ASD Archives

Test Preparation

February 20, 2015

My Learning Springboard’s leadership team and specialists help students of all ages with standardized test preparation using our curriculum, curated materials, and instructional expertise. Our primary goal is to help students become critical thinkers with a repertoire of strategies.

We tailor our instruction and test preparation work to meet the needs of individual students and provide structured practice with a particular test so that students become familiar with the test format, question types, and timing. We ensure success by combining subject-matter expertise, successful test-taking strategies, structured practice, timely feedback, close monitoring, and goal-setting support.

How Does Planning Work?

Ideally, we work with students over a longer period of time so that test preparation does not feel like cramming. We find that extended periods of time for preparation help students to significantly reduce test anxiety, master content, and internalize strategies.

As a general process, students begin by taking a practice test that serves as a benchmarking exercise. Based on this performance, we recommend a plan in response to stated goals and in consideration of our preparation timeline. Most often, we have two tutors working with a student as the math and reading sections require specialized expertise.

Middle School transitions should begin during the winter/spring terms of 4th grade;
High School transitions should begin during the winter/spring terms of 7th grade;
College transitions should begin during the winter/spring terms of 10th grade.

Which Tests Do We Coach?

We offer test preparation and coaching for all of the following assessments:

SAT, ACT, and AP Exams
SHSAT (New York City)
ISEE (Primary, Lower, Middle, and Upper Levels)
SSAT (Elementary, Middle, and Upper Levels)
CTP (ERB’s grade level achievement tests)
SCAT
NY State Testing Program and Regents Exams
GMAT and GRE

Under the leadership of Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman, both Board Certified Educational Planners and a husband-and-wife team, My Learning Springboard also offers admissions consulting and school transition support at every level from nursery through college, including specialized school placements for students with learning disabilities and therapeutic school settings.

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

Whatever your need or wonder may be, please don’t hesitate to contact us. An initial planning meeting is usually the best way to get started. These meetings can be 30, 45, or 60 minutes by Zoom, by phone, or in person per a family’s preference. A single planning meeting allows us to talk more substantively about your family’s specific needs, priorities, and goals so that we can determine possible next steps. We’re committed to developing unique solutions for unique learners!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards,
Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman,
Co-Founders and Learning Concierges, My Learning Springboard

Private Tutoring

February 1, 2015

Private tutoring helps each student meet their unique needs and realize their individual goals. Whether the need is academic support, enrichment, test preparation, or building increased motivation and self-confidence, our educators create a personalized approach to support each student.

We also find that many families need support managing the overwhelming demands of day-to-day school life and developing systems for organization, time management, and study skills. Through private tutoring both in person and online, our educators and executive function coaches provide this support.

Regardless of the need or subject matter, we individualize the entire process to highlight a student’s strengths, design an appropriate course of action, and improve academic performance. The intensity, flexibility, and customization of private tutoring provides students with a competitive advantage in bolstering their success.

Under the leadership of Board Certified Educational Planners Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman, a husband-and-wife team, My Learning Springboard works with learners of all ages who have diverse learning goals.

Our mission is to help each student reach their full potential by becoming a confident, successful, and lifelong learner. We involve students and parents in the decision making process from the start, together selecting the best tutor or team for each family’s needs. Each family works closely with our leadership team throughout their time with My Learning Springboard to customize their experience, facilitate strategic planning, and ensure success.

Academic Coaching and Private Tutoring

Executive Function Coaching (including study skills and organizational skills)
Kindergarten Readiness
Reading and Literacy Specialists – including grammar and handwriting
Math Specialists
Science and History Specialists
Foreign Languages and English Language Learners (ESL or ELL)

Private Tutoring For Admissions

Beyond Traditional Academic Tutoring

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

We look forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards,
Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman,
Co-Founders and Learning Concierges, My Learning Springboard

Approaching New Words: Decoding With Syllable Types

January 25, 2015 Brad Hoffman

In her highly regarded book Speech to Print, Loisa Cook Moats defines decoding as, “The ability to translate a word from print to speech, usually by employing knowledge of sound-symbol correspondence; also, the act of deciphering a new word by sounding it out.” Decoding combined with comprehension results in reading fluency. Unfortunately, comprehension can rarely occur if meaning is not made from the words being read, and inconsistencies in English make decoding from a general set of rules and guidelines rather challenging. Nonetheless, there are patterns worth studying and The Wilson Reading System, which is based in Orton-Gillingham, introduces decoding with syllable types for helping students to decode multisyllabic words.

Decoding with syllable types (6) can be named by the acronym CLOVER:

(C) Closed Syllables

Only one vowel and ends in a consonant, which results in a short vowel sound.

