OUR PHILOSOPHY


T oday’s educational system and methods can leave a student lost and confused. There is so much to learn in this day and age and teachers have to present material at such a rapid rate, that it is too fast for many students to absorb. This results in our children being robbed of their full potential and future. This doesn’t have to happen.


We firmly believe that all people can learn. All children deserve a chance to live up to their full potential. It is a matter of having the right educational tools, proper nutrition, good communication, the correct discipline and the help of loving adults. There are many solutions that we employ to produce a competent, self-reliant, productive child.


In order to be effective with children, you have to treat them as individuals and with respect and dignity. You have to listen to them and really care about what they are saying. They are people who have their own opinions, worries, likes, dislikes, etc., and they need to be acknowledged as such.

We believe that a child’s self-determinism needs to be preserved, and the goal is not a child who is a perfect little robot. Learning should be exciting and fun and inspire hope about one’s future. A person should be excited to go to school, not dreading it. There is no greater joy than helping someone discover the love of learning. We have the best job in the world! .


In the last 20 years, we have tutored students ranging from those in need of homework help, to those enrolled in special education programs, from those diagnosed with learning differences such as ADD/ADHD and processing disorders, to the exceptionally bright or the gifted. .

TUTORING SERVICES

We Provide Private Tutoring for Students from Preschool through 12th Grade and for students with learning differences at $85 per hour in your home in the following subjects:


READING

Reading can be a major source of frustration to a child, parent and teacher. Our reading program has helped numerous children read fluently, up to and beyond grade level, and has helped many children get out of “Special Ed” classes

Younger Students

Our phonics-based program ensures fluency and can be started as young as 3 years old. We employ fun websites and lots of games as well as a large variety of books. We start students off right by showing them how to build a vocabulary through reading and to be responsible for their own comprehension. If a student starts out with strong learning techniques, SAT scores and entrance exams are a breeze when he is older.

Older Students
Starting as early as 3rd or 4th grade, a student has to have comprehension skills, vocabulary, the ability to predict outcomes, make inferences and evaluate what they are reading. A lack of any of these skills is what makes up a “LOW READING LEVEL” or “READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL” and is commonly the reason for low grades in Social Studies and Science, also. Our reading program will resolve “LOW READING LEVELS “ and will quickly get the student up to grade level and functioning again in school. A child’s self- confidence is improved dramatically when he knows he can read and understand.

MATH

Our Math Program stresses true understanding and application of the subject. Children love all the games we use to make learning this subject fun and exciting. We fill in all the missing “holes” that students often have, which are responsible for making the subject seem so hard. This makes such a big difference; students feel so much better about themselves and the subject of math after all the missing information and skills are acquired.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Command over the written and spoken language instills confidence in an individual because he can communicate. Also, fair or not, our society often judges a person’s intelligence on his ability to speak and write correctly. Our English program is an easily comprehended and uncomplicated approach to English.

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES

Often if there are difficulties in these subjects, it leads back to a reading issue. We can bring your child up to grade level in reading while using his text in these subjects as much as possible. We do as much as we can to bring these subjects more alive and interesting.

RESEARCH

The ability to know how and where to look for and find information and then be able to evaluate that data is an invaluable skill that will not only serve your child in his school career, but in any career or field he chooses to go into. In this age of easily accessible knowledge, it is a shame for people to be shut off from all that is available simply because they don’t know where to start. Information is empowering and liberating and your child deserves to know how to acquire it.

HOMEWORK

Homework can be overwhelming to a child and is often assigned without the fundamental concept ever being taught in the classroom. In order to fully understand and successfully complete nightly assignments there are numerous skills that need to be known and properly used. These include organizational skills, understanding and following instructions, prioritizing and breaking long-term assignments down into smaller, more doable steps. These are rarely, if ever taught in school.


