Huntington Learning Center

[2Blessed]

Looking for math help for my 3rd grade daughter. I prefer one-on-one tutoring with a teacher, but I have not been able to find a teacher at her school or in our neighborhood with any free time for tutoring. I also spoke with the folks at Sylvan and Kumon. Of course they charge large sums of money for assessments and weekly tutoring sessions. I was not impressed with them because they offer group tutoring versus individual. I spoke at great length with the educational consultant at HLC, and although pricey, they do offer a fairly comprehensive assessment that covers areas other than math. They offer individual counseling with certified teachers that work at the center full-time. The pitch sounded good on the phone. Just curious to know if anyone else have used them with good results. Thanks.

Brenda

 

[arlene22]

I sent you a pm.

 

[wackymother]

Looking for math help for my 3rd grade daughter. I prefer one-on-one tutoring with a teacher, but I have not been able to find a teacher at her school or in our neighborhood with any free time for tutoring. I also spoke with the folks at Sylvan and Kumon. Of course they charge large sums of money for assessments and weekly tutoring sessions. I was not impressed with them because they offer group tutoring versus individual. I spoke at great length with the educational consultant at HLC, and although pricey, they do offer a fairly comprehensive assessment that covers areas other than math. They offer individual counseling with certified teachers that work at the center full-time. The pitch sounded good on the phone. Just curious to know if anyone else have used them with good results. Thanks.

Brenda

You wouldn't want Kumon--it's just practice practice practice to get faster. Absolutely no explanations of underlying concepts.

Our middle DD has learning disabilities. Here in NJ, and in most states, the school (if it's a public school) is obligated to do an assessment for you via the child study team if you and the teacher suspect learning differences or disabilities. If your DD goes to a private school, the county child study team does it.

If you prefer not to go this route, I would find an educational specialist who can do an assessment for you. The educational specialists we have spoken to have universally gone out of their way to say, "Don't use Huntington." They do sound more convincing on the phone than many of these other places, but they're expensive and it seems like one of those places where they try to sell you packages that are more than you need.

It's definitely hard to find someone good to do an assessment. You might try contacting reading specialists to find someone. Even though your daughter is having difficulties with math, it's often easier to find good tutors and educational consultants through people who teach, for example, Orton-Gillingham reading methods. Good luck!

 

[Jeni]

Let me start by saying that I worked for Sylvan for 5 years after earning my M.Ed., then purchased a franchise...then sold it when my son came along almost 2 years ago.

I would not recommend Kumon, because it is worksheets and repetition- a band-aid on the problem. Huntington does a great job of sounding convincing, but I know that they charge the same amount, or more, than Sylvan in our area, they also require testing, and they do not work 1-1. They have a teacher who walks around and monitors the independent work of 4 kids. We have seceretly shopped them numerous times, so I am confident in these statements.

Sylvan is not "group" instruction. It is 1-1 help, individually created for your child's needs, and those needs are identified through a math assessment in this case. The assessment fee also includes post-testing, so you can see which gaps your child filled in and which gaps remain. Parents would ask if Sylvan is 1-1 help, why place up to 3 kids at a table? The answer is simple- if the teacher is always working 1-1 with the student, when does the student attempt anything independently? Unlike tutors, Sylvan treats the known gaps, identified through testing, versus putting a bandaid on the problem by helping with homework. Most Sylvans offer 2-3 tests for the price of 1 and for 3rd grade, those tests are usually reading, math, and writing. We offered that for $195 at our center. Finally, Sylvan offers online and in home tutoring now as well. You can learn more at www.educate.com

Ok, I did not mean for that to sound like a Sylvan pitch, and I have no idea of the quality of the Sylvan in your area, but I still recommend avoiding Huntington. The pitch is great but the actual product is a lousy one- 1 roaming monitor to 4+ kids. If your child is not confident in her/his skills, why would he/she flag down a roaming worksheet monitor to ask for help? Feel free to email me if you'd like.

Jeni

 

[Janette]

I taught high school gifted math and had students who tutored elementary children. It was a great experience on both ends. My students would discuss their work with me so that I could recommend ideas for them. The younger children looked up to the older students and the older students enjoyed a little extra cash(not nearly the fees teachers would charge). Parents often called our school asking for these students.

 

[firefly]

Have you considered calling the education dept. of a college that is close by? At our Elem. school, we had a student teacher who offered one on one tutoring. Her fee was reasonable, and she was young and full of ambition.

Just an idea.

Melissa

 

[rapmarks]

I like the idea of finding an older student to help tutor. Ask a high school teacher for a suggestion. When my son had problems in high school, our math teacher didn't have the time, but her son was home from Purdue. He tutored my son and did a great job. My son is a math teacher now and tutors about 10 students a week too.

