Mike Downey, Test Prep Specialist

07/26/2023

I am very sad to say the my beloved husband, Mike Downey, passed away Monday after struggling for several months with the effects of aggressive AML (acute myeloid leukemia). Though his body got weaker, his spirit remained strong. He was determined to have more joy than pain each day ❤ We were so blessed to have more than 22 years together.
Celebration of Life for Mike Downey will be held Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Longview Funeral Home, 12700 SE Raytown Road, Kansas City MO 64149. Visitation 2:00-3:00 p.m. Memorial celebration 3:00-4:00 p.m. Casual dress suggested.
Obituary will be posted at https://www.longviewfuneralhome.com/obituaries/mike-downey
They include a map link as the location can be hard to find.
https://google.com/maps?q=38.8907419,-94.4769874

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

05/07/2023

Here is a health update...... Also would LOVE to hear what my former students are up to.
Prayer After Cancer Diagnosis by Michael Downey 816 419 1886
Well, once upon time last year, I was diagnosed with leukemia. I felt like Peanuts' Pigpen with a dark cloud surrounding me: fearful, unsure what to do.
So I went to went to my childhood Saint Agnes Church in KC. I had gone to that church 5 days a week, grades 1-8. I considered being a priest in 5th & 6th grade because I liked words and the Bible had some fine advice I could share with people experiencing weddings, death, divorce, depression, etc.... A priest seemed like a good way to help people and have a worthwhile life ........... But by 8th grade, girls were discovered, and that ended my religious vocation. And I've got 13 grandkids to prove it!
I was astonished at how small the church was that had loomed so large in my boyhood days. A side altar had a life-sized statue of Mary standing with her arms out in blessing. Some candles were available for $3. I used a punk ignited from the lowest burning candle and lit a candle on the top shelf before Mary's foot that I noticed was smashing a serpent's neck.
There was only one place to kneel, with pads for knees and forearms. Everything was arranged so that Mary's eyes looked straight into my soul. I wondered what to pray for, and I didn't know how to begin. Do I ask for a miracle cure? To live longer?
I was flooded with memories of blessings I have received: 74 years good health, wonderful family & friends. All the thousands of students I taught. Every day the students and I learned many things, and with many smiles & laughs, and very good academic work. Many times I felt SO fortunate to discuss favorite novels, poems and plays with smart young people. To see so much improvement in so many students. And to actually get paid for that!
I remembered fishing in a boat shared with a friend. Bagging 2 turkeys with 1 shot. My 16-point buck, biggest of 20 I've harvested. Shooting the best golf of my life at 73, winning $295 in a tournament.
I remembered Venice, Shakespeare plays in London, Andorra honeymoon, New Orleans and the Rockies.
I wept with joy and gratitude for the life I have lived.

I started to leave but then thought, if I did have the attention of Mary and/or God, maybe I could pray for something in the future. The best I could say: "If it's not too much trouble to You up there, with each remaining day of my life, may I have more joys than pains."

I stood up, pulled out my billfold for the $3 candle donation, and looked at emptiness. I had played a splendid round of golf the day before and had given my last $3 as a bonus tip for bartender.

Mary doesn't seem to mind......... the next 313 days, including today, that prayer has been answered.

08/16/2021

TUTORING BUSINESS FOR SALE
I am retiring after 20 great years tutoring. I helped 2,500 students, increasing grades and ACT scores (+3 points average).
My tutoring business is for sale.... ($500 Finder's Fee if you send the buyer)
A great part-time job which earned $20,000 - $35,000 per year. The buyer gets all my tips, materials and proven methods, with guidance how to make it work, plus future referrals.
Candidates might be current or retired teachers, smart college students or recent grads, or (grand)parents of high school students.

See MikeDowney.net for list of assets and price.

03/20/2020

Now is the perfect time to get your student, your class, your school, your district on AceReader -- an internet based reading improvement program for grades 3 to college! Watch these two videos, then give me at call at 816-419-1886.
Prices: $20 per student in school groups. Only $40 for individuals -- but get it from me, not AceReader, so I can monitor student use.
https://youtu.be/koiZ9frSeYs (short intro)
https://youtu.be/W0MaRPiRQnU (for educators)

AceReader is a powerful instructional web application designed to improve reading speed, fluency and comprehension.

08/29/2018

All Workshop descriptions:
INTAKE. 30 ?'s to help me figure out how to help you. Evaluate your reading and test taking/anxiety background. Good to bring previous test scores (ACT, (P)SAT, ASPIRE, HSPT, EXPLORE, etc.) and answer sheets/booklets. Nice if parent can attend first 30 minutes. Usually paired with another regular workshop of 2 hours. $40 per hour, plus $25-$30 for book. Private sessions for $50 per hour. If group session is posted & you are only attendee, $40 rate applies.

SUPER SESSIONS now offered for students who have scored 26+ on corresponding sections of ACT or 550 on sections of (P)SAT. Cover in 2 hours the regular 3 hours of English, Math or Science. Also cover Reading Tips, Methods, and Advanced AceReader in 2 hours. Also get advanced tips in each session that are seldom given to students who score lower. Cost is standard $40 per hour. The pace is streamlined with advanced content.

