HERE WITH A HELPING HAND

By Paige Eisemann

September brings the beginning of the school year for families all across our area. Never before have students faced so many changes and uncertainty at the beginning of a new school year. These uncertainties can be stressful. Many parents report struggling with their decisions, wondering how their child will fare in a very different learning environment. Parents are concerned about their children missing out on enrichment opportunities. Each family is unique, just as each learner is unique. Whatever path you have chosen for your children’s education, there are resources and programs available in our area that can help your child succeed.

Local tutoring and enrichment services have grown in the last few years, as demand has increased. Families have enlisted the help of tutors for their children for areas of curriculum that may be challenging, for specific skill sets such as learning multiplication tables, learning a foreign language, or preparing for a college entrance exam. These services can be invaluable in helping a student develop confidence in their skills by providing practice and individualized specific instruction tailored for the child. These services become even more important as children are learning in new environments for the first time. There are programs in our area that provide wide and varied enrichment opportunities for children of all ages, in both virtual format and safe traditional options. Fortunately, our community has many unique services so parents can find what works best for their student(s). A few of these options are outlined below, highlighting some of the wonderful options they offer for families to assist with learning during the pandemic.

CLARKSVILLE YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Clarksville Youth Enrichment Programs is located at 403 Madison Street in downtown Clarksville. Open since 2012, CYEP provides in person or virtual tutoring options during their school year sessions, which run August 10-May 20. Scheduled Focus Tutoring features private, custom-designed, one-on-one assistance for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th graders and is available in most subject areas. Enrichment Tutoring is available for students who need extra academic instruction in a specific area. Each session is designed to maximize quality learning time and is priced at $35/hour. Tutors will seek client information regarding necessary areas of focus along with assessing students to determine additional areas of need. No contract is involved, and experienced professionals facilitate each meeting. Scheduling and payment is requested one week prior to the first session for four consecutive sessions at a time ($140). Enrichment Programs are available for Pre-Kindergarten through 12th graders and allow students to explore, design, and create in their own unique areas of interest. These sessions meet once a week and are designed specifically to enrich students in their areas of choice, build upon their existing talents, and allow them to think and create in new and exciting ways! Options available at this time include KinderPhonics, KinderMath, KinderArt, KinderLiteracy, a variety of art programs, sewing, quilting, and the ever popular Musical Multiplication class. Individual Spanish Tutoring is also available, which is perfect for students enrolled in the CMCSS Spanish Immersion program! Pricing is $20/hour, and students register for 8 or 9-week sessions at a time totalling $160 or $180 depending on the day of the week. At the conclusion of each 8/9 weeks, students may choose to continue, switch programs, or end. Most programs are not scheduled for a specific day and time but fill based on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that some programs are semester-long programs as indicated in their descriptions. A semester is 18 weeks. One program at CYEP that always receives rave reviews is the ACT Prep program. According to program director Brooke Knight, this program is designed for students in grades 7 and up who are preparing to take the ACT. The CYEP website states that this highly successful program “allows your teen to be motivated and inspired with a personal approach that takes the mystery out of the ACT.

Watch their confidence and scores grow as students learn applicable strategies, practice pacing, develop test-taking skills, and reduce anxiety. This program will help students better understand exactly what to expect and how to prepare for test day.” The ACT Prep program is an 8-class course (2 English, 2 Reading, 2 Science, 2 Math), each session is designed to maximize quality learning time and is priced at $45/hour, totaling $360 for the course. Scheduling and payment is requested one week prior to the start of the session for the first four consecutive classes ($180). A second payment for the remaining sessions will be requested after the first three classes are complete ($180). These sessions are held in a small group setting of no more than 6 students. Individual ACT Prep is also available for those students who cannot make the session dates and times listed below. Individual ACT Prep is scheduled by appointment, is an 8-session course and is priced at $60/hour, totaling $480 for the course. Please note that Individual Prep sessions may be paid by cash or check only. For students navigating the “new normal” with an Individualized Learning Plan (IEP), CYEP offers IEP Support and Advocacy Programs, as well as Guidance Services. (www.cyep.net or call 931-920-0003)

CLUB Z! TUTORING OF CLARKSVILLE

Club Z! Tutoring of Clarksville is a service which matches individual students with specific education professionals who tutor in the student’s home, or at an agreed upon location. (That might be a park, a church, the library, wherever learning takes you!) Their proprietary TutorMatch system offers a guarantee of matching your child with an appropriate tutor. The Z! Tutor match is made on specific criteria, which include academic strengths and availability. According to their website, Club Z! Tutors are experts in their subject area(s) and are matched with your student based on his/her academic weaknesses. Many of their tutors are certified teachers, and all possess an educational degree and relevant tutoring experience. In addition, all are thoroughly screened and background checked prior to receiving a student assignment. Club Z! tutors are matched with your student based on your scheduling preferences. Whether it’s after school, weekends, evenings, or during academic breaks, our tutors can accommodate even the busiest academic or athletic schedules. Specific tutoring options are always available, with focus areas including study skills, PreK, writing, math, reading, foreign languages and science. Many families choose Club Z! Because they value the ability to host the tutor in their own home. Tutoring options will be offered both in person and virtually for the coming academic year. This is especially important in this time of social distancing. Club Z! Is embracing the virtual and remote learning wave with the creation of “Learning Pods”. According to owner Dawn Sawyer, this unique approach allows small groups of three or more students the opportunity to come together as frequently as parents request for time with a tutor. This can be a weekly meeting, or even daily if parents so choose. Allowing parents to come together to create a Learning Pod allows them to share in the cost, take turns in hosting learning sessions with the tutor, and to have more flexibility in their homeschooling and virtual schooling support. This option can offer more interaction for families, and can enhance homeschooling groups by providing specific learning support. Learning Pods can be created for all age students, from PreK to 12th grade. Virtual options are available. (www. clubztutoring.com/clarksville or call 931-444- 7200)

