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Looking Forward: Preparing for Senior Year
July 23, 2020
Executive Functioning and Remote Learning
September 17, 2020

Looking Forward: Preparing for Seventh Grade

seventh grade tutoring

Over the past sixteen years, we’ve learned through our one-to-one work with students that setting up a solid foundation in seventh grade leads to big gains in eighth grade and high school. Preparing for seventh grade now will help your child get the most out of this pivotal year!

Essential Academic Skills

The most important thing seventh graders can do is build critical math and reading skills. Solidifying these skills will enable them to stretch themselves as learners, earn good grades, work independently, and perform well on high stakes tests.

Math

Basics. Basics. Basics. You might assume that seventh graders can rattle off their times tables, find their way around a word problem, and recognize an answer that’s way off base. But that’s not the case for all students. Even those doing very well in math class often need to brush up on their foundational skills when preparing for seventh grade.

Confidence is key when it comes to math. Students who know their basics will be able to extend their math learning. This comfort will also help them learn from their mistakes and see the fun in “exploring” math. They’ll then be ready for advanced math classes by the time they start eighth or ninth grade.

Reading

You know what makes a good reader? Reading. Every day. Students who are “at home” with a variety of genres will have an easier time in all of their classes and on standardized tests. When preparing for seventh grade, it’s important to expose your child to short stories, novels, newspapers, and poetry. Reading short nonfiction passages is especially important since students don’t spend as much time learning how to glean information from them. Articles like those found on the Smithsonian Tween Tribune website will help students get the hang of that specific format.

To manage a higher volume of reading assignments, students must be able to read fluently, which means quickly, smoothly, and accurately. Good fluency helps with more than just timing; it also boosts comprehension. Again, daily reading will help with fluency, and high interest material is especially effective here. We’ve had great success with graphic novels!

Speaking of comprehension, it’s also not uncommon for children at this age to struggle with the questions that require them to make inferences, or read between the lines. Talking and writing about what they’ve read enables them to engage more deeply with a text. Bonus: all of this reading will build their vocabulary, another area of weakness we see all the time!

High School Entrance

A few notes if your child will take high school entrance tests. Building their math and reading skills will support them at many points. Calculators are not allowed on most admissions tests. Students must trust their mental math and solve more complex problems by hand. In addition, the timing on admissions tests is tight. It’s not surprising that students who have never had trouble finishing a math or reading test run out of time on these. In order to answer the questions more quickly, students need to be fluent.

High school admissions gets more competitive every year, and we see that take a toll on both parents and children—yes, even in seventh grade! It’s important to recognize and validate the anxiety before taking steps to reduce it. In our work with students, we talk through what they can and can’t control in situations that cause them anxiety. For the aspects they can control, we teach and practice strategies that give them ownership. Letting go of what they cannot change is often just as impactful as taking charge of what they can.

Preparing for seventh grade will solidify skills, build confidence, and reduce stress. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about how 1:1 tutoring can keep your child on track!

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  • Summer Learning
  • Executive Functioning
  • Learning, Mindset, and Confidence
  • Test Prep
  • Applying to College
  • Math
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      Kimberly Pilot

      Tutoring Director

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      312-260-7945 x106

      kpilot@nurturingwisdom.com

      Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.

      My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.

      I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.

      On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.

      Sarah Tracy

      Tutoring Director

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      312-260-7945 x104

      stracy@nurturingwisdom.com

      Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!

      A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!

      I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.

      On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.

      Shannon Crassweller

      Interviewer

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      scrassweller@nurturingwisdom.com

      Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!

      My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.

      My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.

      On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

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