Roosevelt High School ACT Prep Class

Welcome Roosevelt High School Students!

On behalf of Breakaway Test Prep, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with you this spring and look forward to helping you prepare for your upcoming April 19th ACT!

Breakaway has developed a comprehensive ACT prep program to guide you through all four sections of the ACT – English, math, reading and science – and provide you with invaluable insights about the test and how you be ready for it.

To help you make the most of your prep class, here is some important information about the class and what you can expect:

Breakaway has developed a series of EIGHT ACT lessons for you to watch online at your convenience. Each lesson is one hour in length and will include important insights about frequently tested concepts, test-taking techniques and time management strategies.
You should work through the eight lessons in numerical order, as each lesson will include some homework that you will need to complete in advance of the next lesson.
You have also been furnished with a “binder” of materials, including printed copies of a lesson manual and four ACT exams. Separately, you have also been provided with two “loose” ACT exams and two bubble forms.
You should plan to have your binder of materials with you when you watch the videos. You will do homework and in-session practice using the tests in that binder.
The loose tests and bubble forms can be used for our weekend practice tests, which I describe below.
Breakaway recommends that all students take one or two of our weekend practice tests. Breakaway runs full-length proctored live practice exams EVERY weekend and you are welcome and encouraged to join us anytime. You will take the practice test from home but log into a Zoom session through which we live provide proctoring. Please click here to see a list of test dates and to register for a test. There is NO cost for a Roosevelt High School student to take a test with Breakaway.
From our experience, we know that students do NOT like taking these tests, as, like the real ACT, they are three hours in length and require students to get up early on a Saturday or Sunday and spend the morning testing. That said, we believe there is no better way for you to practice what you are learning in your lessons or to get your mind and body prepared for a long and stressful ACT exam.

I am pleased to introduce you to the two instructors who will lead your prep classes. Nancy Loewen, who will lead the lessons on English and reading, is an accomplished author, who has published more than 130 books for children and young adults. Four to the Pole (co-authored with polar explorer Ann Bancroft) and The LAST Day of Kindergarten were Minnesota Book Award finalists. Nancy has also received awards from The American Library Association, the New York Public Library, and the Society of School Librarians International. Nancy earned a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Minnesota State Mankato (graduating summa cum laude) and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University.

For math and science, Rod Olarte will provide the instruction. Rod is a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota. Rod has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology and a minor in Art Practice from UC Berkeley, a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Cornell University and a PhD in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Rod has taught high school and college level courses and his teaching strategies may be custom tailored to any student’s needs.

Below, you will find the links to each of the eight lessons.

Thank you for the opportunity to help you prepare for your ACT!

Best regards,

Ron Michalak
President
Breakaway Test Prep

Breakaway’s ONLINE ACT Prep Class

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

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Breakaway does so much more than just college prep. Your holistic approach to the “whole” child is a gift that keeps on giving well beyond testing. My dyslexic son walked into your program believing himself a poor test taker and just plain “stupid.” He walks away with a 10-point improvement in his results, an ACT score in the 90th percentile, happily proving to himself that he is, beyond all doubt, really quite bright! We so appreciate all the time you took to meet with us, to identify and even change teachers to find the perfect personality and teaching style fit for our son. Thank you for all you do for our children, their futures and perhaps even more importantly, their self-esteem!

Suburban Minneapolis Family
Just wanted to touch base with you. My son `{`a senior at Minnetonka High School`}` scored 4 points higher! He was very excited. Thanks again for the excellent tutoring, you accomplished a lot in only 2 sessions. I will definitely be recommending you to all my friends and family.

Minnetonka father
Just wanted to let you know that my son got his ACT scores back and he scored a 35! Thank you so much for all Breakaway did to help him do so well!

Orono Parent
I appreciate the detailed feedback on my students. In a way, I think they are both looking forward to taking the ACT (and also be glad once it's over). I believe you have instilled a greater degree of confidence, subject knowledge and a positive outlook on the whole process for them....I thank you for that. They have both enjoyed your teaching process and how well you connect with them. My only regret is that we didn't hook up sooner

Benilde St. Margaret's parent
Holy Mother of God! Check this out! A 35! Amazing results – I’m glad he persevered and took it one more time. Thank you!

Breck parent
My daughter was so excited! I almost emailed you Saturday with her news that she scored a 35, but she wanted to tell you in person at last night's lesson. I am very happy for her - and so grateful for your help.

