What is the ACT?

According to the ACT website (http://www.actstudent.org/faq/what.html)

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in:

English Mathematics Reading Science

The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test.

ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the US.

The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing).

The ACT is administered on six test dates within the US, US territories, Puerto Rico, and Canada. In other locations, the ACT is administered on five test dates.

The basic registration fee includes score reports for up to four college choices, if you list valid codes when you register.

The ACT tests are prepared according to the:

Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education (1999).
Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement, National Council on Measurement in Education (1995).

Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education, Joint Committee on Testing Practices (2004).

This week we will be providing you with tools for success on the ACT. The test is this Saturday so we want to wish each of you that will take the exam much success and hopefully you will be able to use some of our tips.

Happy Testing!!!!!

Nashville Learning Center Summer Camp Spotlight: STEM Camp

Nashville Learning Center's newest camp is a STEM Camp and it will be a great camp for anyone interested in any of the STEM fields.

STEM Camp combines hands-on and virtual labs, engineering challenges, digital investigations, interactive videos, and career connections designed to engage students in STEM topics and connect them to specific careers.

"Building STEM literacy among America's next generation of leaders is critical to meet the global challenges that lie ahead and prepare students for tomorrow's careers," said Discovery Education CEO Bill Goodwyn. "We know that learning doesn't stop when the class bell rings. After-school hours and summer months provide valuable opportunities to engage and excite students.

#nashlearn
#summercamp
#summerenrichment
#STEMCamp
#science
#technology
#engineering
#math

Nashville Learning Center Summer Camp Spotlight: Brain Boot Camp

Nashville Learning Center also offers a Brain Boot Camp. Below you will find additional information on this camp:

Middle school can be an exhilarating but tough time for students. Middle school students must adjust to new environments, become more responsible for self and deal with increased workloads. Organization Skills Boot Camp will give your child the skills, self-confidence and individual attention needed for success that will assist them in and out of the classroom.
Your child will learn how to:

• Stay and get organized
• Time-management skills
• How to study
• How to take notes (Cornell Method)
• How to prepare for tests
• Set goals for the upcoming school year

#nashlearn
#summercamp
#summerenrichment
#brainbootcamp
#timemanagement
#organization
#notetaking
#studyskills

Nashville Learning Center Summer Camp Spotlight: Mathemagic Camp

Nashville Learning Center offers 3 Summer Camps at different locations during the summer months. This spotlight is on our Mathemagic Camp:
 
You will be amazed how fun math can be at Mathemagic Camp. Work your magic this week as we challenge each other in games and tricks to sharpen our math skills. The Mathemagic program teaches problem solving, focusing, concentration, and thinking outside of the box. This program teaches the utilization of both parts of the brain to function at the same time while memorizing, processing, and sorting information. Join our staff for this fun week of math and learning.

For more information give us a call at 615-450-6NLC (6652)
#nashvillelearn
#summercamp
#mathemagic
#summerfun
#mathcamp

Summer Camps

Over the next several days we will be providing you with information on our summer camps. If you want more information or would like to enroll your child please visit our website at www.nashvillelearn.com.

#summerenrichment
#nashvillelearn
#Mathemagic
#STEMCamp
#BrainBootCamp

How to Avoid Summer Learning Loss

Most parents think that if their children relax during summer break whether that is through vacationing, sleeping, playing video games, or just doing whatever they choose that their child will be well-rested and ready to start the school year off with a bang!

Unfortunately this is so far from the truth students can lose anywhere from he last 2 to 3 months of what they learned in the previous school year. So to put that into perspective if your child gets out of school at the end of May they can lose everything that they learned from March -May if they are not receiving some type of academic enrichment during the summer months.That is a huge heaping of information that your child is losing. How can you avoid the summer learning loss? It is simple enroll them in summer enrichment or an academic summer camp or work with them yourself on enrichment. Over the next few days we will provide you with information on our summer enrichment/ camp programs as well as give you some tips on what you can work on with your children.

