What Solutions Does Premium Tutoring Provide?

Dr. Angela Barrens-Alexander has been educating children for over 25 years. Having worked with students and parents from all walks of life she has a gift for identifying a child’s core issues and therefore is able to see their true potential. She has dedicated her life to improving  the education and quality of life of every child she encounters.

What Solutions Does Premium Tutoring Provide?

Extra Instruction

Targeted Instruction

Affordability

Convenient in your home

Productive summers

Mastery of basic concepts

State test instruction

Missing content instruction

Support for children that are behind academically

Support for children in targeted content areas

Support for children with unique learning styles

A company of education professionals

Children are perfectly matched to their tutor

A solution to short school days

A company that cares about your child’s future

Utilize time during school breaks to gain content knowledge

Flexible pricing

Accurate student assessments

Pre assessment process

Training about the importance of learning styles

Cater to the uniqueness of the individual student

Encourage and support good grades

 

Here at Premium Tutoring we see your child’s true potential and know which tools are best suited to help your child in achieving their success.

How to Assess the TOTAL CHILD™

7 keys to understanding that your child’s academic success is more than the content

Understand your child’s perspective by completing the simple checklist below.

1.    EMOTIONAL

[ ] Does your child cry or become depressed over seemingly small things?

[ ] Does your child get angry and want to get even when wronged?

2.    SOCIAL

[ ] Does your child have many friends and become the life of the party?

[ ] Does your child observe from afar and select a few choice friends?

3.    PSYCHOLOGICAL

[ ] Does your child think clearly?

[ ] Does your child view the world much differently than their peers?

4.    ACADEMIC

[ ] Does your child earn good grades with seemingly no effort?

[ ] Does your child work intensely to receive a “C” or “B”?

5.    PHYSICAL

[ ] Does your child a move naturally like an athlete?

[ ] Does your child move slowly and deliberately throughout the day?

6.    LEARNING STYLES

[ ] Does your child enjoy singing the alphabet song?

[ ] Does your child enjoy writing out the letters?

7.    COMMUNICATION STYLES

[ ] Does your child text you constantly?

[ ] Does your child come and sit with you to talk face to face?

Premium Tutoring is a tutoring company that provides one-on-one instruction and small group sessions in reading/language arts, mathematics, social studies and science in order to assure academic competence for school age children grades kindergarten through twelfth grade.  We work with parents who have high expectations for their children and want them to function at an advanced level.  What makes us different is that we assess the TOTAL CHILD™ and as a result they are able to excel in the global marketplace.  Feel free to visit our web site to learn more about our TOTAL CHILD™ assessment.

Warmest Regards,

Dr. Angela Barrens-Alexander

www.PremiumTutoring.com

A Message to My Cousin

To see a family member facing challenges in rearing their children can be a difficult experience, especially from an educator’s perspective. After a serious email from my cousin I compiled a list of helpful techniques I’ve used and have seen colleagues and friends use to rear successful, healthy and happy children.

