Jeffrey Mosher spoke with Jessica Rollins, co-owner of Locally-owned Sylvan of Mid-Michigan, which has locations in Lansing and Jackson, has developed a number of free resources for parents and is now offering programs to support families struggling with the shift to online education.

Hear Jessica and Jeffrey discuss this topic by clicking on the PodCast shared below:

Insight from this interview covers:

• Sylvan is offering free resources to parents to help support them and their students, as well as rolling out new
  digital services for one-on-one tutoring, camps, test prep and more.
• It's no secret many working parents are not okay right now. They're juggling their regular professional
  responsibilities, trying to manage their children's school responsibilities and coping with kids whose regular
  activities and exercise aren't giving them an outlet. It's rough.
• Sylvan has retooled how it's offering support and services to make it easier for working parents.
• One thing employers can do is share these resources with their employees so they know they are not alone
  and that there are free (and paid) services to support them.
• Sylvan is also developing partnerships with businesses so the businesses can help absorb and financial burden
  for essential workers or those working from home in helping their students stay sharp and engaged with their
  elementary, middle and high school curriculum.

For more details on this story after you've listened to the PodCast share above, here's the scoop on local Sylvan Learning centers offer free resources and e-learning sessions.

Students and parents can connect with certified teachers from home 

Parents looking for support while schools are using distance learning, can keep the learning going and sharpen students’ skills with locally-owned Sylvan Learning centers. Sylvan of Lansing, Sylvan of Brighton, Sylvan of Jackson and Sylvan of Grand Blanc have revamped their face-to-face tutoring and center-based services to offer digital services for students and parents to aid in e-learning, including free parent resources and free consultations from certified, local teachers to help identify need and opportunity areas.  

“We know parents may not always have the time or understanding to support students in their classes while working, providing child care and trying to navigate staying home and healthy,” said Jessica Rollins, owner and executive director of Sylvan of Lansing, Brighton, Jackson and Grand Blanc. “It’s a huge source of guilt, frustration, anxiety and worry for so many parents right now. Many of us are being asked to do more than we feel like we can, and when our kids are involved, it creates an emotional struggle during already trying times. That’s where we step in to help.” 

For parents who may not know how to help their students stay on track, stay motivated, or simply learn in a way that is customized and enjoyable to them, Sylvan is offering a free consultation from a certified, local teacher. Sylvan’s directors at each center will consult with individual students and families to assess the student’s interests, needs, study habits and learning style to create a plan each family can implement, including one of Sylvan’s customized live, teacher-led programs if desired. 

“Parents are not alone right now. They do not have to do this all themselves,” said Rollins. “Our tutors are all local teachers who are well-versed on where kids should be at this time of the school year. This means they can easily jump in to help children keep the right skills sharp while at home. Getting this support can help avoid unnecessary skill gaps, and parents can rest easier knowing that their child can stay on track as they continue to juggle everything else going on.” 

All parents and caregivers can currently access Sylvan Nation, SylvanNation.com, a free website specifically created for parents, grandparents and guardians who want to help their kids succeed in school. Sylvan Nation shares academic ideas, including articles, tips, videos and activities. 

“We want children to feel confident in school, even when school is from home, and we know how important it is for all families to have access to resources right now,” said Rollins. 

Parents interested in receiving a free consultation for their student(s) can reach out to the Sylvan locations in Lansing, Brighton, Jackson or Grand Blanc, or call Sylvan of Mid-Michigan at 517-372-7410. 

Additionally, Sylvan of Mid-Michigan is launching a series of programs to help parents and students during the COVID-19 pandemic:

·       Personalized live online tutoring for grades kindergarten through twelve. Lessons based on a personal learning plan will focus on reading, math, algebra, writing and study stills. Certified teachers will provide live one-on-one lessons online.

·       Live, online two-week reading and math academic camps for second through sixth grade students, starting April 27 and running every two weeks through August 14. The sessions will allow students to interact with certified teachers and small groups of peers through face-to-face online video sessions.

·       Advanced tutoring and test prep for enrichment, college prep and career readiness. Advanced tutoring sessions or small group classes will focus on math, reading, writing, algebra and study skills for grades K-6, while grades 7-12 will focus on advanced math, reading and writing; advanced study skills; AP classes; PSAT/SAT/ACT prep; IB prep; and a number of other test prep courses. 

“We want to help parents navigate the challenges they may be facing in the current school-from-home environment,” said Rollins. “We want to help parents who may not be familiar with the material their students are covering in class, so parents don’t have to feel the full weight of becoming their children’s teacher. Whether a child is navigating take-home packets, online lessons from school, ACT or SAT Prep, or something else, we want them to have access to Sylvan’s free resources, and our certified teachers who can give them more intensive support online.” 

For more information, contact a Sylvan location in Lansing, Brighton, Jackson or Grand Blanc, or Sylvan of Mid-Michigan at 517-372-7410. 

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Sylvan Learning is focused on building academic confidence, igniting intellectual curiosity and inspiring a love for learning – all of which make a big impact in school and life. Run by independent local small business owners through out the country for 40 years, Sylvan has helped millions of students and families achieve new levels of academic success, as the largest private employer of certified K-12 teachers in the world. Sylvan of Mid-Michigan has been locally owned and operated in the Lansing area, Brighton, Jackson and Grand Blanc starting in 1986.