It’s Back-to-School time! (I know, I’m just as bummed as the kids). A new year, a new teacher and a new curriculum sometimes results in the same academic struggles. Whether your child needs extra help in Reading, Math or Science, investing in a tutor can’t hurt. Tutors help inspire and encourage students, giving them that extra push they need to become head of the class—or close to it.
Here is a comprehensive list of DSM-based tutoring centers ready to help guide your child.
For some tips on hiring a tutor, read our post on What to Consider Before Hiring a Tutor 4 Your Kid or find more great enrichment programs in our Back To School Fun Guide.
Des Moines Tutoring
4211 Grand Avenue • Des Moines, IA 50312 • (515) 208-9829
Open year round, the Des Moines Tutoring Center is locally owned and offers tutoring sessions Monday through Thursday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. They charge an hourly rate for Math, Science, English and Reading and Spanish Tutoring. For Test Prep they have a few different payment options. Another great offering? Online Tutoring! Online tutoring is available for all ages: K-12 and college students. Ready to get started? You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation, then purchase online tutoring sessions individually or as a block.
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center
2570 106th Street • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 419-4270
This Center offers private tutoring, academic programs, small-group sessions, online tutoring and speech therapy to students of all ages. Their teachers and speech-language pathologists also have extensive experience working with children with dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, autism, or other learning delays. Their team gets to know each student, identifies how he/she learns best, and then crafts an individualized learning strategy for him/her.
Huntington
110 SE Grant Street, Suite 104 • Ankeny, IA 50021 • (515) 965-3864
1303 50th Street • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 225-6320
For the teens in your life, it’s helpful to know tutoring is available in algebra, pre-alegbra, biology, physics, SAT, PSAST, ACT and GED. Subject Tutoring is also available for all ages (K-12) and all Huntington tutors are college-educated and are either state or Huntington certified and many hold advanced degrees, usually in education. Each Huntington facility offers windows between every instructional room to ensure that all tutors are under constant supervision and that no tutor is ever alone with any child.
Kumon Math and Reading Center
5800 Merle Hay Road • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 225-8666
5934 Ashworth Road • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 225-8666
The Center provides individual instruction to students from age three through high school. The Kumon Math and Reading programs cover everything from counting to calculus, and phonemics to Shakespeare utilizing “Kumon Worksheets”. The worksheets enable children to learn new concepts on their own and allow students to progress one small step at a time through daily practice. You can schedule a Parent Orientation with an instructor by phone or on their web-site.
Mathnasium
1620 N Ankeny Boulevard, #104 • Ankeny, IA 50023 • (515) 446-8910
2810 SE Grimes Boulevard • Grimes, IA 50111 • (515) 253-8090
160 S 68th Street, #1105 • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 440-6284
Mathnasium learning centers ONLY teach math. Members usually attend two or three times a week for about an hour. Tutoring is available for all ages. Students receive one-on-one tutoring, and, initially, Mathnasium students are given a two-part diagnostic test: a written test designed to assess the student’s weakness with respect to grade-level material and oral questions designed to assess the depth of the student’s understanding of key math concepts and skills. The tutoring is then personalized for each student based on these results, focusing on areas that could best benefit from specialized tutoring.
Sylvan Learning Center
8707 Northpark Court • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 398-9845
Sylan provides school learning programs for K-12 students, college and adults in reading, writing, English, math and homework help. Additionally, Sylvan prepares students to take the SAT, ACT tests for college entrance. Sylvan also offers STEM and Academic classes that introduce your child to cool STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) experiences that build big skills for tomorrow. Their Robotics, Coding and Engineering programs are fun enrichment activities to enhance your child’s after-school routine.
Have you ever tried a tutoring center to give your kid a boost? Let us know in the Comments section below.
