AP Exams are Right Around the Corner

In the first two weeks of May, high school students all over the country will sit for their AP Exams. Many students benefit from a comprehensive review of material and test-taking strategy prior to the test itself. Below is the schedule for this Spring's AP Exams. Click the links to the right to see available tutors who can help students prepare for these tests or search using location and subject at Tutorpedia.com! During March, sign up for small group review sessions of 2-3 students and receive 10% off group rates!

AP Exam Schedule 2013

Date	Tests Offered (AM & PM)	Tutors Available
Monday, May 6	Chemistry (AM) Environmental Science (AM) Psychology (PM)	Chemistry Tutors Environmental Science Tutors Psychology Tutors
Tuesday, May 7	Computer Science A (AM) Spanish Language (AM) Art History (PM)	Computer Science Tutors Spanish Tutors Art History Tutors
Wednesday, May 8	Calculus AB (AM) Calculus BC (AM) Chinese Language and Culture (PM)	Calculus Tutors Chinese Tutors
Thursday, May 9	English Literature and Composition (AM) Japanese Language and Culture (PM) Latin (PM)	English Tutors Japanese Tutors  Latin Tutors
Friday, May 10	English Language and Composition (AM) Statistics (PM)	English Tutors Statistics Tutors
Monday, May 13	Biology (AM) Music Theory (AM) Physics B, C (PM)	Biology Tutors Music Theory Tutors Physics Tutors
Tuesday, May 14	United States Government and Politics (AM) Comparative Government and Politics (PM) French Language and Culture (PM)	US Government Tutors French Tutors
Wednesday, May 15	German Language and Culture (AM) United States History (AM) European History (PM)	German Tutors US History Tutors European History Tutors
Thursday, May 16	Macroeconomics (AM) World History (AM) Italian Language and Culture (PM) Microeconomics (PM)	Economics Tutors World History Tutors Italian Tutors
Friday, May 17	Human Geography (AM) Spanish Literature and Culture (AM)	Geography Tutors Spanish Tutors

Education By Design - Raffle and Auction Prizes

We hope to see you this Thursday evening at the Autodesk Gallery for Education By Design!

Each attendee will receive one raffle ticket upon entry. Additional raffle tickets will be sold for $10 each. You can decide which of the 3 areas you’d like to “invest” your chances!

Raffle Items:

• iPad mini
• Giants Tickets - 4 field-level seats vs. the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, July 28th

• Dinner for 2!

• Gary Danko (San Francisco) gift certificate
• Chez Panisse (Berkeley) gift certificate
• Goat Hill Pizza gift certificate

We have some great auction items available this year as well. Please note that ghost bidding is available. For more information please contact diaris[at]tutorpediafoundation.org.

Auction Items:

Item	Description
Fly an L-39 Albatros Fighter Jet Value: $6000 Starting Bid: $1000 Minimum Increment: $250	Fly a fighter jet without joining the military! Your flying adventure will be in a L-39 Russian fighter jet. Unleash your inner “Maverick” as you get formally briefed, dressed like a fighter pilot, then strapped into the cockpit of this legendary trainer! Begin your journey out of Bud Field Aviation in Hayward and tour the area in speeds up to 400 knots! Expect loops, rolls, and fast climbs. As a bonus, you’ll visit the acclaimed Patriots Jet Team hangar before heading back to the bay to postbrief on your flight. Restrictions: No known medical or heart condition that G-forces aggravate; 5’4”/140# min - 6’5”/250# max.
Las Vegas Trip Value: $2500 Starting Bid: $1000 Minimum Increment: $100	An all-inclusive weekend for 2 at the beautiful, Wynn Las Vegas. Enjoy choice tables at one of Wynn's award-winning restaurants and premier tickets to see the dazzling LeRêve —The Dream. Bluebelle Concierge will plan the ultimate Wynn experience--including complimentary upgrades, extra amenities and special surprises.
Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Value: $1200 Starting Bid: $600 Minimum Increment: $50	The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay provides a magnificent backdrop for the perfect mini vacation. Situated along the Northern California coast, you can roast marshmallows and make s’mores in your own terrace fire pit or relax on the bluff after a rejuvenating spa treatment or day of golfing. The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay offers a stunning destination for your next luxury getaway. Gift certificate good to use on-site.
A’s Luxury Suite Value: $1650 Starting Bid: $500 Minimum Increment: $100	Enjoy an A’s home game in a private suite. This 18-seat luxury suite offer comes with 3 VIP parking passes. Food is not included and must be a mutually agreed upon date. SF Giants and New York Yankees is not available.
LA Lakers and Dinner at Roy's Value: $600 Starting Bid: $300 Minimum Increment: $50	2 tickets good for a LA Lakers’ preseason game where you will sit near the players at your second row seats. Start or end your evening by enjoying dinner for two at the famed Roy’s Hawaiian fusion restaurant, a short walk from the Staples Center.
Warriors Tickets Value: $360 Starting Bid: $175 Minimum Increment: $25	Sit in premium 5th row seats as you support our local Golden State warriors as they take on the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 7:30 PM. One parking pass included.
Mendocino Cabin Value: $300 Starting Bid: $150 Minimum Increment: $25	Two-night getaway at the Andiron Inn in Mendocino.
Wine Tasting in Napa Value: $200 Starting Bid: $100 Minimum Increment: $25	A trip for 2 to the Mondavi, Frog’s Leap, and Round Pond wineries in Napa, CA. Exact Dates TBD.
Matchbook Wine Value: $170 Starting Bid: $75 Minimum Increment: $25	Bring home a case of today's featured wines! Case includes four bottles of each featured wine -- Chardonnay, Syrah, and Tinto Rey - Tempranillo blend.
Private in-home wine tasting Value: $149 Starting Bid: $50 Minimum Increment: $25	The certificate is good for an in-home wine tasting for up to 12 of your family and friends.  A wine consultant will bring 6 bottles of wine of your choice to your home and present them. Most of PRP’s wines are all natural -- they  do not add man made sulfites, fillers, preservatives, or sugars.

3 Trends to Watch in Education

There’s been a lot of press about education technology lately.  Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy, who wants to provide a free world-class education to anyone anywhere, was on the cover of Forbes.  The front page of the San Francisco Chronicle told the story of Jerry Brown providing funding for online classes at California’s public colleges and universities.  What’s all the buzz about?  Here, very briefly, is an introduction to three trends we think will be important to the future of education.

1. MOOCs. Otherwise known as Massive Open Online Courseware, MOOCs made the front page of the Education section in the New York Times recently.  MOOCs aim to provide access to higher education for free or at very low cost, through online platforms.  For-profit and nonprofit ventures have raised millions of dollars from venture capitalists and philanthropists to fund the likes of Coursera, Udacity, and EdX.  The Chronicle reports that Jerry Brown will provide funding at a statewide level for similar initiatives in San Jose and the California University school system.
2. Gamification. The art of using games to teach students is not a new idea, but the implementation of it is.  Jane McGonigal is a gamer, and author of, “Reality is Broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world.”  According to McGonigal, the brain is stimulated by gaming in important areas, which include the hippocampus, which controls memory, the thalamus, which controls addiction, and hypothalamus, which controls resiliency. 
3. Blended Learning. Perhaps the most talked about trend in education, blended learning is a hybrid of online and in-person instruction.  Sal Khan has produced over 4,000 short educational videos that have been watched 250 million times by students and teachers alike.  His idea of the “flipped classroom,” is that students watch the lecture at home, then come to class where teachers act more as tutors and mentors, helping 1-1 and in small groups, while other students go at their own pace.  Khan Academy is being used by over 20,000 schools in the US, including Los Altos School District, East Side Prep in East Palo Alto, and Summit Prep in San Jose. 

To continue the discussion about blended learning, tell us about your experiences with these ideas on in the comments or let us know what questions you have via Facebook and Twitter. You can also continue the conversation for joining us on February 28th at Education By Design at Autodesk Gallery. 

Use Your PSAT Results to Jumpstart SAT Prep!

If your child took the PSAT in October, you probably recently received your PSAT results. Now, with the SAT ahead of you, you may be wondering how to use those PSAT results to prepare your child as thoroughly as possible for the upcoming SAT. 

