Study Hut is the best place to work for so many reasons. I could go on and on forever about my passion for tutoring and how much I love our big fridge, but what I really want to talk about is the murder mystery party we recently threw. We each were assigned a character and I was naturally Baroness. We all got packets telling us who we were, how to act, and who we hated. Naturally, I hated everyone. I had a great time dressing in a mink coat and talking in an accent that was meant to be British but sounded Chinese. We transformed our little study hut into a full on speak easy with dim lights and fancy shmancy drinks. Here at Study Hut, we all love each other very dearly, which in my opinion gets a little old. I was nice to be able to finally express my true feelings which are that I can’t wait to kill Roxanne, I hate Rob’s guts, and that Kady (my daughter) is suuuuper annoying. Despite my efforts to kill Roxanne, I somehow ended up dying from an ice pick…never thought that would be how I would go. Our manager Sam did an amazing job planning the party (as usual), and really brought the group together (to kill each other). It was nice to finally meet some of the people from the Redondo Study Hut. The manager from Hut 2 even ended up playing my husband! His character was professor Nutella, which couldn’t be more suiting for me (Nutella=heaven). Despite myself (The one and only Baroness) wanting to kill every person that I work with, by the end of the night I found myself feeling even closer to my co-workers than I did before. It’s just one more reason why Study Hut is the best place I have ever worked.
Manhattan Beach Tutoring: On and Off the dance floor
April 9th, 2012Why Study Hut is Awesome and Every Other Place is Awful by Comparison
March 20th, 2012Let me begin by saying that Study Hut is awesome, and every other place is awful by comparison. There. That’s out of the way. Although this fact is nearly indisputable, I know some of you might be unconvinced. You might be saying to yourself, “Self, how do I KNOW that the Study Hut is the pinnacle of the tutoring world? How can I be SURE that it is, indeed, the apex of educational awesomeness?” To you, the doubter, I say to look at the evidence.
Part of the reason that Study Hut works is that it is NOT school. Kids aren’t sitting in classrooms, with 30 other kids, being taught en masse. They are being given one-on-one attention, with a tutor who knows them and works with them on a regular basis. They are able to specifically target the problem areas, and focus on what they REALLY need help on. And they can do all of this in an extremely comfortable atmosphere. If you’ve ever walked into the Hut, then you know what I mean. This is not a stodgy atmosphere. It’s a place where kids can come, decompress, study, but still have a bit of fun. We’ve got floor competitions, a candy drawer and the occasional flying bottle cap. It’s an atmosphere where kids can come in to learn, but feel free of the crushing pressure that can come of a strict school atmosphere.
The other thing that makes the Hut work is the tutors. Our tutors here are AMAZING. We’ve got so many different types of people, who know so many different types of things, that I’ve never seen a student walk out of here with a question unanswered. They’re friendly, knowledgeable, and know EXACTLY what their students are going through, because they’ve been there (recently, in most cases). We know our students names, their strengths and weaknesses, and are able to tutor in a way specific to each kid’s needs. Compare that to a place where kids have a different tutor every week in a crowded, strict atmosphere, and tell me which ones better.
I know that the Study Hut is a great place to work, and an AMAZING place to study. Stop in, and you can see for yourself.
Second Semester
March 5th, 2012The second semester can be an excellent time for a fresh start in any subject
area, however it’s also the time to build upon the knowledge learned from first
semester courses! Many subject areas, particularly the higher level subjects
such as chemistry, get more in depth during the second semester, and it becomes
imperative to recollect the knowledge you have already learned. Study Hut tutoring
offers one on one tutoring sessions that not only address the weekly assignments
and academic standards covered in a course, but also focus on reviewing key
concepts that students must practice in order to keep up with the new lessons
introduced daily! Flashcards and review quizzes are part of every tutoring session.
Flashcards are imperative in the process of helping students remember content,
and reviewing it before the big exams is an instrumental part in success. Subject
areas like Chemistry are filled with difficult vocabulary and formulas. Making
and retaining flash cards for review purposes helps students not only learn
new content but also helps them review previously learned content, that will be
needed in order to understand new material. Flash cards at Study Hut tutoring
are a daily ritual in many tutoring sessions that require the mastery of difficult
content, and the key to success in content areas such as Chemistry and Physics
where memorization of heavy academic content is a must! Review quizzes are
also a crucial tutoring strategy utilized at Study Hut tutoring to help students build
upon their foundational knowledge of an academic subject. Review quizzes are
tutor generated quizzes that draw upon newly learned content as well as past key
concepts in an intricate manner that begs the student to use their knowledge base to
connect between their acquired knowledge and newly introduced content. Review
quizzes not only provide practice with content but also help students connect the
dots in their academic study area in a profound manner that makes the entire
subject area clearer in comprehension!
Finals can be stressful
January 18th, 2012Finals 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.
