I contacted Chicago Home Tutor this term for my 10yo 5th grade daughter who was clearly behind in…read moreher math skills due to covid learning environment that did not work for her. Chicago Home Tutor responded to my initial inquiry super fast, we had a great discussion as to her needs and her personality, and the fact that I believe she may also have some form of learning disability or adhd (undiagnosed but showed same symptoms her her diagnosed brother). Then they quickly identified a couple matches and one recommendation for a tutor and within a matter of days we had our first in-home appointment set up. The match was made so perfectly that my daughter has had great success in strengthening her math skills with her tutor. We will continue through this next school term because Chicago Home Tutor has been of such great benefit I am confident my daughter will not just be fully on top of her grade level math skills but will also be ahead of the game. The pride my daughter expresses in her abilities now makes my heart smile!

Our daughter is dyslexic and has ADHD. Her challenges with reading comprehension, executive…read morefunctioning and staying on top of her homework workload has been a constant struggle. Working with Cindy has made a meaningful difference in these areas as well as improving her self-confidence. Cindy's patience has helped build a trusting relationship that has been very important to our daughter. Cindy has guided her and given her practical support tools to help her understand the value of being organized and that she is capable of being successful in school. As a parent it's been wonderful to see our daughter feel more empowered and less overwhelmed. Cindy's support played a key role in her growth. Thank you for the work you do and having thoughtful, skilled people like Cindy on your team.

Going into college entrance exam season, it wasn't clear to me what would be the most effective and…read moreefficient way of arming my twin teenage sons with the comfort and skills that would allow them to choose the right test and to perform their best. Each has his own strengths and weaknesses, and their study and learning habits differ vastly. Once Steve met with us and reviewed their baseline untimed scores, he easily guided each of my sons to the test that would elicit the best results, and he confidently assured that tutoring them together would not only meet each boy's individual needs but would enhance each other's learning, by virtue of the group process. Indeed, Steve was exactly right. He helped my kids to put in perspective the importance of these tests and to set goals commensurate with their college choice aspirations. His teaching style elicits discipline and engagement, without instilling undue stress and worry. He's calm and steadfast in his claim that if a person is willing to put in the practice and study time and comes prepared to tutoring sessions, he or she can incrementally improve. He makes the goal score feel accessible, and this helped to keep both of my kids motivated, hard-working and hopeful. The three of them worked together for 24 hours, over 12 sessions, and utilized a variety of materials, including prep books, websites, and group meetings to get them ready for the test. He tracked their progress, keeping me updated throughout, and though he worked with them together, he tailored the lessons to each of my kids. Now that both boys have sat for their chosen test, it's abundantly clear that Steve assessed them accurately, and guided and taught them well. My sons each reached their goal scores, one improving 3 composite points (4 with super score), and the other improving 6 composite points, to do so. Needless to say, both of my kids are pleased with the outcome, as am I, and I suspect this will open doors at schools they might not have considered. From beginning to end, and especially as measured by the results, Steve successfully ushered my kids through what could easily have been a stressful and demoralizing process. He simply understands these tests and how to master them, and we couldn't be happier to have benefitted from his expertise.

Steve helped my daughter move from high-performing on practice ACT tests (33 and 34) to earn a…read moreperfect 36 composite score on her first try! My student was already doing well in Math and Reading, but yearned to improve in Science and English. Most other courses or tutors offered full on prep -- very costly and time-consuming. Steve assessed my student's specific needs and provided individualized coaching and resources to help her use her limited time wisely. After only two sessions (about 4 hours total) and some homework, my student's confidence was boosted. Beyond improving an already great composite score by 2 to 3 points overall, specific increases included 4 points improvement in English (from 32 to 36), and a whopping 5-point improvement in Science (31 to 36). Steve was meticulous, positive, and patient. He used a variety of materials, including websites, prep books, and lessons at my home. The resources he has to offer are up-to-date and not stale, which is important since the tests have changed over time. He kept detailed notes on my student's performance to help track improvement and keep me updated. Would definitely recommend.

I have been studying with Brazil in Chicago in some form since about 2006, either through…read moreindividual classes or group classes. The school and space have evolved/grown significantly, and the Lincoln Square location is a great facility. While we drink less wine than we used to during our classes, they are just as enjoyable as they were at the beginning, which I attribute to both the teaching style as well as the character of those who would choose to pick up Portuguese language in a city (as far from Brasil) like Chicago. One of the nicest things about the school is the continued support for and encouragement of participation in Brazilian/Portuguese/Cape Verdean/etc music/sports/cultural events in the greater area.

