Letter from Betty for December 2015

Hello,

Happy Holidays! I hope you have a chance to relax and enjoy your friends, family, and loved ones this December. 'Tis the season for giving, and to give you a hand with it, our feature article this month, "Holiday Gift Ideas" should inspire you with clever and educational gift suggestions for children, including a worthy collection of award-winning books for young readers.

Speaking of reading material, our December Puzzler, "Gandalf or Dumbledore" will give you a chance to test your knowledge of which wizard said which wise words in the Harry Potter books and in the Lord of the Rings books. Plus, we've got answers to last months “Father Christmas” Puzzler. Find out how many child charactor names you identified correctly from the 6 familiar holiday season shows.

Finally, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Betty Bodenweiser
Director
Foundation for Learning

Free Diagnostic Test Offered

Choose one: SAT or ACT

Currently many high school juniors take both the SAT and ACT to determine which test is better for them. We feel it is beneficial for the students to focus on only one test. In order to accomplish this, we administer a complimentary SAT/ACT diagnostic test to help students determine which test is better suited to their abilities.

Upcoming test date: January 9, 2015

Our diagnostic test incorporates the new SAT which will be administered beginning in March 2016. Please call Donna for more details. Please call (973) 425-1774 or email betty@foundationforlearning.com as space is limited.

December 2015 Test Schedule

Mark your calendars! Here are the latest test dates.

NOTE about ISEE - Independent School Entrance Exam: For test locations and to learn more go to erblearn.org.

Holiday Gift Ideas

If you haven’t started already, it’s time to put together your holiday gift-giving list. We’ve compiled a selection of terrific toys, kits, books, and more for you to consider this year. All selections are appropriate for both boys and girls. We just know you’re going to find a few that will be perfect for your young ones!

The Explore and Create Art Set
There is no greater invitation to play, create, and imagine than a box of brand-new art supplies. This dazzling art set comes with everything needed to set the page ablaze with color:

• 18 colored pencils
• 18 vibrant crayons
• 16 fine-point markers
• 14 richly hued pastels
• 8 high-saturation watercolor paints
• 2 paintbrushes
• 2 pencils with an eraser and sharpener

Draw a comic, design a dream house or the car of the future, launch a fashion revolution, create a family crest, paint a friend’s portrait, doodle to your heart’s content… With a blank piece of paper and the Explore and Create Art Set, the sky’s the limit. The set comes in a box that has a rope handle and closure, making it easy to carry. The deceptively plain brown paper exterior encourages personalization: design, decorate, and embellish the kit to make it all your own. Ages 8 and up.


14-in-1 Solar Robot Kit
There is more to this little robot than meets the eye! This solar-powered robot lets budding green energy pioneers and robotic engineers build a range of silly creatures and traveling vehicles. Sort all the kit parts into the labeled baggies to make each build a breeze. And then start by building the drive box, aka the robot’s “head.” Kids can build one robot and easily change to another, zipping from turtle-bots to boat-bots, slither-bots to zombie-bots. With two skill levels, builders begin with amusing creatures and then challenge themselves with more complex robotic forms.

Also included are unique accessories that help the robot move on land and water. A transparent housing on the robot’s body helps curious makers see the movements of the gears in action. Kids learn about renewable energy while having a blast—and solar power means no batteries required. Ages 10 and up.


Wild Detectives DVD Set
Why do penguins swim deep into the ocean when their favorite food is right at the surface? What does a lion cub do in its den when no one's watching? How do scientists decode the secret language of whales? Kids will travel the globe to uncover the answers to these and other puzzling animal mysteries with National Geographic's four-episode series Wild Detectives.

With the help of the Crittercam, an ultra-cool spy camera, kids see life through the wild eyes of bears, seals, sea turtles, and other amazing creatures. Featuring a fun, interactive format and awesome undercover filmmaking, Wild Detectives turns kids into super-sleuths and opens them to a world of animal discovery. Ages 6 to 12.


Goobi Magnetic Construction Kit
Winner of numerous awards, this magnetic set has a whole new angle on creative construction. A 90° angle, to be specific, thanks to the tripod, an innovatively shaped new part. The set's awesome 32-page instruction booklet places endless options at kids' fingertips along with the 84 bars, 61 iron balls, and 35 tripods (180 pieces plus compact carrying case in all). A simple, spontaneous, fun way to discover the basics of geometry, physics, architecture, engineering, and problem-solving!  Ages 6 and up.


