Planning for SAT ACT Changes Fall 2023
Students who will be taking the ACT/SAT this year know there will be some major upcoming changes to testing.
We are here to help navigate the process. We believe fall will get booked up early. The SAT is filling almost as soon as it opens.Given that the SAT is going digital this winter/spring, we understand that people will be rushing to take the SAT/ACT this fall before the changes kick in. The best way to manage this sometimes-challenging process is to stay on top of it. We are here to help.
Beginning the School Year with a Tutor- What to Consider.
Parents often struggle in deciding whether to begin the year with a tutor on board or to wait to see how their student does in school and then make the decision. For student athletes with practices, or drama rehearsal after school, the fall can start to feel very full. Our recommendations on what to consider:
What grade is the student entering?
For elementary or middle school students, we encourage families to make a decision based on what works for the family. Struggles in early grades can often be reframed as a learning experience by a parent or teacher and may not require engaging a content expert early on. If a parent has the bandwidth to find extra support or challenge inside school or at home and also feels they are able to monitor progress, then we recommend holding off on tutoring. A trained elementary or middle school tutor can step in later, if needed.
For high school or higher, however, beginning the year with a tutor is often a better choice. We are frequently contacted by families whose student’s grades have dropped significantly. Playing catchup for the remainder of the marking period can be stressful and overwhelming. While we believe that experiencing a bit of failure can lead to growth for many students, for others, it is counterproductive or even damaging to their confidence as learners.
Will the student be going through a transition in fall?
When a student has been receiving tutoring and is getting ready for a transition to a new level in school (e.g. middle to high school or high school to college) or going through a significant challenge (e.g. illness or divorce), we recommend that families keep tutoring in place for the first part of the school year. Typically, this means through October or the first marking period.
Does the child have learning differences or other issues that will impact their education?
Students can benefit from some time to establish a trusted tutoring relationship at the start of the school year if they have a learning difference, executive skills deficits, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, significant medical issues, or mental health struggles. When a student with such challenges becomes overwhelmed by school content and organization, finding a tutor and establishing a network of support on top of their workload can compound stress. Therefore, in such cases, we advise that students begin the year with tutoring in place and lessen the support once it is apparent that it’s no longer necessary.
How does the student handle stress?
Finally, consider how the student reacts to stress and their ability to push themselves when life is challenging. Do they shut down, ignore homework, avoid school altogether, or become withdrawn? Or do they dig in, meet with teachers regularly, or form study groups? Having a tutor in place can help guide a student through turbulent times as they develop resilience and solidify healthy habits.
At Liddane, our goal is to be honest and encourage families to do what’s best for their child. We value being a part of students’ lives and want the absolute best for each of them. You can be assured that we will give you a genuine answer if you choose to discuss this with a tutor or with Andrea. We are always willing to be a sounding board - reach out if you need anything. And have a great back to school season!
Stressed About School Restarting? We Can Help.
The approach of the upcoming school year can cause students and families stress. Coming out of the pandemic, many report gaps in the understanding of subjects that keep students feeling perennially behind, particlularly in math and science. One way to get a handle on stress before the school year starts is to begin working one on one with a tutor now to address these gaps in learning. Liddane tutors work with students across disciplines and subjects in an effort to get a real understanding of where the student is and to address areas where the student needs to practice skills that will allow them to catch up.
Students working from home over the Covid years also lacked the opportunity to practice social and emotional learning with their peers. For many this has resulted in a diminished ability to focus during school with so much going on around them. Teahers are stretched and have limited resources to address each student's gaps, thus leaving students feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.
If you or your family is experiencing stress over the upcoming school year, please reach out to talk with Liddane's intake professionals. We have helped- and are helping- students from elementary to college age get back on track and stay there.
The Digital SAT
As you may have heard, the SAT is going digital. The PSAT will switch to a digital platform in the fall of 2023, and the SAT will change to digital in the spring of 2024. While you may have some concerns about this new format and what your student can expect to see, there are some exciting changes we are looking forward to! This new test will be shorter, 2 hours and 24 minutes rather than 3 hours and fifteen minutes, which means less cognitive endurance will be required. Students will be able to take the test multiple times without as much mental strain or fatigue as before. It will also allow students more time per question and the ability to receive their scores faster than ever. While the testing content will remain relatively the same, in the verbal section, reading passages will be significantly shorter. On the other hand, the questions will be tougher. Another change is that, in the math section, a calculator (Desmos!) will now always be available. Compared to the ACT, the digital SAT will allow a 60.5% increase in the amount of time per question on the verbal section and 59% more time on math. There are considerably fewer reading problems in the math section, and the percentage of questions from geometry and trigonometry will increase. Accommodations will also be better and they will be linked to your student’s access code. Accommodations include text to speech; talk to text; the ability to change the speed of speech, font, and color; extra breaks; and time and a half to complete the test. Some other tools available to students with or without accommodations are a testing timer, reference sheet of commonly used formulas, a mark for review feature, and the ability to annotate text. For students who cannot test on a computer, a paper test will still be available.
