Courses
READING
Soon-to-be Reader
Getting a strong start when learning to read is essential to a student’s long term academic success. Just like the beginning of any book, the beginning lays out the foundation upon which the rest of the story is developed. Learning to read at Tutoring Excellence starts with the basics of reading skills – from recognizing letters, to identifying sounds, to learning to read words. This is taught using a variety of reading activities; your child gets to see, hear, and touch, which engages them in the learning experience, along with our excellent tutors who motivate your soon-to-be-reader.
- Skills Taught
- Phonics
- Phonemic awareness
- Oral comprehension
- Letter recognition – upper and lowercase
- Identifying letter sounds
- Tracking words – Left to right on page
- Vocabulary
- Sight word recognition
- Read – simple one- syllable words
- Understanding of what is read – predict outcomes – answer questions.
Excellent Reader
Tutoring Excellence offers a reading tutoring program designed to help students in Elementary through Middle School develop the reading skills that they will need in their academic life and beyond. Our highly experienced reading tutors assist students to reach their full reading potential and instilling a strong reading foundation. Our program provides specific extensive practice in seven essential reading skills: Following Directions, Getting the Main Idea, Detecting the Sequence, Getting the Facts, Drawing Conclusions, Identifying Inferences and Using the Context.
Dyslexia Reading Intervention
At Tutoring Excellence, we use the Barton Reading and Spelling system which is grounded in scientifically-based research and recognized throughout the scientific reading research community. The Barton Reading and Spelling System is a structured literacy program that is Orton-Gillingham influenced. It is a multi-sensory, direct, explicit, structured and sequential intense intervention program. Before enrolling in our Dyslexia Reading program, students must have been diagnosed or screened for Dyslexia.
WRITING
Almost daily, parents express to us how poor of a writer their student is. At Tutoring Excellence, we focus on the foundations of writing needed for any student to succeed in their academic journey. First, we focus on your student’s grasp of the English language with the knowledge of grammar rules, spelling and punctuation. Second, we focus on your student’s ability to communicate to their audience. Third, we develop your students reasoning and problem-solving skills. Last, students develop the skill of observation. To learn to write, students need to engage in writing. Not texting, but writing. To accomplish this, we utilize digital media sources and others to assist students to engage in writing.
Academic Writing
As Students enter middle, high school, and college, many find they are not equipped to write up to academic standards. Academic writing is different from all other writing forms, and if it is not practiced regularly students can lose these skills. Tutoring Excellence prepares students for the writing challenges they will face throughout their academic life by focusing on these writing forms: Argumentative papers, research papers, expository writing, and exam and standardized test essays. We work with students to insure the use of proper grammar and clarity in what they are writing. Coaching is done to insure students avoid common pitfalls, including: Active vs. Passive Voice, correct punctuation, and misusing common words. In addition, we work with students to insure proper citation (MLA v APA) and avoid issues of plagiarism.
Creative Writing
Students are exposed to creative writing from an early age and are asked to express their thoughts, feeling, and emotions. Rather than only giving information or inciting the reader to make an action beneficial to the writer, creative writing is written to entertain or educate someone, to spread awareness about something or someone, or to express one’s thoughts. At Tutoring Excellence, we insure our writing students have a strong foundation in grammar and punctuation. We then focus our attention on the most common creative writing forms: Fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. We also explore non-traditional creative writing medians including: Twitter fiction and blogs.
MATH
Tutoring Excellence focuses on Elementary through High School Math. We embrace the challenges of Common Core, yet we still focus on the fundamental skills needed for student success. Starting with Elementary school standards, our students develop their computational and applicational skills so they can advance to word problems and more rigorous problem-solving. Our math program is designed to engage students at their current academic level and develop their skills to be ready for more advanced subjects such as algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus.
Advanced Math
All our advanced math levels focus on three essential areas. First, we look to fill any mathematical learning gaps to ensure students have a strong foundation on which to build. Second, we work to help your child learn and master the new concepts that arise each week in class. Third, we ensure that your child has mastered weekly material and is prepared for important tests, quizzes, and other assignments.