Smarts and Crafts Case
A case study in creativity! Each sturdy carrying case is chock-full of 1000+ craft classics like pipe cleaners, felt, sequins, pom-poms, glue, googly eyes, and much more. Just looking at the variety of shapes, colors, and materials starts fingers itching to craft. It’s everything young crafters need! Ages 6 and up.





Fitivities
Fitivities is part board game, part workout, and all fun—for the whole family. The game includes a game mat (32" x 46"), plus four sets of dice, shoe markers, spinner cards, and detailed game rules—each player (or team) gets their own set. The fun begins when players (or teams) roll the dice and move their game marker to an activity space. Spin the arrow to learn the specifics of performing that activity. Keep going—the first player (or team) to make it all the way around the mat wins the game! It's simple to set up, and the exercises are designed to be easy for all ages. Great fun indoors or out—for birthday parties, backyard barbecues, camping trips, beach parties, and more! For 2–24 players ages 6 to adult, all of whom will be performing activities at the same time.

Qwirkle
If you like Scrabble® and adore dominoes, you'll love Qwirkle, a game of strategy based on color and shape rather than letters, so both readers and non-readers can play. Winner of both Parents' Choice ® and Mensa awards, it's a game that makes you think, laugh, and applaud. Draw six of the 108 wooden tiles to start, and see how many matches you can make with the designs on the board-the result can be beautiful. For 2-4 players. Winner of Mensa Select. Winner of Parents' Choice Gold. For ages 6 and up.


Classic Start CD Set
This series has a storybook tale to appeal to every reader: Choose from The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Secret Garden, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Each classic set features black and white illustrations and comes with 2 audio CDs. For ages 7 and up.






Books:

The Hobbit
by JRR Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return. Ages 12 and up.




The Lord of the Rings
by JRR Tolkien

Tolkien's seminal three-volume epic chronicles the War of the Ring, in which Frodo the hobbit and his companions set out to destroy the evil Ring of Power and restore peace to Middle-earth. The beloved trilogy still casts a long shadow, having established some of the most familiar and enduring tropes in fantasy literature. Ages 14 and up.



Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury

In a far future world, television dominates, and books are outlawed. The totalitarian regime has ordered all books to be burned by "firemen," whose job is to start the fires rather than stop them. But one fireman begins to see the value of the printed word. Ages 14 and up.




The Giver (series)
by Lois Lowry 
One of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Lois Lowry has written three companion novels to The Giver, including Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. Ages 12 and up.



The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
by Douglas Adams

In this collection of novels, Arthur Dent is introduced to the galaxy at large when he is rescued by an alien friend seconds before Earth's destruction, and embarks on a series of amazing adventures, from the mattress swamps of Sqornshellous Zeta to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Ages 14 and up.  



Anne of Green Gables
by LM Montgomery

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a rather prim and elderly brother and sister pair, send away for an orphan boy to help them run their farm on Canada's Prince Edward Island. But when the orphan arrives, he's not a he, he's a she — the loquacious and dreamy red-haired Anne-with-an-E Shirley — who quickly takes up a central place in their hearts. Ages 9 and up.



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie's humorous, semiautobiographical novel, follows 14-year-old Junior — poor, skinny and with a freakishly big head — as he leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation for a mostly white school in a nearby town. Alexie captures the pain and awkwardness of adolescence while also meditating on the devastation that poverty, racism and alcoholism have wreaked on Native American communities.  Ages 12 and up. 



A Ring of Endless Light
by Madeleine L’Engle

Struggling to confront her grandfather's impending death, 16-year-old Vicky Austin finds herself the center of attention of three young men, one of whom is a dolphin researcher. When the inevitable crisis comes, she must rely on the love of others — both human and dolphin — to overcome her grief.   Ages 12 and up. 



Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink

Caddie Woodlawn isn't interested in being a lady. Living on the Wisconsin frontier with her pioneer family, the free-spirited tomboy — inspired by the memories of Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother — runs wild, causes trouble, has adventures and befriends the local Indian tribe. Ages 8 to 12.