INTRO TO ACEREADER. Award-winning reading improvement Internet program. Students receive free login (worth $70). See AceReader.com for more info. But should login thru Mr. D. so he can monitor progress. Ideally, bring a charged computer or tablet to session.

ENGLISH I & II. General English tips for scientifically selecting correct answer. 5 ways to Dumb Down the Test. 12 sentences have 2 ?'s in them -- how to answer more easily. How to analyze pronouns (5 ?'s on test). How to analyze verbs (6 ?'s on test). Misplaced modifiers (1 or 2 ?'s)
ENGLISH III. Adding material (3 ?'s), sequence of paragraphs or sentences (3?'s). The #1 ? on test is wordiness (25 of 75 ?'s). #2 is punctuation, mainly commas (14 ?'s). #3 is joining 2 sentences & punctuating lists (8 ?'s). Comparisons (1-2 ?'s). Parallel structure (2-3 ?'s)

MATH I and II. Write down Mr. D's #1 math tip -- probably good for a 1-3 point ACT raise and 5% up in ANY math class, (depending how much & well the tip is done.) How to solve 90% of all algebra, geometry, and radical problems. EVERY wrong answer can be gotten using given info, but doing wrong thing with calculator -- how to avoid wrong answers.
MATH III. Slope shortcuts, story problems, bases. probability, triangles & formulas.

READING METHODS. Which of 5 ways to read a passage (or a textbook) is your best way? Criteria: speed, how it felt, comprehension score.

READING TIPS. How to find your strongest and weakest of 4 passage types. Which passages to do first on test to raise score a point or 2. Only 2 kinds of ?'s on test: referring & reasoning. How to look up answers: main idea, vocabulary, mood, tone, except/not.

SCIENCE I and II. How to find your strongest and weakest type of passage. Tips for Data Representation and Research Summaries (Multiple Experiments) passages. How to avoid all the wrong answers that ARE in the data.
SCIENCE III. Conflicting Viewpoints/Fighting Scientists. Scientists 1 and 2 always discuss one topic. (Ex. Why toads are dying in farm ponds. Or, if repeated losing and gaining weight makes it harder to stay thin.) Find out how to determine the position of each scientist, what evidence each uses, and how Scientist 2 disagrees with Scientist 1. This passage has no graphs to trick students. All you have to do is answer the above questions as you read.

GENERAL TEST TIPS 1 & 2. What to do weeks and the night before test. How to review everything important the night before test. 12 Things to get ready before test. How to answer questions and gain 2-3 minutes per section. Strategies to relax yet stay alert during test. 7 things to do if you think you don't know an answer. What 3 things to text Mr. D after test.

ESSAY TIPS I. (1 hour) All communication has 2 components: main ideas and specific details to support & convince. How to invent good titles. How to brainstorm/outline before writing. Learn 8 kinds of introductions. Writing assignments given. Mr. D can also help with any school writing.

ESSAY TIPS II. (1 hour) Writing body paragraphs & using sources. Learn 12 kinds of conclusions. How to quickly write first drafts. Mr. D can also help with any school writing.

ESSAY TIPS III. (1 hour) How to proofread & edit. Get the most from any reader or peer review to help you improve paper. MLA form. Mr. D can also help with any school writing.

COLLEGE ESSAY. (1 hour) Learn what makes a good and a weak essay. Brainstorm topics, outline an essay or 2. Then, by phone, email and/or in person, Mr. D will help proofread, edit, and write final version. May require more than 1 hour. This may also be blended in with ESSAY TIPS 1, 2, or 3.

STUDY SKILLS for all classes. (1 hour) Neat Notebook (Never lose a school paper); how to read a boring textbook chapter and get A or B on test, one tip good for +5% in ALL classes; Environmental Inventory (determine best light, heat, sound, location, furniture/posture for you to learn your best)

MEMORY TIPS (3 one-hour sessions). Assess best way for you to memorize different things. You will be given 10 - 30 different ways to memorize things, with handouts and examples. Bring textbook or study guide or terms/formulas from any class and discover how to easily memorize them.

SEMESTER STUDY STRATEGY. (1 hour). Mr. D's #1 tip -- good for +10% in ANY class. How to prepare for final exams and large tests. Why to only fill out 1/3 of study guides and use hours saved to make memory tips for what you don't know. How to study for big tests if no study guides are given. How to find out what you don't know and several ways to memorize things. A fun way to learn what you still don't know the night before exam.

02/10/2017

Delighted to help hundreds of students via ACT training workshop for 50 teachers from 3 Catholic high schools Feb. 17! I'm covering test content & best strategies to help students.

09/16/2015

Tuned up 57 seniors at Alta Vista Charter High School for Oct. 24 ACT test. 43% improved scores 1 - 3 points!!!! Exciting to help a whole senior class score better!