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Hi, I just wanted to say to everybody what a great tutor Adam Snider is. Found him through a recommendation from another tutor on BPN and since then heC",b"s done a great job with our teenage son. Great with organization, homework help, study strategies, etc. He is an especially strong writer and has really helped our son with his essay writing skills (something that he really struggles with). His email is adamsnider5@gmail.com Mary
I just wanted to share with any parents looking for tutors the positive experience that we've had with Matt Baldwin. Our 11 year old son has always struggled with academics and was recently diagnosed with ADD. We found Matt through a recommendation and scheduled him to start coming for tutoring twice a week.
In the six months that they have worked together we've witnessed a great improvement in our son's overall performance and attitude towards school, especially in English - in which he had a particularly hard time. Matt's approach to tutoring work is relaxed and he is especially strong on reading, English composition, homework assistance, organizational strategies, and creating an overall sense of motivation. He keeps the sessions on track but never in a rigid way. Our son actually looks forward to their time together.
Matt is a Cal grad and is working on a master's in psychology. He is also a musician and gives guitar lessons - good at that too! Highly recommended.
His number is 831-915-3470. Email: baldwinunlimited@gmail.com Kat
I would like to recommend Molly Gales as a tutor of high school aged children. My daughter entered high school last fall and had a lot of trouble adjusting to the amount of work and responsibility that came with it. She was a straight A student before she started high school but her grades plummeted because she was having trouble keeping track of assignments, could not properly prepare for tests, and was overwhelmed. We were at our wit's end, having to nag her about every assignment. We discovered Molly through Oakland Tech's parent listserv and hired her as an organization/study skills tutor. In the past 3 months, Molly has helped turn our daughter's grades around, and also given her the skills and confidence boost to make her feel like she can manage all of the work. Molly has also helped our daughter rewrite essays, plot out homework strategies in the short and long term, and given her advice on how to approach teachers for help. She is also a strong advocate for our daughter and will directly contact teachers to keep them informed of the amount of work that is being put in. her contact info: molly.gales@gmail.com Jennifer T.
Our son has poor organizational/study skills and is really struggling with staying on top of things now that he is in high school and his grades have really dropped. He won't take any help from us but I remember reading posts from parents maybe a year ago saying their kids had similar issues and that they had found a great person who came to the house and worked with the kid on organizational/study skills and really turned things around. I can't find the posts and would greatly appreciate any recommendations for organization/study skill tutors/coaches(or other advice) from parents who've faced a similar situation. Thanks very much in advance.
We are looking for someone to come to our house two days a week in the late afternoon or early evening to help our middle school child with homework, in particular writing and general orgaization. We would appreciate your recommendations or ideas on how to find someone. Thanks
Re: Tutor/homework helper needed ASAP
I didn't read the original post but wanted to jump in with a
recommendation of Kevin Arnold, the tutor who has worked with
my son throughout his high school years. Originally I wanted
someone who would be a sort of homework helper or coach so my
son would stay on task with his assignments. Kevin has proven
to be so much more. Although his manner is very personable and
casual, he is strongly grounded in academics. He has been able
to help my son learn to articulate complex ideas for essays in
both history and English. Kevin never makes my son feel
rushed, but they do cover a lot of ground during each session.
In my son's words, Kevin is the perfect balance of
enthusiasm and focus. Kevin can be reached at 510 495-7923
Debbie
I highly recommend the tutor my sons have worked with over the past 3+ years. His name is Kevin Arnold (email: kevinarnold333@gmail.com). He came highly recommended by other BPN members, and we initially spoke at great lengths after my son was evaluated to rule out ADHD. (While meds were an option, his pediatrician recommended an organizational tutor as a start). Kevin was GREAT! He is warm and friendly, and my son related to him immediately. Kevin began working with him at the beginning of his 7th grade year after switching to a large public middle school. Under his 'care', my son gained confidence as a student, developed excellent writing skills, and was able to prioritize his homework load- something he had much difficulty accomplishing. He was no longer overwhelmed and frustrated by the work, even as more was demanded of him in middle school.
My sons see Kevin as 'hip and cool', and relate very well to him. He is an accomplished musician, and he even worked with them on guitar and drum lessons. He recently began working with my other son, as well, on his high school history research paper, and has helped him learn how to be a better writer.
I cannot say enough about his skills as a tutor, not to mention, mentor. Kevin is also very patient, and has a knack for fostering independence, and critical thinking skills. I am impressed by how my son has grown as a student: once frustrated and overwhelmed by the challenge, he is now able to master the demands of high school with more ease. I attribute this to his work with Kevin over the years. I am relieved that I didn't need to rely on medication, but instead finding him a tutor who had the patience and expertise to work with him.
Kevin is also very flexible with his schedule, something I very much appreciated, given our hectic schedules. DM
Leslie Absher is my high school son's academic coach. She works well (and gets along well) with him and is professional and caring. She's worked with him for 3 1/2 years helping him organize himself for school, and assisting him with his homework and long term projects. Leslie keeps us updated on his progress and works with us on strategies for helping him with his work. I highly recommend Leslie as a personable and effective tutor. Nancy
I'd like to recommend the work of Shari Simburg, educational consultant and tutor. She worked with both our children throughout middle school, helping them to develop organizational and study skills, while working with them on their homework in all subjects. Given the ages of our children, we worked with her for 6 years, and came to know her and her work well. Both of our children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and Shari was first recommended to us as one of a group of strong tutors by the psychologist who did testing with our older child. Shari understands the nature of this disability and how to help kids organize, center, and be more productive. She also does an excellent job interfacing with the school and was, for example, active in contacting the learning specialist at the school, and subject matter teachers to follow up on issues and to find out about homework, especially large assignments.
We also really liked that once each semester she would schedule a parent conference to discuss goals and progress, and to invite our feedback. I've found these meetings helpful, for example in the skills she applies to helping us keep in mind details from psychologist's report. This practice has helped us over the years to remember the nature and scope of the issues that the assessment had uncovered, which has allowed us to be better advocates for our children. She recently moved her office, and is now near Monterey Market. I think the new space is quite comfortable. Overall, our family recommends Shari most highly. She has made a strong impact on our children's work habits and success in school. We left only when our children were high school age so that they could get more targeted tutoring in specific subjects (e.g., French, chemistry). - Berkeley parent of 2
Educational Therapist Shari Simburg has worked with my son for several years--now 11, he has entered middle school with the organizational, study and problem-solving skills he needs for the new mountain of homework he now has. Shari has been invaluable in prodding our son along from unfocused, fidgety elementary kid to more focused middle schooler. We expect to continue working with her through middle school... beth
I'm looking for an educational consultant to work with my daughter on organization and homework management. She's 14, starts high school in the fall, and was recently diagnosed with ADHD, inattentive type. She's extremely bright and social --needs to work with someone who is experienced, engaging and with whom she can connect. Thanks in advance for any recommendations. Anon
Remember everything stays on that clipboard. At home if there is a problem with papers getting misplaced or lost, do the work as it is attached to the clipboard. It may have creases - for now that's okay. Go through the clipboard every day with your daughter until she can do this herself. Even after she can do this herself, stay near her while she does it as you can see from doodles, drawings and writing as to whether she is on track, off track or whether any medication is still working. ADHD Creative and Bright - those are the upsides
Looking for a recommendation for a tutor or ed therapist in the lamorinda area. My daughter has dyslexia and ADHD. We are wanting a tutor for study skills and help with her history class. Thank you for your help! Ann
Hi there: My daughter is at Oakland Tech and is doing very well as a freshman. We are pre-Paidea and gearing up for a bunch more work next year. I want to make sure she has the very best organizational skills as well as someone to fall back on for help when she needs it. Can anyone make a recommendation for us? Thanks. concerned mom
My son and his close friend, both sophomores at Albany High, are in need of some after school help. Both boys are very intelligent but need some help with managing their work loads. We are looking for someone who has good organizational skills who could help them (with the help of the school's online homework tracking system) organize and stay on top of their assignments. I am looking for someone who could work with the boys a couple of days a week in either our house in Richmond Annex or the other family's house in Albany. I think the kids would work best with a male college or grad student, someone they can relate to. We need someone who can help with Chemistry, Geometry and Algebra. Please contact me if this describes you or if you know someone. Leigh
My 15 yr old boy has had trouble with school since the 6th grade when the work load went beyond what he could naturally take in and began to require studying. Currently, he is finishing his freshman year in Biology with a D, yet his teacher has asked that my son be in his Chemistry AP class next year because he is the best student in the class!! In Geometry he is going to get either a C or a D, yet his teacher said she would write a letter recommending him for the math honors class. The boy is very bright, but when he sits down to study, he really does not know how to tackle the studying. And I am at a loss as to how to teach him how to study! Do you know of a teacher or tutor in the Walnut Creek/Pleasasnt Hill area who can teach studying? Not just the habits of a good student, but how to study. perplexed parent of 15yr
My son is 13 and very bright. Unfortuntely, his organizational skills are not good. This may be coupled with a motivation problem as well. It is not a learning disability, or cognitive deficit in any way. He has problems with time managment, getting papers in on time, turning in homework on time, etc. The high school he will be attending recommended we seek a tutor to help him get organized and work with this person 1-2 times a week. Anyone have any good recommendations? We live in Crocker Highlands just off Lakeshore.
We are looking for recommendations for someone to help our 13 year old son, who has ADHD, handle his homework better. His grades are always lowered due to missing or incomplete assigments. We've worked with him at home for years with no improvment -- the minute we back off he does much worse -- he doesn't seem to find any system that really works for him. We live in Walnut Creek and would prefer someone relatively close, but would travel further if necessary. Thanks!
