A New Testimonial

We can’t help it! We have to share these testimonials with you. The Tutor Doctor model is definitely helpful in many, many cases.

“We decided to use Tutor Doctor’s services over the summer leading up to Michael’s 3rd grade.  Michael has had an IEP since pre-school and started having anxiety in first grade.  His anxiety was directly affected by his need for help in school and not feeling confident that he could do what was asked of him.

“Allison Neal came to our house and did an initial assessment of Michael while he was in second grade.  She was very nice and Michael warmed up to her quickly.  After she did the assessment, she matched Michael up with a tutor who she thought would work best with Michael.

“We used a tutor with Tutor Doctor for 16 sessions throughout the summer.  We explained to Michael that this would help prepare him for 3rd grade.  Michael does not transition easily but seemed to want to learn from his tutor and was very responsive.  Keep in mind that this is a child who has said many times that he would never want to go to summer school.  One of the best things that Tutor Doctor offered us was that all the tutoring was done in our home where Michael felt most comfortable.  By the end of the summer, Michael was not only feeling more confident but was actually looking forward to going to 3rd grade.

“Working with Allison and Tutor Doctor was such a great experience.  The tutor she matched us up with was very helpful and a good fit for Michael.  We are so thankful that we used the tutoring services because it helped Michael continue to learn and also gave him the confidence he needed going into a new grade.  Many people have commented how secure Michael is and that is so wonderful to hear.

“We would recommend Tutor Doctor to anyone who would like to give their child an opportunity to learn outside of school and feel more confident.  Thank you Allison for taking us through this process.  It has been a pleasure working with you.”

Sincerely,
Jamie and Tom Willett
February 2011

February Newsletter

Are you a Great Parent? Now there’s a tough question for you! First you have to ask yourself, “What does a great parent look like?” A great parent can take on a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, forms, ideas, ideals, cultural beliefs, and opinions. A dear friend once said to me, “When I come back in another life I want you to be my mother.”  I thought, “What a great compliment.” This was coming from a person, however, who grew up in a very tough environment with alcoholic parents, abuse and poverty. Almost anything stable and nurturing was vastly better. But it was still nice to hear! I feel a great parent is someone who is present in their child’s life, for the good and the bad. Someone who is willing to celebrate the achievements but also be there to hold your hand through life’s tough lessons. Someone to take you sledding on Saturdays and go down the big hill laughing till your sides hurt. Someone who will listen to your music in the car even though you are generations apart. I believe being a great parent doesn’t take a lot of money or even time. It’s paying attention to the little nuances that make your child so very unique and special. Educating yourself on how to be their cheerleader and the navigator of their life until it is time for them to take the wheel. And why not enjoy the journey yourself along the way? This month I share some articles to keep you in the know for your child at any age. As always, if you have something to contribute, visit my TutorDoctor Blog or send me a note at aneal@tutordoctor.com. Sincerely, Allison Neal aneal@tutordoctor.com Allison of Tutor Doctor NH

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In The News

New York Times (February 4, 2011): It May Be a Sputnik Moment, but Science Fairs Are Lagging by Amy Harmon Rarely have school science fairs, a source of pride and panic for generations of American students, achieved such prominence on the national stage. President Obama held one at the White House last fall. And last week he said that America should celebrate its science fair winners like Sunday’s Super Bowlchampions, or risk losing the nation’s competitive edge.

“To say that we need engineers and ‘this is our Sputnik moment’ is meaningless if we have no time to teach students how to do science,” said Dean Gilbert, the president of the Los Angeles County Science Fair, referring to a line in President Obama’s State of the Union address last week. The Los Angeles fair, though still one of the nation’s largest, now has 185 schools participating, down from 244 a decade ago. (read more)

CNN.com (February 14, 2011): President Obama Requests $4.5 billion Increase for Education in 2012. The $77.4 billion request will be spent on reforms, teacher training for STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind.

President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal for education is one of the few areas that actually show a significant increase — to the tune of $4.5 billion, compared with the proposal for 2011.

“It is time we asked why increasing the federal government’s role in education has failed to improve student achievement,” added Kline, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee. (read more)

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Health and Your Student

School Health Centers Improve Grades UPI.com About 1,900 U.S. school-based health centers that deliver comprehensive healthcare to students are improving academic success, a non-profit group says.

High-school SBHC users had a 50 percent decrease in absenteeism and 25 percent decrease in tardiness two months after receiving school-based mental health counseling, Juszczak says. (read more) (here’s the link: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/02/03/School-health-centers-improve-grades/UPI-51511296712094/ )

New Study Finds that Pesticides Double the Risk of ADHD in Our Children by Tony Isaacs  For years environmentalists and natural health advocates have been trying to point out that organophosphate pesticides (malathion, etc.) work by disrupting the neurological systems of insects, and therefore humans who consume it on foods are at risk of neurological problems. Now, after millions of kids have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), it is finally being admitted.

In a study published in Pediatrics, researchers from the University of Montreal and Harvard University found evidence strongly indicating that pesticides could be a major cause of the alarming rise in ADHD in our children. Children who had high than average biomarkers for organophosphate pesticides were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Previous studies found that pesticides may contribute to hyperactivity and cognitive problems in animals, but the new study is among the first to determine that it affects humans, too. (read more)

Energy Drinks Can Harm Children

American Academy of Pediatrics

Energy drinks may pose a risk for serious adverse health effects in some chldren, especially those with diabetes, seizures, cardiac abnormalities or mood and behavior disorders.

A new study, “Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults,” in the March issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 14), determined that energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit to children, and both the known and unknown properties of the ingredients, combined with reports of toxicity, may put some children at risk for adverse health events. (read more)

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Keep the Focus on Math.  You Won’t Regret It!

This month continues to be a month of Math focus for my families. I have clients challenged with Algebra 1, Geometry, College Algebra, Honors level and College Prep, SAT math, as well as the everyday math in elementary school. Too often our students are pushed through a course to stay on track for a bigger goal but never build that solid foundation of math skills to guarantee a successful future with math. Even if your student is getting that B, test scores may not be telling the whole picture.

Our programs ensure your student never goes to the next level without mastering the first. We will go back and fill in those missing gaps while your student stays current with his or her classroom expectations. Call now for a free consultation before the school year is over: 603.953.5025.

Here are 3 more great websites to help

teachingstuff.com abcteach.com mathfactcafe.com

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Be Sure to see us at These Events

February 26 – 4th Annual Autism & Asperger’s Exposition. Brought to you by the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Training of Antioch University New England. This event brings together professionals in the field of ASD; family members and individuals with an autism spectrum disorder; students, faculty and alumni of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate Program; and the general public for an afternoon of great presentations and conversation.  This event starts at 12:00 and more information can be found at Antioch University

March 5 – Parenting NH Summer Camp Expo This free event, being held in Portsmouth at the Sheraton Harborside, gives parents an opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 50 camps and summer programs from around the country. Information on all types of camps — traditional day, camps abroad, sports and dance programs, education, traveling, and much more — will be available.  Come visit the Tutor Doctor booth for creative summer learning options. For more information visit www.parentingnh.com

March 11 – Dover Chamber Education Breakfast Forum Sponsored by theDover Chamber’s Education Committee, this Forum event is entitled “21st Century Skills and How They Fit in the Workplace.” The session is intended for business members, educators and other interested parties, and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Stuart Kahl, President & CEO of Measured Progress. A full breakfast will be served prepared by the  Dover High School Career Technical Center culinary staff and students. Cost to attend is $15 for members and $20 for not-yet members. Early registration is encouraged to reserve your spot.

March 12 – Partnerships for Education Conference 2011 This conference will explore the power of family-school-community partnerships to improve outcomes for NH students. Topics include Bullying in NH, Crucial Skills for Life After High School,  Math Is Your Friend, and many more great workshops. Come visit the Tutor Doctor booth for more great giveaways. Visit the Parent Information Center website for upcoming details at www.picnh.org

March 18 – Newport Montessori School Spring Symposium More details to come from Newport Montessori School

March 22 – Seacoast Charter School Outreach Breakfast 8:00 am at the school located at 13 Church Street, Kingston, NH. This event will introduce business leaders in New Hampshire to the school and to the important and innovative work that the SCCS and other charter schools in New Hampshire are doing. To attend or get more information contact Bill Wilmot at bill@seacoastcharterschool.org

April 3 – Great Bay Half Marathon Health, Fitness & Community Expo12:00-5:00 pm at the Newmarket High School. More detail to come. Tutor Doctor will be there, so stop by!

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A Truly Complimentary Testimonial

February 2, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

We have been using our Tutor Doctor for our 6-year old son for about 6 months.   He was behind in school throughout kindergarten and into 1st grade.  I noticed in kindergarten that something wasn’t clicking and he wasn’t making the connection between letters, their sounds, and combining them into words.  He became very frustrated because he was trying so hard and just couldn’t get it.  Not being educators, we had no idea how to help him and when we brought it up to his teachers, they did not have a lot of suggestions.

