that.

Call to schedule a session, and you’ll see the difference it makes to have an experienced
tutor working one-on-one with your student. Who knows – maybe they’ll even start
bringing current event articles to the dinner table or chatting with dad about The Great
Gatsby while they play Xbox. Dare to dream…

How to conquer the ROK

May 24th, 2012

Studying for any test all begins with organization. Compiling all your notes, classwork, homework, quizzes, etc into one concise organized study guide is a great way to start! You want to make sure to keep everything as tidy and ready to find as possible in a logical order in your notebook. Then when it comes time to start studying you won’t have to freak out! Pull all the vital information from all your resources and compile them into your study guide. Keep this as neat as possible as well and in a logical order. Outline form works great, separating material into separate sections in each chapter. Make flashcards for all important terms, people, dates an other key facts and review daily!

Preparation is also key. Make sure to start preparing at least 2 weeks before the test. Even studying for half an hour each day will help you be prepared by test day. Make flashcards each week and review your notes each day. As the test gets closer and closer get a game plan together of when, how long and what you will study each day. For example, what sections you will take notes on, create a part of your study guide for, and make flashcards. Never wait until a day or two before the test to start your reviewing and studying! Cramming will not be effective and will leave your brain overwhelmed.

Studying in groups by quizzing each other is also very effective. Once everyone has a good grasp on the material, get together with a few friends and quiz each other on the info. This will get your brain thinking in different ways and really test to see if you know the information. Anything you are rusty on, go back to the book and review the concepts, take notes, and answer the question you missed. Review, review, review in an organized fashion, make study guides, and prepare early! You will be in a spot to conquer the Rucker Rok!

New Study Hut Location In Newport Beach

April 11th, 2012
Call Us: (949) 226-1573

Attention! Study Hut Tutoring is now offering local one on one tutoring to High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Students in Newport Beach. We offer subject tutoring, test prep (SAT) (ACT) and College Admissions Packages.

We are open Monday through Thursday from 3:30pm to 8:30pm and Sunday by appointment only.

Our tutors are fresh out of college and we connect well with the kids. From your stressed out AP athlete, to your unenthused 5th grader, our staff tailors each hour of tutoring to meet your needs. We are enthusiastic and passionate about tutoring– this culture sets us apart. Come check out the cool vibe at the Hut!

For any questions please contact Sean Patrick

Phone: (949) 226-1573

Email: SP@studyhut.com

Or use the form on the right. Thanks!

El Segundo Tutoring spreads its Wings

April 6th, 2012

Today, two bright-eyed and bushy tailed owners, actually, we had some scruffy scraggles left on the face from Spring Breaking, and it was pretty early at 6am so we weren’t too bright eyed, embarked on a journey to have breakfast. Our Destination: the Hacienda Hotel. Our reason: to join the elite do-gooders of El Segundo for their 45th annual Mayor’s Breakfast. 100% of the proceeds will be going to benefit the El Segundo Teen Center and the El Segundo Ed foundation. The El Segundo Rotary Club makes this all possible, among others. It was a quite a treat if I dont say so myself. I had pancakes, bacon, hashbrown cakes with lox, and coffee, with chocolate creamer. It was heart-stopping. We heard a motivational speaker, and listening to him made we almost want to put down my fork and head to the gym. Apart from the food, we met some wonderful individuals. We met the heads of the local churches and school board, and they were thrilled to meet some fellow educators who were also passionate about El Segundo middle school tutors. They quickly acknowledged that tutoring in El Segundo was something that was recognized as fruitful and important. El Segundo high school students need tutoring in chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry and specific training in preparation for the SAT tests. Moms and dads in El Segundo were encouraged to know that Study Hut Tutoring provides a reliable and local tutoring service to the students at both El Segundo Middle School and El Segundo High School. Parents were eager to send their students to Study Hut tutoring for chemistry tutoring because they know how tough that class is, and how difficult the college application process can be with a low mark in that class.

Live From 205 Commerical for Study Hut

March 13th, 2012

This awesome commercial was filmed by students from Palos Verdes High School in the broadcast journalism department. The commercial aired for the first time across campus this week during the Live From 205 news. Live From 205 is a nationally recognized broadcast journalism program, and Study Hut is proud to have been involved in this effort. Congrats to Live From 205 for all of your hard work, and thanks for highlighting our tutoring office in the Redondo Beach Riviera. Check it out:

Test Prep at the Hut

February 16th, 2012

As a new test-prep tutor for Study Hut, I have learned loads of information about the SAT, ISEE, and HSPT. I was surprised to find that, despite the differences in the exams, the overall study technique was very similar and ultimately comes down to one word – strategy.

