If you have a child in school, you’ve likely heard of Common Core Standards. However, you may not know what these statewide standards entail, or how they affect your student.
 
Here is a breakdown of Common Core Standards, including where they came from, how they’re measured, and why they’re so divisive.

What Is Common Core?
 
Common Core refers to a set of educational checkpoints in math and language arts designed to standardize what students should learn in each grade level.
 
The Standards were spearheaded by a group of state governors and chief school officers in 2009 and written by teams of college professors, education advocates, testing company employees and, after pushback from teachers’ unions, schoolteachers. 
 
Common Core is not a curriculum, rather, it’s a set of expectations detailing which skills students must master at each grade level in order to be considered “on track” for college and the workforce.
 
Initially, all but four U.S. states adopted the Common Core State Standards. Today, five participant states have repealed the Standards, and about half have declined to use standardized testing to measure the Standards. Nonetheless, many states, including Illinois, use the PARCC or Smarter Balanced tests to measure Common Core Standards.
 
Why Does Common Core Exist?
 
Common Core was developed largely in response to concerns about American students’ academic performance compared to other nations.
 
Proponents of Common Core were worried by the percentage of college freshmen enrolled in remedial courses because their math and language skills did not meet the requirements of college coursework. In 2008, one in five first-year university students needed a remedial course. 
 
College professors weren’t the only ones unimpressed with students’ abilities, according to Common Core supporters. Hiring professionals also complained that entry-level workers were missing key math and literacy skills.
 
The increasingly globalized and competitive job market led many policymakers to call for more stringent, systemized standards for public schools. By creating a list of standards identical across all states, Common Core creators hoped to ensure students left school with the knowledge they need to succeed.
 
Why Is There Controversy Surrounding Common Core?
 
Since its inception, there has been vocal opposition to Common Core from teachers, parents and policymakers.
 
Some worry that Common Core wrongfully makes workforce participation the aim of education, rather than the explorations of students’ unique minds and abilities. Others claim the program patronizes schoolteachers and prevents them from serving individual students’ needs. Some parents protest that the additional standardized testing creates unnecessary stress for students, while states’ rights advocates decry the involvement of the federal government in public school curricula altogether.
 
Currently, there is no conclusive research that supports the efficacy of Common Core Standards, at least in terms of post-secondary or workforce achievement. However, this doesn’t mean the Standards are misaligned. So many participant states didn’t fully implement the standards or opted out of national testing, measuring the impact of Common Core has been a challenge.
 
What Does Common Core Mean for My Student?
 
Illinois still adheres to the Common Core Standards to measure student progress, but transitioned from the controversial PARCC test to the new Illinois Assessment of Readiness, or IAR, in 2019. Students will take the IAR annually in the spring.
 
The new test is shorter, with a forthcoming computer adaptive model, faster results and better options for students whose first language is not English. Ideally, this test will be more reflective of student’s understanding of Common Core Standards.
 
Your child’s IAR score will not affect his or her opportunities at school or beyond. These scores are used to measure the performance of school districts and teachers. However, you can use the scores to determine if your child needs extra support with math or literacy.
 
On a day-to-day basis, Common Core likely informs which skills your child’s teachers focus on during lessons. Your student’s school may even use a curriculum aligned to Common Core.
 
You can use the Common Core math and language arts standards to check in on your child’s academic progress and stay up to speed on his overarching learning goals. If you’re concerned your child is struggling with grade-level skills, a qualified tutor can help her catch up and lay the foundation for success.
 
For information on iLearn Academy’s personalized learning plans and expert instructors, check out our curriculum page. 

 Just like adults, children experience anxiety, and some are more prone to it than others.
 
Stressful circumstances – like a big test or conflict at home – may trigger anxiety, or it may be part of a child’s personality to worry. Whatever the cause, it’s important that parents understand anxiety and the strategies that help.
 
What Is Anxiety?
 
Anxiety is defined as, “An emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

Everyone feels anxiety from time to time, and this emotion is often helpful. It helps us avoid danger, for example, and it drives us to get things done.
 
Too much anxiety, however, has adverse effects. It can cause physical symptoms like shortness of breath and stomachaches, and it can affect our behavior and relationships. Some people experience anxiety so intensely that it’s considered a disorder.
 
Common symptoms of anxiety in children are:

• Agitation, restlessness or inattention
• Tantrums and crying
• Avoiding school, schoolwork or other activities
• Difficulty sleeping
• Perfectionism about school or other activities

 
Why Do Children Experience Anxiety?
 
Often, children have anxiety because of an upsetting experience. This may be something they experienced directly, but could also be something they saw or heard secondhand. It’s beneficial to talk openly with children about upsetting experiences, so they can voice their feelings and sort out their perceptions.
 
Children also may feel anxious about family, friends and schoolwork. (We all worry about difficult projects or negative interactions – the same is true for kids.)
 
By speaking openly about fears and concerns and watching for signs of disordered anxiety, you can help your child develop a healthy approach to worry.
 
How Can I Help?
 
Everyone worries, so it’s important your child feels safe voicing his concerns. Try not to scold your child for worrying or diminish her worries with statements like, “calm down” or “there’s nothing to worry about.” Sometimes, simply talking about anxieties makes them feel more manageable.
 
When your child inevitably worries, here are some responses that help build a healthy outlook:
 

• Face fears: Just like ignoring your child’s anxiety can make it grow, avoiding the things that cause anxiety can feed those worried thoughts. For example, if your child is anxious about school, staying home may make your child’s fears seem even bigger. Talk about what’s making him worried, and brainstorm some constructive solutions.
  
  Remember, there’s not always a solution. Remain supportive, and set realistic expectations. Your child’s situation may not play out how he wants, but the world will keep turning, and you will still love him.
  
  
• Support, don’t enable: While you don’t want to diminish your child’s worries, you also don’t want to feed into them. For example, if your child is afraid of elevators, you can validate her worry without validating the fear itself. Try telling her, “The elevator is safe. I know you’re afraid, and that’s okay. I’ll hold your hand the whole time.”
  
  Similarly, if your child is afraid of something, your concern over her emotions may read as validation of the fear. If she’s afraid of spiders, for instance, don’t rush to get her away from them. Your worry enforces the idea that spiders are frightening.
  
