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Finding the Best Summer Program For Your Child In 2023

Chinese Elementary School Girl Sitting At Books Stack Posing On Yellow Background. Studio Shot, Free Space For Text

Summer 2023 is something we are all looking forward to and a summer program for your child is a big part of it. Whether your child is interested in STEM, art, sports, or a little bit of everything, Los Angeles has a program for everyone. But what should you choose if your child did not do as well as expected in the 2022-2023 school year? How can you help your son or daughter with an academic boost over the summer, to prepare them for the new school year? The “summer slump” is a well-documented phenomenon even for kids who meet or exceed academic standards during the school year. The summer slump, or summer regression, refers to students’ lower academic performance at the start of a new school year, caused by a lack of exposure to educational opportunities during the summer. Then, come fall, educators are required to spend time at the beginning of the year reviewing the material to get students back to their pre-summer levels.

At Tutoring4Less, we offer a summer tutoring program, otherwise known as Summer Intervention Program, with hands-on learning as well as fun activities. Our Summer 2023 program helps prevent the summer slump, so your child can start the new academic year on the right foot.

Academic Summer Camp vs. Summer Intervention Program in Los Angeles

If your child needs academic support based on the year-end results of 2022-2023 school year, your first thought may be to sign them up for an academic summer camp. Many summer camps offer 1-week or 2-week programs specializing in math, reading, computer science, earth science, or STEM. These programs offer some hands-on learning and/or focus on a specific subject. And of course, summer camp includes fun activities, field trips, and opportunities to make new friends. In Los Angeles and Southern California, you can choose from hundreds of camps for summer 2023. With COVID restrictions mostly lifted, there are sleepaway camps, camps on college campuses, Parks & Recs camps, and online summer camps. There are plenty of academic summer camps, ranging from creative writing to coding. Some camps are very affordable, while others can cost thousands of dollars. The choice of a summer program is often limited only by your schedule and budget.

What may work for some families may not work for others. Often, when you review your chid’s report card for the spring term, you may decide that instead of summer camp, a summer intervention program focused on academic skills may be a better use of your child’s time and your family’s budget.  

What Should Los Angeles Parents Look for In a High-Quality Summer Intervention Program?

Many programs tout themselves as “the best” or “top-rated summer program in Los Angeles.” To help you cut through the noise, we recommend evaluating your options based on the following criteria:

  • Balanced programming with daily opportunities for reading, math, and recreation
  • Low student-to-staff ratios
  • High-interest, engaging activities
  • Positive interaction between kids and caring adults
  • A safe, structured learning environment
  • Personalized attention
  • Bilingual staff 
  • Convenient location and hours

What Questions Can Parents Ask Before Enrolling Their Child In A Los Angeles Summer Intervention Program?

With so many programs to choose from, you may be asking some questions to help you narrow down the list of summer options for your child. We suggest asking the following questions:

  • What is the summer program’s mission? 
  • How is a typical day/week organized? How will my child spend his/her time?
  • What are the program hours and dates? 
  • How much does the program cost?
  • Will my child be able to work on reading, math, and other skills? 
  • Will my child have an opportunity to choose some of his/her activities?
  • How does the program assess or track each child’s progress? 
  • How does the program promote positive interaction between students and staff?
  • Who are the staff and tutors? How many years of experience do they bring to the summer program?
  • What type of communication can families expect?
  • How much academic progress can I expect at the end of the summer? How prepared will my child be for the fall?

Summer Intervention Program at Tutoring4Less

Our summer learning programs are intervention programs that support accelerated learning during the summer months. Academically-focused summer learning programs differ from traditional summer school programs or academic summer camps in that they:

  •  integrate recreational, cultural, and/or enrichment activities
  •  blend remediation with enrichment activities and more advanced curriculum
  •  are attended by students of varied skill levels
  •  encourage positive relationships among peers and with adults

The Tutoring 4 Less Summer Tutoring Program is a readiness program for students from Pre-K to 12th grade that need to prepare for the academic challenges they face when entering a new grade level.  Our program focuses on addressing a student’s academic weaknesses and building a student’s confidence. Whether it’s math, science, or writing programs you need, our tutoring services can provide the academic support that will support your student’s continued academic development. We even provide test prep services.

During the Tutoring 4 Less summer tutoring program, a student won’t have the distractions of school or homework and can focus on addressing all of the academic content that they have been struggling with throughout the previous school year. With the support of a private tutor, whether in-person or via online tutoring, your student’s tutoring experience will lift your student’s academic abilities and get them closer to achieving their full potential.

Whether your child struggled in school this school year and needs to catch up, or you would like to help your child build new skills and confidence, our Summer Tutoring program is a great alternative to summer camps or summer school. Contact us today to learn more! 

How To Help Your Child Prepare For Third Grade

Did you know that the transition from second to third grade is often considered to be one of the most difficult years in your child’s education? Are you looking for ways to help your child prepare for third grade? By the third grade, children have spent two years mastering reading and doing basic math computations. In third grade, they are able to branch out in their studies and handle more complex material. These tips from our tutoring company in Los Angles can help prepare your child for success in third grade. 

