Back To School 7.15.16

JULY 15, 2016

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JULY 15, 2016

BACK TO SCHOOL

Tackling tough topics with Learning Tree Tutors AMY SCHRADER

J

oy Espino remembers when her son Dominic, a student at Heritage High School in Brentwood, was struggling with math - he just couldn’t keep

up with the class.

“Math was his main struggle, and it was really impacting his grades,” said Espino.

Espino turned to Learning Tree Tutors in Brentwood, Contra Costa County’s premier tutoring center, which has been helping students and adults since 1983. There, Dominic spent one hour, twice a week, concentrating on math skills and preparing for the SAT with Learning Tree Tutors owner Christina Dalton.

“He went from a D in math to getting an A,” said Espino, who added that her son will be attending Loyola Marymount University in the fall, which wouldn’t have been possible without the tutoring he received from Dalton.

“Christina Dalton wants every student to excel and move on to the next level. She always gives her best and gets the best out of her students.”

Success stories like Espino’s are not uncommon. Most educators agree that tutoring can help students who are struggling, and also help those who are excelling to fine tune their test-taking skills, giving them a competitive edge when applying for colleges.

Dalton agrees.

“Whether you’re struggling or trying to get into a major college, there is something for everyone,” she said.

Besides owning the tutoring center, Dalton is the lead counselor at Heritage High School, where she has worked for

Photo courtesy of Christina Dalton

Christina Dalton, owner of Learning Tree Tutors in Brentwood, offers customized tutoring services to students and adults in Contra Costa County. ten years. She also taught math at Deer Valley High School, where she was the academy coordinator, and math at Liberty High School, where she was the department chair. Prior to that, Dalton used her history credential to teach psychology at San Ramon High School. From writing benchmark tests to teaching in classrooms and counseling students with career choices, Dalton is an expert in her field.

She brings that level of expertise to Learning Tree Tutors, which offers home or in-office tutoring in subjects from kindergarten to adult classes, including all levels of mathematics, reading comprehension and decoding skills; writing techniques; SAT and ACT preparation; organization skills for

success; and much more. Programs are designed to meet each individual student’s needs and can be conducted one on one or in a small group setting, at a very affordable rate.

Most of the center’s tutors are credentialed teachers; however, those who aren’t teachers are experts in their field, including Rita Barakat, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2015, and is pursuing her doctoral degree in neuroscience at the University of Southern California.

“I make it a point to tailor my tutoring style to each student’s individual needs, and when they finally get the concept they’ve been working at, it’s a wonderful feeling,” said Barakat, who tutors algebra, geometry, calculus, biology, chemistry and advanced-placement courses.

High school students are not alone in benefiting from tutoring services. Tutoring can also help kindergarten and elementary students master critical skills.

“When you notice there’s a learning gap, it needs to be filled immediately, otherwise it will keep on growing,” said Learning Tree tutor Danielle Zahn, who is also a third-grade teacher at Laurel Elementary School in Oakley and tutors younger students who have fallen behind in school.

“After just a few sessions, students start to feel more confident in areas where they struggled and are so proud of their accomplishments,” said Zahn.

Whether the student is in elementary school, high school or beyond, Learning Tree Tutors works to identify each student’s needs and goals to help them achieve their best.

Learning Tree Tutors is located at 2244 Trinity Place, in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-625-4960 or visit www.learningtreetutorscontracosta.com.

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JULY 15, 2016

BACK TO SCHOOL

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The ABCs of skincare with Balfour Dermatology AMY SCHRADER

I

t’s the time of year where parents are getting ready to send their kids back to school, and they will need pencils, backpacks,

shoes and supplies.

As you’re checking off items from your list, the back-to-school season is also a great time to take your kids to the dermatologist, especially if you spent your vacation under the hot summer sun.

