Oxford Learning Center

Rink08

Does anyone have experience with this learning center? We recently found that one is opening nearby and are considering enrolling DS1. It seems like it would be a good fit for DS1 and his current learning issues. However, this is the first one in our state and we are hesitant to start him in a program that we are not able to talk to someone who has actually used them.
We are also concidering Sylvan as an alternative. If you have any experience with that, I'd appreciate it as well.

neverblushed

Are you looking for a preschool or an after school program? Are you looking for general help with homework or therapeutic treatment for specific learning disabilities?  What are your son's "learning issues?" 

I think if you want focused treatment for a specific issue, and you can afford it, you might want tutoring from some kind of clinical specialist such as a speech pathologist.

I know a few people (mostly teachers or college grads considering entering teaching) who worked for Sylvan.  The tutors have varying levels of training in special needs.  From what I understand, kids come and sit in a study carrel.  They work on homework or Sylvan worksheets.  Each tutor is responsible for a number of kids at the same time.  So it's some individual attention, but not a one on one tutoring situation.  There's also pretty high turnover among tutors.  

Rink08

My son has had two years of preschool at two seperate schools due to a move. The first was a great private school that was very education based and he did well there. We moved and had to send him to a different school for prek.The second was play based and basically a review of the first school. He was very bored because he already knew what they were learning there. The teacher told us that he was doing great and he had perfect marks on all of his progress reports.
He started kindergarten this year at another great school and we were told that he is behind in math during the first few weeks. After talking to the teacher, we found that it was because they were tested to number 30 and he had only learned to 20 in prek. We have been working on it at home but the class is advancing and we don't want him to be behind right from the start. We're just looking for someone to help us to get him to where the class is expected to be.

We decided to get a tutor instead. He has speech and some social delays so we feel like this one on one would be better.

neverblushed

I still think it's nutty that a child can be "behind" in math at the start of kindergarten. That being said, it is unusual for preschools not to go all the way up to the 30s because of the daily emphasis on the calendar.  It makes sense that the kids learn up to 31 because of calendar days.

I think, given your situation, that a private tutor is probably the best bet.  I am biased because I worked as a private tutor for a speech-pathology practice for several years, but I just feel like the "learning center" approach to tutoring is a "you get what you pay for" kind of thing.

Littlejen22

neverblushed:

I still think it's nutty that a child can be "behind" in math at the start of kindergarten. That being said, it is unusual for preschools not to go all the way up to the 30s because of the daily emphasis on the calendar.  It makes sense that the kids learn up to 31 because of calendar days.

I think, given your situation, that a private tutor is probably the best bet.  I am biased because I worked as a private tutor for a speech-pathology practice for several years, but I just feel like the "learning center" approach to tutoring is a "you get what you pay for" kind of thing.

All of this.  Assuming he learned up to 20 fairly easily I would think you could teach him 20s up to 30+ in a few days without needing a tutor and saving you a lot of money.  I would look up the curriculum they use or ask the teacher what will be taught next so you can get him up to speed.  I am shocked they are up to the 30s already this early in the year.  What exactly are they doing, counting numbers or addition?  Is it private or public?  Not sure if I am giving the side-eye to your son's school or mine because my son is only doing single digit numbers at school, actually the curriculum is only to 20 for the end of year.

Rink08

Thanks for all of the responses. DH and I spoke with the school therapist that is incharge of this program and I wanted to update you all.

The school that he is going to is a public school. It is one of the top rated schools in the area and we moved here before he started kindergarten so that he would be in this district.
The testing is done individually for each kindergartener by a therapist during the first few weeks of school. They test them on "math" which included counting and recognizing numbers 1 through 30, recognizing shapes, along with understanding patterns and "reading" which includes letters and recognizing the first sounds in spoken words. If they have a low score on any of those sections, the school wants to place them in their Title 1 program for either "Math" or "Reading". My son did well in all of the areas except recognizing numbers after 20. He basically just guessed and got them each wrong.

We have been practicing the numbers on a daily basis and he is doing well with them. However, he does still confuse some of them when presented as flash cards "13 instead of 23" but will write the number correctly if asked. So, it is something that we need to keep working on.

For now, we are not starting tutoring since he has been doing well this way. However, we do have a reference that we are comfortable with in case we do need someone.

Littlejen22

The crazy thing is I do not know any other schools going that high in public Kindergarten. I get why you are worried and do not want him to fall behind everyone but at least feel better knowing he is meeting the core requirements in NJ for end of year Kindergarten. And NJ has great schools.