August 27, 2004

Back to school

The Tutoring Club of Evergreen invites the community

By JoAnn Broderick
Special to the Times

The long days of summer are coming to a close, and as families juggle demanding schedules of school, homework and extracurricular activities, the Tutoring Club of Evergreen invites the community to explore a world “Where Learning is Fun.”

“We have been enriching children in their studies—which raises their self-esteem and self-confidence—for the past 13 years in the Evergreen Center at the corner of White Road and Norwood Avenue,” says Tutoring Club Owner Cassandra Garcia.

More than 100,000 children around the country and hundreds of children in the Evergreen area have benefited from the programs offered at the Tutoring Club, which was recently ranked as one of the top 10 new franchises of 2004 by Entrepreneur Magazine.

In addition to reading, writing, arithmetic and homework assistance for children ages 4 and up, the club offers high-school level math, Spanish, SAT preparation and study skills.

“We not only bring children who are struggling up to grade level, but strive to get them ahead so they have the confidence to move on,” adds Garcia. “Our approach has been proven time and time again with the success of our students. Our staff is comprised of fully qualified instructors motivated to not only assist your children academically, but also encourage them to be the best that they can be in everything they do.”

Each student receives individualized tutoring, because there are never more than three students per LBCjher at any given time. Students work at their own pace in their individual program and are rewarded for their efforts.

“We offer an environment where students are comfortable asking questions and thinking things through aloud without judgement,” says Garcia. “We have found our techniques to be extremely successful in raising children’s academic levels so they may move ahead with confidence in themselves.”

A success story
One student came to The Tutoring Club in Evergreen during the summer between her fifth and sixth grade years. She could not add, subtract, multiply or divide and her vocabulary and comprehension levels were that of a second grader.
“Eighteen months of participating in our program has brought her math to the sixth grade level, her vocabulary to the tenth grade level and her comprehension to that of a seventh grader,” notes Garcia.

“She is also doing pre-Algebra in school with the help of our Homework Support,” continues Garcia. “Her confidence and self-esteem have skyrocketed, and she is thinking of becoming a doctor when she grows up.”

New perception of tutoring
Although many parents today enroll their children in a variety of sports programs, they have not typically invested equal amounts of time or money in “training” their children to become successful learners.

Teaching children to become successful learners is a process that takes place outside of, as well as within, the classroom. Tutoring is one method of training successful learners.

For years, tutoring was seen as benefiting only children who were struggling in a particular academic area. Now, that perception is changing.

According to Larry Schwartz, Tutoring Club founder and CEO, “Many of the kids at our centers are already at or above grade level. We are helping them hone their learning skills in the same way that a child would go to a basketball or soccer camp to improve his or her playing ability.”

Tutoring Club Guarantee
Based on the strength of its learning programs, the Tutoring Club offers parents the guarantee that participating children will raise their academic level a full grade level, based on standardized testing, in whichever academic area they are being tutored.

“We will conference with parents on a monthly basis or more often if need be,” says Garcia. “We will also work with the children’s teachers to assure the best instruction and direction for each child.”

Tutoring Club founder Schwartz adds, “Parents are realizing that tutoring is a means of giving children the confidence they need to become successful learners. That’s a skill that will serve them long after they finish Little League.”

For more information, contact Cassandra Garcia at The Tutoring Club, Golden Hills Professional Center, 2680 South White Rd., Suite 210, (408) 270-6700, or go to the Web at http://www.tutoringclub.com.