In almost two full years of working at the Study Hut, I’ve been able to see just how important supplemental education (in many forms) is for today’s young students. It’s nuanced at times, but there are myriad ways that seemingly inconsequential aspects of learning can change everything. Some of these things are just natural aspects of putting college students and grads in a room together and telling them to talk about academics, but in my tenure here I’ve watched the company grow and I’ve grown as a tutor and a person along with it. A particular session comes to mind here, and not because of how unique it was, but because it was extremely typical.
One of my weekly students, who we’ll call John Conner, came to me earlier this year to study for a history final. We hadn’t worked much together on history to this point, and John needed to catch up on almost everything covered on this test–we had our work cut out for us.
The first thing he asked me was: “Wait, so do you have this all memorized?” It was an honest question, and legitimate. Intuitively speaking, one would probably need to know a lot about US History to prepare someone study for a final exam nearly from scratch, but because of the way we work at the Hut, the way the Hut taught me to teach, and the very nature of supplemental academia, the session wasn’t about what I knew. It was about what John needed to know. We spent that hour combing through the text and his in-class notes to piece together what we agreed were the areas of importance. We spent the time looking for the questions, not the answers.
What I mean by all of this is that knowing is never part of my job. It’s about finding out, whether that means learning the material along with the students or just learning about the students themselves. The achilles-heel of today’s schools is the inability of schools to teach on a more personal level with each student. Of course, it’s a numbers game and it would be impossible for even the greatest instructors to personally teach lessons to all of their kids. But that’s the point. Because we’re in a unique position to help bridge the gap between teacher and student, concept and practice, we can always provide an invaluable set of tools for students of all kinds.
My knee-jerk reaction to John’s opening question was to say, “No, but you will soon.” This, to me, was the job in a nutshell. We don’t have the answers to the test your student will take, but we might know where to look.
Today we were given a helmet from USC as a gift with the signature of a previous USC Coach. Therefore, we decided to have one of our tutors from USC write us a blog.
During the past four years, I have had the privilege of learning and growing at the University of Southern California. I learned that graduates of USC not only have advanced knowledge in diverse topics, but are also prepared to share what they know with others. Most students at USC take advantage of the opportunity to study in different fields and use their interdisciplinary background to understand how others think. They are then able to apply this to working with students here at Study Hut.
The diverse student body at USC provides unique experiences you cannot get at other schools. Graduates from USC understand how to work with people who come from different backgrounds and are able to learn from them as well. This also means that to get into USC, you need to have a diverse background yourself. Students from USC have tons of extracurricular activities and varying educational interests which helps the USC tutors understand how to work with the different students they help.
Classes at USC provide lots of opportunities for the students to teach different topics. In almost every class I took, there was an assignment to research and learn about a subject, master that subject, and then present our findings to the class. We learned how to explain difficult concepts to classmates who had very little background in the topic. On top of that, the professors encouraged collaboration between classmates when we were studying for exams. Within study groups, we would break up different topics that needed to be covered and teach the rest of the group. On the other hand, we would learn from our classmates and understood what teaching methods work and which don’t. Seeing both sides of teaching and learning helps us USC students understand how to not just teach effectively, but also how to adapt the methods to make sure it fits the student’s learning style.
USC tutors are extremely prepared to teach and alter their teaching method to best fit the student’s learning abilities. They have diverse backgrounds and a wide base of knowledge that helps them relate to and understand every student making them better tutors. Lastly, USC graduates are able to spell at an exceptional level and can count higher than 8.
I’ve been tutoring Kelsey from Redondo Union High School (http://www.redondounion.org/) for about three weeks now. After briefly talking about Kelsey’s day, we discuss how she thinks she did on her most recent quizzes or tests, what assignments she needs to work on in that moment in time, and how we can prepare for her upcoming quizzes or tests. Kelsey mainly comes into Study Hut to get tutoring for Chemistry and Algebra 2. My goal is to help Kelsey overcome her struggles in these two subjects by accommodating her with tutorials that will help her retain information efficiently, develop excellent study habits for any of her future assessments, as well as motivate her to be the best student she could be.
