Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8458 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2016 goodADVICE Take Me to Your Learner EXPLORE HORIZONS CENTERS TEACH LONG-TERM SUCCESS by Karyn Brodsky Inspired and engaged. More confident than ever. Able to solve problems in a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a fearless learner! A new kind of super hero is emerging, thanks to Explore Horizons Enrichment and Tutoring Centers. It’s your 4th through 8th grade children, fully equipped with the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for tomorrow. These super powers, such as the mastery of math, reading, writing, handwriting and communication skills aren’t new—Explore Horizons simply has found a way to make them exciting (and at a reasonable price!). “We provide a learning environment that is genuinely an inspiring way to learn, and we instill confidence by teaching students problem solving skills, how to ask the right questions and how to define problems,” says Explore Horizons’ Belinda Southgate. “It’s more than just cramming for a test. What makes usdifferentisthatweofferenrichmentanddebunktheperception of tutoring as a short-term fix to a problem. We give them an edge to be successful in the long term.” Speaking of thinking ahead, now might be the perfect time to assess your children’s progress in school. It’s about the halfway point of the semester and a good time to get a read on how they’re doing in their classes. If your students need a little help, Explore Horizons offers tutoring that is tailored to their individual needs. “Wedesignindividuallearningplansforallstudentsbyassessing them and identifying personal strengths and weaknesses,” says Southgate. “It’s more effective than teaching a general class for everyone.” Another unique feature is that Explore Horizons is not only a place for tutoring. Southgate says, “Many of our students excel in schoolandcomeforenrichmentandchallenge.”Forinstance,4thto 6th graders are eligible to take extra classes, including enhanced math, which refines their problem solving skills, sharpens higher level thinking skills and helps for those interested in future Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) careers. They can also enroll in an enhanced writing course, which teaches topics, such as journalism, storytelling and poetry. An advanced writing and study skills class for 6th to 8th graders includes essay writing, debate and making presentations and outlines the proper way to study, a skill which will serve them well in high school, college and the real world. Explore Horizons was founded in the United Kingdomin2001andin2013,chosetheDallas-Ft. Worth metro area for its first foray into the United States. In addition to 150 sites within the UK, there are locations in Colleyville, Plano, Garland, Frisco and Ft. Worth. The successful and award-winning institution in the UK has plans to expand in Texas and throughout the U.S. For more information, visit explore-horizons.com. ExploreHorizonsiscurrentlysponsoringitsannualYoung Mathematicians Competition, designed to challenge 4th to 6th graders beyond the school curriculum. After holding problem-solving workshops with accelerated math students in local schools in October, the top four participants were selected to represent their school at theRegionalFinalinNovember.Thetopteamswillthen compete at Explore Horizons’ Inter-district Grand Final in December. The annual Young Writers Competition, slated to begin January10,2017,withwinnersannouncedattheendof April, challenges kindergartners through 8th graders to writea500-wordstoryonaspecifictheme.Similartothe Young Mathematicians Competition, Explore Horizons will provide a writer’s workshop for elementary and middle school students at local schools. Entries will be judged by a popular local children’s author. The winner will receive $500 in books for their school, a Kindle Fire and a trophy. Southgate says they are planning to have an illustrator bring the winning story to life. Toparticipate,gotoexplore-horizons.com. EXPLORE HORIZONS COMPETITIONS