Q: How does Brain Academy tutoring program differ from any other tutoring program?
A: We put all our effort to help each student succeed in school in this very competitive world despite learning problems, poor motivation to learn, weak cognitive skills, attention deficit, learning disability, or poor organization. Brain Academy helps students boost their grades in any subject , raise scores on tests, and improve learning and cognitive skills, so that they also excel in all other subjects in the future. Our unique program was developed by Dr. Rimma Danov, PhD, a neuropsychologist, specializing in examining cognitive skills. In the past several years Dr. Danov has been conducting neuropsychological assessments of children and adults who have poor learning skills, memory, attention, concentration, organization, processing, and reasoning, which greatly undermined their academic and professional performance. Some students with learning problems suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD, learning disability (LD), brain injury (TBI), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), various developmental delays due to premature birth, depression, anxiety, or simply did not develop good test-taking skills and effective learning skills. Based on her extensive experience and knowledge of how the brain works, what causes specific learning problems, and how cognitive problems can be remediated, she has developed a program that focuses not only on regular help with academic subjects (i.e., math, algebra, geometry, calculus, reading, writing, biology, chemistry, science, history, SAT test-prep, GRE test-prep, state-wide test-prep, etc), but also improves cognitive skills (i.e., attention, organization, thinking, reasoning, information processing, and memory retention skills), as well as addresses test anxiety, low motivation to learn, and low self-esteem. Ask about our bilingual services.
Q: Who conducts the tutoring sessions?
A: Tutoring is provided by highly experienced Tutors and Learning Specialists, who have already demonstrated strong academic achievement, determination to learn, persistence to succeed, and very effective study skills- all of which has helped them achieve the level they are at now. Our tutors have graduated from Ivy League high schools and colleges or universities such as Yale, Brown, Harvard, Princeton, Fordham, Columbia, NYU, New School, Rutgers, Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, and others, with high GPA and other standardized test scores. Some of our tutors are currently pursuing graduate study at top universities and tutor students in a subject they major in. Some of our tutors are certified mainstream or special education teachers or are in training to become one. No matter who your tutor is at the Brain Academy, you can be sure that your tutor is a high achiever who is happy to share his/her knowledge and skills and who is proud to show a proven track record of excellent learning skills and high achievement. They are also personable, warm, organized, focused, and determined to improve student’s academic performance and motivation to learn and succeed. Some of our tutors and learning specialists are bilingual.
Q: Are tutoring sessions performed one-on-one or in groups?
A: We strongly believe that individual, private setting provides the best condition for optimal learning, especially for students who have trouble focusing, reasoning, and absorbing new information. We do not group students together for just another after-school class. Our tutors work very closely with each individual student, considering his/her specific educational needs, cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and academic goals.
Q: How long is the tutoring session?
A: Each tutoring session is 1 hour long. Longer sessions or multiple sessions can be scheduled as well.
Q: Why “Brain Academy”?
A: The name “Brain Academy” was born out of the very core mission of this tutoring program- helping students improve their academic skills and, most importantly, improving their cognitive skills. We do not stop when students improve their grades in any given subject. We go a step further to help the students succeed in all future subjects, assignments and educational endeavors by enhancing their study skills, focus, information processing and retention, and organizational and planning skills. Motivation to learn and succeed, strong self-esteem, and a healthy dose of test anxiety are also very important key elements of academic success. Our tutors always keep these factors in mind and address them continuously during a tutoring process.
Q: How do tutors improve students’ cognitive skills?
A: Dr. Danov designs a specific sequence of cognitive exercises that improve specific cognitive skills, such as memory, retention, focus, speed of visual tracking and scanning, information processing, reasoning, word retrieval, organization and planning. Each student will receive individually customized cognitive training based on presenting learning problems, in addition to their regular tutoring goals, such as learning to read, write, solve math problems, etc. Moreover, students will be instructed on how to practice the skills and strategies introduced in the tutoring session to assist them with homework. This component of our tutoring process enhances learning, provides continuity that helps generalize learned skills to various subjects, and brings tutoring effect right to your door step.
Q: How do you know what each student needs to improve?
A: When you call us at 877-55-MY TUTOR, an intake coordinator will conduct a detailed structured interview over the phone in order to determine student’s learning problems and specific educational needs, as well as any prior educational or cognitive testing, and past and present relevant treatments. Dr.Danov reviews each intake to determine student’s educational and tutoring needs and goals and matches each student with a specific tutor who will best address student’s learning goals. Dr.Danov may request to meet with you in person or speak to you over the phone to clarify these issues. You can always request to meet with Dr. Danov as well.
Q: Is the detailed structured intake enough to determine student’s learning goals?
A: In most cases- yes, as our detailed structured interview includes specific questions that reveal very important information about student’s learning problems, cognitive skills, and motivation. Additional interviewing by Dr.Danov may be scheduled if further clarification is required. You can also request an academic and/or cognitive testing and assessment using standardized, well researched, objective measures of academic and cognitive skills (see Assessment page or call 877-55-MY TUTOR).
Q: What subjects are covered?
A: Any subject, any test preparation, any homework assignment for students of all ages- young children to adults. We tutor in math, calculus, algebra, geometry, reading, creative writing, spelling, essay writing, term paper writing, physics, chemistry, biology, statistics, science, history, ESL, SAT, GRE, PSAT, MCAT, LCAT, etc.
Q: Are bilingual tutoring and assessments available?
A: Yes, we conduct bilingual tutoring sessions and assessments, depending on availability of the tutors and learning specialists. Languages, such as Spanish, Hebrew, and Russian, are the most commonly requested.
Q: Who can enroll in Brain Academy?
A: We accept all kinds of students-all ages and all grades. Some of our tutors specialize in working with children and adults with special needs and learning disability, others specialize in working high functioning students who have poor organization, planning and focus. Other tutors also specialize in working with adults who need help with standardized exams, such as GRE, LSAT, MCAT, Bar Exams, etc. Ask about our bilingual services.
Q: Where are services offered?
A: All services are offered in quiet, private, comfortable offices with office desks and chairs. You can schedule appointments in any of our 5 NY locations- New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island. (See Locations page or call 877-55-MY TUTOR). Tutors’ schedule varies and typically includes weekdays and weekends, day time and evenings.
Q: How do I start?
A: First of all- CONGRATULATIONS! You are on the right path towards academic success and peace of mind! Second, please call us at 877-55-MY TUTOR or visit Contact Us page. Diana, our Intake Coordinator, will be happy to answer all your questions and will conduct a structured interview over the phone to determine your learning needs and goals and to schedule your appointments.
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877-55-MY TUTOR (877-556-9888)
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