Est. in Urbandale, Iowa – Serving Students Nationwide Through Online Tutoring
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Est. in Urbandale, Iowa – Serving Students Nationwide Through Online Tutoring
Our parents and students are proud they invested in their child’s and their own success. Our students are proud of their accomplishments! Our students thrive because they discover they can succeed.
Cheri KSeptember 10, 2023We struggled with the school acknowledging an issue. I called around to different agencies and went through Aspire's assessment. It determined an issue however, they acknowledged it in the most positive manner. We were able to continue testing in order to have my HSA pay indirectly for the tutoring. Aspire Academy assigned us to our tutor and we began the sessions. We were two years behind reading grade, and they caught my child up in 1 summer of lessons. We continued lessons to improve and have only seen positive results. I'm not sure how their lessons helped but they have helped my child succeed. We also receive reviews and assessments through the academy and they have helped me navigate teaching at home. They are so helpful. I feel like I have new friends and encourage anyone with concern to start here!Amy BrandauSeptember 9, 2023Aspire Academy has been wonderful! My child loves meeting with her "tutor". It's FUN to learn how to read! The "tutor" routinely gives my child advice on how to understand and manage her co-diagnosis of ADHD too. Without Aspire Academy, I have no doubt my child would still be below grade level in reading. She has been on grade level for the last two years and LOVES to read. In addition to reading, they spend time on writing skills, which is actually the bigger need. In addition, Heidi is a great resources to help you understand psychologist reports and understanding what dyslexia and dysgraphia are and how they present themselves. If your child has dyslexia and the school isn't using a Orton-Gillingham or Wilson reading program - talk to Heidi NOW!Mikki StierSeptember 7, 2023The Aspire experience is amazing. The staff welcomes you and your family into their program. They openly talk about the program and the process to assist your child with Dyslexia. Her teacher is amazing knowing the challenges our granddaughter is facing learning a new process through Aspire while keeping pace with her school. They celebrate with her, support her, and make learning useful and exciting for her. She comes home happy and confident that she is smart and eager to learn. Thank you for putting the passion and joy back into learning for our granddaughter. Because of Aspire her future is bright for who she is and her career.Jim HanianSeptember 1, 2023Has been an immense help to our son on his journey with dyslexia and he is always asking when the next tutoring session is.Nikki Parks-ComerFebruary 24, 2023Absolutely wonderful tutors. We have had two of our dyslexic kiddos come through here and I couldn't recommend them enough!Dana HussJune 21, 2022I spoke to Heidi for about 30 minutes yesterday. She was amazingly kind and helpful. Her love for struggling readers is obvious. I would definitely recommend Aspire Academy for your child.Jill MotroniDecember 10, 2021Aspire has been tutoring one of my daughters in reading for the last 6 months. In that time, I've noticed a huge improvement in her ability and her desire to read. Reading used to be something that she didn't want to do (because she was going to be a rockstar) to something she proactively does on her own now. I highly recommend Aspire to anyone who has a child struggling with reading.Carole AnneSeptember 16, 2021There is no reason that a child should struggle to read. Help is available. Heidi & her team provide the right kind of help. I am so glad to SEE my granddaughter making progress towards reading proficiently.C RSeptember 8, 2021Aspire Academy has online and in-person options for tutoring Monday - Saturday. The building is beautiful and cozy and helps every student feel at home during their tutoring sessions.Kathleen MeldeApril 11, 2017My two teenage daughters have dyslexia and are being tutored at Aspire Academy. They love the warm atmosphere and wonderful tutors. They are making progress and having fun doing it! If you have any thought that your child might need some extra help please see Heidi!
"Aspire has been a wonderful experience for our family. Our severely dyslexic son recently finished the Wilson program. Scheduling with his tutor was very flexible and she even came to his elementary school to tutor during the school day. Karen was so patient and understanding! Thank you Aspire!"
Johnston Family
Aspire Has Patient, Understanding Tutors
“Our son felt bad about reading and writing for years before tutoring. Now, he understands that he can learn and be successful. He also understands that there is a reason it is so hard for him to learn the way others do. He looks forward to tutoring, and he has gained a tremendous amount of confidence as a student and a reader.”
Urbandale Mother
Our Son’s Self-Esteem Improved With Tutoring
“Our family wants to thank you from the bottom of our heart! We were so glad fate had our paths cross at the right moment...our first grade son was struggling with reading and starting to dislike school. You helped us understand his unique challenges and with tutoring, you’ve helped him become a great reader. Perhaps more importantly, this built his academic confidence and ability to learn that will forever change his life path! We are so grateful we started him early, and had the guidance and care from you all. We are so proud he has graduated (4th grade) - but I know he will actually miss seeing his friends at tutoring; he really came to love going! Thank you for being an incredible resource at just the right time! And please do use this testimonial, and refer folks to chat with us about our experience!”
West Des Moines Family
Thank You From the Bottom of Our Heart
"I am so glad we contacted you even though my son was a junior in high school. Because of this program, he went from never reading a book in high school to getting a 3.9 in college."
