Our Summer Session 2016 Begins Today

Our Summer Session 2016 begins today!  Call now to enroll in one of our courses to make your next academic year even better.  We provide SAT and ACT prep courses for $500, study skills for $150, and reading or math improvement for $350.  Call now to select your spot in our Summer Session!

All courses are one-on-one based on an initial assessment that shows the specific needs of each student.

Why Hire SLF Consulting for your Tutoring Needs?

There are many math tutors, test prep and tutoring businesses that provide assistance to numerous students for any number of reasons to include improving grades, preparing for SAT, ACT, SOL, and other standardized tests, and study skills.  Some tutors and tutoring businesses charge more than others for their services.  How do you know who to hire or which tutoring business to choose to help the student in your life?  Some of these businesses charge monthly fees, initial assessment fees, and registration fees - and yet do not provide one-on-one instruction unless additional money is paid.  Some monthly fees are $299 - $339 per month - and that includes being in a group setting, not in a one-on-one setting.  And some of the tutors working in these businesses are not licensed and certificated educators.  

So why hire SLF Consulting for your tutoring needs?

• Sara Fitts is a licensed and certificated educator with more than 30 years of experience working with students
• Every session is one-on-one based on the specific needs of the student
• The $65 per hour fee includes unlimited texts/calls/emails for additional help during the week as well as the initial assessment
• Every session includes academic coaching, strategies and techniques for academic success, and motivation in addition to the session topic
• We work with students at all grade levels - including college - in mathematics, reading, time management, motivation, study skills, and test prep as well as transitions from high school to college, middle school to high school, elementary school to middle school, and college to work
• SLF Consulting has a proven track record since 2000 of improving grades and test scores and assisting clients in getting into the colleges of their dreams
• SLF Consulting uses Sara's Little Formula - and no one else has that!

SLF Consulting can help the student in your life with math, reading, test prep, study skills - and usually the results occur quickly.  Contact us today to see how Sara's Little Formula can help you.  Click here to contact us today.

What Sara's Little Formula Can Do

What can Sara's Little Formula actually do?

1. Help students improve their grades.
2. Help students get into the colleges of their dreams.
3. Increase standardized test scores.
4. Transition from high school to college - or from middle school to high school.
5. Transition to full-time employment.
6. Calm stress and reduce struggle.
7. Solve problems - quicker, easier, and with much less stress.
8. Teach students how to communicate more effectively.
9. Motivate and cultivate environments for success.
10. Manage time for study.  Manage time for success.
11. Break down lessons into simpler concepts.
12. Assist with the college application process.
13. Reduce parent's stress.
14. Help create successful students who are happier, calmer, and much more productive.

Sara Fitts and SLF Consulting have been using Sara's Little Formula for more than 30 years - with a proven track record of success.  For more information about how Sara's Little Formula can work for you - or the student in your life - contact us today.

SLF Consulting is located in Manassas, VA at 8425 Dorsey Circle, Suite 102.  We provide tutorials in algebra 1,2, and 3, geometry, trig, prob/stats, pre-calculus, and SAT prep in addition to academic coaching, time management, study skills, and vocabulary and reading improvement. 

Summer Catalog of Courses

For more than 30 years Sara Fitts has developed a formula for working with students that gets results.  She relies on her experience as a math teacher, administrator and instructional coach to improve the way students learn. With more than 24 years in public education and owning SLF Consulting since 2000, her track record speaks for itself.  Our clients have been accepted into numerous colleges and universities - including Virginia Tech, UMass, Brown, UCLA, JMU, GMU, and UVA to name but a few.

SLF Consulting uses a one-on-one approach to teaching and learning that is based on the specific needs of each individual student.  We provide academic coaching that enhances each tutorial session and paves the way for the next level of learning.  We work with students to meet a variety of needs:  to improve grades, to learn new concepts, to remediate needed skills, and to improve self-esteem.  We reduce stress and struggle for students as well as for their parents.

Sara's Little Formula is the crucial distinction that sets Sara Fitts and SLF Consulting apart from all other tutors and test prep companies.  We work with each student in a one-on-one setting to improve the learning environment and only work on the specific needed skills of each student.  SLF Consulting does not use a cookie-cutter approach to teaching and learning.  Every lesson, every session, and every course is prepared only for the individual student.  And that is why SLF Consulting has been effective and successful in getting the results that students and parents want and need.

If you want to experience successful academic results, contact SLF Consulting today.  Limited space is available in our Summer Session - beginning on Monday, July 6.

For a complete listing of our course offerings, check out our Summer Catalog of Courses here.

3 Study Structures that Improve Learning by 100%

Sara's Little Formula is highlighting 3 study structures in today's post that will improve your learning by 100% if you utilize them together.  If you choose to only use 1 of these structures, you will still improve your learning significantly.  Try them and let me know what your results are.  A study structure is simply a tool that helps you learn.

The first study structure that I recommend to all my students and clients is index cards.  I prefer the use of spiral-bound index cards, but any index cards in any color or size will provide a structure for study and for improved learning.

