FAQ
1. What can you provide that is not available in the school system?
2. How do I know when to bring my child to a learning centre?
3. With so many options available for tutoring, why should I choose Strategic Learning Centre?
4. How do you know what my child needs?
5. How long will my child have to attend the centre?
6. The school thinks my child has dyslexia. What is dyslexia?
7. Where can I get reliable information on learning disabilities?
1. What can you provide that is not available in the school system?
At Strategic Learning Centre, we understand that the school system cannot always help children overcome their learning challenges. We are experts in assessing what the problems may be that your child is experiencing and developing solutions that are specifically geared to your child. We offer the following services that are not available within the school system:
- diagnostic testing and extensive consultation with you and your child to make sure we fully understand where your child may need extra support
- a customized education plan that will identity what steps we need to take to help your child work through the problems that he or she is experiencing
- one-to-one teaching so that your child gets the attention and support he or she needs
- specialized reading, spelling, writing, math and study skills programs that are proven and based on the most current research about how children learn
- unique computer-based training programs for improved sound processing, language and attentional abilities
- cognitive training that develops thinking processes and teaches people good work habits, strategies and insights that they can apply in learning and life situations.
To find out more about our programs click here
2. How do I know when to bring my child to a learning centre?
Most parents have a gut feeling when their child is not progressing the way they should at school – even if the report
card does not indicate a problem. If you suspect your child could be doing better in school, trust your instincts and
give us a call. The information you will get from our free initial consultation will help you decide if Strategic
Learning Centre makes sense for your child.
Here are some of the signs that may indicate your child needs help:
- your child is getting low or failing grades and you have been unable to solve these problems at the school
- you think that your child is not performing to their potential
- you are receiving comments from the school that your child is not paying attention in class
- your child knows something one week but forgets it the next
- your child lacks the ability to write essays or study in an organized manner
- your child seems to be acquiring skills very slowly (such as reading, writing or math)
- your child feels prepared for a test, but then fails that test
- your child has difficulty completing homework independently and there are tears and stress surrounding it
- you have noticed behavioural changes relating to your child such as not wanting to go to school or complaining of stomach aches or headaches
Children don’t usually “grow out of” academic problems so it is important for parents to get the right help as early as possible. Call us at 514-631-9745 to set up a free initial consultation or click here to send us an e-mail.
3. With so many options available for tutoring, why should I choose
Strategic Learning Centre ?
Many parents come to us overwhelmed by the many tutoring options available in the marketplace today and unsure about how to make the right choice for their child. The reality is that most tutoring – whether delivered by a mature student, a classroom teacher or in small groups at centres – relies on worksheets and repetition with the hopes that the more a child practices a subject, the better they will get at it. Unfortunately this approach doesn’t resolve most academic problems.
At Strategic Learning Centre, instead of tutoring, we offer a unique teaching approach designed to get to the root of the problem. Our specialized programs are effective because they are based on the most current research about how students learn and because they are delivered by experienced teachers who work one-on-one with our students at their own pace. This approach repeatedly gets results – even when other methods have failed.
If your child is experiencing learning problems, here are some important things you should know:
- implementing a program without first doing a proper assessment of your child’s learning problems will not lead to the right solution – At Strategic Learning Centre we offer a unique 4-step assessment process which enables us get to the root of all academic problems
- small group tutoring does not solve learning problems – research has shown that a one-on-one teaching approach, like the one used at our centre, is critical to achieving positive, lasting results
- repetitively filling out worksheets or tutoring students to complete their homework does not get to the root of learning problems – that’s why our specialized programs are based on the most current research about how children learn, and are designed to teach to each child’s specific needs
- using CEGEP and university students, or classroom teachers to tutor students does not usually resolve learning problems – you need experienced teachers, like the staff at Strategic Learning Centre, who have an in-depth knowledge of the learning process and how to address specific academic problems
- don’t buy into promises or guarantees that seem to good to be true – we believe in telling parents the truth about their child’s learning challenges and providing a realistic plan that will produce results for their child
4. How do you know what my child needs?
The majority of parents who come to Strategic Learning Centre have tried other methods to solve their children’s learning challenges – often with minimal results. They come to us because we have helped thousands of students become more confident learners. Our exceptional ability to properly assess each child’s specific academic challenges is key to our success.
We offer a unique and very thorough 4-step assessment process. This involves:
- an initial free consultation
- standardized testing and evaluations by other professionals where required
- the development of a customized education plan designed to address your child’s individual learning challenges
- and ongoing monitoring of your child’s progress
To read more about our unique assessment process click here
5. How long will my child have to attend the centre?
So many factors affect a student’s progress, including the age at which they start getting help, their learning style, what kind of home and school support they have, and what their specific learning issues are. So the answer to this question will be different for every child. However, once you’ve come in for an initial consultation, we will be able to provide you with a realistic assessment of what kind of support your child will need and how long it will likely take.
6. The school thinks my child has dyslexia. What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is defined as having a difficulty with the alphabet, reading, writing, and spelling in spite of normal to above average intelligence, conventional teaching, and adequate socio-cultural opportunity. Dyslexia is a word commonly used to describe so many different reading and spelling problems. It encompasses many language difficulties and does not just mean the “person who sees the word backwards.” Children with dyslexia may be bright, have good vocabulary skills, and may even do well with numbers and math, but reading and spelling are hard. If you have been told that your child has dyslexia or you are concerned about their reading and spelling skills, we can help.
Strategic Learning Centre is known for its specific expertise in this area. We offer many specialized programs, including one for children with dyslexia. The Lindamood Phonemic System® is a unique and effective reading and spelling program that allows students to “unglue” the individual sounds in words. This program is very different from any other reading program taught in either public or private schools or other learning centers in the Montreal area.
To find out more about Lindamood, click here
7. Where can I get reliable information on learning disabilities?
Our founder, Karen Foley, has extensive experience in special education and reading, and has been working with students who have learning disabilities for over 30 years. That is one of the primary reasons she opened Strategic Learning Centre in 1989 – to help parents solve their children’s learning problems. Since that time, the centre has helped thousands of students become more confident, successful learners. If you have been told your child has a learning disability or you suspect that he or she does, contact us at 514-631-9745 for a free initial consultation or click here to send us an e-mail
Here are a few web sites about learning disabilities that parents find helpful: