Chandra V Ling - Founder of Bothell Tutoring

Chandra V Ling - Founder of Bothell TutoringChandra V Ling is Founder of Bothell Tutoring where he works with many parents to help them succeed in their child's schoolwork. As a mother, he has helped many struggling parents get their children on track so that they could graduate from high school or become qualified for college.Ling is passionate about helping special needs children succeed in school. He believes that there are schools that are not set up to handle special needs students, which is why he created Bothell Tutoring. As he prepares to begin the first day of his class, he wanted to take some time to explain a little bit about his past and what he hopes to do with his new business.He grew up in Virginia Beach and loved all the great fun and excitement of being an adult. He is now retired after working for the company that now trains students in various courses such as computers, health sciences, and psychology. He became a life coach and worked with adults who were struggli ng with their life. He continued this work until he decided to start his own business and help parents succeed in their special needs children.Beginning with children who were in elementary, he started by working with middle school children who were struggling with learning disabilities. He then went on to help out in the first grade. Ling also worked with older children who had learning disabilities and struggling in school.Ling believes that when a parent starts a child off in the classroom that it is vital to them. He knows how important it is to start students on the right track before they fall behind and he wants to help all parents help their children be successful. So far he has helped more than 300 students at his current school and says that he is excited to continue to help all the students in the future.Tutoring at Bothell High School is not easy. Ling says that he has to find out what is holding back the child and help him move toward success. When you first meet with a student, Ling says that you want to make sure that you are on their side and not just going to teach your students that you can help them. If you are not helping them succeed, Ling says that they will only stop going to his school and will not be able to get into other schools like you.He believes that it is important for parents to teach their special needs children the importance of trying their best and being an asset to society. Ling believes that if you are determined to succeed and want to do well, then you can. It does not matter if you do not think you can do it. You have to make yourself believe in yourself and be true to yourself so that you can achieve your dreams.His business and passion come from his mother, who worked very hard to put him through college. As a mother, Ling says that he wants to do anything she asks him to do, but in this case, she made him try something. He says that the goal is to help as many students as possible to succeed in life. He believes that the system in place in the public schools is broken and to help those students succeed, he needs to fix the system.

Read The Royal Tutor Manga Online To Help Your Child Learn About Progress

Read The Royal Tutor Manga Online To Help Your Child Learn About ProgressIf you have always wanted to read a good old fashioned, classic story for your children, the Royal Tutor Manga Online is a perfect resource. It's an interesting tale of good versus evil that are very fitting for the themes of your kids. Read it now and find out why this one is so popular!Text books are amazing tools for our children. They are fantastic at teaching new things, especially if they don't know what they're being taught. The Royal Tutor Manga Online is a story that can be easily explained to your child. Since it is based on the real life experience of the author, the characters and the plot line has been brought to life. You don't have to go looking for the history books anymore!When your child first starts school, he will find that he is not all that different from any other teenager. He'll know how to get things done and how to interact with the other kids. However, the other kids won't really like him, because he is different. He doesn't have the same friends, and he doesn't seem to care about the schoolwork.His teachers take him aside and try to instill a love of learning into him, but they aren't successful at first. One day, his teacher, Ms. Rival, assigns him to take a science class in the afternoon, but he doesn't want to be anywhere near the science lab.Fortunately, Mr. Inconnu comes along and says he can help him learn the concept of progress with a textbook book. He quickly helps him figure out the lessons that can be learned in the book, but how does he do it? He uses a combination of model experiments, using a laboratory setup similar to those used in biology class. This way, your child gets the information he needs without having to worry about the complex physics behind a laboratory.Although this may sound a little complicated, this story makes for an interesting read. You'll find yourself laughing at every detail of the story and being excited to see what happens next. The Royal Tutor Manga Online is a great way to introduce your child to the idea of progress and the importance of the classroom.Use this book with other text books, and you'll soon see how important it is to your child. Your child will appreciate the lesson he learned and it will help him develop into an interesting person as well. You'll discover this book, which includes interesting illustrations, after reading it yourself. So go ahead and add it to your favorite library!

