tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-297173532024-03-13T05:44:03.582-04:00This Week with Sara FittsAcademic and Instructional CoachUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-58238467972822820772022-06-16T10:43:00.000-04:002022-06-16T10:43:44.115-04:00Stop Talking about It and Get it Done!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs7XxlmyL2ub0ytwFoy7A2hP_pBl8WMvYD-idP-qpJtuC0bS6OPsSjTeRCSy0u7oEJQS1BouzwI7iszYsEvTR6aXUCRNopTyxegRgmtYvkcHqDFX9ckU1MSqMvG_GUDWXgmA4zoG_t2d-unXL8Sx7eVtC_GD69T5Go8sMbPJaZQrxMftBrQ/s1050/conference%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1050" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs7XxlmyL2ub0ytwFoy7A2hP_pBl8WMvYD-idP-qpJtuC0bS6OPsSjTeRCSy0u7oEJQS1BouzwI7iszYsEvTR6aXUCRNopTyxegRgmtYvkcHqDFX9ckU1MSqMvG_GUDWXgmA4zoG_t2d-unXL8Sx7eVtC_GD69T5Go8sMbPJaZQrxMftBrQ/s320/conference%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is dealing with people who constantly bombard me with talking about the same old stuff and never resolve it. For example, I've been told for more than 10 years about how someone has a room in their house that has too many relics and artifacts in it. They say they don't know what to do with any of it. I've tried my hardest to assist them in this endeavor by telling them simply: It's your stuff so you can rearrange it, keep as is, donate it, sell it, or throw it out. The person continues to perseverate on this topic. So <b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is making a major call to action: Stop talking about it and get it done!!! So, if you have similarities to the person aforementioned, Stop Talking about It and Get It Done! Start today! You'll be so empowered that you did!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-15052464546126963612022-06-06T10:13:00.000-04:002022-06-06T10:13:06.962-04:00Never Settle for Less than Your Best Life<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgJoFQ5RMQk57cejOvezz1e2UWEG9w9gPr9JESSYfZGC5N6MnwR8D7UigdZ4EprXpaCK8fN1TXZ-zPmH6soImJP2iYXcl3rLiA6MhPj_GZF3UaFOcYPv2-tIM2MCD08qY9kM1OBUjLPocMT0ZWbgQx4q6--rJ_5uyl1yMWLvia3jcIixRyA/s1050/conference%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1050" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgJoFQ5RMQk57cejOvezz1e2UWEG9w9gPr9JESSYfZGC5N6MnwR8D7UigdZ4EprXpaCK8fN1TXZ-zPmH6soImJP2iYXcl3rLiA6MhPj_GZF3UaFOcYPv2-tIM2MCD08qY9kM1OBUjLPocMT0ZWbgQx4q6--rJ_5uyl1yMWLvia3jcIixRyA/s320/conference%20room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is focusing on ways to achieve our best lives. The past couple of years have showed us that life often throws us curves that we don't expect and often times don't want. The pandemic itself brought so many changes to each one of us. But it also taught us lessons that we can use as a basis for major growth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As Marcel Proust wrote, "The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." I believe, especially as a professional coach, that we can change our lives simply by looking at our current situation with "new eyes" and literally seeing new options in real time. Nothing is ever perfect for anyone. But we can perfect our situations by looking at our lives and seeing different opportunities when we look at our lives with fresh eyes. If we continue seeing our situations in the same old ways, we cannot even visualize what's possible for us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If we believe that our current situation is our permanent situation, then we are not utilizing all our tools that are readily available for us. We must never settle for less than our best lives - ever! Have a wonderful week - and use new eyes to really see what's ahead for you!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;">Sara Fitts is a professional coach based in Manassas, Virginia. She owns SLF Consulting and specializes in academic, instructional, personal, and business coaching. To find out more, contact CoachSaraFitts@gmail.com or sara.fitts@SLFConsulting.com.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-53031046529696991092022-06-03T12:32:00.000-04:002022-06-03T12:32:01.239-04:00After a Long Sabbatical, I'm Back!!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahm0Gjd0wCHPgsKVr7mUQ19Fb-SZI2lPpofhwQuxYtpuydeHjAMlVqBDbnzGBAiBdWwVzTRyUlLF_tCIQZPuOBtaztAyedwz6F74C_pSehiQciBO_TOEMXnPGtf3yAwmrrya71Amp9jxx9D-inuxMBPMxkI6QzHo7HdQbgXdS6QhVGxQM2g/s260/educate%20scrabble%20tiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="260" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahm0Gjd0wCHPgsKVr7mUQ19Fb-SZI2lPpofhwQuxYtpuydeHjAMlVqBDbnzGBAiBdWwVzTRyUlLF_tCIQZPuOBtaztAyedwz6F74C_pSehiQciBO_TOEMXnPGtf3yAwmrrya71Amp9jxx9D-inuxMBPMxkI6QzHo7HdQbgXdS6QhVGxQM2g/s1600/educate%20scrabble%20tiles.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After a long sabbatical,, I'm pleased to be back with <b>This Week with Sara Fitts</b>! I have a lot to report and I'm so happy to be back next week (June 6, 2022) with another edition of <b>This Week with Sara Fitts</b>! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll see you on Monday!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q8XmgjsZE2uHlFKlS-aSC_NI15JuN85fvXtVjv1IKTXX4pDhurNG-eXwOqISvxGeBO_wUWXmdYlHFNTGv2ER5OOFXHwIChKeaiCTldFbL2GaWQi1wA-MPOfXIfFX9YtFAgtuzQGOpXu_N8Nvnxc6VMLxiBXZJ9LHtODWiJiED297Wnds9w/s470/laptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="470" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q8XmgjsZE2uHlFKlS-aSC_NI15JuN85fvXtVjv1IKTXX4pDhurNG-eXwOqISvxGeBO_wUWXmdYlHFNTGv2ER5OOFXHwIChKeaiCTldFbL2GaWQi1wA-MPOfXIfFX9YtFAgtuzQGOpXu_N8Nvnxc6VMLxiBXZJ9LHtODWiJiED297Wnds9w/s320/laptop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-20681024539884629742018-09-05T11:48:00.000-04:002018-09-05T11:48:38.684-04:00Back to School - and Back to Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is celebrating Back to School - and Back to Success with a tutor/academic coach. Sara Fitts and SLF Consulting provide math tutorials, reading tutorials, SAT Prep, and study skills / time management for students of all ages and grade levels, including college. Each tutorial session is designed for the specific needs of each student - and is delivered one-on-one. Even our SAT Prep programs are individualized for the specific needs of each student and delivered one-on-one. We provide tutorials in our office at 8425 Dorsey Circle, Suite 102 in Manassas, Virginia - as well as world-wide via Skype.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sara Fitts has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and coach - and SLF Consulting has been in business since 2000.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are wanting the student in your life to experience greater success, please <a href="https://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">contact us</a> today!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-54797719326367327662017-08-24T11:50:00.001-04:002017-08-24T11:50:23.830-04:00Back to School Boot Camp: Top Apps for Students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>focuses today on the top apps for student success. These apps are easily used on all devices - especially phones. And most are free and available on all platforms. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Office Lens </b>is free and available on iOS, Android, and Windows. This app is from Microsoft and takes pictures of whiteboards, blackboards, magazines, books, etc. and converts them into editable and shareable text. You can save images in PDF, Word, or PowerPoint files.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dragon Dictation </b>is free and operates on iOS platform. This app allows you to talk while it writes what you say. Powerful tool - especially for students who aren't strong spellers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Microsoft Office mobile app </b>is free for iOS and Android platforms. The app includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>myHomeworkStudentPlanner </b>is free and available on all platforms. The premium version is $4.99. This app keeps you organized and on time for all projects, assignments, and tests and exams.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Free Graphing Calculator </b>is available on iOS and Android platforms. It provides on the spot access to a scientific calculator and is extremely helpful for all math classes, including calculus and statistics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Flashcards Deluxe </b>is $3.99 and available on iOS and Android platforms. When studying any subject, flash cards are extremely helpful. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Evernote</b> is free and available on all platforms. It very helpful in taking notes in all subject areas.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Merriam-Webster Dictionary </b>is free and available on all platforms. This app can prove to be a valuable asset.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ScannerPro </b>is $3.99 and available on iOS. This app allows you to scan all paper and make you digital-only - which saves time and keeps you more organized.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tinycards</b> is a free flashcard app on iOS platform. It comes pre-loaded with many subjects; however, you can create your own flashcards, too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dropbox </b>is a cloud-based app that allows you to keep all your notes, papers, and projects in one secure place.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Scribd </b>is a virtual library. Although costly at $8.99 for a monthly subscription, it is still a deal if you are required to read articles from different magazines and newspapers. Check it out to see if this app would work for you and your educational needs.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you see, lots of apps (and they are being developed daily) are out there to improve student success. Take advantage of the technology that exists in order to improve your learning, your grades, your organization, and lessen the stress in your studies.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-32706819625409384632017-08-21T09:57:00.002-04:002017-08-21T09:57:12.231-04:00Back to School Boot Camp: Setting the Stage for Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is all about Back to School in this week's installments. Today the focus is on Setting the Stage for Success. It takes just a few things to improve each student's chances for a successful academic year - and the following will hopefully set the process in motion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, <b>be organized. </b>Most teachers require notebooks and other items for class. Make sure the requirements are followed and understood so that all assignments and notes are easily located when needed. Utilize a variety of colors in order to color-code different items and/or subjects. Often it is a very simple way to organize that makes all the difference. Make sure the organization works for <i>you</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, <b>utilize technology. </b>So many apps are available - many for free - that will help you in organization, study skills, test prep, and actual help with a variety of subjects. (More on this later this week.) The key is to be open to the technology that is available and utilize it for your best results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And don't forget old school structures: <b>index cards, color-coded sticky notes/flags, and binders with dividers. </b>Whatever it takes for you to set the stage for success, you must incorporate it into your "back to school" mindset.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, perhaps the most important thing to remember in setting the stage for academic success is your <b>mindset. </b>If you are to be successful, you need to </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">believe that you will be successful and envision what your success looks like: Honor Roll, Dean's List, no D's - however you define your success</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">set specific times for study and homework - and study <i>is</i> different from homework! So set times for both!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">have specific places for homework and study - quiet without distractions, music if it helps you work and study, and time limits</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">take breaks, exercise, drink water, and get plenty of sleep</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reward yourself for your successes and use your times of less-than-success for re-grouping and learning </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enjoy the learning and make it meaningful - even if you take courses that you may not like, it will lead you to a diploma and a job - so make the most of the journey!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">...More to come</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-73118271217824090932017-08-16T10:42:00.000-04:002017-08-16T11:02:38.909-04:00Ready for the New Academic Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yAkkSl07oO4/WZRWplVmD4I/AAAAAAAAAPU/u2KP5hbFrkoom_UzF0lKQu3ytL0_-39eQCLcBGAs/s1600/SAT%2Btest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yAkkSl07oO4/WZRWplVmD4I/AAAAAAAAAPU/u2KP5hbFrkoom_UzF0lKQu3ytL0_-39eQCLcBGAs/s320/SAT%2Btest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is gearing up for the new academic year. Test prep makes an incredible difference in the lives of students and their parents. Whether it is PSAT, SAT, ACT, SOL, or any other standardized test, the preparation is the real key to success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To be successful on standardized tests, the test-taker needs to focus on:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">time management - managing the time it takes to read the question and prepare the answer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">stress management - managing the physical, mental, and emotional parts of test-taking</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">test management - managing the various parts of the test to create maximum return</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">curriculum management - managing the actual material that is on the test, knowing the material to be tested, and understanding the process</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">confidence in taking the test</span></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-84151202754788214072016-07-05T10:43:00.002-04:002016-07-05T10:43:53.998-04:00Summer Session 2016 Begins This Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer Session 2016 at SLF Consulting begins this week! We are offering an 8-week SAT prep course, and 8-week ACT prep course, reading and math improvement at all grade levels, study skills and time management for all students. Instead of our regular fee, we are offering reduced prices for our Summer Session courses. Our SAT and ACT programs are $500 and include all materials, textbooks, practice tests and assessments. Our reading improvement and math improvement courses are $350 for 8 sessions/8 weeks. And our Study Skills program is $150 for 3 hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have a proven track record since 2000 - and have something that no other tutoring business and test prep company has - <b><i>Sara's Little Formula. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our space is limited for the Summer Session - so please contact us today to enroll in Summer Session 2016 and get ahead of the game. We are the clear difference in test prep, tutorials, and teaching and learning.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-65336155418605071792015-12-08T12:07:00.000-05:002015-12-08T12:07:59.333-05:00Reducing Stress and Struggle for Students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85qBJNDVDys/VmcGbZN2lXI/AAAAAAAAAM4/S9VLK1ai0As/s1600/conference%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85qBJNDVDys/VmcGbZN2lXI/AAAAAAAAAM4/S9VLK1ai0As/s320/conference%2Broom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is all about reducing stress and struggle for students. For more than 30 years I've been working with students in various capacities - as a math teacher, a high school principal, instructional coach - and business owner committed to reducing stress and struggle for students as well as for their parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First of all, I think we can all agree that life has its stress and struggle - and that being said, schools should not be places for undue stress and struggle. Schools should be places for teaching and learning. Schools should be places for growth and development. Schools should be places where it is safe to practice new academic skills without fear of failure and added stress and struggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Schools should not be all about the test scores. Schools should not be only concerned with teaching to a test. Schools definitely need to examine what is being taught and what is being learned; however, testing only for the sake of getting a particular score is not the answer that is needed in education today. Schools today are often such stressful environments. Not much can ever be learned in stressful situations. No one can learn their best lessons - or teach their best lessons - when intimidation abounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And I strongly believe that rigor is an essential element in all curricula and in all classrooms. Rigor is very much needed; however, I see the lack of rigor in schools and classrooms where the only driving force is test scores. So here's my plan.