Why Is Third Grade So Important?

Third grade signifies the transition to the final two years of elementary school, otherwise knows as the upper elementary school. Third grade has been identified as important to reading literacy because it is the final year children are learning to read, after which students are “reading to learn.” If they are not proficient readers when they begin fourth grade, as much as half of the curriculum they will be taught will be incomprehensible. This transition from lower elementary grades to upper is sometimes considered to be even more challenging than the transition to middle school. Students and their families often struggle with the many new expectations in third grade.

Reading to learn is one of the most valuable skills for students to develop and master for their future. Literacy and reading skills create the foundation for future academic success. Without these skills in place, students are far less likely to understand what they are learning at higher elementary grade levels into middle school. Not only can this hinder their knowledge, but it can also leave students struggling with anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. Although it may seem hard to believe that third-grade reading skills could have such a significant impact on a student’s future career, in fact, they do.

Another main change in third grade is the beginning of high-stakes standardized testing. In California, students take the Smarter Balanced tests starting in third grade. The Smarter Balanced English language arts assessment measures how well students have mastered English language arts skills including reading, writing, and critical thinking. The Smarter Balanced mathematics assessment measures how well students have mastered math skills and concepts.

Third graders are required to complete much more of their work independently. Therefore, it becomes necessary to develop some new skills. Third-graders need to become more responsible, develop a strong work ethic, and be able to focus for extended periods of time. 

What Math Concepts Is My Child Expected To Know Before Third Grade?

While there is a multitude of third-grade math standards, you can expect a stronger emphasis on multiplication and division. It will be important that students learn their multiplication facts early, and have a deep understanding of how multiplication works. By the beginning of third grade, kids start using abstract thinking skills in math. They will be working with three-digit numbers and using their understanding of place value (for example, knowing that the “3” in “357” is in the hundreds place and means “300,” the “5” is in the tens place and means “50,” and so on).

Third-grade math expects students to know their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division fact families and use them in equations and two-step word problems

In addition, 3rd graders need to know how to

  • Read and write large numbers through the hundred thousands, knowing the place value for each digit.
  • Use number lines.
  • Round and compare numbers.
  • Understand equivalent fractions, be able to compare fractions and change mixed numbers to improper fractions.
  • Know decimals to the one-hundredth place.
  • Recognize and write patterns.
  • Do mental addition and subtraction.
  • Add four-digit numbers.
  • Subtract with regrouping.
  • Know time to minute and elapsed time in minutes.
  • Read and make graphs.
  • Determine a shape’s perimeter and area.
  • Recognize two-dimensional shapes.
  • Measure with both Customary and Metric systems – length, weight, volume and temperature.
  • Multiply three and four-digit numbers.
  • Divide two and three-digit dividends.
  • Divide circles, squares, and rectangles into equal portions (halves, thirds, quarters).
  • Measure and estimate length using inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.

English Language Arts and Literacy Expectations For Third Grade

Rising third graders are expected to know how to collect information about a single topic from a variety of sources and summarize it. They are also expected to use editing and revising skills in their writing. By the beginning of third grade, children have already started gaining vocabulary and fluency skills. Here are some of the ELA and literacy expectations for third-grade students:

  • Know how to collect information about a topic 
  • Be able to read different styles of text: articles, short stories, short chapters in a book
  • Ask appropriate questions and answer questions about a text (who, what, where, when, why, and how)
  • Read fables, folktales, and myths
  • Recall and retell events from a story in order
  • Tell how the author uses details to support their story or text
  • Compare and contrast elements in different stories (characters, settings, plot, and problems)
  • Discuss a story or topic with their classmates
  • Read grade-level assigned books

Here are some ways kids build skills in reading comprehension and literacy areas and get ready for third grade:

  • Read fables and folktales from different cultures and identify the central message, lesson, or moral in the stories
  • Read about science, social studies, and history and determine the purpose and main idea of these texts
  • Answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about stories (both in writing and when speaking), using the rules of standard English
  • Describe how an author uses detail to support an idea
  • Gather facts about a topic and describe what was learned (Watch a video on how third graders do research for an essay.)
  • Write about an event with a beginning, middle, and end
  • Write about books using details and examples to back up opinions

Simple Steps To Help Your Child Prepare for Third Grade

By now, you know that getting your child ready for third grade is important. But it does not have to be very difficult. There are several steps parents can take in order to make this transitional year go smoothly for students:

  1. Be aware of the expected changes in third grade, and help your child understand the new expectations. 
  2. Have your child complete their homework independently. Then, look over their assignments, and provide any needed assistance. 
  3. Work with your child to make sure multiplication facts are mastered early in the school year.
  4. Don’t hesitate to speak with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or questions.

As at any age, read with your child daily. The US Department of Education suggests 20 minutes every day. Reading aloud can start well before children understand the words you say. The sound of your voice coupled with a warm snuggle and a good book can ignite a love of reading very early on, and continue into their elementary years and even beyond. If you find that your kids are not very interested in reading with you, find books your third grader will love, even if you don’t. 