Top 9 Reasons TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make An Awesome Holiday Gift

Top 9 Reasons TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make An Awesome Holiday Gift ksurmacewicz The holiday season is in full swing, and if youre looking for the perfect gift for that hard to please musician or music lover in your life, look no further. Presenting.the Top 9  Reasons Why TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make an AWESOME Holiday Gift! 9.   Our gift certificates NEVER expire! Whether the recipient wants to start lessons right away or a few months down the road, a TakeLessons gift certificate provides a flexible option that lets them start lessons when theyre ready. 8.   Gift certificates are good for any type of lesson we offer. With more than 30 types of lessons to choose from, theres something for everyone!   If you know what instrument the recipient is interested in learning, simply give us a call and one of our student counselors can check our database of teachers to confirm availability at the time of purchase, or you can do a search on our site and find a teacher yourself! 7.   More convenient than fighting the crowds at the mall Gift certificates can be printed and mailed to the recipient or, if youre a last minute shopper, email delivery is also an option. 6.   Lessons for any age or stage in life. Old or young, beginner or advanced everyone can benefit from music lessons.   Our instructors help their students set goals and create a customized curriculum to help them achieve those goals! 5.   A first class experience from start to finish. Nothing is more important to us than keeping our customers happy.   When you purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate, you can be sure that you are making a risk-free investment.   Should the recipient not be satisfied with their lessons for any reason, we will gladly set them up with a new instructor to ensure that they have a wonderful lesson experience. 4.   A great addition to music instrument gifts. Planning to buy Junior that guitar or drum set hes been begging for?   A gift certificate for lessons with one of our TakeLessons Certifiedâ„¢ Music Teachers will make sure he starts his music career off on the right foot. 3.   A fun and unique gift option that will be remembered. Chances are the recipients on your gift-giving list have all the neckties and kitchen appliances they need.   This year, why not give a gift that will make an impact and potentially change a life?   Which brings us to our next point 2.   Forget Rockband and learn to play for real! Sure, video games are fun but learning to play an instrument provides many more physical and mental benefits, including improved memorization skills, increased self-confidence, and enhanced creativity. And the number one reason to purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate this holiday season? 1.   Its better than fruitcake. Enough said. Call us at 877-231-8505 or click here to purchase your TakeLessons gift certificate today!   Happy Holidays!

What Is The Impressionist Art Movement

What Is The Impressionist Art Movement How Impressionism Changed The Way Artists Painted Chapters10 Characteristics And Ideas Of The Impressionist StyleThe Most Well Known Impressionist ArtistsA Well Known Piece Of Impressionist ArtWhat is Impressionism? To understand the Impressionist movement, you must first understand what they were opposing. And through this opposition, how impressionists (Group of artists, Impressionist painters) defined themselves and their Artistic movement. If you are not an artist, you may not know that when you see a painting in a gallery, that usually this painting, has been weeks or months in the making; sometimes years even.There are many ways to prepare to paint a picture, and each artist is different. But generally, an artist will make sketches of parts of their composition separately as to really understand how it is formed. How light affects it and how shadows add to and affect its form.Many artists reviewed how light and colour sits in its environment and what effect it has on things around it. How the colours bounce off each other and intermingle to create the appearance of the item. Then they might begin painting small practice pieces on smaller cheaper pieces of canvas or paper. After all of this study, an artist will then draw their chosen composition onto the canvas, deleting and redrawing until it is just right. It is only after all of this that paint gets mixed and painting begins.It is all very romantic as if courting the pieces that you want to immortalise in paint. Falling in love with the essence of what captured your attention and then working to communicate this onto the canvas. This is often why artists can be so emotional and intense when it comes to their work.The Impressionists, however, threw this process to the wind, they rebuked the preparation time in the studio. They turned away from the ‘fine’ art processes, that had fine finishes and detail that took months to complete. They wanted to capture the passion of the moment; both the moment of inspiration within themselves in response to a sc ene and also the moment as it passed within the scene itself.The impressionists aimed to capture a fleeting moment in time, eternalising it in paint for the world to see. To capture the ‘impression’ of that moment, they had to move out onto the streets. They sat amidst the movement and bustling action of the day. Be it in the city or in the countryside, there was more going on outside the studio than within it. The aim was to capture the essence of what made an impression on their eyes at any given moment.The impressionists are celebrated today, but they were stunned at the time. Their coarse, irregular brushstrokes and unfinished appearance were far from the style of painting celebrated in the day. But the movement is integral to all modern art is seen today, and it was the first modern art movement of its kind in the 1860s. It developed in Paris, and despite harsh opposition, the movement spread throughout Europe and as far as the USA.They turned away from the ‘fine’ art p rocesses. Photo Source: Unsplash Edouard Manet (another impressionist artist). They formed a life long friendship which had a big effect on Degas.Edgar Degas didn't consider himself an Impressionist painter, in fact, although he took part in impressionist shows, admired and was friends with many impressionist artists. He always claimed to be independent rather than assume the title impressionist. This could be because he valued and used his classical training, which used line, focal points, sketching and painting in the studio. While traditionally impressionists favoured colour, textural painting and working outdoors.His work is extraordinary; at times delicate and beautiful, at other times, intrusive and funny. But in all cases, you are transported to a moment in time in which you can see just how the people were really living in that moment. I expect it is this key characteristic which is so strongly felt in his work that earned him the title of an impressionist and one of the Gre at Painters.Top Artworks: The Bellelli family (1858 - 67), Monsieur and Madame Edouard Manet (1868/9), Foyer de la danse (1872)Birthplace: Paris, FranceLifeline: 1834 - 1917Art Style: Realism, Impressionism, JaponismArt Forms: Painting, Sculpture and PrintWhen you see a painting in a gallery, that usually this painting, has been weeks or months in the making; sometimes years even.Photo Source: UnsplashLearn more about arts from an art tutor today!A Well Known Piece Of Impressionist ArtThe Water LiliesMonet devoted a large part of his life to creating a beautiful garden which he then transported on to the canvas. Monets water lilies series of paintings are world renowned as being some of the most beautiful landscape paintings.His work was not the typical landscape, Monet did away with the traditional horizon and depth of field. As soon as you see the images, you are confronted with the surface of the water. The view is almost zoomed in because you can not see the bank that you appear to stand on nor the horizon in the distance. You are looking into, and across the water, it is pulling you in, it is reflecting the sky and the clouds, in some trees are reflected. These are spectacular pieces of work, vivid and hypnotising.The Monet paintings in the Musee de l’orangerie in Paris flood your sight, transporting you into another world, which I expect was Monet's plan all along.Artist: Monet (French impressionist and Post impressionist)Date Painted: 1918 - 1926Original title: Les NympheasOne Location: Musee de l’orangerie, ParisThe series: around 250 -/+ paintingsSize: 200 x 425 inches (example size of one of 250 paintings)Medium: Oil on canvasDid you know about the  art movement called Baroque?Other Well Known PiecesImpressionist sunrise by Claude MonetLuncheon of the boating party by Pierre-Auguste RenoirPoppies by Claude MonetThe Boulevard Montmartre at night by Camille PissarroThe Cradle by Berthe MorisotThe absinthe drinker by Edgar DegasThe green dancer by E dgar DegasA bar at the Folies-Bergere by Edouard ManetThe coiffure by Mary Cassatt  The Paris street; Rainy day by Gustave CaillebotteThere is something just so moving about impressionism, I find it to be some of the most beautiful work. Full of emotion, expression and movement with colours that are so bright that it transports me into a moment of pure contentment. Like the moments when you are in a revere, reminiscing over the joys of the day.The impressionist art movement doesn't just present us with pieces of art; it also communicates the fleetingness of a moment and highlights how precious and powerful these passing moments are. When I see impressionist paintings, I feel that they represent just how the memories within my mind, might be painted. As if looking through half closed eyes and trying hard to remember clearly. Close your eyes and think about your own memories, perhaps you are an impressionist too. What are your favourite Art movements?Do you like Surrealism and Dali or Cubism and Picasso with his Cubist work