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Begin with the end in mind. By this I mean know what the final expectation of the course is - and then build the curriculum around that end result. After students are presented with the basics, and then master the concepts - bring on the rigor! Students will rise to the challenge because they will not be so stressed with the "threat" of test score numbers. They will only be achieving and rising to the next level of learning. And they will do so without intimidation, without stress, and without struggle. And I bet you money that the test scores will be better than ever!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my Simple Little Formula for educational success. And with it comes reduced stress and struggle for all students. And all students can succeed to even higher levels. And rigor will return to the classrooms once again. And test scores will be good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sara Fitts is an academic coach and educational consultant in Manassas, VA. She owns SLF Consulting and works with students to reduce stress and struggle. For more information, visit her <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and to contact her, <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/contact-us2.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPj9As0BzAI/VZVIfYTpEwI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Wyot3eM1hfc/s1600/formula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPj9As0BzAI/VZVIfYTpEwI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Wyot3eM1hfc/s320/formula.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is announcing SLF Consulting's Summer Session that begins next week - July 6. We are adding several different courses to our offerings this summer as a result of requests by students and their parents. For a complete list of our Summer Catalog of Courses, click <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/Summer-Catalog-of-Courses.html" target="_blank">here</a> . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the highlighted courses we are offering this summer include Math Improvement (both 3-week and 6-week editions) and Reading Improvement (both 3-week and 6-week versions). The need for these courses is crucial to students' sustained success for the next academic year. Just a few strategies and techniques will improve the learning for students and will create a broader base for success in the next academic level of coursework.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Senior Seminar is another excellent option for rising high school or college seniors. This 3-hour course is a must for providing a structure for success at the next level after graduation. We offer coaching to set goals with an action plan for success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vocabulary Builder is a course for all grade levels. It is designed for the specific needs of each student. A student with a strong vocabulary is a better student overall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also offer a College Math Placement Test Prep course that reviews basic algebraic skills, geometry fundamentals, and trig. This is a 3-hour course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And our 6-week SAT Prep course in addition to math tutorials in all areas of mathematics are still our trademark courses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information - or to enroll - please contact us today - visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> today.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-21877640129906828662015-03-18T12:00:00.001-04:002015-03-18T12:00:28.002-04:00Balanced Calendars in Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgzgMvGkBlc/VQmYGOTcBSI/AAAAAAAAALU/Hk9LFzGp8ag/s1600/Staying%2Bconnected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgzgMvGkBlc/VQmYGOTcBSI/AAAAAAAAALU/Hk9LFzGp8ag/s1600/Staying%2Bconnected.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>looks at the pros and cons of balanced calendars in school systems. Traditional calendars have usually had school begin in southern states during the month of August and end in late May. Other systems have started the academic year after Labor Day and ended in June. Basically the school year is made up of 180 days of classes for students - regardless of start and end dates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The current trend for many school systems is to balance the school calendar in order to keep students in school longer in order to avoid significant breaks in learning. Many believe that students forget too much over the summer vacation. A balanced calendar in education means that schools will have start dates in August and have several breaks built in for vacation days and still end in June having a shorter summer for students - with more chances for sustained learning and fewer chances for "forgetting" what they learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Balanced calendars bring pros and cons to the discussion. Among the pros are sustained learning time, a series of regular breaks within the academic year, more balance of time with school and vacation days, more consistency for time-on-task, and less time to forget what was taught over the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the cons of balanced calendars in education are the loss of the summer - where many high school kids earn money for college from summer jobs, where many children spend sustained and quality time with the parents with whom they do not live during a traditional academic year - and the increased cost of child-care due to having more breaks in the school year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no significant research at this point to prove that balanced calendars are better for improving learning or test scores. A lot of school systems across the United States are moving to change their calendars from traditional to balanced. There are costs associated with this move that many may not have thought about. The school systems may have higher costs associated with this calendar change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More to come......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sara L Fitts is owner and operator of SLF Consulting in Manassas, VA. She is a former teacher, administrator, high school principal, and instructional coach. SLF Consulting provides math tutorials, academic and instructional coaching and consulting, and test prep courses. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> , <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/SLF-Consulting/358107474314501" target="_blank">like us on Facebook</a> , and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/FittsSara" target="_blank">follow us on Twitter</a> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-49029698671898442752015-01-13T11:30:00.001-05:002015-01-13T11:32:27.710-05:00The Trends in Education for 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8KfEOctyD0/VLU_tJvzfGI/AAAAAAAAAKA/opfX2k3r9bk/s1600/education%2Bpredictions%2Bin%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8KfEOctyD0/VLU_tJvzfGI/AAAAAAAAAKA/opfX2k3r9bk/s1600/education%2Bpredictions%2Bin%2B2015.