Summer Small Group Tutoring
Our Head Start Summer Program is an 8-week course designed to prepare students for the upcoming school year's math, science, or English curriculum. Courses are taught in a personalized tutoring format (either 1-on-2 or 1-on-3) to ensure each student receives highly personalized attention alongside a course curriculum customized to their upcoming course’s syllabus.
Head Start Program Features
1-on-2 or 1-on-3 Class Size
Students gain far more value from our 1-on-2 and 1-on-3 individualized classes than large group classes. In large group classes, students often “zone out” and pay partial attention.
In our 1-on-2 environment, students receive individualized tutor attention. Additionally, all courses are taught interactively; students answer questions throughout the session, thereby ensuring more individualized engagement and attention than typical large group classes.
Study Habit Improvement
Classes are tailored to include 4 modules of long-term study habits, productivity, and test-taking skills. Instructional techniques will include lectures, note-taking, class discussions, and independent readings.
School Specific Syllabi
Courses have a set syllabus that is further customized to match the syllabi of the school that student is enrolled in. For example, students in the Palo Alto school district will follow the PAUSD curriculum, while students in a different school district will follow the curriculum that best matches that of their school.
Excellent Pedagogy
Summer Head Start Classes are taught by tutors with at least 5-8 years of teaching experience and at least 300 or more cumulative hours teaching the subject in question.
Customized to the Student
Courses are tailored to a student's idiosyncratic needs. For example, if a student is particularly gifted in mathematics and excelling in the program, we may align the course to delve deeper into advanced concepts, advanced mathematical thinking, etc. Alternatively, if a student is struggling in the course or with relevant critical skills, the course will be aligned to address those areas as well as the base content.
Summer Practice
Students are held accountable to completing 4-6 hours of dedicated weekly practice (55+ hours cumulatively) in the subject they are enrolled in. This ensures student develop as deep of an understanding as possible, within the 8-week course timeline.
Timeline
6-Weeks
21 hours of 1-on-2 or 1-on-3 instruction
1 college advising & planning session
3 long-term study habit improvement modules
1-on-1 office hours to review practice problems and understanding of material
55 hours of dedicated weekly practice
8-Weeks
32 hours of 1-on-2 or 1-on-3 instruction
3 college advising & planning sessions
8 long-term study habit improvement modules
1-on-1 office hours to review practice problems and understanding of material
55 hours of dedicated weekly practice
2022 Course Catalog
Summer prep classes are offered at the AP, Honors, and standard level for:
Mathematics
Grade 6 Math
Grade 7/7A Math
Grade 8 Math
Geometry
Algebra I
Algebra II
Trigonometry
Precalculus
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
Humanities
Most Foreign Languages (Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, and many more)
US History
World History
Economics
Government
Law & Philosophy
Science and Society: Policy Applied to Science
International Relations 101
Introduction to Journalism
Study Habit Courses
Too Many Deadlines: Efficient Time Use in High School
For 8th Graders: High School Readiness Skills
Organization & Scheduling
Conquering Test Anxiety
Motivation for Academics
Note Taking for High School
Studying STEM Efficiently & Effectively
Growth Mindset & Importance of Practice
Science
English
Computer Science
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Environmental Science
Psychology
Critical Reading & Comprehension Skills
Fundamental Writing & Essay Skills
Creative Writing
Rhetorical Analysis
Persuasive Writing
Introduction to Coding in Python
Data Science: Coding & Applied Projects
Machine Learning: Coding & Applied Projects
Web Development
Hardware Engineering with Arduino
Robotics: Coding, Hardware & Applied Projects
Specialty Course
Job Interviewing: Honing your Interview Skills
College Interview Skills
Debate: Honing Debate Skills
Public Speaking
Art / Graphic Design
Music Theory
Health Sciences & Biotechnology
Business, Economics, and Finance
Non-technical Roles in Tech
Genetics
Scientific Reasoning & Analysis
Microbiology
Scientific Research
Synthetic Biology: Biomolecules & Bioengineering
Veterinary Sciences
STEM Interest Courses
Mathematical Reasoning & Problem Solving
Genetics
Scientific Reasoning & Analysis
Microbiology
Scientific Research
Synthetic Biology: Biomolecules & Bioengineering
Veterinary Sciences