  
• Take a back seat: When it’s time to talk about worries, let your child lead the conversation. Instead of asking, “Are you worried about soccer?” try asking, “How do you feel about soccer?” This way, you don’t suggest to your child that she should be worried.
  
  
• Make a plan: Talking through new or stressful situations ahead of time helps children cope with anxious thoughts. If your child is afraid of flying on a plane, talk through each step you’ll go through at the airport. If he’s afraid that a friend is angry with him, talk about what he could do if that were true. Would his friend likely forgive him? Has he ever forgiven someone?

 
In all of this, your priority should be to help your child find ways to manage and tolerate anxiety. Worry never goes away, but if we continue to engage with the things that frighten us, it decreases with time.

If your child's anxiety develops physical symptoms or impedes her ability to do normal things, visit your family doctor. Children do not "grow out" of disordered anxiety, so it's important they receive appropriate treatment.
 
At iLearn Academy, we create personalized learning plans based on each student’s individual needs. If your child needs help managing anxiety about school or homework, our expert instructors can help him catch up, find strategies and build confidence. For more information, check out our curriculum. 

The ACT is a standardized test colleges use to determine a student’s readiness for post-secondary coursework.

The ACT doesn’t measure intelligence; rather, it assesses a student’s knowledge of high school-level skills in math, data analysis, reading and language.
 
Students must register online or by mail to take the ACT. Registration currently costs $50.50, and students take the test at a nearby high school or community center on a Saturday morning.
 
The ACT testing organization offers the test about eight times a year. As such, parents and students often ask if there is any benefit to registering for a particular test date.
 
Our answer is: yes! While there is no way to predict the difficulty of a certain test date (test questions change each time, although the concepts tested remain the same), some test dates tend to work better for student’s schedules.
 
Here is our advice for students preparing for the ACT:
 
The Facts about ACT Preparation
 
Even though the ACT covers skills you’ve learned in high school, it’s not an easy test. The timing element is a big challenge. It includes skills from Algebra I and Geometry you may have forgotten if you’re currently taking Calculus. It tests over nuanced writing errors like redundancy, wordiness and unclear sentence structure.
 
Students who cram for the test – or skip studying entirely – are unlikely to earn their target scores. For reference, most private universities prefer composite scores at or above 30 – that’s about the 93rd percentile.
 
The best way to study for the ACT is incrementally. You can use class notes from previous courses to go over what you’ve learned bit by bit. You can also use a test preparation textbook or the ACT’s online materials. If you want to ensure your scores impresses college admissions counselors, you can enroll in a test prep course that meets once or twice a week.
 
Choose Your Test Date Wisely
 
Because of the time it takes to adequately study for the ACT, we recommend students prepare during the summer. With less homework and fewer extracurricular activities, ACT test prep becomes less of a burden. Usually, this means registering for the September test and studying in July and August.
 
Here are some other things to consider when choosing your ACT test date:
 

• Athletics: If you are an athlete – particularly if you plan to play in college – try to schedule your ACT during your sport’s off-season. When students try to juggle an intense athletic season and ACT prep, they often drop the ball.
• AP Tests: If you are a junior taking multiple AP courses, avoid registering for the June ACT. You will need plenty of time in April and May to study for your AP tests, and studying for the ACT at the same time could get very stressful.
• Summer Travel: For some students, the September ACT is not the best bet. If your family spends a lot of time traveling during the summer – or if your summer is filled with camps and programs – it will be tough to find enough time to study for the ACT.

 
You’ve Got This!
 
With commitment and preparation, you can earn your best score on the ACT. Take time to carefully consider your schedule, and choose the test date that gives you plenty of time to prepare.
 
Not sure where to begin studying? Check out a test prep course like the one at iLearn Academy. Students meet twice weekly with expert instructors who guide them through a proven ACT curriculum. Students see an average six-point gain in their composite scores after 10 weeks.
 
Learn more our ACT prep courses here. 

Many parents use summer learning programs as an enriching childcare option, but these programs also have concrete benefits for students’ academic achievement.
 
For years, experts have known that summer learning – or the lack thereof – is a important factor in learning and achievement gaps among students.
 
Would summer academics make a long-term difference for your child? Here’s what the research says:
 
What Is an Educational “Gap”?
 
Educators use terms like “learning gap” and “achievement gap” to analyze why different students have different levels of academic success in school and beyond.
 
A “learning gap” refers to the disparity between what a student is expected to know at a certain grade level and what he or she actually knows. An “achievement gap” is the difference in educational outcomes between two demographic groups, like high-income and low-income students.
 
Research shows that learning loss is one of the largest contributors to learning and achievement gaps. Learning loss occurs when students forget skills – or miss learning them entirely – because of long breaks from school. While illness, changing schools and family instability can lead to learning loss, the most common cause is actually summer vacation.
 
What Is Summer Learning Loss?
 
Summer vacation fuels learning loss because many students go two and a half months without engaging with school materials, books or academic programming.
 
Many researchers have attributed summer learning loss exclusively to family income. In many ways, this makes sense. Summer learning takes time and, often, money, and many low-income families simply don’t have the resources.
 
However, statistics now show there’s more to summer learning loss than family background.  A recent NWEA study showed that while there are small differences in the amount of summer learning loss among different races and income groups, the variation in learning loss within each demographic is much greater. That means within each group, some students are being presented with opportunities for summer learning, while others are not.
 
In fact, students who participate in summer learning can actually make gains during the summer, the study found. This puts them at an advantage academically and socially.
 
Learning gaps and learning loss are no small issue. When students fail to master foundational math and reading skills, they tend to fall farther behind as they get older and coursework becomes more challenging. Teachers often cannot take time to reteach fundamentals, or they don’t have the skills to help students who are struggling.
 
Some policymakers have introduced initiatives that address the widespread problem of summer learning loss. In 2018, Oregon implemented the Summer Learning and Meals Act, hoping that by keeping libraries open during the summer, they would encourage families to spend time on academics during the summer.
 
How to Avoid Summer Learning Loss
 
Simple activities like reading to your children, visiting a historical landmark or practicing the multiplication tables can help abate summer learning loss.
 
However, the best solution to learning loss is a structured summer academic program. This takes pressure off parents to oversee their children’s summer “curriculum” and provides students with knowledgeable educators to identify their strengths and needs.
 