Some of the things you can do are as follows:

• Make time for learning - incorporate learning in everything that you do with your child but also set aside some time for just learning such as reading 30 minutes per day or working on Math 30 minutes per day.
• As the teacher for the standards that will be covered the next school year or look them up on the school district's website and focus on the areas in which you know your child has trouble.
• Hire a tutor who can work with your child.
• Enroll them in a summer enrichment program or camp.

#summerenrichment
#summerlearningloss
#nashvillelearn
#Mathemagic
#STEMCamp
#BrainBootCamp

 

What is Summer Learning Loss?

  
Summer Learning Loss is the loss in academic skills and knowledge over the course of summer vacation. The loss in learning varies across grade level, subject matter, and family income. A common finding across numerous studies is that on average, students score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer than they do at the beginning of summer (on the same test). Summer loss for all students is estimated to be equal to about 1 month (Cooper 1996), but this varies across subject matter:

• Mathematics - 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency loss

• Reading- Varies across SES. Low income students generally lose about 2 months of reading achievement. Middle income students experience slight gains in reading performances.

For over a century, scholars have recognized that summer vacation is a period when students’ rate of academic development declines relative to the school year. All children lose academic skills during the summer months, and family socioeconomic status (SES) is highly correlated to the level of academic growth or decline in the summer months. Two-thirds of the academic achievement gap in reading and language found among high school students has been explained through the learning loss that occurs during the summer months of the primary school years.

According to the National Summer Learning Association:

To succeed in school and life, children and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. This is especially true during the summer months.

Many Americans have a wonderful image of summer as a carefree, happy time when "kids can be kids,” and take for granted the prospect of enriching experiences such as summer camps, time with family, and trips to museums, parks, and libraries.

Unfortunately, some youth face anything but idyllic summer months. When the school doors close, many children struggle to access educational opportunities, as well as basic needs such as healthy meals and adequate adult supervision.
 
Did You Know?

• All young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer (White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; Entwisle & Alexander 1992; Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004).
• Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income students also lose more than two months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996). 
• More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007). 
• Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer. Most children—particularly children at high risk of obesity—gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school during summer break (Von Hippel et al, 2007). 
• Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do (Duffett et al, 2004).

#nashlearn
#tutoring
#testprep
#summerlearningloss
#summerenrichment
#summercamps

Bullying Tip 9: End It

According to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities the most important thing whether you are the one being bullied or the bully is to end it as quickly as possible.

DO 

• Let the person know you are willing to help with any future bullying problems - sometimes the ones doing the bullying need to know that they to can make friends so make sure they know that you are there for them and willing to help when needed
• Trust him/her to let you know if help is needed - believe that they will inform you if they get into a situation and need your help

DON’T 

• Keep coming up to the person daily to see if the bullying has started again - just keep in contact and make sure the person doing the bullying or the person being bullied are ok and that they bullying doesn't commence.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 8: Remember to Reach Out

Remember to reach out 

DO

• Check with the person once in a while to show that you care - Make sure that you stay connected to the person who was being bullied and reach out them to ensure that the bullying has stopped and that everything is moving in a positive direction for them
• Treat the person bullying the way you would want to be treated - although it is hard to even think about treating a bully in a nice and kind way it is the proper thing to do

DON’T 

• Ignore the person - do not ignore the bully make sure that you address them and the issues because the more positive attention they have the more they will reconsider what they have been doing
• Get into fights with the one who is bullying - do not try to resolve the issue with the bully by taking matters into your own hands and getting physically involved with them
• Get friends to fight with the person bullying - do not pull additional people in to participate in the bullying by having them bully the bully

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 7:Adult Help

According to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities you should always ask for adult help.

