Sunday, May 29, 2011

Math Anxiety?

Of all the SAT tutoring or tutor requests I receive on a daily basis, the most common would definitely have to be the "I need a math tutor." In addition, the most widely used explanation for such a need would also have to be the "...because I'm just not good at math" reason, which is referenced as a description far more than I've ever heard for any other academic subject.

Sound familiar? Don't fret, you are not alone. "Math anxiety" has become so prevalent in academia that researchers have gone to work to suss out what is going on and how we, as educators, can help ameliorate the problem. Check it out!

Researchers Probe Math Anxiety

Friday, May 20, 2011

Do Something!

Right now you’re probably focused on getting through final exams. But summer is around the corner, and if you’re thinking about watching TV every day, think again.
Don’t just sit there. Do something!
Step 1: What’s your thing?
If you don’t already know what gets you fired up, DoSomething.org offers a wealth of information on all sorts of causes from education to the environment, poverty to politics. Read up to figure out how you’d like to get involved.
Step 2: Act now!
Browse for places to volunteer near you. You can search for projects by interest, key words or through the Projects Matchmaker. And if none of the existing projects pique your interest, start your own, like interning or volunteering with private SAT tutoring! DoSomething University provides number of online video tutorials and written guides on how to start, grow and maintain your project or organization. You can even apply with DoSomething.org to get your project funded! Starting a club is a great way to take initiative, and it’ll bulk up your college application. On top of that, you’ll be able to take pride in the fact that you've contributed to a worthy cause, whatever it may be.
Visit DoSomething.org today!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Hola! Ciao! Ni-hao! Dual-Language Immersion Programs in LA

Learning a foreign language does not come easily for most. I know that my four years of Spanish classes did little to set me up for fluency. I will, however, take most of the blame. I was too shy to speak up in class for fear my amateur Spanish accent would butcher any attempt at the correct pronunciations. This, along with my skepticism of ever being fluent, lead to the decision to stop taking foreign language classes as soon as my high school requirements were met. Needless to say, I will not be having any type of meaningful conversation in Spanish any time soon.

However, when I came across an article in the LA Times this week on the rise of dual-language immersion programs, I was immediately intrigued – and a tad jealous I wasn’t a part of such a program. The dual-language programs are yielding positive results in Glendale Unified Schools, like many their SAT tutoring programs. Unlike bilingual education, Dual-language immersion programs offer the opportunity of learning a second language to immigrant students as well as native-born American students. The article highlighted a number of advantages these students will receive as a result of these programs.

Benefits of a Dual Language Programs
--Studies of English-Language Learners suggest that learning to read in a child’s first language boosts reading achievement in the second language
--Early bilingualism has been found to aid memory, problem-solving, decision-making and other brain functions
--Children in dual-language immersion programs usually lag in English skills at first, then tend to surpass their counterparts in English-only classes by fifth and sixth grade

For a list of Dual-Language programs in Los Angeles County, visit the links below.

Glendale Unified School District
Pasadena Unified School District
The California Department of Education
For the full Los Angeles Times article click here.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Applying for an Internship - Pointers from an Employer

Internships for high school and college students are becoming more and more popular with good reason – they give students a great opportunity to explore their interests and learn real world skills in a safe environment.

The interview and application process is a new experience for most students, and as a veteran hirer of interns, here are my key pointers for all the prospective interns out there:

Cover Letters and Resumes. Employers don’t expect students to have robust resumes or years of experience to reflect on in a cover letter. What they DO expect is that students display professional maturity:

• Spelling, grammar, and formatting should be impeccable – it shows attention to detail and polish. If you have not graduated from college yet, your writing and grammar are most likely much worse than you think they are (seriously). Get someone more experienced to proofread!
• Cover letters should be SPECIFIC to the particular internship and company. Well-articulated enthusiasm for the company and position is impactful, generic personal statements are not.

The Interview. When evaluating interns (particularly younger ones who are not entering their senior year of college), there are a few key factors that employers look for:

• Maturity – candidates show up on time, look presentable, and acknowledge the fact that they are in a professional environment. Bring a pen, a copy of your resume and cover letter, don’t chew gum, etc.
• Enthusiasm – employers want interns that are genuinely excited to work at their company, not interns whose parents are forcing them to do something “productive” for the summer.
• Personality – an intern’s ability to seamlessly blend into the company environment is very important. No one expects an intern to be a polished professional, but they do expect them to be fun, positive, excited to be working, eager to learn, and easy to work with.
• Intelligence – almost by definition, interns come to the job with little prior knowledge or skills. Employers expect interns to be bright, resourceful, and learn quickly at a wide variety of tasks.
• Volunteerism – Working alongside private SAT tutors and passing on the knowledge you previously learned speaks miles on your resume and interview.
• Etiquette – send a thank you note! It shows maturity and that you care about the internship.



This guide certainly does not cover ALL facets of internships, but hopefully it will give students a better idea of what employers are looking for!