“It is very important for teens and kids who spend a good amount of time in the sun to get their skin checked, because you are looking for anything that is changing or new,” said Morgan Furlow, certified medical assistant and licensed aesthetician at Balfour Dermatology in Brentwood.

The staff at Balfour Dermatology recommend parents remember the ABCs of skincare. Check yourself and your family members for asymmetry, border, color and size changes of moles.

Asymmetry refers to the consistency of a mole.

There is concern when a mole does not appear to be identical on both halves, either up and down or side to side. Borders that are red, hazy, a lighter color than the surrounding skin or wavy and irregular are also a concern. A mole that has two or more colors in it, or a ON THE COVER: Teen patient Ashley Barrett, goes over the ABCs of healthy skin with Supinder Tiwana, FNP. Photo by Tony Kukulich.

When it comes to getting suspicious moles and growths checked, you are never too young...

– Morgan Furlow, certified medical assistant and licensed Aesthetician diameter that is equal to or greater than the diameter of a pencil eraser, should also be checked.

“With a long period of sun exposure over time, the moles that we have can change, or new moles can develop,” said Furlow. “When it comes to getting suspicious moles and growths checked, you are never too young, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer.”

When there is a need to do so, most moles can be removed during an office visit, with local anesthesia to shave the mole with a scalpel, or use a surgical tool to core the mole.

Besides checking for moles and sun damage, a visit to the dermatologist can also help teens improve the appearance and health of their skin.

With acne extraction, specialty peels, oxygen facials,

Skincare on page 4B

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Back-to-school skincare can include a variety of procedures for students, including facial peels and acne and vitamin C treatments.

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JULY 15, 2016

BACK TO SCHOOL

Getting the school day off to a good start

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Rushing through things is a poor way to begin a day, and those feelings of uneasiness can put a damper on the rest of the day ahead.

any families find the rush is on to make it to school and work on time each

morning, but feeling rushed in the morning is a recipe for added stress.

Rushing through things is a poor way to begin a day, and those feelings of uneasiness can put a damper on the rest of the day ahead. Making mornings less hectic involves a few different strategies that parents and kids can easily incorporate into their daily routines.

Wake up slightly earlier

Have quick breakfast foods available

Getting up earlier than normal, even if it’s just 15 to 20 minutes before you’re accustomed to getting out of bed, can help reduce morning stress. Resist the temptation to hit the snooze button over and over again. A few extra minutes each morning can make you feel more relaxed and provide a smooth, stress-free start to the day.

Get some work done the night before Prepare lunches the night before and have them ready in the refrigerator. In addition, lay outyour clothes for the following day each night. This saves time and takes a couple more things off your morning to-do list.

Ease back into a routine As a new school year dawns or a long vacation comes to an end, begin going

Skincare from page 3B masks, lasers, light treatments, microdermabrasion, personalized facials and other cutting-edge treatments, Balfour Dermatology can help teens start the school year with a healthy glow.

“The different types of treatments we offer here that help brighten and improve the health of teen skin varies,”

Smoothies, cereal bars, oatmeal and whole-grain cereals are fast and nutritious ways to start the day.

Photo courtesy Metro Creative

Make school and work mornings less harried with some easy tips to add to routines.

Look through folders, sign paperwork, check assignments and do whatever you need to do the night before to save your family from scrambling in the

Look ahead on the school lunch menu and speak with children about which meals they enjoy. Let kids purchase school lunch on those days, giving yourself a day off from lunch detail.

Busy families can save themselves extra work by proposing a neighborhood carpool. Sharing school drop-off detail frees time up for parents once or twice a week, and kids may enjoy traveling to school with their friends.

Mornings can be tricky when family members are getting ready for school and work at the same time. By practicing a few daily rituals, it’s possible to curb the rush and start the day happier and more relaxed.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

said Bethany Collins, medical assistant at Balfour Dermatology. “Topical vitamin C is one of the best ingredients to give skin a bright and refreshed look.”