DO 

• Go tell an adult and ask for help - if you tell an adult and they are non-responsive then it is in your best interest to find another one who will do something
• Let your friend know it isn't ratting to report the bullying - reporting the bullying is not telling on the person in an attempt to get them in trouble instead it is resolving the problem

DON’T 

• Handle it yourself by bullying back - do not try to resolve the issue by trying to solve it yourself through bullying; this will not fix the bullying instead it will cause more tension
• Discourage the victim from telling an adult

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 6: Care About Others

If you see someone bullying you should start by assisting them by caring about others. According to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities you should follow these Dos and Don'ts:

Care about others 

DO 

• Offer to help the victim - if you see someone that is being bullied offer to help them out by helping them to discover solutions
• Give him or her ideas to solve the problem - offer ideas and suggestions for ways to solve the problem
• Invite the person to hang out with you and your friends - become a friend to the one being bullied because this will help them establish another group of people in which they can communicate and hang out with

DON’T 

• Tell the victim it’s no big deal - don't belittle the victim by telling them that the bullying is no big deal; make sure you they know that it does matter and it is a big deal that needs to be resolved
• Walk away without helping - If you know about the bullying then help the victim out do not walk away without helping them

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

What to Do if You See Someone Bullying

It is extremely hard to know what to do if you see someone bullying. On most occasions most people will sit back and try to avoid getting involved. It is in the best interest of yourself as well as the person being bullied to let someone know if you see someone bullying in an effort to stop the bullying. Make sure if you see someone bullying that you let someone know.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 5: End it Calmly

Finally to end bullying the most important thing to remember is to do so calmly. The Do's and Don'ts of Ending it Calmly according to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities are listed below:

DO

• Refuse to listen to or believe anything the person bullying said - there is no need to engage in what the bully says so don't listen to or believe anything that they tell you
• Treat the person bullying the way you like to be treated - if you want to be treated respect as hard as it is you must do the same for the person bullying you
• Think about what you have learned - think about what you have learned in the past about bullying and keep that in mind when dealing with how to end a bullying situation

DON’T

• Fight or name-call. This will make it worse or start it all over - do not interact with the bully when it is not necessary so do not name call or fight with them, find an adult and end it.
• Hold grudges - once you have resolved the issue with the bully let it go, do not hold grudges or bring it back up EVER!

USE

• Forgiveness - once you have resolved the issue than forgive the bully and again do not revisit the situation again.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 4: Figure Out Your Choices

Tip Number 4 is to figure out your choices. What are your options in handling the situation? How can you move forward? Who should you contact?

According to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities you should:

DO 

• Think about different ways to handle it (humor sometimes works) - you may be able to coerce your bully to leave you alone by making him/her laugh, you may even try to have a conversation with them in order to stop the bullying
• Avoid unsafe situations - stay away from places in which you are vulnerable to unsafe conditions
• Realize that it’s not worth getting hurt to save possessions - if a bully wants something of yours do not get hurt over that possession. Let them have it, talk to an adult and allow them the opportunity to get it back for you. 

DON’T 

• Tease or act dramatically - do not try to tease the bully or act dramatic with the bully just leave the situation alone
• Suffer in silence - let someone know what is going on....never just sit and suffer with what is going on, talk to an adult 

USE

• Problem-solving skills to figure out how to resolve the situation - use your problem solving skills to help figure out a way to resolve any issues that you may be having with your bully.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 3: Ask a Friend or Adult to Help

One of the many reasons children fall victim to bullying situations is they are afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. It is important as adults that we prep students for the possibility of bullying and ensure them that they should not be afraid or ashamed if they need to seek the help of a friend or another adult because of the bullying. According to The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities below is a list of do's and don'ts when asking for help:

Ask a friend or adult to help

DO 

• Ask a friend to help you - again don't be ashamed to ask for assistance if you need it
• Make sure you are part of a group - stick with a group of people at all times so if something occurs someone can make an adult aware
• Ask adults for help; keep asking until you get it - again if you do not have a friend that is willing or able to help you ask an adult; make sure that you are persistent until they respond

DON’T 

• Think it’s ratting to ask for help - this whole no snitch policy that kids have created is the most ridiculous way to look at life. It is ok to tell because it is best that someone knows than for you to allow the bullying to continue and it end up being something detrimental.
• Suffer in silence—silence allows it to continue - I cannot say that you should let someone know enough. Please, Please, Please let someone know what is going on so that the steps can be taken to stop it.

