Wendy M. says, "I'm so glad I reached out to Guide on the Side for help with my two teens! I'll admit up front that I'm a rather "picky" mom--I have high expectations and I'm careful about who I allow my kids to spend time with. Ms. Karmiller did not disappoint! All of our interactions were professional and so, so supportive. Ms. Karmiller is a compassionate, patient teacher, Her developmental and educational expertise is evident. After spending a little time with each child, she seemed to have an intuitive feel for how to best tackle each child's unique needs. She clearly has a knack for developing supportive and instructional relationships with children. Both of my children felt cared for and respected. Their time with her was "fun" and did not seem like work, even though they got a lot done.
One teen was struggling with a high school AP class, and over a period of several months, Ms. Karmiller provided direct tutoring as well as instruction on specific study strategies tailored to my child's learning style. That child raised her class grade by two letter grades! It is such a joy to see her feeling more independent and confident now. I think she's even got the courage to try other AP classes in the future.
My other child needed assistance during the transition between high school and college. Ms. Karmiller provided life skills training (guidance on financial budgeting and developing routines) and job search assistance (resume building, job applications, and networking/interview coaching). These are things I'd normally try to help my child with myself, but as is typical of this age, the child wanted to be independent and do these things by himself. It was a great comfort to me as a parent to know that he had another trusted, knowledgeable adult to turn to with questions. He got to feel independent, and I got the security of knowing my child was adapting well during the transition. In addition to meeting with him as scheduled, Ms. Karmiller went above and beyond, checking in with him regularly to inquire about his progress. She also updated me so I stayed "in the loop."
I highly recommend Guide on the Side to other parents who want to help their children with school or emerging adult skills."See more