Whether it’s a daylong program that takes the place of childcare, or just a couple hours a week of skill-building, summer learning makes all the difference to your child’s success in school.
 
If your child needs to catch up, get ahead or maintain skills this summer, there is still time to register for iLearn Academy’s summer academic program, led by certified teachers. Two days a week is all it takes to combat summer learning loss this year!
 
For more information or to enroll, give us a call at 847-834-0791.

Fathers Day is a time to show appreciation for the men who raised us, but did you know the holiday was invented by a woman who had a special relationship with her dad?
 
Sonora Dodd lived in Spokane, Washington during the early 20th century. Her mother died in childbirth when Sonora was a teenager, so her father raised her and her five brothers on his own.
 
In 1909, Sonora sat in church as her pastor preached a sermon on the importance of Mother’s Day. Remembering her father’s dedication, she decided her town needed a day to honor fathers, as well.
 
This began a five-decade-long campaign to make Father’s Day a nationally recognized holiday. Although her first petition in favor of Father’s Day gained only two signatures, she spent years traveling the country raising support for the concept.
 
On the first-ever Father’s Day in Spokane, townspeople wore roses to honor their dads – a red flower if your father was still living, a white flower if he had passed away. As soon as 1916, Sonora’s efforts brought President Woodrow Wilson to Spokane to endorse Father’s Day and join in the town’s celebration.
 
However, it wasn’t until 1957 that Senator Margaret Chase Smith introduced a bill establishing Father’s Day as a federal holiday, insisting that to have a day honoring mothers but not fathers was insulting to both. Almost 10 years later, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday in June an annual Father’s Day celebration. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon made the day an official federal holiday.
 
Today, Sonora Dodd’s gravestone reads, “Founder of Father’s Day,” recognizing her love for her father and her commitment to the holiday honoring men’s contributions to their families.
 
Father’s Day Today
 
This year, 76 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Father’s Day. We’ll spend a record $16 billion on presents and outings for our dads, with most gift-givers looking for something that is unique to their fathers’ interests or commemorative of a special shared experience. 
 
Holidays are an excellent time to share statistics with your children and talk about concepts like percentages, demographics, surveys, and research. Here are some Father’s Day statistics to discuss as a family:

• About 60 percent of men are fathers
• About 25 percent of men are grandfathers
• About 61 percent of fathers have their first child between the ages of 20 and 29
• About 32 percent of married fathers are primary caregivers for their children
• The number of stay-at-home dads has doubled over the past 10 years and is now about 1.5 million

 
Fun with Fathers during the Summer
 
The summer months, when students are home from school, is a great chance for fathers to spend extra quality time with their children. That, combined with the huge importance of summer learning, is incentive to plan fun, educational outings for dads and kids.
 
Fatherhood.gov provides a helpful list of activities that promote learning during the summer while creating opportunities for dads and kids to make memories. Here’s what they suggest:

• Visit an art, science or history museum: Museums don’t have to be large or pricey – many towns sponsor local museums dedicated to the area’s history.)
• Read together: Reading may be part of your bedtime routine, but you can always read during downtime in the car, at the pool, or even the dentist’s office.
• Spend time outside: Talk about the plants, animals and people you see. Later, you can even write about them together.
• Explore community offerings: From libraries to zoos, your community likely offers low-cost resources that are fun and educational.

 
iLearn Academy wishes a happy Father’s Day to all the fathers in our lives. For more creative ideas on summer learning, check out our guide on how to make any family vacation educational.  

Our children often think they know more than we do. When it comes to elementary school math, they might be correct.
 
As adults, calculators and Excel shortcuts make it easy to forget how to solve problems by multiplying fractions or calculating probability. If our children come home with questions about these concepts, we might be at a loss.
 
If you want to help your child strengthen his math skills but don’t have time to re-learn the skills you’ve forgotten, there’s an easy solution: drill basic math. By simply reciting the multiplication tables or practicing basic addition and subtraction, you’re preparing your child to excel in higher math courses.
 
The Case for Memorization
 
Among some educators, memorization has gotten a bad rap. In the past, teachers have overused memorization, at the expense of critical thought and analysis.
 
An overreliance on memorization can certainly be a disservice to students. However, avoiding memorization can rob students of the foundation they need to understand more complex concepts.

For example: A teacher might use colored marbles to illustrate the concept of multiplication. This is a great way to cater to multiple learning styles and ensure students understand where the multiplication tables come from. Nonetheless, if that teacher doesn’t require students to memorize the tables, they will struggle with every math problem they come across, as more challenging problems require multiple steps of multiplication or division.
 
Some educators argue that memorization and drilling are not developmentally appropriate for young elementary school children. I disagree – and the research backs me up. Much of the learning small children do involves “scaffolding” the facts they learn into their long-term memories. Their brains are primed to absorb and memorize information. The earlier they begin to recognize and repeat the multiplication tables, the less time they spend later counting on fingers and guessing at answers.
 
In my career as a Math Support Specialist, I worked with dozens of teachers and schools, helping them improve their math instruction and curricula. One of my initiatives was to incentivize math mastery by providing a pizza party for elementary students who memorized the multiplication facts. Not only did the students enjoy the challenge, their performances improved drastically.
 
Unfortunately, many teachers don’t have the classroom time to drill multiplication facts until each student has mastered them. Some students learn the tables right away; others take longer.
 
That’s where parents come in. Instead of head-scratching at the more challenging problems on your child’s homework, focus on building mastery of basic math skills, multiplication and division in particular. This is great use of your time together because it gives your student a leg up in the classroom. Best of all, working on memorization actually builds a better memory, which helps your child succeed in all school subjects.
 
At iLearn Academy, I consistently see the connection between multiplication mastery and a student’s overall math performance. Students who struggle in middle school math are often the ones who never memorized the multiplication tables. This slows them down so much that keeping pace in math class becomes difficult. Conversely, students who know the basic math facts by heart are empowered to learn new concepts.
 
Helping your child with her language arts homework? The equivalent would be memorizing parts of speech and labeling them within sentences. This easy exercise helps your student develop a strong understand of grammar, which makes for clearer, more effective writing down the road.
 
If your child is struggling with math, reading or writing, call 847-834-0791 and ask for Youngah Anderson. I’d be happy to help you find the tutor and learning plan that will boost your student’s grades and build his or her confidence.
 