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra
- Algebra II
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Precalculus
- Calculus
- Statistics
SCIENCE
Biology
Advanced biology is a difficult discipline. From understanding the differences between miosis and mitosis to mastering the details of photosynthesis, the study of biology requires a student to grasp concepts that go far beyond the basic science learned in middle school. Given the challenges, we are here to assist. Give us a call today to set up a trial session.
Chemistry
Advanced sciences like chemistry, physics, and biology are extremely challenging and present students with concepts that are foreign to them and often confusing. Classroom teachers face the nearly impossible task of tailoring their instruction time to most students within the room. If your child is falling behind in that environment, we are here to assist. Our tutors are here to provide your child with the encouragement and discipline that is needed to prepare and be ready for that big chemistry test or final exam.
Physics
In our years working with students in physics, we’ve found that they typically have problems in one of two areas. First, most of high school physics is mathematical, and your child may need assistance with the underlying math skills on which physics is based. Second, students struggle with grasping the highly conceptual ideas and theories inherent to the study of physics. Whichever the case, our tutors are here to slow things down for your child and ensure that they fully understand a concept before moving on. A typical tutoring session can involve reviewing difficult ideas, practicing and drilling on problems, working on homework, and preparing for upcoming quizzes and tests. If you are interested in learning more about our service, give us a call to set up a trial season.
COLLEGE PREP
Standardized Test Prep
Tutoring Excellence standardized test prep delivers real results – which means improved scores. Our individualized program targets the essential skills students need to succeed, develops confidence and prepares them for the big test. Our teens maximize their scores because our expert tutors work with them to reduce their text anxiety, improve recall, understand test strategies and demonstrate these skills through multiple practice tests. So, if you need SAT, ACT or PSAT test prep give us a call today to schedule a Free test consultation.
Admission Support
The college admission process is a data driven process, which most high school students are unfamiliar with. College applications involve standardized forms, obligatory exam scores, and formulaic transcripts. Students can be left feeling like the school is more concerned about their data than them as a person. How one presents oneself through the application process will determine if you are accepted to your first-choice school or not. Tutoring Excellence works with your student to ensure the best possible outcome during the application process. Tutoring Excellence focuses on:
- Which Standardized Test is right for you?
- What score do you need to get into your college of choice?
- What is your major going to be?
- Which college best fits you?
- What GPA do you need to get?
- How to write a compelling essay?
College Essay Coaching
Summer is the ideal time for students to start their college admissions essays with our personalized prep program. Our tutors guide your student through all the steps to complete an excellent personal statement by brainstorming, drafting, focusing, and revising.
The amount of applications a college receives has increased dramatically over the years. This has increased the competitive nature of getting accepted into one’s college of choice. Colleges can tend to focus on an over-reliance on data, and this has presented them with having to admit or decline students that meet their academic standards by having the same GPAs, standardized test scores, and required extra-curricular activities. This leaves the college essay – which is the only opportunity for students to showcase who they are as a person.
Writing a college essay for many students is an extremely difficult writing assignment. Figuring out how to write a strong essay that showcases your unique strengths within the constraints of a word limit can feel near impossible. Tutoring Excellence College Essay Coaching is designed to help students craft a compelling essay and personal statement. Our exceptional writing instructors coach and encourage your child toward a finished product that they can be proud of.
SUMMER TUTORING
Elementary and Middle School
Your student has worked so hard this last year to achieve success. Instead of building on that success and maintaining it into the future, our education system gives students three months off from academic learning. No athlete would ever take that amount of time off and expect to perform at their pre-vacation level. When students go back to school, teachers see a decline in their math and reading levels. At Tutoring Excellence, we want to see your child succeed in their academics and not be on the academic roller coaster. Tutoring Excellence summer programs are individualized to your student’s needs. So, if your student is behind in school we can help get them up to grade level, if your child is at grade level we can work them to get them ahead, and if your student is gifted we can work to enrich their learning and keep them challenged.
Study Skills
Learning how to study is not a concept that is taught in many public schools. Students are intuitively expected to know how to study. As they enter middle and high school, many students struggle with these skills or lack them entirely. At Tutoring Excellence, we start by focusing on reading standards which require students to read and comprehend nonfiction passages at grade level, write objective summaries of nonfiction text, and use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Additionally, we focus on developing organizational skills, interpreting visual information in charts, graphs, and timelines, solving analogies, recognizing cause/effect, note taking with graphic organizers, outlining, and writing a report.
