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!
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!
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 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!
What a wonderful year it was for the West Torrance High School Finals Cram Session in the library this year. Tension and angst run higher than usual amongst West Torrance High School students this week, predictably of course. The stress of Finals week finds a way to creep into almost every high school campus in California, and Torrance Unified School District students are not immune to the phenomenon. That is why Study Hut once again partnered with West Torrance High School over the weekend and sponsored a massive, two-day, Finals cram session. The event was a huge success, attracting over 200 students and more than 20 Study Hut tutors over the course of the two-day event. According to one Study Hut geometry tutor, JP Birk, “This was the most successful Finals cram session event that we have held at West to date. I have never seen such an eager group of students; these young men and women were prepared in advance with notes, previous tests and quizzes, and study guides.”
Finals tutoring at the West Torrance High School Finals Cram session is nothing new for Study Hut. We have sponsored and supported the event for over five years, providing study support twice each year as students gear up for their most heavily-weighted, comprehensive exams. Although tutoring is provided in all subject areas, the most popular, in-need subject areas are typically geometry, chemistry, biology, algebra, and Spanish.
This year, the biology tutoring table had the best energy, by far. Students were eagerly taking notes and asking questions about ecosystems, parts of the cell, and other foundational components of the study of life. Although biology is always a tough class, and students have always sought a tutor for the subject, the demand for biology tutoring has still been on the rise this year, so the idea that West Torrance students are mirroring that trend is no surprise. Regardless of the surge in biology tutoring interest, the Finals cram session still went off without a hitch, and many students got a huge advantage on this week’s exams.
El Segundo Finals Tutoring at its finest. Study Hut offers one-on-one tutoring to help you succeed on test day. Often times, your finals are worth 25% of your final grade. It is worth it to study ahead of time in order to prep for these big exams. If you are looking for El Segundo finals tutoring, you have come to right place. Our tutors specialize by subject and we are familiar with the expectations of your teachers.
Come to Study Hut El Segundo for top-notch service in order to make a plan and study your weakest chapters first!
Finals Survival Guide
Finals are coming! They will be here sooner than you think—thankfully, Study Hut El Segundo tutors know all the tricks to surviving these oh-so-important tests.
PLAN YOUR STUDY SCHEDULE
Got a half-hour break between class and volleyball? Read those chapters you’ve been sparknoting all semester.
TAKE NOTES ON YOUR NOTES
Don’t just read your notes. Write down lessons that were a little more difficult in your own words, make flashcards, and quiz yourself.
FORM A STUDY GROUP
Ask your teacher if you and a few classmates can use their classroom during lunch, before school, or after school once a week to go over lessons. If you guys get stuck, BOOM, ask your teacher right away.
USE A TUTOR
It’s far into the semester and you are still SO LOST. Don’t give up—get a tutor. A breakdown of foundational concepts can be the difference between passing and failing the exam.
SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE
This is not the time to cram in material. But you know this already, right?
If you have any specific questions or you’re eager to begin making a plan for finals, please email alex@studyhut.com or call 310-648-8526
El Segundo Finals Tutoring books up quickly so please call now to reserve your spot.
Peninsula SAT prep at it’s finest! Like the ACT better? Peninsula ACT Prep has never been better.
Welcome back to school We are so pumped that Peninsula AVID is back up and running in full swing. Study Hut has been collaborating with the AVID program and delivering tutorials to the AVID students for many years now. AVID takes place every Thursday from 10am-12noon with six tutors from our Redondo Beach Location that are hand picked to attend the AVID and test prep training and help students improve upon their test prep skills. We have all four grade levels that participate and each grade level has two class periods for AVID since Peninsula has a block schedule.
During the AVID classes, each student comes prepared with their tutorial form filled out with their question or information that they want to review or understand better. Each student has a chance to get up and present their question to their small groups and then the tutor will help answer any questions needed while the other students take notes and participate in the discussion. Each student gets about 5-6 minutes for their individual question which makes the hour go by quickly once each student has presented.
We are able to track students progress and the students get points for their achievements, being engaging and participating in the group lessons. Another awesome collaboration we have going on with Peninsula is that a Study Hut manager along side a teacher lead Peninsula SAT prep as well as Peninsula ACT prep.
