Hearts and Minds Learning Center

Today’s share makes our hearts sing and keeps our minds in the game!

Our teachers and methodology make huge impacts for our students. We just got STARR test results back from siblings.

Sibling 1 was a high average student (with potential to be above average). After working with us in an enrichment setting, their mom just shared their 100th percentile score with us!

Sibling 2 had been struggling for years. After years of not passing STARR and test taking anxiety, this baby just got in the 85th percentile after academic intervention and tutoring.

We are over the moon proud of these kids and we are so thankful that their parents trusted this process to us!

Shout out to our HMLC teachers and all of their work and dedication. We have the best team!

Education trend:

Did you know that our current school systems tend to focus on curriculum, content, federal mandates and benchmark goals Over the the very skills that help the students achieve higher order thinking skills or the skills necessary to succeed in college?

There is a pattern that we are seeing with our local students (grades 2 - 12) in the greater Austin area where they can complete classwork, a project or assignment, get a good grade on a test and yet they have gaps forming. We have moved away from embodied cognition, rote practice and requiring them to remember/build memory.

These skill gaps or lack of conceptualized understanding are anywhere from 1 - 5 years behind. It starts to really show on an ACT or SAT, and we have a tendency to say, “Well, my kid is not a good test taker”.

The truth is that foundational math skills must be strong and embodied so that they can be applied to higher order thinking. Reading fluency must be 225 - 275 words per minute to finish one of these tests and to function in a way that makes college level education and work load easier. Communication and writing skills must be solidified to write an in class paper (a new requirement in the time of AI) in order to exhibit mastery, comprehension and understanding.

We have the highest rates of graduation in our country’s history, yet the average high schooler in the United States is graduating at a third grade reading level. GPAs are inflated and most parents will never find out until it’s time to transition into the next level of schooling, or their child becomes one of the 40% of kids that enrolls in college and does not finish.

It is not because they are a poor test taker. It is because they are missing skills.

Sharing a fun Art Camp for a friend in our local community! Austin Arts Academy still has spots available. 10 weeks of different themed camps for children ages 7 - 12.

Scan the QR Code below for more information.

During the months of June and July, $100 off Academic Assessments, practice ACT or SAT with thorough consult, results analysis and recommendations! Call or text 737-351-2505.

Don’t forget to mention this coupon!

This article hits the nail on the head emphasizing the importance of rest in between learning periods. This isn’t just about kids needing play and taking a break to let out steam. It is how cortical thinking and neuroplasticity works. It is how the brain evolves and develops.

Rest and breaks allow for greater, thicker and stronger neuropathways to form. Whereas overwhelm causes the brain to go into adaptive behaviors mechanisms like fight, flight, fawn or freeze. In today’s society adaptive behaviors are often diagnosed as ADHD.

No coincidences here!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1444325744402013&set=a.361807955987136&type=3

New evidence shows that kids need pauses between concentrated bouts of learning so the brain can hold and store the information. https://www.kxan.com/top-stories/kids-of-all-ages-need-regular-recess-for-physical-and-mental-health-pediatricians-group-finds/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KXAN_News