High School Students
Summer is a great time to get a head-start on challenging courses for the upcoming school year. We individualize our programs for all the subjects that we tutor. Our summer programs focus on reviewing important fundamentals from the past school year and building on their strong foundation with new concepts that students will face in their upcoming school year. Each of our transition programs includes homework, reading assignments, and practice tests to monitor and map student progress.
Summer SAT / ACT prep program
Summer is a great time to study for your SAT or ACT exam. You have no classwork, so your entire focus can be given to prepare for this exam. During the school year, most students are overwhelmed trying to maintain their GPA and being involved in extracurricular activities. So, take advantage of this time. Our SAT / ACT programs are individualized to your needs, the score you need to go to your top college, and if there is any remedial tutoring needed to assist with reading, writing or math skills.
Transition into Algebra I
Students who follow the Common Core curriculum begin high school with Algebra I, making the transition from middle school challenging. To assist your student with the rigors of this challenging math course, we offer a structured review of pre-algebra topics including: solving equations, translating work problems into equations, exponents, review of polynomials and factoring.
Transition into Algebra II & Geometry
By the time they take the ACT or SAT, most students are rusty at their Algebra skills. Therefore, we start all our advance math classes by reviewing the fundamentals of Algebra. These skills will assist you as you tackle the complex aspects of Algebra II. Our transition program into Algebra II covers: linear equations, functions, solving inequalities, laws of exponents, polynomials, factoring, and using factoring to solve equations.
Our Geometry program consists of: introduction to deductive reasoning, proofs, use of definitions and postulates, definition and properties of parallel lines, and triangles and proofs involving congruent triangles.
Transition into AP Calculus
To ensure student success with the exciting, new concepts in Calculus, a strong algebra foundation is essential. Our program focuses on reviewing advanced algebraic concepts such as complex fractions, fractional powers, the difference quotient, parent functions and graphing, as well as an introduction to limits and basic derivatives – time permitting.
Transition into AP Chemistry & AP Biology
Chemistry is one of the most challenging high school classes. Our program helps students develop a strong understanding of dimensional analysis, atomic theory and periodic trends, and composition and reaction stoichiometry (including empirical and molecular formulas, limiting and excess reactant problems, and solution stoichiometry).
Set yourself up for success in AP Biology! Our program provides students with an overview of basic inorganic chemistry fundamentals, the chemistry of water, and an understanding of the biochemistry macromolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Academic Writing
As Students enter middle, high school, and college, many find they are not equipped to write up to academic standards. Academic writing is different from all other writing forms, and if it is not practiced regularly students can lose these skills. Tutoring Excellence prepares students for the writing challenges they will face throughout their academic life by focusing on these writing forms: Argumentative papers, research papers, expository writing, and exam and standardized test essays. We work with students to insure the use of proper grammar and clarity in what they are writing. Coaching is done to insure students avoid common pitfalls, including: Active vs. Passive Voice, correct punctuation, and misusing common words. In addition, we work with students to insure proper citation (MLA v APA) and avoid issues of plagiarism.
HOMEWORK HELP
If one is tired of the homework hassle, then give T.E. a call. From everyday assignments, research projects, and test preparation, our tutors monitor students’ grades, email and correspond with teachers, and strongly encourage students to stay on schedule. We help students learn study skills techniques, understand the material and perform at a level that one can be proud of.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE TUTORING
STUDY SKILLS
Learning how to study is not a concept that is taught in many public schools. Students are intuitively expected to know how to study. As they enter middle and high school, many students struggle with these skills or lack them entirely. At Tutoring Excellence, we start by focusing on reading standards which require students to read and comprehend nonfiction passages at grade level, write objective summaries of nonfiction text, and use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Additionally, we focus on developing organizational skills, interpreting visual information in charts, graphs, and timelines, solving analogies, recognizing cause/effect, note taking with graphic organizers, outlining, and writing a report.