My sincere gratitude,
 
Youngah Anderson
Director, iLearn Academy

Experts agree summer learning loss is a leading cause of the achievement gap among students. This has many parents wondering how to build learning into the family's summer schedule.

On one hand, an educational family trip could help your student keep her mind engaged during the long summer months out of school.

On the other hand, trudging through Gettysburg when you could be relaxing on a beach is not every parent's idea of a good time.

Here's the good news: You can make any family vacation educational with the right approach.

Use these tips to sprinkle in some learning alongside your fun this summer. Your children's report cards will thank you!

Make a Budget

Every family vacation requires a budget, and putting one together is a great way to practice math with your kids (not to mention financial skills).

If you'd rather not share how much you're spending on vacation, work in percentages. Ask questions, like: What percentage of the budget should go toward food? A hotel? Activities? Will those amounts be sufficient?

Here are some math skills that budgeting builds:

• Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
  • "If it costs one person $60 per day to eat, and there are four of us in the family, how much would it cost for all of us to eat for a day?"
• Fractions, decimals and percentages
  • "If the amusement park costs $50 per ticket, what fraction of our daily budget is that?"
• Calculating sales tax
  • "If the sales tax is 6%, what is the true cost of that new bathing suit?"
    
    

Find Related Reading

Finding a book that complements your vacation activities is a great way to build reading into your family's vacation planning.  

Camping in the Pacific Northwest? Check out a story set in nature, like My Side of the Mountain. Taking a road trip to Florida? Try the smart, coming-of-age story about Floridian preteen Sally Freedman, in Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself.

Reading the book together helps your student stay engaged. Look up new words, discuss the story's themes and ask your child to make predictions about where the story is heading.
​
For younger children, reading books about family vacations is an excellent way to manage behavior. Use the story to talk about appropriate behavior at the beach, hotel or campfire. Tell your child what you expect from them, and reward them when they deliver.

Keep a Journal

Vacation journals are not only a fun way to record family memories, they help students practice writing.
Maximize the journal's skill-building potential by coming up with a writing prompt for each day of vacation. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Which method of transportation is more fun: driving or flying? Give three reasons why.
• How did you feel when you saw the ocean for the first time? Describe your experience using one thing you smelled, one thing you saw, one thing you heard, one thing you felt and one thing you tasted.
• Write a story in which your main character goes on vacation and encounters a problem. Where did he or she travel? What was the problem? How did he or she solve it?
• Name one new thing you learned while on vacation. How did you learn it? Why is it important or interesting?
• If each member of our family was a character in a book, how would you describe them to your readers? Be sure to describe both how the person looks and how he or she behaves.
  
  

Dig Up Some History

Every destination has a history, even if it doesn't contain historical landmarks.

Before you leave home, take some time to research your vacation spot's backstory as a family. A grade-level appropriate educational database is a good place to start. For elementary, try Kids InfoBits. For middle school, try Research in Context. For high school, try Student Edition.

Contact your destination's local library or historical society to see if there are any family-friendly events planned during your stay. These events run the gamut from farm expos to archaeological digs. Street fairs are another engaging way to get to know the community you're visiting.

Summer Learning Programs

Looking for more ways to combat summer learning loss? Check out iLearn Academy's flexible summer tutoring options. Just two hours each week can help your students maintain their math and reading skills and get ahead in upcoming classes.

Enroll by June 8 to save $50 on tuition and receive free weekly test prep. Call 847-834-0791 for more information or to enroll! 

If you have a child in 8th grade, he or she will take the PSAT 8-9 this coming October. Some school districts use this standardized test to determine high school class placement. If your student wants to take advanced math or English in high school, earning a good score on this test is important.

Schools in Illinois use the SAT Suite of Assessments to track students' college and career readiness. The PSAT 8-9 is the first test in that series, and parents and teachers can use it to get a sense of a student's skill level and check how her scores compare to test-takers across the country.

The PSAT 8-9 is cumulative, so students cannot prepare overnight -- or even for just a few weeks. The best way to secure a high score is to become very familiar with the test structure and material and prepare incrementally.

What Does the PSAT 8-9 Look Like?

The PSAT 8-9 has four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math with a calculator, and Math without a calculator. Test-takers receive 55 minutes for Reading, 30 minutes for Writing and Language, and 60 minutes for both Math portions.

The Reading and Writing sections are combined to yield an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score out of 720 points. The two Math sections are also scored together out of 720 points. Therefore, the highest score a student can earn on the PSAT 8-9 is a 1440.

What's on the PSAT 8-9?

 Here is a section-by-section breakdown of the material that appears on the PSAT 8-9 and the skills that are tested:

Reading Test:

The PSAT 8-9 Reading test is completely multiple choice and based off accompanying passages and, occasionally, informational graphics like charts and graphs. The reading selections might be standalone passages or paired passages. (Paired passages are two excerpts placed side by side so students can compare and contrast.)

There is always one excerpt from literature, one passage or pair of passages from a U.S. founding document or the conversation it has inspired, a social science passage (economics, psychology, or sociology), and two science passages (Earth science, biology, chemistry or physics).

The PSAT 8-9 never tests on outside knowledge, so all the information needed to correctly answer the questions is contained in the passages.

The Reading section measures three main skills:

• Command of Evidence: Can the student identify supporting evidence for various claims? Can she find evidence to support her answer to a previous question?
• Words in Context: Can the student use the surrounding context to determine the meaning of important words and phrases? Can the he define the effect of the author's word choice?
• Analysis: Can the student examine hypotheses and consider their implications? Can she interpret data?

Writing and Language Test:

The PSAT 8-9 Writing and Language test is completely multiple choice and based off accompanying passages and, occasionally, informational graphics like charts and graphs. Students will answer questions about how best to improve underlined portions of the passage. They may be asked to improve:

• The way a passage develops its ideas or argument
• An author's word choice
• The structure of sentences or paragraphs
• Grammar and punctuation
  
  

Math Test:

The PSAT 8-9 Math test is part multiple choice, part grid-in (see below for an example of a grid-in question). There are two sections to the Math test: one where students can use calculators and one where they cannot.

The Math portion of the test covers two main skill areas:

• Algebra -- linear equations and systems
• Problem-solving and data analysis -- interpreting graphs and using math skills to solve real-world problems

There are also some advanced math questions that require students to analyze and manipulate expressions, as well as interpret and build functions.

