Tag Archives: Tutoring

Helping Foster Care Teens Grow Up

My last blog talked about a problem most people rarely think about: the high rates of homelessness, unemployment, dropping out of school before gaining a diploma, and unplanned pregnancy found among older teens who suddenly stop being cared for by the foster care system once they turn 18. Many 18-year-olds are still in high school. Many more foster youth will not finish on time because of difficulties caused by changing schools due to frequent foster care moves. One agency providing tutoring to foster children estimated that their clients’ reading levels were 5-6 years behind their age—this means an 18-year-old reading … Continue reading →

Hands Off Homeschooling

Is it still homeschooling if you are not involved in every minutia of your children’s learning? I like to think so. In fact, I would have never started homeschooling if I thought I had to be. I know myself well enough realize I would have had problems in the patience department. So when a veteran homeschooling friend told me that she spent most of her “homeschooling” time driving her kids to and from various lessons, I knew I could jump on board. From the time when my husband first came home and told me he wanted me to homeschool the … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Summer Tutoring

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In many cases parents consider hiring tutors for their children during the summer. While having your child attend tutoring during the summer can be helpful and beneficial to his or her education career, it is not always appropriate or necessary. Before hiring a tutor over the summer for your child, consider why you feel that the tutor is needed. Did your child struggle with his or her course work during the previous school year? Did you choose tutoring over having your child be retained? Did a teacher suggest tutoring for your child? Does your child have a learning disability? If … Continue reading →

Black Males Are Lagging Academically

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A school board member at Houston’s largest school system has noticed the discouraging state statistics showing that African American males are lagging behind all other demographic groups academically. He checked the records in Houston and found that black males were scoring at or near the lowest levels in every course and at every grade level. This fact is something that almost everyone in educational circles knows, but few are actually talking about. He has a plan to try and turn the situation around in Texas. His plan is called the Texas Minority Male Youth Initiative. He hopes to stir up … Continue reading →

The Homeschooling Education Blogger

While I will not be blogging in Education regularly, I will be filling in a little here and there. Since I also blog in Homeschooling, I felt the need to explain what on earth I could be doing in the Education section. After all, homeschooling and education (as in schools) are polar opposites right? Well, although I don’t feel that school is right for my children in our situation (see “Why I Homeschool: An Answer for Kaye!”), my background is in fact, in education. I thought perhaps some of you might be interested to know my background as a teacher, … Continue reading →

“How Can We Ever Be Friends?” Katie and Vincent’s Story

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I read an article in this weeks PEOPLE magazine that really made me smile. It’s a shining example of how peer tutoring, or mentoring, is a fabulous concept that should be promoted in every school in the nation. The article, written by Richard Jerome and Lori Rozsa (May 29, 2006), highlights a special relationship between two students: Vincent Benito, who is 15 and has autism, and his peer mentor, Katie Davis, 13. The two attend Thomas E. Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Before Katie made the decision to be a peer mentor, she thought it would be an … Continue reading →