• Set the tone by meeting with teachers, counselor and school administrators.
• Set the tone of expectations with your child.
• Discuss school daily over dinner.
• Learn the ebb and flow of the school assignments, assessments and teacher behaviors.
• Follow up on previous conversations daily.
• Always speak positively of the school personnel to your child.
• Only focus on child behaviors when speaking to your child.
• Speak directly with school officials when dissatisfied.  Your child will be elsewhere.
• Listen, listen, listen to your child and understand their perspective.
• Listen, listen, listen to school officials and understand their perspective.
• Communicate school official’s perspective to your child in ways they can understand.
• Reward strong academic efforts. Expect A’s if A’s are possible.
• Require that homework be completed prior to enjoying other activities.
• Check the TV and other distracters when you get home to be sure it has not been on.
• Make real world connections when checking homework and discussing school assignments.
• Schedule parent teacher meetings each quarter after report cards.
• Check mid term progress reports and meet immediately to correct problems before report cards are distributed.
• Find and use teachable moments.
• Spend one on one time with your child when you have their undivided attention and they cannot get away.  i.e. while fishing, or on a road trip.
• Have serious discussions while also participating in joyous events
• Help your child establish a phenomenal vision for their future.
• Help your child understand the relevance of school work, group assignments, repetition and hard or uncomfortable assignments and situations.
• Provide opportunities to spend time with children that are good role models
• Provide exceptional experiences.
• Participate in artistic activities.
• Participate in athletic activities.
• Provide a healthy social life.
• Know your child’s friends well.
• Ask questions rather than sharing your opinion, lead them to your way of thinking.
• Provide exceptional supervision at all times.
• Keep lines of communication open at all times.
• Provide opportunities for your child to do well and succeed.
• Don’t provide time to get into trouble.
• Make them work for what they get.  Everything must be earned.
• No spoiling. Cars, cell phones, designer clothes, tech gadgets must be earned and expectations must be maintained.
• Provide very low allowance.
• Monitor all money.
• Teach and plan positive financial principles i.e. saving, taxes, tithing and living within their means.
• Require chores that are part of normal home maintenance.
• Provide appropriate consequences for negative behavior.
• Provide absolutely everything that they need.
• Especially that which costs nothing; hugs, love, meals, experiences, food, shelter, and transportation.
• Live in and understand their world.
• Hang out with their friends.

Preparing Your Child for College – Part 3

High school can be some of the most crucial years in your child’s life. These four years will determine which university your child attends, what specialty programs they get into and how much of their schooling will be paid through scholarships and grants.

Here are some simple tips to get your child comfortable with the college experience early to lessen the pressure on both you and your child in later years.

High School

• Take test prep classes
• Attend college open houses
• Visit universities of career interests.
• Sign up for programs for youth at local universities.
• Attend summer programs at universities away from home.
• Attend college events such as sports events, concerts plays, and graduation concerts.
• Walk the campus throughout the year.
• Take four years of language arts, math, social studies, and science at AP levels if possible.
• Make the best grades possible.
• Seek internships.
• Interact with graduates of preferred universities.
• Write essays.
• Go to college seminars.
• Attend College fairs.
• Be of service to the community.
• Monitor and guard social networking reputation.Build resume.
• Take SAT and purchase detailed results.
• Do focused work in areas of challenge.
• Complete applications.
• Visit colleges.
• Select desired colleges.
• Complete financial Aide paperwork.
• Visit college classes.
• Research priority characteristics of ideal students at desired colleges.
• Establish relationships with leaders in the school and community (school administrators, elected officials, pastors, university alumni).

You are one of the key factors in how your child perceives and prepares for college. Be a driving force in helping your child succeed. 

Preparing Your Child for College – Part 2

Here are some simple tips to get your child comfortable with the college experience early to lessen the pressure on both you and your child in later years.

Middle School

• Take an SAT test.
• Talk about college as you visit community professionals such as your doctor, dentist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, accountant, store manager, financial planner, accountant, and elected officials.
• Continue to visit colleges.
• Discuss school behaviors and their connection to the world of work.
• Talk about internships and ideal positions.
• Talk about and find mentors for professions of interest.
• Assure appropriate prerequisites.
• Order college documents and visit web sites.
• Learn acceptance requirements for colleges of interest.
• Learn specialty colleges for careers of interest.
• Participate in programs offered by local colleges.
• Attend summer camps of interest at colleges.
• Repeat career math.
• Begin building a resume.
• Hone writing skills in preparation for essays and SAT.
• Participate in leadership activities.

On Saturday, Nov. 12 we will outline some tips to prepare your HIGH school child for secondary education.

Preparing Your Child for College – Part 1

A child’s educational development from toddler to well educated and responsible adult does not happen by accident. Thoughtfully planned activities that are well suited and unique for each child will enhance opportunities for the ultimate in their college experience.