Preparing for the PSAT 8-9

The PSAT 8-9 tests grade-appropriate skills, so much of your student's preparation should be review.

However, the breadth of material is so wide that it's difficult for students to effectively prepare for this test on their own.

For the best results, prepare incrementally using real PSAT 8-9 test material. iLearn Academy offers summer PSAT 8-9 prep courses that use real test material to familiarize students with the format and content of the test. These courses also help students avoid summer learning loss.  

Enroll before May 27 to receive two free hours of test prep each week, in addition to your student's standard math or English tutoring. Call 847-834-0791 to enroll today. 

Each year, about 30 percent of ACT test-takers earn scores at or above the College Readiness Benchmark.

That means that about 70 percent do not. Some students score below the benchmark because they are not ready for college-level academics. Others, however, may simply be unfamiliar with the test material.

This happens for a few reasons. Sometimes, tricky math problems or nuanced writing mechanics are above a student's ability. But usually, students have simply forgotten material they learned long ago or failed to practice fundamental reading and problem-solving skills.

Luckily, that issue is easily fixed. By building and maintaining grammar, reading, and problem-solving skills over time, your student can take the stress out of standardized testing.

Here's what your students should be doing now to help them earn their best scores:

1. Read for Fun

Students who read outside of school are miles ahead of their peers in vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension.

In fact, a student's attitude toward reading is a better predictor of his or her academic achievement than parent income or education. Student who read because they want to consistently outpace students who only read when extrinsically motivated by grades, rewards, or punishments.

How can parents encourage children to become self-motivated readers? There are two ways: limiting screen time and connecting kids with reading materials that suits their interests.

Not every student will enjoy "academic" reading like historical nonfiction, essays or canonical literature -- and that's okay! All reading helps build essential language skills. So put a password on that laptop and join your student on a trip to the bookstore or library.

2. Review Grammar

While the ACT, SAT, and PSAT test extensively on grammar, most English teachers stop reviewing these concepts after middle school. By junior high, many students have forgotten foundational grammar concepts like parts of speech, comma rules, and simple subjects and predicates.

The solution to this is to review incrementally. Cramming for the ACT or SAT is impossible, because of the breadth of material the test covers. Preparing for these tests requires either a few months of intensive practice or a few years of regular review.

Help your child build time into her homework schedule for short review sessions. With due dates looming, it can be tough to make time for relearning old concepts, but it's essential for success on college entrance exams and other important standardized tests.

The best way to review is to keep detailed class notes. There are also excellent online resources for reviewing grammar concepts. Every iLearn Academy students gets a free account on IXL.com, which contains a huge database of grammar, vocabulary, reading and math exercises.

​3. Don't Forget About Algebra

Algebra is the foundation of mathematical problem-solving in high school and beyond, so the ACT Math section tests heavily on algebraic concepts. While students take Geometry, however, their focus shifts to non-algebraic concepts like proofs and trigonometry, and it's easy to forget Algebra skills from years past.

If your student takes Geometry right before taking the ACT, make sure he or she thoroughly reviews Algebra concepts like systems of equations, quadratic functions, graphing linear inequalities, solving linear equations, and setting up expressions. (Make sure he uses ACT-style word problems and not just numerical ones!)

4. Focus on Nonfiction

Often, a test's biggest reading comprehension challenges come in the form of nonfiction passages. The ACT, for example, contains science, humanities and social studies passages. If students are unfamiliar with the common structures and devices of nonfiction passages, their scores can suffer.

Talk with your student's science, history and English teachers about their use of nonfiction passages. Will students be exposed to scholarly articles and journalism in science, history and the humanities -- or will most of their reading come from a textbook? If that's the case, connect your students with engaging nonfiction articles from sources like Time Magazine, National Geographic and The Economist.

How to Prepare

All in all: The best way to prepare for standardized tests is to set aside some time each week or each month for cumulative review.

Use class notes and resources like IXL.com to check in on grammar, Algebra, and informational reading skills.

Help your student develop a love of reading by connecting her with books and magazines she enjoys and limiting screen time.

We know it can be tough to monitor your child's homework routine and hold him accountable for standardized test preparation. iLearn Academy's Test Prep Gym lets students prepare for standardized tests on their own schedules with a multitude of real practice tests and skill-building exercises. Just come by our center, grab a test booklet and start practicing. There are always tutors available to check work, correct missed answers and review tricky concepts.

Additionally, iLearn Academy half-day summer programs include two free hours of standardized test prep each week for PSAT 8-9, PSAT/NMSQT, ACT or SAT when you enroll before May 18.

To sign up for summer test prep, classes, or Test Prep Gym, read about our summer programs or download our enrollment form. 

We love boosting  grades. However, we know there's more to success than the letters on a report card.

Often, a student's attitude toward schoolwork matters more than his or her skills. Students who develop personal responsibility, motivation and teamwork are better prepared to achieve.

That's why we're excited to announce our 2019 Summer Program theme:  7 Habits of Highly Effective Students.

This reading and writing curriculum - based on Sean Covey's bestselling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens - will help students identify the behaviors that support long-term success. Through discussion and reflection, students will consider how their personal values, goals and strengths can inspire them in and out of the classroom.

Here's a closer look at the habits we will focus on each week. By the end of summer, we hope our students feel empowered both academically and personally!

Week 1: Be Proactive

Students begin by considering the importance of habits. Can our daily habits really influence our future selves? They then define their paradigms and principles. How do they view the world? What matters most to them? Do they take responsibility for their wins and their losses? Lastly, they will discuss the importance of keeping promises -- to others and to themselves.

Week 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Long-term goals help students discover the purpose behind their schoolwork and activities. Students will craft a personal mission statement and learn how to set weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. They will then examine how they divide their time -- are they choosing activities that put them closer to their mission?

Week 3: Put First Things First

Lengthy to-do lists make it tough to decide what to tackle first. Students will learn to separate their to-dos into four categories: urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent and unimportant, and neither urgent nor important. By organizing their tasks, students can cut down on procrastination and minimize time spent on activities that aren't truly important to them.

