Do you want your child to spend their entire summer playing video games or would you rather they be engaged and learning? The summer slide is a real thing. A research study by John Hopkins University has proven that without educational activity during the summer, all students experience learning loss, especially in math.
East Cobb’s Hunting Learning Center (Huntington) offers a summer tutoring series that not only eliminates the summer slide but also helps children move to the next academic level. The summer is also a great time for teens to prepare for the ACT and SAT because they have more free time.
For the past three years, local Huntington franchise owners, Frank and Montse Fabregas have been offering tutoring and test preparation to students from kindergarten through high school. They have seen the benefits of summer learning firsthand with their students.
“Summer is the perfect time for kids to learn. They don’t have to worry about homework or grades, so they are free to explore and learn at a faster pace,” says Frank Fabregas.
Frank and Montse Fabregas are from Barcelona, Spain, but met in New York while in a program in Columbia University 25 years ago. They raised their children in Barcelona and then chose to move back to the United States for the educational experience. They have one son at the University of Barcelona and another at Lassiter High School. They chose to make East Cobb their home because of our high ranking schools and how parents make education a priority here.
Both Frank and Montse have extensive teaching experience, and they wanted to bring those skills to help as many kids as possible. The center focuses on the areas of reading comprehension, math, writing, study skills and ACT/SAT test prep.
“My granddaughter was reluctant to go to Huntington at first, but she struggled in school, and I didn’t want to see her getting further behind during the summer. Her Huntington teachers taught her how to use her time wisely and how to organize her homework. I was extremely impressed with her progress, especially with reading and study skills. Her reading comprehension increased so much that reading became a joy for her. She heads into high school next year with more confidence and a love of learning,” shares Carolyn, a local grandmother.
For elementary, middle and high school students, the certified educators at Huntington give each child a personalized academic assessment in all subject areas, so that they can identify strengths and weaknesses and start the child in the right place. The educators then design a curriculum specifically for that student. Parents may be concerned about math grades, but the assessment might show that the child needs support with reading comprehension as well.
Marci, an East Cobb mom, shares that one of her children was struggling in math, so at the recommendation of a friend, she signed her daughter up for math tutoring at Huntington. “I couldn’t believe the turnaround in such a short time. She went from being anxious about her homework to truly loving math. Now in the fourth grade, she is confident in math, and homework is so much less stressful,” says Marci.
She also noticed improvement in her older daughter’s standardized test scores in reading comprehension. “I would recommend Huntington to any parent who has a child struggling with reading or math – or even if they just want to set them on the right path.”
Huntington works with the youngest learners from kindergarten to second grade, many struggling with phonics and reading. It also works with older children who may lack math, reading, writing or study skills. They will work with the students intensively to improve their skills, track grades and assignments from school and help them with weekly study plans based on what’s a priority.
“Struggling in school can impact a child’s self-esteem, and we nurture and support each child, in addition to teaching them the subject matter,” says Frank. “I truly enjoy sitting down with a worried parent to go over the test results at the end of their child’s program. It’s amazing and rewarding when we see how much their child has improved.”
Frank and Montse Fabregas, owners of the East Cobb Huntington Learning Center
For high school students, Huntington provides also math, reading and study skills and other tutoring, but it also provides measurable improvement with standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. East Cobb mom Brooke shares how the experience helped her daughter. “My daughter, now a freshman at the University of Georgia, wanted to raise her ACT scores to open more college opportunities for her. After studying and preparing at the Huntington Learning Center, she was able to meet her scores goal,” says Brooke.
Frank recommends that students take the ACT or SAT early in their junior year so they should prepare for these tests in their sophomore year and the summer prior to being a junior. By taking the test early, they can focus on their junior year studies. They can also take the test again if they want to improve their scores.
Their East Cobb location has designated rooms for each program. The main room hosts separate work spaces for the Huntington Math Program, Huntington Reading or Study Skills Programs. They have private rooms for ACT / SAT / SSAT exam prep and subject tutoring of any kind, and provide a large room with curriculum for the little ones. The center also has a break area and an office available for parents to work if needed.
Frank and Montse take pride in creating a family atmosphere at the center. “Our vision is to be the educational choice for local families who want support and results for their kids.”
Huntington Learning Center is conveniently located in the East Cobb Crossing shopping center, 4381 Roswell Road, Suite 240 in Marietta. Visit huntingtonhelps.com/center/east-cobb for more information or call 770-977-3112 for an appointment.
This article originally appeared in the May issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 16 & 17. Click here to view the digital edition.
