Academic Connections Tutoring

     Now that we’re back in the swing of things and the familiarity of the back to school routine, it becomes easier to see the direction our kids are headed with their school work.

     By now,  we have a feel for which teachers they love and those they’re not so fond of, which subjects are a breeze and which are grueling, and whether they’re keeping it together in time management and organization.

     Yep, it only takes a few short weeks–we just got started but we’re far enough in, that if we let things go that need help, before long our child will be buried and finding their equilibrium will become more challenging with each passing day.

      So let’s keep our eyes and ears open and by the time that first progress report comes home, get ready to step into action if need be.  The tidbits we get from our kids (especially teenagers) need to be taken through the proper grid.  It’s important for us to distinguish between the drama and the dilemma. 

     Soon our kids’ progress reports will arrive in the mail.  And though we may keep pretty close tabs on what they’re up to–the progress report is the indicator on the dashboard of a child’s current academic situation.  We can choose to let it blink and ignore it or we can get help.

So what to do if the progress report isn’t what one would hope?  Here are a couple of suggestions:

1.  Sit with your child and get a feel for what they’re really struggling with–is it a learning issue, personality conflict with the teacher or too much socializing friends?  Have they handed in all of their homework, completed all projects and assignments?  These can tend to nosedive a grade quicker than you can blink.  We need to help them see the importance of staying on top of things so they don’t get buried under an avalanche of back assignments.

2.  Visit their teachers and subjects in question.  This is a great time to become an ally with teachers so they know that you are working on the same team on behalf of your child.  Be willing to listen to the good, the bad and the ugly about your child.  That’s really the only way you’ll be able to help, if you’re willing to see what needs work and where the gaps are.

3.  Now it’s time to close those gaps.  Identify them and get the necessary help to build knowledge, skill and confidence into your child in those areas.  This could be a time when to have your child stay after school for extra help that teachers offer but it may also be the best time to call a private tutor.  If you wait and see how things go, the information may overload your child and he/she may be further behind as a result.  If we are forward thinking and take a proactive approach we can position our kids for confidence. The help they receive will aid them in comprehension and will help ease the stress they may have been feeling. 

     Getting off to a great start can make the difference for the whole school year.  When that first progress report comes home, let’s jump into action and be sure to do all that we need to do to ensure academic success for our kids.  The small effort we make now can yield great results in the weeks and months ahead.

 It’s been almost two months since I returned from Israel.  It has taken almost all of that time to get back in the swing of things.  Though I stay in constant touch with friends and “family” there through email, skype and facebook–it’ not quite the same as being there. 

So why am I telling you all of this? To remind us both that our idea of back to reality is radically different from our kids’ idea of back to reality.  If you’re kids are like mine the minute I begin to wax on with, “When I was a kid…” I usually get groans and negative reactions.  I have yet to hear my kids say, “Tell us more mom, we love stories about your life a hundred years ago!”  And so I try to remind myself that back to school for my kids looks nothing like back to school did for me.

For starters, they have many more pressures on them then we did back in the day.  The expectations socially and academically trump ours and we, as parents, need to be sensitive to their transition as they return to friends, homework and the school environment.  We need to even be more in tune if they are starting a new school, especially if they have arrived from another place–whether across town or across the world.

Two things I want to do to the best of my ability–

1.  Be there.  Even when I can’t be physically there, I want to be available by phone so that they feel they can touch base with me at any time.  We can’t underestimate the anchor we are for our kids especially when things get a bit turbulent.

2.  Just listen.  I will do my best to not make any comparisons or connections about what it was like back then even though I may have  been through similar things and think I know how it feels.  They need their story, journey and experiences to be uniquely theirs.  

So, here’s to another school year!  They seem to be zooming past me at an ever increasing speed.  Before I know it, they will have all graduated and reality will take on a whole new meaning.  For now, I join you in another year of early rising, lunch money, permission slips, school pictures, homework, and all that comes with being a mom of school-aged kids.

All the best for a great year,

Donna Duffy   

     After two amazing weeks in Nazareth, my daughter and I returned to Delaware.  It was difficult to readjust-not just because of the jetlag but also because of the distance that separates us from people we love across the world. 

