This post has been sponsored by Explore Horizons. All opinions are 100% our own!
My fifth grader struggles with reading and writing. It is something that’s been ongoing since kindergarten. In the very early elementary grades you think to yourself that maybe he just hasn’t found something that really interests him, but as the years go on, sometimes you begin to worry a little and think about strategies and tools to help him be academically successful.
Enter Explore Horizons
Explore Horizons is an enrichment and tutoring resource for students PreK to eighth grade. They provide assistance in math, reading and writing for students of all abilities. Their mission is to deliver academic improvement as well as nurture fearless learners with a thirst for knowledge in a way that is engaging and motivating. We had never heard of Explore Horizons and were pleasantly surprised to discover that they have five DFW locations, two of which are in Collin County (Plano and Frisco). During our initial FREE assessment, we discovered many things we loved about Explore Horizons. Both my fifth grader and kindergartner were assessed. Here are a few of my initial impressions of Explore Horizons.
Personalized Tutoring and Enrichment
Coming from a background in elementary school education, I know all too well that no two students are alike academically. Explore Horizons uses a unique learning approach that is based on developing a deep understanding of children’s specific needs and learning style, and builds an individualized development plan around them. They started with curriculum via a computer program that was aligned with the TEKS to gauge their knowledge levels in math and reading. This is the baseline data they will use to measure their improvement further into the program.
Goal- & Rewards-Based Environment
It was very clear from the moment we walked into the center that students knew exactly what to do and had clear, attainable expectations for their time spent there. I loved seeing this because I know my kids thrive when a simple routine is in place. Students walk in, check the time, and sign in. There are two clocks: one for the time to check in and another to show parents when their session will end (75 minutes). Parents are allowed to sit in the waiting area or come back once their child’s time has ended. Students are then directed to the zones, which are clusters of desks with several computers ready to go where they can easily click on the program that is specifically for them. There are tutors readily available at each zone for any questions students may have and serve as a support for when student reach a new program milestone. One things my boys really enjoyed was the reward system: lizard cards. Student can attain up to four lizard cards on any day for things such as showing effort, asking questions, or mastering something they were struggling with. These cards are then traded for very cool prizes from the reward zone. Not only do they learn to show effort and ask for help, but they also learn to save their cards to earn something they have their eye one {cough, cough—Minecraft mini figures}.
100% Parent Involvement
As my children get older (in the case of my fifth grader), I get a sense of disconnect in regards to all he’s learning in school. Many battles are fought during homework time with the common refrain, “That’s not how we do it at school.” With Explore Horizons, I feel like I am more involved in the process due to detailed reports to track my kid’s academic achievements as well as regular meetings to keep me up to date with his progress. They also offer many parent workshops to give parents an inside look at what their child is learning. In addition, there is a monthly calendar that shows all the different activities going on each day. For example, National Hat Day or Pizza Day and other things like STAAR workshop days that are included for students in those test-taking grade levels.
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