Keep your Student’s Skills Sharp this Summer

With school almost out for the year, you may be asking yourself how to keep academics as part of the summer break plans.

Do any of these questions sound familiar: How will my average student compare next year when the requirements get even harder? What program would work if my child has special needs? Can my child learn Spanish or French? Will my teen score well on the SAT or manage study skills appropriately? These issues and more can be solved on the quest to keep our kids in the game of academia.

There are several tutoring options for students who need some extra help this summer, as well as enrichment programs for those looking to keep their kids’ brains active over the break.

There is a wonderful program right in the Geist area founded by Amy Riesmeyer where kids can learn Spanish or French. She has been a volunteer with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and numerous children’s athletic and educational programs. She graduated from TASIS (The American School in Switzerland) and later wanted her children to be exposed to different cultures and languages right here in Fishers. The idea of the foundation is that “children are exposed to a second language through songs, games, stories, crafts and snacks. The curriculum is designed to encourage children to speak a second language while having fun. Classes are led by teachers who are native speakers of French or Spanish.”

Amy started The Children’s Language Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, out of her home on the lake, and it continues to be a success. My daughter Grace and I attended a typical class in which the students came right in speaking Spanish. The entire class was done in Spanish. They had completed piñatas and started collages introducing opposites in Spanish. For instance, a picture of something “bonita” (pretty) might be put next to something “feo” (ugly). I was amazed at how much Grace picked up in the few minutes we were there. She came home, and quizzed my husband on the words she had learned.

Language Instructor Clara Solano, a native of Columbia, also teaches Spanish at Saint Simon the Apostle School. She has taught for the Foundation for six years, and her experience and enthusiasm really get the children going.

The Children’s Language Foundation will be hosting a Spanish Summer Camp from July 23-27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., for ages 4-6 and 7-9. The cost is $160, and lunch is provided. For more information on this (along with fall offerings), contact Riesmeyer at 442-8681 or visit www.childrenslanguagefoundation.org.

What if you need a tutor to help bridge the gap between this school year and next? How about having a tutor come to your home? ClubZ! Tutoring does just that. They offer affordable, one-on-one tutoring by qualified teachers in your home. It is designed for pre-k to adults, in any subject. Club Z! also offers specialized services for children with learning disabilities.

“Classrooms are often a tough place for students with learning disabilities to get the unique instruction they need,” said ClubZ!’s National Tutoring Instructor Cari Diaz. “Frustration is a huge obstacle for these children. By the end of a standard school day, many have reached their limit, and the last thing they want to do is immediately dive into a tutoring session. By being more flexible, we feel we can increase responsiveness from a child.”

ClubZ! was ranked the third best tutoring company in 2006 by Entrepreneur Magazine. It was also listed as one of the top 110 companies to franchise. It was founded in Tampa about 13 years ago, and now there are over 400 ClubZ! franchises throughout the United States—each locally owned and operated.

“In-home tutoring eliminates the pressure and embarrassment of the classroom setting and allows each student to focus on the lesson at hand,” said Cindy Hanna Cornacchione, owner of the Geist/Indianapolis ClubZ!.

Here’s what makes ClubZ! different than other tutoring programs: You get the same tutor every time, an emphasis is placed on study skills (such as organization, time management, reading comprehension and note taking strategies), and parents are in control of the kind of tutor, the number of weekly sessions and the date and time tutoring takes place. The program uses school-based curriculum so tutors are using material that has already been introduced in the classroom and not overwhelming students with new material. ClubZ! also offers a “course for credit” program which allows students to take a class during the summer which will count toward graduation requirements at their school.

Cindy Hanna’s ClubZ! is a gold sponsor of Lawrence North, The McKenzie Career Center and the Lawrence Youth Soccer League. She takes great pride in matching a student with a tutor and watching the student excel. You may contact Cindy for a free in-home consultation at 826-2222 or channa@clubztutoring.com. Those in the 46038 zip code in Fishers should contact Cheri and Fred Kincer at 783-3808 or ckincer@clubztutoring.com. For more information on ClubZ!, visit www.clubztutoring.com.

Another tutoring option is Sylvan Learning Center, which serves children in grades Pre-K through 12th grade and aims to help them “discover the joy of learning.”

Sylvan tests each student to come up with an individualized plan for tutoring.

“Unless students are doing homework support or SAT/ACT prep, all students need to take an initial diagnostic assessmentm” said Jenny Arnold, who runs the Fisher’s Sylvan Learning Center. “This allows them to pinpoint specific skills gaps that need to be worked on. As opposed to working on all skills, we start right at the root of the problem.”

Sylvan offers a structured Study Skills program which covers preference and priorities, organization and time management, note-taking, reading study strategies, test-taking and advanced reading strategies. The SAT/ACT prep teaches students how to manage their time when taking the test, provides testing strategies and lets them take three mock SAT/ACT assessments so students can see their progress.

Sylvan is offering test credit from now until June 15, which means the testing fee will count as credit if you sign up for tutoring. For more information, you may contact Arnold at 913-0963 or visit www.tutoring.sylvanlearning.com.

I used to think summer was just a time to let the kids play and relax. Jenny got me thinking when she told me about Sylvan’s view of summer.

“Summer studying is vital because we can actually get the students caught up with school and/or bridge the gap between spring and fall,” she said. “Summer academics are ideal for all students, whether it’s a simple schedule to keep their mind fresh, or whether you’re looking for the opportunity to make grade levels worth of growth in a shorter amount of time.”

By all means, definitely go and enjoy the summer. But find the perfect mix of fun and learning that’s out there for each student and know there are resources available to help make that happen. Visit the library each week, and let the kids pick out a new topic to explore. Summer flies by as fast as those jet skies out on the lake, so savor every minute of it.