Anybody have personal experience with Sylvan Learning Centers?

[missypie]

DD13 is in all pre-AP and G/T classes, but she is a slow reader compared to her other bright friends. I know that in high school she will want to take advanced classes, but I don't think she'll be able to keep up with the reading.

Sylvan has an Advanced Reading class that looks good, but I'm leary of a company that advertises so much.

Does anyone have any personal experience with Sylvan Learning Centers that they'd like to share?

 

[kbun0304]

My DS attended Sylvan for 10 months with a focus on reading. He started at the beginning of 3rd grade and was reading at a K level. In 10 months, Sylvan brought him up 2 grade levels and with help from school he is now reading at grade level. It was expensive - $40 an hour with a 4 hour per week minimum (so $160 per week), however it was worth every dime.

 

[ZebraStripes]

My DD10 spent last summer with Sylvan. I agree with kbun0304, it was expensive, we paid $50/hr. She was there for math and reading in which she was about a grade behind when she started with Sylvan. When she was tested with Sylvan, the entire program was some where around 200 hours. My only beef with them is that even though she just finished 3rd grade, they retaught her EVERYTHING from square one. We probably spent about 1/2 the summer going over things from the beginning. We would have continued in the program if 4th grade hadn't been so overwelming for her (2 hours of home work, switching for 3 classes, being treated like mini adults). My SIL has had really good luck with Sylvan. Her kids are LD in non specific ways and they really worked with her and the kids to get the best program possible for them. We kind of got the hard sell in the beginning, but once we put that aside and understood what we were getting into, it was alright. There are a couple of threads here about them too.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The only experience I have with Sylvan is as a teacher who applied to work there. That is, until I got to the interview and I found out what they pay. For a place that charges so much, their pay is very low. It makes me wonder how many well-qualified teachers they have. Yes, they probably have a few, but maybe not too many. I'd consider approaching her teacher about some one on one tutoring this summer. It would probably cost you alot less, and one on one she'd probably get at least as much out of it.