Balfour Dermatology also offers medical-prescription regimens and localized injections for cystic acne, as well as blue-light treatments, which are strong enough to replace oral prescriptions.

Brentwood resident Paige Stanley regularly takes her teen sons to Balfour Dermatology.

“When the boys play sports and wear a helmet, the sweat and chin strap causes acne,” said Stanley. “The treatments they have received from Balfour Dermatology have helped clear up their skin.”

Stanley added that in addition to

improving the health and appearance of her kids’ skin, she also enjoyed the staff.

“They listen, and they are compassionate, very kind and willing to help you,” she said.

Balfour Dermatology is located at 2221 Balfour Road in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-240-9116 or visit www.skinquestion.com.

to bed earlier and start waking up earlier as well. This can make the transition from carefree mornings to busy mornings go more smoothly.

Prep backpacks in the evening

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morning. This ensures those permission slips get signed and items make it back into school bags.

Opt for school lunch a few times

JULY 15, 2016

BACK TO SCHOOL

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Stocking up on students’ tech supplies

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hopping for back-to-school supplies was once limited to picking up a few folders,

spiral-bound notebooks and assorted writing implements, but today’s students need much more, including a variety of technological gadgets, to keep up with their classmates.

Technology is now an integral part of many classrooms, where Internet-ready devices such as tablets, computers and smartboards are part of daily lessons.

Although some educators believe overuse of such devices in the classroom can have a negative impact on students and make it more difficult to capture and hold students’ attention, many feel that technology integrated into the curriculum improves students’ learning processes and outcomes, noting that interactive media and use of technology are conducive to project-based learning.

Many students already know how to browse the Internet, create blogs and manipulate photos, but they may not know how to make use of digital resources with regard to their education. Students

cannot learn such lessons unless they are equipped with the tools to facilitate digital learning. Parents who want their youngsters to embrace technology as part of their education may want to consider the following devices. ♦♦ Internet-ready devices: Internet-ready devices include desktop computers, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets and even smartphones. Assignments may require that students use the Internet, and many of today’s teachers create their own websites, where they list assignments or post links to supplemental materials. Students may have to confer with teachers via email or share materials with classmates. ♦♦ Word-processing applications: Whether students are writing a 20-page term paper or typing up a short summary for a homework assignment, eventually they will need access to word-processing software that includes basic typing, editing and desktop-publishing functions. Many computer software bundles come with a word processor pre-installed. If not, software is available for purchase or parents can download free shareware. Examples of word-processing software include Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, TextMaker, Corel Write and Google Docs. ♦♦ High-speed Internet: Households that have not yet upgraded to digital Internet

Photo courtesy Metro Creative

Mobile phones can be convenient tools for today’s students. services are well behind the times. Many cable and fiber-optic television providers now offer television, Internet and phone bundles for reasonable fees. Compared to dial-up services and initial coaxial Internet of yesteryear, today’s Internet speeds are light-years ahead. Students who need to stream movies or other content or upload and download large picture or text files often find high-speed Internet invaluable.

♦♦ Digital planners: Many devices come with calendars and planner functions built in, and those that don’t can often be upgraded by simply downloading an app that performs such functions. A calendar is a handy tool for students who need to keep current on assignments, tests, extracurricular activities and other important dates to remember. Students may want to lean toward a calendar app that is integrated across many platforms. This way, calendar events can be synched and viewed on phones, laptops and tablets. ♦♦ Phones: Smartphones are akin to mini computers capable of more functions than one can imagine. Kids can use their phones to get a head start on homework assignments or to email teachers if they forget an assignment at school. In addition, students who have their own smartphones can easily contact their parents in case of emergencies, and parents can rest easy knowing their kids are always just a phone call or text message away.

Depending on the courses they take, students may need additional gadgets, such as graphing calculators, scanners and printers. Parents can speak to their kids’ teachers to determine which devices will support lessons students are learning in the classroom.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

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