How Do I Prepare My Student For Testing?

As an educator, it is my focus to teach students valuable skills and not just the knowledge that is assigned on my teaching certificate. If I teach them math, I feel that it is more valuable to show them how to look at things "logically" and "critically" rather than solving a complex equation. The same principles apply when it comes to testing.

Many years ago, I was approached by many parents to help them understand what certain private institutions are looking for as far as a candidate for admission into their Kindergarten program. I noticed that some of these parents have high expectations of their children and believe that their child should be guaranteed a slot into the top notch private schools. Most (if not all parents - mine included) believe that their student has a great chance at acceptance until they fail to realize that, they did not get accepted.

One parent in particular approached me during this same time several years ago with the same problem statement, "How do I prepare my child for testing?". Given the fact that her five year old has never been tested, I spent some time with her child developing her language skills and creating a plan that integrated core knowledge that any young child should know. It turns out that after spending months with this young one, she took the same IQ test exactly one year later and had a 30point increase in her testing. The father had stated that I was the primary source to be credited for this IQ gain! Also, I was quite astonished that my student did well and that she was given acceptance letters to the top four private schools in Atlanta. After creating a plan of action with the parent on different strategies that would be helpful for long-term learning, there was no other path for her to be on but the one of success.

The question that most parents ask me is "Can you prepare a student for testing?". The answer, as some would say, would be no. But similar to how many of us attended college, there are certain things that your child should know prior to even entering kindergarten. Try not to leave this responsibility of learning to the preschool director, your child should be prepared more than they are so that they are placed on the right track to success.

10 Tips For Organization

HELPING STUDENTS WHO ARE DISORGANIZED

 
Many students (and adults) are challenged with being disorganized. We understand that disorganization could cause some strife between you and your student. Here are 10 helpful tips for you if you need assistance with disorganization:

 

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTED  ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS:

1. Provide the student with a list of the necessary materials that are needed for the day. 
2. Provide time at the beginning of the day for the student to organize their own materials. 
3.  Provide time at various points of the day for the student to organize materials (example, after class, before lunch, after recess).
4.  Act as a model for being organized/prepared for specific activities. 
5.  Remind the student at the end of the day when materials are required for specific activities for the next day
6. Have the student establish a routine/procedures for getting prepared for school/homework
7. Make a "station" or "cubby hole"for each subject area where the student has all of their materials for each subject.

          Math – notebook, pencil, eraser, calculator, book

          Science – notebook, pencil, eraser, book

          ELA – notebook, pencil, pen, journal, book

          Social Studies – notebook, pencil, pen, book

       8. Provide adequate time for completion of the activities scheduled for the day.

       9. Have the student leave necessary materials at specified activity areas (pencils/pens/writing/sticky)

 .                10.    Provide the student with a specific structure for all academic activities and/or a checklist.

       

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Learning Ridge Supports JDRF

It was tons of fun at Centennial Park, this morning! What a great way to spend a Saturday morning in Atlanta:)

What Would Happen Without No Child Left Behind?

There is an old adage that "all good things must come to an end". It seems that despite  the good intentions of "No Child Left Behind" a group of important lawmakers are reforming education, once again.

According to an article found in the online journal, District Administration, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa is proposing educational law that would eliminate the use of standardized tests in reading and math to label schools across the United States as either "failing" or "competent". The discussion on eradicating this bill has been very heated and has caused a great amount of turmoil as our schools continue to struggle to meet the educational gaps in our country. Personally, I have found that the idea of rating a school based on a math and reading test - to be very short sighted in light of what the school accomplishes every day. Similar to what happens in the corporate world, your evaluation is not based on some arbitrary date that your supervisor came in to "observe" you, but a culmination of work efforts and accomplishments achieved over the course of that review period. This is how it was when I managed people, I certainly do not understand why that cannot apply to our students.

I hope that as a country, we can come together to help our students have access to not only the education that they deserve, but the skills that will help prepare them in competing for the jobs of the future. Perhaps focusing on "how to learn new skills" in addition to learning how to communication effectively in any given situation would be as important as reading and understanding how to calculate a math problem.

 

The Teacher Becomes A Student

As a trained educator using Multisensory Methods to teach, you would think that I could go "back to school" and take a class in which I could instantly "ace", right? I am a typical teacher, always "telling - showing - doing" until I am put to the test in a real class, with real students, and real learning objectives. Let's just say that tonight was a great night, but unlike high school, I did not "break the curve".