The first day I worked with her we completed her review packet for her upcoming Chemistry test. At the time, Kelsey was learning about specific heat capacity and how to find the missing variable, whether it was the amount of heat gained or lost, specific heat, or final or initial temperature. Kelsey came into Study Hut confused about the basics of this particular subtopic in Chemistry, so I went over the fundamentals by breaking down every significant piece of information she had to know.
The second day I worked with Kelsey, we reviewed for the Algebra 2 test she took last week. Kelsey was being tested on her knowledge of conics, including parabolas, hyberbolas, circles, and ellipses. Kelsey was confused about the difference between each of the conics, how to go about finding the different types of points for each type of graph, how to formulate an equation when given specific points on the graph, and lastly, how to graph each type of conic. I went over the details of each graph and provided her with simply strategies on how to memorize the specifics of each graph.
“A perfect tutoring session is a thing of beauty. There’s no formula for recreating it every time, but it happens more and more often at Study Hut these days. Tutors and tutees are in mid-season form by this time in the year – the early-semester inertia long past and the end-of-semester burnout still months away. We’ve settled into the school year, developing our own rhythms and rapports with all our Study Hut students. It’s perfect tutoring season.
No two perfect sessions look exactly the same; there are too many contributing factors to consider. Some students are panicked, struggling to finish cramming for that test they kept putting off; some students are relaxed, looking forward to another weekly session with the same tutor they’ve been working with for the past 6 months; some are on their way to SAT tutoring, dreaming of the day they will strut their stuff at college, applying all their Hut study skills to everything from Bio 101 to Shakespearean sonnets to intramural softball. Some are terrified at the mere mention of numbers, others are enthralled by the simple joys of deriving or integrating. Still others are history sponges, seeking to soak in as many dates and elections and revolutions as possible, baffled by some of their peers’ classic refrain: “Why do we have learn this? It already happened.”
This variety is what makes working at Study Hut so engaging. It is a constant process: evaluating a student’s interests and needs, weaknesses and strengths, passions and quirks. Only by getting to know each student – asking them about their day, their favorite color, and their life’s goals – can we craft these elusive perfect sessions.
As we begin to understand our tutees, we get better at tailoring our sessions to their own specific needs and goals. This is the constant process of creating perfect sessions. We may not achieve perfection every time (and some students may make it more difficult than others), but even when we fail we do pretty good job at making learning happen.”
Hope this is useable and feel free to make any changes you want!
Here is a blog written by our Manager in the Newport Beach Office named Justine!
Here’s a little blog writeup for what’s going on in Newport:
This week at Study Hut in Newport Beach, many of our students from Newport Harbor High School, Corona del Mar High School, and Sage Hill High School dominated their Final Exams. Erica, who first came to our office with a C in AP Physics, was able to raise her grade to a B+. Go Erica!
Now that Finals are over, don’t relax for too long; SATs are just around the corner.
This Saturday, ten of our students will be riding the SAT wave on March 8th. A shout out goes to our star student Zach, who raised his SAT score by 400 points after February’s test. Fun fact: SAT originally stood for “Scholastic Achievement Test.” Though some students have affectionately nicknamed it the “Stupid A*@ Test,” in 1994, the test was re-named to simply “SAT.”
If the SAT isn’t your cup of tea, please consider the ACT. Almost every college accepts both tests, and many students prefer one over the other. Several more students are gearing up to take the ACT on April 12th. If you haven’t registered for a test date yet, it’s not too late. Don’t fret if you haven’t prepared, just come in for our free diagnostic test on March 8th to find out where you stand.
Dorm storage space is one thing that many incoming freshman overestimate. Depending on the size of your wardrobe, it might be a good idea to consider leaving everything but the necessities at home. Besides, you might find you don’t need as many clothes as you think–most college laundry facilities are easy and inexpensive. Many colleges even offer free use of washers and dryers. It’s a good idea to do some research before you start school to see whether or not you need to stock up on quarters. Some colleges even have high-tech laundry services that will text you once your clothes are ready. Be sure to do a little research into your college’s laundry facilities before you pack for college.
2. Every College Has Different Rules on What You Can Bring
It is essential that you check the list of approved and prohibited items from your college before you move in. Rules vary from school to school, and you may want to hold off on buying that mini-fridge/microwave combo until you make sure you can have them in your dorm. Even things you might not think about, such as power strips or halogen lamps, might be prohibited by your university.
