September 13, 2009

Tutoring service is ready for back-to-school

By Brenda Hawkins, Collier Citizen, originally published August 19, 2009

Dan Allen considers himself a bit of maverick in his business.

“There are about 400 of these Club Z franchises across the country,” he explains. “The easy formula is to hire tutors that are all certified (as teachers) and then say you offer the best there is. But, usually when a parent comes to you and says, ‘My child is lazy. He’s got the ability, but he’s just not doing the work,’ there are other issues involved.”

So, Allen looks for tutors who are both motivating and inspiring.

“It might be a high school honor student or someone who had problems as a student who turned themselves around,” he says. “I look for tutors who are role models, who can deal with issues beyond academics. They have to be experienced, not necessarily certified, to help one child deal with attention deficit, a divorce in their life, having had three teachers in a year or some other trauma in their life. Ironically, I wasn’t a very successful student. Maybe if I’d had a tutor when I was in school, my life would have been different.”

Allen’s database contains some 200 tutors throughout Lee and Collier counties, waiting to assist Southwest Florida students in everything from math to music. “We tutor those facing learning challenges, but we also tutor gifted students who want to be able to achieve more,” he says. “Our goal is to develop lifelong learners and give kids the skills to become successful.”

Tutors are matched with prospective students based on location, age, availability, subject area and sometimes, gender. All come with spotless references and credentials and must prove their capability in the content areas they teach through testing and interviews.

Students, and the subjects in which they need or want help, cover a broad spectrum, according to Allen, ranging from a two-and-a-half-year-old who was learning Spanish and piano, to a 70-year-old who wanted to learn to play the organ.

Allen says some standout areas of tutoring aren’t necessarily academic. A proprietary study skills program teaches how to succeed in the classroom, including things such as listening, note-taking, memorization, time management strategies, organization and test- taking. A leadership program that begins with an attitude and aptitude survey gives tutors a handle on what students are thinking, as well as what their abilities are.

“Then we work to change or improve or strengthen their perceptions,” said Allen. “Students get better grades as a result of goal setting. It’s self leadership. If you know where you want to go and how you’re going to get there, others will follow.”

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Filed under: Small Private Practices

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