     Apart from being received back into ”our” neighbor like long lost daughters, I had the privilege to go back and give time and energy to Bridging the Gap–the program that we started 10 years ago for returning Arabic families and their kids.  BTG was born to help kids bridge the gap from the West to the East.  All of their studies are taught in English with Hebrew and Arabic as foreign languages.  Many students also take advantage of the opportunity to receive a US diploma from Sycamore Tree School in California. 

     Our ten year reunion a few weeks ago, reminded me of the impact  we were able to make in the lives of many students a world away.  Parents told me that if not for BTG they may not have stayed on to make a life there.  It was the academic and social bridge that BTG provided that helped the students succeed and gave the parents hope and encouragement. 

     Now back in the States, I recommit myself to continue to help build the program there into the next decade.  In doing so, I am more committed to not only help my children run their race through the high school years and finish well but also to help other kids in their educational journey .

     I am keenly aware that so many students are out of touch with their own skills and strengths.  Many times we struggle with this as adults.  Yet we want our kids to do their best when they may not even know what that is.  So as I think of the families and students that we serve at Academic Connections, I want to help kids not only excel academically but also encourage them to come to a greater understanding of the potential and gifts; the strengths and the talents that lie within them. 

     It certainly is a process and as life-long learners we are always dicovering new things about ourselves and the world around us.  I’m looking forward to playing even a small part in that discovery knowing that what is unearthed will be well worth the effort.

PS I will ever be grateful to Bishop Riah Abu el Assal and his son, Hanna, the principal of Bishop Riah Educational Campus for helping birth and support BTG through the years and to Zinat Laham and the dedicated staff for taking it forward.  To learn more about the school and the BTG program visit: www.brecn.org

It’s off to Israel in a few hours.  My daughter and I will fly back to celebrate the graduation of Bridging the Gap Class of 2008.  The program is now in its tenth year.  Did I think this day would come all those years ago when it was just me, ten students and a box of books? Now many of these students have families of their own, have gone on to university or are working and I am so blessed that our paths and lives crossed in the town of Nazareth, that we called home for 12 years.

It reminds me of the potential and the possibility that exist when we step out and try something new.  It takes courage, tenacity and trust.  Even if we’re shaking in our boots and are not sure of all that lies ahead, there is something so thrilling about taking a leap of faith!    We anticipate many scary things that never happen and we usually underestimate all the incredible things that could and do happen.  And so it is with BTG and my beloved students who made my last five years in Nazareth the very best they could be.  Congrats to the Class of ‘08!!  To learn more about Bridging the Gap-the program for Arab American and expatriate students located in the Bishop Riah High School in Nazareth, Israel, visit
http://www.brecn.org/brecn/en/btg.aspx

Whether you call it summer brain drain or learning loss–the lazy, hazy days of summer often become an academic dead zone for our kids.  Even those destined for weeks of summer school may not be experiencing true learning.  What can we do to ensure some kind of educational connection through months of rest and relaxation? 

Reading and journaling are certainly a start but experience still may be the best teacher.  Is it possible that study skills can be learned from life skills that don’t feel like learning at all?  I find that the minute I say the words “life lesson”, I can be sure to encounter a tug-of-wills with my kids.  So I’ll do my best to banish such teachable moment lingo and jump right into the moment instead.  I’m open to suggestions and looking forward to hearing how you make sure the summer is not lost when is comes to learning.

Welcome to the first blog post of Academic Connections Tutoring–more easily referred to as ACT!  I’m Donna Duffy.  Along with my business partner, Pat Howes, we do our best to help parents finding great tutors to help their children through their academic struggles, challenges and issues.  We also help tutors find great kids who need their expertise and help in getting back on track.  We offer one-on-one tutoring in the home or library in the Delaware and Maryland areas as well as online tutoring– from just about anywhere –that engages a child’s love of technology.  Things are going well and we are just about to celebrate our 2nd anniversary in business!

So here is where we’ll share our thoughts and concerns in the area of education and how to help our kids think, learn and succeed.  As moms and educators, we know the challenges that parents and their kids face.  We have certainly have had our share and know that we are among friends.  That is why it’s so important for us to connect with our tutoring and homeschooling families firsthand.  We want to answer your questions and concerns, help you make the best choices for your kids and point you in the direction that will best accommodate your child’s current educational needs.  We look forward to the journey together and trust that along the way we will learn from one another.