Active Learning Services provides specialized programs for children, teens, adults, tutors, and homeschool parents

Boulder • tutoring • teens • children • reading • test preparation • literacy skills • adult education • tutors • homeschool parents • learning disabilities

   

Children & Teens

If a child is having difficulty in a crowded classroom and is not receiving the individualized attention needed to be a successful learner, I can help.  I focus on reading and comprehension strategies, study skills and test taking.  I encourage students to apply what they've learned and provide plenty of follow-up.  I love helping children overcome problems and become confident learners.

—Sylvia Keepers

At the initial tutoring session, students receive an informal evaluation to assess their strengths and weaknesses.  A plan of action is then mapped out, drawing on both the information gained from the evaluation and on discussions with parents and student.

Individual lessons, typically an hour a week, are held in quiet, attractive surroundings that minimize distraction.  As noted, all children concentrate better and retain more in such a setting, especially those with ADD, ADHD, or dyslexia.  We focus on mastering specific reading and writing skills (e.g., sounding out words or improving reading speed), on developing vocabulary and oral expression, and on improving reasoning ability.

Students learn through activities, games and exercises designed to solve specific problems, appeal to a child’s interests and establish a foundation for further learning. 

A typical session for an elementary school child might include a game of word dominoes to teach letter sounds, reading a story aloud with the teacher then acting it out, and learning some new words by making picture flash cards.

A middle school student might read and discuss a favorite book, work on reading speed, get handwriting tips, and put a chaotic notebook in order. 

A high school student could read from a textbook and take notes in outline form, compose an “oral” essay, and work on SAT vocabulary by putting words into a story.  Another high school student might work on her novel, learn spelling rules for any words she missed and work on punctuation errors by diagramming the recalcitrant sentences.

Students work only on what they need to learn, and as soon they understand a task and can do it correctly they move on.  This keeps repetition and boredom to a minimum. 

During the course of tutoring, parents receive frequent (often weekly) feedback concerning their student's progress.

Parents are invited to participate actively in helping their child learn.

Parents are also invited to participate actively in helping their child learn.  They receive complete, understandable reports on their child's progress, and they find out how to help their child at home--or when not to! They also find that tutoring can help defuse difficult homework situations.

With timely intervention and a skillful approach, symptoms of ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia can be minimized through tutoring in a way that is not possible in the classroom.  Children with learning difficulties can succeed at Active Learning because instruction always starts on the student's level and helps the child along one step at a time.  Small steps can add up to big achievements when students' basic educational needs are addressed.  Individuals with ADD and ADHD need to learn attentional and self-monitoring skills, while those with dyslexia need understandable and useful work in applied phonics. 

 

 

Beginning reading sessions are fun and build confidence.

Beginning reading sessions are fun
and build confidence.

"She gets to school with all her assignments done now, and they're not only readable—they're neat."

—Mother of an 8-year-old who received help in handwriting and organizational skills.  Before tutoring, assignments were unreadable and often found
under the couch!

An elementary school child reads a story aloud with his tutor.

“It's wonderful! I would recommend it to anyone.”

—Mother of second-grader.

A teenager discovers a new book.

Discovering a new book.

“I gave [the student] a trial ACT test before and after his 6-week speed reading course with you.  His score jumped from 20 to 25 on the reading section.  I'm sure the improvement was because he finished all the questions the second time around.” 

—Private school placement consultant speaking of a 17-year-old high school student.

 

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