USE 

• A calm voice to explain what happened - although bullying can be a scary situation make sure that you take a moment to calm down prior to trying to explain to someone what has occured.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 2: Stand up for Yourself

According to the The Society for Safe & Caring Schools & Communities there are particular steps you should take if your are being bullied and we will discuss those over the next few days. the first thing you want to do is to stand up for yourself by following the steps below:

DO

• Stand proud - do not allow anyone to take your pride away from you
• Make eye contact - look the bully in the eye because this takes away that sense of fear
• Tell the person who is bullying you to stop - stand up for yourself and tell them to stop if you don't they will continue to try to provoke you
• Walk away - walk away and get to an adult as quickly as possible. Walking away diffuses the situation

DON’T

• Put yourself down by saying “I’m a loser” or “Everyone hates me.” - Continuously putting yourself down takes away from your sense of self-worth and makes you feel like you are less of a person and that you are deserving of the bullying 
• Ignore the bullying - Sometimes we like to just pretend the bullying does not exist in hopes that it will just go away, well most of the time it will not so don't ignore it, address is and move forward
• Show you’re upset - showing that you are upset makes you vulnerable and makes the bully think that they have won so don't show that you're upset no matter what.

USE

• Straight talk: “Stop, [use person’s name]. I don’t like it.” or “Leave me alone.” - talk to the person bullying you and let them know that you don't appreciate the treatment that you are receiving.

#stoptheviolence
#endbullying
#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Bullying Tip 1: Respect

One of the many ways to avoid bullying is to respect those around you. You should not only respect parents, teachers, and other adults you should respect anyone that you come in contact with at all times. Some of the ways to show respect are:

• Understand the differences between people and accept those differences. Remember being different does not make one person right and another wrong. Our differences make us special so accept the differences in others and move on. 
• Make sure you take time out to think before speaking. More often than not we say what comes to mind and sometimes those thoughts can not only be negative but just downright mean. So make sure you think before you speak because this helps you to maintain a high level of respect.
• A lot of times people decide to be mean out of boredom. If you find yourself in a situation and you are about to do something you should not stop and go do something else. Do not make irrational decisions out of boredom.
• Don't give in to peer pressure. Sometimes you have "friends" who will convince you that you need to start an argument with some one, fight someone, or bully someone. Obviously they don'r respect you or your friendship so make sure you choose your friends wisely and don't succumb to peer pressure.
• If you find that you have a hard time with the steps listed above, find an adult you can confide in a talk to who can help you to learn how to give and receive respect.

#stoptheviolence

#endbullying

#nashvillelearn
#nashvilletutor

Stop the Violence: Bullying Tips for Students

As I was preparing to start my day this morning I was listening to the news and heard of a tragic story about a young girl who was 14 years old being killed by either a 17 or 19 year old male during a brawl due to a fight that started on Facebook.

According to CNN The fatal feud started with a squabble on Facebook, devolved into a planned brawl at a park, and ended with a 14-year-old girl dead.

Police in Alabama say a group of girls who quarreled on Facebook decided to take their grievances to a Birmingham park, where their fight was going to be videotaped and then posted online.

After the melee ensued, two teenage males pulled out guns and started shooting at the girls, CNN affiliate WIAT said. The shots killed 14-year-old Kierra'onna Rice and wounded two others.

Birmingham police arrested two suspects who were identified by witnesses. The names of the suspects, ages 17 and 19, have not been released.

WIAT said authorities believe one of the suspects was dating one of the girls who was fighting Kierra'onna.

This was the most senseless crime that I have heard about in a long time and it all goes back to bullying. This week we will be providing you with tips on bullying and what to do if you are ever in a bullying situation.

Lessons in Black History: March 1, 2015

What if There Were No Black People in the World

This is a story of a little boy named Michael, who woke up one morning and asked his mother, "Mom, what if there were not Black people in the World?"

Well his mother thought about that for a moment, and then said, "Son, follow me around today and let's just see what it would be like if there were not Black people in the world." Mom said, "now go got dressed and we will get started."

