Education: Best Tutoring Service

KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Strive to Learn, in Costa Mesa, was named the top Tutoring Service as part of our 26th annual Best of OC awards.

1. Strive to Learn

1835 Newport Ave., A109-653 (mailing address), Costa Mesa; 949-873-6807; strivetolearn.com

Strive to Learn founder Josefine Borrmann didn’t set out to establish a tutoring business — the career path instead found her. While providing private tutoring as she was working on her master’s degree in anthropology, she had an “aha’ moment and realized she was already doing what she enjoyed.

“I decided I wanted to create a company that supports any student with any challenge, (train) employees to understand many types of learners, encourage students through their struggles and instill a growth mindset in every single student,” says Borrmann.

Strive to Learn provides academic support for grades K-12, college academic tutoring and test preparation (SAT, ACT, etc.). Additionally, a college counseling team is available to assist high school students through the entire college admissions process, including career exploration, college list building and an in-depth approach to essay writing.

All sessions are one-on-one to allow for individualized attention, as well as custom tailored curriculum and teaching methods. Strive to Learn primarily meets with students online via Zoom, a format Borrmann and her team of mentors began using long before the pandemic. In-person sessions are available as well.

More than just a tutoring company, Borrmann’s mission is to improve students’ quality of life by instilling courage and confidence.

“At Strive to Learn, we are all mentors,” says Borrmann, “and we are in this for our students, in whichever way that they define success.” — Jenelyn Russo

2. Tutor Time

Multiple locations; 888-524-0541; tutortime.com

More than just day care, Tutor Time Child Care and Learning Centers throughout Orange County and the state provide families with young children a “one-of-a-kind school experience” with researched-base curriculum and early education programs.

The foundation of Tutor Time’s LifeSmart curriculum is based on Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory — an approach that taps into how each child’s individuality is used to problem solve, build self-esteem and develop their imagination.

Programs are offered beginning at infant age, including morning and afternoon programs for school-aged children. Homework Club provides support to students with their school assignments in a structured setting. Community Club allows students to participate in goal setting, team building skills and community projects through the My Best Self program.

Additionally, extracurricular elective options introduce students to subjects such as Spanish, phonics, music and sports. And spring break and summer camp programs offer a variety of instruction in STEM subjects and the sciences.

Based on a method that was conceived in 1954 by Japanese father Toru Kumon for his son Takeshi, Kumon Math and Reading Centers provide structured math and reading afterschool tutorials for students from pre-K through high school.

The method uses short, incremental assignments, or worksheets, alongside individualized instruction that equip the students of various learning styles with critical thinking skills and the ability and confidence to learn new material independently, both in the classroom and at home.

Kumon centers are located across Orange County, including the Tustin Market Place location run by Richard Teshiba. The franchise recently celebrated its eight-year anniversary serving the Tustin community.

“The program builds discipline in completing daily work, allowing students to exceed their current grade level of study,” says Teshiba. “With dedication and practice, a student can achieve almost unlimited success. As with music and sports, math and reading skills benefit from daily practice.”

3. Kumon Math and Reading Center

Multiple locations; 800-222-6284; kumon.com