University Tutoring Service | Services

University Tutoring provides comprehensive Language and Study Skills Tutoring in Olympia and Seattle for students needing a boost in their academic lives. We motivate students to take charge of their lives at school by leading them through a process of self-discovery. We help students learn more about their unique combination of habits, likes, dislikes, and learning style, as well as those of their teachers, family members and friends. By treating the first step in "Study Skills Tutoring" as an information-gathering mission about themselves and their surroundings, we help students think creatively about how to improve their academic lives and relationships.

We include "Langauge" in the name of our Study Skills program because we believe that the tools that are necessary to excel in the skilled use of language are also essential for students' academic success. Instructing students in specific reading and writing skills often provides an avenue for them to think about "main point" vs. "supporting point," organization, and prioritizing, in an entirely new light. Organizing the binder and writing an outline for that big Language Arts paper become similar tasks; our aim is to help students improve in both areas.

Language and Study Skills Tutoring differs from Subject Tutoring in that the tutor spends time working on each student's program above and beyond his or her contact time at UTS. The time outside of students' sessions may be spent communicating with teachers, choosing and preparing materials for tutoring sessions, running book and supply errands, reviewing students' work, or conferencing with the parent in person, by phone or email. Successful Language and Study Skills Tutoring requires collaboration and an ongoing dialog between the UTS Director, the tutor, the student, the family, and the school.

Designing the right Study Skills program for you begins with a 50-minute Intake Interview with the student and parent(s)/guardian (if K-12). The UTS Director will gather background information before discussing which aspects of Study Skills we would focus on in our work together and why. Together, we discuss duration of program, schedule, tutor choice, and any special concerns. Because we tailor a Language and Study Skills program for each student's situation and needs, we will take into careful consideration any educational evaluations performed by your doctors or school professionals. We routinely work with students with a variety of learning differences, ADD/ADHD, and other special needs, and can provide referrals to other professionals upon request.

Some of the skills we may work on together include, but are not limited to:

Personal Organization

Home Study Environment

Communication with Teachers, Family, and Friends

Classroom Note-Taking

Time Management

Prioritzing

Reading and Note-Taking or Journaling

Research and Organization for Projects and Papers

The Writing Process

Studying for Tests

Standardized and Multiple-Choice Tests