Wired Minds Tutoring | The Best in Greenville

Hello world!

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:54:03 +0000

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Teens With Open Arms

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:09:15 +0000

http://www.yourcarolina.tv/ycvideo/entry/teens_with_open_arms/

TEENS WITH OPEN ARMS
As read in the Greer Herald on Tuesday September 1, 2009 >> VOL. 6, NO. 35

TEENS WITH OPEN ARMS
Riverside students impact lives of Brighton Gardens residents

By Christina Wilson
For the Greer Herald
Local businessowner, Barry Horst, last month was crowned winner of the first ever Womanless pageant at Brighton Gardens to hoots, hollers and the ringing of bells from resident at the Pelham Road senior care facility. It's one of several events organized by a group of Riverside High students who have adopted the home and visit weekly.
Teens with Open Arms was born in June after student Jason Julian, 16, first went to the tacitly with mom Carol, who owns a trained therapy dog and visits Brighton Gardens and Hospice regularly. It had been a year since the death of Jason's grandma, Donna, also Carol’s mother. He was instantly drawn to the residents.
The next day, he rounded up friends and went back. He’s since been to visit a dozen times and has enlisted seven members of Teens with Open Arms. He’s working to register the group as an official non-profit organization and hopes other teens at area high schools will form chapters and adopt additional facilities.
“If people would go and visit just one time they would see things (seniors) go through and realize how lucky they are. They would just want to go more and try to help them out,” said Jason, once a member of Riverside’s wrestling and football teams.
About 150 seniors live in Brighton Gardens’ three different communities -- assisted living, skilled nursing and the reminiscence “neighborhood” for patients who suffer dementia. Teens with Open Arms volunteers primarily with the third group. Donna suffered from Alzheimer's.
“It’s good for us to spend time with them and talk to them. Every time you do it helps them to remember things,” said Jason, who also recruited his cousin Quinn, 12, who was eager to become part of a group that honors his grandma’s memory.

In addition to talking with residents, the teens have lead bowling tournaments and dances. They’re willing to do just about anything to elicit smiles including dressing in drag. The pageant was proposed by workers at Brighton Gardens and the teens agreed without hesitation.
“This enriches our residents’ lives,” said Sheila Altman, Brighton Garden activities coordinator. “They love it when anyone comes to visit. This started with just one visit but now a whole group comes weekly and works with our patients.”
Florence Hale, 82, is a retired elementary school teacher and director of Brighton Gardens’ Bell Choir “The Ding-A-Lings.” She padded out bells at the August 20 event so audience members could ring them to urge on participants, a mix of teens and a local businessowner, they coerced to take part in the risque’ show.
Residents of the facility look forward to visits from Teens with Open Arms, Hale said. “I think once they get here and form relationships with the older people, they get more out of it than they give. Everybody here loves them.”
Jason and Quinn’s grandpa Charles, 80, traveled to Greenville from his Simpsonville home to watch the pageant. “When I tell people what these boys are doing, they can’t believe it,” said Charles, adding his wife would be proud of the fledgling organization. “She would think this is fantastic. She’s probably turning over with laughter right now.”

Doggie in the window

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:08:26 +0000

Meet Dakota.  He is our resident stress reliever.  He thinks he runs the place, and he can be found meandering from room to room to check up on every student.  Often, he'll sit down next to a student to have his "velvety ears" rubbed while they are working.
Everyone here loves him, and a few have even used him as a pillow when they lie on the floor to read!  He loves the attention and seems to understand that he is helping students too!
However, he can tend to be a bit of couch hog, so please feel free to tell him to "get down" if he's in your way!

Big Bet

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:08:07 +0000

Last year sometime, we had a young boy who was not doing so well in reading.  In fact, to say he wasn't doing so well is a gross understatement.  He was doing far worse than not so well.  He started meeting with his tutor, Anna, and we started seeing HUGE progress.  By "huge" I mean B's instead of the regular F's, which, on report cards were 61's because that's as low as schools will report (his grades were lower).  He was so excited about his recent improvement, that in a moment of mindless bliss he challenged me to a bet.
I never bet except when I'm certain to win, which, really isn't much of a bet when you think about it.  Now, I may sound heartless in accepting his bet, however, read on, and I'm certain you will understand.
He bet me that he could pull his final quarter's grade up to an 80%.  You see, he was not living in reality when he said this.  A 30 plus point improvement?!?  I gladly took him up on his wager.  If he won, he informed me, I would have to dye my hair blue........

“I don’t like reading!”

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:07:46 +0000

So here's the story.  One of our students came in the other day and looked me straight in the eyes.  "I don't like reading" he stated mater-of-factly.  I feigned insult.  "Say that again" I dared him.  "OK" he said, "I don't like reading!".  "Fair enough, here's what I'll do." I grinned.  "You say that one more time, I'm going to pick you up and throw you in the pool next door."  I quickly glanced at his mom sitting next to him who mouthed the words "That's fine with me".  That's all I needed.
"I     DON'T      LIKE     READING"  he spoke with clear, careful pronunciation.

[Picture]

He likes reading now.

A New Wired Minds

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:36:16 +0000

We’re sorry WiredMindsTutoring.com is about to become so much better this weekend! In the meantime, you can reach Barry and the rest of the team by phone at (864) 244-2420. You can also visit us at our current offices: 1271 South Suber Road Greer, SC 29650. Thank you for your patience!