The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate

Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has spent his life in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant, and decides that he must find her a better life. The novel is illustrated by Patricia Castelao and inspired by a real gorilla named Ivan, who lived in a mall and later became a celebrity at the Atlanta Zoo. Ages 8 to 12.



Misty of Chincoteague
by Marguerite Henry

Paul Beebe and his sister Maureen have their hearts set on buying and taming Phantom, the wildest mare on Assateague Island. Though Phantom remains wild, her daughter Misty becomes an important part of the Beebe family. Marguerite Henry's tale of the wild ponies is illustrated by Wesley Dennis. Ages 8 to 12.



Redwall (series)
by Brian Jacques

Deep in the Mossflower Forest lies Redwall Abbey, populated by a motley cast of mice, squirrels, hedgehogs and other forest creatures. This 22-book series covers a vast span of time in the idyllic world of Redwall; jump in anywhere and join heroes like Martin the Warrior and Triss the Squirrelmaid as they battle evil in between lavish abbey feasts of Veggible Molebake and Woodland Summercream Pudding. Ages 12 and up.



The Cricket in Times Square
by George Selden

Chester the cricket is happy living in a peaceful Connecticut meadow. But when he follows the smell of a picnic-goer's liverwurst all the way to New York's Times Square, he finds he can't get enough of big city life with his new friends, a cat, a mouse and a boy. Ages 8 to 12.



Ramona (series)
by Beverly Cleary

Ramona Quimby, irrepressible owl-wrecker, burr-crown-maker, one-bite-apple-eater, anti-smoking campaigner and toothpaste squeezer, goes from pesty little sister to grown-up 10-year-old over the course of this beloved, humorous series by author Beverly Cleary. Ramona began as an incidental character in a different series, but quickly became a kid-lit icon in her own right. Ages 8 to 10.



The Twenty-One Balloons
by William Pene du Bois

William Pène du Bois' classic novel documents the incredible adventures of Professor William Waterman Sherman, who in 1883 sets off in a balloon across the Pacific, survives a volcanic eruption, discovers a fantastical diamond-filled island, and is eventually picked up floating in the Atlantic. Ages 8 to 10.

The Puzzler for December 2015: Dumbledore or Gandalf?

If you've read the Harry Potter series and the Lord of the Rings trilogy you know all about Albus Dumbledore and Gandalf the Grey, the benevolent wizards who shape and influence the fantastic worlds they inhabit. But can you recognize each by his words alone?
 

Test your knowledge of these two unique and quirky magical characters by identifying the speaker in the 6 sentences below.


Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“I dare not take it. Through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.”

Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark.”

Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.”

Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Who said it, Dumbledore or Gandalf?
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
 

Answers in the next issue. 

Answer to the November 2015 Puzzler: Father Christmas

Here are 6 father figures or role models of the Christmas TV season, from quintessential to questionable.

Question: What are the names of the 6 children characters?
 

Bonus question: Only one of these dad-like or role-modeling characters is actually portraying the father of the child in the scene depicted. Which one?
 

Answer:

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Answers:

1. Susan Walker sits on the lap of Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street.
2. Michael Hobbs watches Buddy the Elf drink a lot of soda in Elf.
3. Cindy Lou Who receives a pat on the head in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
4. Zuzu Bailey gets some help with her petals and a hug in It's a Wonderful Life.
5. Ralphie Parker can't remember what special present he wants Santa to bring him in A Christmas Story.
6. Hermey the Dentist learns from Yukon Cornelius that he's not such a misfit in Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer.

Bonus answer:
George Bailey is the father of Zuzu. None of the other "Father Christmases" are the actual fathers of the children characters depicted: Susan speculates that Kris Kringle is just a nice old man with whiskers. Or is he? Buddy the elf is the older half-brother to Michael. As far as Mr. Grinch, he's a mean one, and at best only a very distant relative to Cindy Lou and all the Whos down in Whoville. Department Store Santa ("You'll shoot your eye out, Kid") is just one more adult obstacle in the way of Ralphie's dream of acquiring an official Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred-shot range model air rifle. And finally (spoiler alert), Yukon Cornelius and Hermie's relationship is simply that of a man in need of a Bumble tooth puller.