Yes, after two years I finally decided to take a cooking class (despite the fact that it took me two years after recovering from the pizza class that I took that resulted in my tenth - hard as a rock pizza crust) that began with the basics of knife skills. I thought that I arrived early but ironically, I was one minute late and in true procrastinator style all the seats at the front were taken. I knew that this would pose a big challenge for me because I would need to listen, look, and repeat all of the information that this "master chef" was giving to our class of 12. Sad to say, I found myself almost convulsing in my seat because I could not really make sense of the terms that he was telling us and needed to ask the student next to me, "Is that the second knife that he told us we needed or the third... I think that I am missing a bullet point here...."

Regardless of what had happened, it seems as if learning how to cook is more challenging for me than, doing math. Moving the German made knife back and forth in a see-saw fashion without harming the appendages that help me in creating this blog entry is rather terrifying and requires "skill". I know that most home cooks have a good set of knives - I won't tell you what I have but I will say this, sometimes it takes me longer to chop up a bag of carrots than to watch a Bollywood movie (that is a long time).

The conclusion that I must draw after taking this three hour knife class is to do the following: just because you don't go to school everyday doesn't make you a different learner. What I had done in school to be successful (sitting in the front, taking notes, making friends with all of the individuals that were as ambitious if not more ambitious as me)  is something that I must always do to ensure that I am successful. I also find it very beneficial to have a teacher that I can respect and look up to. In school, I was blessed to have had some of the teachers that I had. They seemed like Deities in the different subjects that they taught. This evening, I was lucky to be in the presence of a passionate professional in the culinary world. Sometimes when you meet someone who has that commitment and passion in what they love, it is easily a recipe for success!  

Cobb County and the CogAT

As an educator, I always find it very proud to see that the county that I live in have such high standards and expectations that they set upon their students. Last week, Cobb County students had to take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, otherwise known as the ITBS. This standardized test is one that ranks all of the students in the nation as far as basic skills are concerned. Beginning today, I had gotten wind that students had to take yet another series of tests to assess their basic proficiencies. The CogAT is another test where students are tested based on their problem solving and thinking skills. As much as I dislike the "idea" of tests, I do think that it is a good thing that the students be tested.

Why?

These standardized tests mentioned above are important in determining the level of academic rigor our students are being exposed to. Rather than giving students standardized based questions based on the Georgia Performance Standards, it would be a good indicator to see how our students are performing on the national level. When our students are graduating from high school, they will no longer be competing with neighborhood high school students but with students found all across the county for scholarships and then eventually, jobs that will help them secure the future. As much as our students may grunt at the thought of opening up that "special notebook" - it is good practice for helping them in the future.

Cobb County Students - good luck!

Atlanta! Walk to Cure Diabetes this Saturday at Centennial Park

http://jdrfgeorgia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=58

This time last year, I received a very sad call from one of my dear friends. Her son, who I have worked with for almost two years had seemed to act a bit to peculiar - despite the fact that being peculiar is in his repertoire. She told me that they had spent the weekend at Disneyworld and for some reason, he seemed to be more thirsty than normal. He repeatedly needed to go to the bathroom and when the number of times exceeded more than a handful of instances, they began to sense that something was wrong. Two days after their trip to Florida, they took him to the doctor and that is when the doctors had told my friend that her son had Type I Diabetes.

I know that it is very difficult for any parent to watch their child come home sick after a half day at school. It was very difficult for me to watch my own baby brother come stay home from school because he had asthma, which my father would say "ask-ma" because that would be the time that he would receive extra attention from my mother. However, when a parent realizes that their child has an illness that needs constant supervision and attention, I find that to be a road that not too many parents would like to walk down on, regardless of who they are.

This Saturday, I will be walking with this family at Centennial Park for the annual "Walk for A Cure". I realize that sometimes, it is better to be with the people that you really care about than to just say that you support them. I will not only be walking for my "little friend", but also for my own mother who is also a Diabetic.

When Should I Get Help?

Worries That Kindergarten Parents Have..

Late one afternoon, I was talking to one of my clients that sent her son to Kindergarten just a few weeks ago. She told me to call her so that we can catch up and also, to find out the secret language of "educationalese" she was now hearing as parent of a primary school student.

I realized that this conversation would be a very delicate one because I normally have to sit on two sides of the coin - one side being "for the teacher" and the other side being "for the parent". It is hard to wear these two hats, but at least it will give her (and hopefully you) a better understanding of what is happening both in and out of the classroom. I called her right before she picked up her son from school so that we could actually talk. Some of the highlights of the conversation are listed below.

