Planning Your Summer of Success: Grades 4-8

March 21, 2023

Jaehee Ahn

Planning Your Summer of Success: Grades 4-8

The summer is an essential time for students to grow: both academically and physically. While many parents will think of the summer as a time to recharge for the next academic year, the truth comes down to simple numbers.

The average school year is approximately 165 days, and the average summer break is 84 days. That means summer break is nearly half a school year! When you consider how much your child learns and grows in a semester, it becomes clear that summer break is very long! Summer break is too long to just be a time to recharge. We can even see this in our children, who ache for summer break but often become bored halfway through.

I’ve seen students grow a head taller over the summer. I’ve seen students change so much over summer break that I’ve hardly recognized them when they came back to MEK Review in the Fall! But just as children grow physically over the summer, they can develop tremendous academic growth too — if we give them the best resources to do so!

– Ann Ahn, Head Academic Counselor

Plan your child’s Summer of Success with the virtual MEK Learning Circles (MLC) and our many other programs, designed to lead your child to success, no matter what grade or academic goal!

Below are the different ways you can plan your MEK Summer schedule, based on your child’s upcoming grade and academic goal:

Grades 4-8: Set a strong foundation for school success.

Our MLC Department provides course recommendations for both current and new students based on current class performance or Student Evaluation scores.

MLC-Standard & MLC-Enriched

In Summer 2023, all MLC-Standard and MLC-Enriched classes are offered twice a week both virtually and in-person on our Closter and Palisades Park campuses.

MLC MATH: STANDARD & ENRICHED

Operations & Number Sense Math Circles
Mondays & Wednesdays | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Problem Solving Math Circles
Mondays & Wednesdays | Tuesdays & Thursdays

MLC ENGLISH: STANDARD & ENRICHED

Critical Reading Circles
Mondays & Wednesdays | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Writing Circles
Mondays & Wednesdays | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Most students take one Math and one English course. Please be advised that we recommend taking MLC Operations and Number Sense prior to taking MLC Problem Solving Math and MLC Writing prior to taking MLC Critical Reading. Learn more about our MLC courses here.

For Summer 2023, we’re running our Second Early Bird Discount period until 6/3, where you’ll get 10% off your registration if you put down a $300 deposit and another 5% if you pay in full before 6/3! Plus, we have packaged course deals so you can save even more! If you register for 2 or more MLC courses, you’ll get 5% off the combined invoice!

Grades 6-7: Have a fun and enriching challenge.

Students entering grades 6 and 7 who show exceptional performance in their current MLC course or their Student Evaluation are recommended to take MLC Advanced, Non-Fiction Reading and/or Mr. Ahn’s Perfect Circle.

MLC-Advanced

For ambitious 6th and 7th graders performing above grade-level who are looking for a challenge and are planning to apply to elite high schools may take our MLC-Advanced classes. MLC-Advanced classes help students deepen their understanding of core English and Math skills, while preparing students for tough standardized and admissions tests. Classes are offered both virtually and in-person on our Closter and Palisades Park campuses.

Non-Fiction Reading

6th and 7th graders who place higher than their grade level in English may take the Non-Fiction Reading course in conjunction with an MLC Math class. The Non-Fiction Reading class teaches students how to read and analyze on a higher level using current events articles and debate topics. Students prepare weekly oral presentations and participate in discussions. Non-Fiction Reading classes are offered virtually and in-person on our Closter campus.

Non-Fiction Reading 6
Virtual | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 1:40 PM – 2:50 PM
Closter | Fridays | 8:30 AM – 10:50 AM

Non-Fiction Reading 7
Virtual | Mondays & Wednesdays | 1:40 PM – 2:50 PM
Closter | Fridays | 10:50 AM – 1:10 PM

Mr. Ahn’s Perfect Circle

6th and 7th graders who place higher than their grade level in Math may take Mr. Ahn’s Perfect Circle (MAPC) in conjunction with an MLC English class. MAPC introduces students to advanced level math and the timed pressures of the math competition. It prepares students for math competitions in the Fall and Spring and is offered both virtually and in-person on our Closter campus.

Mr. Ahn’s Perfect Circle
Virtual | Mondays & Wednesdays | 2:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Closter | Fridays | 1:40 PM – 4:00 PM

Students who place higher than their grade level in both subjects may take both Non-Fiction Reading and MAPC courses, as they do not overlap in schedule!

These courses offer students a fun summer challenge before they enter the academic year.

Grades 4-7: Prepare for admissions to private middle schools.

In Summer 2023, MEK is offering group SSAT or ISEE classes for students entering grades 4 through 7. Students will learn test-taking strategies and content-related skills to boost their performance on the Verbal, Reading, and Math sections of the SSAT and the ISEE.

SSAT/ISEE 7
Closter | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 8:30 AM – 10:50 AM

Grade 8: Prepare for admissions to Bergen County magnet schools.

Students entering the 8th grade who are interested in applying to the Bergen County magnet schools (Bergen County Academies, Bergen Tech, Academies @Englewood) are recommended to join our Exam Prep 8 course in the Summer term, after a BCA Evaluation Test and MEK Learning Circles Evaluation Test.

Exam Prep 8
Virtual | Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays | Multiple Times
8:30 AM – 10:50 AM / 10:50 AM – 1:10 PM / 1:40 PM – 4:00 PM

Closter | Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays | Multiple Times
8:30 AM – 10:50 AM / 10:50 AM – 1:10 PM

Palisades Park | Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays | Multiple Times
9:40 AM – 12:00 PM / 12:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Students who show difficulty in the English section of the BCA Evaluation may be recommended to take the MLC Writing course, which will train students to be independent writers.

As part of our packaged course deals for Summer 2023, you’ll get 15% off a High School Honors or MLC course if you register for SSAT/ISEE 7/8 or Exam Prep 8!

Grade 8: Prepare for admissions to private high schools.

Students entering the 8th grade who are interested in applying to private high schools are recommended to take either our Exam Prep 8 or SSAT/ISEE 8 course. Students who are currently in our Spring Pre-High School Prep course or who achieve high scores on a qualifying evaluation test are recommended to take the SSAT/ISEE 8 course, which is a higher level course than Exam Prep 8.

SSAT/ISEE 8
Virtual | Tuesdays & Thursdays | Multiple Times
8:30 AM – 10:50 AM / 1:40 PM – 4:00 PM

Palisades Park | Tuesdays & Thursdays | Multiple Times
9:40 AM – 12:00 PM / 12:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Closter | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10:50 AM – 1:10 PM

Get Started

No matter what your goal is, MEK has a summer plan ready for you! Don’t miss out on our Early Bird Discount to get 10% or more off on your registration, available until 6/3! Contact us TODAY to get started.

If you haven’t done so already, sign up for a free student evaluation for placement in our MLC classes!

Jaehee Ahn

Jaehee Ahn is MEK Review's Director of Academic Counseling Services and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. She is also an alumnus of MEK Review's SAT Prep program. If you have any questions about our College Counseling programs or wish to set up a consultation, you can email Jaehee at acs@mekreview.com.

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Planning Your Summer of Success: Grades 4-8

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Planning Your Summer of Success: Grades 4-8