Category: News

April 2012 Newsletter

In This Issue

A Look at the SAT Subject Tests
As the end of the school year nears and courses begin to wrap up, high school students should consider registering for the SAT Subject Tests this June.

Featured Student: Heather ZezzoCentral Bucks West High School Junior Heather Zezzo is not only a talented field hockey player,  but she is also a science fair participant, a Chinese speaker, and a member of the Junior National Dragon Boat team. Despite her hard work in school and a very good GPA, Heather’s SAT scores were not as high as she wanted them to be. She knew she could do better.

Podcast: Dr. Tamar Chansky Answers Your Questions About Test AnxietyA+ Test Prep and Tutoring president, Daniel Ascher, M.Ed., speaks with Dr. Tamar Chansky about test anxiety.

Technology Corner: TED-EdTED, the nonprofit organization famous for broadcasting inspiring lectures from leaders, innovators, and thinkers around the world, is launching a lesson-sharing website for educators this month.

March 2012 Newsletter

In This Issue:

Free Proctored SAT and ACT Exam Schedule

Free, no-obligation, proctored ACT and SAT practice exams are open to current A+ students and to members of the community.

Local College Graduation Rates

Graduation rates at selected public and private colleges in our area.

Harvard’s Lawrence Summers Suggests Ways to Modernize and Improve Higher Education

With the expansion of technology and the ability to access knowledge on almost any subject at the tips of our fingers, university administrators and professors are looking to the future of higher education.

Featured Tutor: Elisabeth Angeles

As a teenager, Elisabeth Angeles led a dog sled team through Alaska’s wilderness after school. Now she tutors math students after school for A+ Test Prep and Tutoring.

February 2012 Newsletter

In This Issue:

Helping Kids Manage Stress

College applications, bullying at school, a tough test, or a bad soccer game — we’ve all seen the many ways our kids encounter stressful situations.

Fixing Education: Harvard’s Dr. Roland Fryer on Bridging the Achievement Gap

Dr. Fryer discusses five areas of potential improvement in our educational system.

Google Science Fair 2012

The Internet’s most popular search engine is looking for bright, young scientists to share their experiments with the world.

Free Proctored SAT and ACT Exam Schedule

Free, no-obligation, proctored ACT and SAT practice exams are open to current A+ students and to members of the community.

January 2012 Newsletter

In This Issue:

Exercise Benefits Your Brain!
Going for a jog, lifting weights, taking a swim–all are great ways to work your muscles. Have you also considered that one of the benefits of exercise is that it boosts brainpower?
Family Mealtime Has Many Benefits for Kids (and Their Parents)Family eating habits can have a significant effect on a child’s academic and personal success.
Free Proctored SAT and ACT Exam Schedule
Free, no-obligation, proctored ACT and SAT practice exams are open to current A+ students and to members of the community.
This Month’s Podcasts: FAQs about the College Admissions Process
In this four-part series, A+ Social Media Intern, Jessica Lopez, a senior at Temple University majoring in Strategic Communications, speaks with Joe DeFrancesco, a guidance counselor at Council Rock North High School in Newtown, PA.
Featured Online Learning Tool: Khan Academy 

December 2011 Newsletter

In This Issue
Studies Show Dyslexia Not Linked to IQ
A new study on dyslexia, which is forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science, could change how educators diagnose the disorder, thereby opening up reading support to more children who could benefit from it.
The “Google Effect”
In four cleverly designed experiments reported in Science Magazine (August 2011), scientists explored how the Internet may be changing the way people remember information.
Our First Podcast!…ACT Test Prep Trends
A+ Social Media Intern, Jessica Lopez, a senior at Temple University majoring in Strategic Communications, speaks with Jim Giovannini, owner of Academic Tutoring Centers in Chicago, and co-author of  Barron’s ACT Flash Cards and Barron’s 6 ACT Practice Tests.
Video Games in the Classroom?
Is there a place for Minecraft or SimCity in a classroom? Do we want our already electronically-dependent kids to play video games as school work?
Free Proctored SAT and ACT Exam Schedule for December 2011 and January 2012