Letter from Betty for November 2015

Hello,

How many times have you said to yourself that this year you will relax and enjoy the holiday season to the fullest? If that sounds familiar, and you have yet to achieve that blissful feeling, check out our feature article for November: "Slowing Down During the Holidays." Now is a great time to try fresh new strategies! 

Our November Puzzler, "Father Christmas" will also get you sledding towards a merry state of mind with a fun challenge about familiar seasonal TV favorites. Ho, ho, ho! Plus, we've got answers to last months “Fill-in-the-blank College Colors” puzzle. Find out how many pennants you filled in with the correct college names.

Finally, please remember that whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Betty Bodenweiser
Director
Foundation for Learning

Free Diagnostic Test Offered

Choose one: SAT or ACT

Currently many high school juniors take both the SAT and ACT to determine which test is better for them. We feel it is beneficial for the students to focus on only one test. In order to accomplish this, we administer a complimentary SAT/ACT diagnostic test to help students determine which test is better suited to their abilities.

November 14, 2015

Our diagnostic test incorporates the new SAT which will be administered beginning in March 2016. Please call Donna for more details.

Please call (973) 425-1774 or email betty@foundationforlearning.com as space is limited

November 2015 Test Schedule for SAT, ACT, SSAT, and ISEE

Mark your calendars! Here are the latest test dates.

NOTE about ISEE - Independent School Entrance Exam: For test locations and to learn more go to erblearn.org.

Slowing Down During the Holidays

Here we go again! The holidays will be upon us soon and you’ve decided that this is the year that you’re going to have a sane season. You’re going to put your priorities in order and really enjoy the moments before they pass.



There have been too many times in years past when you’ve exhausted yourself, over-extended, over-spent, over-eaten, and over-partied. And when it was all over, you have found yourself tired, broke, a few pounds heavier, and worst of all, disappointed and full of regrets that you didn’t have the perfect Martha Stewart holidays.

The answer is to plan ahead and to start now. No, it’s not too early! Get a notebook and write it all down. Putting your intentions in writing is a powerful way to focus, think things through, and get organized.



Plan to slow down and really enjoy your family and friends, Below are some great ideas to get you started. Try one, try several, or work them all, and you’ll be on your way to the holidays that you’ve hoped for.

 

1. Take time now to really think about the events you love most about the season, really love and would miss if they didn’t happen this year. Write them down. Now think about seasons past. What is it you dreaded, did out of obligation, activities that didn’t turn out the way you wanted. Write them down, and then cross them off your list. This year, decide that you’re going to avoid the "dread list" and focus only on the "love list": those activities that really mean something to you.


2. Now think about each of the holidays you have coming up. Make a section in your notebook for each of the occasions. What is your vision of the perfect holiday? Write down ideas, thoughts, memories, but only those that were truly special, or new ideas that really peaked your interest and looked like they’d make for special fun.


3. Ok, here comes a hard one, grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and push through this important step. Think about how much you can budget because really, do you want to end up over-extending yourself? Do you need that added stress during these coming months? Don’t even think about using credit cards. Decide now that you’ll only be using cash on hand. In fact, setting aside actual cash, rather than using a debit card, is a good way to monitor just how much you’re spending as you see the pile of dollar bills decrease. Not enough to go around? Read on…


4. Now make your gift list…and check it twice! Be realistic. Do you really need to buy a present for the dog? What about your niece’s boyfriend’s mother or that person at the office that you only talk to once a year? Pare down your list to only those people who are close to your heart. This way, you’ll be honoring your budget and your time as well since you won’t have to shop yourself to the point of exhaustion. Talk to your adult family members about giving each other the gift of not exchanging gifts this year. Or maybe just picking a name out of a hat so that every adult just buys one gift, but everybody still receives one. As far as worker friends go, it’s fine to let your co-workers know that you’re going to be focusing on the family this year. Make sure to let them know this early in the season so they know they won’t have to reciprocate with a gift to you this year. The same goes for friends and neighbors. You’re probably going to find that these folks actually appreciate this gesture, because they’ll now be able to cut back on their own holiday spending too.


5. Now take a look at your final list and consider whether you want to get a store bought gift or possibly create something special to give. Hand-made might not work as well with the little ones, but the adults might appreciate your efforts. Need some ideas? There is a wealth of inspiration to be found on the web. Make yourself another cup of coffee and browse through sites like Etsy to see what other creatives are making. There’s also Pintrest…a web treasure trove of ideas!


