IL center offers tutoring, other educational services

INDIAN LAND – Students of all ages have a new place to turn for help.

One on One Learning Center in Southend Plaza in Indian Land offers tutoring, workshops and other educational services to children and adults.

Fulfilling a longtime dream, owners Bobby and Becky Matthews started the center in July to offer K-12 language arts, math, science and social studies tutoring, as well as adult educational services, such as career guidance, GED preparation and continuing education.

The 4,000-square-foot center has computers, study areas, classrooms, a workroom and a break room.

Becky Matthews is a former special education teacher with more than a decade of experience in Lancaster County schools. She also holds a degree in guidance and school counseling.

Bobby Matthews has a bachelor’s degree in theology and has been a lay minister at Independent Bible Baptist Church.

The One on One Learning Center will also offer workshops on test preparation, study skill strategies, college preparation and career planning.

Other offerings at the center include conversational Spanish and English courses. The center also offers theology and biblical studies degrees through Advanced Biblical Studies of the Carolinas.

Bobby Matthews wants the center to offer a broad range of services.

“If they live in our community, we want to help them,” he said.

Homeschooling                  workshops

The center has a series of three workshops planned on Homeschooling as an Option at 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning Sept. 10.

The first 90-minute workshop will cover the basics of homeschooling law, various teaching  styles and the reasons some families choose to homeschool.

Subsequent workshops in the series will cover learning styles, curriculum options and preparing homeschooled students for college and beyond.

Becky Matthews said the programs are a good starting point to introduce One on One Learning Center to the homeschool community and to show that they are not only here for students in traditional school settings.

She said the workshops will just give information and not try to sway families one way or another.

Bobby Matthews said future workshops could cover topics such as parenting strategies and gang awareness.

Program for 3- and 4-year-olds

Early Risers is a program offered by the center for 3- and 4-year-olds. The first 10-week program in the Early Risers series, Music and Movement, begins Sept. 14. Participants will explore music terminology, rhythm, tempo, rhyme, cooperative play and more.

The program costs $200 and will run Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. through Nov. 19.

Core program

The center’s core program is a 10-week tutoring session.

Matthews said the tutors at the center will all be certified teachers, as opposed to other education franchises where tutors may only be trained through the program’s proprietary courses.

He said they aren’t trying to compete with other commercial tutoring centers, but they saw a great need in the area that wasn’t being met.

Matthews said local teachers and the school district have been supportive of their decision to open a learning center in Lancaster County.

One on One Learning Center

Owners: Bobby and Becky Matthews

Address: 7580 Charlotte Highway, Suite 1100 in Southend Plaza

Phone: (803) 547-3225

Web site: www.oneononelearningcenter.com

Hours: 2:30-9 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays