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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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Absolute Value Tutoring
SENDING STUDENTS TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS
A common complaint among parents , particularly in large school districts , is that they feel like their child is a “ number ,” a nameless test-taker roaming the halls of the school . In school districts with high student-teacher ratios , it ’ s nearly impossible for teachers to devote extra attention to individual students , which means that many students don ’ t fully learn one concept before the teacher moves on to the next . When students fall behind in a class , they can quickly become overwhelmed playing “ catch-up ,” and may eventually come to believe that they simply aren ’ t good at a particular subject . Absolute Value Tutoring addresses these issues , providing the individual attention students need to avoid these learning gaps and maximize their potential .
Based in Mt . Lebanon , Absolute Value Tutoring was co-founded by Allie Knowlton and Heather Earley , two longtime friends and educators who believe that establishing personal relationships with students and their families is the hallmark of a successful tutor . With a combined 27 years of experience , both in the classroom and as private tutors , Knowlton and Earley are passionate about helping students become lifelong learners . Unlike “ big box ” tutoring centers , Absolute Value keeps costs low by meeting with students at their homes or convenient public places , eliminating the expenses incurred by a bricks-and-mortar facility .
Research has consistently shown that private , one-on-one tutoring is highly effective at helping students improve their academic performance . Part of fostering academic achievement also includes addressing areas not commonly taught in the classroom . Learning how to study , for example , is a crucial element of successful learning , yet it ’ s among the skills most lacking in many students . As Earley points out , “ Critical thinking skills , time management , study habits — these skills transfer across all aspects of life ,
not just in the classroom ,” and it ’ s very important for children to master them early . No matter how inherently smart a child may be , without those skills , they can struggle as the curriculum gets more advanced each year . Knowlton and Earley know this firsthand . “ Between the two of us ,”’ Knowlton says , “ we have five children who are students in the Mt . Lebanon School District , and we are very familiar with the challenging curriculum . We started tutoring casually , helping our children and their classmates stay on top of the material , but created Absolute Value because we share the same philosophies about teaching and can help more students together .”
Knowlton and Earley have also found that many of their students aren ’ t looking to catch up — they ’ re looking to forge ahead , learning everything they can about a subject to improve their standardized testing scores or prepare for AP exams . “ We see a lot of high-achieving students ,” Knowlton said . “ The minute they get a ‘ B ,’ they ’ re looking for a tutor . And they stay with us because we offer personalized attention . We have students who are with us consistently , year after year .”
Absolute Value Tutoring provides a wide range of tutoring services , including English , math , Spanish , college essay help and standardized test preparation . As the business grows , Earley anticipates adding specialized workshops in areas like computers and technology . Current students hail from school districts as geographically varied as Baldwin and Carlynton to Mt . Lebanon and Upper St . Clair .
If you would like to learn more about Absolute Value Tutoring and see all of the services available for your child , go to their website at absval . net , where you can schedule your first session . You can also call today at 412.206.7010 to schedule a tutoring session or get answers to any questions you may have .
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