Sally G., Des Moines Mother
Tutoring Can Ensure College Success
"Heidi Stoffel and Aspire Academy have been an extreme blessing in my family's life. Heidi has been there every step of the way with us for the last two years, educating, encouraging, and supporting us through it all. We have become good friends with Heidi and value her knowledge and enthusiasm of the reading programs she works with. I love to hear Heidi and my grandson laughing while they are tutoring. She has established a relationship with him, engages him and makes learning fun. It is obvious she truly cares about him and his future. I knew from the first time I met her, while attending one of her free workshops approximately four years ago, she was completely dedicated to helping her students and their families. You just don't find those attributes in people or businesses much anymore."
Urbandale Mother
Blessing to Our Family
“I just heard your ad on the radio today. Heidi helped our son a few years ago, and we are very thankful!! He is almost done with his first semester at the University of Iowa majoring in Biomedical Engineering! The SDS office at Iowa also accepted his dyslexia documentation so he was granted extra time to take exams, leniency on spelling/grammar and a distraction-free Screening environment. Thank you for all your help!”
Urbandale Father
OG Tutoring Let My Son Pursue His Dream
"Our child entered first grade not being able to read, and she scored a 0 on the STAR reading assessment because of this. At the end of February, she was tested again, and she scored 14%. We began tutoring with Aspire Academy in March, right before COVID-19. After two-months of Orton-Gillingham tutoring, her STAR reading score increased to 41%. Her school re-tested her because they could tell dramatic growth was happening. My daughter loved in-person tutoring and successfully transitioned to online tutoring. Her Aspire Academy tutor went out of her way to make on-line tutoring an enjoyable experience. My daughter and her tutor had themed days: hat day, crazy sock day, pajama day. Every tutoring day was something for her to look forward to."
West Des Moines Parent
Our Child’s Reading Improved!
"Since being put in this program I can tell my reading, pronunciation, and confidence in reading compound words has improved. It’s helped me prepare for reading at the college level, especially for business classes. This program will take time, but if individuals are willing to stick with it, I promise it will pay off in the future. It's never too late for reading help."
Charles, College Sophomore
College Student Happy He Chose Tutoring
We graduate students! At Aspire Academy, we measure progress frequently. One student, a fourth grade boy, had received Wilson tutoring for 3.5 years. At the end of Book 7 (out of a 12-book system), Screening showed he was reading at a high school level, and he had mastered all concepts in the program. We graduated this student and proudly celebrated his success. He did not need to complete the entire program.
We Graduate Students
We have personalized services. Aspire Academy tutors a child in her home in the mornings before school. At first tutoring was hard and difficult because reading was difficult. Ten months later, her MAP scores improved 15 points, she is able to read small chapter books, and she is all smiles when her tutor comes to the door. She even complains when tutoring time is over.
Personalized Reading Services to Fit Your Family
We deliver reading growth! One fourth-grade Aspire student tutored three times weekly. He began at a first grade reading level. After 7 months of tutoring, his ability to pay attention improved as measured by his educational psychologist. After 16 months of tutoring, he was reading at a 6th grade level, spelling at grade level as measured on his school spelling tests and enjoys reading chapter books on his own.
We Deliver Reading Growth
We help students succeed! A sixth-grade boy’s mother noticed he was having trouble reading the names on Christmas packages. After screening indicated he had dyslexia, her son began tutoring with Aspire. This student made 45 months of reading growth in 10 months of Wilson tutoring at Aspire Academy. He came three times a week to tutoring, and requested three times a week so he could catch up to his peers.
We Help Students Succeed
We promote reading independence. An Aspire seventh grade student was able to read the first three books of the series Little House On The Prairie entirely by herself after spending the summer listening to 15 audiobooks. She had wanted to read this series on her own for years. Audiobooks improve vocabulary, comprehension, focus, visualization while enjoying literature, and foster a love of books. Audiobooks and Orton-Gillingham tutoring are key to getting children to reading independence.
Audiobooks and Tutoring Improve Reading Skills
We help students become independent readers. A middle school boy began tutoring with Aspire in June. He had never been able to read a chapter book despite years of trying. After 4 months of tutoring, and spending the summer listening to audiobooks, he decided to tackle his favorite book series, Warrior Cats, and he was able to successfully read it.
Reading Success is Our Goal
We had a student switch to Aspire Academy because we provide the same tutor for every lesson, we only tutor individually, and our tutors are dedicated to that student. Due to the more positive emotional support, relationship building, and the needs of that child, he committed to coming twice a week instead of one time a week. This was a huge step for this student and is a testimony to our focus on emotional support as well as reading support during tutoring lessons.
Students Learn Best When Tutoring is Enjoyable
With tutoring, children’s attention spans increase and attitudes improve!
*When a child can’t read and spell to the level of others around them, they tune out and feel like they can never learn. School is a constant struggle, and it is hard to pay attention.
*Some kids develop learned-helplessness. Others develop anxiety, withdrawal, oppositional behavior, clowning or hyper-activity.
*Aspire has seen these symptoms slowly disappear for children over the course of tutoring. Children begin to be able to hold greater attention during reading tasks, begin to experience success and learning, and feel pride in their accomplishments. Troublesome behaviors begin to decrease and disappear as reading and spelling improves. Yes, this is anecdotal, but it definitely observable.
Attention Span Improves with Reading Tutoring
Now serving the entire US through online tutoring.
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