Learning Spaces and Creative Spaces

With all the sports and fun activities going on in Lamorinda, it can be easy to forget it’s not all summertime and weekends. Eventually, the kids will have to go to school. The elementary years are a time for growth, while middle school can be a training ground with a focus on creating study and organizational habits that will carry them through their future academic life. When high school rolls around, it’s time to buckle down and get to work. Whatever their age or grade level, it’s not unusual for students to need a little extra help. ​

Finding a Tutor ​

Specializing in tutoring for elementary age children, The Learning Space provides kids pre-k to grade 6 with help in math, reading and writing. Have a child with a learning disability or attention disorder?

The Learning Space can develop individualized strategies, monitor academic progress and make adjustments to ensure that the student is thriving. Whatever you’re looking for in the world of academic assistance Lafayette Academy can help.

On top of private tutoring, their shadow classes and exam crams have helped many high school students improve their grades and test scores. Shadow classes are group lessons offered weekly during the semester that follow the curriculum of their subject area, while exam cram is a two-hour session held during finals week to reinforce materials and prepare students for the big tests.

Grade Potential Tutoring will set your child up with in-home tutoring, from elementary to grad school. Call them at (925) 273-0289 or visit their website for pricing and detailed information. Locally owned OnTrack Learning provides private and semi-private tutoring in a wide variety of subjects.

Additionally, On Track offers college financial planning, behavioral intervention, college consulting and pre-test meditation. Find a wide variety of services at C2 Education. Need a tutor for your middle-schooler? They can hook you up.

Have an elementary student who’s struggling with reading?

Time for a summer boot camp. The focus at Mathnasium is on, you guessed it: math. With a comprehensive evaluation and customized plan for each child’s learning style, Mathnasium tutors work with your elementary, middle or high school student in all areas of study including, algebra, geometry and calculus. Pay month-to-month or receive a discounted rate when you commit to 3 full months.

​The Contra Costa Library’s student page is a treasure trove of information and resources, including a link to BrainFuse HelpNow, an online tutoring program available to kids from 1:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. every day. A library card is required to sign-on, but students who don’t have one may apply online for an e-card. 73-0289

Clubs and Classes ​

The Writing Studio in Lafayette runs classes to aid students in developing their writing skills and voice. Groups are comprised of 12-15 students and are held in the afternoons over a 10-week period.

Kids will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an instructor each week to go over their current writing projects and monitor their progress. Kumon, a national franchise, has two locations in Lamorinda, one in Moraga and one in Lafayette.

Children can begin the program as young as age 3 to aid in developing self-learning skills. Having trouble motivating your child to read? Bring him to the Lafayette Library for a session of All Ears Learning®, a free program where kids read to a shelter dog for 15 minutes at a time. Call (925) 385-2280 or stop by the front desk to reserve a time slot.

Even children who reluctant readers are often excited for a chance to read Fido a story. Girls in grades 3-5 can join Girls Who Code in the tech lab, also at the library. Guided by a recent computer science grad, kids will work through online curriculum together. New students and drop-ins are welcome at any time, but registration is recommended as meetings are limited to 15.

Participants should bring a laptop if possible, though some workstations and library laptops are available. Kids 4th-8th grade of either gender sign up for the library’s Narwhalcodingclub held once a week in the tech lab. The club is self-driven, but mentors are on site to help. Orinda Parks and Rec offers several academic classes, including Public Speaking and Debate, Mandarin and Writing Skills.

View their activity guide for current offerings. For those with middle school or high school daughters, the Intuitive Writing Project is a writing-based empowerment program for teenage girls. They offer a range of fiction and non-fiction writing programs designed to support girls in finding their voice and building their confidence, both as writers and as women.

​To learn more about their creative philosophy and explore their programs, visit them at www.intuitivewritingproject.org.

Teaching to the Test

The years fly by. Before you know it, it’s time for your high school student to take the SAT or ACT. Figure out what test suits your child best by having them take a practice exam at Lafayette Academy or C2 Education, both of which also offer prep classes and private tutoring.

Compass Education Group holds proctored practice tests at the Lafayette library every Saturday. Within two business days, students receive detailed score results and a consultation with a Compass director who can help formulate a study plan based on performance.

​In addition to in-person instruction in Berkeley, Kaplan has a variety of online tutoring programs for kids who don’t have time to travel or who simply want to combine the two. OnTrack Learning’s semi-private and private tutoring come with guaranteed improvement. Check their website for details. 

No matter what your child’s learning style, interests or educational challenges, there’s someone who can help in Lamorinda.  ​