Change and Growth

There is much talk of change these days. This being the year we cast our vote for the next President of the United States, we will be deciding a great many issues at the polls. As Tutorpedia begins its third year, we will be growing and changing ourselves, all in an effort to provide you with the best one-on-one tutoring services possible. Tutorpedia is now offering free tutoring services to low-income middle schools in Alameda, Ravenswood (East Palo Alto), South San Francisco, and San Francisco school districts. Our tutors are currently working with 15 students from Chipman Middle School (AUSD), thirty students from Cesar Chavez Academy (RCSD), one student from Parkway Heights Middle School (SSFUSD), and 11 students from Visitacion Valley (SFUSD), school of the 2008 National Principal of the Year, Jim Dierke. As a state-approved and district-sponsored tutoring provider, Tutorpedia is providing the same high-quality, one-on-one tutoring services to low-income students for free. These services are paid for by federal Title 1 funds set aside for schools who meet certain eligibility requirements, based on their student's income level and state test scores. It is a great opportunity to provide flexible, dynamic tutors, capable of motivating, encouraging, and reinforcing positive academic work ethic – notably in math and English-language arts – to students who could not otherwise afford them. With the same focus on homework instruction, test preparation, study skills and organizational strategies, we hope to improve the academic achievement of all students, regardless of socioeconomic background. Tutorpedia is also working on its own SAT curriculum, with a unique angle. Our curriculum will focus on the difference between content and context. Our tutors will tutor not only "how to take the test" (context), but when students need additional help with specific algebra concepts or writing skills, i.e. "what's on the test" (content), our tutors can help there, too. Tutors will still set up individual schedules and learning plans based on each students' needs and flexibility, but there will be a tried and true structure, with consistent strategies, practice problems, and practice quizzes throughout. Tutorpedia is growing and changing. We are trying to break out of the same old routine, while still staying true to our founding principles. At our inaugural Board Meeting last month, I finally flushed out our mission statement: To deliver high-quality, comprehensive, one-on-one tutoring services to meet the individual needs of all students in grades 6-12. We are following through on that mission, with our current low-income tutoring and forthcoming SAT curriculum. As always, I appreciate your feedback, and I appreciate you giving out our name to others in need of tutoring. Remember, you receive ONE FREE HOUR OF TUTORING for every new client you refer to Tutorpedia! I am available anytime over phone or email, (415) 948- 1585 or seth@tutorpedia.com.