October 2011 Newsletter

 

Featured Student: Amanda Fleming
This month we are pleased to profile Amanda Fleming, a senior at William Penn Charter School. Amanda first took the ACT in June of her junior year, and then again this past September. Although her original score was an already strong 30 out of 36, Amanda was able to increase her ACT score to 33!
Homework: Is All the Quantity Adding Up to Quality?
As depicted in the film “Race to Nowhere,” there is mounting evidence that  heaping mounds of homework on anxious, time-strapped students is not providing any real benefit to schoolchildren.
Cook Your Way Through the SAT
Wondering why onions STIMULATE the LACHRYMAL glands? Then you need to read Charis Freiman-Mendel’s new book Cook Your Way Through the SAT
.
$200 A+ College Book Scholarship Awarded
Congratulations to Ryan Little of Lansdale! Ryan, a senior at Methacton High School, is this year’s winner of The A+ College Book Scholarship.
Free SAT and ACT Proctored Exams in October

September 2011 Newsletter

In This Issue:

Computers and White Boards, or Books and Paper?
Does the embrace of technology in the classroom help or hinder my child? Therein lies one of the most significant current educational debates.
SAT and ACT Proctored Exam Schedule for October, 2011
A+ offers free, no-obligation proctored SAT and ACT exams at several locations throughout the Delaware Valley
Back to School Lunch Tips
Whether your child is a first-grader or high school senior, it is important for parents to follow a few healthy tips for keeping packed lunches fresh and foodborne illness-free
Events in and Around Our Community
A Weekend College Application Boot Camp is being held at Gwynedd Mercy College on October 15th/16th.

July 2011 Newsletter

In This Issue:

Featured Student: Diana Rapp

This month we are pleased to profile Radnor High School rising senior Diana Rapp, who worked with an A+ tutor for both ACT and subject tutoring in English. Her composite score on the ACT rose a total of 6 points over the course of the program! In addition, she noticed significant improvement in her English grades at school. Great job, Diana!

The Class of 2011: A Rainbow of Emotions

The anticipation of leaving for college holds a host of emotions for new high school graduates.

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth

In her new book, The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School, Alexandra Robbins examines how teen social hierarchies still reflect an “old” way of thinking–as in it’s uncool to be a straight-A earning, talented violin player–despite the fact that the traits of the teens who were outsiders in high school benefit them as adults later in life.

June 2011 Newsletter

In this issue:

Special Summer Tutoring Offer

Save over $180 on summer tutoring!

Changes to the Common Application

A preview version of the 2011-12 Common Application is now available. This document highlights and explains the changes from the previous application. The 2011-12 Common App Online will launch on August 1.

Tuition & Housing: $50,000. Student Loans: $100,000. Attending College: Priceless  

Is attending college worth carrying a large student loan burden for the foreseeable future? This article includes some helpful hints for minimizing student debt.

Colleges Welcoming Students with Asperger Syndrome

Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, typically characterized by high intelligence and a passionate or obsessive interest in particular topics, was first described in 1994. So as the first generation of young adults who were diagnosed with Asperger’s as children comes of age, a new wave of diversity is reaching college campuses.

May 2011 Newsletter

In This Issue 

Summer Tutoring

At A+ we offer summer tutoring in all academic subjects, test prep, and study skills.

Why Too Much Sitting is Bad for Your Health 

Being sedentary for nine hours a day is detrimental to one’s health whether that person goes home and watches TV or goes out for a 10-mile run. Essentially, short bursts of aerobic activity simply can’t compensate for the harm done to our bodies during long periods of sitting.

ReadiStep  

Do middle schoolers really need another test? Parents and educators are asking this question in response to the College Board’s release of its newest test, called ReadiStep.

Film Alert: Race to Nowhere 

Race to Nowhere, a film that is being screened across the nation, is a documentary that takes a closer look at the high-stress, achievement -oriented culture students face both at home and in many of our schools.