The expert guidance found at Huntington Learning Center is tailored to the individual needs of each child
By Patricia Nugent
With the second half of the school year well underway, now is a good time for parents to check in with their children to ensure they are on track with their academic progress. Waiting until parent-teacher conferences roll around (if you even have them second semester) may be too late.
“If you feel your child might be struggling, the sooner we can intervene with an individualized plan the better,” says Kim Walter, who is executive director at Huntington Learning Center in Mayfield Heights. “A comprehensive tutoring plan can put students back on track to thrive academically, and at the same time build life-long learning skills that will translate to their future success.”
The award-winning tutoring center works with students in kindergarten through 12th grade, remediating any foundational literacy or math struggles, as well as helping with day-to-day homework, quiz and test preparation, and assisting with prepping for the ACT, SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, Advanced Placement tests, OST, HSPT, ISEE, SSAT, GED and ASVAB.
“As part of our 1-to-1 cross-curriculum tutoring, we collaborate with each student’s teaching team at their school to provide streamlined communication and support,” she says. “We begin with a multifaceted academic evaluation to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses.”
If Your Child is Struggling
Over the years, Kim and her staff have helped scores of students turn their grades, self-esteem and scholastic prospects around.
“Hoping that things will work themselves out eventually is not a smart plan. These issues often snowball quickly,” says Kim. Here are a few dos and don’ts she offers if you suspect your child may be struggling:
• DO seek out multiple perspectives. Talk to the teachers to find out what’s going on in the classroom.
• DO monitor homework time. Is your child getting stumped on simple assignments? Reach out to the teacher to gain a realistic understanding of the volume of homework.
• DO assess study skills, which may need strengthening. Are your child’s backpack and desk messy or disorganized? Are they losing homework papers? How strong are their notetaking and outlining skills?
• DON’T lead the conversations. Let your child have the floor when you talk and approach the conversation with a positive, non-accusatory tone.
• DON’T overlook excessive time spent on homework. If your child’s homework is taking 45 minutes when it should take 20, that could be a red flag they have poor time management or organizational skills.
• DON’T lose your patience. School issues can lead to a range of behavior changes. If your child is irritable or impatient, remember that can stem from something deeper. The sooner you get to the root of the problem, the sooner you’ll be able to help him or her improve.
What Parents are Saying
The highly regarded work done at Huntington has earned the educators a legion of parent fans.
A recent five-star review from Tess. L., whose daughter is an 11th grader, says it all. “What a warm and welcoming place. What I love about Huntington Learning Center is the communication with schoolteachers, so everyone is on the same page. They go above and beyond for my daughter. I thank you guys for everything you do.”
Huntington Learning Center is located at 1510 Golden Gate Plaza in Mayfield Heights. The Mentor location of Huntington is at the Erie Commons Plaza, 8000 Plaza Boulevard, Suite H, in Mentor. Financing options are also available. Call 1-800-CAN-LEARN, 440-683-1784 (Mayfield Heights) or 440-205-8283 (Mentor) or visit HuntingtonHelps.com for more information