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is talking about trends in education for 2015 today. It is always a bit difficult to know exactly what will be trending in education this year; however, based on the trends of late 2014, I am comfortable and confident moving into some strong predictions for this calendar year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel strongly that <b>rigorous learning goals</b> will be a strong trend for the entire year - if not decade. Everyone wants our students to be prepared and in position for the very best educational environments in every school system in 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Data should drive all educational decisions </b>regardless of location. If something is working, it should continue to be implemented for further growth. If something is not working, that data should be utilized to create or find something that will work. Data is important and should drive the decisions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Assessments will continue to be important; however, the specific assessment may be refined and revised. </b>It is so important to know that students are learning and that they can utilize what they learn in order to broaden future learning. I think that all major assessments will be reviewed and revised in order to be more meaningful to all - students, parents, and educators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Technology </b>will continue to be utilized at all levels and in all subject areas. The one trend for 2015 is that more technology will be available to be used on all devices - not just on iPads, for example. So many school divisions have BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) systems in place - with a large variety of devices in those classrooms. When apps can only be used with particular devices, the educational experience in classrooms declines. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Flipped learning </b>will have a greater focus and greater impact in 2015. More teachers will be implementing this trend and, as a result, we will see much more of its use this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Personalized learning </b>in every classroom will be a huge trend this year. With the fact that most students will have devices in every classroom, it will be the expectation that each student can make the strong case for differentiation on a daily basis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Individual student outcomes </b>will have a sharper focus in 2015. Again, data should drive all decisions making individual student outcomes easier to determine and assess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Professional development for teachers </b>is extremely important in 2015 due to technology and digital tools for all classrooms. The teacher is still the one who facilitates all learning - so the PD programs need to be state-of-the-art in order to provide the necessary information to all teachers in 2015 - and beyond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L. Fitts, an academic and instructional coach, owns and operates SLF Consulting in Manassas, VA specializing in math tutoring and test prep, academic and instructional coaching and consulting, and college readiness and transition. For more information please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> and follow us on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/FittsSara" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/SLF-Consulting/358107474314501" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-91199006482540586252014-12-16T11:47:00.001-05:002014-12-16T11:48:55.888-05:008 Easy Ways to Differentiate Instruction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dlLD8KoGNU/VJBbEPx8wGI/AAAAAAAAAJg/v_zL9Wv4S50/s1600/students%2Bin%2Bclass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dlLD8KoGNU/VJBbEPx8wGI/AAAAAAAAAJg/v_zL9Wv4S50/s1600/students%2Bin%2Bclass.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Week with Sara Fitts </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is reviewing 8 easy ways to differentiate instruction. Differentiation of instruction is definitely not a new concept; however, some educators treat it as if it were. Hopefully the following strategies will emphasize how easy it really is to differentiate instruction.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You already differentiate instruction </b>regardless of what you call it. There are always at least two ways to work a problem or two ways to define a vocabulary word. So whenever you illustrate a different way to do something, you are differentiating instruction.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Break your lesson into mini-lessons. </b>By simply breaking down a lesson into several different parts, you can easily differentiate instruction. You can present a mini-lesson and then let your students practice the new concept. Then the next mini-lesson can build upon the next part of the lesson. Continue this process and you will see definite benefits.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ask open-ended questions </b>instead of yes or no questions. This immediately increases the teaching and learning in the moment. It requires much more from the student. It leads to higher-order thinking skills - leading to higher-order writing and speaking.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Focus only on what is essential </b>for the student to know and understand. By focusing on the essential information, you know the student will also focus on the essential information.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Base your content on student interests </b>and you will definitely see increased engagement in the lesson. Whether I was teaching algebra or AP Statistics, I tried to utilize what my students were interested in to base my class examples on. It is amazing to see how fashion can be used in a class example!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Have high expectations for every student every day. </b>Continue to raise the expectations higher and higher and reap the rewards. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Provide students with choices </b>in class work assignments, homework, and projects. When students can have some choice, I have found that they will work harder and get better grades and scores.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Give personal feedback to students</b> as often as you can. This provides encouragement as well as praise for every student regardless of ability. And I believe very strongly that every student will improve based on your candid assessment and feedback.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are simply some of the easiest ways I know to incorporate differentiated instruction into any classroom regardless of content or grade-level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L Fitts retired from public education as a math teacher, high school principal, and instructional coach. She owns SLF Consulting specializing in academic and instructional coaching and consulting. Please follow SLF Consulting on Twitter and like us on Facebook. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">us</a> today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-49260185945365628102014-12-08T13:30:00.000-05:002014-12-08T13:30:57.745-05:004 Things Every Teacher Needs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts</b> is naming 4 things every teacher needs to have in order to be successful. I believe that these are 4 things that are so important - regardless of the school, district, or grade level.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing that every teacher needs is <b>time. </b>Time to plan, time to grade, time to complete administrative tasks, time to think, time to create, time to practice with new technology. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second thing that every teacher needs is <b>support. </b>Support from the educational leaders within the school and district. Support from instructional coaches. Support from department heads and team leaders. Support from IT and media specialists. Support from colleagues - across curriculum lines.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next thing that every teacher needs is <b>full access to resources. </b>Technology, best practices, good professional development options, along with the appropriate memberships needed to access the total wealth of resources available. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the 4th and last thing that every teacher needs is <b>candid and timely feedback. </b>We all strive to do our very best work - and we want honest feedback. It means so much more to receive candid feedback in a timely manner - in order to make adjustments from another set of eyes. It means very little to receive any feedback that isn't time-relevant.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L Fitts is the owner of SLF Consulting located in Manassas, VA. She is a retired math teacher, former high school principal, and instructional coach. SLF Consulting provides academic and instructional coaching, math tutoring, SAT/ACT prep courses, and college transition. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">us</a> . We are also on Facebook and Twitter. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-51767442408836818882014-11-24T11:07:00.002-05:002014-11-24T11:07:50.505-05:004 Things Every School Needs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is naming 4 things every school needs in order to be a school of excellence. When educational organizations have these 4 things, excellence is the by-product for everyone involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The very first thing every school needs is a <b>consistent message.</b> It really doesn't matter so much what the message is - it has to be consistent. Consistently stated. Consistently promoted. What does the school stand for? What is the purpose? What is the mission? What is the vision? What is important here? Strategies can (and <i>should</i>) change. And each strategy and technique implemented in the school should support and strengthen the overall message of the school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next thing that every school needs is a strong <b>commitment to teaching and learning. </b>Some people think that this goes without saying; however, a commitment to teaching and learning is not evident in every school - believe it or not! In order to have excellence in teaching and excellence in learning, the commitment must be evident in every aspect of the school. A commitment to teaching and learning is really about finding what works and doing everything possible to support what works - for teachers and for students. It is also about continuing the search for better ways, better methods, better strategies, better techniques, better technology, better scheduling options, better support, better professional development, better practices - all on a daily basis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third thing that every school needs is <b>instructional coaching. </b>Instructional coaching should be the true catalyst for excellence in every school. The benefits of instructional coaching are infinite. Teachers and students are much moire engaged with much less stress and struggle when instructional coaching is well-implemented. And I'm not just talking about professional development sessions that spout the flavor of the week. I'm talking about instructional coaching that is built and supported by a consistent message and a strong commitment to teaching and learning. There is a huge difference (along with huge results) in the latter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the final thing that every school needs in order to become a school of excellence is <b>balance</b>. Balance between academics, athletics, co-curricular activities, and extra-curricular activities. When my sister and I each left home for college my dad gave us this message: "Remember this, girls. It's not all in the books. We expect you to study and work hard. But we also expect you to have fun and enjoy yourselves. But remember that the person in the gutter didn't plan on being there!" True words. And they apply to every school as well. There has to be a balance - sometimes even a fine line - but there has to be some fun, too. And this is true for teachers and for students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that when every school implements these 4 things, excellence for everyone is the by-product. Teachers will be happier and less-stressed. Students will have higher grades. And the school will likely raise scores in all areas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L Fitts retired from public education after 24+ years as a math teacher, high school administrator, and instructional coach. She has owned SLF Consulting since 2000 providing math tutorials, SAT and ACT prep courses, time management strategies and study skills courses. SLF Consulting is located at 8425 Dorsey Circle Suite 102 in Manassas, VA. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a>. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-75824489741024698252014-11-17T10:47:00.001-05:002014-11-17T10:47:43.095-05:00Small Business Saturday is November 29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is promoting Small Business Saturday. This year Small Business Saturday is on November 29. SLF Consulting is participating in the Small Business Saturday with some excellent deals for math tutoring and SAT prep. On Saturday, November 29 our special deals are available simply by going to our website and registering for these deals on our Contact Us page. All registrations from November 29 will be valid. Here are the amazing deals!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;">SAT Prep Course for 1/2 Price</b><b style="background-color: white;">!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our 6-week SAT Prep Course is <b>$575</b> when you register on November 29 only. This registration is valid for the January 24, 2015 SAT. This special price includes all materials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To receive this special deal, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> and register on our Contact Us page on <b>Saturday, November 29.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our tutoring packages for Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trig, Pre-Calculus, and Prob/Stats are available at discounted prices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To receive these packages at these discounted prices, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> and register on our Contact Us page on <b>Saturday, November 29.</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-15548900575445793602014-11-11T11:06:00.000-05:002014-11-11T11:06:07.631-05:00Education is a Matter of Building Bridges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is using Ralph Ellison's quote "Education is a matter of building bridges" for this post. This quote sums up what I think is needed in education right now. There are so many, actually too many, "new" ideas being thrown around in education with little thought as to how to implement them in any sense of the word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have worked in educational settings where in a one-month period of time the mathematics department (of which I was a member) was told to implement 5 different strategies to improve teaching and learning. The unfortunate part of this request was the fact that those in leadership positions had no idea that these 5 different strategies could be implemented together to make a stronger statement for improvement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, differentiated instruction is not necessarily separate from flipped learning. In other words, the two can be "combined" to create a stronger lesson. That's what bothers me most about education right now - some of the leaders in schools cannot seem to "bridge" the different strategies in order to make stronger lessons and a stronger bridge between teaching and learning. Remember Venn diagrams?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Education is a matter of building bridges" where no bridge exists.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is really no difference between combining strategies and building upon concepts in any lesson. Education should always be about using all available methods to provide the best learning environment for students. Regardless of the method, strategy, or technique that is being lauded, most can be simply integrated into any lesson seamlessly in order to get the best results for the students. We must all remember that "education is a matter of building bridges" for students and for teachers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L Fitts has had more than 30 years of experience in teaching and learning in a variety of settings. She founded SLF Consulting in 2000 and continues to teach and learn. For more information about how Sara L Fitts and SLF Consulting can help you or someone you know, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a> and like us on Facebook.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-35530508770622714922014-11-03T16:36:00.002-05:002014-11-03T16:36:17.802-05:00Top 10 Motivational Quotes for Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is posting my top 10 motivational quotes that promote success. I hope they will inspire you and promote you to the next level.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do more than talk - say something. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>John H. Rhoades</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The biggest temptation is to settle for too little. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Thomas Merton</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lowell Thomas</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is better is getting up and taking action. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Al Batt</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>George Bernard Shaw</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You cannot achieve a new goal by applying the same level of thinking that got you where you are right now. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Albert Einstein</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can't is a word of defeat; can is a word of power. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sara L. Fitts</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no giant step that does it - it's a lot of little steps. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Peter Cohen</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goals are dreams with deadlines. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Diana Scharf Hunt</i></span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven't! <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Albert Einstein</i></span></span></li>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Bonus Quote: </i>Stop talking about it and get it done! </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Earl B. Fitts</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sara L. Fitts and SLF Consulting assist students in getting better grades in their math classes and in improving their SAT and ACT scores in order to get into the colleges they want. For more information, please contact us via our <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.</span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-44577391532730746102014-10-30T12:43:00.000-04:002014-10-30T12:43:10.903-04:00Connections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>is all about connections - from a personal standpoint. Several years ago I joined LinkedIn and made some connections with a few people. And then allowed work and life to take over and drop me out and away from those connections. In June I re-connected with my LinkedIn connections and grew my network considerably. I also joined Facebook this past summer - primarily (or so I thought) for the re-launch of SLF Consulting. Little did I realize then that Facebook would transform my connections with friends and family - even re-connecting with college friends from 30+ years ago! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While working in DCPS (District of Columbia Public Schools) I learned the power of connections in new ways. And I'm pleased to have stayed connected with some of the finest educators with whom I've had the privilege and pleasure to work and know. Connections are important. These connections helped tremendously when I began working in MPCS. And my connections from MPCS continue to grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Connections were important last night as well. SLF Consulting held the first (of many planned!) Open Office (since it is an office and not a house) events with the entire reason being connections. Connections are powerful. Connections are important. Connections matter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout my educational career I taught students to make connections from topic to topic and concept to concept. In my coaching career it has always been about connecting one concept with another to build businesses, relationships, teams, schools and yes, even dots. Connections are powerful. Connections are important. Connections matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And over the course of a 30+ year work life, I've explained to hundreds of clients/students/teachers/parents that the connection is simply the connection. Success is the by-product. There is no magic wand for success - it is only a by-product of connecting with people. Connections are powerful. Connections are important. Connections matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Success can be measured in many ways - some say it is money, others say it is power or prestige. But my definition of success is being at peace with myself, being at peace with all others, doing what I love and loving what I'm doing, and treasuring the connections that I've made in all the different places I've been. I treasure the connections of family and friends - even those I haven't seen in 30+ years - or those I've only been able to see a few times over the years. Connections are powerful. They empower me. Connections are important. The people in my life are important to me. Connections mater. All with whom I have ever connected matter to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Connections are powerful. Connections are important. Connections matter.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L Fitts owns SLF Consulting. She is an academic and instructional coach who helps her clients make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. SLF Consulting specializes in math tutorials and test prep. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">our website</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-55387979153625818752014-10-22T10:45:00.000-04:002014-10-22T10:45:14.900-04:00Infographics as Teaching Tools<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>looks at infographics as teaching tools to boost teaching and learning. Several sites are available for free to create better presentations, posters, and any graphic to be used in your lessons. Infographics make data come alive. Infographics make learning simpler and easier. Difficult concepts can be broken down into interesting shapes, colors, and designs that really stay with students and increase learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some infographics are simple while others can be more involved. Students can also create these as part of digital portfolios in any content area. These are great tools for teachers and students - not to mention excellent tools in business, marketing, medicine, entertainment. There is really no arena where infographics could not be used.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are several sites where you can easily get started. Among them are <a href="http://www.infogr.am/" target="_blank">infogr.am</a> , <a href="http://www.canva.com/" target="_blank">canva</a> , <a href="http://www.visual.ly/" target="_blank">visual.ly</a> , <a href="http://www.easel.ly/" target="_blank">easel.ly</a> , and <a href="http://piktochart.com/" target="_blank">piktochart</a>. For a few minutes of work, you can create a visual that will increase learning in your classroom.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ2-NfdjmI/VEfA2LjPMjI/AAAAAAAAAEc/D1WEw-dKnz4/s1600/infographic%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txJ2-NfdjmI/VEfA2LjPMjI/AAAAAAAAAEc/D1WEw-dKnz4/s1600/infographic%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this digital age we all need to be utilizing any tools that improve teaching and learning. Inforgraphincs can simply be used to send important messages as well as subject-area content.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please let me know how you use these tools in your classroom. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jgtoV7rGnA/VEfCJqvUDGI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ufgA_22wodM/s1600/infographic%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jgtoV7rGnA/VEfCJqvUDGI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ufgA_22wodM/s1600/infographic%2B3.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YBuUc-QsFS8/VEfCSEaCisI/AAAAAAAAAEw/0ODiibWLt3U/s1600/infographic%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YBuUc-QsFS8/VEfCSEaCisI/AAAAAAAAAEw/0ODiibWLt3U/s1600/infographic%2B4.