3. You Might Not Like Your First Roommate (And That’s Not the End of the World)
For your first semester of college, odds are you’ll have a randomly picked roommate. And while it’s completely possible that you will be the best of friends, it’s also possible that you might not get along. This can be uncomfortable, but remember that with classes, clubs, and other campus events, you probably won’t be in your room very much anyway. By the time the semester is over, you’ll most likely have found a friend to room with for the next term.
4. First Semester Classes Might Not Be That Great (But They’ll Get Better)
For your first semester, you’re probably taking a first-year seminar, some gen-ed classes, and perhaps a big lecture hall 101 type course. Some of the big, mostly first-year classes aren’t the most engaging, and first-year students are frequently taught by graduate students rather than the college’s professors. If your classes aren’t what you had hoped for, keep in mind that you will soon be in smaller, more specialized classes. Once you pick your major, you can start with the major-specific classes as well. Even if you’re undecided, you’ll have a wide range of classes to choose from, with everything from upper-level science courses to creative fine art studios. Just remember to register as soon as you can before the classes fill up!
5. Know Where You Can Get Good Food
Food is an important part of the campus experience. Most colleges have multiple dining options, and it’s a good idea to try them all your first semester. If you want to know the best place to eat, or if you need vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free options, you can always check the college’s website, or just ask your fellow students. Don’t forget to try outside the college, too–college towns almost always have good, cheap food.
6. You Might Not Be Able To Bring a Car (And You Probably Won’t Need One)
Whether or not you can have a car on campus your first semester depends entirely on the college. Some colleges allow them freshman year, some won’t allow them until sophomore year, and some won’t allow them at all. You’ll want to check with your school before you end up with a parking ticket. The good news is that if you’re not allowed to bring a car, you probably don’t need one. Many schools offer public transportation, such as a shuttle or taxi, or a bicycle rental service. If all else fails, most campuses are designed to provide everything a student needs within walking distance.
7. The IT Help Desk Is a Wonderful Place
Some of the most helpful people on a college campus can be found behind the IT Help Desk. Whether you need help connecting to the internet, getting set up with any professor’s assignment drop box, figuring out how to find and connect to a printer, or recovering a lost document, the IT Help Desk is an excellent resource. It is also a good spot to go if your roommate accidentally spills coffee on your laptop. There’s no guarantee the IT folks can fix everything, but it’s a great place to start.
8. There Are Tons of Things to Do (And It’s Pretty Easy to Find Them)
The last thing anyone should be worried about is being bored on campus. Almost every college has a host of student clubs and organizations, frequent campus events, and other activities. They’re not hard to find, either. Colleges usually have a list of registered student organizations, and there are often fliers and posters all around campus for things to do and clubs to join. Some clubs even have their own social media sites, which could help you not only learn about the clubs, but also contact current members.
9. Plan Out Your Academic Career Early (But Don’t Be Afraid to Change It)
In order to make sure you have all the credits you need to graduate on time, it’s a good idea to plan out your courses early. Don’t forget to plan for general education requirements and classes you need for your major. But keep in mind that your plan won’t be written in stone. Most students change their majors at least once during their college careers. So, while it’s a good idea to have a plan for your academic career, keep in mind that you’ll probably end up changing it.
10. You Can Get Good Grades and Have Fun
A common fear when starting college is that there will be time for either studying or having fun, but not both. The truth is that with good time management, it is possible to get good grades in all your classes and still have time to be in clubs and go have fun. If you manage your schedule well, you may even get a decent amount of sleep, too.
This week we are featuring three photos from our different offices in our photo blog. Here are some fun updates for this week!
We hope the students that have off are enjoying their Ski-Week. Let us know what you have been doing over the Ski Week and we will post stories on our blog for others to read about.
If you would like to schedule appointment, you can call the Manhattan Beach Location at (310)546-2408, Redondo Beach Location at (310)540-5888 or the El Segundo location at (310) 648-8526.
We have bananas growing at our El Segundo office!!