​Week 4: Think Win/Win

From dance class to college admissions, students' lives feel more competitive than ever. This habit debunks the idea that life is a "zero sum game" in which a win for one person means a loss for another. Students will learn the many benefits of supporting other people's success. Similarly, they will learn how to speak up and advocate for themselves when needed.

Week 5: Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood

This habit can enhance students' relationships with friends, family, teachers and coaches. In times of conflict, our first instinct is usually to explain our own perspectives. By first trying  to understand how others are feeling, students can solve interpersonal problems from the inside out.

Week 6: Synergize

Our differences are a source of strength! In this unit, students will learn to harness the diversity around them and draw from different perspectives. How can a fresh pair of eyes take your project, idea or goal to the next level?

Week 7: Sharpen the Saw

If we don't take care of our minds, bodies and spirits, our goals start to drain us instead of inspire us. Students will identify which activities drain energy and which renew it. Then, they will create their own definitions of a balanced life.

Curriculum

Throughout the summer, students will work through the 7 Habits workbook, which gives space to journal and plan as we examine each habit.

Reading classes will focus on historical figures who paved their own roads to success. Grades K-6 will practice comprehension strategies with historical fiction and nonfiction articles and short stories; grades 7-12 will read longer biographies.

Students will also strengthen their informative and creative writing skills. Elementary students will focus on personal narratives and informative essays, middle school students will focus on persuasive essays and story structure, and high school students will focus on literary analysis and research papers.

Join Us This Summer!

At iLearn Academy, we want to help our students develop all the tools for success. Sometimes, that means building strong math skills. Other times, it means setting personal goals that motivate students for years to come.

Join us this summer for a meaningful, enriching curriculum and top-notch tutoring that helps students start the school year strong. Call 847-834-0791 for more information about summer programs and classes.

​Bullying is a common problem for students of all ages. The explosion of social media has raised the stakes, however, as much bullying has moved from the school hallways into the online world.

Ideally, parents can keep tabs on their students' school experiences and social media use. But, as any parent knows, children and teens are not always forthcoming about negative experiences with classmates.

If left unaddressed, bullying can lead to low self esteem, low grades, and even depression and anxiety. It's essential that parents recognize the warning signs and work with schools to keep their students safe.

Are you familiar with the warning signs of bullying and cyberbullying? Here are some red flags:

Apathy

If your student loses interest in schoolwork or other activities, this does not necessarily signal a lack of motivation.

Students who are bullied may have trouble concentrating on schoolwork because of anxiety or low self-esteem. If a student doesn't feel safe and accepted at school, it's challenging to care about report cards and due dates.     

If your child's disinterest in schoolwork is out of character, it may be a sign of social problems at school.

Frequent Illness

Children who are bullied often complain of frequent headaches or stomachaches.

These maladies may be real symptoms of stress, or they may be excuses to avoid school or other activities where bullying occurs.

Regardless of the reason, frequent sickness is a red flag. If your child is avoiding school, it's important to figure out why. If your child is experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety, it's best to treat the underlying cause.

Changes in Eating or Sleeping Habits

Bullying can affect a child's appetite and sleep. If your child did not eat at school -- because his lunch was stolen or because he avoided the cafeteria -- he may come home famished. If he is anxious, he may struggle to finish his meals.

Likewise, bullying can affect a student's sleep. For some, anxiety may cause nightmares or insomnia. For others, depression may cause a lack of energy or disinterest in daytime activities. Keep an eye on your student's eating and sleeping habits and note any pronounced changes.

Isolation

There's nothing wrong with being an introvert. But if your child doesn't make friends, avoids social scenarios, or suddenly becomes a loner, this could be a sign of bullying.

Children who struggle to make friends are often the targets of bullying. Not everyone will be a social butterfly, but it's important for your child to have a support system at school.

Sometimes, social isolation is self-imposed. Other times, former friends exclude a child who's being bullied. Either way, a sudden loss of friendships could stem from a problem with bullying.

Acting Out

Bad behavior at home can signal social problems at school. If your normally friendly child is behaving aggressively or lashing out at family members, it may be because she's being bullied.

Bullying makes its victims feel powerless. When your child is at home, she's around people who love her unconditionally. So, she may feel tempted to mistreat siblings or parents to regain a feeling of power and control.

Bullying is a cycle. If your child shows characteristics of a bully at home, talk to her teacher and find out if she's experiencing it (or perpetrating it) at school.

How Should I Talk to My Child?

Many students don't tell parents when they are being bullied. This could be because they don't want parents to worry, they feel like the bullying is their fault, they're ashamed to be the target of bullying, or they're afraid of hurting their reputation by getting adults involved.

Rather than ask your child directly if he's being bullied, talk to him about his life at school, including people he likes and dislikes. If he trusts you to listen and sympathize, he is more likely to open up.

Additionally, your child may fear you will respond to the bullying in a way that further damages his standing with classmates. (Remember the old adage, "No one likes a tattletale.") Make sure you communicate to your child that you will work with him to address the bullying.

If you're concerned that your child is being bullied, here are some good conversation-starters:

• "I saw a news report about bullying. Does that happen at your school?"
• "Who do you hang out with/eat lunch with at school?"
• "Are there any kids at school that you don't like? Why don't you like them?"
• "When I was in school, I'd see kids get picked on - even myself. Does that ever happen to you?"
• "Do you know what it means to exclude someone? Have you ever excluded someone on purpose? Has anyone done that to you?"
  
  

My Child Is Being Bullied - What Should I Do?

If you're concerned that your child is being bullied, set an in-person meeting with her teacher. The teacher will be the most informed about how your child interacts with other students. Ask how your students gets along with classmates, whether she has close friends, and if the teacher has seen any students mistreat your child. Before your meeting, research different types of bullying so you can offer examples.

If you feel that your meeting was not helpful or sufficient, schedule a meeting with the school's guidance counselor or principal.
If your student is being bullied because of race, national origin, gender, sexuality, disability or religion, the school is obligated to address this issue and protect your student. If the school's response is inadequate, contact your superintendent or the state department of education.

Bullying can have serious, long-term effects on a student's mental health and achievement. If you suspect your child is being bullied, take action as soon as possible.

If your child has fallen behind in school or has trouble completing assignments, iLearn Academy can help. Call us at 847-834-0791.

Families searching for a tutoring center have many options. From large chain brands to self-employed tutors, tutoring comes in all shapes and sizes.