This is some of the information that she had shared with me:

"I've had my student in a pre-k program and they told me that my son has learned everything that he needs to learn for Kindergarten. But when he started kindergarten, they put him in the Early Intervention Program. What does that mean?"

My response to her is that it would be very difficult to see how prepared a child would be for kindergarten unless they were evaluated right in front of me. Not all pre-kindergarten programs are made equal. Some of them do a fairly nice job preparing students for kindergarten while others may not adequately prepare students for what they need to know for that first year. The bottom line is, just because a student has spent an entire year singing the alphabet song does not automatically mean that he or she knows how to read. The expectations for a kindergarten student is beyond identifying letters and numbers. If that were the case, then we would have kindergarten begin at 2 years old. Think about what you want your child to know before they walk into school. Now multiply that time ten (it's so much more than what you would expect. Really -some of the kindergarteners are studying Algebra, some first graders are learning basic Economic concepts such as "Opportunity Cost". Okay, I think that is cool, but then again, I'm not your typical educator...).

"My son says that there are students in class that know things so much faster than he does."

True, in life there will always be individuals that are better than you, and those that you are better than. Your role as a parent is to ease the discomfort of your child that has made this observation and make him/her feel comfortable in their own skin. It's too early for a child to make these observations about the world. The first few years are essential in the learning and growth process and I would encourage you to make it one that is positive and filled with bliss. As a sidenote, I would also like to encourage you to help your student in realizing the importance of individual achievement and effort. They do not need to be the best in the classroom - they just always need to put forth their personal best!


"My son says that the class is too easy for him..."

Learning should be accessible, but not "too easy". Perhaps I would even venture to say that the process of learning be considered enjoyable or engaging for the student.  Sometimes when things are "too easy" for a student, negative behaviors appear and that may not be a good thing for the overall learning environment in the classroom.

My thoughts on the entire conversation is that when you notice that your student is struggling in their overall academic performance, please find a way to help them get back on track. Most students want to succeed and feel good about what they accomplish in life. If you, as a parent, are able to help them in achieving this goal, it will make both you and your child feel better in the long run.

If you are in the Kennesaw/East Cobb/Atlanta/Roswell/Cherokee/Alpharetta/Johns Creek/Dunwoody/Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Gwinnett, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the JATP, CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Kindergarten Preparation, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Joint Admissions Test Program in Atlanta

There are several fine educational institutions in the Atlanta area that use the JATP process for admissions. These twelve schools have created a very helpful website that has been used to streamline the process of admissions for many qualified candidates.

One piece of advice that the Admissions Directors have given me as I have visited the schools is to ask families to tour the schools. There is so much that an individual can learn from attending these meet and greet events at schools and it is also a time for one to become better acquainted with the students and staff of the school.

As the Admissions Preparation season is starting, I am very excited in guiding families onto their path to success, whether it be in helping them select a school or to determine which school fits their student's needs. It is always a very exciting time of year for me, and for them as well!

To learn more about the Joint Admissions Test Program (JATP) in Atlanta, please visit their website at www.jatp.org.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Next Sensory Friendly Film: Dolphin Tale on October 1!!

Put this on your calendars...we are only days away from the first of October!

Here is another Sensory Friendly Film to be shown here in Atlanta, GA. It is called "Dolphin Tales" and the movie starts at 10:00am.

The following theaters will be showing the film in Georgia:

AMC Phipps Plaza 14
3500 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30326

AMC Discover Mills 18
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Ste. 415, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30043

AMC Southlake 24
7065 Mount Zion Cir., Morrow, Ga. 30260

Make plans to see this with your kids!

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Is Your Child Overscheduled?

I cannot help but ask parents what activities they have planned for their children. I remember one of the first activities that my parents put me in was piano. I was in the third grade and was learning how to play piano one time a week and had to practice everyday. Needless to say, it was certainly an activity that I did really well in but decided to tell my parents to find me another activity because at that time, "piano was not my thing.."

Fast forward to many years later - I am surrounded by the nicest and most caring parents that want to offer the everything to their children. They fill their schedules with play dates, piano, cello, swimming, football, tennis, basketball, girl scouts, boy scouts, choir, German school, Japanese School, Chinese School, Korean School, acting and singing lessons - name it, it's on their calendar. Sometimes when I arrive I cannot help but ask my tutees, "Are you okay?" I come from a family of six so I know that competition is in my blood but some of these kids may need to just be - a kid.

Here are some things you should consider when you plan activities with your child:

1. "Consider" playing sports for "exercise" not for competition.

I know so many athletes that have played for college and professionally that have permanent injuries to their body as a result of all the stress during the years. Those trophies are really nice to have on your fireplace mantel, but is it worth a replaced knee cap or back surgery when you are in your early 20's?

