Elementary and Secondary Tutoring.

| Literacy | Math & Numeracy | Spelling & Grammar | Science | Writing | Study Skills | Brain Gym |

Literacy for Young Readers

For young children, learning to read is a rite of passage and a gateway to further learning. It is also a complex process that requires the integration of several distinct thinking skills. Readers must visually track a line of text, decode the letter symbols, form them into a fluent word, combine words into sentences and sentences into stories, and comprehend and remember the meaning of the story. We use a variety of strategies to identify weak links in this chain and strengthen them, thus building the integrated thinking skills that reading demands.

For children who have experienced months or years of frustration related to reading, restoring their natural curiosity and desire to learn is often the first step. Every item in our reading library is carefully selected to be engaging to a child of one age or another, and we regularly show our own love of reading in order to encourage theirs.

Math and Numeracy

Success in math is elusive for many students, even those that have a natural talent for logical thinking. Part of our work as math tutors is to make seemingly abstract concepts clearer by showing the real-world grounding behind them. We also work against math’s intimidating reputation, so that each student can see his or her potential for success and begin to realize it. Finally, we work through specific math skills according to Ontario curriculum guidelines, utilizing Jump Math and several other teaching techniques and blending them with more general development for logical thinking skills. Students of our math program are surprised by how well they can do!

Spelling and Grammar

Spelling and grammar are common focus areas for our students. Frequent reading will create a model and a memory of appropriate use, and students will also benefit from an improved understanding of the language’s structural rules. Our tutors will adjust the balance between these two approaches to suit the student’s individual learning style. We use a wide assortment of techniques, from cloze exercises to ‘mad libs’ and more, to help students improve their grammar and spelling.

Science

For students studying physics or chemistry, our knowledgeable tutors offer clear and memorable explanations of natural science. We present this knowledge in a way that supports the sense of wonder rather than working against it, which helps keep the students interested and motivated. We also teach several techniques that help students remember the wide array of facts that they learn, and relaxation techniques that help them recall their knowledge in a testing environment. All of this translates into increased success in science.

Writing

Writing is a vital means of self-expression and communication for any individual, from a child learning to form letter symbols to a high school student mastering his or her rhetorical technique. Our tutors are polished and talented writers who are trained to teach many aspects of the writing process. We can address physical challenges by teaching proper typing and penmanship, or encourage storytelling and creativity by having the student create a story for the tutor to put on screen. Whether they’re writing a five-paragraph persuasive essay or a free verse poem, we encourage students to appreciate the internal rewards of self-expression, and to enjoy the success that comes with effective communication.

Study Skills

Time management and organizational skills become more important with every year of school. Tutoring for any subject will include an assessment of the student's study skills, and we will help the student develop these skills in a way that suits their individual learning style. We also offer an intensive study skills program for students that need more focus on this area.

Brain Gym

Brain Gym, or Educational Kinesiology, is a system of physical exercises that stimulates neurological development through mind/body linkages. This mental workout prepares a student for success at school in the same way that strength training prepares an athlete for success in sports. Brain Gym has been proven effective many times over, especially for children with disabilities, but best of all it’s fun! All of our tutors are qualified to teach the 26 Brain Gym movements and several related exercises.