Ways to prepare: Taking a mock test can help establish a baseline. After the baseline is determined and areas for improvement are identified, students can work with a tutor to study efficiently and learn test taking strategy. If your student is a junior next year, they will have the unique opportunity of being able to take the paper AND the digital test to see which medium they prefer. One thing you can currently do is download the Bluebook app from the College Board. This is the official app for taking the SAT, and College Board currently offers four full digital practice tests (with promises of more to come!). The digital SAT is being administered now internationally, which will bring even more information about the new test in the future.Let us help you navigate this change. Learn more.
Final Exam Season : Tips for Student Athletes
The demands and realities of student athletes’ schedules and being the best student possible can be a challenging juggling act, especially during finals. Intentionality delivers results. Here are some of our tried-and-true tips for exam season success. The Liddane Tutoring team believes you can navigate these challenges more easily using suggestions below, with support from coaches, teammates and study support people to kick it out of the park! If you need individual support, let us know how we can help. Good luck!
Plot out a study calendar. Spend 15 minutes writing down the steps for what you need to do and when. Be as specific as possible.
Consciously map out team practices, extracurriculars, and whatever else you have going on, especially prior to tests. Add to your calendar for visual reminders.
Set meetings with teachers now. Keep a running list of questions so meetings can be as productive as possible.
Figure out your study support people. Reach out to a classmate or bring together a group of friends who will truly help you study. Create a team study group of other players who will encourage you to use your time wisely at tournaments or away games. Encourage them back.
Tutors can really help before tests. If you decide to work with one, set those appointments. Keep a running list of questions going and send it ahead of time if you can so your tutor can be best prepared for you.
Review the class syllabus to understand what will be asked on the tests. What are the big questions?
Make flash cards/study cards (Quizlet or paper–whatever works best for you).
Review and explain the content to someone else.
Take care of yourself during exam periods. As much as you are able, eat well, drink water, get enough sleep, deep breathe, and move your body.
Online Tutoring 101 Guide
Work with your tutor to create a personalized plan for online school help, and stay engaged in learning.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Online tutoring works essentially like in-person tutoring. Meetings are primarily one-on-one and are co-led by the tutor and the student.
Expect to set ground rules, such as around areas of focus, breaks, and keeping an audio/video link. These will help you stay on track in a virtual meeting.
Keep the communication lines open about what works and what doesn’t.
Students in Seattle can be paired with local tutors, so in-person sessions are an option in the long-term.
Just as you would bring your backpack and plan your travel to the tutoring office, bring what you need and plan ahead for virtual tutoring.
WHERE TO MEET
Find (or make) a quiet space where you can hear and be heard by your tutor.
A school-like spot (with a desk, for example) helps put you in a school mindset.
Follow the link to the meeting provided by your tutor.
TutorCruncher Video or Google Meet can be used in a browser with no download.
Zoom may be downloaded here: https://zoom.us/download
WHAT TO BRING
Schoolwork:
Your digital work can be shared on your screen.
Your notebook, papers, or planner can be shared through the camera on your phone or computer.
For students without assigned schoolwork:
Expect to work with your tutor on your learning goals. That may mean reviewing suggested materials, planning a personal project, or working on an “elective!”
Save the digital work you do with your tutor in bookmarks or an online folder so that you can bring it to other sessions.
Continue work similar to each of your current classes, including review of especially difficult topics from past units.
Work with your tutor to create a structured plan that will allow you to keep your brain engaged in learning.
Your phone:
The camera is handy for sharing your work!
You can always call your tutor as a backup to help troubleshoot your connection. Your tutor’s phone number can be found in their email signature.
HOW TO FOLLOW UP
Let us know if you need help with some aspect of online tutoring.
For audio/video help, you can also check out these support websites:
To get started with online tutoring, simply choose the tutoring office closest to you, or contact our main office.
SUMMERTIME DISCOUNT FOR FAMILIES!
We know that summer can be a scheduling challenge between wanting down time for your family, students and self! As parents, you also know the school year comes back sooner than expected and that staying on top of skills matters. Summer learning can fill in knowledge gaps and build confidence so that students are prepared to re-start school in earnest. Classroom learning is supported by having our amazing tutors continuing to work with your student on practice and gaining skills over break. Whatever your learner's needs are, our family summer sessions just make sense.
This July, August and September we will offer each family 10% off their total monthly bill (not including College Application Workshops) if 5-9 sessions are completed in a month, or 15% off if 10 or more sessions are completed by your family each month. We hope this will make your vacation planning, school year readiness and budget feel good about what comes next. Let us know if you have any questions!