No Wonder Students Like our Tutors at Study Hut Tutoring
January 12th, 2012Adding an extra year to the original high school requirements is unnecessary for students. Although education is important to succeed in life, forcing students to attend an extra year of school does not guarantee that it will be beneficial. Instead of pushing for students to spend more time in school, they should be preparing for what they are going to be doing in their future. In other countries, students already know what they are going to pursue as a career when going into their fourth year of school. They spend the majority of the year preparing and getting accustomed to what they will be doing in the future. If these students had to attend another year of school, it would delay plans that they already have, and keep them from achieving what they want. Some students already know that going to college will not be an option for them. In Wisconsin, many teens will be taking over their parent’s farms or businesses. Attending an extra year of school is not necessary for the profession they will be going into, therefore it would just be a waste of time. I personally feel that attending another year of school would not be helpful, because students would not be motivated to attend or pay attention while they are in class. High school initially feels like it goes on forever, with an extra year of classes to attend, students could lose interest and not take academics as seriously as they did the first four years. If this results in a drop of a student’s GPA it could ruin their chances of getting into a college they could have originally attended. I believe that making high school five years, instead of the initial four, is unnecessary. Going to another year of school in retrospect might sound like a good idea at first, but in reality it is not beneficial for all students.
Learning from Poor grades
December 19th, 2011When it comes to being a student, whether in the Manhattan Beach area or not, there are several different types. Some love to read, some are good at history, most hate math. However aside from the specific likes and dislikes particular to each individual student, the ideas encapsulated by the notion of an “effective student” have very little to do with what someone is good at or how much they like math. More importantly what it takes to become a good student has more to do with the outlook and strategy that a student takes when approaching school.
Here at the Study Hut in Manhattan Beach we get to witness this diversity in students and come to see some of the constants associated with those students who are doing well. Take for example failure, an inevitable hurtle in life which can lead to frustration and depression. However this is where the difference between students comes into play. Because although getting a bad grade is not something good, a good student can take this instance and learn from it. Whether it’s getting a better idea of personal strengths and weaknesses in order to attack the weaknesses, or using a bad grade to motivate one to get much better grades and try harder, these are all habits of highly effective students. Upon receiving a bad grade or one that is displeasing, an effective student should then go and make flashcards for 20-30 minutes for the coming chapter’s material. An effective student tries as much as they can to do reading for class before the class, a scientifically supported study strategy which cuts down on overall study time and increases retention of knowledge much longer than last minute cramming. Having a consistent and habitual study plan is a proven way to increase grades and make sure that one is reaching the potentials that everyone has within themselves.
However figuring out where to start can often be a overwhelming task, and without persistent reinforcement of that plan, even a great plan can lead to mediocre success. Luckily one of the most important tenets of the Study Hut of Manhattan Beach is the implementation and perfection of a study plan, along with holding students accountable for doing their work on time, and doing the adequate amount of practice which some skills require. Without a doubt everyone needs help sometimes, and those that don’t receive that help can often fall behind, especially in a fast paced class such as honors or AP courses. Therefore aside from the help given by our fantastic tutors on the material of a class, we strive to implement and tailor effective study habits customized to each individual student, so that every student has the chance to work at or above their potential.
Why Do I Have to Know This?
December 1st, 2011I’ve been tutoring for a while now. Before coming to the Study Hut, I
worked as a private tutor and substitute teacher in New Jersey for
about 4 years. During that time, there was one question I was asked
over and over again. It had nothing to do with sines or cosines. It
had no relation to bicameral legislature. And it bared no resemblance
to anything in chemistry. The question was a simple one: WHY DO I HAVE
TO KNOW THIS?!
And parents, let’s be fair; we’ve ALL asked this in the past. We’ve
all experience the study session where we have to answer 14 questions
relating to alternate interior angles, and we couldn’t think of a
single instance when we’d use the information in real life. We were
usually given the same excuses as well:
-“Maybe you’ll have a job with a lot of math.”
-“You’ll need to know it to get into college.”
-“You need to know it because it’s ON THE TEST.”
-“Because I said so.”
All valid. All true. But none of these speak to the average Manhattan
Beach student. And, let’s face it, how often DO you use trigonometry
and chemistry in your real life? (Engineers and doctors, put your
hands down, I was being rhetorical.)
This is how I try to explain the value of education to my students:
When you go to the gym, you do pushups. Are you doing this because of
how often you push yourself up in real life? No. You do it because it
trains your body, and allows it to do other physical activities when
you need to. It makes your body strong. And to get strong, your body
needs to do a variety of exercises. Just doing pushups wont cut it.
It’s the same thing with your mind. You’re not going through Trig and
Chem and Bio and History because of how often you’ll use them in real
life. You’re taking these classes in order to TRAIN YOUR MIND HOW TO
THINK. You’re making your mind strong, so that, later in life, it will
be ready for when you really need it. By studying so many different
subjects, you’re practicing the fine arts of thinking analytically and
critically, which is beyond important in any career.
Plus, memorizing the state capitals is a great trick at parties.