Here are some simple tips to get your child comfortable with the college experience early to lessen the pressure on both you and your child in later years.

Elementary School

• Discuss college regularly.
• Share college stories.
• Take road trips to visit colleges or drive through local colleges.
• Participate in college events such as homecoming, stomp shows, sports events, and parent weekends.
• Talk about testing and its connection to college.
• Participate in career day and follow up with discussion.
• Research and do the math associated with your child’s career choice.
• Capitalize on your child’s interests.
• Visualize and share your child’s future.
• Participate in programs for children offered by local institutions.
• Make good grades to assure placement in appropriate prerequisites.

On Thursday, Nov. 10 we will outline some tips to prepare your MIDDLE school child for secondary education.

Is tutoring an option for my child? – Part 2

As parents assess the needs of their children tutoring often is one option that is considered. Below are a few more thoughts to consider when making this all important decision.

Consideration #3

Have you often heard that your child is unfocused and doesn’t pay attention?  Does your child perform poorly on assessments as a result?  You may elect to seek an individualized program to help your child work on focusing strategies.  When an instructor works with your child individually they have time to work directly with your child’s strengths because she or he is the only priority.  As a result you should expect increased content knowledge and increased performance on coursework, homework and assessments.

Consideration #4

Some children have learned to be proactive at an early age.  They have set goals to go to college or become a judge or an astronaut.  They may even know that they need extra support in a specific area such as SAT or ACT preparation courses or a writing course to increase the quality of college application packets.  Parents can support a child like this by helping them find the best tutoring program to meet their needs.

Consideration# 5

We probably all know a child who performs well in school as a result of hours of study and hard work.  These high achievers can often benefit from a tutoring program designed to give them a head start on future coursework.  This strategy will prepare your child for their grade level courses and lessen anxiety and study time necessary to make the grades that they seek.

Is tutoring an option for my child? – Part 1

As parents assess the needs of their children tutoring often is one option that is considered. Below are some thoughts to consider when making this all important decision.

You might consider tutoring for one of the following reasons:

Your child is performing below grade level in school.
Your child is not performing to the best of his or her potential.
Your child is unfocused in school.
Your child is interested in reaching a specific goal.
Your child needs a head start for future coursework.

Consideration #1

As a parent you know when your child is performing below grade level.  Your child’s report card, test results and teacher comments will present evidence concerning your child.  If you are in doubt, ask your child’s teacher to explain your child’s performance level and what action they recommend.  You may ask if they feel tutoring would be helpful.  After speaking with the teacher you may elect to provide tutoring for your child.  Tutoring is a great way to supplement classroom instruction. Many teachers will work cooperatively with your child’s tutor in order to enhance the best possible result in the least amount of time.

Consideration #2

Many children perform well in school but are not being challenged to go above and beyond in order to excel at even higher levels.  If your child is exceptionally bright and good grades do not require much effort, your child may need a specialized tutoring program to challenge him or her in new and expanded ways.  In this case tutoring may be used to broaden knowledge in specific areas of interest.

Preparing for Quarterly Parent Teacher Conferences

1.    Go to the conference with a mind set to listen.
2.    Listen to everything the teacher has to say before you ask your questions.  When the teacher is finished they will usually ask if you have questions.
3.    Ask about specific reasons for grades if they are not what you expected.  You want details, not just an answer of test scores or missing homework.  Make sure you understand the criteria for calculations.
4.    Ask the teacher what they see as your child’s strengths.
5.    Ask the teacher what they see as your child’s challenges.
6.    Ask what you can do to support growth in those areas.
7.    Ask what the teacher would suggest in order to support growth related to any negative behaviors.
8.    Resist the desire to get angry or annoyed at anything shared by the teacher.  Breathe.
9.    If the teacher has only positive things to say, say thank you.
10.  Ask the teacher if your child is doing his best.