PTAs can earn grants from Sylvan Learning

Help Local Asheville PTAs Receive a $1,000 Grant from Sylvan Learning

Asheville, NC (Grassroots Newswire) — As a proud supporter of National PTA, Sylvan Learning of Asheville is encouraging all parents to commit to be the best Chief Education Officers (CEO) they can be this school year by taking the Sylvan Learning CEO Pledge on Facebook (Facebook.com/SylvanLearning). Sylvan Learning of Asheville and PTA
are both committed to encouraging parents to play an active role in their
child’s education and inspiring them to take on the coveted role of CEO
this year is the first step. The pledge also helps parents support their
local PTA. The five PTAs with the most CEO pledges by Oct. 24 will
receive a $1,000 grant from Sylvan Learning for 2014-2015 school-year
initiatives.

“We not only want to encourage parents to take the CEO pledge but also
grandparents, aunts, uncles and members of the local community as they all
play a role in a child’s education,” said Janet Crocker, owner, Sylvan
Learning located in Asheville. “By committing to be the best CEOs they
can be, these individuals can come together to ignite a lifestyle of
learning and set kids up for academic success now and in the future.”

Sylvan Learning of Asheville offers the following ways Chief Education
Officers can help their children succeed academically:

* Establish a line of communication with teachers. Parents should interact
with teachers early and often throughout the school year. They should ask
teachers how they’d like to be communicated with and when the best times
are to call, email, text or meet in person. Often times, parents wait
until a problem arises to reach out but that problem can often be nipped
in the bud long before it becomes a crisis by keeping the lines of
communication open.

* Talk to kids often about academics. Whether in the car on the way to
soccer practice or at the dinner table, parents should ask their children
daily what they learned at school. If a child is reluctant to talk about a
subject or test, this may indicate extra help is needed.

* Know where children stand academically. A child’s grades shouldn’t be a
surprise when his or her report card arrives. If the classroom teacher
doesn’t provide a syllabus at the beginning of the year that lists out
grading policies, parents can approach the teacher to get a handle on
expectations. Progress reports and report cards can be great benchmarks
but CEOs shouldn’t hesitate to have check-ins with teachers in between.

* Track progress. CEOs should keep samples of schoolwork throughout each
grade and from year to year. This is a great way to see just how far a
student has progressed from the first day of school to the last and from
one grade to the next.

* Set a good example. Kids are very observant and they pick up on their
parents’ attitudes and behaviors. It’s important to have a positive
attitude and regularly acknowledge the importance of education. Parents
can show their child that learning can be a life-long activity by taking a
class on an interesting subject or making a point to read one book per
month.

* Check homework daily. It’s important to let kids take the lead on
completing homework assignments but parents can help by reviewing the
completed work. If kids need help, parents should try to provide guidance,
not answers.

* Help kids develop strong study skills. Mastering effective study skills
can be the “secret behind the A,” turning good students into great
students. From time management and organization to researching and writing
effectively, these important skills and strategies give students a
consistent process to succeed with every academic challenge.

* Get involved in your local PTA. There’s no better way for parents to
know what’s happening at their child’s school than joining the PTA. Local
units offer a variety of programs and benefits for parents and students.
In addition, PTA functions are a chance to meet other parents and
teachers, building a rapport and sharing ideas, concerns and experiences.

To help set kids up for academic success, Sylvan Learning is also offering
special benefits to PTA members including 50 percent off a Sylvan Insight
Assessment, which identifies a child’s academic strengths and weaknesses
as well as his or her attitudes about school and learning. The assessment
is designed to help families and educators determine the necessary support
a child needs to excel. In addition to the discount, for every student who
takes an assessment, Sylvan will donate $10 to the student’s local PTA.

Sylvan Learning is proud to support National PTA as an official PTA Member
Benefits Provider. To learn more, visit Sylvan4PTA.com.

For additional information on the Sylvan CEO Pledge on Facebook and Sylvan
Learning, please contact Janet Crocker of Sylvan Learning located in
Asheville at (828) 253-2312, sylvanashevillenc@juno.com, or
tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/centers/28801, visit SylvanLearning.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Sylvan Learning
With more than 30 years of experience and more than 800 locations
throughout North America, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of
personal learning for students in grades K–12. As the leader in
supplemental education, Sylvan is transforming how students learn,
inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring
approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad®
for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan programs include study skills,
math, reading, writing and test prep for college entrance and state exams.
Sylvan also provides educational services to public and nonpublic schools.
The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Baltimore,
Maryland. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS, or visit
SylvanLearning.com or the Sylvan Source blog.