Meet local tutor Robin Hinmon

Brandywine Hundred's Robin Hinmon has turned her love of helping others into a business. The Community News caught up with the founder of Brandywine Academic Services to discuss her efforts to help kids learn.

Q) You are a former teacher? What made you decide to leave that profession and start a tutoring business?

A) I actually got my start as a tutor before I was a teacher. As an education major, I was employed by the University of Delaware to tutor students with learning disabilities. That was in 1995 and I have been tutoring part-time ever since. There are few things more gratifying than watching a student master a particularly challenging concept and seeing the light bulb go off as it all starts to come together – the "Ah-ha! Moment." As a tutor you are also able to develop a stronger relationship with your students. This is incredibly important to students because they learn best when they know someone genuinely takes an interest in them. By working so closely with a student you are also able to assess his or her learning style and develop a curriculum that is unique for him or her, ensuring academic success. Although teaching is gratifying, I found tutoring even more rewarding. I have three young children and opening my own tutoring business allows me to spend more time them, as well.
 
Q) There are dozens of SAT prep courses and other enrichment opportunities available to students. What makes Brandywine Academic Services different?

A) One of my goals is to provide affordable and exceptional tutoring to all students. One of the ways we do this is through our flexible scheduling options.  We offer comprehensive SAT prep as in-home private tutoring, small group tutoring, and full-scale classroom sessions. We've prepared our materials, not based on a single program, but many different programs, presenting the best test taking strategies, tips and tricks. However, if you’ve already taken a review course and received a detailed answer analysis from the College Board, we allow you to schedule a few sessions to develop one particular skill. You can also sign up for just a Critical Reading & Writing classroom session, or just a math classroom session.  We actually have a summer set of classes beginning in July to help students prepare for the fall exam schedule. Our goal is to meet the students needs and our tutoring sessions are similarly designed.

Q) Why is extra instruction so important for today's student?

A) I think a lot of today's students have the smarts but have never been taught how to learn - or at least not how to learn in the most effective way for them. When I first started tutoring I began the first 10 minutes of my sessions with a study skills lesson. Parents quickly began to realize the benefits of these study skills and asked me to teach just these lessons to their other children. Now Brandywine Academic Services offers a powerful study skills program that identifies your personal learning style and supplies you with customized skills that help you to become an independent learner.    
 
Q) What do you enjoy most about helping young people learn?

A) Most times I feel as though parents call me in a moment of desperation. Being able to come into that type of situation and rebuild a child’s self-confidence is an incredible feeling. I believe that God has provided me with a unique gift that allows me to explain difficult material in many different ways—not many different times. I also believe it’s not that students can’t learn material presented to them, it’s just that they need the material taught to them differently. Once students realize they can master what they once thought was impossible, their entire demeanor changes. They begin to embrace learning. For a teacher, is there anything more fantastic than that?
 
Q) What five adjectives might your tutees use to describe you as a tutor?
A) Hopefully helpful, patient, caring, encouraging, and prepared.