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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:

Second Semester

March 5th, 2012

The 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!

College applications made easy

March 1st, 2012

As junior year approaches, the time for applying to college quickly nears. The application process can be stressful if one is not adequately prepared and informed. This summer, Studyhut is offering a new college application counseling program to help guide students and parents alike through the process of applying. When I applied to college I remember the process being somewhat overwhelming and pretty confusing at times. I didn’t have the luxury of having an older sibling who had recently gone through the process to coach me through my applications or personal and supplementary statements. I unfortunately was left in the tough situation of having to figure it out on my own. Looking back, I would have immensely appreciated quality guidance from an experienced graduate on how to best approach my applications and personal statement. This is exactly what the Study Hut’s summer college app program intends to provide. Let the tutors at the Study Hut help coach your student through the applying process so they can focus their attention on the actual application and writing a quality personal statement rather than the rigmarole of the application process itself. The program will utilize some of the keys to surviving the college application process that the tutors here at Studyhut have learned from going through it themselves. Some of the focuses of the program are to aid students in staying on track with their application so that everything may be submitted on time since application deadlines are unwaveringly rigid. Another important component of college applications that strangely enough is often overlooked is the process of extensively researching the schools in which students may be interested in applying too. There is a tremendous amount of information available concerning what schools may be better for certain students depending on what paths they are intending to pursue. By thoroughly researching schools, students can make informed decisions about the programs the institutions have to offer as well as what student life may be like. All in all, I look forward to participating in Study Hut’s summer college app program and helping students get the best edge possible on their applications.

Using your Planner Effectively

February 17th, 2012

At the beginning of each and every school year most schools distribute a handy little agenda planner to all of the students in hopes that they use them often and correctly. However most students regard these planners as just an extra book filled with papers to throw in the bottom of their backpack or back of their locker and forget about until the last day of school when they through them out. But the school does not spend the money and effort to distribute these to students just to have them thrown out, they are given to the students because they truly do help and improve student performance. The bare minimum use of the student planner is they should write down everything that the teacher assigns for that night and to keep it updated with all of the current homework assignments. Then after completing each assignment they must cross if off or some how indicate that they are completed with the work.
Yet, students should and need to get even more in depth and on top of their work load. We all know that daily homework is not the only assignments teachers hand out. They also assign long term projects and normally give the dates for future tests to allow students time to prepare. So the student needs to make sure to go ahead into the future of the planner and write down assignments or tests that are due sometime in the distant future. There are too many students claiming ignorance to when the assignment is due and having to start a huge essay or project the night before it due. Which is terrible because this problem can be easily avoided by taking an extra 30 seconds each day and making sure that the planner is filled out completely and that the student knows what he has to do and when it is completed. Remember schools are always trying to help students improve their grade not hurt it, so use all the available resources to you and you will be great.

Valentine’s Day at Study Hut Tutoring

February 14th, 2012

Valentines Day spirit is in the air at Manhattan Beach Study Hut! We are THE place to be V-day. For one, we have the best manager ever who made us all cookies with our names on them. We also each get a list of V-day topics to talk about with our kids. We ask questions like “who is your celebrity crush?” and “what is your favorite kind of chocolate?” to keep the kids engaged and not as bummed about doing homework on a holiday. The drawer full of candy also adds to the valentines spirit. …although this is year around. For me, everyday at the Study hut is like Valentines Day because I love the people I work with and care deeply about all of the kids I tutor. Also, we have a lot of baked goods here all of the time so it adds to the mood.
Our goal is to turn studying, something that is usually somewhat painful, into something fun and exciting. All of our tutors our able to accomplish this because we all have a passion for learning and for helping others. I think that this is exemplified on a day like today where love and compassion are in the air. All of us tutors try and stay connected and get together outside of work to keep a united spirit. In a couple of weeks we are going to have a girls night, and we just got done with doing a really fun murder mystery party. Having close relationships at work is important because it allows us to work as a team when tutoring. When I’m not sure of a science question, it’s nice to feel comfortable turning to Roxy and asking her help on a question. So while the cookies and candy definitely create a great Valentines mood, it’s the love and compassion that our tutors have that really make Study hut a Valentines Day everyday.

The College Application Process

February 9th, 2012

Your junior and senior years of high school are two of the most important years of school you’ll ever attend. You have to study for and take your SAT, you have to choose the colleges you want to apply to, and then you have to make that final step—surviving the dreaded college application process.