However, not all tutoring is created equal.

Your ideal tutoring service will depend on your child's needs and goals. Make sure to research thoroughly and ask about curricula, tutor qualifications and training, and communication with parents.

Based on those criteria, here's how iLearn Academy stacks up to other tutoring centers:

Curricula

The biggest differentiator between iLearn Academy and other tutoring centers is its curricula.

Most centers have a set curriculum for each grade level that consists largely of worksheets. Students come in, complete their homework, then complete a worksheet. Worksheets are assigned by grade level, regardless of the student's skills. This can present a challenge for students who perform above or below grade level.

At iLearn Academy, we adjust our curricula based on each individual students' needs. We work with schoolteachers to align our lesson plans with what's actually being taught in class, and we consistently update our materials to include new activities and helpful teaching tools.

By personalizing our curricula for each student, we ensure that they master the necessary skills to improve their grades as quickly as possible. If students already earn high grades, we provide them with  more challenging material so they can get ahead in class and continue to advance.

Tutors

Many tutoring centers hire college students and offer little training.

iLearn Academy hires only certified teachers or subject experts and provides ongoing training and support.

Because all our teachers have real classroom experience, they know how to check for comprehension, adjust to different learning styles and create engaging lesson plans. Additionally, our tutors work together to fine tune curricula and incorporate best practices.

Just as we strive to keep our curricula on the cutting edge, we give tutors continual feedback so they can sharpen their skills and better serve students.

Communication with Parents

Most tutoring centers do not provide any ongoing communication to parents regarding their students' progress. Students can attend for months without making any measurable gains, because their progress is not being tracked.

iLearn Academy uses weekly lesson notes and recurring diagnostic testing to measure our results. Parents hear from us after each session with a summary of what we worked on in class, what's for homework, and how the student performed.

We also check in with parents and schoolteachers to monitor grades and upcoming projects. If a student is struggling with a particular concept or assignment, we take extra steps to help them succeed.

In our ACT and SAT test prep programs, we use diagnostic testing to document students' baseline skills and set target scores for each subject area. Our students see an average 6-point growth in their ACT scores and 204-point growth in their SAT scores. This system lets us challenge students to reach their highest potential scores and make the most of their preparation.

When it comes to your child's academic success, results matter. Don't pay for a tutoring service that doesn't track the return on your investment.

Price

At a large chain tutoring center, your student will complete homework and do worksheets. At iLearn Academy, your student receives a personalized learning plan, dynamic curriculum, experienced teacher and measurable results.
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Remarkably, the price of both centers will be comparable. But at iLearn Academy, families receive more for their money.
Want to learn more about our top-notch curricula? Read about our elementary school, middle school and high school tutoring programs.

Bilingual education in the U.S. has a loaded history.

During the 19th century, many states adopted bilingual education laws mandating that schools offer dual-language instruction to students. However, World War I and national paranoia about foreign-language speakers led to the removal of bilingual instruction from most U.S. schools in the early 1900s. Decades later, the Bilingual Education Act of 1968 provided federal funding for native-language instruction in public schools. While this move signaled a shift in the prevailing attitude toward bilingual education, some English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students ended up segregated in native-language classrooms long after they needed to transition to English-speaking classrooms.

Today's educators agree that temporary native-language instruction is beneficial for students’ cognition, achievement and identity. Nonetheless, ongoing national debate surrounding immigration and bilingualism may leave many multilingual parents wondering how to best approach language education at home. Should parents avoid using their native tongue at home to help children learn English?

The answer, according to linguists, is no. Children of non-English speakers will learn English from their English-speaking friends, and familiarity with your first language is a gift to children in many ways. It connects them with their extended family, their history, and countless personal and professional opportunities.

Letting your child become fluent in your native tongue lets you communicate without any language barrier, and the things she learns from you will translate to her English-speaking life. For example, if you teach her about fractions and decimals in Russian, she will be ready to apply that skill in an English-speaking math classroom.

Studies show that bilingualism has a positive effect on academic performance, career prospects, and even self-esteem. Here are some of the ways that speaking multiple languages benefits your child:

Benefits of Bilingualism

Americans are notoriously monolingual. Only 18 percent of Americans can speak a language other than English, compared to the 53 percent of Europeans who speak a second language. 

An increasingly diverse country, as well as rising demand for multilingual professionals, has changed the game, however. Government entities and employers are pushing for more emphasis on language education in public schools, and bilingual children and teens have a huge leg up on their monolingual peers.

But the benefits of bilingualism extend beyond the workforce. Studies show that using two languages rewires children’s brains, giving them a more developed executive function, or the ability to filter through information and effectively make decisions. People with higher executive function have better memory, mental flexibility and self-control. This makes it easier for them to pay attention, complete projects, regulate their behavior and form social connections.

Additionally, this boost in executive function may make bilingual people more creative. The ability to sort through information and connect disparate ideas helps them come up with useful, original thoughts and solutions.

Linguist Erica Hoff found that monolingual children do worse on standardized tests than children who grew up speaking both English and Spanish at home.

Bilingualism can even stave off the symptoms of dementia. In a 2006 study, researchers found that bilingual adults with Alzheimer’s Disease began showing symptoms four years after their monolingual counterparts, on average. 

Learning New Languages

If you or your spouse do not speak English as a first language – no worries. Speaking your native language at home creates countless opportunities for your child – from broader career options to a stronger connection with his background and ancestry. So, celebrate multilingualism at home and in your community!
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If you or your child need help learning English or Spanish as a second language, call 847-834-0791 for more information on affordable English tutoring and Spanish tutoring at iLearn Academy.

Your student may never need to calculate the area of a circle in her adult life, but she will certainly need to calculate an interest rate. So why is financial literacy completely left out of most high school curricula?

The answer to that question is complex, but the result of widespread financial illiteracy is crystal clear: Americans have more debt and less financial freedom than in the past.

Consumer debt in the United States is at an all-time high, with the average American household carrying more than $130k in debt. More importantly, this debt is growing faster than our incomes.

Large debt can be especially burdensome for young people, who sometimes borrow huge sums to fund their higher education. While borrowing for college is often a worthwhile investment, it can also burden young professionals with monthly payments their salaries do not cover. Thus, it's critical for teenagers to understand the rudiments of borrowing and saving in order to make smart financial decisions as they plan for college.