Study Tips and Strategies from Study Hut Tutoring
November 8th, 2011While the key to doing well on any exam at Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Middle School, Pacific School or American Martyrs school is to conceptually understand the material backwards and forwards, there are some tips you can employ to give you
an edge and make your time spent studying as efficient and effective as possible.
What kind of learner are you? Everyone is different in the way they learn and
absorb information so its best to identify what kind of learner you are when
deciding on what study strategies to use.
Cramming doesn’t pay! Don’t wait until the night before a test to review all your
materials. Space out your studying up to several days or weeks before your exam
which will keep you from getting overwhelmed and increase the likelihood you will
understand and recall the information you need to.
See, Write, Say! – Experts maintain that your chances of recalling information
increases greatly when you look at a given piece of information, write it out again in
your own words or way, and then say it aloud to yourself.
Summarize information, concepts, and big picture ideas in concise charts, graphs,
or outlines. This will make the information easier to recall and extrapolate upon to
answer critical thinking type questions.
Study actively! It is best to study during daylight hours. Don’t study in your bed to
avoid being tempted to fall asleep. Also ask yourself questions as you go through the
material to keep yourself actively engaged in the material at hand.
Avoid distractions! Find a place away from things you’re easily distracted by. A quiet
room away from the computer, television, and disruptive friends or siblings is an
ideal study location. Sometimes music such as jazz or classical may help keep you
more interested and stimulated if complete silence is unappealing to you.
Take a break! It’s good to periodically take a short break from long periods of
studying. Get up and walk around to get your blood flowing or go and make yourself
a nutritious snack. Your brain may only account for 2% of your overall bodyweight,
but it consumes 20% of your calorie intake. While studying, this figure can increase
to nearly 40%! Snacks rich in nutrients such as nuts or fruits are great to munch on
while studying to keep your brain working at full capacity.
Staying on task
October 31st, 2011Here at Study Hut in Manhattan Beach, we know that there’s more to academic success than simply knowing the material. Organizational skills and general study tricks are perhaps the most important “subjects” we teach, because without them it’s difficult to stay on top of the ever-growing workload of high school.
We, the super smart and super awesome tutors of Study hut, develop customized study plans for every student that walks through our doors, based on their own habits and personalities. However, here are a few basic strategies that can work for anyone who’s having troubles with procrastination (read: everyone).
1. Designate Goof Off Time
Nobody is a machine. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to find a subject that you love so much that homework is actually fun (yay physics!)
However, a lot of the time you’re going to have to deal with subjects that you straight up don’t like. And that’s alright! However, there’s a physical limit to how much loathsome boredom a human can take before they get distracted and goof off.
And that’s alright, too!
The trick is to actually portion off part of your day to goof off – that can mean facebook, video games, TV, or whatever else.
These things are fine in small quantities, and they make your life more fun! So give yourself over to them, but for a set period that you’ve planned for ahead of time.
The other way – checking facebook every time you feel like it during your problem sets – is incredibly distracting, hinders your progress, and thus ends up stressing you out even more.
2. Page Blockers
If you’re having troubles staying off of fun pages, try downloading a page blocker. There are lots of them online, but a few great ones are “Concentrate” and “Self-Control”. They work by physically disabling your browser’s ability to visit certain sites for a pre-determined amount of time.
This serves as a sort of guardrail; if you feel like procrastinating for a tiny bit they’ll help keep you on track.
However, they aren’t cure-alls: just like real guard rails, if you’re really determined to go off the trail you’ll be able to hop over them easily enough. However, they do serve as reminders about where your priorities should lie.
3. Enjoy the process!
It is much easier to work if you enjoy the process. Sometimes that’s difficult, but there are things you can do to improve it. Choose a room that’s pleasant to you, one that you will enjoy working in.
Playing music while you study can be a big help. It can be marginally distracting, but sometimes that’s a sacrifice that’s worth making. If you have to choose between working at 90% efficiency because you’re listening to music, or working at 5% efficiency because you’re constantly getting bored and taking breaks, then that’s not really any choice at all, is it?
Enjoy the process, or if you can’t, make it enjoyable.
4. Healthful snacks in small quantities
Lay off the sugar and junk food. Small doses of healthful foods keep your energy up and keep you focused. Almonds, walnuts, carrots, broccoli, and dried fruit are all great choices. Overly sweet things like candy or poptarts send your blood sugar into a tail spin, and release hormones that make staying focused difficult. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot with a poor diet.
5. Don’t use these tips to procrastinate.
This is the important. It’s easy to think that “applying” tips like these is productive work. And to a certain extent that’s true.
But, if you find yourself spending twenty minutes reading reviews about the best page blockers, or preparing a gourmet snack tray, or meticulously organizing your iTunes folder into different playlists for each subject, then, well… We see the problem here, yes?
Apply these tips, but bear in mind that the final goal is to actually get your schoolwork done.
That’s it for now! Call Study Hut in Manhattan Beach for more information about how to study right and slaughter your coursework and SATs