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-87686296009471845412014-10-15T12:46:00.000-04:002014-10-15T12:46:24.692-04:00Why Hire a Tutor?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuewIal-PP4/VD6hfZzT59I/AAAAAAAAAEE/QEs2sw_mVeY/s1600/Male%2Bstudent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuewIal-PP4/VD6hfZzT59I/AAAAAAAAAEE/QEs2sw_mVeY/s1600/Male%2Bstudent.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>asks why hire a tutor. Here are some good reasons:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve grades</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve understanding of the concept/topic</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To reduce stress and struggle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To gain confidence and self-esteem</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To focus on one-on-one teaching and learning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To set the stage for the next level </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To challenge the student</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve standardized test scores</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To provide different approaches to learning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To provide transition to the next level of learning</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sara Fitts is a retired educator with 24 years in public education as a math teacher, administrator, and instructional coach. Since 2000 she has owned SLF Consulting and has assisted numerous clients in being admitted to many major colleges and universities - including UMass, Brown, UCLA, University of Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, to name a few. She was named Manassas Park High School's Educator of the Year in 2014. SLF Consulting provides academic and instructional coaching, math tutorials, and SAT prep. <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank">Contact us</a> today.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-18111773303722968982014-10-14T10:12:00.000-04:002014-10-14T10:12:32.028-04:00Tutorials vs Extra Help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkyNb9romkU/VD0t9GC2wgI/AAAAAAAAADE/HFMpxuvf9XM/s1600/Male%2Bstudent%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkyNb9romkU/VD0t9GC2wgI/AAAAAAAAADE/HFMpxuvf9XM/s1600/Male%2Bstudent%2B2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Week with Sara Fitts looks at the differences between tutorials and simply providing extra help to students. In some ways the differences are small while in many ways the differences are incredible - and mean the difference in passing and failing - as well as in making an A or making a B.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutorials provide extra help - but also provide a framework of support that extends well beyond the 60 minutes of direct work with the student. Tutorials utilize academic coaching in all areas: review, current support, extension of the topic, and setting the stage for all topics that follow. Tutorials are structured with the intent of bringing out the very best the student has to offer. While the structure of a tutorial session may be less like a classroom filled with 25 or 30 other students, there is a platform for inquiry, for growth, for moving forward toward the next lesson and beyond. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutorials provide motivation. Students are freer to express their fears - and with academic coaching, conquer them. Success breeds more success. Once a student tastes success in a subject that has been so difficult for them, all things are then possible in the mind of the student. Once the student has a mindset of motivation and success, success is much more easily attained.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Extra help is wonderful and can bridge many gaps - but it is usually not sustainable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tutorials combined with academic coaching are sustainable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a student who is struggling - or you are the parent of a struggling student - please consider hiring an academic coach to provide one-on-one tutorials. It can be the huge difference that is needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sara L. Fitts is an academic and instructional coach and consultant who works with students to improve their abilities in mathematics. For more information, please visit<a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/" target="_blank"> www.SLFConsulting.com</a> today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-49002533409325333872014-08-28T11:30:00.000-04:002014-08-28T11:30:00.412-04:00Lessons Learned from the Little League Champions<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyDQ2HwCubs/U_9KvGhYJ-I/AAAAAAAAAC0/-3N21IU6Uec/s1600/Jackie%2BRobinson%2BWest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyDQ2HwCubs/U_9KvGhYJ-I/AAAAAAAAAC0/-3N21IU6Uec/s1600/Jackie%2BRobinson%2BWest.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts </b>takes a look at the lessons learned from watching the fabulous US champions in the Little League World Series last week. The Jackie Robinson West All Stars team from Chicago represented the United States in the Little League World Series. While the team from South Korea won the world title, Jackie Robinson West won the US championship and our hearts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While watching this amazing team of 11 - 13 year-olds and their fabulous coaches, it occurred to me that they were providing many lessons that all teachers and students can carry into this academic year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the many lessons that I believe were learned are the following:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe in yourself and in your colleagues/peers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay focused.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play your position - whatever it is at the moment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are not going well, don't yell! Stay positive and encourage your team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are not going well, believe in yourself even more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are not going well, simply put everything in proper perspective. What's the worst that could happen? So?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are not going well, keep your eyes on the ball. More mistakes happen when you don't.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are going extremely well, never become arrogant. Things often change quickly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are going extremely well, continue to keep your focus.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are going extremely well, cheer on your team!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things are going extremely well, celebrate the moment. Again, things often can change quickly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never miss an opportunity to say "nice job."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never miss an opportunity to say "good try."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never miss an opportunity to say "you'll get it next time."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never miss an opportunity to praise your team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never miss an opportunity to encourage your team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never tell anyone they are worthless human beings. Never berate your team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motivate your team with encouragement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motivate your team with kindness. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is always a way to say what needs to be said.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how strong we look, we are still human beings just playing in the game.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how old we look, we are still human beings just playing in the game.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as important as the game is, always remember: it is only a game (or job!).