Better Grades In-Home Tutoring Journal

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From the founders of Better Grades In-Home Tutoring in Vancouver, Washington, this is an education blog for parents, students, and teachers. Entries posted here will focus on the academic and educational issues facing schools and communities in the Greater Vancouver area, Clark County, Washington State, the U.S. and the world-at-large.

Please feel free to add this journal to your friendslist. Please also feel free to ask any questions or for any advice concerning K-12 education. We would love to discuss concerns of the classroom and school community, and we welcome input or comments from students, parents, and educators.

Visit our website at http://www.bettergradestutoring.com for more information on Better Grades In-Home Tutoring in Vancouver, Washington.


You may find the latest entry to this journal posted below.

An ideal transition from summer vacation into September school would involve weeks of preparation, such as reversing sleeping habits, buying and organizing school supplies, practicing brainteasers, and summarizing what was learned in the previous year. But for many kids, the first day of school will be the first time they’ve woken before 9 a.m. in two months. And for many parents, Labor Day weekend will be the first time they have a change to go shopping for school supplies. Don’t fret if you have to kick summer cold turkey. There are still some steps you can take to ease into the routines of school.

1. Don’t buy everything on a store-provided school supply list until you confirm with the teacher that you will need everything on that list. Many schools or grade-level teams go overboard on these lists to make sure students will have everything they may need throughout the school year, but many items on these lists may be superfluous.

2. Other than confirming supplies, ask your child to listen for three things on the first day of school: a.) teacher expectations for behavior and protocol, b.) how grades will be weighted and calculated, and c.) what the first few assignments will be and when they will be due. Give teachers a few days to relay this information to students. If your child still is unsure of these expectations after the first week, you may want to contact the teacher.

3. Supplies and clothes get your child ready for school on the outside, but it is also a good idea to prepare your child on the inside as well. Talk about his or her expectations as a student, both academically and socially. How will their friends have changed? How will their teachers and classes change? Walking verbally through these anticipation will help your child be more open to change in the new school year.

We at Better Grades In-Home Tutoring want to wish all parents and students of Vancouver, Washington, and all of Clark Country a very successful and happy school year!

Visit us online for more information at BetterGradesTutoring.com.

The Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction has listed the new high school graduation requirements for all public school students in Washington State. It includes a "4 Step Plan," with one of the steps being tied directly to passing the High School WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning). Below is some selected info from the OSPI explaining the new requirements and their reasoning:

Beginning with the graduating Class of 2008, all public high school students will be expected to meet new statewide requirements in order to earn a diploma. The goal: More students better prepared to become responsible citizens, to contribute to their own economic well-being and to that of their families and communities, and to enjoy productive and satisfying lives. [. . .]

Prior to 2008, the state of Washington has only required that students earn 19 credits to graduate (although many local school districts have additional requirements). Discussion of new graduation requirements began more than a decade ago, when legislators passed House Bill 1209 in 1993. This legislation launched Washington’s education reform efforts and created a process by which the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), which measures the state's learning standards, would become a graduation requirement. In 2000, the State Board of Education determined the effective date of that requirement – 2008 – and added two other requirements. The 2004 Legislature put all three new graduation requirements and their 2008 effective date into statute.

Beginning with the class of 2008, students will need to meet four statewide graduation requirements:

1. Earn a minimum of 19 credits in core classes. (Many local school districts, however, require students to earn credits beyond the state minimum.)
2. Complete a Culminating Project (often referred to as a senior project) to apply learning in a particular area of the student’s interests.
3. Complete a High School and Beyond Plan that outlines how they will make the most of high school to earn their diploma and prepare for their next steps after high school.
4. Earn the Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement by meeting state reading, writing and math standards on the High School WASL, an assessment for students in special education or the Certificate of Academic Achievement Options. Until 2013, students can earn a diploma without a certificate if they:
- Meet the state’s reading and writing standards, and
- Earn math credits and test annually until graduation.

The three new graduation requirements are focused on the new "applied learning" skills that students need to be successful. The project allows students to dive into a subject that interests them and demonstrate their skills in a creative way. The plan requires students to begin thinking about career and life options before they leave high school. And the WASL places a strong emphasis on short-answer and essay questions that require students to demonstrate they can understand what they read, write a persuasive essay, and understand how to get the answers to real-life mathematic problems, such as calculating the mileage on a long trip and interpreting simple charts and graphs.

Most students must do far more than fulfill these four basic graduation requirements to achieve their career goals. But these requirements are a solid start to ensure all of our students keep their career and life options open.


There will be a summer WASL testing session available to students who were in grades 10, 11 and 12 during the 2006-2007 school year and did not meet the minimum standards. Registration for this testing ended July 8.

The August WASL testing schedule is:
*Monday, Aug 6 - Reading
*Tuesday, Aug 7 - Math
*Wednesday, Aug 8 - Day 1 Writing
*Thursday, Aug 9 - Day 2 Writing

More information about graduation requirements can be found at:

http://www.k12.wa.us/GraduationRequirements/


For more resources, visit BetterGradesTutoring.com and click on Resources.

September brings a new school year and new challenges for students and parents. Waiting until your child begins struggling in class to seek a solution could make it more difficult on the student, the teacher, and you as a parent in trying to improve low grades or catch up on missing work. You can increase your child’s chances of success by enrolling them in a tutoring program at the start of the school year.

The benefits of individual tutoring are multiple. Studies show that one-on-one tutoring not only can help to prevent low achievement but also can increase confidence and help curb behavioral problems. Whether your child is at-risk or exceptional, a tutor can help to maximize potential in the classroom and beyond.

Better Grades not only offers one-on-one tutoring, but we provide our services in the comfort of your home - away from the distraction of other students. Yet we connect all learning to the classroom and work with your child’s school and teachers to better ensure progress. Also, through the month of September, Better Grades is offering a free in-home consultation and no initiation fee. So don’t wait. Help your child get a head start on a successful school year and call Better Grades In-Home Tutoring today.

Visit us online for contact information at BetterGradesTutoring.com.