How you use the index cards is really up to you and your specific and particular learning needs and/or subject; however, I promote using one side of the card for a vocabulary word and the other side of the card for the definition or example.  This study structure can be used with any topic, any subject area, as well as any grade-level.  Lots of college students utilize this structure with great success.  I used this structure with students in algebra, geometry, trig, pre-calculus, and AP Statistics.  It really does work.  And if you prefer a digital version of this study structure, you can use Quizlet .

The second study structure that I recommend to all students and clients is My Textbook Page.  This study structure can be used for any subject area.  When I utilize this with my students and clients it becomes My Math Textbook Page.  This tool can be used for every topic in math class.  The way I organize the page is to list the topic or concept at the top of the page and then to divide the page into 6 blocks - 3 on each side of the page.  The blocks should have the following labels:  Summary of the Concept; Examples or Step-by-Step instructions; Hints and Tips; The most important things to understand about this concept; How this concept/topic relates to other topics/concepts we've studied; websites and links to find out more or to practice.  Again, with any study structure it must relate and be meaningful to you and your specific learning style.  So make My Textbook Page work for you.  And if you want this to be digital, take a few minutes to create a template on your device for your use.  When test time comes around, you will have your very own textbook written by you as your own study structure.  If you have questions or want to see a copy of one I've used, contact me.

The third study structure that I recommend to my students and clients is a daily exit ticket from class.  You can use an index card for this or have a separate section in your notebook for these.  Also, you can do this digitally by using certain apps - Whiteboard is one.  Often times your teacher will ask you to complete an exit ticket and turn it in prior to leaving class. The study structure exit ticket is a little different.  This one is an exit ticket you keep for yourself and your own learning.  The exit ticket that I recommend most often is a 3-2-1  that is comprised of 3 things you learned in class today, 2 things you already knew from previous learning, and 1 question you need to answer about the topic.  If you cannot answer the question before the next class, please ask the teacher.  In this way, you will have a strong study structure that will improve your learning - and your grades!

These are simple study structures that can be applied to students from elementary school through graduate school.  They are tried and true - and work when utilized on a regular basis.  If you have questions, please contact me and I'll help you out.

Sara L Fitts is owner and operator of SLF Consulting in Manassas, VA specializing in academic and instructional coaching and consulting, math tutoring and test prep, and college readiness and transition.  For more information visit our website , follow us on Twitter ,and like us on Facebook .

6 Websites that Help with Math Homework

Sara's Little Formula is providing 6 fabulous websites that really can help you with your math homework.  I hope you find these sites helpful.

Mathway provides help with all mathematics courses including higher math - statistics and claculus - as well as chemistry.  You simply write the problem in their text box and they solve it by showing you the steps.

Webmath provides help with all levels of math as well.  Steps are shown as a tutorial.

Khan academy provides help in most subject areas - not just math.  The videos are well-done and very informative.

Math is a website that offers help in all areas of math - including elementary school math.

Paul's Online Math Notes is a website created by a college professor who teaches algebra and calculus 1, 2 and 3.  It is an excellent source of help for your math homework.

PatrickJMT is a website of just math tutorials.  Lots of good videos are on this site to help you with your math homework.

I have found these math websites to be among the best help for students working on their own without benefit of an in-person tutor.  I hope you will find them helpful!



Sara L. Fitts is an academic and instructional coach who owns and operates SLF Consulting in Manassas, VA specializing in math tutoring and test prep, academic and instructional coaching and consulting, and college readiness and transition.  For more information, visit our website , follow us on Twitter , and like us on Facebook .

Here's A Quick Way to Improve Your Math Grade

Sara's Little Formula gives students a quick way to improve their grade in math class - no matter what math class it is.  Whether you are in high school, middle school, or even a college math class, here's a quick way to improve your grade.

1. Know where you stand today in terms of your grade.  Make sure you know exactly what your grade is today.
2. Know the grading scale and the percentage (or number of points) each type of assignment is awarded.  Check the teacher's website, syllabus, and class contract. Spend more time, effort, and energy on the most important and highest percentage assignments.  If homework is only 10% of your grade, and you are already behind, don't waste time making up 10% work when a project or test is awarded 50%.
3. Assess your strengths and weaknesses in this class.  If your strength is homework, make sure you do all problems assigned.  If your weakness is tests and quizzes, make sure you have the dates of each test and quiz in your phone or other digital device.
4. Prepare for tests and quizzes every day - not just the night before.  Make sure you re-cap your notes and class examples every day.  Review your class notes every day.  Practice your example problems every day.  Re-work homework, test, and quiz problems every day.  
5. Ask for help when you need it.  Don't wait until the day before the test!  Utilize office hours, help sessions, before school and after school time with your teacher.  Ask questions in class, before class, and after class if you don't understand a concept.
6. Believe in your ability to get the problem right.  You may think this is rather silly; however, I know it works.  I've seen it work in my students for more than 30 years!  The truth of the matter is this:  whether you believe you can work the problem or not, you are right!  So believe that you can, and get it right!
7. Stay up-to-date on your assignments.  Whenever you get behind, it can really hurt your grade.  So stay on track if you possibly can.  and if you get behind for whatever reason, go back and read #2 and then #3.

Sara L Fitts is an academic coach who helps math students improve their grades in their math classes.  For the past 30 years, Sara has been a math teacher, a high school principal, and an instructional coach.  If you would like to have Sara help you get better grades in your math class, visit her website and complete the contact page.