Summer Learning Loss is Real: Summer Camps at Think! are the Solution

According to the New Jersey State Department of Education, summer learning loss is real.  “Research reported by John Hopkins National Center for Summer Learning states that: It is important for students to keep their skills up to avoid loss of confidence and self-esteem when school starts in September. Many students feel overwhelmed by the work load after three months of summer vacation.” Ms. Kim at Think Tutoring sees this every September. “I have students that just come for tutoring during the school year, take a 3-month break for summer, and come back to tutoring in September…I sometimes feel like I am going back to square one.”

Think Tutoring believes that practicing math, reading, and writing skills over the summer is the way to go.  Think Tutoring offers a variety of summer camps, workshops, STEM, programs, and assessment days.  We also have individualized and customized tutoring programs.

Call 973-593-0050 or email us at kim.hermanns@thinktutoring.com to register.  Keep your child confident and motivated this summer.  You will then see As on his/her report card next year!

Summer special offerings below!

Stay in the Mix! Think Summer Camp!	Set Your Own Schedule!
STEM Camp	July 16-19
Free SAT and ACT Assessments	June 28 & 29, July 9 & 10
Study Skills Workshop (First Session)	Aug  6 - 9
Free ISEE and SSAT Assessments	July 23 and 30
Intro SAT Reading Class	July 31
Intro SAT Math Class	August 1
College Application Essay Workshop	August 13
Intro ACT Math/Science Class	August 14
Intro ACT Reading/English Class	August 15
Study Skills Workshop (Second Session)	August 20 - 23
Algebra I, II and Geometry Jump Start	Set Your Own Schedule!
Persuasive Writing Strategies	Set Your Own Schedule!

Engage your Child. Reading Time.

I read to my two babies every night.  My first born just turned two years old.  My second born just turned eleven months old.  Our days are jammed packed with activities and I know that it gets worse as children get older.  Our kids are off to soccer practice, baseball, field hockey, CCD, language classes, play dates, homework club, tutoring, and more.  The list doesn’t stop.  However, one activity that needs to be on the to-do list every day is reading time.  We call it “book time” in my house.

Here are 5 Ways to Incorporate “Book Time” into your Home.

1.       Add to your nighttime routine.  My nighttime routine consists of making dinner, baths, pajamas, eating dinner, a little TV watching, and then “book time.”  This is my favorite part of the evening.  It is a special bonding time to have with your children just before bed.  I know that my kids are still babies, but I feel like reading is even more essential at elementary and middle school age.

2.       A reading chair/corner.  Some kids need a little persuasion to read.  A reading chair or corner is a great idea to make reading fun.  A child can even decorate it how he/she wants.

3.        Modeling. Sometimes a child finds reading very difficult and gets discouraged.  The modeling technique is the perfect solution to build confidence in reading.  You read a sentence to your child.  Then, have your child read the same sentence back to you.  He is now practicing his phonics skills and sight word vocabulary.

4.       Reading games.  Again, we want to make reading fun.  My favorite reading game is to take blocks and make word dice out of them.  You tape the words to the blocks.  Roll the “dice”.  Now, you have a game.  Instead of boring flashcards, give this game a try.

5.       Reading Apps/YouTube.  My favorite app and/or Youtube channel is ABC Mouse.  The App/website does have a monthly subscription fee; however, you can watch their YouTube Videos for free.  You can practice letters, phonics skills, and sight words.

I encourage all of our students at Think Tutoring to have reading time in their home.  If your child needs more assistance with reading, we would love to help.  Call Think Tutoring for a reading assessment today at 973-593-0050.

Students Weak in Reading: What is an Inference?

As a tutor for nine years, I get this question a lot.  One of my students will always ask, “What is an inference?” 

If I gave the textbook definition, “a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning,” the student would look at me as if I had two heads.

Students need to infer in every subject area: reading, math (word problems), science (experimental outcomes), and social studies.  It allows children and even adults to a find a deeper, hidden meaning in the stories we read.

Instead of giving the textbook definition, I go through these simple steps during a tutoring session.