According to the College Board, in 2012, the average score for eleventh graders was about 48 in Critical Reading, 48 in Mathematics, and 46 in Writing Skills. The average score for tenth graders was about 43 in Critical Reading, 43 in Mathematics, and 41 in Writing Skills. While the PSAT score is a helpful indicator of a student's performance, it is not a 100% accurate predictor for how the student will do on the SAT. There is always room for improvement! Check out the presentation below to learn how to use your PSAT results to drive focused, effective SAT prep.

For more information on test preparation from Tutorpedia tutors, please contact us or visit www.tutorpedia.com

3 Reasons Teachers and Tutors Should Work Together

A few words of wisdom from Tutorpedia Founder and former teacher, Seth Linden

I left teaching and became a professional tutor because as a tutor I could work one-on-one with students, develop personal relationships with them, figure out how they learn best, and tailor my teaching to their learning style. In my work as a tutor, I always try to build relationships with the teachers who spend time everyday with my students in the classroom. Here are 3 common goals that can teacher-tutor connections can help support:

1. Increased Class Participation - Students who meet regularly with tutors become more confident and motivated to succeed in the subject(s) being tutored. Because tutoring occurs away from peers and teachers, students often feel more comfortable asking questions and attempting hard problems when working with a tutor. If a teacher knows that a student is working on building their skills with a tutor, they can support the student in practicing in the classroom. As an added bonus, confident, motivated students are more likely to answer questions in class, volunteer to lead discussions, and make the teacher’s job easier. 
2. Improved Homework and Test Scores - Students usually begin tutoring sessions by reviewing their homework and studying for tests. Often, students struggle with the material because they don't understand what the teacher is looking for on a given assignment or test. Tutors can communicate with teachers about a student's specific needs, and how to complete future assignments to improve both comprehension and scores. Teachers can provide invaluable information that will maximize the effectiveness of tutoring.
3. Improved Communication - Teachers know student strengths and challenges in school, but parents know their children’s true complexities, including how they learn best. Because tutors often work with students at home, they get an “inside peek” at a student’s study skills, how they approach an assignment, and what their working environment is at home. Combining this information with how the student behaves in school paints a much more complete picture of the student’s learning habits. This improved communication between tutors, parents, and teachers helps greatly in identifying and teaching to the unique needs of each student.

Meet the Tutorpedia Tutors!

Our tutors take pride in the work they do, and their enthusiasm helps to instill an intrinsic love of learning in their students. The greatest measure of Tutorpedia’s success is that our students themselves are successful. After working with our tutors, over 90% of our students improve by at least one letter grade or increase their standardized test scores by 10-15%. More qualitatively, our students consistently report greater confidence and motivation, better attendance and participation in school, and improved study skills and organizational strategies.

We've compiled some biographies of our most in-demand tutors below. If you're interested in getting started with one of these exceptional educators, please be in touch with Emma Bundy, Director of Tutoring at emma@tutorpedia.com or (415) 948-1585. Please note that this is only a small sample of the great tutors we have on staff. You can browse all tutor profiles by subject and location on our website at www.tutorpedia.com.

Returning Tutors:

John N.

John grew up in Atlanta, GA and moved to the Bay Area to attend Stanford, where he received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. He joined Tutorpedia in 2008 and quickly became one of our most popular tutors. Previously, John served as the Program Chair of Stanford Society of Black Engineers and taught financial literacy for youth. John currently tutors students one-on-one, teaches our popular SAT workshop, and manages programs in San Jose, Redwood City, and East Palo Alto for disadvantaged students. Schedule a session with John!

Marielle W.
Marielle graduated from Harvey Mudd College in May of 2008 with a B.S. in Mathematics. She is currently studying at Santa Clara University  pursuing an MBA. Besides math and science,  Marielle enjoys sports, art, and reading!  Marielle has been tutoring since high school and has been working with Tutorpedia students since 2009. Marielle tutors students in all levels of math, science, and test prep. She also has taught HSPT workshops with Tutorpedia. Schedule a session with Marielle!

Bayley M.
Bayley received her B.A. in Spanish and Portuguese from Stanford University in 2007, where she later returned to complete a Masters in International Comparative Education at the School of Education. She also graduated from the Teacher Credential Program at Santa Fe Community College. Bayley was a teacher in rural New Mexico for three years and worked as a special educator for two years. She has taught classes in social studies, mathematics, and language arts. In her free time she enjoys running, cycling, swimming, and generally anything outdoors. Schedule a session with Bayley!