What should you look for in a Math and English Tutor for your child

What should you look for in a Math and English Tutor for your child 0SHARESShare Online tutoring is a tremendous platform for accumulating innovative learning techniques and outlining brave ventures in academic scores and grades. Subjects like Math and English forecast intense study and inlaid preparation for the students to rank high in educational pursuits and career quest. Choose seasoned online tutors who could render the flavor to your academic zeal and learning skills. How to choose a Math online tutor? Math makes you sweat in the most inappropriate moment when you sit in the hall for a test despite great prep It is due to your lack of strong basis in the subject and the   learning   strategies that could move you  from a B grade to A Check the websites that tutor Math and find out the best of your choice for Math tuition online Contact them one by one and pick out the best that is up to your satisfaction It is that online tutoring  site which could provide maximum service in minimum packages with good tutoring testimonials Your time schedule and their fair pricing should go hand  in hand with a personal demo of the Math tutor Might be he interests  you with his credentials, past exemplary work history or the value experience he possesses  in the field It is not just you engage a tutor and go by his words in each and every aspect of his teaching You too need to concentrate, respond and co-operate to come out with the best results The responsibilities of Math and English online tutors Both the subjects are essential for learning  other related subjects English is needed for a basic understanding of any subject as it is the common medium of expression Without Math ,understanding pure sciences is a hectic job, as the calculation is the mainstream of science subjects like Astronomy, Architecture, Engineering and Statistics Hence the related importance of good Math and English tutor without whose proper help, learning these subjects turns out to be a fiasco They bear the major responsibility of creating good mathematicians and linguist specialists with their  technology based tutoring It is no way a small matter to wonder at the great tasks borne by tutors online in Math and English. [starbox id=admin]

