By: Theresa Zunino-McFalls Owner/Area Director of Club Z

The teacher tells you that your child is ‘ just a bit behind’ in reading. What does that mean???? We all panic. Every grade level has a reading level that they expect a student to be reading at by the end of the year and so there is a specific progression that they want to see happening. If a teacher feels that a student is far enough behind to warrant coming to a parent there is a specific progression which the school will follow:
1. The teacher will try some strategies that she can use with the whole reading group.
2. If she doesn’t see change, your child can be recommended for IST (Instructional Support Team). This is a good thing! It’s the first step to learning the reasons behind the lack of progress. IST will set very specific goals for a set amount of time to try with your child (usually 30-45 school days, depending on the district). During that time your child’s teacher will use those specific strategies set by IST and monitor progress. There is a lot of progress monitoring during this time. At the end of the 30-45 days, the team will reconvene and look at all the data they’ve collected. If they see progress, it can be determined that these strategies are working and they will keep them in place and continue to monitor.
3. If not significant progress is seen, then the school will seek your permission to do a full educational evaluation. This involves observation by a trained special educator, IQ testing, and other modes of testing. They may also take into account samples of your childs work. Be forewarned that this can be a long process (up to 3 months) because the school has a certain number of days complete each step.
4. After everything is reviewed you will participate in a meeting to discuss the results. Again, this is a good thing! Your child is getting the help they need. The school will write and IEP (Individualized Education Plan) with specific goals for your child with specific interventions. They will be frequently reviewed and monitored.

As a former special educator, Behavior Specialist Consultant, and parent of a child with an IEP I’ve been involved in this process countless times. I’d be happy to talk to any parent and help lead you through the process.

The Move from Middle School to High School: Picking your courses.
THE BOOK comes home and it’s thick! Was it this thick when you were entering high school? Probably not but that is what we want: more options for our kids.
Your child’s main courses are choosen by their guidance counselors based on their current classes and grades in those classes. If you student is getting Bs and Cs in a mid-track Math class now, chances are he’ll be placed in mid-track Algebra for 9th grade. If he is earning As and has consistently earned As, you may want to ask that he try a higher level class for 9th grade. This is the time to ask for changes, not on the first day school in September. While every year is important to college transcripts, 9th is certainly less weighted than 10th or 11th so if you want to make a change, do it this year. The worst that happens is you move into a different section in late September.
The choices come in electives. This is not the time to worry about what he’ll be doing at 18! 9th grade is a good time to try a little of everything and try classes that are a little out of his comfort zone. You never know what he might end of really enjoying or he may have a teacher that just lights a spark.

SAT 101
When should I take the test?
Most students take the SAT in January or March of the junior year, again in May or June, and then again the Fall of the senior year. If you ace it the first time you’re golden but you have two more tries to raise your score.

Where do I sign up?
Go to www.collegeboard.com to find all the information you need about test dates, deadlines for sign ups, and test locations. The deadline for sign ups is usually 5 weeks before the test.

Can I get the test booklet along with my answers?
There are some months in which you can order the test booklet for an additional fee. If this is an option, DO IT! It is an invaluable tool for seeing what kind of mistakes you make. Our tutors make copies of these and use them for practice too.

Should I sign up for subject tests?
This depends on the schools you are applying to as well as your intended major. Check on your school’s websites for this information. You can take up to 3 subject tests on a single test date but not on the same day as your SAT.

What do I need to score?
The million dollar questions! This really depends on the schools to which you are applying. The average scores of students applying in 2009 to some universities:
WCU:  Math 496, Verbal  527
Boston University:
Math 613, Verbal 600
North Carolina State:
Math 578, Verbal 615
Temple: Math 560, Verbal 550
Harvard (Dream Big!):
Math 740, Verbal 660

Summer Camp Info is Ready!
Summer really is just around the corner. I’ve been to 3 Summer Camp Fairs already! Club Z! is offering camps again this year with some changes. We learned much our first season! Some of the changes:
•  We are offering less sessions but will still keep our 5 student to 1 teacher ratio. We will again break the groups by grade level.
•  We will use the upstairs conference room at Boomer’s Family Fun Center for all our camps with breaks downstairs in the Fun Zones.
•  We will continue to focus on the specific needs of the students in groups through games, activities, and a positive approach to summer learning.
•  We will offer a 10% discount for a second child in the family and for multiple camp sign ups (Sign up for 2 or more camps).

You can download a brochure and see camp descriptions at our website www.clubztutoring.com/avondalepa

Theresa Zunino-McFalls earned a B.S in Early Childhood and Elementary Education as well as an M.Ed in Special Education. She is the Owner/Area Director of Club Z! Tutoring serving Southern Chester County and Delaware. She resides in Avondale, PA with her husband and three school aged children.