Sarah K. 

Sarah received her M.A. in Education from Stanford in 2009 and her B.A. in Mathematics from UC Davis in 2006. Sarah is passionate about math and loves getting others passionate about it too! Sarah currently teaches Algebra 2 and Math Analysis at Lynbrook High School. Sarah has been tutoring with Tutorpedia since 2006. Schedule a session with Sarah!

Scott H.

Scott recently retired from a 30 year career in Chemical Engineering. His life experience has provided him with many real life stories showing how math and science are relevant and useful (besides revealing the awe and majesty of the universe). Scott currently tutors students one-on-one in math and science. Schedule a session with Scott!

Stephanie C.

Stephanie received her B.S. from Harvey Mudd College in 2003 and recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. Stephanie loves math and science and understanding how the world around us works. Besides tutoring and learning something new everyday, she also enjoys swimming, watching TV, reading, cooking and baking, and eating good food. Stephanie tutors students in all levels of math, science and SAT prep. Schedule a session with Stephanie.

Aaron K.
Aaron graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Cal Poly Pomona and joined Tutorpedia in 2011. He has three years of professional tutoring experience and loves making a difference for students. While academics are key, Aaron's approach also incorporates work habits and performance coaching to produce results. There is more than one way to move a mountain. When he's not tutoring you can find Aaron gardening, hiking, and making and racing go karts. Aaron specializes in SAT tutoring and has a proven record of helping students measurably improve their scores. Schedule a session with Aaron! 

Toby G. 

Toby is an east coast transplant who fell in love with California and all the natural beauty it has to offer. She received her M.A. in Ecology from UC Santa Barbara in 2004 and her B.S. in Biology from Stanford University.  You can usually find her out on a trail with a pair of binoculars. Toby loves learning, and has an eclectic educational background that definitely helps with tutoring. Toby's specialties are Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Math, Science, Spanish and SAT prep, but she's happy to explore other topics. Toby has been tutoring with Tutorpedia since 2006. Schedule a session with Toby!

New Tutors:

Will S. 
Will graduated from Harvard University in 2009 with a degree in Biology.  He has been tutoring since 2006, and has helped dozens of students reach their academic goals.
 He loves learning about and teaching science, and he especially loves working with high school students. He has also worked as a research assistant in a plant genetics laboratory, and currently works for a small solar energy company. In the summers, he works for Seeds of Peace and Seas of Peace, which are conflict resolution and leadership programs for teenagers from conflict regions around the world. In his spare time, he loves to play music, rock climb, sail, and enjoy the Bay Area. Schedule a session with Will!

Malaika C. 

Malaika received her MSJ from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and her BA from Pomona College, where she majored in History. Malaika has been a professional writer and editor for the past ten years. She is currently teaching journalism at the Academy of Art and working as a writing coach and teacher. Her teaching experience also includes teaching English in Japan and SAT prep. Schedule a session with Malaika!

Elizabeth D.

While pursuing her degree in Biology at Stanford, Elizabeth worked as a peer writing tutor for the Stanford Writing Center. In this role, she talked with students about papers and essays of all types, and worked on topics from formulating a thesis to achieving the desired tone. For the past two years, Elizabeth lived in Germany and worked as a researcher in a university hospital lab. In high school she spent time tutoring after-school at an elementary school in East Palo Alto. Elizabeth is calm, supportive, patient, and interested in the ways different people learn. Elizabeth works with students on all high school science subjects. Schedule a session with Elizabeth! 

Charles P.

Charles graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Economics in 2010. Charles loves working with students and empowering them to find their own innate desire and capacity for learning. Over four years of tutoring Charles has worked with students of various ages, disabilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and academic goals. If your child is anywhere from completely lost to wanting to get that B+ up to an A- (or better!), he is here to help. Charles loves capoeira and teaches a few kids classes a week. He also practices yoga, plays music, gardens, and cooks. Schedule a session with Charles!

