Excel Achievement :: The Process

"We believe that asking questions and wanting to know more are vital to the learning process."

The Excel Process

At Excel Achievement Center, we believe in building on the strengths of your child. The following is the process that we use to do just that:

Free Consultation: Parents are encouraged to bring in their child for a free consultation. This gives the whole family an opportunity to meet the staff and experience the environment. During this consultation, parents are given an opportunity to ask very specific questions about our program. Excel's principle of "a spirit of hospitality" does not allow “high pressure sales.” During the consultation, a free screen to determine the student’s learning style is given. Parents may also request a free dyslexia screening at this time.

Assessment: The second step in the process is for the student to take an assessment. This assessment will determine strengths and needs of the child. Excel Achievement offers a variety of assessments. Parents are involved in choosing the assessment that is best for their child

Enrollment: Programs are determined based on the assessment results. Excel’s directors will give their professional opinion on the best program for each student. Parents are always in the “driver’s seat” and have the final say as to which program they will enroll their child.

The Plan: Plan’s are written based on the assessment results and are extremely individualized. Excel Achievement does not believe in a “cookie cutter” approach to education. We believe that learning is a process and with specific instruction, children can learn to enjoy this process. No two children learn in the exact same way.

Teamwork: Excel’s education director contacts each student's classroom teacher upon the request of the parent. Excel’s staff meets with each of our parents every six weeks; however, more frequent visits can be requested.

We know that once our students discover their own learning style, confidence soars! We are excited to be a part of this discovery process.

Common Misconceptions about Tutoring:

All tutoring is the same:
Research shows that one-on-one tutoring in a facility with individualized curriculum is more effective than in-home or group tutoring. Research also proves that very qualified teachers must be used.

Tutoring is expensive:
Excel Achievement Center is able to get students to grade level in half the time of its competitors! Therefore, the cost is LESS than if the client uses one of these competitors.

Anyone can tutor:
Some people feel that a college student or individual tutor will get the same results. Excel Achievement Center is very results driven. Our 2008 statistics show that, on average, our students go up 2 grade levels in just 4 months!

Tutoring is only for those who struggle academically:
Many of the students at Excel Achievement Center do very well in school--they simply desire to do better. With colleges becoming more competitive than ever, parents want to give their child the advantage of performing at top levels in school. Parents also utilize Excel Achievement Center to motivate their child by making learning fun!

Learning Styles: Which one describes your child?

Linguistic: Linguistic learners often like to read and write. They learn best by writing things down, and memorizing acrostic poems or acronyms work well for them. They often do better on essay tests than multiple choice tests. They may also have an advanced vocabulary and may also be wonderful spellers.

Logical-Mathematical: People who are logical-mathematical are very good at math. Multiple choice tests tend to be easy for them as they enjoy problem solving and short and concise answers. Essay tests may be difficult. They enjoy puzzles and games that provide strategy such as chess.

Kinesthetic: Many kinesthetic learners are often athletic. They also enjoy being active and learning is easiest if it is hands-on. They do not enjoy doing things that seem to be “a waste of time”. They enjoy reading “short text” such as magazine articles. Often they prefer non-fiction to fiction reading. They prefer projects that have a point instead of traditional paper/pencil activities. To study, it is best if they can create hands-on activities such as games, puzzles, and things that require movement. They are definitely motivated by meaningful tasks.

Visual-spatial: The visual-spatial learner tends to be very creative. They like to draw or create things. They may also like to build things with Legos or Magnetics. They prefer hands on activities and like to take time to process their thoughts. Being social while learning is important to them. They prefer their mind to stay active. Listening to a teacher lecture is difficult. Sometimes they are accused of daydreaming and not being organized. Drawing concepts can help these students to remember them better. Attaching emotion to what they are learning is also important. These students may also exhibit extreme sensitivity to the world around them.

Nature: These students really enjoy the outdoors. They expect learning to be practical and make sense in the world that they live in. Making connections and questioning while learning will keep their mind focused. These learners are very analytical as well and will notice a surprising depth of details about their surroundings.

Musical: Musical learners like putting concepts to music and utilizing rhythm and rhyme works well for them. They also like to have time to process their thoughts as they utilize more of the right part of the brain than the left. Attaching emotion to learning is also important.

Interpersonal: These students have a very high “social IQ”. These students understand how to work well with others around them.

Intrapersonal: These students have a very strong sense of self. Students who have this intelligence are very intuitive and can often “feel” the emotions of themselves and of those around them. Thus these children have a very high emotional IQ.

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