The summer program at Brainworks offers students a unique opportunity to combine rapid academic progress and skill-building with friendship and fun in a lively, positive setting. The basic elements of the regular fall and spring sessions, such as one-to-one tutoring, customized lesson plans, and continuous monitoring of progress by licensed instructors, remains the same. However, the summer program expands the scope to include training in communication and social skills; the compact and intense curriculum contributes to the development of students who not only learn independently, but who take pleasure from doing so.

The concentration of time and achievement in these sessions can produce striking results. Last summer, a ten-year old boy improved his reading level by two years in only six weeks; a middle-school student improved his reading speed by 30% while maintaining 90-100% comprehension. A twelve year old girl’s plan for intensive math review enabled her to pass the TAKS math section for the first time, and a high school sophomore discovered he possessed a gift for written expression of which he wasn’t even aware.

One of the most significant advantages of the summer program is the interaction between the clients, the peer tutors, and the adult instructors. Students have a chance to interact with people their own age as well as to develop trusting relationships with people of other ages. Clients are encouraged to assume personal responsibilities in a supportive group situation, and communication skills grow in a natural manner.

Our staff members have high expectations for summer session clients, and the format of the quick-paced summer classes allows the staff to have a maximum impact on each student’s progress. The lessons, specifically designed to meet the needs and goals of the individual, are monitored and evaluated on a constant basis by licensed professional educators. Feedback on student achievement, another constant process, culminates in written progress reports, post testing, and conferences with parents.

For students who don’t take part in Brainworks’ summer sessions, summer may mean nothing more than a few weeks of tanning or staring at daytime television. As for the students who do participate, this summer could be memorable as a time when learning to learn becomes fun!

All Brainworks summer sessions require recent SOI Testing (Structure of Intellect).