Allison came out to our home and evaluated our son.  She determined that he was having a difficult time learning when information was presented in a purely auditory fashion, as is usually done in a classroom.  She suggested a tutor that she felt would mesh with his personality who could teach him in a way that would involve visual and tactile cues.

Our tutor came to our home and hit it off with our son.  Brigid employed the use of tri-colored dice to help our son to sound out words.  At the end of the first session, he was reading simple Consonant-Vowel-Consonant words!  I was in the next room and after I heard him reading a few words, I had to come in.  I couldn’t believe it – it was literally like a key had unlocked whatever was in his brain and it suddenly made sense to him.  I swear I am not lying when I say that I had tears in my eyes.

Homework has gone from being an anger-filled hour long process to 15 minutes of quiet time together.  He no longer whines in the morning that he doesn’t want to go to school.  When he is in the classroom and being taught something new, he is able to refer back to the methods he learned from his tutor.  We are now at the point where he is caught up and our tutor is preparing him for what is to come.

Brigid came to our parent teacher conference so she could be on the same page and she along with Allison have been extremely helpful while we are wading through the Special Ed/IEP process.  We could not be happier or more grateful for the help we’ve received.  I would recommend Tutor Doctor to anyone who has a child who is struggling in school.

I would be happy to speak with anyone to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Boyle
Newfields, NH

Disrupting Class

I am presently reading a book recommended to me by several education professionals, Disrupting Class by Clayton M. Christensen, Michael B. Horn & Curtis W. Johnson. This book addresses the concern that for America to stay competitive – academically, economically, and technologically – we need to re-evaluate our educational system and reinvigorate our commitment to learning.

 

"How disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns."

 

I highly recommend all parents and educators read this book if only to open our minds to alternative choices for educating our children. I have been preaching for the past 5 years that if we recognize we are all unique individuals, then we must shift our classrooms to accommodate this belief. This is the core of how Tutor Doctor approaches learning and each of our clients. This month’s newsletter gives you some great articles to ponder over, some really fun math resources, and a special offer for my readers.

Your Child Left Behind – Atlantic Article

Amanda Ripley reports on a study that ranks the US quite low on a standardized math test, weighted for diversity and income. Taking the 50 states as an entity, as if each were a separate country, Massachusetts ranks 17th in the world. Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/fjubUs. In Taiwan, 28% of the students performed at the advanced level. In New Hampshire, 6.5%. The article concludes that Massachusetts, after a decade of educational reforms, is doing a better job than all other states.

I’d love to hear your comments.

November Newsletter

What the Heck! Homework?

Just when you thought it was safe to help your kids with homework, they change all the rules. If you are like many households, “homework” has become a four letter word. No longer can the average adult sit down with their 5th grader or 11th grader and help with math, their science project or their book essay. Our childrens’ courses are more advanced than when we were in grade school to start with. The teacher expectations and grading systems change not only from school to school but classroom to classroom. As parents, we often feel powerless to help and assist on any given subject matter.

With first semester grades out in many schools, your students have set the stage for another successful or painful year. This issue is dedicated to the devoted parents who want to be a help to their child and support and understand their efforts. Don’t give up just yet. There are many ways to help and make a difference. Opening up lines of communication with the teachers, and understanding their expectations is half your battle.

Earlier this month I completed a certification from the state of New Hampshire to conduct a parent workshop on Helpful Homework Hints. This workshop helps parents understand their roles and responsibilities, communication tools, how to get and stay organized at home, and the keys to studying to learn and remember. I welcome any invitation to book me to present this workshop free to your group. As always, if you have something to contribute, please feel free, or send me a note at aneal@tutordoctor.com.

Sincerely,
Allison Neal
aneal@tutordoctor.com; www.tutordoctor.com/aneal

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In The News

New Hampshire Department of Education (November 10,2010): The Grade 12 Reading and Mathematics results for 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) demonstrate that New Hampshire students, as a whole, perform near the top in Reading and Mathematics compared to the nation and the ten other states participating in the Grade 12 Pilot for NAEP 2009. The National Assessment of Educational Progress is also commonly known as “the Nation’s Report Card,” and is conducted at both the state and the national level. This assessment has been focusing on what America’s students know and are capable of doing in various subject areas since 1969. For the first time in the history of the NAEP assessment program, state-level data was collected for Grade 12 schools participating in the Grade 12 NAEP Pilot.