This does not have to be an overwhelmingly stressful period of your life. Yes, you do have to put forth a lot of effort to get into college, but there are people that can help with the process and ease your stress. When you’re sitting there looking at that mound of blank application materials on your desk, you may ask yourself, how can I ever do ALL of this by myself?

Well, the good news is that the tutors at the Manhattan Beach Study Hut are here to help you! You can get help from the college graduates at Study Hut that have been through the exact same, grueling process. You can’t find this kind of one-on-one service anywhere else.

We can help with in-depth SAT and ACT preparation and general organizational strategies sure to lessen your overall stress. We have the resources you need to succeed in this important time in your life. For example, one of the most difficult aspects of the college application is perfecting the application essays. We provide you with the support you need to write a unique, well-written essay that is sure to draw attention to how spectacular you will be as a college student. The strategies we teach our students in everyday tutoring include all of the study skills a high school student needs in order to succeed in college. Perfecting your study habits with Study Hut now is the best way to ensure future success in college.

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.

SAT Critical Reading tutoring

January 26th, 2012

Today in AVID 10 at Palos Verdes High School, Rob and SP introduced our first lesson for the Critical Reading section of the SAT. Training for the SAT can be very difficult, and for many students, the vocabulary component of the Critical Reading section can be extremely daunting.

In an effort to keep things simple, but at the same time teach students a new and complex concept, Rob decided to start the SAT tutoring with the “plus-minus-neutral” approach, a strategy that can help students eliminate incorrect answer choices by assigning a value or feeling of worth to the blank space, as well as each of the answer choices.

Students then practiced eliminating wrong answer choices and making educated guesses about which vocabulary words would and would not work in each sentence. The process was rigorous and slightly painful, but I think we all walked away from the experience with a new tool in our quiver of SAT strategies.

Here is an example of a question students will see on the Critical Reading section of the SAT. You will probably understand why training is the only way to attack a test that contains hundreds of problems like this:

1. Today Wegener’s theory is ____ ; however, he died an outsider treated with ____ by the scientific establishment.

A. unsupported – approval
B. dismissed – contempt
C. accepted – approbation
D. unchallenged – disdain
E. unrivaled – reverence

Please let Study Hut know if you need any tutoring or training for the SAT, specifically the Critical Reading section. We have excellent SAT tutors who earned great scores, went to top universities, and follow our streamlined approach to no-nonsense SAT training.

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.

FInals

January 16th, 2012

Ah, final exams. That glorious time of year. (I’m just kidding; I’ve heard finals called many things, and “glorious” has never been one of them). They are daunting, difficult, and above all, important to your final grade. But the good new is that they CAN BE BEATEN! (Huzzah!) It all depends on HOW you bring the fight to them. Luckily, that’s kind of a specialty here in the Study Hut.

Now, it’s difficult to write a catch-all strategy that will help you study for ALL of your finals. Mainly because you’re going to be using completely different methods for completely different tests. You wouldn’t study for a geometry test the same way you’d study for history. HOWEVER, there are similarities. Number one (and this should be completely obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people don’t do it): Give yourself enough time. Finals are not like other tests. You cannot start studying for them a few days before, and expect to be all right. Ideally, you should have started studying for each test AT LEAST 2 weeks before the test date. Remember, these tests include everything you’re studying now, PLUS everything else you’ve studied in the semester. You need time to review concepts, do practice problems, plan essays, ask questions, etc.

Number two: Organization. The very first thing you should do, before even cracking open your text book, is set up a schedule for yourself. This may sound like a chore, but you would not believe how much pressure it takes off of you. It’s a lot less scary to look at a list of things you need to accomplish than it is to stare at 6 months of notes and not know where to start. For example, I’m working with a student who has to study for a History final, covering 6 chapters and about 400 years of history. SO, we set up a schedule that he’d study exactly one chapter per night for six days (not too hard to do). Since he started so early (see Tip 1), by the time he’s done with those six chapters, he’s going to have a full week left before his test. Now, he can use that week to go more in depth, bring problems to his teacher, and make himself more confident before the test. It’s a lot easier to study a huge amount of material if you break it up into small pieces, and have ample time to do so.

And number three: Confidence. Finals are stressful. We’ve all been there. Make sure that you get a full night’s sleep the night before. And (this is huge), don’t go nuts cramming 15 minutes before the test. By that point, you know everything you’re going to know. Give yourself that 15 minutes to decompress. Just close the book, and trust in the fact that you’ve put in the proper work. You’d be amazing what a difference it makes to go calmly into a test.

If you follow this tips (and of course, come see your friends at your local, neighborhood Study Hut), you’ll greatly increase your chances at doing well on your final exams. Good luck!