Blake parent
We really appreciated the ability of Breakaway to tailor test prep to our child’s needs. Our daughter began with group sessions and weekend test sessions. The feedback allowed her to efficiently address her weaknesses with one-on-one tutoring. Ron’s personal attention to matching his instructors to our daughter’s needs was greatly appreciated. His follow-through was impressive. Breakaway is a great option for a kid that is willing to work. A real difference-maker.

Edina parent
Thank you for all your great preparation. My daughter scored a 35 overall with 36s in English and Science. Math was a 33. I was very pleased with Breakaway and your personal attention to my daughter. I have already passed your name along to several other parents.

Breck parent
Thanks for all you do. You have given us so much hope for our son. If not for you, we never would have had our son tested for dyslexia.....nor would he have received the extra time he needs. Thanks again

Suburban Minneapolis family
I am so grateful to have had you for both of our daughters last year. My older daughter accepted an invitation to attend her reach school - tough to get into and just awesome. You helped her get from a 22 to a 26 (31 in Science and 30 in math). Without that, she wouldn’t have this opportunity next year. Thank you for all you do! I have one more daughter so if you are still doing this in a few years, we will see you again!

St. Paul family
Ron, I asked my son if he had contacted you about his test scores yet, and he said he had. So I won't be spoiling his surprise of telling you he received a composite score of 34!! Wow, quite an achievement. Most probably the biggest of his life to date. It will open more doors to him than he can imagine and that will also affect the rest of his life as well. Thanks for spending your time with him and obviously doing a fabulous job. I asked my son about the sessions and he said that besides going over the wrong answers on the sample tests, you helped him to understand what sort of thinking process they were looking for. Thanks for 'reaching' him and teaching him in a style he could comprehend. Great work!! You should feel a great sense of satisfaction for getting kids to achieve so greatly. You are gifted! Thanks again.

Parent of a Breck Student
I got a 33 composite!!! I wanted to thank you so much for everything you have done for me regardless of the outcome, but especially now that we can see all of our time and hard work pay off for me today. You took me from a very confused and hopeless but dedicated worker with a 21, my first test with you, all the way to a top tier 33 score. I cannot thank you enough.

Mounds Park Academy student
Thank you for the follow up Ron, and for your continued work with our daughter. It's truly rewarding to see her so motivated and proud of her own achievements. You have inspired her to reach beyond what she thought was possible. We knew she had it in her all along, but sometimes a 'non-parent' voice and coach makes all the difference. Thanks for being that difference in her life at a critical period!

Eastridge High School parent
Ron, you are great - thank you! I can't tell you the peace of mind my husband and I have about all of this stuff with your advice, guidance, and tutoring for our daughter.

Blake School parent
We’re grateful to you Ron. You spend so much time with the students AND the parents AND the follow up….you’re a busy guy!! I don’t know what we’d do without you and are so happy that your name was given to us. We will pass your name on!

Edina High School parent
Thank you so much for working with our son to prepare for the ACT test. I'm thrilled with his first test results.... this is a direct result of having more skills and more confidence in taking the test, which he has gained from working with you. He's so open and receptive to working with you. You're a great teacher!

Wayzata High School parent
Thank you for your lesson summaries. I read every bit. My daughter is re-energized by her new results. Thanks again for your excellent coaching. My daughter highly respects you.

Edina High School parent
We all agree that test prep with you has been time and money well spent. It's an added bonus that we got to know you in the process!

Breck Upper School parent
You accomplished in a few hours what years of schooling and countless explanations from me couldn't.

Mounds Park Academy parent
`{`I liked the`}` clear communication to parents and to student, very well organized, good rapport with student, very positive and encouraging but with high standards.

Edina High School parent
`{`I liked`}` the individual attention to areas of need – not to mention that the personality of the tutor was a great match.

Hopkins High School parent
Ron explained things in a way that made sense to my son and gave him useful strategies for the test questions. He felt like Ron was working with him towards a common goal and enjoyed their sessions. He did not feel ``tutored`` or like the sessions were turning summer into homework. Rather, he felt like they were a team and that Ron really cared about his progress.

Mounds Park Academy parent
Our family was very pleased with the ACT instruction our daughter received from Ron Michalak. We learned about his test preparation instruction from a neighbor and subsequently recommended him to several of our friends. Ron was well-prepared and organized, and he approached lessons with the perfect mix of focus and humor. He raised her practice scores significantly by focusing on the areas in which she needed the most review and continuing to help her gain points in her stronger subject areas.

Hopkins High School parent

Roosevelt High School ACT Prep Class

Breakaway’s ONLINE ACT Prep Class

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BREAKAWAY

Edina / Main Office

Eden Prairie

Learning Disabilities

Plymouth / Northwest Suburbs

St. Paul / Mendota Heights

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