Learning, the way it should be.

The case for the GradePower

whole-student approach• The following data was collected over a period of

three years beginning in March, 2013. • The data was collected from Birmingham-area

children between the ages of 6.5-8.8 years of age (born between Sept. 2006 and Aug. 2009)

• The populous is divided and compared by three subset categories:o Attended GradePower for a minimum of 90 hourso Attended Kumon for a minimum of 90 hourso Received school intervention or tutoring

The average ages and school grade for each subgroup is:

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

AVERAGE AGE

AVERAGE GRADE

GRADEPOWER 7.5 1.5

KUMON 7.9 2.25

School/tutoring

7.9 2.4

GradePower Kumon School

Above Average

Cognitive Inventory* (Comparison)

GradePower students showed significantly more advanced cognitive skills, despite being nearly one year and one full school grade younger than students receiving other or no additional forms of enrichment.

Peabody Detroit Test for Learning Aptitude (DTLA)

Average

Below Average

CRITICAL THINKINGPROBLEM SOLVING

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWERProblem solving can be considered as the potential to reason and use new material in a meaningful way. Given that learning is a continuous introduction of new information, a child’s capacity to think critically is considered the greatest predictor of potential and future success, as it measure how students respond to information that has not been seen before. A student’s ability to problem solve offers insight into their active mind and self-esteem.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWERLanguage consists of two important components; semantics (vocabulary) and syntax (structure). Both components are vital for effective thinking and communicating. While we often think of language as a communication tool, its main function is for thinking and reasoning. Deductive reasoning is our ability to process information in context to infer meaning and extend knowledge.

INDUCTIVE REASONING

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

Language consists of two important components; semantics (vocabulary) and syntax (structure). Both components are vital for effective thinking and communicating. While we often think of language as a communication tool, its main function is for thinking and reasoning. Inductive reasoning is the extent to which we can convey depth of understanding with minimal stimuli or context.

VISUAL WORKING MEMORY

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

8 9 10 11 12 13

Visual memory measures a student’s ability to notice visual details. Strong visual discrimination skills are vital for success in math, as well as for building strong reading skills and developing organizational and study skills.

AUDITORY WORKING MEMORY

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Students are required to spend large portions of the day listening to information that they are expected to remember later. Students with strong auditory memory are able to use their knowledge of syntax to help facilitate their memory of the sentence.

CONCENTRATION

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Concentration is a measure of what goes on inside the brain–how a student is able to manipulate new information. Concentration is the process of manipulating new information, connecting it to previously acquired information, and restating the information in a new way. This is distinctively different than distractibility – what happens outside the brain. Failure to recognize the difference is often how ADD/ADHD is misdiagnosed. Without strong concentration skills, students will struggle to integrate and connect new information to information already known.

Academic Skills Inventory* (Comparison)

GradePower Kumon School

GradePower students were significantly above grade level (more than 2 grade levels) in six of seven core academic skills, despite being nearly one year and one full school grade younger than students receiving other or no additional forms of enrichment.

Brigance Academic Skills Inventory

Above Average

Average

Below Average

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

READING: DECODING

Schoo/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3.5

4

7DECODING is word attack and the ability and depth of which students can read graded words aloud. Decoding simply tells us that a student recognizes words by sight. While it does not tell us if the student actually understands or comprehends the word, decoding is a necessary first step in a child’s ability to assign meaning to words.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

READING: FLUENCY

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2.75

3

6

Fluency can be affected by a student’s confidence level, as well as their ability to efficiently process written information. Tracking difficulties and struggles to move from one line of print to the next. Students with tracking difficulties often struggle with math as well.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

READING: VOCABULARY

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1

2.5

5

Of the four component of reading, vocabulary is the best determinant of a student capacity to comprehend information they read.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

READING: COMPREHENSION

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5

3

3.5

4Students will use the context of the passage and the wording of the multiple-choice answers to help select the correct response when their actual vocabulary level is weak. Thus, the results of this test can be questioned if the grade score achieved is much higher than the other reading subtests. Thus the necessity to also consider cognitive skill capacity in deductive and inductive vocabulary and verbal reasoning to help determine their actual comprehension of language.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

WRITING

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5

1.5

1.5

4.75WRITING is a tangible construct of how well a student thinks. A strong sentence is the foundation for all subsequent writing tasks. Students who struggle on this subtest will certainly struggle with longer writing assignments such as paragraphs and essays.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8SPELLING

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5

3

3.5

5Students with weak spelling skills can be reluctant to write because spelling all the words correctly can seem overwhelming. Weak spelling skills can also suggest weak phonics, decoding, and word attack skills.

Grade Level EquivalencyAges 6.5-8.8

MATHEMATICS

School/Tutoring

KUMON

GRADEPOWER

0 1 2 3 4 5

1.5

2

1.75

At elementary age, building numeracy skills and basic operations is paramount. As children’s math curriculum progresses, their ability to reason through the numbers becomes more relevant. Vocabulary, reading, and critical thinking become increasingly important, while rote learning techniques are less significant to developing understanding.

My 7th grade son loves it here!

His confidence has already improved just in the few weeks he's been at GradePower. The

encouraging, devoted staff has made a huge impact on his attitude toward learning as well.

Even the kids that go there have a special bond. I love this place!

- Heather Brook Soto

GradePower was THE difference

We tried everything. GradePower made the difference. Thank you all so much. Bryan is doing so much better at school. He loves GradePower!

- Jackie Chaviano

Briarwood mom loves GradePower!

Very nurturing and supportive environment! Tony and his staff work diligently on assessing the

needs of the individual while providing the tools to attain positive and successful learning

techniques. GradePower is awesome! 5 stars!

- Shannon Sciani

Oak Mountain mom is a believer!

We truly believe in GradePower. My high school daughter is doing much better after spending

part of her summer there. She went from failing nearly every class to A’s & B’s this year. My kids

will be enrolled this summer.

- Heather Ferrari-Mahaffey

My son skips soccer to come here

When given the choice between soccer practice and GradePower, my high school senior chooses GradePower. He really likes what he’s learning in each session. His confidence is growing and he

really feels good about taking the ACT.

- Vicki Boyd