Individual Tutoring for 1St Grader -- Score, Sylvan, Etc.

Hi J.,

We moved back here from Ashburn, VA (30 minutes from the District) just over a year ago. Welcome!

I have a Special Ed, Regular Ed and Gifted teaching credential. I am a reading specialist and I have a staff of tutors who are also very qualified. I run a one-on-one tutoring company. I differ from Sylvan and SCORE in that I only do private tutoring, (it avoids embarrassing moments in front of other kids) You will have the same tutor every week, as this builds trust and develops a bond. With the other companies you get a different tutor every week, and usually different students joining the lesson. I don’t charge a set up fee or require expensive testing. (it is available if you wish) I also don't require long-term contracts.

I am sure I can help your 6 year old. Give me a call!

A. Brown
www.abtutoring.com
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Hi J.,

I have seen it work both ways. 1 on 1 tutoring works well if the tutor is knowledgable and can have a good rapport with your son. The comercial centers are sometimes very helpful. I have, also seen them (private tutors and commercial centers), be a waste of money and time. I have used a private tutor with my son (who has ADD), and it was worth the expense, but no less taxing to keep his appointment schedule and keep the tutor in sync with classroom expectations. It can also be very difficult to find the right tutor. Good Luck,

A.

Is his teacher concerned about his progress? Has he had any type of formal academic, or speech/language testing? You may want to take this up more with the school to rule out any type of learning disability...if you're that concerned.

K.
Speech Language Pathologist
www.slpsinc.com

We moved to Southern Cal 18 months ago. My then 6 year old also struggled to learn to read. We tried Score. The people were warm and friendly, but the program is only more practice. Score does not identify or address why the child struggles to learn to read. I had my daughter's eyes checked by a Dr. Robyn Rakov in Laguna Niguel and she was diagnosed with a vision disorder that was preventing here from learning to read. After a year of vision therapy my child is now doing much, much better. You may want to give Dr. Rakov a call. We also now see a private reading tutor once a week. Again, it's just more reading practice and explanation. The tutor does not address why this is such a struggle for my child.

By the way, because of lack of school funding in California, the schools will do nothing to assess and address possible learning dissabilities until your child enters the 2nd grade. As it was explained to me by the resource specialist at Chapparal Elementary school, the discrepancy between what a child knows and what a child is suppose to know in the first grade is just not enough to qualify a child for help through the public schools.

I believe my daughter still has an additional learning dissability that has not be pinpointed, but since she repeated the first grade we are stuck for now. No one seems willing or able to help, although they are very sympathetic. It's frustrating. Good luck with your son! I sometimes think that our only hope is to move back to Georgia.

For reading program, I think practicing reading everyday with you, will make a difference, or reading books using the internet, you have Raz Kids, or any other Program for beginners. Score is not a big help as you think, and Sylvan is quite expensive, but it might be helpfull....the secret is to practice reading,getting familiar with the sight words,and to praise your child for reading, so he can achieve more and more.