Tutoring4Less Prepares Students for third grade in Los Angeles

The transition to third grade is an important milestone, and at Tutoring4Less we see dozens of students make this transition every fall. Now you know what third graders are supposed to know, it’s time to ask yourself: Are your child’s skills on par with his or her grade level? Do they need additional support from a structured program and a qualified tutor? 

If you would like assistance with helping your child prepare for third grade, our Los Angeles tutoring program may be right for you. While traditionally many parents associate the word “tutoring” with subject-specific help after school, our Los Angeles tutoring program provides strong foundational skills for students of all ages, including those entering third grade in the fall. Contact us for a free assessment and to discuss whether your rising third-grader would benefit from our services. 

LAUSD Calendar For the 2022-2023 School Year

Los Angeles County District Calendars for 2022-2023

Here are all the dates you need to know for the school year 2022-2023 for LAUSD students.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL – LAUSD

The first day of school for the 2022-2023 school year for LAUSD is Monday, August 15, 2022.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – LAUSD

The last day of school for the 2022-2023 school year for LAUSD is Thursday, June 15, 2023.

2022-2023 LAUSD School Holidays

Thanksgiving Break 2022

Thanksgiving Break is from November 21, 2022, and November 25, 2022.

Winter Break 2022-2023

The 2022 Winter Break will start on December 19, 2022, and run through January 6, 2023. The kids will return to school on January 9, 2023.

Spring Break 2023

Spring Break is from April 3, 2023, through April 7, 2023. The kids will return to school on April 10, 2023. 

2022-2023 LAUSD School Calendar

Here is the list of all the dates you need to know for the school year 2022-2023: 

First Day of School – August 15, 2022

Admission Day – September 2, 2022

Labor Day (no school) – September 5, 2022 Unassigned Day (no school) – September 26, 2022

Unassigned Day (no school) – October 5, 2022

Veterans Day (no school) – November 11, 2022 Thanksgiving Holiday (no school)- November 21-25, 2022 Winter Recess (no school) – December 19, 2022 – January 6, 2023 Second Semester Begins – January 9, 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no school) – January 16, 2023 Presidents Day (no school) – February 20, 2023 Cesar Chavez Day (no school) – March 31, 2023 Spring Recess (no school) –  April 3-7, 2023

Unassigned Day (no school) – April 24, 2023 Memorial Day (no school) – May 29, 2023 Last Day of School – June 15, 2023


Calendars 2022-2023: Start & End Dates For All Other LA County Districts: 

ABC Unified School District: August 22, 2022 – June 8, 2023 

Alhambra Unified School District: August 9, 2022 – May 26, 2023

Arcadia Unified School District: August 17/18, 2022 – June 7, 2023 

Antelope Valley Union High School District: August 8, 2022 – June 1, 2023 

Baldwin Park Unified School District: August 18, 2022 – June 8, 2023 

Bellflower Unified School District: August 11, 2022 – June 1, 2023 

Beverly Hills Unified School District: August 15, 2022 – June 1, 2023 

Burbank Unified School District: August 15, 2022 – May 25, 2023

Compton Unified School District: August 18, 2022 – June 9, 2023 

Conejo Valley Unified School District: August 24, 2022 – June 15/16, 2023

Culver CityUnified School District:  August 18, 2022- June 9, 2023

Downey Unified School District: August 17, 2022 – June 7, 2023 

Duarte Unified School District: August 12, 2022 – May 27, 2022

El Segundo Unified School District August 23, 2022 – June 9, 2023

Glendale Unified School District: August 17, 2022 – June 7, 2023 

Hermosa Beach City School District: September 6, 2022 – June 22, 2023 

Inglewood School District: August 22, 2022 – June 8, 2023

La Canada Unified School District: August 15, 2022 – June 2, 2023 

Las Virgenes Unified School District: August 24, 2022 – June 14, 2023

Long Beach Unified School District: August 31, 2022 – June 15, 2023 

Manhattan Beach Unified School District: August 24, 2022 – June 15, 2023

Monrovia Unified School District: August 17, 2022 – June 7, 2023

Montebello Unified School District: August 15, 2022 – June 9, 2023

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District August 11, 2022 – May 31, 2023

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District: August 24, 2022 – June 8, 2023

Paramount Unified School District: August 17, 2022 – June 8, 2023 

Pasadena Unified School District: August 11, 2022 – June 1, 2023 

Pomona Unified School District: August 11, 2022 – May 31, 2023

Redondo Beach Unified School District: August 17, 2022 – June 8, 2023 

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District: August 18, 2022 – June 9, 2023

South Pasadena Unified School District: August 11, 2022 – June 1, 2023

Torrance Unified School District: August 25, 2022 – June 15, 2023

West Covina Unified School District: August 18, 2022 – June 9, 2023

William S. Hart Union High School District: August 9, 2022 – June 1, 2023