I am the parent of a 5th grader who attends a private school in El Cerrito. He is very smart but struggles with ADD. Ritalin is helping with attention tremendously, but he still needs help with organization, getting homework done, pacing himself, etc. As a professional psychologist, I've tried various approaches but I am still ''mom'' and annoying to him! He used to work with a male reading coach thru Reading Revolution 2 yrs ago, but he moved back East. My son really liked him, felt challenged by him & not in any way infantalized. He was also ''cool'' - which mom isn't. Any suggestions? uncool Kensington mom
I have a daughter in 7th grade at Albany Middle School who is struggling with getting her daily homework assignments done. I am looking for someone (maybe an Albany H.S. student) who could meet with her for an hour or so a day for two or three days a week to provide encouragement, keep her focussed, and make sure she understands what she is doing. It isn't exactly tutoring (and I can't afford tutoring rates) more like a coach/friend. I can pay $15/hour, and am hoping to find someone soon! Thanks
My 13 year old boy is very bright but his grades have steadily been slipping because he cannot (will not?) stay on top of his homework. I am at my wit's end because no amount of micromanaging nor ''hands off'' allowing him to experience consequences has made a difference. I read with interest the discussion of unmotivated teens in this newsletter earlier in the month (I feel better knowing I'm not alone in this struggle!) And i have sent off for books on this. I feel as if I won't survive another year of this cycle of working to get him on track, him telling me he's on track, me getting calls from the teacher, him crying and saying he's sorry he'll do better, repeat until mom is crazy and he feels like crap. I'm not doing him any good at this point. My question: does anyone know of summer programs that are focused not just on academics (his grades are still passable) but in learning to be organized? HELP! Anon
Fortunately ,I heard about Classroom Matters through
another family when our daughter entered her Sophomore
year at BHS. She was struggling to organize her time and
prioritize subjects in advance of testing. I arranged to
have her meet once a week for English and Spanish help and
a review of what was due, when and how much more needed to
happen. She incorporated the tutoring and study skills
into her routine with impressive results and I was
incredibly relieved to have her look forward to sharing
her concerns regularly with her tutor and getting the help
she needed. In her junior year she needed additional
tutoring for Math Analysis and the SAT 2s. It is great to
have such a resource as Classroom Matters available.
Karen
Hello all I need homework help for my middle schooler entering 7th grade. She went to Raskob Learning Center in the evening last school year which was pretty good, but pricey. She has ADD and she articulated to me that she needs help with the day to day school work. She has been tested and re-tested and does not qualify for anything from the school district that really seems to help. I have checked current recommendations on file and they did not pan out. Any suggestions or positive experiences with a particular tutor would be much appreciated Thanks in advance anon mom
Kevin Arnold has been tutoring our 13-year old 8th grade son for the past several months and we are pleased with the results. They meet once a week for an hour and a half and spend time reviewing homework as well as working on writing and organization skills. Kevin, who is on the quiet side and low-key seems to connect well with our son, who finds the tutoring sessions helpful (and I'm surmising that he even enjoys them since he's never once complained). Kevin has been accomodating when we've had to change our regularly scheduled meeting time due to conflicts with sports activities.
Kevin's can be reached at 510-655-6612 or kevinarnold2004@yahoo.com. Irma
Our 16 year old son, who has consistently had problems organizing and turning in his homework, has been seeing Kevin Arnold for homework tutoring for the past few months. Sam likes him and they've worked well together. Kevin is a gentle and compassionate guy, and although his approach to the work at hand seemed at times a bit dreamy, we did see results--more work turned in on time, and better grades as a result. Sam was always happy to go to the tutor, too! They met at the Royal Ground cafe on College. Reach Kevin at 510.655.6612 or kevinarnold2004 at yahoo.com Suzanne
Classroom Matters is an incredible place for tutoring. My son has been going there for the last three months to improve his organizationa skills. He now gets his homework done on time, and is able to focus much more. they offer tutoring for academics, as well as organizational and study skills. the tutors are all very skilled and are able to really motivate the kids. Simma
I want to highly recommend Kristan Willits, as a tutor and personal problem-solver. She has provided invaluable support and insight when I have been struggling with massive and challenging papers (I study at UCB in the social sciences/ geography). She is very intuitive, and seems to always know exactly what is getting in the way of proceeding. She understands the learning process as it involves the whole person, emotionally, psychologically, intellectually. She has been a great support for me. Contact her by emailing kwillits AT earthlink.com or the website: www.kwlearning.com. Diana
My 7th grade daughter complains of being totally stressed out over her homework, and feels very over-programmed. Its a mystery to me since her homework, for the most part, is extremely easy for her. It does seem to take an inordinate amount of time, given how easy it is. So, it becomes very time consuming but with little other merit. She is a perfectionist and enjoys getting high grades. She does have after-school activities two afternoons a week. I am thinking that she would benefit (our household would in fact) by developing more efficiency in this area, but haven't a clue how to instruct her. Does anyone have experience with those tutoring centers (SCORE, etc...). Do they do this? Or are there good tutors that specialize in this area, perhaps more like homework coaches?
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