There are about 25 students that are taught by one manager and one teacher that receive instruction and receive homework assignments to complete and to help track their growth. The sophomores receive test Peninsula SAT prep once per month and the juniors receive Peninsula ACT prep help once per week. We use an online system that we use in office that helps track progress and makes for a smooth class and easy way to generate the information needed. The manager will help with the Math portion of the test prep and the teacher will help with the English portion of the test prep. We are very excited for the school year and to see many familiar faces around campus!
Study Hut Tutoring offers free practice SAT and ACT exams. It is important to know that tackling the SAT or ACT can be a daunting challenge for many students. Performing to the best of one’s availability is vital in order to strive for acceptance to increasingly competitive colleges and universities. Students are often unaware of how to effectively prepare for the SAT or ACT. Rest assured, Study Hut Tutoring in El Segundo is here to offer guidance and support through tailored test prep tutoring and free SAT and ACT practice tests.
In order to provide our students with specialized, tailored test ACT and SAT tutoring sessions, we encourage our students to complete a full length, free SAT or ACT practice test. We then critically analyze the results and prepare a tutoring plan tailored to our students, emphasizing focus on areas of potential improvement. As we move through scheduled tutoring sessions, students will return to take additional free SAT or ACT practice tests, which allows us to check our progress in real time and shift focus when the need is indicated by performance.
In addition to reviewing specific concepts and learning new strategies and test taking techniques, exercising to build test taking endurance is crucial. The SAT and ACT are each about four hours long. No matter how you cut it, four hours is a long time to maintain focus, flex cognitive abilities, and perform at a consistently high level. By completing free SAT or ACT practice tests, Study Hut students develop their ability to persevere through mental fatigue. Without a simulated experience made possible by full length practice tests, improving endurance is difficult, and Study Hut is pleased to offer this service to our students.
The fall SAT and ACT are approaching quickly, and here at Study Hut we are eager to see the performance of our prepared students and to observe them flourish. Having completed a personalized test prep plan, in conjunction with effective independent study and the completion of multiple SAT or ACT practice tests, our students will be confident and prepared to rise to the challenge on test day and endure through fatigue and difficulty.
Getting started with AP exams requires a free practice test>. Diagnostic testing is an essential first step to any training program. After the student takes a diagnostic AP exam to get a baseline score, we will meet with you and your son or daughter to go over the results. This meeting will lift the veil on where you stand now, what needs to be done to get where you want to be, and set a road map for how we can get you there. We will break down the entire test with an accurate score report, complete with statistical analysis of your best and worst sections.
Before we can attack this monster of a test, we will want to make sure everyone is on the same page. At this free consultation we will address your fears and expectations leading up to the real test. Once you understand what the test entails we can develop a study plan designed just for you, focusing on boosting your strengths and reinforcing your weaknesses.
We will then set up a recurring time with one of our expert tutors. Being with the same tutor every time maximizes efficiency and ensures your best results. Our tutors are not only masters of that subject, but also know the test backwards and forwards, so you are sure to get the very best instruction.
We also recognize that the life of a high school student is already packed with activities. Study Hut does all one-on-one training for AP tests, and is open seven days a week until 10pm. We are flexible, and will match you with a schedule that works for you!
To begin the process of getting started with AP exams, just fill out the contact form below. Your information will be sent to the branch nearest you, then the manager will call to set up a time that works best for you!
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!
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.
John comes in to Study Hut to work on math with his tutor Charlsey. John transferred into a new district after a big move, so he was not used to the curriculum that the rest of the students had been working on. He wanted to hit learning targets, catch up to the rest of his class and do more practice problems than just the ones the teacher had assigned.
His teacher did not regularly assign the class lots of practice problems, so he liked using his time at Study Hut to do more problems on each of the topics he had been learning in class. His tutor explained the concepts more thoroughly to John than his teacher had. She made sure that he fully grasped the concept before they attempted the practice problems in order to hit the learning targets. John had the bad habit of not writing out any of his work, which led him to many careless mistakes. His tutor made sure to correct him whenever he started a problem and tried to plug in all the numbers without writing out his work on his paper. Once he began to write out his work, his accuracy improved dramatically and he was surprised that he actually solved his work more quickly with writing.
Charlsey made sure to send John home with extra worksheets to do more practice before his tests since his teacher rarely assigned any homework. For the first time all year, John got a four out of four on his learning target quiz. He was absolutely beaming!