Ex: ask, truck, on

(L) Consonant-L-E Syllables

Consonant is followed by “le”. The vowel sound in these syllables is the schwa sound occurring before the l.

Ex: -ble, -cle, -dle

(O) Open Syllables

Only one vowel that occurs at the end of the syllable, which results in a long vowel sound.

Ex: no, he, I

(V) Vowel Combination Syllables

Contains cluster of two or three vowels or a vowel-consonant unit with sounds particular to that unit. When two vowels occur together, we often apply the rule, “when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” Of course there are many exceptions, as in “does” and “friend”. A vowel-consonant unit often forms a diphthong, as in “boy”.

Ex: see, noise, toy

(E) Silent-E Syllables

Words that follow the pattern vowel/consonant/“E” which results in a long vowel sound for the first vowel and then the “E” remaining silent. With students, we often call this the “magic-E” syllable type.

Ex: ate, nice, those

(R) Vowel-R Syllables

Includes only one vowel followed by an r, or one vowel followed by an r followed by a silent e, or a vowel combination followed by an r. We often refer to these types as “Bossy ‘R’” syllables.

Ex: car, care, ire

With an understanding of the importance of phonics in reading instruction, Linnea Ehri and Irene Gaskins created the Benchmark Word Identification Program. Through their testing and research, they found four (4) ideal ways for readers to approach new words, and decoding with syllable types is certainly on the list.

Semantic guessing – using context
Letter/sounds decoding – sounding out
Analogy – comparison to other words
By sight – memorization connecting letters to memorized word sounds

These approaches have been successful with all types of learners, but especially successful with struggling readers. All students benefit from explicit instruction and practice with each of these approaches as part of a balanced literacy program. Decoding with syllable types is something that most young readers enjoy, too!

By David Dickerman, Reading Specialist

Admissions Consulting (PreK to College)

January 1, 2015

Types of Admissions Consulting Efforts

Independent Day Schools, preK-12
- Mainstream
- Specialized
- Therapeutic
Boarding Schools and Junior Boarding Schools
- - Mainstream
- Specialized
- Therapeutic
Public Schools, preK-12
Colleges and Graduate Schools, including Gap Year Programs
Homeschool Programs

Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman — a husband-and-wife team and both Board Certified Educational Planners (Educational Consultants) and Learning Specialists — offer admissions consulting and school planning support at every level from PreK through college, which includes both independent day schools and boarding schools. All consultation is managed on an hourly basis to maximize flexibility and to put each family in control of their effort scope.

PreK through High School

Admissions consulting with My Learning Springboard is a highly reflective practice designed to help children and families find schools and learning communities in which they’ll thrive. We focus on breaking down the admissions process into manageable pieces and helping students and families to stay organized and motivated.

Since it’s always better to have options, we strongly advise starting admissions consulting and standardized test preparation well in advance with a strategic planning session. For our youngest learners, our early childhood and elementary educators curate meaningful and individualized Kindergarten Readiness programs to support the preschool and/or kindergarten transition.

Nursery and preschool transitions should begin after 8 months to 1 year of age depending on a family’s interest in a 2s program;
Kindergarten transitions should begin in the late 3s/4s;
Middle School transitions should begin during the winter/spring terms of 4th grade;
High School transitions should begin during the winter/spring terms of 7th grade;
High school students are advised to begin the college planning process by 9th grade.

We help families and students to manage every aspect of the application process, including but not limited to:

Strategic planning for the process and developing timelines
Curating a well-balanced list of schools
Comparing and contrasting school programs
Identifying and preparing for standardized tests, including the ISEE and SSAT
Securing testing accommodations (if applicable)
Visiting schools and observing classroom instruction
Completing applications and navigating application portals
Developing parent statements
Developing student statements
Preparing for interviews
Managing strategic connections at schools
Managing strategic communications with school faculty

College Counseling

We help families and students to manage every aspect of the application process, including but not limited to:

Strategic planning for the process and developing timelines
Curating a well-balanced list of colleges and universities
Comparing and contrasting college programs
Identifying and preparing for standardized tests, including the ACT and dSAT
Securing testing accommodations (if applicable)
Visiting schools and observing classroom instruction
Completing applications and navigating application portals
Developing Common App essays, supplemental essays, and UCAS personal statements
Preparing for interviews
Managing strategic communications with faculty
Creating portfolios and showcasing artwork, photography, film, and musical accomplishments
Preparing for auditions

Professional Associations

In addition to their years of classroom teaching experience, targeted intervention, curriculum design work, and admissions consulting with both families and schools, Brad and Faya are both Board Certified Educational Planners (AICEP) and Professional Members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

My Learning Springboard is also a member of ISAAGNY, a consortium of independent schools in and around New York City, as well as WISER, a member organization of the Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources (WISER).