2. Schedule "Nothing Time"

I help a variety of students in the Atlanta area be successful not just with school, but with life. One of my clients has a pretty nice set of parents that only have one activity (other than my pre-designed math and study skills lessons) each week. This young 7th grader spent a few months last year creating a marketing idea that has turned into a $3000 profit for him during his "Nothing Time". His parents gave him free license to do as he pleased and actually used his time wisely. How's that for doing "nothing"!

3. Cherish Family Time

I remember taking naps in the car waiting for my younger brother to be done with his cello lessons. Those were the days where I not only was able to watch my younger brother grow up to summon his inner musician (it comes from my grandmother and great grandmother who were both opera singers), but it also gave me the opportunity to take the sibling to a favorite restaurant as a treat. Never cease those opportunities to make a memory come alive!

4. Assist in "Problem Solving" Moments

One time during the summer, one of my students told me of a "bully" situation that he encountered while he was in summer camp. It took me two seconds to think about what I would need to say before I acted as his surrogate mother asking for information to track this delinquent down. In exposing our children to problems, we must help them in becoming assertive and creative problem solvers. Your role as a parent does not end by you saying that you are "going to fix this", it begins by you asking your child what they think the best way to handle a situation would be.

Have confidence in how you raised your child in learning how to think, and act independently -  and you will know that you did a wonderful job in contributing a valuable person into the community.

5. Know When, Is When!

Is it necessary for one student to have four activities each day and another to only have one a week? Yes, but it all depends on the child. If you find that your student is overextended and is falling asleep in class or in the car more often than they should, then take a second to re-evaluate the activities that you are putting on them.  
The natural reaction that most children have is in wanting to please their parents (up until adolescence that is - and that will be the topic for another blog article) so they want to make sure that they are doing everything at their very best.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Great Toy To Help With Focusing

This is a great toy that I found at Target that helps students focus and stay on task. What a treat:)

Orton Gillingham - Why?

More than seven years ago, I began teaching in the public school system in Georgia. I was very happy to be working with the students that I had in my small group classroom. My students were energetic, had charming personalities, and were very challenging to work with day in and day out. I quickly discovered that some of the strategies that that they teach you during your undergraduate and graduate years falls short of preparing you for that "first day".

After a few months, I started a search that extended beyond the classroom walls. I spoke with colleagues, administrators, professionals in the community who knew anything and everything about education. Whenever someone talked about a strategy - I was there to ask questions and to fill my brain with knowledge that may prove to be useful to someone in my circle later on. Ever since then I realized that the success of a good teacher is based on their ability to be a great learner. I pride myself on that each and every day.

Orton-Gillingham happens to be one of the true passions that I have acquired in my repertoire of skills. This multi-sensory based method of teaching phonics and reading was eye opening for me. Orton Gillingham came as an opportunity from one of my favorite Atlanta clients to learn how to teach - using one of the best methods ever created. She spent weeks asking me if I knew of this technique and convinced me to take the class as a means to help her most precious son. I am so very grateful to not have passed it up because that one singular experience has helped shape the way that I view learning today.

There was no better feeling in the world than to help that young 2nd grader learn how to read in such a short amount of time. After working with him during the summer at their beach home in Florida, I remember receiving an email from the mother saying that her husband was "amazed" at the improvement. They had no idea that I was amazed too... This happens more often than not that with patience, hard work and an encouraging voice that my students achieve beyond my wildest expectations.

Oftentimes, I observe how my students learn and I am left breathless and teary eyed because they have come so far - and allow me the privilege to share in that moment. Each and every student that comes to me with the mission to learn in their own special way leaves an imprint in my heart that I carry with me for a lifetime. It's  my passion - my love - to finally see that glint in a young child's eyes that says, "I've got it!". 


If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Singapore Math, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at mailto:christine@learningridge.com.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Homework Policies Examined in New Jersey...

As an educator, it has been quite interesting to see how parents view the role of homework in their student's success. I have seen parents complain about the amount of homework assigned stating that it is either too much or too little. It seems as if the homework debate is something that just will not go away because we are just too busy to command the importance of it. Some counties actually have real conversations about the issue instituting policies about homework. For example, when I worked in Cobb County the homework could not constitute more than 10% of a child's grade. When I heard of this policy I did not understand why the county had to set a standard on what constituted a child's grade but then again, I never complained about homework as a student because I always viewed it as an opportunity to view material that I could not view during the school day. It seems as if our societal view has changed on this - so much so that homework is becoming obsolete in one part of the country.