Michael ran to his room to put on his clothes, and shoes. His mother took one look at him and said, "Michael, where are your shoes, and those clothes are all wrinkled, son. I must iron them." But when she reached for the ironing board, it was no longer there.

You see, Sarah Boone, a black women, invented the ironing board and Jan E. Matzwlinger, a black man, invented the shoe-lacing machine. "Oh well," she said, "please go and do something with your hair."

Michael ran to the room to comb his hair, but the comb as not there. You see, Walter Sammons, a black man, invented the comb.

Michael decided to just brush his hair, but the brush was gone. You see Lydia O. Newman, a black female, invented the brush.

Well this was a sight, no shoes, wrinkled clothes, hair a mess, even Mom's hair, without the hair care inventions of Madam C. J. Walker, well you get the picture.

Mom told Michael, "let's do our clothes around the house and then take a trip to the grocery store."

Michael's job was to sweep the floor. He swept and swept and swept. When he reached for the dustpan, it was not there. You see, Lloyd P. Ray, a black man, invented the dustpan. So he swept his pile of dirt over in the corner and left it there. He then decided to mop the floor, but the mop was gone. You see, Thomas W. Stewart invented the mop.

Michael yelled to this Mom, "Mom, I' m not having any luck." "Well son," she said, "let me finish washing these clothes and we will prepare a list for the grocery store." When the wash finished, she went to place the clothes in the dryer, but it was not there. You see, George T. Sammon, a black man, invented the clothes dryer.

Mom asked Michael to go get a pencil and some paper to prepare their list for the market. So Michael ran for the paper and pencil, but noticed the pencil lead was broken. Well, he was out luck because Hon Love, a black man, invented the pencil sharpener. Mom reached for a pen, but it was not there because William Purvis, a black man, invented the fountain pen

They made their way over to the car and found that it just wouldn't go. You see, Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gearshift and Joseph Gammel invented the supercharger system. They noticed that a few cars that were moving were running into each other and having wrecks because there were no traffic signals.. You see, Garrett A. Margan, a black man, invented the traffic light..

Well, it was getting late, so they waked to the market, got their groceries and returned home. Just when they were about to put away the milk, eggs and butter, they noticed the refrigerator was gone. You see, Hon Standard, a black man, invented the refrigerator. So the just left the "FOOD" on the counter..

By this time, Mike noticed he was getting mighty cold. Mom went to turn up the heat, and what do you know. Alice Parker, a black female, invented the heating furnace. Even in the summer time they would have been out of luck because Frederick Jones, a black man, invented the air conditioner.

It was almost time for Mike's father to arrive home. He usually takes the bus. But there was no bus, because its precursor was the electric trolley, invented by another black man, Elbert R. Robinson.

He usually takes the elevator from his office on the 20th floor, but there was no elevator because Alexander Miles, a black man, invented the elevator.

He usually dropped of the office mail at a nearby mailbox, but it was no longer there because Philip Downing, a black man, invented the letter drop mailbox and William Barry invented the postmarking and canceling machine.

Mike and his mother sat at the kitchen table with their head in their hands. When the father arrived he asked, "Why are you sitting in the dark?" Why? Because Lewis Howard Latimer, a black man, invented the filament within the light bulb.

Mike quickly learned what it would be like if there were no black people in the world. Not to mention if he were ever sick and needed blood. Charles Drew, a black scientist, found a way to preserve and store blood, which led to his starting the world's first blood bank.

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

Top Financial Aid Tips: Tip 7 - Meet the Deadlines

Meet the deadlines. It is not exactly first come, first served in the aid office, but nearly every college has a limited aid budget, and when the dollars run out, they stop giving aid. Late applications stand a good chance of showing up when there is no money left. But here's the good news: There are billions and billions of dollars out there ready to go to millions and millions of college students. If you become an educated aid consumer and complete the forms accurately and on time, there is a good chance that you will receive enough aid to make it possible for your child to attend that dream school.