6. Start now! It’s not too early to start your shopping. Prices have not seen the inevitable seasonal increase yet, there’s a lot of stock to choose from, and you'll avoid the crowds of frantic shoppers. And forget about Black Friday shopping. You don’t need that madness. Opt for peace this season. Shop the web for your gifts. Shopping from home, at your leisure, and having your items delivered to your door…what could be easier? Many sites offer free shipping, so look for that option and save yourself some money. Additionally, shopping the web saves you time and gas money! If you do go out to shop, shop local! Support your local merchants and keep the money in your own community.


7. For those gifts you’re making? Start now! Give yourself the time and space to create your marvelous gifts, so you can enjoy the process as well as the final product.


8. Focus on the kids. Make memories for them while at the same time reliving some of your own childhood memories. Who wouldn’t love to become a child again during the holidays! There’s a special joy to be found when you see the holidays through the eyes of a child. Look through your old photo albums and revisit those happy times. You might find that there are old traditions you’ve forgotten about and would like to dust off and share with your family.


9. Time for decorating? Keep it simple. Look at what you can afford and think about what you might miss if it’s not on display in your home this year. There’s something magical about a lovely tree and well placed twinkle lights. You don’t need to go overboard by creating the grandest display in the neighborhood. Keep it special but simple at home, and then hop in the car one evening and tool around town to gaze at the holiday displays and lightshows. Don’t forget to bring along the cocoa and candy canes for this evening adventure!


10. Television Specials! In your notebook, write down the schedule for the special holiday television programming. Mark down when your favorite old seasonal movies will be shown. Gather the family, pop the popcorn, turn on the twinkle lights and enjoy these lovely sentimental movies. It wouldn’t be a proper holiday season without them! As an additional idea, keep the TV turned off the rest of the time. Unplug, put on the Christmas records and enjoy the extra time with your family. Or pull out special seasonal books and have story time with the kids. If you don’t have any on hand, the library is chock full of books and probably has the holiday selections already on display.


11. Take photos! Focus on the process, the preparations, the small bits and pieces, the individual people and small moments. This collection of photos will add up to a brilliant collection for you to enjoy later on, but don’t feel that you need to process them now. Download, process, print your photos after the holidays when you have more time and can enjoy the moments all over again at your leisure.


12. Are you gathering with far away family? Decide on a central location to cut down on travel time and expense. You can also decide to meet with family just before or just after the holidays. Doing so will extend the holidays, allowing for less rush, less pressure and more fun. Why should we just concentrate on “the big day” rather than celebrating and creating special times throughout the season?


13. Are you the host? Will you be cooking and baking over the next month or two? Plan your menu now. Put together your shopping list. Shop for seasonal items while they’re well stocked, then make a cooking/baking plan. You don’t have to do everything at once. Spread these tasks out over time and freeze what you can ahead of time. Don’t spend the big day in the kitchen, spend it with your loved ones.


14. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Nap if you need to or if you just want to enjoy a bit of recharging during the day. This is no time to deplete yourself. Sleep so you can stay healthy and enjoy these special times.If possible, consider taking a day off from work, but don't tell anyone. Use this time as a gift to yourself!


15. Revisit your notebook. You’ll probably have to revisit your expectations as the holidays progress, demands increase and as the TV, magazine, neighbors and friends try to insert their influence. You don’t need to be Martha Stewart. You need to be true to yourself, your family and your own best interests. Be ok with saying “no”. Over-committing is to over-stress and over-spend. It’s ok to say no.


16. Take time this season to quietly sit by yourself and think about your blessings. Make a gratitude list and really let it sink in: how much you have, how much you have to offer. In moments of stress and inevitable disappointment, your gratitude list will likely give you some real perspective.


17. Make good use of your time off. Plan ahead, schedule activities, build in down-time. When it’s time to go back to work or to send the kids back to school, you’ll be glad that you spent your time well. Additionally, unplug during these memory making days. Turn off the devices, hide the tablets, and definitely turn off the phone whenever you can. Don’t get lost in the digital world. Spend this time with your loved ones.


18. “Reach out and touch someone!” Call a close friend or far-away relative and have a real chat. Grab your cup of cocoa and settle in for a good conversation. Doing so is so much more meaningful than the occasional impersonal e-mails and texts.


