Huntington Connects
Solid reading skills are vital for success on many of the tests your child will take between Kindergarten and high school graduation - including the SAT and ACT. Students therefore need to possess a strong vocabulary and be confident in their ability to discern the meanings of many words. Here are some tips for building word power:
If your teen is preparing to take the SAT or ACT this fall, there is no better time for him or her to register for a customized test prep program. Summer break is the perfect opportunity for students to focus on studying for the SAT or ACT because their schedules are far less crowded with school and extracurricular activities. Your teen can work from a targeted schedule to put himself or herself in the best position for the August or September exam.
It’s summer break, which also means it is time for Huntington Learning Center’s annual summer reading program, Reading Adventure. Students select books from Huntington’s carefully formulated book lists that offer a range of choices by grade level and reading ability. They then record what they read in their “reading passport,” sharing their assessment and opinions about each book. The program is intended to introduce children to high-interest reading material and get them excited about reading.
Dr. Ray Huntington of the Huntington Learning Center urges parents to engage their children in learning activities to avoid summer regression. Put simply, summer regression is the loss of academic knowledge gained throughout the school year. “Learning loss or the ‘summer slide’ among students over summer break is a very real problem that we see often,” says Huntington, adding that most students can lose several months of grade-level equivalency in math and reading achievement during this period. He offers several ways for parents to help minimize summer regression.
It’s summer break, which means relaxing, recharging and plenty of fun for students. Even though your child is probably eager to toss the backpack into a closet until September, Eileen Huntington, Co-founder of the Huntington Learning Center encourages parents to develop a summer learning schedule that will deter regression (learning loss), and maintain a schedule. “There are many advantages to incorporating a little structure into your child’s summer schedule,” says Huntington. “Children who continue to exercise their brains have a far easier time going back to school in the fall, plus, keeping the mind active during break can remind children about the fun of learning.
Summer break is here, which means that high school students aren't interacting in the classroom or engaging in problem-solving activities in a formal setting.
While summer is typically a time for children to relax and enjoy time off from all-day learning, it's a good idea to take charge of your child's skills during this period.
According to the National Summer Learning Association at Johns Hopkins University, all students experience learning losses when they are not involved in educational activities over the summer. Eileen Huntington, Cofounder of Huntington Learning Center agrees that planning meaningful activities for the summer months can prevent children from regressing—and help them be ready for the next grade. “It sounds overwhelming to come up with a summer full of educational activities, but there are so many great things children can do to continue learning in the summer that don’t involve homework and studying,” says Huntington. “Look within your community for inspiration. You’ll likely find lots of fun programs and opportunities that your child will enjoy—and his or her teacher will appreciate!” Huntington offers these sparks to find fun summer learning activities in your community:
Math is a skill that requires frequent practice to master. How can you help your child learn "practical math" at home? Here are several activities to help your child reinforce his or her math skills.
While you might think of pre-school or kindergarten as the "beginning" of your child's life as a student, the early years at home are rich with opportunities to develop knowledge that has a lifelong impact as well. Here are some tips for giving your child a vibrant head start before he or she heads off to school:
