Huntington Learning Center Celebrates Mathematics and Statistical Awareness Month

Contact:Dr. Dennis Shaw, Center Director
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3860
ShawD@HLCmail.com

Ankeny.HuntingtonHelps.com

Huntington Learning Center Celebrates Mathematics and Statistical Awareness Month

Ankeny, Iowa 4/1/2017 – The Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny is celebrating Mathematics and Statistical Awareness Month in April 2017, an annual event that recognizes the importance of mathematics and its applications and developments in specific areas.

Huntington joins schools, educators, colleges, universities, communities and others to celebrate mathematics as an integral part of everyday life. “Math is the building block for many essential careers and plays a central role in some of the world’s greatest innovations,” says Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center. “In the past year alone, we’ve seen technological advancements that are changing the way we live—from smart robots to genetic engineering to artificial intelligence—all of which are examples of math in action. This month, we pay special attention to math’s many applications in solving real-world problems large and small.”

Dr. Shaw adds that parents can join their efforts this month and year-round by helping their children recognize math’s important uses and put it into practice in their daily lives. Dr. Shaw offers these suggestions:

• Have your child estimate the grocery bill as you shop.
• Point out careers that require math skills, especially among people your child knows or admires.
• Plan a family trip, and have your child calculate drive time or mileage between destinations based on speed limits and distance as well as a trip budget that includes the cost of flights, hotels, gas, meals and other expenditures.
• Invite your child to cook with you and calculate all measurements for recipes.
• Take your child to the bank every time you go and talk about money—saving it, earning it and how interest compounds in an interest-bearing account.
• Take note of the use of statistics in everyday life: in the polls for the recent Presidential election, to deliver accurate weather forecasts, in stock market predictions and more.
• Talk about math’s role in some of the most significant discoveries in history: the landing on Mars and the invention of photography, for example.

Mathematics Awareness Month began in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation to establish National Mathematics Awareness Week. This annual celebration is a collaborative effort of the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the Mathematical Association of America and the Society for Industrial Applied Mathematics. In 2017, the name of the holiday was changed to Mathematics and Statistical Awareness Month.

To learn more about Mathematics and Statistical Awareness Month, visit www.mathaware.org.

About Huntington

Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.  Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams.  Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards.  Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible.  Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.  

©2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center®, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN® are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Huntington Learning Center Celebrates National Teacher Day

Contact:Dr. Dennis Shaw, Center Director
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3860
ShawD@HLCmail.com

Ankeny.HuntingtonHelps.com

Huntington Learning Center Celebrates National Teacher Day

Ankeny, Iowa 4/1/2017– On May 9, 2017, the Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny joins schools, students, parents and communities to celebrate National Teacher Day. This annual occasion is part of Teacher Appreciation Week, sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA), and honors educators for the important work they do and the lasting impact they have on the lives of so many.

“We’re so happy to celebrate National Teacher Day at Huntington,” says Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center. “Teachers are dedicated to helping children become independent and successful, striving every day to ensure they grow and learn. We celebrate the wonderful teachers in our community with whom we collaborate to help students achieve their goals.”

Dr. Shaw says that students, parents and others can pay tribute to the teachers in their lives in many ways. Dr. Shaw offers the following suggestions:

• Write a letter to a teacher who made a difference in your life.
• Have your children write notes about why they appreciate their teachers and schools.
• Organize a coffee and donuts table at your workplace for teachers in the community to stop by throughout the morning of National Teacher Day.
• Buy flowers for a teacher in your life or drop some by a school to leave in the teacher’s lounge.
• Hang banners outside of your workplace to recognize teachers.
• Bring treats to a school in your community to distribute to its teachers.
• Surprise a teacher with a gift card to a local coffee shop.
• Write a note to your children’s teachers about a few ways they have grown this school year and note how their teachers have fostered that growth.

National Teacher Day started in 1953 when Eleanor Roosevelt embarked on a campaign to proclaim a National Teacher Day. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day, and in 1985, the NEA voted to move the event to May.

Dr. Shaw added that Huntington praises its teachers on this day of celebration. “Huntington teachers care so much about students’ success, and many of our teachers are current or former school teachers as well,” Dr. Shaw says. “On National Teacher Day and always, we appreciate their commitment and passion. Because of them, children who come to Huntington for help make great gains in school and build confidence to last them a lifetime.”

About Huntington

Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.  Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. Huntington offers prep for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams.  Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards.  Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible.  Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.  

©2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center®, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN® are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Huntington Learning Center Offers Tips for Parents at Midyear Report Card Time

Contact: Dr. Dennis ShawCenter Director
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3864
email: ShawD@hlc.com

Center specific Huntington web address:https://www.facebook.com/HuntingtonAnkeny

https://twitter.com/HLCAnkeny

Ankeny, Iowa 50021

Huntington Learning Center Offers Tips for Parents at Midyear Report Card Time

Ankeny, Iowa 50021 – The New Year is upon us, which means that it’s also time for midyear report cards. For many families, report cards can stir up stressful emotions, particularly if their children are struggling with one or more school subjects. But Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center reminds parents that the midyear report card should be used as a tool to identify issues and seek help to address them during the remainder of the school year. “If your child’s report card highlights new areas of concern or problems that troubled your child last year as well, the key is not to dwell on the weaknesses, but rather, develop a plan of action,” says Dr. Shaw. As for what to look for, he/she suggests paying attention to the following items:

Progress (or lack thereof) – When comparing your child’s current report card with the end-of-year report card from last year, take note of any areas where your child’s performance has declined significantly. Similarly, look for areas where your child has made slight or notable gains. Make sure to arrange a time to talk with the teacher about these changes and how you can support your child.

Grade-level benchmarks – Most report cards measure students’ acquisition of grade-level standards throughout the school year. Pay attention to the growth indicators and how your child is performing this point in the school year. There might be new expectations that did not appear on the first midterm report card of the year.

Higher-order thinking skills – Today’s education system emphasizes not just fundamental academic skills, but also the thinking skills that are necessary to learn effectively: reasoning, problem solving and application skills, for example. Take note of all such measures and seek the teacher’s input on the best ways for you to help your child practice and strengthen these aptitudes.

Study skills – It’s so important for students to be equipped with strong study skills, which foster effective learning. Look for remarks about and assessments of your child’s attitude, time management skills, organizational skills and other executive functioning aptitudes. Take note of any areas that address your child’s persistence as well, as the combination of good study skills and hard work should yield positive results.

Teacher remarks – If the teacher included any specific comments about your child’s efforts, behavior or progress, read these comments carefully and compare them to your own observations about your child’s school performance.

The midyear report card is a critical progress check on children’s growth and success in school, and Dr. Shaw encourages parents to give it the attention it deserves. “By now, children should be making major strides toward the goals and standards set for them and it’s important to intervene if they are not,” he says. “If your child’s midyear report card brings problems to light—new or longstanding—call Huntington for help. We can discuss your concerns and schedule a diagnostic evaluation of your child’s strengths and weaknesses. With that data, we can pinpoint exactly where your child is struggling and develop a customized program of instruction that will get him or her back on track this spring.”  

Huntington Learning Center Celebrates National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29 - Feb. 4th

Contact: Dennis Shaw, Center Director
Huntington Learning Center of Ankeny
515-965-3860
ShawD@HLCmail.com

Ankeny.HuntingtonHelps.com

Huntington Learning Center Celebrates National Catholic Schools Week

Ankeny, Iowa 1/29/2017 – During the week of January 29, 2017, the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center will recognize National Catholic Schools Week. This annual commemoration of Catholic education raises awareness of the value that Catholic education provides to young people, communities and the nation, and celebrates Catholic schools as an important part of American education.