1. Relate to the Student 

Question: If your best friend (Insert Name), comes to school with you one day and he is holding his stomach, sweaty, pale, and didn’t come to school with you the next day, what can you infer?

Answer: He is sick!

2. Relate to Life

Question:  What necessary skill does a detective need to solve a crime?

Answer: He needs to infer!

3. Relate to Reading

An inference is an educated guess.  As a student, your job is to take all the clues in the passage just like a detective and come up with the best answer.

4. Practice

Now, it is time to start reading passages and practice inference questions.

I also remind students that inference questions can look different. Be on the lookout for other words such as conclude, imply, guess, assume, predict, suggest, and even analogous.

At Think Tutoring, our students learn and master inference skills starting in Pre-K and work on this comprehension skill until our students leave Think Tutoring in 12^th grade.  Think Tutoring is offering 15% off our reading programs for the month of March. 

Call 973-593-0050 for more information. Exclusions apply.

Prevent Summer Learning Loss: Summer camps and summer tutoring

According to OnlineCollege.org, research is showing that "for some kids, a few months off in the summer can lead to major setbacks in school, including loss of knowledge and lowered test scores."

Think Tutoring It is important for students to keep their skills up to avoid loss of confidence and self-esteem when school starts in September.  Many students feel overwhelmed by the work load after three months of summer vacation.

Think Tutoring believes that practicing math, reading, and writing skills over the summer is the way to go.  Think Tutoring is offering a variety of summer camps, workshops, programs, and assessment days.  We are also keeping our individualized tutoring programs.

Call 973-593-0050 or email us at info@thinktutoring.com to register.  Keep your child confident and motivated for summer.  You will then see As on his report card come September!

 See what we have to offer below!

Stay in the Mix! Think Summer Camp!	Set Your Own Schedule!
Free SAT and ACT Assessments	July 10 and 11
Study Skills Workshop (First Session)	July 17 - 20
Free ISEE and SSAT Assessments	July 24 and 25
Intro SAT Reading Class	July 31
Intro SAT Math Class	August 1
College Application Essay Workshop	August 7
Intro ACT Math/Science Class	August 14
Intro ACT Reading/English Class	August 15
Study Skills Workshop (Second Session)	August 21 - 24
Algebra I, II and Geometry Jump Start	Set Your Own Schedule!
Persuasive Writing Strategies	Set Your Own Schedule!

Our Kids’ New Year’s Resolutions: Tutor, Tutor, Tutor

As adults, we always make a New Year’s resolution.  We need to eat healthier, lose weight, spend more time with the kids, take a vacation, or to just drink a hot cup of coffee.  Whatever your New Year’s resolution is, we do our best to succeed.  However, when it comes to these resolutions, we often fail.

New Year's Resolutions

We forget that our children also make New Year’s resolutions.  At Think Tutoring, I have been hearing our students say, “I want to learn more; I want to get an A in math.”  It is so fulfilling to hear.  However, it is our job as parents and teachers to help fulfill these amazing New Year’s goals.  We don’t want to see our kids fail.  In fact, at Think Tutoring, we want to see them succeed: to boost their confidence and master new skills.

According to Parents Magazine, for kids, the top New Year’s Resolution (number 1) is to learn new things.  The article mentions a kindergartener who wants to learn new sight words.  It is amazing to hear that a kindergartener has this passion and will to read.  The number two New Year’s resolution is to improve education.  One of students at Think Tutoring even stated, “I want to be success points champion and get my name on the Success Points Hall of Fame.”  In order to do this, our students need to put in great effort, work cooperatively, and get consistent A’s and B’s on their work.  This is truly an amazing goal.

If you want your child to succeed in his New Year’s resolution, make sure to call Think Tutoring at 973-593-0050 for an assessment.  You can also email us at info@thinktutoring.com

We can pinpoint your student’s weaknesses in math, reading, language arts and writing.  We can then turn their weaknesses into strengths and he will be on the path to accomplishing his New Year’s resolution.  

Think Tutoring Hall of Fame

Good Luck on your New Year's Resolution!!!