What is the Grad School Application Process

What is the Grad School Application Process Applying to grad school is a great time of anticipation as you look forward to the next step in your career. However, it can also be a daunting process, whether youre a current undergrad or have been out in the working world for a year or more. The good news is that youve been through the undergrad application process before, which is similar, and youre likely to have materials you can draw from to help you present the best grad school applications possible. Not sure where to begin, however? Below is a breakdown of the grad school application process: 1. Researching prospective schools and requirements The application cycle generally begins in the fall of the year before youd want to attend, and it often extends through the spring. Starting in the summeror even beforebegin researching what kinds of programs and schools youd like to attend. Browse schools websites and look up online forums, communities, or ranking lists, or visit campuses in person if youre able to do so. Consider factors like faculty, course offerings, research or mentorship opportunities, and location. Check out funding packages and scholarships as well. Also, note that some programs require you to have already taken certain courses. If youre missing a required course from your transcript thus far, consider enrolling in it at a local or community college. In order to accomplish these things in the appropriate timeframe, you must be keeping yourself organized. Once you decide which and how many schools to apply to, create a spreadsheet that lists important deadlines, required application materials, fees, etc. 2. Scheduling admissions exams Most grad schools require you to take standardized admissions exams, like the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT, depending on the specialty you are pursuing. Once you figure out if youll be taking a particular test, register for a date that gives you ample time to study, as well as time to focus on the rest of your applications. Then, create a study plan. Some ideas include drills and full-length practice tests, checking out resources at your local library, looking into tutoring, or even just finding a study buddy. 3. Seeking out recommenders Depending on the school at hand, you may need to provide three or up to five letters from people who can vouch for you as a great grad school candidate. Choose professors or mentors in your intended field of study, often from undergrad. If youve been working, you could possibly ask current or previous supervisors. If they agree to this task, be prepared to send them your personal statement and/or resume to help them speak to your personal accomplishments and skills, as well as clear guidelines for how to submit letters and important due dates. Be sure to give your recommenders ample time to complete the letters (two months or more is generous). Dont forget, afterwards, to keep them updated on where you choose to attend in the end and to send them a token of appreciation! 4. Writing personal statements and essays Personal statements and essays are the meat and potatoes of the application package. They showcase your accomplishments and vision, let your personality shine through, and allow you to speak to any potential discrepancies in your academic career. Begin with a hookoften a personal anecdote that genuinely speaks to your interest in the fieldand discuss experiences that showcase who you are as a person, as well as a potential student in their program. Keep your writing positive, personal, succinct, and snappy. Avoid jargon and flowery or extremely casual language. Have a friend or mentor read and edit your writing, and then you can revise as needed. [RELATED: 3 Steps to Edit Your Essay] 5. Updating your resume If youve used your resume recently for job applications, you may already have something on hand that you can easily upload to the application portal. Be sure, however, to update your resume with any recent awards, volunteer experiences, or job achievements. Also, youll want to tailor this resume toward your intended field of study and highlight any accomplishments in that specific field. After all, youll want to impress these admissions officers just as youd want to impress potential employers! 6. Sending transcripts and test scores This part of the application process is often tedious and can require fees. However, its a great activity that can help you feel productive in your application process and can give you a break from more mentally taxing activities. Consult your spreadsheet and school websites for when and how to submit undergrad (or any other post-secondary school) transcripts. Also, if you didnt elect to send your test scores to all your schools when you took a certain exam, be sure to catch up on this if needed and do so by the application deadlines. Besides the above list, schools may have a few other requirements depending on the type of program, like a writing sample or an in-person interview. Take note of these differences throughout the process so youre ready for them as they come. Lastly, reach out to people in your social circles to see if anyone else is going through the application process; they can be a great source of support during this time! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

For New York Singers Free Vocal Screening

For New York Singers Free Vocal Screening Suzy S. When: April 4 Where: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Voice and Swallowing Institute New York, NY Are you a pro, or taking singing classes in New York? In honor of World Voice Day 2009, MusiCares, along with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and KayPentax, is co-sponsoring a day of free voice screenings for New York-based professional vocalists. The event will take place on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmarys Voice and Swallowing Institute. The screenings will be provided free of charge and are needs-based. Each eligible singer will receive a complete vocal assessment, including assessment by a laryngologist, a stroboscopic exam of the vocal folds, and vocal function testing. Vocalists must be pre-screened for eligibility and schedule their appointments through MusiCares. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 212.245.7840 or 877.303.6962.