Student Loan Debt: The Facts

As the cost of college rises beyond what most families and student can pay out of pocket, college debt has become more common - and more problematic.

• The average college graduate in 2016 held $37,172 in student loans. This figure has increased 70 percent in the past decade.
• In 2016, student loan delinquency hit 11.2 percent. That indicates that for many borrowers, student loan payments take a backseat to other financial pressures. The resultant dip in these borrowers' credit scores makes it more challenging to buy homes and accumulate wealth.
• According to a study by the Pew Research Center, young adults with college debt are more likely to have a second job and to struggle financially.
• Only half of young adults with college debt report that the benefits of borrowing for college outweigh the costs.

While the "student debt crisis" is fueled primarily by the inflation of college costs, students' attitudes toward borrowing and saving are another important factor. That's why it's critical to seek out opportunities for your teen to become more financially literate.

Building Financial Literacy

A 2016 study by the FINRA Foundation showed that two-thirds of Americans cannot pass a basic financial literacy test. This result makes sense, given that most people never receive a formal financial education. Financial literacy is often passed from parents to children, and these financial skills can make a huge difference to your child's future.

Wondering how to build financial savvy at home? Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Make money real: Credit cards, debit cards and virtual payments are so common that your teen may rarely see real money change hands. Bring them with you on trips to the bank, or have them sit with you as you balance a checkbook. These small chores remind kids that money is a part of your life - and not an unlimited resource. If your child receives an allowance, make sure it is tied to the completion of chores or other goals. Additionally, make sure they receive their allowance in cash - instead of gifts or money transfers - so they can visualize how much they have and how much they are spending.
• Save, spend, give: Maintaining a balance among saving, spending and giving is essential for a healthy financial life. Help your child budget her money into these three categories so she can learn to save long-term for things she wants, like college, a car, or a new outfit.
• Learn about interest: Take your child to the bank to set up checking and savings accounts. Then, do some practice calculations so he can see how his interest will compound over time. Discuss the differences between earning interest as you save and accumulating interest when you borrow.
• Invest: Learning about stocks and investments at a young age makes this strategy more accessible later in life. As your child divides her money into saving, spending and giving, give her the option to invest her savings. She may not be interested in Microsoft, but she'll likely be delighted to invest in Disney! Help her track her stocks to illustrate how investment can grow her earnings over time.
• Plan for college: If your student is college bound, it's important to talk early and often about how he plans to finance his education. Research 529 savings plans, assess part-time jobs, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of student loans. Sometimes, this conversation can be a tough one. If your student does not want to be saddled with decades of student loan payments, he may need to reconsider his dream school or desired career. However, there are many options for reducing the cost of college - from community college credits to athletic and merit-based scholarships.

Strong financial skills will benefit your child for the rest of his or her life. To learn what you and your teen can do now to build a strong financial foundation for the future, join us for a free, one-hour workshop for students and parents on Saturday, Jan. 26 at iLearn Academy. This event will cover budgeting, tax-advantaged college savings plans, credit scores, and long-term investing.
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Seating is limited; you can RSVP here.

If you have a student in high school, you've likely heard of the ACT. But do you understand its importance to your teen's college prospects?

The ACT is a standardized test that measures a student's knowledge of grade-level concepts in English, math, and reading. There is also a science section that tests students' data and graphical analysis skills.

Colleges use the ACT to create a "level playing field" for prospective students. Not all high schools receive the same funding and  use the same curricula, so tests like the ACT and SAT allow admissions officers to evaluate students using one standardized scale.

Of course, the ACT cannot truly be considered a level playing field, either. Students with more time to study and more access to instruction and materials will perform better and, therefore, have a leg up in college admissions.

That's why it's so important to help your student create a test preparation plan and earn the best scores possible.

College Benchmarks

Alongside grades and activities, colleges use ACT scores in admissions decisions. The more prestigious and selective the institution, the higher ACT score a student will need to get in. Most colleges list the average ACT and SAT scores of incoming freshmen on their admissions sites, like this page for Northwestern University.  

In addition to evaluating academic potential, colleges use ACT scores to determine a student's readiness for college coursework.
When students are not academically prepared for the rigors of college classes, they are at greater risk of spending extra money and time on remedial classes to catch up. Currently, 39 percent of students who enroll at a 4-year university require at least one remedial class. Since remedial classes do not count toward a degree, they make it more challenging for students to finish in four years - a concern, given the high cost of college.

Students who do not meet college readiness standards are also at greater risk for dropping out due to low grades. In 2018, the U.S Department of Education reported that 40 percent of students at public universities fail to earn a degree within six years.

In an effort to maintain strong graduation rates, admissions officers look closely at college readiness benchmarks like the ACT. The following are the scores that qualify a student as "college-ready" in each subject, according to ACT research:

• English: 18
• Mathematics: 22
• Reading: 22
• Science: 23
  
  

Scholarship Consideration

Many schools also use ACT scores for scholarship and merit-based aid consideration. Some even attach automatic aid amounts to certain ACT scores. For example,  students with a 34 on the ACT can receive a $22,000-per-year scholarship at Baylor University. At Clemson University, students with a 29 can receive an annual scholarship of 7,500, and higher scores can earn a student even more.

How to Prepare

The best way to prepare for any standardized test is incrementally.

The ACT measures a student's knowledge of standard high school  concepts, so, naturally, the best way to ace the test is to master class material and review frequently.

Of course, recalling 9th-grade math skills when you're in 12th grade is no easy task. Students should keep their notes from each class and each year, so they have material to review when it comes time for standardized tests. (This makes it especially important for students to use a pencil during math class and record their work!)

ACT.org has a small database of practice problems and instructional videos for students who need to brush up on certain concepts.

Another excellent way to prepare is to take an ACT prep course. That way, a knowledgeable instructor can identify which concepts a student needs to review and make sure he or she gets familiar with the test format and question types.

It's advantageous to take an ACT prep course, as opposed to studying on your own, because the structure of the course ensures that students use their study time productively and that no information slips through the cracks. It also allows students to take real ACT practice tests and get comfortable with the timing element, since a good tutoring center should  have a collection of real test materials.
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ACT scores are important. When it comes to your score, trust the experts at iLearn Academy. You can read about our test prep programs here.