SAT* Score Reporting, FAQ, Essay Workshops, & EIL 1 is HERE!

Beginning with the March 2009 administration of the SAT, the College Board has implemented a new policy that should make a lot of people very happy. According to the website, the new policy “will give students the option to choose the SAT scores by sitting (test date) and SAT Subject Test scores by individual test that they send to colleges, at no additional cost.”

This means that if your student takes several practice runs at the SAT and does well in only two of them, you can choose to send only those two scores to colleges, rather than having all scores automatically sent as they are now. Now there’s no reason not to practice!

From the FAQ mailbag-

A reader recently wrote to ask, “There are so many practice tests available now, should they take the actual test as a practice?”

“I would have him prepare using the practice tests from the ‘Official Guide to the SAT,’ as they are actual tests created by the maker of the real thing. The test-taking tips in that guide are not very useful, so you’d also need the Princeton Review guide, my audio workshop/worktext , or other resources to help with the preliminary study and test-taking strategies.

In addition, although the tests in the official guide are good practice, I believe it helps to have at least one real practice test. Nothing can replicate the actual sweaty palmed, heart-pounding anxiety of the real thing, and that’s where he’ll really find out if there are major sticking points.”

Announcements

Heart for Home School Ministries, Inc. presents the 6th Annual Winter Conference “Home School Harvest: Sowing and Reaping” on January 23-24, 2009; 6:00-9:00 pm Friday, 8:00am-2:30pm Saturday; at 2405 Wait Ave., Wake Forest, NC 27587.

You can see more information about speakers and workshops at www.heartforhomeschool.org. I’ll be speaking on:

  • “Making Time for Things That Matter”
  • Homeschooling Through High School”
  • “Get a Jump Start on College”
  • “Decoding the Classics: How to Read, Enjoy, and Teach Great Literature.”

I hope to see you there!

Beat the Clock Essay Workshops scheduled for February!

2/14- Winchester (area), VA- Contact Cindy Leahy at Cottage Classical School

2/19- Richmond, VA- Contact HEAV at 804-278-9200 or info@heav.org.

2/20- Gainesville, VA- Contact Judy Trudeau

And for those of you who have been waiting for the Excellence in Literature Level One– Introduction to Literature to arrive in paperback, the wait is over. It’s here (FedEx just dropped off the shipment), and I haven’t yet looked at it. I’ll be posting it on the website this afternoon, and you may order it later today (finally!).

3 Responses

  1. Lynn Rolston says:

    We are users of IEW material and I am very excited about the release of your literature materials. Andrew Pudewa suggested prerequisites include: Teaching the Classics, The Elegant Essay, and Windows to the World: Introduction to Literary Analysis. This course may be taken concurrently with Teaching the Classics–Worldview Supplement.
    Is this necessary?

    Thrilled the books are available in e-form as we live in NZ and this makes things so easy – thanks.

    • I’m so glad you’re looking forward to EIL. I love introducing people to some of the most amazing literature in the world! And I’m glad you like e-books–I was thinking specifically of my far-away readers in creating those, but nearby ones are enjoying them too.

      As for prerequisites, it all depends on what you’ve done before and whether you student is a confident reader and writer. The Elegant Essay is a wonderful, focused look at each individual element of the essay, and how the elements are put together, so if your student hasn’t done many essays, I think it would be useful.

      Have your students done much literary analysis? If they aren’t yet comfortable with the idea of themes and literary periods and analytical vocabulary, Teaching the Classics is a very clear and streamlined introduction. Adam Andrews teaches engagingly, illustrating the principles through short stories. The course is short enough that it can be done concurrently, or even picked up later if you decide you need it after you’ve begun.

      As for Windows, it’s well-crafted and uses short stories to teach analysis. I’d probably use it in 7th grade, then follow with the five levels of EIL. If your student is farther along in his/her studies, you may not have time for it, but the other materials will cover what you need to know.

      I hope that’s helpful!

  2. Lynn Rolston says:

    Thanks Janice, my daughter is 9th grade and has done IEW material for a few years, along with Teaching the Classics last year. From your response, I am assuming that this would be enough of a prerequisite.

    I set up a literature analysis group with a lovely, talented teacher this year who has worked through some great classics. When EIL was released I sent her your link and she was very excited about the material.

    My daughter passion is writing and science so we are about to launch our selves into – again thank you for your wonderful resources.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.