Does Learning Spanish Take Long

Does Learning Spanish Take Long You Can Learn Spanish Quickly, But How Long Will it Take? ChaptersHow Long Does it Take to Learn Fluent Spanish?To Become Fluent in Spanish, Your Attitude and Motivation are Extremely ImportantWhat are you Goals?Do you Speak Any Other Languages?How to Learn Spanish Fast: ImmersionLearning Spanish might be one of the best decisions you ever make. Your ability to speak Spanish won't just allow you to communicate with an estimated 440 million native speakers worldwide, it will also make you a lot more employable in the eyes of a wide range of different companies and organisations.It is widely accepted that  language skills are great for business. In a globalised world where businesses rely on all four corners of the globe to function, language learning is becoming more and more essential.The Spanish language that is spoken in 20 different independent countries. Subsequently, its appeal it enormous in a professional context. Your pronunciation doesn't even need to be perfect to gain a competitive advantage; even just knowing a few key Spanish w ords so that you have a conversational level will set you apart from the crowd.The benefits of taking Spanish lessons in order to develop your Spanish vocabulary are not really in any doubt. However, a key question that crops up time and time again is 'how long does it take to learn Spanish?'.It's all well and good deciding to learn the language of Cervantes, but you naturally want to know how much time it is going to take.There are a lot of things that you need to know to become fluent in Spanish quickly, but when it comes to how long it will take, there is no quick answer. It will depend on a multitude of different factors. In this article we will run through some of them to give you an idea of the task that lies ahead.The widespread use of Spanish, including countries such as Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, means that you aren't short of places where you can go to for an immersive experience.Learning Spanish could be your gateway to Spain.The best way to study Spani sh is by immersing yourself in the language. By doing so, you will be surrounding yourself with the sounds and sights of Spanish, you will learn how to speak Spanish like a local native speaker, as well as picking up a whole bunch of useful phrases and expressions that you won't learn in your Spanish class at home.Every experience will be like a Spanish lesson for you; going to the supermarket, meeting friends for a coffee, or even travelling around the city or country where you choose to go. You will quickly pick up the Spanish verbs that are actually used in reality, and if you are worried about only having basic Spanish, this will soon develop into an intermediate level due to all of the exposure to the language that you will be getting.There is no doubt that learning a language efficiently requires some time living in a country where it is spoken. This is also the quickest way to learn a language, and therefore you won't need to worry about how long it takes to learn Spanish as you will be constantly developing, progressing, and improving.But you should still take Spanish lessons before you relocate, if only to be able to converse on a basic level...