19. When it’s all over, the guests have gone home, the decorations put away and the kids are back in school, pull out your notebook again. Make entries regarding the activities that you thoughtfully added during the previous weeks. What worked? What didn’t? What do you wish you’d done differently? Add in photos and successful recipes. You’ve just created a keepsake that can be pulled out, year after year, added to, referred back to, and passed along to the next generation.

 

The Puzzler for November 2015: Father Christmas

Here are 6 father figures or role models of the Christmas TV season, from quintessential to questionable.

Question: What are the names of the 6 children characters?
 

Bonus question: Only one of these dad-like or role-modeling characters is actually portraying the father of the child in the scene depicted. Which one?


Answers in the next issue. 

Answers to October 2015 Puzzler: Fill in the Blanks College Colors

Question: 16 college pennants have been partially masked in the photo. Based on only colors and the first two letters of each word, can you fill in the blanks and name the 16 colleges or universities?
 

Starting at the blue pennant on the left that says "YA" and moving counter-clockwise around the photo, here are the blanks you are trying to fill in:
1.   Y A _ _
2.   H A _ _ _ _ _
3.   P U _ _ _ _
4.   N O _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
5.   C O _ _ _ _ _
6.   O R _ _ _ _
7.   G E _ _ _ _ _    T E _ _
8.   P R _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9.   N O _ _ _    D A _ _
10. S T _ _ _ _ _ _
11. M I _ _ _ _ _ _
12. W A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13. N E _ _ _ _ _ _
14. D A _ _ _ _ _ _ _
15. S T _ _ _ _ _ _
16. C O _ _ _ _ _ _
 

Answer:

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Answers:

1.   Y A L E
2.   H A R V A R D
3.   P U RD U E
4.   N O R T H W E S T E R N
5.   C O R N E L L
6.   O R E G O N
7.   G E O R G I A    T EC H
8.   P R I N C E T O N
9.   N O T R E    D A M E
10. S T A N F O R D
11. M I S S O U R I
12. W A S H I N G T O N
13. N E B R A S K A
14. D A R T M O U T H
15. S T E P H E N S
16. C O L U M B I A

Letter from Betty for October 2015

Hello,

Many parents have started a special year—the year their child graduates from high school. As this accomplishment is looked forward to with excitement, it is also a time to think beyond graduation day into the future. For many students, the future includes college. In our feature article for October, "Your Child's Senior Year - Tips for Parents," we offer some timely advice about this pivotal year.

For our October Puzzler, “Fill-in-the-blank College Colors” we have a fun and colorful college name recognition challenge for you.

Finally, please remember that whatever your educational needs are, Foundation for Learning, is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, SAT/ACT test prep, and educational evaluations. Please don't hesitate to give us a call at 973-425-1774 for a free consultation.


Best regards,

Betty

Betty Bodenweiser
Director
Foundation for Learning

SAT or ACT? Free Diagnostic dates for October 2015

Free Diagnostic test offered at FFL

Currently many high school juniors take both the SAT and ACT to determine which test is better for them. We feel it is beneficial for the students to focus on only one test. In order to accomplish this, we administer a complimentary SAT/ACT diagnostic test to help students determine which test is better suited to their abilities.

Upcoming test dates are:
October 10, 2015
November 14, 2015

*Our diagnostic test incorporates the new SAT which will be administered beginning in March 2016. Please call Donna for more details.

Please call (973) 425-1774 or email betty@foundationforlearning.com as space is limited

October 2015 Test Schedule

Mark your calendars! Here are the latest test dates.

NOTE about ISEE - Independent School Entrance Exam: For test locations and to learn more go to erblearn.org.

Your Child's Senior Year - Tips for Parents

For parents of high school seniors, this can be an exciting time. Your child has completed eleven years of school. You’ve watched her grow, develop, make friends, deal with the typical trials, tribulations, and angst that goes along with the elementary, middle, and high school years. She is now in her final year and a busy year it’s going to be. She’s looking ahead to college, a time to leave the nest, become independent, and discover life on her own. While it’s important not to hover during the college application process, it’s important that you offer your support and help. You need to let her know that you trust her and have confidence in her abilities, while at the same time be there to guide her and help to organize the maze that comes with college applications and admissions. It’s going to take team work to get through that maze!



