Even in today’s “back-to-basics” movement in North American schools, writing has taken a back seat to the renewed emphasis on reading and math. Some experts have gone so far as to call writing The Forgotten ‘R.’
Writing is a critical skill not only in school, but in life, as professional writing skills are necessary in many career fields. With many states mandating a writing component in their standardized tests, proper writing skills are more crucial than ever.
To help students become better writers, try following a few simple tips:
• Spend time organizing your ideas and thinking about what you really want to say.
• Prepare an outline before you begin to write.
• Use transition words such as “after,” “although,” “before,” “however” and “therefore” to help your ideas flow together.
• Be willing to revise. Change your sentences and paragraphs around, add material that lends to your writing and delete material that doesn’t work.
• Avoid cliches and jargon.
• Always keep a dictionary handy to help with spelling.
• Utilize a thesaurus to help you think of a new way to say something.
• Ask someone else to edit your work.
• Proofread everything. Make sure grammar, spelling and punctuation are perfect before you declare anything “finished.”
• Don’t rely on a computer’s spellchecker to ensure proper spelling.
• Sylvan Learning Center can help students improve writing skills through its Academic Writing program. The program is designed to help students understand many writing formats and styles, including illustrative and descriptive essays, comparative passages, persuasive writing, expository writing, summaries and outlines. Students in the program also complete exercises in grammar, spelling, vocabulary, paragraph structure and essay development.
Choosing the right tutor
According to the Education Industry Association, the demand for tutoring has increased 15 to 18 percent in the past year, compared to single-digit growth previously.
As a result, the number of tutors has also increased dramatically. Before entrusting your child’s academic future to someone, it is important to ensure that person is the best qualified and will personalize the tutoring to fit the child’s individual needs.
Here are some easy tips for parents to use when choosing a tutor.
1. Make sure the instructor is licensed or certified. Teachers will need the proper qualifications to assess, diagnose and tutor to a child’s weakness.
2. Look for an instructor with experience teaching children the same age as your child.
3. Request an assessment. An individualized analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses can determine a child’s unique needs and help set goals. Also, insist on progress updates as a child passes through each step of the learning program.
4. Define your goals. Are you trying to keep your child from failing? Are you looking to challenge a child who is already doing well in school? Be sure your child’s instructor understands your objective and is skilled enough to meet it.
5. Find an instructor with specific expertise in the subject of your choosing. Just because someone is a math genius, does not mean he is qualified to teach other subjects.
6. Make a personality match. Determine what kind of teacher the student has excelled with previously.
7. Ask teachers how they will help your child master a specific skill. A good instructor will require that a child learn a specific skill before advancing to the next academic level. Find a teacher who will work with parents and teachers to create an individual program.
8. Obtain recommendations for instructors from family and friends.
9. Ask prospective instructors for references from previous employers and students, or hire a respected supplemental education company that has a proven record of academic success.
Choosing the right tutor
According to the Education Industry Association, the demand for tutoring has increased 15 to 18 percent in the past year, compared to single-digit growth previously.
As a result, the number of tutors has also increased dramatically. Before entrusting your child’s academic future to someone, it is important to ensure that person is the best qualified and will personalize the tutoring to fit the child’s individual needs.
Here are some easy tips for parents to use when choosing a tutor.
1. Make sure the instructor is licensed or certified. Teachers will need the proper qualifications to assess, diagnose and tutor to a child’s weakness.
2. Look for an instructor with experience teaching children the same age as your child.
3. Request an assessment. An individualized analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses can determine a child’s unique needs and help set goals. Also, insist on progress updates as a child passes through each step of the learning program.
4. Define your goals. Are you trying to keep your child from failing? Are you looking to challenge a child who is already doing well in school? Be sure your child’s instructor understands your objective and is skilled enough to meet it.
5. Find an instructor with specific expertise in the subject of your choosing. Just because someone is a math genius, does not mean he is qualified to teach other subjects.
6. Make a personality match. Determine what kind of teacher the student has excelled with previously.
7. Ask teachers how they will help your child master a specific skill. A good instructor will require that a child learn a specific skill before advancing to the next academic level. Find a teacher who will work with parents and teachers to create an individual program.
8. Obtain recommendations for instructors from family and friends.
9. Ask prospective instructors for references from previous employers and students, or hire a respected supplemental education company that has a proven record of academic success.
