Our Programs

The goal for the reading program is not only to help students get back on grade level but to become confident readers. We have assessment software to determine where a student is strong and what areas need strengthening.

For our K-5 students, we use Scott Foreman’s My Sidewalks on Reading Street which is designed for intervention. This systematic instruction is tailored to a child’s current level and aligns core reading instruction with intensive reading intervention. Our literacy specialists have an affinity for reading and language arts that they have enhanced with educational and reading degrees.

Our reading instruction includes:

• Phonemic Awareness
• Sight Words
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension
• Fluency
• Expression
• Retelling
• Making Connections
• Questioning
• Summarizing
• Visualizing
• Determining Importance
• Inferring
• Synthesizing
• Written Response to Text
• Speed Reading

The Ability to Communicate

The ability to communicate in writing forms the basis for academic success, yet many students lack the confidence and skills to realize their ideas. Not only does this impede progress on tests and assignments, but it can strike a blow to students’ self confidence. Our writing tutors build upon pupils’ abilities to help them discover insights, organize and outline thoughts and support theses fully on the page.

A comprehensive K-8 spelling program should teach the words students use and misspell at each grade level. Traditional spelling lists are often based solely on high-frequency usage and on content-area reading and literature. At Excel Tutoring, our instructors teach the words students actually write and misspell most frequently. In each tutoring session, common spelling patterns, generalizations, spelling strategies and proofreading skills are emphasized.

U.S. and World History, Geography…

The study of history, geography and other social studies can be a twofold challenge. Not only must students remember voluminous details, but they must synthesize information to understand the development of historical events and their present effect. An Excel tutor can help with the process of how a bill becomes law, the conquests of Napoleon or important dates of the Louisiana Purchase. Furthermore, he or she will help create a sense of perspective wherein these things take on real importance in context.

Earth Science, Life Science, Chemistry, Biology, Bio-Tech, Physics…

Even when students can recall the atomic weight of Hydrogen or how many chromosomes DNA contains, fitting the processes and calculations of the sciences together and working them can be problematic. Either with incidental aid on one troublesome topic or with a regular tutor, Excel Tutoring can help assemble the puzzle. Put to rest your questions about cellular mitosis, anaerobic respiration or the interplay of gravity, momentum and friction.

All students rely on time-budgeting, solid organization, memory aids and review to test well. Even natural achievers often need to reassess their approach. Excel tutors facilitate this process. Whether your test is the SAT (general or subject), PSAT, SSAT, ACT, CMT, CAPT, Praxis I or a Geometry midterm, come in for either short-term preparation or long-range planning. Please call if your test is not listed. We are happy to discuss it.

Keep learning interesting

Students who are performing at grade level or above but want to excel even more, or students who want to learn about topics outside their curricula, often want enrichment tutoring. Enrichment enlivens learning for those who feel bored because of a “been there, done that” take on their school work. This also can provide a great extracurricular activity for eager learners to explore new subject matter.

Everyone needs help sometimes.

No student can succeed without meeting (or exceeding) teachers’ homework and project expectations. Inability to complete independent work on deadline can ruin the potential of good comprehension and test performance when final grades arrive. Excel tutors work with students to review and improve their habits to pinpoint grades in need of rescue before it’s too late. They can also aide outstanding students short-term; everyone needs help sometimes.

All subjects require attentive organization.

All subjects require attentive mental and physical organization skills, without which success becomes increasingly difficult. Excel tutors coach students to increase mindfulness with the help of a computer-based inventory that measures individual needs. Learners from elementary through high school improve study time management and daily planning, note-taking from texts and discussions, and memory skills for tests and comprehension. Good habits form the basis for higher learning, in college and beyond.

Become more facile with Spanish or French.

Habla Español? Speaking foreign languages has become increasingly important, but students’ experience with them in middle and high school often brings frustration. Maintaining interest in the classroom can be a challenge. Fall behind to any degree, and risk losing the basis for lessons that compound on each other. Tutoring at Excel helps lessen that frustration and gives time for practice and enrichment.

Work critically and access potential

Excel Tutoring’s academic coaching program helps with fundamental accountability and goal meeting, develops responsibility and promotes independence. Tutors coach students to increase mindfulness with the help of a computer-based inventory that measures individual needs. Then, they help students access their potential by exploring thoughts, motivations and goals through powerful questions, discussions and brainstorms. Academic coaching imparts valuable problem-solving skills that pervade all aspects of life.

A dedicated professional can ease the pressure.

Sometimes, whether by preference or prohibitive circumstance, students and parents decide to homeschool. This can create challenges that are difficult to overcome. Long work hours and a bevy of activities make executing a whole curriculum a daunting prospect. A professional dedicated to the task can ease the pressure. Excel furnishes tutors with the ability to surmount these challenges.

Questions don’t end with school.

While learning is a lifelong pursuit, the structure of school eventually dissipates into new challenges of the professional world. As hours and demands increase, so does the import of a thoughtful approach to career planning. Even those with a definite career vector can use help with the details. Excel tutors come from a variety of personal and working backgrounds and can help sort through the confusion sooner than later.

Make the world your oyster.

The transition to higher education occurs for most students as a time of great excitement and equally great pressures. Don’t succumb to the latter. Capitalize on the excitement to plan a divide-and-conquer strategy from day one. Excel can walk you through a seemingly interminable application and essay process, provide focused time and space to work, and give needed feedback.