Why you shouldnt take test prep advice from Homer Simpson

Why you shouldnt take test prep advice from Homer Simpson Homer Simpson provides test prep advice you should not follow!Depending on how familiar you are with the Simpsons oeuvre, you might remember an episode where Mr. Burns decides that he needs a male heir in order to pass on his fortune.  Naturally, Homer encourages Bart to audition for the part of Burns’ heir.  Bart, relying on Homer’s inept guidance, bungles the audition and misses out on the chance to inherit the fortune.  As the Simpson family walks out afterwards, Homer passes on some fatherly advice: “Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably.  The lesson is, never try.”Of course, no one is looking to Homer Simpson for test prep advice.  But the reality is that many students fall into the “Homer mindset”: I really tried my best on that homework/practice test/actual test and didn’t do well, so game over.  I’m never going to do better on the SAT!Where does failure occur during the process of test preparation?  It can happen during a tutoring session no matter how the tutor tries to explain that tricky algebra concept, the student just doesn’t get it.  It can happen on a homework assignment the student understood the reading comprehension strategy during the tutoring session, but can’t focus and complete the reading section at home.  It can happen on a practice test time runs out and the student only got through half of the math section.And of course, failure can happen on the big kahuna the actual test.  Anxiety got the best of her; he forgot how subject-verb agreement works; her calculator batteries died during the math section.  You try your best and just don’t get the score you want.So what do you do when you’re confronted with failure during test prep?  You see failure correctly for what it is: a learning opportunity.Many students are practically allergic to making mistakes in front of their tutors, preferring instead to maintain the illusion of perfection.  This attitude is typical of the “fixed mindset ”.  Carol Dweck, the pioneer of mindset thinking, defines the fixed mindset as one in which “students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits.  They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb.”Here at AJ Tutoring, we do everything in our power to break down the fixed mindset in our students.  The fixed mindset is the enemy of true learning and improvement on the SAT or ACT.  The fixed mindset denies students the chance to take risks, learn from mistakes, and experience the satisfaction that comes from working hard and mastering a skill.  In the end, you will only improve your SAT score if you’re willing to get questions wrong and then figure out how to get them right.Theorizing about failure in a blog post is one thing, but what do we tell our students when they fail?  How do we reconceptualize failure so our students can see it as a good thing?  Le t’s revisit the “failure points” during test preparation.Failure to understand a concept during the tutoring session.When a student has a hard time understanding a concept during a tutoring session, it usually comes down to one of two things: either they’re weak on fundamentals, or they’re terrified of “looking dumb” in front of their tutor.  If the student is weak on fundamentals ( for example, they can’t solve a system of equations because they don’t know how to solve one equation for one variable), the tutor can usually diagnose this issue quickly.  The sooner a student “fails” on a problem, the easier it is for their tutor to figure out the true issue and backtrack to the more elementary concept.  And if the student doesn’t want to miss a problem and look dumb, this too is helpful information.  It tells the tutor something about the student’s mindset towards failure and allows the tutor to take appropriate steps to change that mindset.This could lea d to your greatest success.Failure on a homework assignment.Sometimes a student understands a concept during the tutoring lesson, but can’t execute on the homework assignment.  Failure on a homework assignment tells us something important too either the student didn’t understand the concept as well as we thought they did (in which case, time to review), the student rushed through the assignment, or the student didn’t apply the correct strategies on the assignment.  In all of these cases, failure tells us more about the student’s approach to SAT prep when he’s on his own.   All of these problems are correctable given enough time.Failure on a practice test.Students (and parents) often expect great improvement on practice tests.  Sometimes students get a solid score improvement on a practice test, and sometimes they don’t.  As part of AJ Tutoring’s SAT and ACT prep process, we ask students to take at least 3 practice tests, and then we review those results with stude nts in their next tutoring session.  Reviewing practice tests with students is instructive it allows us to see exactly what happened if a student “failed”.  I had a frustrating situation with an ACT student last year whose practice test scores kept going down, even though he was doing great in our sessions.  After the third declining practice test score, he and I sat down for a serious discussion.  It turned out that the student was staying up late and then had a hectic morning of driving his siblings around before coming to our office for his test.  By having that discussion during his prep, we made sure that he didn’t repeat the same pattern on test day.  Sure enough, he got sleep the night before the actual test, and his ACT score went up by 5 points!Failure on the actual test.This is the scenario that strikes fear into the hearts of students and parents everywhere.  How is it possible to turn a test day failure into a net positive?  For starters, almost all studen ts take the SAT and ACT more than once.  It’s rare that students get the score they’re looking for on the first try.  Every time you take the test, even if you don’t achieve your goal score, you get a little more test-taking experience and you learn more about how you operate on test day.  And once you get your scores back, you know which sections and concepts you need to review for future tests.Do you see the common thread here?  Failure gives us more information.  Rather than seeing failure as a reflection of your intelligence, try to see failure as a diagnostic tool that helps you do better on the next homework assignment or test.Paul Tough’s book How Children Succeed is a worthwhile read on the factors that influence success in school.  Chapter 3 looks at the unorthodox teaching methods of a middle school chess teacher in Brooklyn, Elizabeth Spiegel, who is able to lead her team to unexpected success.  Spiegel’s teaching method is so unusual because she focuses on her students’ failures, analyzing wrong moves and bad games with the class until they deeply understand the right moves.Spiegel tries to lead her students down a narrow and difficult path: to have them take responsibility for their mistakes and learn from them without obsessing over them or beating themselves up for them. How Children SucceedWhen interviewed for the book, Spiegel noted, “It’s uncomfortable to focus so intensely on what you’re bad atIf you really want to get better at chess, you have to look at your games and figure out what you’re doing wrong.”The same thing is true in test prep if you really want a higher score on the SAT or ACT, you have to confront your failures head-on and figure out what you’re doing wrong.  For the student who is brave enough to do this, the rewards are many a higher test score, yes, but also the confidence to take risks, to sometimes fail, and to learn from that failure and do better the next time.[Note: Many adults have a hard time with failure, let alone high school students.  Failing well is a learned skill!  Our SAT and ACT tutors are happy to help guide your student toward testing success.  Please reach out to us for more information!]