So what can you do? What support can you offer? Here are some tips:

Start by buying a binder, insert subject dividers and begin recording all of the college information that comes your way. In one section, your child should keep personal information such as passwords, assigned website IDs and log-in information for the various colleges she is applying to. She should also keep a list of the colleges she is applying to along with application deadlines, including early-admission deadlines and any requirements needed for specific schools such as required high school classes, subject tests, etc. Another section should include a printed spreadsheet that you and your daughter create to keep track of where she is in the application process for each school, the application due date, and dates of scheduled visits. Much of this can also be done on the Common App website. A final section should include copies of college essays, resumes, bios, photos, and so forth.

Also, set up a new email address to be used expressly for college applications and contacts. Keep the name and address professional. Both parents and student should have access to this email account and password.

Hopefully, by the beginning of senior year, you’ve already started looking into different schools, browsed school websites, maybe even made some campus visits. If not, get on it now! Call college admissions offices to find out about tours, possible interview dates, class auditing, directions, and recommendations for accommodations during the visit. During and after the tour, you and your child should share impressions of the school. Discuss and write down the pros and cons of that particular school and file them in the College Binder. Family dinners are a great, relaxed time to have these open discussions.



Your child should start working on and submitting applications at the beginning of the school year and she should take advantage of early-admission decisions. You can help her by proofreading essays and applications, but know that these should be her own work. Do not take over and write or rewrite for her.

Other parents will start offering advice and direction to the point that you feel inundated. They mean well, but at a time when anxiety is already a bit higher than normal, it’s best to filter them out. There might be a good suggestion from someone who has already been through the process with their own child, but trust your own instincts. You know your child better than anyone else and you will be the better judge of which school will be a good fit.

This is an important time in your child’s life. It’s an initiation into adulthood and the real world. It’s also an important moment for you as a parent. Your place right now, is to become your child’s “safe place to land”. You need to be the calm, upbeat, supportive adult who keeps things safe as she faces the evaluation, judgment, and possible rejection of college admissions offices.



As the acceptance letters arrive, file them in the College Binder, then sit down with your child and make a pros and cons list. In the end though, the final decision should be up to your college-bound child. Forcing her to attend a school she doesn’t want to attend is likely to result in failure. Being a guide during the application process, will help her learn basic habits that will help her to be successful in the adult world and it is also a positive way to assist your child. By guiding rather than leading, you are allowing your college-bound child to feel trusted and supported.

At this point, trust that you’ve done a good job raising your child, allowing her to be responsible, independent, and to make smart, well thought out decisions. Once again though, put yourself in the position of being the “soft place to land” during times of stress and anxiety, good times and bad. You want her to know that you are a safe and willing resource for her during her college years and throughout her adult life. You are setting a tone and path for your future relationship, and that’s really important.



Some additional thoughts for you as the parent, preparing to launch your child:

Realize that this process isn’t about you. Parents are so attached and connected to their children, that they at times confuse the dividing line. This is your child’s path and being cognizant of that can allow you the space to remain calm and supportive when she is most unsure. During those most stressful moments, remind yourself that this isn’t about you. You’ll be more able to help if you just keep that in mind.

There will undoubtedly be anxiety as you’re thinking about sending your child off into the world. Though your worries are real, adding them to the already stressful pot isn’t going to help. Fears about rejection, finances, aging and other real world problems should be discussed with a trusted friend or family member. Realize too, that you’re probably feeling some grief about your child leaving, grief over an upcoming loss and a big change that is coming in your life. So recognize it for what it is, feel it, journal about it, be real about it and then move on. Pushing it away doesn’t help you and certainly won’t help your child.

Work with a team! You are not alone in the maze of college applications and admissions. Your child’s high school guidance counselor and staff at Foundation for Learning  are there to help.



Final thoughts:

You and your child are going to encounter a big year! Be there for your daughter as a guide, a resource and let her know through your own words and actions that you trust her to take the lead and make good decisions. Enjoy the adventure of preparing your child for this next phase of her life (and yours!) and enjoy the special events and activities that take place during her senior year of schooling. Even though it may be tinged with a bit of sadness, this is an exciting time for both of you. Enjoy and celebrate the moments!