This reminded me of my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Green. She told my class that she was SO good at taking tests that she could take a multiple choice test on any subject and still get most of the answers correct. At the time, I thought she was crazy – or maybe just really smart. What I have come to learn while working at Study Hut is that any test, whether for school or the SAT, has two different parts to it: the information it covers and the specific way that you put that information on the test. Failing to recognize this often makes the difference between an A and a B, or several hundred points on the SAT.

During my first test-prep tutoring session, my student seemed very stressed out about the ISEE test he was only a month away from taking. We were reviewing vocabulary words, many of which he had never even seen before. Becoming very concerned, he asked me: “How can I EVER remember all of this information?” I told him not to worry and that, by the end of our session, he would be able to figure out the meaning of at least half of the words he had never even seen before. Now, he thought I was crazy. He only had three weeks until the test and his parents had chosen Study Hut to provide that extra special test-prep service that only Study Hut can provide. Now, it was my job to show him the first important strategy to use when studying vocabulary words. While that’s not a secret I can reveal now, let’s just say that by the end of our two-hour one-on-one session, he not only knew most of the word meanings, but also answered 14/15 correctly on a practice quiz directly afterward.

Best tutor ever

February 9th, 2012

Here at the Studyhut we couldn’t possibly be more proud of one of our tutors Taylor More. Taylor graduated from his university with high honors and cum laude status in his class. Taylor’s focus in college was history but his academic grasp spans most disciplines including upper level math and sciences. Taylor’s patience and ability to explain topics clearly and succinctly are truly some of his most valued skills. Taylor is not only a tutor here at Studyhut but also handles many of the managerial tasks at the hut as well. In his free time, Taylor enjoys unwinding on the golf course by fitting in a quick game of nine holes when he can or even just spending time at the driving range. He is a joy to have as a coworker not only because of his qualifications but also due the fact that he is truly a stand-up good guy. He has made an influence on most of the tutors here at the Studyhut and we all strive to be more like him in the work place. Taylor, we’re all proud of you and keep up the good work!

Now that finals are OVER, a Few Musts:

January 30th, 2012

It’s a happy time of year, that time of year where you can finally relax and say to yourself, “At least I’m done with finals.” Hopefully you all did well, and if not, take solace in the fact that you made the effort to do well- by coming in to tutoring and studying hard. So give yourself a pat on the back.

This time of year also presents itself with a fresh start. Everybody inevitably finds themselves playing catch-up during the semester, but you can minimize the level of catch-up by making an effort to plan your studies more and doing a little everyday, rather than procrastinate and cram. So take this opportunity to start fresh with your tutor as well. Keep your planner updated and make a thorough game-plan as to how you’re going to study for your various tests. Hold yourself accountable to get what you need to get done before going out or playing video games. We all know the pleasure from those little things is no where close to the stress you feel when you have a chemistry test and you’ve forgotten what a nucleus is.

The message is this: whether you’re in middle school, high school, or college, the method to doing well in your classes is the same. It all comes down to a daily balance. Yes, a balance, between work, school, and personal time. To succeed in the school part, you have to balance it, not cram it, and make sure you save time for yourself in the process, because no one can ONLY work or study.

So grab this opportunity by the reigns, follow your planner, and use your tutor as a resource and guide to both success, and having a good time.

Finals can be stressful

January 18th, 2012

Finals are the most stressful and overwhelming time of each semester. It was hard enough studying for each test the last couple of months, but how are you supposed to study for a test in every class covering everything you have learned! It’s a tall task, but it is manageable with the right tools and preparation. The tutors at the Study Hut are ready to arm you with the weapons necessary to conquer the dreaded week.

Probably the most important key to studying for finals is budgeting time. You have to have realistic expectations for each class and weigh the pros and cons of time spent studying for each class. If I have a C+ in math and need to nail my final to get a B, I’ll put more time into that class than in English which comes easy to me and I have a solid A. Once you decide how important each final is, now you have to make sure you set time aside for each, and work both diligently, and effectively.

A second key to studying for finals is simply knowing WHAT to study. Believe it or not, finals are usually far easier than the individual chapter tests. This is because on the final, the teacher is going to test the big concepts from each section, not the nitty gritty details like those tested in a chapter test. With the help of your Study Hut tutor, you can go through your old tests and assignments and realistically pick and choose what you must dedicate more time to studying.

So remember: Don’t panic, stay organized, take your tutors advice, and study diligently. Good things will come. Best of luck to you all.