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SCORE!'s Tips for Back to School Success

Chicago, August 2, 2006 -- It's that time of year again when backpacks replace beach bags, homework litters the kitchen table and the nearest corner has resumed its bus stop status. The new school year bears the excitement of a fresh beginning, but it can also activate new feelings of anxiety. Entering a new grade, with a new teacher, in a new classroom with new kids doesn't exactly outshine three months of fun in the sun. SCORE! Education Centers can help. The following tips from SCORE! will help boost your child's confidence and will add to his/her success in the classroom. Tip #1: Establish a Daily Routine: Determine a consistent bedtime and wake-up time for your child. Get into a routine at least two weeks before school starts. Experts say school-aged children need at least nine hours of sleep each night. Also, make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast, even if it means setting the alarm 15 minutes earlier. Finally, prevent stressful mornings by picking out clothes, packing backpacks and preparing lunches the night before. Tip #2: Communicate with your Child and Teacher: Before the school year starts, introduce yourself to your child's teacher and find the best way to keep in touch. Stay involved in your child's academic life throughout the year—not just at report card or parent-teacher conference time. Ask what he did today, how she likes her classes and what assignments he has for homework. Tip #3: Create a Homework Schedule: Begin by giving your child an assignment notebook. Look at it together to see what he/she needs to do each day. When students map out his/her study schedule (6:00 to 7:00 p.m. French; 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.: Vocabulary cards), they also learn to organize workloads, budget time and figure out by trial and error how long various assignments take. Do not just schedule studying activities, include leisure activities. By inserting an 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Watch T.V. or Computer on the chart, your child will not only be given a break but also an incentive. Tip #4: Promote Learning Outside of School: Encourage education in everyday activities. Take field trips to museums, read together, or use the grocery checkout counter to practice math. Create a studious home environment when your child is doing homework by doing your own homework (paying bills, reading, etc.). Most importantly, take interest in your child's learning and offer encouragement and support. Tip #5: Start Preparing for Standardized Tests: As required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, all public school students in grades 3-8 must take annual standardized assessments in reading and math to measure academic progress. Some states also require students to take assessments in writing, science and social studies. These tests can create a lot of pressure and anxiety for both you and your child. Students' success on these tests depends on academic performance throughout the year, so it is important to make sure your child is doing well in school and is not falling behind. If your child is struggling with a particular subject or is not being challenged and you aren't able to help, a tutor can be a good solution. Tutoring provides children the chance to raise questions in a more intimate environment — to catch up, keep up and to get ahead in school. About SCORE! SCORE! Educational Centers, Inc. is a division of Kaplan, a leading provider of after-school learning programs for children in grades pre-K through 10. With the goal of helping children reach their academic potential in math, reading, spelling and writing, SCORE!'s program includes personal coaching, positive reinforcement and a customized curriculum that adapts to each child's pace and learning needs. SCORE! serves 82,000 students annually in 165 centers located in 11 states across the country. Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). For further information, please visit www.escore.com or call 1-800-49-SCORE.