New Video: For the Love of Education

Many of you were kind enough to attend or support the Tutorpedia Foundation February fundraiser: For the Love of Education.  For those of you who couldn't make it -- or those of you who want to re-live the conversation -- we're excited to share a few highlights from our panel discussion.  Check out the video here to listen to renowned education experts Alan Lowenthal, Linda Darling-Hammond, Ninive Calegari, and Kyle Beckham share their views on why it is essential that we find a way to personalize education for every student. Check out the video below:

Thanks again for your continued support of our work at the Tutorpedia Foundation.  Your generosity and spirit help us further our mission of building a class of one for every student and expanding educational equity among our community of learners.  If you are interested in being further engaged with our work, please email us at info@tutorpediafoundation.org.  We love to hear from you!

Tutorpedia Spring & Summer Workshops

In addition to providing tutoring in all academic subjects, Tutorpedia's highly qualified instructors also teach small group workshops on a variety of subjects. This Spring and Summer, we're fortunate to partner with a number of schools and organizations to offer workshops to middle and high school students around the Bay Area. Below are workshop descriptions and dates for upcoming workshops. If you'd like more information, please be in touch with us by calling 415-948-1585 or emailing info@tutorpedia.com.

Spring Workshops at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

High School Prep & Study Skills

Dates: Sunday April 15-Sunday May 20, 9:30-12:30 (6 times on Sundays)

Sign up!

For middle schoolers who strive for admission to competitive high schools, the application can improve or diminish their chances of success. Teens are provided with mock high school admissions applications and general study skills to position them for success in high school and beyond.

SAT Prep

Dates: Saturday April 14-Saturday May 19, 9:30-12:30 (6 times on Saturdays)

Sign up!

For those seeking admission to competitive colleges, SAT performance can improve or diminish their chances of success. Teens are provided with high-quality SAT preparation and general study skills to position them for success in taking SATs. They learn how to become more desirable candidates for admission to the school(s) of their choice plus study skills to help them succeed throughout high school, college and beyond.

Summer Workshops at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton

Conquer the SAT!

Dates: July 23 – August 3, 1:00-3:00

Sign up!

For those seeking admission to competitive colleges, SAT performance can improve or diminish their chances of success. Teens are provided with high-quality SAT preparation and general study skills to position them for success in taking SATs. They learn how to become more desirable candidates for admission to the school(s) of their choice plus study skills to help them succeed throughout high school, college and beyond.

College Essay Writing

Dates: July 23 – August 3, 1:00-3:00

Sign Up!

Does the thought of writing an essay give you anxiety? It doesn't have to; mastering this essential academic skill is easier and more fun than you think. If you're looking to get a head start on your personal statements and college essays, or would just like to refine your techniques to master the 10 page essay in no time, this workshop is for you. In this workshop, you will get a chance to work through the formats and conventions of several different types of essays from expository to epistolary, as well as develop your skills using persuasive evidence and literary interpretation. You'll also master the nuts and bolts of the five-paragraph format, which will help you craft strong essays under pressure on the SAT or on your college applications. This course examines a diverse sampling or writing styles and examples in order to enable students to see all the fun they've been missing out on in their previous essay-writing. Students will also have the opportunity to share and critique one another's work in a safe, friendly environment.

Summer Workshops at Fei Tian Academy in San Francisco

Math Support

Session 1: July 2-13 - Algebra Support, 9:30-11:30

Session 2: July 16-27 - Geometry Support, 9:30-11:30

Sign up!

This workshop is designed to provide students with a boost in their math abilities. We customize each workshop to the students with whom we will be working. The class will focus on skill building around Algebra and Geometry at the appropriate grade/ability level.

Creative Writing

Session 1: July 2-13 (5th-8th grade), 12:30-2:30

Session 2: July 16-27 (9th-12th grade), 12:30-2:30

Sign up!

Love to write? Like it, but not digging how it's set up in school? We take writing and make it fun! Whether you have been writing since you were a baby, or just started yesterday, we take a creative approach that helps you look at writing from different angles.

This workshop will focus on essential elements of writing. It includes many non-traditional ways to view writing and a healthy dash of peer review in a safe environment.

When you enjoy the way you write, what you HAVE to write becomes more fun! We show you how to put the fun back into writing. This workshop is designed to accomplish the course objectives and goals through experiential-style writing, which includes the use of nature, prompts, colors, music, and other forms of creativity.