Educational Consultants
We remember things better when they have some meaning to us. It’s not too surprising that seeing the word tyro on a flashcard is harder to remember than hearing it in reference to a first grader who’d just started learning how to write. So while you may remember a few words paired only with their … Read more
You may think you have all the resources you need to make the best of your test prep: the most up to date resources, a fantastic private instructor, and a supportive home. But you’re not getting the most out of your studying unless you remember one indispensable factor: Rest. There is an importance in rest, … Read more
Practice makes perfect, whether you’re a violinist or a student. Students studying for the SAT and other tests are encouraged to take practice tests and solve many of the same type of problem. But a violinist will get nowhere if he does not first learn where to place his fingers. The same applies to SAT … Read more
Those who disagree with using technology in classrooms, are often drawing conclusions based on the sad cognitive decline from those who use tech as a crutch. Technology is ubiquitous. There’s no need to consult a map when you can simply plug an address into your phone for directions. Don’t bother remembering what year a … Read more
In the world of education, the tutor is often seen as an outsider. Many conversations question the private instructor’s legitimacy: is using a tutor cheating? If you hire an expensive tutor, are you buying your way to a higher score? What about tutors’ credentials and training? The connotation of having a tutor is emotionally loaded, … Read more
Truly internalized knowledge goes beyond memorization. As you read these words, your body is functioning largely without you. Pause to consider this and you may become aware of your breathing and blinking, only two of the many physiological functions your body takes care of for you. 2 million cells will die and be born in … Read more
Author: Madeleine L’Engle Category: Fiction Overview: A young woman, with the aid of the three W’s, travels through time to rescue her father who was abducted by evil aliens. What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “If you like fantasy and sci-fi, you will love this book. Technically part of the YA genre, … Read more
A four letter acronym is being bandied about in the educational sphere: PISA. The Programme for International Student Assessment is a study in the form of a test, meant to assess the academic levels of 15 year olds worldwide in math, science, and reading. The most recent test results came in recently, and has promptly … Read more
“Ubiquitous technology… may be the new hope for the future of education.” At the turn of the century technology was becoming a part of our lives and gradually, of our school systems. As technology improved so did our eagerness to use it in classrooms in the form of computer labs, iPads, and even educational games. … Read more
Author: Richard Wright Category: Fiction Overview: Wright explores what it is like to be an African-American in 1930’s America through the eyes of Bigger Thomas. Thomas is a 20-year old African-American growing up and living in a very poor urban area of Chicago. This frames and greatly influences his existence. What they’re saying in the Prepwise … Read more
In the Prepwise program, great instructors are not born, they are coached. Scripted Lesson plans don’t belong in a private tutoring environment. If this sounds like an extreme statement, consider the fact that tutors have the ability to do what is valued by educators everywhere: get inside each student’s head. Good lessons are fluid, flexible, … Read more
“People excel and learn, not because they are told to, but because they want to.“- Peter Senge Phys.org recently published an article titled “Beyond Mendel: Student DNA Barcoding Project introduces next-generation microbiology to classrooms.” That’s right, K-12 students working on DNA. In addition to teaching them concepts of science, introducing them to labwork, and providing … Read more
College admissions used to be simpler. Now in addition to dealing with the daunting application process, you also have the responsibility of choosing, studying for, and taking the right admissions test. This may have you confused: how do you decide if you should take the SAT, the SAT subject tests, or the ACT? Keeping these … Read more
The general consensus is that low salaries are decreasing interest in teaching as a profession. Unfortunately, teacher salaries are notoriously low. The National Educational Association has found that while salaries are on a steady rise, their value in today’s economy has remained at a steady $45k in 2003 dollars, even dipping slightly in recent years. … Read more
You’ve taken your PSAT. You’ve done one or two SAT practice tests. The results are in, and now you have some numbers – what do you do with them? How many points you should aim to increase your score? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Many tutors and tutoring services discuss results in terms of numbers, … Read more
I was recently approached by the mother of a 7th grader about SAT tutoring for her child. That got me wondering, is it ever too early to start studying for the SAT? My answer is start early but not too early. We sometimes forget that SAT prep is always going on – by attending school, … Read more
If you’re a high school student studying for the SAT, you may be doing it wrong. You can have the best tutor, buy the best books, and still not see the benefit you believe you should be seeing. That’s because you might be overlooking a critical aspect of studying – when you do it. You … Read more
A parent recently asked me, “Why are there no individual SAT student cases published?” Excellent question. I started teaching full time as a GMAT instructor and have helped students gain admission at top tier business schools since I was an undergrad – it started completely organically, friends, friends of friends, older brothers/sisters. By the time … Read more
SAT scores: how do you compare? Here are the standard SAT scores for some of the most top-tier colleges, including Harvard, Yale and Duke. One of the perils of working as an Instructor is explaining what I do when I meet someone new. If you’re an Architect, you probably don’t get the, “Oh my G, … Read more
So what’s going on with the girls? Isn’t it supposed to be easier for girls to get in? I received a frantic phone call yesterday . . . a former student who won’t be applying for at least another year called to ask why strong work experience, 740+, female candidates were getting deferred to … Read more