One recent news article has recently found one school district in New Jersey modifying its homework curriculum. Dr. Annette Giaquinto, Superintendent of the Galloway School District in New Jersey expressed the new directive stating that homework will be prohibited from being assigned for weekend completion. She has stated that this position that the school district is in is a result of parents' complaining that their schedules are too busy to handle the additional responsibility of homework due on "Mondays" or the first day students are back from the weekend. Furthermore, she stated that these policies will not transfer to the middle school or high school but only to elementary schools.

What are your thoughts on this new verdict? A link to the interview is found below:

Homework Policies In New Jersey

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Singapore Math, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at mailto:christine@learningridge.com.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Differentiation

Differentiation

Students learn in different ways and there are times where you will encounter a student that has the potential to learn however, they are not learning in the manner that you are teaching.

The article found above will give you some insightful information on how you can differentiate what you are teaching to meet the needs of your students. This article is meant for anyone who needs to teach or instruct individuals.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at mailto:christine@learningridge.com.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Handwriting Instruction in the United States (and in Georgia)

For many of us that grew up in the time before computers, there was a strong push towards the instruction of handwriting in schools. We were given assignments everyday beginning in Kindergarten on how to form your letters and write legibly. In the third grade I remember the excitement that I had in knowing that we would finally learn cursive - a mysterious script that only adults knew how to transcribe. Unfortunately, students in schools do not have the same sentiment in regards to handwriting as it is slowly escaping the halls of elementary academia.

In an effort to compete with the rest of the world, the academics of our nation have come together to create what is known as the Common Core Standards. These are standards of basic competencies that each student graduating from any school in the United States should know. They cover basic and more complex concepts in the major subjects of math and reading. One thing that is missing from the Common Core is: handwriting. Unfortunately, when I looked into some of the research that went into this study, I found that Georgia is one of the states to omit handwriting as mandatory curriculum for it's students.

Handwriting

Perhaps I am a little old fashioned, but there was nothing better than reading a handwritten letter from my parents or grandparents growing up. There is a certain nostalgia as you see the words that were flowing through their mind and then  transferred onto paper form. Handwriting (in other cultures) is also a sign of education and class. I remember my father insisting that I practice my handwriting and to always make sure that it was written not only legibly, but ladylike. It was an emphasis on sophistication and reputation. My handwriting proceeds me in certain situations.

I write this article to share my opinion about the importance of written script. I am still old fashioned in how I jot down notes and am always complimented at how "nice" my writing is. If you have some extra time, please help your student learn how to write the old fashioned way - by using a pencil and paper.


Christine Javier is trained in the Handwriting Without Tears Curriculum and provides handwriting support to struggling students. If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Helping Children With Autism

Helping Children With Autism

Students with autism need a great deal of support in our communities. If you work with a child that has autism, please click on the link above that will provide you with more resources that can help you!

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Mind Mapping For Creativity

Mind Mapping

If you need some information on how to access your creative side, use mindmapping. It will help you in organizing information that you will need to access at a later point in time. I have personally used it in my everyday planning and find it to be very effective.
If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

How Do We Create A Culture of High Expectations

High Expectations

As we review the community feedback about our education standards, it is very important to see what we can do to be a nation of high achievers. As a nation with an abundant amount of resources, I hope that we can use this wealth of knowledge to distribute to all students who wish to have it. Feel free to peruse through this article to see what we can do to help make this nation better for our children.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Alternate Assessments

Alternate Assessments

In education, we have students from a myriad of backgrounds and achievement levels. One of the important focal points that public education is pushing is the inclusion model in which students of all exceptionalities are in the classroom.

As some students fall into different categories that may need more support and strategies, it may be necessary to find different evaluation techniquest to help those students. The article listed above highlights some of these assessments and may provide some clarity.


If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Drop Out Prevention

Drop Out Prevention

As a Middle School Educator, there was always some concern that fellow teachers would have in the success of our students. In Georgia, the dropout rate can be anywhere from 10% to 50% in any given high school. The issue was placed on a higher level of attention when  former Governor Sonny Purdue mandated that schools have High School Graduation Coaches.

Above you will find an artivle about Drop Out Prevention. There are many things that we can do as a community to prevent this from occuring. Please feel free to share any comments that you have on this post.


If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Skilled Dialogue

Skilled Dialogue

Is your child eight years old and you still talk to them using "Baby-ease"? You may want to start using more adult language around your child so that they will have adequate communication skills. Click on the link above to find out more about how to communicate with your student.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.christinejavier.com/.  If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.