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Algebra 1 Tutoring

February 20th, 2015

Bryce began coming to Study Hut because he was having trouble in his Algebra 1 class. He understood basic concepts, but was having trouble applying what he learned to homework problems. This was translating into grades he was unhappy with on his tests.

He began coming to Study Hut twice a week to work with his tutor, Charlsey, on his Algebra 1 homework. He had been having a lot of trouble solving for multi-variable systems of equations. His teacher had not explained the topic very well. The practice problems that were assigned for homework did not review or explain any of the new material. Bryce quickly became frustrated because simply reading the book did not explain solving systems clearly enough.

Charlsey went through the different ways of solving systems with Bryce. First, she explained substitution. With substitution, you solve for one variable in terms of the other variable that you are solving for and then plug that back in to your second equation. Then you are left with one variable and a simple algebraic equation to solve. Bryce hated substitution though, so they went over elimination. In elimination you use multiplication or division to make the amounts of one variable equivalent in the two equations. Then you either add or subtract your equations depending on the sign, and are left with one variable to solve for. Then you use simple algebra to solve.

Charlsey sent Bryce home with extra problems to work on. When he returned for his next tutoring session, he understood how to solve systems and was confident with the material.

Studying for Finals

December 11th, 2014

There is no one size fits all formula for studying for finals. There are definitely a few tricks that are universal in helping you maximize the time and effort you put in.
First things first, make sure that you study in an environment where you will not be easily distracted. Places like your bedroom, your friend’s house or in the living room with the television on are all riddled with distractions that will quickly get you off track. Pick somewhere that you know you will focus, whether it is the library, a coffee shop, or a quiet room in your house.
To make the most out of the time you put in studying, make sure that you have a study plan. This should include which topics you are having the most trouble with, any material from earlier in the semester that will be on the test, and definitely any questions that the teacher specifically mentioned will be on the final.
Pay attention in class leading up to the final. Your teacher will usually drop hints and be very specific about what will be on your upcoming test. Many teachers like to take questions directly out of notes that they have gone over in class.
Do not save all of your studying for the night before the final. Numerous studies have shown that cramming does not do you any good, and pulling an all-nighter will negatively impact your ability to remember info as well as your performance on the test.
Do not forget to take care of yourself during all the stress of finals. A well-rested and happy student is a productive student!

Do You Know Your Learning Style?

November 18th, 2014

A person’s ability to learn something depends on a wide variety of factors ranging from the content being taught to the teacher. But one thing that makes a huge impact is someone’s personal learning style. Many students get frustrated because a teacher seems to be unable to teach them, and the material is just not getting through. A common mistake that a lot of teachers make is that their lesson plans and their style of teaching only cater to one learning style. So while students who click with that style excel in the class, the majority of the students are left confused and stranded at the back of the pack.

At Study Hut, we customize each one-on-one tutoring session to fit each individual student’s needs. For visual learners, there are plenty of whiteboards and flashcards through out the Hut. Tutors can diagram content for the student, and give them instructions while writing out each step. If your student does better with teachers who write on the board or give detailed powerpoint presentations, your student is probably a visual learner. For aural learners, tutors make sure they clearly talk the student through each step and area they are confused about. If teachers who spend most of the class lecturing or doing verbal exercises with the class are your student’s favorites, your student is probably an aural learner. Going through and writing down notes and exercises with pen and paper instead of digitally will help students who are kinetic learners. No matter what your student’s needs are, we have a tutor for that at Study Hut!

Fall in High School

November 5th, 2014

 

Fall is such an exciting and busy time of the year. There are so many holidays coming up, which means lots of family functions, time with friends, and less time to balance your busy workload. Luckily, there are plenty of small steps you can take to ensure you keep your grades up while still being able to enjoy all of the holiday festivities.

 

Plan out your week in advance.

– If some of your teachers tell you the homework in advance, you can always try and get it done early if you know that you have other plans you would rather do later on in the week. If you haven’t learned the topic yet and still want to get it done, come in and see a tutor and they will have no problem getting you ahead of the class.

 

Don’t let yourself fall behind.

– Staying ahead is much easier than trying to play catch up. If you have a day where you aren’t doing anything, try and get some extra homework or studying done. It may not sound like the most fun option available, but it will give you more free time for when you actually have things you want to do.

 

Get good grades now so your final won’t make or break your grade.

– Maintaining your grades in your classes will help prevent you from having a major meltdown when finals roll around pretty soon. Schedule tutoring appointments in advance so you can have a firm grasp on the concepts for tests instead of trying to memorize everything the night before.

How to Avoid Stress During the College Application Process

October 29th, 2014

No matter how prepared you are, or how much research you have done, the college application process is always stressful. It’s a big decision after all, and which college you go to will affect the next few years of your life! However, there are a few easy tricks we’ve learned during in all our college app sessions to help lower those stress levels!

 

1. Exercise

Sweating it out will help cure any college app jitters, or help you get past that writer’s block keeping you from finishing your personal statement for your dream school. Do some relaxing yoga or if that’s not your style, push yourself in an intense spin class. You’ll be so focused on trying to keep up, college apps won’t even cross your mind!

2. Treat Yourself

Grab a milkshake or one of your favorite snacks. There’s a ton of great food in the South Bay. It is a quick way to pick yourself up and mentally refresh yourself in the middle of apps.

3. Have Someone Else Read Over It

Having a teacher or tutor look over your application can be beneficial for a few reasons. They may catch any grammatical errors you may have overlooked. They can also help you remember an important academic achievement that you might have forgotten about that would be perfect for your college application.

4. Manage Your Time

Don’t try and save all your essays and applications until the day before they are due. Servers get overloaded, computers crash, and you won’t do your best work if you are trying to cram in three essays in three days. Work on it a little bit at a time over the course of a few weeks. You will write a better essay and keep yourself from having a melt down.

 

While applying for colleges and filling out college apps may be stressful, you should focus on how exciting it will be and all the opportunities you are going to have, no matter where you end up!