I took my first Portuguese class at Brazil in Chicago and I know these 12 weeks ahead are going to…read morebe a lot of fun! My first impression of our instructor Carla is someone who wants nothing but her students to understand and have as much fun with the Brazilian culture and language we are learning right now. Obrigado y Tudo Bem! The classes take place in the small rooms of a house or if you are lucky like me the living room. The best thing is that people are only there because they really want to learn the language...an atmosphere of passion. The neighborhood of Lincoln Square is easily accessible through the Metra (get off of Ravenswood) and the L (brown line Damen stop). Much to my delight there were some cool places nearby that I went to: Tiny Lounge and Book Cellar...reviews will come pronto. Come to Brazil in Chicago and learn the language of a country that has everything going well for it so far: Large oil reserves, The most ecologically diverse rainforest in the world, hot women and men, Carnevale, Samba, Jiu Jitsu & Capoeira, and Caipirinhas. What more could I ask?

I've been really impressed with the folks at Study Point. For one thing, they are super honest --…read morehere's the story: About four years ago my son was struggling in school. He was in middle school, and his counselor recommended this company, which sends private tutors to students' homes. It was called Study Smart back then. We bought a package of 12 lessons, and after about six of them my son decided he'd had enough tutoring (he hates anyone trying to help him). The company could have just taken the money for the remaining six lessons and disappeared -- I probably would have forgotten about it. And the name had changed to StudyPoint, which would have been a good excuse to write me off. But the people there kept checking in. My son kept saying he didn't want a tutor. Eventually, my daughter reached middle school and started struggling in math and science. So the next time the nice Study Point lady (Jill) called, I asked if the six remaining lessons could be transferred to a sibling, and she said yes. She took a lot of trouble (remember, she already had the money) to find the perfect tutor for my daughter -- one who has a strong science background, and is good at organizational skills -- and checked back in after the first lesson to see if the two of them hit it off. If they hadn't, a new tutor would have been found. The tutoring sessions are 60 or 90 minutes long, depending on the age of the child. The professionalism I've seen from this national organization has been really impressive.

They have a good sales pitch. But execution is not where it should be. We paid thousands of dollars…read moreand then didn't hear from anyone. Finally getting the tutor he wasn't on the same page. I'm not sure he had been trained for their sales pitch. He was ineffective and the thousands of dollars would have been more effective to flush down the Toilet.

Our son used to dread his old tutor's sessions but since we found Diana through Learn Better With…read moreUs he looks forward to the sessions and he's made huge improvements in English, Maths and Spanish! I'm thoroughly impressed with Learn Better's attitude - happy learners really are better learners and we're so happy we found a tutor like Diana!

I've been taking Vagabond's on-camera classes and am learning so much. I didn't realize how…read moreon-camera acting is a different skillset from live performance, and Vagabond has really helped me reconceive how I approach acting. Their classes are also built around giving you insight into the industry, with mock auditions, self-tapes, and "on set experience" where they film you doing scenes you "auditioned" for. Vagabond's instructors are pros and have long careers to draw from with advice, anecdotes, and perspectives. We get to learn from their wins and their misses, which helps us work toward getting more wins. I've gotten to work with Ed Kross most, and recommend him highly (as well as the other faculty members). If you want to be a professional working actor, take on-camera classes. You won't be sorry.

Amazing classes and instructors. Love the energy! Their ommitment to the industry is of pure…read morepassion, and they are very supportive of their actors. Their instructors have a whirlwind of experience in Theatre and TV. Love the energy.

Our son is in elementary school and behind in reading. He has received specialized reading…read moreintervention through his public school for the last 2 years, but has made minimal progress through their methods. We're so thankful for the tutoring Redwood is now providing him via zoom. His tutor is kind, patient, prompt, and gives us specific tips on how to continue helping him at home. We've met with several of the Redwood staff who are experts in their field, approachable, and so helpful when you, as a parent, feel lost but want the best for your kid. Our son is now picking up books to read out loud without being prompted! Last week he even read a book to his younger brother. He's receiving the intervention he needs to succeed in and not dread education.

Their reading program is fantastic. Since kindergarten, my son had trouble remembering his letter…read moresounds and blending words. He was making no progress in first grade. His first grade teacher was worried, and so were we. After spending a summer intensive at Redwood, and now doing twice weekly online lessons, he is getting A's in reading and writing in second grade. The key to their program is really explicit phonics instruction with clear rules that are drilled daily and become second nature through repetition. It has helped my son immensely, and I think their method would help any kid, whether they have learning disabilities or not.