In Reading, the average score and achievement levels for New Hampshire Grade 12 students were significantly higher than the national averages and not significantly different from six other states that participated in the Grade 12 Pilot. In Mathematics, the average score and achievement levels were also significantly higher than the national averages and not significantly different from two other states that participated in the Grade 12 Pilot. (read more)

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Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits

New York Times (September 5, 2010): Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space.  Stick to a homework schedule.  Set goals.  Set boundaries.

There are effective approaches to learning, at least for those who are motivated.  In recent years, cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve what matters most: how much a student learns from studying.

“We have known these principles for some time, and it’s intriguing that schools don’t pick them up, or that people don’t learn them by trial and error,” said Robert A. Bjork, a psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Instead, we walk around with all sorts of unexamined beliefs about what works that are mistaken.” (read more)

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The Dancing Parent: Navigating Homework Hell, Part

The Huffington Post (November 22, 2010): Let’s begin by acknowledging that there are students who take satisfaction in doing their homework, and who, without any special prompting from mom or dad, come home each day and get to work. If their parents could bottle whatever it is that makes their kids do that, their profits would make Bill Gates’ money look like sofa change.

Because for most parents, homework is far more likely to be a nightly tug-of-war, continually demanding the exhausting, alternating roles of cop, psychologist, warden, motivational speaker, spy, cheerleader, hall monitor or a Darth Vader taskmaster — leaving many moms and dads wondering if sleeping at the office might be an altogether better plan.

The good news? A new or revised approach to your child and his or her homework, informed by a deeper understanding of what your child-student may be experiencing in connection with doing his or her homework, can, and often does, work increasing wonders. (read more)

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SAT or ACT?

It used to be the SAT was the only game in town to get into Colleges and Universities.  Now most higher education institutions accept both SAT and ACT. I suggest you first check the colleges you want to gain admission to and see if they accept both. The best place to do this is on Collegeboard.com. Since both tests are quite different, it becomes very important to select the test best to leverage the expertise of a student.  Read this article “Five top points to help determine which test to take” to help answer the question of SAT or ACT for me?

2011 SAT and ACT test dates are out.  If your students plans to take the March 12, 2011 SAT, now is the time to think about signing them up for SAT test prep.  We have a great one-on-one program that addresses your students specific areas of need for this important test.  Call for a free consultation now through December 31st and receive your first session free (a $60 value)! 603.953.5025

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Be Sure to See Us at These Events

November 15 – 19 – National Education Week

November 30 – Oyster River Middle School Holiday Bazaar.  4:00 – 8:00 pm. Come join us for a wonderful, local shopping experience that can’t be beat – artisans, crafters, jewelry makers, potters, eco-goods, beautiful bags, and MANY more gift-giving ideas. There’s food and entertainment to boot! We plan to have holiday music performed by Oyster River Strings from 6 – 6:30pm and a most amazing local a Capella group – yes, right from Durham – from 7-8 pm.  You must stop by the Tutor Doctor booth and enter to win a gift card for 4 hours of tutoring. For more info visit Whofish.com

December 2 – Exeter Holiday Open House, 4:00 – 8:00 pm. Santa Claus arrives at 5 p.m. to magically turn on Exeter’s holiday lights. Horse-drawn hay wagon rides, shopping at local stores and a variety of additional community events round out the evening:Festival of Trees & Auction at Town Hall – 11 a.m.-8 p.m, Gingerbread House Contest ( Tutor Doctor will have a special gingerbread house on display) 11 a.m.-8 p.m, Holiday Bazaar (4-7 p.m.); live nativity scene (4-5:30 p.m.)  For more information go to Exeter Area Chamber

December 3 – Dover Festival of Trees, 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Nearly two dozen beautifully decorated trees to view. Be sure to make a visit to the Tutor Doctor Tree!  If you love one and want to take it home, participate in the silent auction! Live music, hot cocoa and holiday treats. Free and open to the public at the Dover City Hall.  For more information visit Dover Chamber.

December 11- Support On Belay and Build your Own Gingerbread House, 11:00 – 4:00 pm. You are invited to attend a fun event sponsored by On Belay.  This is the second annual gingerbread house event… and the day will end with prizes!  Supplies will be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own candy, etc. for decorating. Get all the details at On Belay

December 24 – Winter break begins for most schools and goes till January 2, 2011

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.tutordoctor.com/aneal

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October Newsletter

“The Frost is on the Pumpkin!”