SERVICE AREAS

We travel to the following areas in Los Angeles:
  • Bel Air
  • Beverly Glen
  • Beverly Hills
  • Burbank
  • Encino
  • Glendale
  • Hollywood
  • Montrose
  • Reseda
  • Sherman Oaks
  • Studio City
  • Tarzana
  • Toluca Lake
  • Valley Village
  • Van Nuys
  • Woodland Hills

SUCCESS STORIES

  • Kieran M.,age 12
    Kay has helped me a lot for the last few years.  She has been supportive of whatever I do. She always helps me with very hard math and English that sometimes I can’t understand.  She is the best!
    Kieran M.,age 12
  • Pilar S., age 8
    Kay has been helping me for about 3 years now.  Kay is the best!  She has helped me with math, history, taught me how to read and so on.  Kay makes everything fun!  When you are done with your work she might play a game with you.
    Pilar S., age 8
  • Lily S., age 11
    Kay has worked with my sisters and me for about seven years.  She helps me with any subject and helps me to study hard for tests.  She is a great tutor and has much experience.  She is better than any teacher I have ever had.
    Lily S., age 11
  • Ian F., age 6
    When I work with Kay, she helps me a lot.  Now I can read chapter books, write, multiply, divide, do fractions, common nouns and proper nouns.  I like her games.
    Ian F., age 6
  • Stacey F., Parent
    We first met Kay 2 years ago when our son, Ian, was learning to read.  Two years later, he is in 1st grade reading at a 3rd grade level. Our daughter Ella, 2 years younger than Ian, was jealous that Ian had his "Kay time," so we signed Ella up as well.  Ella will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, but technically she will be ready for 1st grade. Kay teaches our children not only vertically but horizontally.  Subjects, where if you studied a lifetime, you could still learn something new.  Art, history, geography, just to name a few. Kay has also given us great direction with regard to private school vs. public school.  Kay is someone that we trust and value her opinion on anything to do with our children and school.  I could not have imagined the last 2 years without her and when I look toward the future, Kay will be our “go to” on everything regarding school.
    Stacey F., Parent
  • Parker L., age 9
    Kay taught me most of the things I know.  She helps me with all different kinds of subjects.  She taught me how to read, multiply and divide.
    Parker L., age 9
  • Veronica C., age 12
    My mother first hired Kay to teach me how to read.  I enjoyed her tutoring so much that I remained her student for my other subjects.  Kay taught me to excel using strategies that were fun and effective.  She is funny and smart.  I still use things today that she taught me when I was seven.
    Veronica C., age 12
  • Lexi S., age 14
    She got me through 2nd-6th grade math.  Then she greatly improved my ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) scores in 3 months!
    Lexi S., age 14
  • Melissa C., Parent
    Kay Curtis is truly a wonderful tutor.  She first started working with my daughter, Veronica, when she was 5 years old.  Veronica wanted to learn how to read and Kay was engaging and fun.  Kay encouraged my daughter through positive reinforcement and kindness.  Even after Veronica learned how to read, she enjoyed her sessions with Kay so much that Kay continued as her tutor for reading and math for several more years. Kay provides a challenging yet customized curriculum that you can’t find just anywhere.  I highly recommend Kay’s personalized tutoring services to bring out the little Einstein in your child.
    Melissa C., Parent
  • Spencer L., age 12
    Kay was there for me since day one.  She is kind, giving and reliable.  She has turned me into an A, honor student. She helps me with long term projects that my evil teachers give me.  She is the best tutor to study with - she’s almost like a friend when you study with her.  (But she can be strict, too.)
    Spencer L., age 12
  • Jennifer K., Parent
    Our life with Kay started 7 years ago when we hired her to help one of our sons with his speech, before he went into Kindergarten.  As our family instantly fell in love with her, we decided she would help our boys with school work that both my husband and I were out of the loop on and help them get to the highest level possible in each grade. Now both of our sons are honor students and they would not be where they are today if we didn’t have Kay in our lives.  She has become part of our family and we will never get rid of her until the boys go off to college.
    Jennifer K., Parent
  • Michelle G., Parent
    The difference in our daughter’s academic performance has been overwhelming.  Her grades and self esteem improved overnight.  Her teachers and principle have complimented on her performance.  I’m proud to say that Kay made a big difference in our child’s life.  After a few weeks with Kay, my daughter picked up a book on her own and enjoys reading.
    Michelle G., Parent
  • Jen M., Parent
    Kay has been tutoring my children for the past 4 years. She is an amazing teacher. My two sons, Kieran (5th grade) and Gavin (3rd grade), both have trouble learning auditory information. Unfortunately, almost everything taught in their regular school is taught verbally so they have always struggled. Kay has been able to teach them the concepts that they weren't able to learn at school. She is incredibly knowledgeable in both Math and Language Arts. She is very creative and has a multitude of resources. If one way of teaching a concept isn't working she always has several other approaches to try. We would be lost without her!  
    Jen M., Parent

TALK TODAY
CALL KAY (818) 929-9391


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