There was a time when much of the popular media tended to depict high school and college athletes as less intelligent than their peers. Some old movies depicted them as empty-headed muscle-bound oafs. But how many of those old characterizations are actually true? As it turns out, not too many.
Last year the Los Angeles Unified School District commissioned a study to determine any correlation between high school athletics, student attendance and grades. The study examines a pool of 35,000 Los Angeles student athletes and compares them to their non-athlete peers. The differences are remarkable. Students athletes attended an average of 21 more days of school each year and maintained grades from .55 to .74 higher than than students not involved in athletics. These grades are based upon the district’s 4.0 scale, so the differences are significant.
While the LAUSD study cannot isolate specific causes for the correlation, there are a number of factors that certainly contribute. School sports involve a level of discipline and commitment that serve to create a ripple effect throughout the student’s other pursuits. A child who is willing to put in the extra effort in sports will likely do the same in their school work as well. And sports offer a tangible sense of accomplishment as well. Hard work and practice frequently translate into winning and rewards. A child who learns to link hard work with accomplishment and rewards will find themselves much better positioned to excel at virtually every area of their lives.
It’s important to note that the same discipline that propels a successful athlete will also be found in most successful students. So it may be equally true that a student with strong academic skills will perform better in sports. In this respect the study could be viewed in reverse: Great students have the skills and discipline necessary to succeed in sports as well. But regardless of the relationship, both academic and athletic pursuits bring different benefits to the student. Both pursuits will serve to mature your child and develop discipline.
With the approaching end of the school year, it’s important to keep your child academically sharp over the summer. We offer a number of ACT/SAT tutoring courses that are a great summer alternative. Our tutoring will help keep your child’s mind sharp over the summer, and prepare them for the ACT/SAT tests as well. Summer as a time to build confidence and increase chances for success. Students often lose a majority of what they learned during the school year while they enjoy carefree fun in the summer months. Tutoring helps them to retain information while learning new skills their classmates simply will not have!
Be sure to look for our booth at this year’s Ranchofest on the weekend of June 8th and 9th. We’ll be there with some great prizes and candy. We may even offer some tutoring, so be sure to look for our booth. There will be live music, lots of local performers, and a great variety of yummy food booths.
At Academic Learning Labs we work with families throughout Orange County to help their children develop the habits that serve to propel them to success both in their school work and athletic activities. We specialize in helping students reach their academic goals through math tutoring, science tutoring, and SAT/ACT Prep programs. Located in Rancho Santa Margarita, we’re dedicated to helping your child fulfill their potential and partnering with you to propel them to success. We have proven tutoring programs that will equip your child to excel from their earliest learning through high school and college as well. Please give us a call at 949-546-0800 for more information.
Your child’s academic success is extremely important. Most families understand that a good education can play a significant role in their children’s future earnings and stability. In 
One additional element that can provide significant help is with tutoring designed to help your child maximize their 
In the summer of 2012, the Capistrano Unified School District announced that classroom sizes will continue to be larger than allowed by state law. This move is one that has been repeated in school districts all across the country due to decreased funding as the economy continues to make a slow recovery. Saddleback Valley Unified faced the same trouble and was granted a waiver to allow some classes to exceed the state mandate. Amid the struggles, many parents are growing concerned about the quality of their child’s education. And perhaps chief among these concerned parents are those of exceptional children. No parent wants to face the frustration of having a child with exceptional capabilities, but limited options for growth.
Families once facing the frustration of their child’s unfulfilled potential will find our tutoring to be a key that unlocks the door to that potential. And since we create a personalized curriculum that will maximize your child’s learning, you’ll soon find your child’s attitude will improve. A brighter outlook will necessarily improve virtually all areas of their lives both on and off campus. And as a parent, you’ll have the satisfaction of watching your child grow in new ways. We’ll also work with your child to prepare them for 
Although estimates vary widely, some studies show that there are likely more than 100,000 children currently being homeschooled in California. That’s a startling number, and it continues to grow. The reasons for homeschooling vary from family to family, but there’s a common thread. The families all feel the needs of their children are best met with the parents as teacher. Some make this move to better integrate their values into the coursework, and many find frustration with the public school’s inability to meet the specific needs of their child. Regardless of the reason, this movement is growing and creates a new set of challenges for the families involved.
These examples are just a couple of the reasons why it can be greatly beneficial to incorporate a tutor into your homeschool plans. It can create a wonderfully complimentary dynamic for both the parents and children. At Academic Learning Labs we’re able to work with virtually any curriculum you may be using, and offer your child the exact type of experience you want from homeschooling. Our coursework is tailored to meet your child’s specific needs and goals. We can help maximize the benefit of your homeschooling experience by equipping your child to better work within the unique framework of a homeschool environment. And since we work at your specific direction, you can rest assured that we are part of your team working toward the same goals, without injecting any different worldview or agenda contrary to yours. We want to see your child excel in their learning and expand their ability to learn. Please call us at 949-546-0800 for more information on how our family of tutors can help your family better educate your child.
We regularly come into contact with families frustrated over their child’s academic progress. And while many people assume that we gear our tutoring specifically toward students with poor grades, that’s actually not the case. Many families have children who are functioning well below their obvious skills, and they come to us seeking help. These children often have grades well above normal, but it’s still frustrating for their families if they have even greater potential. These children represent an even greater challenge, since they could easily continue at their current pace.
We’re sometimes asked when is the best time to start tutoring with a child. If you’ve read our past blogs, you’re likely aware that we have tutoring programs available for virtually all ages from preschoolers through high school. But for today’s blog, we’re going to highlight the value of tutoring your middle schooler.
Middle school is a very important time for your child academically for a number of reasons. If you work to help your child excel across all their academics in middle school, you will position them to arrive in high school with momentum that can help carry them successfully through their high school years. And their performance in high school will have a significant impact on the choices available to them as they reach 
It’s a bit different with each family, but getting your child to complete their 
Our tutoring is extremely flexible, and we’re mindful of your busy schedule. We offer our tutoring at convenient times including evenings and weekends. We offer exclusively one-on-one tutoring, and we create an encouraging environment designed to help them overcome their struggles while mastering their schoolwork. We’ll step in and work with you on their specific 
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At Academic Learning Labs, we have tutoring programs with flexibility to meet the needs of your child. We’ve helped students throughout Orange County improve their test scores and better compete for 
But we’re increasingly seeing people approach us with the desire to equip their young children for the academic rigors ahead. It’s a good idea. There’s no better feeling as a parent than finding a way to give your child an advantage in life. With our early learning tutoring, we can help children get excited about the learning process before their formal education even begins. We’ve developed a course of tutoring for young learners that feels like fun and games to them, but actually sparks their learning and comprehension. The result is truly amazing.
Read more about our Pre-K tutoring on 
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But tutoring is also vital for children on the other end of the spectrum. Many children display superior talents in areas that quickly propel them to levels that are beyond the scope of a typical classroom and may quickly exceed their parents’ abilities. These children can benefit greatly from targeted tutoring that will feed their talents and equip them to excel. They are no longer bound by the limitations of a classroom setting that is incapable of meeting their specific needs. We will provide tutoring that unleashes your child’s abilities giving them the challenge and satisfaction they are unable to find in school.