High School Services

As with our younger students, high school students benefit from our individual, multisensory tutoring sessions designed to engage each student and specifically meet his/her needs by identifying strengths, weaknesses and learning style.  The teacher creates an individualized plan for his/her student to ensure academic success, to increase self-confidence and to develop stronger self-advocacy skills.

Look for expanded services in September

Current Offerings:

Learning Strategies/Organizational and Study Skills
Strategies for all students, including those with executive functioning issues and ADHD.

Mathematics
Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry

Science
Biology

History

SAT Prep
One-on-one programs teach content and test-taking strategies that focus on each student’s learning style to help him/her achieve success.

English
How to Tackle Writing Assignments and Essays*, How to Write Your College Application Essay*, Creative Writing for Teens*, Literature, Reading Strategies

*(see descriptions below) 

How to Tackle Writing Assignments and Essays
This course focuses on breaking down the writing process into manageable, logical chunks. By following a simple outline approach, much of the anxiety caused by seemingly overwhelming assignments can be alleviated, freeing students up to produce their best work. Here is a sample:

I.  How to Approach an Assignment
First, how do you usually approach assignments?  Here’s a helpful hint: Decode the question/prompt assignment.  Figure out what you’re being asked to write about.  Once you’ve understood what you’re being asked, list different ideas that may answer the question.  Practice decoding questions and brainstorming answers. 

II. How to Begin [and Conclude] Writing 
Take that brainstorm and begin to write.  Get comfortable and don’t let the critic in–yet. Write in your own voice.  Be natural.  Don’t try too hard.  Get ideas out and don’t worry about length and rules.  Even if this is an in-class, timed exercise, you should always do some prewriting.  Let’s say you have 25 minutes to write.  Divide time up: 2 min brainstorm.  20 minutes write.  3 minutes to revise.  Always follow this type of formula.  It takes the finger off the panic button. 

III. How to Revise 
Take the rough draft and finish it.  Now try and be a self-critic.  If this is in class, it’s just you, but if it’s a long term, get a peer and a teacher to read and edit.  Read it out loud and revise as you go. 

IV.   How to Present - the Final Product

How to Write Your College Application Essay
This course is for junior and seniors who feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of writing their college application essay.  Using the common application essay questions as a guide, students are lead through a brainstorm session, several exercises, and finally, how to write this very important essay.

Creative Writing for Teens
Have you dreamed of writing a novel, short story, or a poem but can’t seem to get motivated?  Or, maybe, you sit in the back of Algebra, and (in between taking notes, of course) you have begun to pen the next "Great American Novel."  Still, maybe you just journal once a day or once a year.  Whatever the case is, if you are dying to write something fun and interesting, something you’ve created all on your own, then try Creative Writing For Teens.  At the end of 6 weeks, you will have a portfolio of works-in-progress.

Award-winning, young adult author, Hannah R. Goodman teaches this four week course open to students ages 14-17.  Students will learn different writing techniques and engage in a variety of fun writing prompts that will jump-start any author-to-be.

Hannah signing her book at Barnews & Noble in Warwick, Rhode Island
(photo courtesy of Hannah's Web site, www.hannahrgoodman.com)