This is our family's third attempt at a tutoring for our now second grader, after failed attempts…read moreat Kumon and abacus classes. I figured I'd give it one more shot now that we recently moved from Bellevue to the Plateau/Highlands area. I purchased a bargain voucher for six sessions for one subject, admittedly not expecting much. (hint: their name ends with "on") Originally learned about this BIC location during kids' swimming class when I saw a pair of third graders doing their BIC tutoring homework in the bleachers. When I ran into a former neighbor of mine on our second week, I knew I might be onto something. The Issaquah location is open three times a week (Tue, Thur, Sun) and is managed by Mr Victor Ho. Victor also started a new Wednesday sessions at the EX3 Teen & Rec Center on the Samm. Plateau. BIC "Enrichment Courses" are divided into English and Math subject. Each session is 75 minutes long for one subject. Victor Students seems to be grouped by age/grade You have several students under the supervision of an adult teacher, and the students are expected to work on their own, "study hall" style, until they are stuck or otherwise have a question. Private tutoring this is not. Most of the hard work is at home, where the parents have to establish ad maintain a daily study routine for each kid. I've also noticed lot of anxious parents prepping their 6-8 year olds for the Cogat and achievement exams (I'm no sure if the latter is ITBS or Stanford10). Basically it's whatever BSD, ISD and LWSD are dishing out. I have no opinion on this particular offering, other than that it's popular and probably worth checking out if that's your focus. Ultimately, what sets the Issaquah operation apart is the dedication and accessibility of the branch manager, who has been receptive to and patient with my many questions and concerns about our kids progress (or sometimes, the lack thereof). Victor has been willing to tweak things so we can emphasize topics where there are gaps in understanding or merely insufficient mastery. Vic is also eager to hear about any errors / typos in the problem sets, as well as of any subpar tutoring sessions. As you'd expect, the tutoring competition is stiff on the Eastside but they seem to be thriving. Don't let their unassuming exterior and frankly, dingy interior fool you -- what they save on rent / furniture, they pass on the savings to you! (Seriously, BIC rates are lower than our previous tutoring programs.) This is a system that appears to be working for our children.

Great tutors! The center has helped my children understand math better. Plenty of parking and…read morevery organized center.

I hope my experience will however serve as a cautionary tale for other parents. Aman is just…read moreanother failed IT guy who likes to go after hard working individuals. My son attended the summer program at Positive Ally through the difficult summer of 2020. My goal was to support local struggling businesses in the pandemic as we reopened. At this time everything changed, from the ratio of student to instructor to the facility itself. This was in addition a new Covid surge. My son was withdrawn after 1 day. I asked the owner to allow us to withdraw from the program and offered him the ability to use the credit for a later time (where staffing ratios and the pandemic surge may be resolved). The guy refused. His tone changed to include personal attacks. He is clearly petty. He filed a lawsuit (served by his 2 kids to my home at 6:30am). If you have money he will come after you obviously he needs it but most businesses during Covid understood families protecting their kids. This individual was more worried about putting food on his table. There are too many decent after school programs this guy and his school is NOT one. Support one with integrity. We give thousands to charity he's just another charity case.

Positive ally (PA) is an after school care that picks kids from local schools. Where it differs…read morefrom a lot of other places we have considered is the well rounded program. PA focuses on physical activities (basketball, running, soccer), personal development (public speaking, group discussion) and academics. In academics, they can help with school homework as well as create a customized curriculum per kid based on an assessment and your kids individual ability. The owner/director and staff are reachable and helpful. Overall - my daughter has been pretty happy with the center!

Sunayna is amazing! I brought my son to see her during the summer and part of fall. When he…read moregraduated from her services, he was very bummed because he really enjoyed her company! On day 1, Sunayna really built trust with my son which is hard to do. It does take him a while to become comfortable with new people. She is such a natural with kids. My son really enjoyed coming to see her for his sessions! She makes insightful observations and helpful suggestions. Her at home set up is really impressive. She did obstacle courses, games, helped my son immensely with his writing, and his social skills. I noticed a big change in his confidence after he worked with Sunayna. I highly recommend her!

Sunayna is an absolutely wonderful person and therapist. My kiddo absolutely adores her, and she…read morereally has an amazing set of skills and resources which helped addressed issues around SPD. She has a genuine empathetic connection to kids, which makes them feel comfortable. You can tell she really cares about the kids and their outcomes. 5 stars all the way for Sunayna. I highly recommend her.

Leslie is an amazing, patient tutor who worked with my anxious daughter to help double her SSAT…read morescore. More importantly, however, she gave her the support and confidence to face the exam without the crippling fear she had initially. Leslie was like a cheerleader with a ring of flashcards, able to explain things in novel ways and help motivate my kiddo to keep at her studies without it just being mom nagging. I cannot praise her enough for how much of an impact she made.

From the owner: Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary School, Middle School & High School tutoring in Bellevue,…read moreIssaquah, Renton, Sammamish & Seattle. We Believe: * Every child deserves the right to succeed and feel good about himself/herself * Every child should be respected for who he/she is as an individual * Kids who are engaged learn best * Early intervention promotes success * Parents should take an active role in their child's education How We're Different: What makes our tutoring approach different than other tutors or tutoring centers is that we create a specialized program for each child. Our extensive classroom experience and curriculum knowledge let us pull from the best curriculum available. The result is a custom program for each child and plan for his/her success. Children feel a continued sense of accomplishment and their confidence grows as they achieve their goals. What "Our" Kids Say About Success: * "When I do well at something, I feel happy and excited." * "It makes me feel good like passing in school" * "You want to cheer and you're proud of yourself." * "It makes me happy."

Our kids attended the Wilderness Survival Craft Day Camp at Wolf Camp this summer and had an…read moreamazing experience. They came home excited each day, sharing what they learned, from edible plants to fire safety and survival skills. The camp makes learning hands-on, engaging, and fun. The staff and founder were friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about creating a positive environment. We're so glad we found Wolf Camp, and our kids are already asking to return. Highly recommend for a unique outdoor camp experience.

I've been going to wolf camp for 3 years now, and on the second to last day of my overnight camp,…read morewe all cried on how much we would miss the place wolf camp was. We were told most of the instructors would be leaving, they were some of the nicest people I've met. Also the children there are really nice and the staff there know what there doing and are really really nice.