Started in 1974, Catholic Schools Week is administered by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the largest private professional education association in the world, which works with Catholic educators to support ongoing faith formation and the teaching mission of the Catholic church. Catholic Schools Week is a joint project of NCEA and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The theme of the 2017 Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service,” which encompasses concepts that are at the heart of a Catholic education—and three measures by which any Catholic school should be measured. Throughout the week, NCES offers daily themes to inspire participants’ activities and celebrations:

• Sunday, January 29: In Our Parish
• Monday, January 30: In Our Community
• Tuesday, January 31: Celebrating Your Students
• Wednesday, February 1: Celebrating the Nation
• Thursday, February 2: Celebrating Vocations
• Friday, February 3: Celebrating Faculty, Staff and Volunteers
• Saturday, February 4: Celebrating Families

Dr. Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center says that Huntington is pleased to observe this important week with teachers and educators from around the country. “This week is an opportunity for us to come together with our fellow educators to recognize the great work of our nation’s Catholic schools,” says Shaw. “These schools are widely recognized for their commitment to excellence, high-achieving students and extremely high graduation rates. We applaud and honor these wonderful institutions and the people who work in them, this week and always.”

Learn more about National Catholic Schools Week 2017 at www.ncea.org.

About Huntington

Founded in 1977, Huntington is a pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry. For over 35 years, Huntington has provided quality instruction to hundreds of thousands of students. Huntington prides itself on being “Your Tutoring Solution” for students in all grades and subjects.  They tutor in reading, phonics, math and study skills; as well as advanced math and science subjects ranging from algebra through calculus and general science through physics.  They also prepare students for state and standardized entrance exams, such as high school entrance exams and the SAT and ACT. Learn more about Huntington at www.huntingtonhelps.com.  For information on franchise opportunities, visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

©2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center®, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN® are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Holiday break from school

Students absolutely deserve a breather from school work and studying over the holidays, and there are many benefits to embracing this time as a chance to relax and recharge. However, Dennis Shaw of the Ankeny Huntington Learning Center reminds parents how easy it is to keep children engaged and having fun during break. “There are so many great ways to keep the mind active while spending time together as a family,” says Shaw. “And best of all, including a few educational activities in your holiday break schedule can keep your child’s brain active, minimizing regression that can take place even during a short break from school,” says Dr. Shaw. He suggests that families consider trying out one or all of these educational activities this holiday break:

Library visits – An easy and highly beneficial educational outing for holiday break is a family trip to the library—and you can go as often as you like. Most libraries offer a range of activities during holiday breaks that might pique your child’s interest. At a minimum, however, you and your child can pick up some reading material to enjoy during the lazy days that school is out. Make reading a daily activity for the whole family.

Museum outings – If you have a favorite art, cultural, science or other museum or have wanted to visit one for the first time, holiday break is an ideal time to do so. Be sure to view the website ahead of time to see if there are any special exhibits or events. And take your child’s lead—perhaps he or she would enjoy art over science or a fireman’s museum over the baseball museum.

Documentary or film – If your child was fascinated during his or her class’s unit on Egypt or loves learning about nature and weather, check out the selection of films and documentaries at your library (or through Netflix if you’re a subscriber). An at-home movie afternoon is certainly fun, but you could also make it a day outing. Browse the showings at your local science museum—maybe you’ll discover an exciting option at a nearby IMAX theater or planetarium.

Musical performances or theater – This time of year generally means lots of cultural events and activities if your family is interested in music, theater or dance. If The Nutcracker doesn’t grab your child’s interest, check out the local high school or college for plays or other performances, nearby jazz or other music clubs, or even your local coffee shop to see what types of entertainment might be on the holiday calendar.

Holiday break is a great chance for your child to unwind and do the things he or she wants to do, but it is also a perfect time to enrich the mind and explore different topics. “This is a rare opportunity free of school obligations when parents and their children can delve into some interests and enjoy learning something new together,” says Dennis Shaw. “Get out and expand your horizons. Offer your child ideas and then let his or her curiosities guide you.”