That was my favorite chirp my Mom always gave when waking on the morning after the first frost. I have so many wonderful memories of my school years. Sadly, many students fear going to school due to the prevalence of bullying. Every school has them, as mine did when I was growing up. I was taught: “stand up to them and they will back down.” That isn’t always the best advice these days, as our bullies are more aggressive and fearless in their taunting. I believe that bullies are made not born. I have seen firsthand, with students who have resorted to home schooling, the devastating, emotional impact bullying has had on them.

October is National Bullying Awareness Month. I have dedicated this issue to bringing you information, resources, and events focused on understanding this sad behavior. If you have something to contribute visit my TutorDoctor Blog or send me a note at aneal@tutordoctor.com/aneal.

Sincerely,

Allison Neal
603.953.5025
aneal@tutordoctor.com

Be sure to check out or website for more information and Special Offers.

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In The News

ABC News (October 15, 2010): School bullying is epidemic and turning deadly.  Click on this site to watch victim stories, get resources and more information and find out why kids become bullies. (read more)

USA Today (October 6, 2010): Teenage bullying is as old as the schoolyards where it happens. But where bullies once went home at the end of the school day, today they torment their targets at all hours through Internet portals and cellphones.
There’s no single, simple way to prevent cyber-cruelty so severe that the victims see no escape. Updated harassment laws, tougher enforcement, education and parental supervision all have a role.

But one untapped approach is to try to harness the same technology that facilitates the cruelty as a way to combat it. If fighting back against bullies is a tim eless way to silence them, perhaps what’s needed is a heavy dose of cyber-disgrace, imposed not by law but virally by more mature and responsible students. (read more)

The New York Times (June 27, 2010): Schools these days are confronted with complex questions on whether and how to deal with cyberbullying, an imprecise label for online activities ranging from barrages of teasing texts to sexually harassing group sites. The extent of the phenomenon is hard to quantify. But one 2010 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, an organization founded by two criminologists who defined bullying as “willful and repeated harm” inflicted through phones and computers, said one in five middle-school students had been affected.

Affronted by cyberspace’s escalation of adolescent viciousness, many parents are looking to schools for justice, protection, even revenge. But many educators feel unprepared or unwilling to be prosecutors and judges.  (read more)
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School Bullying Statistics

I found these statistics startling and had to share them with you. (read them all)

•    1 out of 4 kids is bullied.
•    77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally & physically
•    8% of students miss 1 day of class per month for fear of bullies
•    43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school
•    100,000 students carry a gun to school
•    28% of youths who carry weapons have witnessed violence at home

North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Center for the Prevention of School Violence Statistics compiled by Kathy Knoll at: http://hometown.aol.com/kthynol

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Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying

An excellent on-line resource for parents and students that addresses all questions and concerns about connecting safely on-line is Connectsafely.org.

Their tips to help stop cyberbullying give some good advice to teens
Don’t respond…Don’t retaliate….Save the evidence….Talk to a trusted adult…Block the bully…Be civil…Don’t be a bully…Be a friend , not a bystander. (read in detail)
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Did you know that Tutor Doctor also does Home Schooling?

Choosing to go the road of home schooling can be an exciting, challenging, rewarding and sometimes scary one.  The educators at Tutor Doctor have experience with this road and can help your family navigate the twists and turns along the way. Whether you are just starting on your journey or have been home schooling for years, every day presents new challenges and questions that Tutor Doctor can support you through.  Call today for a free in home consultation 603.953.5025 or visit us at www.tutordoctor.com/aneal

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Let’s Get Serious About Those Study Habits

By investing just one or two hours per week your student can master the art of homework, test taking, and study skills. We offer programs that complement and reinforce the classroom learning because we partner with your teachers and target not only what your student needs but what their teacher expects. Your sessions are scheduled around their busy agendas, one on one instruction to meet your student’s specific learning style! Call now for a free assessment and build your program before second semester begins and receive $50 off any bundle of 12 hours or more with mention of this newsletter. 603.953.5025.

