My son started first grade this year, and as the saying goes, you-know-what just got real. Kindergarten was real too, in its way, but first grade is giving me a glimpse into the next, oh, decade or so of my life.
The pre-dinner hour is no longer a free-for-all. It’s homework around the table, and depending on the mood of both parent and child, it’s either pleasant or eternal. (Don’t tell my 7-year-old that I’ve no idea what I’ll do when we eventually get to algebra. There’s a reason I’m a writer.)
Luckily, the North Shore is brimming with tutors eager to help kids of all ages, from pre-kindergarten all the way through ACT prep. Here are 10 spots to check out if you’re eyeing that A+.
Ravinia Reading Center
89 Lincolnwood Rd., Highland Park
847-433-5878
Extra Credit: The staff at Ravinia Reading Center are speech language pathologists trained to understand subtle differences in sounds, which is key in understanding why a child is challenged by a word.
Once It Clicks
1934 Waukegan Rd., Glenview
847-977-3610
Extra Credit: Once It Clicks is located next to a tae kwon do studio for kids. Homework done? Exercise on!
C2 Education
2763 Pfingsten Rd., Glenview
847-559-8886
190 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield
224-300-0642
Extra Credit: C2 requires that all tutors score above the 95th percentile in their respective fields.
Hi-5 In-Home Tutoring
Northbrook
847-708-3319
Extra Credit: A Lake Forest teacher founded Hi-5, a small, family-oriented business with flexible hours for in-home tutoring.
College Nannies and Tutors
958 Harlem Ave., Glenview
847-998-5657
Extra Credit: College Nannies is an on-call childcare service that also offers one-on-one customized tutoring for all ages, including college test prep.
Eye Level of Northbrook Learning Center
1512 Shermer Rd., Suite B, Northbrook
847-559-0898
Extra Credit: Eye Level serves a wide age range, from pre-kindergarten through ACT/SAT prep.
Kumon
2825-71 Pfingsten Rd., Suite 17, Glenview
847-834-9887
Extra Credit: A math teacher named Toru Kumon founded this method of tutoring in 1954. He wanted his son Takeshi to develop a love of learning while also becoming equipped for his demanding high school and college entrance exams.
Mathnasium
2650 Valor Dr., Glenview
847-998-0900
600 Central Ave., Highland Park
847-432-5050
Extra Credit: As evidenced by the name, Mathnasium’s speciality is math. Each learning plan is customized to your child’s identified areas of target growth.
Academic Tutoring Centers
460 Central Ave., Highland Park
847-432-5100
Extra Credit: Many tutors here hold Masters Degrees or higher in their respective fields.
iLearn Academy
1838 Waukegan Rd., Glenview
847-834-0791
Extra Credit: Now’s the time to prep for ACT exams, and iLearn Academy offers Saturday and weekday evening classes for English, math, reading comprehension and science.
