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Youth
June 16 - July 6, 2007 A+11
Tutoring center shakes summer cobwebs
by Sharon Schnakenburg Another is the instructor-to-child ratio.
Once perceived as a resource for struggling “The instruction is one to one ... They sit in a group
students, tutoring services such as Chandler’s Sylvan of three, but when they’re being taught, it’s only to
Learning Center are dispelling the myth by also them, they’re not taught to as a group,” explains
offering instruction for students on the accelerated Shumway, whose 7-year-old daughter Emma attends
path and those at grade level. And, summertime is Chandler’s Sylvan.
prime time for learning. “Two students might be getting something on
Amy Shumway, Sylvan Learning Center owner, their own while another student is being taught, and
says kids need to keep their intellects active during then the teacher moves between the students, always
summer break. doing teaching with one while the other two are
“Students can lose up to 40 percent of what doing something independent and vice versa.”
they learned in the school year by doing nothing Shumway “fell into” Sylvan Learning Centers 12
academic over the summer,” she says. “It’s really years ago, shortly after graduating from the University
important just to every day do something in reading
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
of Nebraska with a bachelor’s in U.S. history and a
or math or writing just to keep that muscle working,
TUTOR: Student Arcana Yanez gets help with school work during
goal to teach it.
to keep prepared.”
the summer at Sylvan Learning Center.
“When I came to Sylvan, I saw the impact of being
Summer learning can also be creative, Shumway able to touch individual lives in a way that you can’t
says.
grade and have the opportunity to take algebra
do in the classroom,” she says. “I just saw the power of
“There’s so much learning that you can incorporate
earlier in school,” Shumway says.
what individualized programs and education did.”
into vacation either by having a child research where
Intermediate students, or those performing at their
It progresses a student from not believing in him
you’re going to go and write about it, or by planning
own grade level, may also benefi t from supplemental
or herself and being unable read, to one who has the
the trip in terms of how many miles does it take and
tutoring.
“most confi dence in the world” and is on the road to
planning a gas budget.”
“They have good math skills but they’re struggling
leadership, she concludes.
Many tutoring centers are open year-round and
with taking tests ... or they simply want to get better
The Sylvan Learning Center is located at 2160
offer a summertime forum for kids wanting to stay
skills.”
W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 15, Chandler. For more
sharp or those ready to transition.
Shumway, who co-owns Sylvan Learning Center
information, call 480-897-3222 or visit www.educate.
“There are certain transitional points like second to
locations in Chandler, Ahwatukee and Mesa with
com.
third grade and elementary school to middle school,
fellow Sun River resident Angela Smith, says their
junior high to high school that can be transitions in
Sharon Schnakenburg is a freelance reporter who can be
300-plus students span the gamut. Instruction
which sometimes skills need to be brought up to level
reached at Sharon@SanTanSun.com.
includes in-center reading, writing, math, algebra
in order to make that transition smoothly.”
and SAT prep, along with online reading and math
Tutoring can be effective for any level, including
courses.
those on the fast path or honors students.
One thing that makes Sylvan Learning Centers
“You might have a student that is an accelerated
unique, according to Shumway, is that all staff
math student and they may be in sixth or seventh
members, herself included, are certifi ed teachers.
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