Just a year ago, Fortune magazine reported that parents in 28 U.S. states spend more on childcare each year than on college tuition.

That's a lot of money. In fact, Illinois families spend anywhere from 15 to 19 percent of their annual income on childcare. 

Despite all this spending, most childcare options don't offer the services parents need, like homework help and enriching activities. 

That's why iLearn Academy is launching an after-school childcare program with built-in math, English and writing instruction. Drop off your child - or have us pick him up from school - any day of the week. We'll help him finish homework, serve a healthy snack, build math and English skills and spend time outdoors. When you pick him up, you'll have the evening to spend time as a family - homework free. 

We'll like to learn more about your childcare needs through this 1-minute survey. We'll even give you $25 off your next tutoring session for participating. As always, thank you for trusting us with your child's care and education.

The PSAT 8-9 is a standardized test that’s part of the SAT Suite of Assessments. Illinois students take the test in October of their 8th-grade year.
 
This test serves two purposes. First, it gives parents an idea of how their students are progressing in math and language arts. If a student gets a low percentile score, that’s a sign he may need some intervention to be ready for college placement tests like the SAT and ACT later on.
 
Second, PSAT 8-9 scores help teachers decide whether a student would benefit more from advanced, general or remedial math and English courses in 9th grade. This test, along with grades and teacher recommendations, determines your child’s academic trajectory as she transitions from middle to high school.
 
As such, it’s important that parents are aware of the PSAT 8-9 and its importance. If your student has the skill and desire to take advanced classes, it’s important that he prepares thoroughly for this test.
 
How to Prepare for the PSAT 8-9
 
The PSAT 8-9 has three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math.
 
The Reading test contains passages that students use to find and analyze claims and evidence, evaluate words in context, and examine hypotheses and data.
 
The Writing and Language test asks students to correct poorly written passages using their knowledge of grammar and syntax.
 
The Math test contains both multiple-choice and grid-in questions. It measures students’ Algebra skills, as well as their quantitative literacy (which includes ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning). All problems are word problems, and the test is divided into “calculator” and “no calculator” sections.
 
This is not a test students can prepare for overnight, or even in a few weeks. To excel, students need to get comfortable with not only the test content, but also the way the questions are formatted. The best way to do this is to complete real PSAT 8-9 practice tests with the help of an instructor who’s familiar with the exam.
 
Here are some helpful tips as your student prepares for the PSAT 8-9:

• Start early: Cramming for standardized tests doesn’t work, nor does going in cold. To help your student get her best score, introduce prep materials months before test day.
  
  
• Tackle small chunks: If your student starts preparing early, he can study for just a few hours each week. Prepare incrementally by reviewing notes, reading nonfiction, brushing up on pre-algebra concepts and parts of speech, and completing practice problems.
  
  
• Use real test materials: The format of standardized tests is often the trickiest part. Make sure your student is practicing PSAT-style word problems and passages in addition to reviewing concepts. Print off some PSAT 8-9 bubble sheets, so your student can practice filling them in.
  
  
• Use a timer: The PSAT 8-9 is a timed test, which can be intimidating. Using a timer during test prep helps your student get used to the ticking tock and relives pressure on test day.
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• Correct mistakes: Those practice tests won’t do much good if your student doesn’t go back and correct the problems he missed. As he grades his work, have him simply mark questions wrong instead of filling in the correct bubble. Then, he has the chance to adjust his work and find the right answer himself.

 
Why the PSAT 8-9 Is Important
 
The PSAT 8-9 helps determine high school class placement, and class placement helps determine college admissions.
 
For example, many collegiate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs prefer students who have completed AP calculus. If your child isn’t placed on an advanced math track, it can be difficult to get into an AP course and demonstrate high competency in math.
 
It also can be tricky to switch from general courses to advanced courses after placement. Talk to your student about her academic goals. Have her write down what she’d like to be or what she’d like to study, and map out the classes she’d need to take in high school to get there. If she wants to take advanced classes, have her communicate that to her teachers (it’s better if this comes from the student rather than parents). Teacher recommendations also play a role in high school class placement.
 
Starting in August, iLearn Academy offers weekly PSAT 8-9 test prep courses. Our knowledgeable instructors and large collection of real practice tests help students make measurable gains. We adjust our curriculum based on each student’s strengths and areas for improvement, so they get the most from their study time. Additionally, our Test Prep Gym program lets students come in whenever they want to take practice tests and get help from our tutors.
 
To find out your child’s PSAT 8-9 test date in Northbrook, Wilmette, Glenview, Skokie, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northfield, or Niles, ask your child’s teacher or check your school district’s testing calendar.  
 
To learn more or enroll in PSAT 8-9 prep, give us a call at 847-834-0791. 

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.