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so impressed by the fact that the coaches never berated the young men. They encouraged and motivated even when errors had occurred. They got in their faces - to encourage and motivate, never to belittle. The lessons learned from Jackie Robinson West from Chicago will stay with me - and I hope with you and your "teams" this academic year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful academic year! Work hard. Teach hard. Learn. And don't forget to play hard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sara Fitts is an academic and instructional coach and consultant in Manassas, VA. She is the owner of SLF Consulting. Motivation is the main ingredient in Sara's Little Formula that she uses to get results for her clients. Visit <a href="http://www.slfconsulting.com/">http://www.SLFConsulting.com</a> for more information.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-11385103086388218572014-08-18T15:18:00.000-04:002014-08-18T15:18:01.526-04:00Getting Ready for the New Academic Year<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to School is an exciting time for students and teachers. Teachers are preparing their classrooms, websites, class syllabuses, and all the exciting activities they plan to bring to their eager students. I think the most important item for teachers to plan for is the very first day. It is the day that first impressions are most important. It is the day when you can introduce yourself instead of your subject. It is the first day to build the team that will carry you through the entire year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the team-building activities that I have used (borrowed, discovered, found, revised) over the years still make me smile when I think about the reaction each activity had on the various classes. And the students have fun getting to know more about their teachers than the teacher's undying love of their subject.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The important thing to keep in mind is that students don't fully engage - even with technology - unless they become involved. The first day is the day to begin the transformation from student to team member. The year will be smoother for the students and the teacher. The year will be more productive for the student and the teacher. The year will be easier for all involved. And the first day will be so much more fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some ideas that I offer this week:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Seating arrangements</b> can be designed in a number of interesting ways. One way I have arranged seating is by greeting the students at the door of my classroom with a stack of randomly-numbered index cards. I hand a card to each student upon entering and they find their desk. This allows for an alternative to alphabetical order as well as an alternative to sitting with friends. This seating arrangement method can also be revised with color-coded index cards using 4 colors. Each student receives a color-coded index card and then is seated at a desk with the same coding. This method offers a little bit of choice for the student. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Introductions </b>can be done in a number of interesting and fun ways. One way is <b>3 Truths and a Lie </b>where the teacher leads off telling 3 personal truths and 1 lie. The students must identify the lie. They will never forget what they learn about their teacher. Then the process continues as the class, student by student, introduces themselves in the same way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another way to accomplish introductions is <b>Take as Much as You Need.</b> Taking a roll of toilet tissue the teacher tears off 6 or 7 pieces and then hands the roll to a student with these words: "take as much as you need" and nothing else. After every student has taken some of the toilet tissue, the teacher begins by tearing of the first segmented piece and tells something about himself/herself. Then he/she tears off another piece and tells something else. This continues until the entire class has introduced themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Team-Building</b> activities might include a team poster that represents the individual team members' commonalities. This is usually a way for students to interact and find out more about the students in class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another good team-building activity is a <b>Scavenger Hunt</b>. Some items in the scavenger hunt might be "the students who have had classes together since kindergarten" or "the students who have the same birthday" to get you started. This can be a very good exercise for students of all ages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point that I'm making is that in order to really make students want to work for you, I think they need to know that you care about them. If you want to find out interesting things about them, then it shows you care about them. This can make a huge difference in the way the academic year goes - for the teacher as well as for the students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This Week with Sara Fitts</b> will discuss more ways to spice up the first day in the days ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29717353.post-62108106782408752362014-08-07T11:53:00.000-04:002014-08-07T11:53:04.074-04:00The Best Apps for Teaching and Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEUrRQr2FR4/U-OgRiA5rxI/AAAAAAAAACE/bEztP9sewX0/s1600/School+books+new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEUrRQr2FR4/U-OgRiA5rxI/AAAAAAAAACE/bEztP9sewX0/s1600/School+books+new.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's post is a listing of the best apps for teaching and learning today. Some are free and others are as much as $3.99 - but technology engages and improves the teaching and learning process. So there is definite benefit in each of these apps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Studious</b> is a free app that helps organize.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Notability </b>can be used effectively with DropBox, Google Drive, and Box. Notes can be taken and shared in class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Haiku Deck </b>is an app for presentations. Students and teachers enjoy using this one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ShowMe </b>is especially helpful for teachers as they plan their lessons. Teachers can prepare presentations for classes across all content areas and age levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Prezi</b> is also for presentations. There is a free version and a fee version. Educators and schools are eligible for special discounts. Prezi presentations have more flare and hold attention longer than some PowerPoint presentations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Edmodo </b>can be utilized in classrooms in a myriad of ways. Again, regradless of content area or age of the student, Edmodo engages student learning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Popplet </b>and <b>Popplet Lite</b> (the free version) works in business as well as in education. This app provides ways to map ideas with technology rather than on the old chalkboard. It is very engaging and easy to use.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sticky Notes</b> is a fun way to remind students of upcoming tests and homework and also can be used very effectively in class to list ideas, dates, etc during discussions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Graphing Calculator</b> is fabulous and well worth the $2.99. The cost of graphing calculators is roughly $110 - $130 now and classroom sets are becoming a thing of the past. This is an excellent way to use technology!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Frog Dissection ($3.99) </b>and <b>The Chemical Touch ($0.99) </b>are excellent apps for science classes. Students are much more engaged using these apps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These apps simply provide an easy way to integrate technology into classrooms and improve the learning environment. These apps are not only fun to use, they are an efficient way to work as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't tried a few of these apps, now is the time as we are gearing up to go back to school. I hope you find them helpful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0