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Be Sure to See Us at These Events

October 20 – “The Doctor is In” Chamber series. Dr. Don Conant from Seacoast Family Chiropractic will speak on de-stressing back to school for both parents and children. Learn what constitutes a healthy response to the challenges that go with a normal childhood and keeping your children healthy. www.exeterarea.org

October 26 – Newmarket School to Career Partnership, Community Breakfast.  7:15-9:00 am at the Stone Church in Newmarket. Students, Educators and Community interacting to discover and explore career options.  For more information or to reserve a spot contact Nancy Winterbottom at winterbottom@newmarket.k12.nh.us

October 27 – “The Doctor is In” Chamber series. Claudia Boozer-Blasco from UNH presents What Everyone Should Know About Bullying. Bullying in our schools and in our society is a much more damaging and dangerous experience for children than we ever suspected.This program gives parents a clear understanding of the impact in their school and their community; helps them identify common signs that their child may be a victim or perpetrator; provides parents with a clear, concise strategy for talking to their child. www.exeterarea.org

October 28 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training. Come hear Pete Wright talk about special education law, rights and responsibilities; tests and measurements to measure progress and regression; SMART IEP’s; and strategies for effective advocacy. Come visit our booth in the vendor area. www.wrightslaw.com

October 30 – One of the largest craft fairs in New Hampshire featuring over 150 of the best crafters in New England. Open 9 am – 3 pm at the Somersworth High School. www.nhfestivals.org

November 5 – Registration deadline for December 4 SAT

November 6 – SAT and subjects tests

November 15 – 19 – National Education Week

The Problem of Bullying in School

“The Frost is on the Pumpkin!”

That was my favorite chirp my Mom would always give when waking on the morning after the first frost. I have so many wonderful memories of my school years. Sadly, many students fear going to school due to the prevalence of bullying. Every school has them, as mine did when I was growing up. I was taught “stand up to them and they will back down.” That isn’t always the best advice these days, as our bullies are more aggressive and fearless in their taunting. I believe that bullies are made not born. I have seen firsthand, with students who have resorted to home schooling, the devastating, emotional impact bullying has had on them.

October is National Bullying PreventionAwareness Month. I have dedicated this issue to bringing you information, resources and events focused on understanding this sad behavior. If you have something to contribute visit my TutorDoctor NH Blog or send me a note at aneal@tutordoctor.com.

Sincerely,

Allison Neal

aneal@tutordoctor.com

School Bullying Statistics

I found these statistics startling and had to share them with you. (read them all)

• 1 out of 4 kids is bullied.
• 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally & physically
• 8% of students miss 1 day of class per month for fear of bullies
• 43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school
• 100,000 students carry a gun to school
• 28% of youths who carry weapons have witnessed violence at home

North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Center for the Prevention of School Violence Statistics compiled by Kathy Knoll at: http://hometown.aol.com/kthynol

Tips to Help Stop Cyberbullying

An excellent on-line resource for parents and students that addresses all questions and concerns about connecting safely on-line is Connectsafely.org.

Their tips to help stop cyberbullying give some good advice to teens:

Don’t respond…Don’t retaliate….Save the evidence….Talk to a trusted adult…Block the bully…Be civil…Don’t be a bully…Be a friend, not a bystander. (read in detail)

Waiting for Superman

The Economist published an article about this new documentary in this week’s edition (October 2, 2010). And while you need a subscription to read the whole article, here’s an excerpt that shows how interesting this documentary promises to be:

“FOR America’s children the education system is often literally a lottery. That is the main message of a new documentary about America’s schools, “Waiting for ‘Superman’.” Made by the team that gave us “An Inconvenient Truth”, and supported with the sort of marketing budget that other documentary makers can only dream of, it is intended to create a surge in public support for education reform at least as great as the clamour to do something about climate change generated (for a while) by Al Gore’s eco-disaster flick.” The Economist, October 2nd – 8th 2010

To see more, take a look at the Trailer and Official Site for Waiting for Superman. The Nation has published a review and commentary on the movie that is not quite so glowing. And here’s the Christian Science Monitor’s review.

Very basically, the documentary implies that Charter Schools are the nation’s educational system’s only hope; and that teachers unions are detrimental to progress in our schools.

What is your opinion?

We all recognize some form of problem, and thus Tutor Doctor’s winning philosophy that kids learn in different ways and can be enormously helped by one-on-one, in-home tutoring sessions with highly trained, expert professionals.

Want to talk in private? Give me a call for a free consultation. We can even talk about Waiting for Superman!

603.953.5025

Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits

Wait! Doesn’t this turn upside down everything we knew about studying ?

Here’s a New York Times article by Benedict Carey (NYT, September 6, 2010) that describes new findings that may be of great help to a lot of struggling students and their parents.

“Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video-bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).

“And check out the classroom. Does Junior’s learning style match the new teacher’s approach? Or the school’s philosophy? Maybe the child isn’t “a good fit” for the school.

“Such theories have developed in part because of sketchy education research that doesn’t offer clear guidance. Student traits and teaching styles surely interact; so do personalities and at-home rules. The trouble is, no one can predict how.” (read more here…)