I was a reading specialist in a high school and I know that the chains hired teachers who were not specialists in that area to tutor. When they replaced me at retirement, the only person with any experience they could find was someone who had taught at huntington. She had no idea how to do the job at the public school, and did not last the year.

 

[Luanne]

From my experience with Sylvan, they work with their program and not with the materials the kids are working with in school. Both of my girls did much better when working one on one with a tutor that could work with them on the materials they were actually struggling with in school.

So, before signing up for any program like Sylvan, or Huntington, I would find out if what they offered was actually going to work with the problems your child is having. Besides math help our older dd was also getting study skills help, which was beneficial.

 

[merc]

Grade 3 is perhaps the most critical year for diagnosising a wide range of learning issues, some clear, some very complex. At that age especially, parents are well advised to consult someone who knows the area at a professional level, someone who has deep experience in assessing students of that age.

 

[2Blessed]

Tuggers,

Thanks for all the suggestions. A teacher in our neighborhood has referred me to another teacher in our neighborhood that is a 3rd grade teacher. How is that for luck!! Well, I spoke with her by phone, and she stopped by the house tonight so we could meet each other, and discuss my daughter's math problems. She is a nice young lady, and appears very knowledgeable. I felt like we were on the same page. She has agreed to tutor my daughter at least twice a week at my house for now. You don't know how relieved I feel to have found help that I am comfortable with. Thanks!!

Brenda

Grade 3 is perhaps the most critical year for diagnosising a wide range of learning issues, some clear, some very complex. At that age especially, parents are well advised to consult someone who knows the area at a professional level, someone who has deep experience in assessing students of that age.

 

[2Blessed]

Tuggers,

Thanks for all the suggestions. A teacher in our neighborhood referred me to another teacher in our neighborhood that is a 3rd grade teacher. How is that for luck!! Well, I spoke with her by phone, and she stopped by the house tonight so we could meet each other, and discuss my daughter's math problems. She is a nice young lady, and appears very knowledgeable. I felt like we were on the same page. She has agreed to tutor my daughter at least twice a week at my house for now. You don't know how relieved I feel to have found help that I am comfortable with. Thanks!!

Brenda

Grade 3 is perhaps the most critical year for diagnosising a wide range of learning issues, some clear, some very complex. At that age especially, parents are well advised to consult someone who knows the area at a professional level, someone who has deep experience in assessing students of that age.

 

[2Blessed]

Merc,

Yes, I heard that over and over again, in my attempts to locate a teacher to tutor her. They all responed "oh, third grade, now that is a very challenging grade." I guess they really make a big transistion in 3rd grade. I did not notice this with my 9th grader. Her math problems started in the 6th grade. Some days, I feel like I am in school all over again. Trust me, I am going to enjoy my empty nest when the time arrives. I guess that is a topic for another day.

Brenda

Grade 3 is perhaps the most critical year for diagnosising a wide range of learning issues, some clear, some very complex. At that age especially, parents are well advised to consult someone who knows the area at a professional level, someone who has deep experience in assessing students of that age.

 

[Gibby1984]

My niece went there while having problem picking up math ideas and did VERY well with the 1on 1 tutoring that they did with her. They got her back up to her age skills within 1 years time and she was very confident that she was ready to move up. My sister was also pleased sicne they had meetings with her and my brother in law so they knew what she was doing with thee teacher as well. It was expensive but they felt it was worth it.

 

[Emily]

For practice on her own time and reinforcement in math learning, you may want to look at the Switched on Schoolhouse Math module. Some kids learn differently - this is more visual. http://www.aop.com/sos/ There is diagnostic testing that will help identify weaknesses. Its done on the computer (doesn't run on the internet) and for the most part corrects itself although the parent needs to correct some answers occasionly (not alot in Math) SOS is available for grades 3rd -12.

 

[wackymother]

2Blessed, that sounds great. I'm happy that you found someone good! Good luck!

 

[2Blessed]

Emily,

Thanks for the link. Funny that you should comment about the visual thing. Our new found tutor mentioned the same thing. She is going to bring some visual things (manipulitatives? (sp)? to the tutoring session. Thanks.

Brenda

For practice on her own time and reinforcement in math learning, you may want to look at the Switched on Schoolhouse Math module. Some kids learn differently - this is more visual. http://www.aop.com/sos/ There is diagnostic testing that will help identify weaknesses. Its done on the computer (doesn't run on the internet) and for the most part corrects itself although the parent needs to correct some answers occasionly (not alot in Math) SOS is available for grades 3rd -12.