Additionally, Brad and Faya are members of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), The Enrollment Management Association, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), the Small Board School Association (SBSA), the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP).

Specialty Designations

Brad and Faya each have three specialty designations through AICEP and IECA, which is quite unique:

Mainstream school planning (typical schools, both day and boarding schools)
Specialized school planning (day and boarding schools for students with learning disabilities)
Therapeutic school planning (includes therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, and in-patient treatment)

This unusual range of admissions consulting and school planning expertise allows Brad and Faya to grow with students and families over time and support siblings in a family who may have very different profiles. It also allows for flexible and creative problem solving as there are myriad pathways to lifelong success. Brad and Faya can move in just about any direction with a family — including crisis management — working collaboratively with schools, related service professionals, or members of the My Learning Springboard faculty as appropriate.

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

We look forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards,
Brad Hoffman and Faya Hoffman,
Co-Founders and Learning Concierges, My Learning Springboard

What are Executive Functions?

January 1, 2015 Brad Hoffman

Executive Function Coaching is at the forefront of many new discussions surrounding the best methods to help young people thrive in (and out of) the classroom. The reason why Executive Function is so talked about right now is because we have more brain research than ever before and we understand how executive function impacts academic performance. However, explaining Executive Functions can be difficult because most are unfamiliar with the educational and psychological jargon used to describe Executive Function coaching. This blog post is designed to help everyone understand why Executive Function coaching is so helpful and how it works.

The simplest way to define Executive Function is: “The Ability to Complete Jobs the Best Way Possible.”

From the moment a student receives an assignment until the time he or she turns in the final project, several different mental tasks must be completed.

To finish any assignment, a student must answer the following questions:

What materials do I need to complete the assignment? (Organization)
When should I do this, and what is the best time for me to finish it? (Planning)
Is soccer more important than finishing this paper? Is this paper more important than my math homework? What should I do first? (Setting Priorities)
Should I answer the text I just received from my best friend or not? Should I check the update on Instagram that’s being commented on by all of my friends? (Impulse Control)
Does the assignment adhere/fit the instructor’s expectations or have I reinterpreted the task? Am I delivering what was asked for? (Self-Monitoring)
Obviously, there’s more to getting a task done than just telling oneself they must do it. We are pulled in many different directions by conflicting priorities and the normal distractions of life. Completing simple tasks sometimes involves complex questions that may not have easy answers.

For most young people (and many adults) there are one or more “weak spots” in their process of completing a specific job. As adults, some of us are terrible at meeting deadlines (Self-Monitoring), but absolutely excel at purchasing all the supplies we will need to complete a task and setting up a work schedule (Organization/Planning) but never begin the actual work (Task Initiation).

Through Executive Function coaching, we pinpoint which of these mental tasks (e.g. Impulse Control, Self-Monitoring, Setting Priorities, Task Initiation, Planning, or Time Management) needs improvement and then develop specific skills and strategies to enhance a student’s performance. Executive Function coaching celebrates a student’s strengths and examines each individual gear in the machine of task completion. It’s a holistic and individualized approach that is successfully improving how students are able to meet and exceed their goals.

Executive Function coaching involves much more than is outlined here, but the fundamental process is easy to understand. If you want to know more, check out My Learning Springboard’s Executive Function Coaching page or contact us to discuss your family’s specific needs.

By Brad Hoffman, M.S.Ed.
Board Certified Educational Planner and Learning Specialist
My Learning Springboard, Inc.

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Test Preparation

How Does Planning Work?

Which Tests Do We Coach?

Related Posts

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

Private Tutoring

Academic Coaching and Private Tutoring

Private Tutoring For Admissions

Beyond Traditional Academic Tutoring

Other Private Tutoring Services

Related Posts

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

Approaching New Words: Decoding With Syllable Types

Decoding with syllable types (6) can be named by the acronym CLOVER:

(C) Closed Syllables

(L) Consonant-L-E Syllables

(O) Open Syllables

(V) Vowel Combination Syllables

(E) Silent-E Syllables

(R) Vowel-R Syllables

Admissions Consulting (PreK to College)

Types of Admissions Consulting Efforts

PreK through High School

Related Posts

College Counseling

Related Posts

Professional Associations

Specialty Designations

Scheduling a Planning Meeting

What are Executive Functions?

Company Overview

School Planning

Private Tutoring

Test Preparation