In our Manhattan office – Ben received an A on his Calculus test! Kuddos to his tutor Josh for helping him out!
Student of the day was Grace!
If there is something interesting that you read about on our blog, you can let us know on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/studyhut
We love getting your feedback on our Facebook page!
The parents and students know that we like to keep learning lively and fun at the Study Hut. We think this keeps the tutoring experience positive, and improves student-tutor relationships and communication. So, of course, the Study Hut is going to have an awesome Halloween party this year! We’re celebrating the festive occasion at our non-profit location in Lomita, and we’ll be spreading ghoulish fever throughout the day. We should have lots of candy, decorations, and games. Throughout the month, we’ve been decorating our locations with lights, streamers, skulls, and various other spooky Halloween items. For the party, our tutors are dressing up in pairs as Nickelodeon characters from the 1990s. We’ll have a judging of the best costume and prizes will be given to the best pair of characters. Tutors are already working on finalizing their costumes this week, and from the ideas I’ve heard being tossed around, there should be some excellent costumes and a fierce competition. We’ll be sure to post pictures of the winners and inspire others to express their creativity next year! Happy Halloween!!
We have started tutoring at Manhattan Beach Middle School again on Wednesday mornings at 8am during late start!
We have had a great turnout these past two weeks and have been getting a lot of good press from the school!
The last two times we have been at the Middle School we had 20-30 students show up both times which is better than the turnout from last year.
We are in a new room this year on the 2nd floor and have a lot of space for the students.
We have three tutors that attend the Wednesday morning tutoring to help the students out in any subject that they need.
We have two teacher aids that sit with us in the classroom to help out and facilitate the morning.
The students love coming to eat doughnuts since we bring doughnuts in the morning to get the students pumped up and excited to come to Wednesday morning tutoring.
We will be there every Wednesday at 8am to help students during late start and we hope to see a lot of students there!
If more students start to show up we may extend into another classroom to make sure that we have enough room for all the students!
Many of the students there on Wednesday worked on math and Social Studies.
Only a few of the students who come into the Wednesday morning at students at the Study Hut, so we have enjoyed meeting new students and hoping that they will come to the Study Hut as well!
So far we’ve had a great turn out and MBMS has been great to work with and have worked with us during every step.
Let us know if you have any questions or you can call our Manhattan office at (310)546-2408 with any questions or inquiries that you have!
In the venerated tradition of famed facial hair, there are but a few men who have risen to much-deserved prominence. The robust mustache of Inigo Montoya reminds us of heroism and valiance, the substantial ‘stache of Ron Burgundy tantalizes our senses, the impressive facial hair of Abraham Lincoln inspires our national pride, and the bushy beard of Zach Galifianakis compels laughter. Each of these men carries with him a badge of honor, sanctified by each follicle upon his face. Cultivation of a fine beard is a precise and delicate art: to be great, a beard must be tended to, cared for, trimmed, combed, and above all, respected. For the adoration that we bestow upon that facial hair, we receive reward twofold, making the relationship between man, beard, and society one of the most sacred.
There is none so contemptible as a man who carelessly allows his beard to sprout from his chin, taking no pains to keep discipline or structure. Although a refined beard can be an inspired entity, one without the necessary care is like a sickness that spreads uncontrollably. The Study Hut’s own Justin Lettin is one such foul plague of a man, his beard springing wildly as if directly cursing the social order. His facial hair exists, it would seem, as a symbol of disregard for the men who have given us respectable beards and important mustaches, a means by which he expresses distasteful nihilism. Perhaps if he offered his beard some degree of devotion, he might be able to clip and trim it to responsibility. However, any opportunity for respectability has long been squandered like so many disposable razors.
Tufts of brown wool blanket the lower half of his face, spreading onto what little bare flesh exists like some exotic skin disease. Each day, new stubble emerges around the edges of the beard, inexorably corrupting whatever is in its path. It evokes images of the nefarious Shoe Bomber more readily than ones of revered men. Not only does Mr. Lettin do nothing to stop the growth of said beard; he actually encourages it, often stroking the unruly tendrils and cooing their praise. Justin Lettin’s beard degrades those of great men and simultaneously threatens the security we rely upon. In a word, his beard is un-American.