TUTORING CLARKSVILLE

Tutoring Clarksville is located at 1989 Madison Street. Aside from individual tutoring and homework help, Tutoring Clarksville is offering small group study sessions for online learners. Offering flexible dates and times, this program provides an opportunity for students who are participating in virtual or remote learning to gather with peers to collaborate on specific projects, skills, or curriculum areas. Sessions are available for grades K-12. (facebook.com/ TutoringClarksville or call 931-436-3363)

PRIVATE TUTORS

Some families have found that private tutors are more flexible in meeting their specific needs. Private tutors may be able to work around your work schedule or work activities in ways that prove helpful for families struggling to maintain schedules during the pandemic. Parents can choose a tutor who is an expert in a specific area. Many individual educators in our area offer tutoring services, such as Branden Ward, owner of ScooB’s Scholars. Ward specializes in helping, assisting and guiding middle and high school students in the areas of Math, Algebra 1 & Algebra 2. (facebook.com/scoobsscholars or call 931-279- 6443) Lynne Griffey, owner of Lynne Griffey Tutoring offers individual tutoring classes in the areas of English, reading and writing as well as art classes. (www.lynnegriffeyart. com or call 931-320-0794) Judy Droll, owner of Educational Advantage Tutoring Center offers individual tutoring sessions as a retired teacher with 33 years experience, primarily in grades K-3. (www.facebook.com/pages/ category/Tutor-Teacher/Educational-Advantage- Tutoring-Center or call 727-481-9512) Many other educators in our community offer tutoring opportunities, so seek out possible tutors by inquiring in your neighborhood groups, church, or school to find the perfect fit for your child.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AT APSU

The CSA at APSU is now under the management of the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts. Classes are offered for children and adults on many different levels in areas of dance, theater, music, creative writing, and visual art. Students who are missing their enrichment classes in traditional school might enjoy photography, sculpting, instrumental music, children’s choir, fiction writing, or even improvisational acting. (www.apsu.edu/csa or call 931-221-7034)

MADISON STREET MUSIC AND ARTS ACADEMY

Madison Street Music and Arts Academy offers music and art group classes as well as private lessons for children and adults. Suzuki violin, group piano and group guitar classes are offered as well as individual classes. Unique opportunities include Djembe Drum Karate,Interactive Music Theory, and Alexander Technique. A variety of Kindermusik classes are available for children from infants to 7 years of age. For middle and high school students, precollege level lessons are available. For adults, new options for Fall 2020 include “Symphony 101” and “In Their Own Words: Slave Life And The Power Of Spirituals” Reduced rates are available for families who qualify for the school lunch program. Virtual lessons are available. (www.madisonstreetumc.org/ ministries/madison-street-music-artsacademy or call 931-647-0221)

MARY’S MUSIC

Mary’s Music has been providing Clarksville with individual music lessons since 1992. A variety of instrumental music lessons are available, including guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, violin, and ukulele. Lessons can be tailored from beginner to advanced, with instructors available for every skill level. (www.marysmusicclarksville.com or call 931-552-1240)

FIRST BAPTIST CONSERVATORY

First Baptist Conservatory is a Christian Private Lesson Program providing students and adults the opportunity to study music in a church environment.The FBC offers a wide variety of instrumental and vocal instruction in a private setting. Whether you are a beginning, intermediate or advanced musician, they can provide instruction for students of all ages who seek to develop their gifts. The faculty is staffed with qualified and competent Christian teachers. Many instructors have degrees in music, and all have vast experience in their field. (www.fbct.org/ conservatory or call 931-245-0000)

VANESSA GREEN GUITAR STUDIO

Vanessa Green and husband Kevin both hold Bachelors degrees in performance guitar, and their studio advocates for guitar education throughout Clarksville by holding guitar outreach and after-school programs in our community. Professional and high quality classes in guitar, ukulele, and beginning bass guitar are available at their studio at 1817 Madison Street Suite A5. (www. vanessagreenguitar.com or call 931-802-5005)

CLARKSVILLE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS

General music and art classes are offered for grades K-6 by instructors skilled in multiple areas, including photography, dance, voice, film and theater. Live online general music and arts classes will have their $20 registration fee waived if Clarksville Living Magazine is mentioned at the time of enrollment. (www. cpsfinearts.org/staff.html or call 931-218- 6635)

LYNNE GRIFFEY ART

Lynne Griffey offers private or group lessons in a variety of mediums, including drawing skills, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. Hourly lessons taught by this award winning artist take place in a comfortable home studio setting with all materials provided. (www. lynnegriffeyart.com or call 931-320-0794)

ROXY REGIONAL SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

Since 1995, the Roxy Regional Theatre has been introducing youth to the experience of live theatre and expanding their knowledge of the craft through the School of the Arts. Beginning September 2020 in addition to youth ages 9 to 18, the program has been expanded to include class offerings for adults 18 years of age and older. www.roxyregionaltheatre.org/education/ roxy-regional-school-of-the-arts or call 931-645-7699)

There are dozens of private studios in our community for all sorts of instruments, art mediums, and areas of talents. Austin Peay students offer a wealth of knowledge waiting to be shared. If your child has an interest that is not met by the suggestions above, reach out to your child’s school, your neighborhood group, church, or the university for information on other enrichment opportunities.

Options abound in our area for families who are now navigating virtual learning, or any educational path. Whether you need someone to help your child in a specific subject area or you wish to add enrichment to your at-home educational process, there are resources available to make things less stressful for everyone. Our community is rich with professionals here to lend a helping hand.