First to Learn

The First to Learn Program

First to Learn is an enrichment program that provides students of all ages with a challenging and nurturing environment to discover and excel in a variety of academic areas. We strive to make learning fun while helping each student reach personal academic goals and potential. Whether you are looking for a calculus tutor for your struggling seventeen year-old, a head start for your preschooler, or ISEE prep and admissions counseling, First to Learn has it all.

Our students are empowered with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

About Jean and Brian Kimura

Our teaching partnership is one of the strongest in the city. Brian Kimura, who previously served as the Director of the largest math enrichment center in West Los Angeles, brings to First To Learn a decade of experience, as well as some of the most talented faculty in the city. Jean Kimura, who directs the First To Learn curriculum, developed her proprietary math program based on her own training in Taipei, Taiwan, and has taught enrichment classes alongside Brian in West LA for more than 10 years.

Our Faculty

Our program is unique because of the high caliber of our faculty and the quality of our curriculum. Our reading curriculum is designed by a credentialed Reading Specialist and Educational Therapist with more than 12 years of classroom experience. An Advanced Placement English teacher has designed our writing program, and our Admissions program is led by an Ivy League trained Admissions Consultant. Many of our instructors are currently teachers at superior independent and public schools throughout Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, many of whom have advanced degrees and special credentials. Other instructors teach at UCLA, or trained at Stanford and Yale. It is our belief that this dedication to excellence in curriculum and instruction sets us apart from our competitors.

Contact Us

First to Learn
11500 W. Olympic Blvd #321
Los Angeles, Ca 90064

(310) 478-8111

info@firsttolearn.net

Beginning Reading and Phonics

READING READINESS AND BEGINNING READING

Our fun approach to Kindergarten and First Grade readiness emphasizes phonics in a positive learning environment. Students will learn to decode sounds, simple sentences, and beginning stories. Jean Kimura and her experienced staff have taught Early Learning classes in West Los Angeles for more than ten years.

Level 1 Single Letter Sounds, Short Vowels and Sight Words
    1    Alphabet letters A-Z
    2    Alphabet letters a-z; Sight words: I, see, ride, on   
    3    Short Vowel a; Sight words: play, with, look, for
    4    Short Vowel e; Sight words: me, too, run, said
    5    Short Vowel i; Sight words: that, pretty, like, to
    6    Short Vowel o; Sight words: here, are, did, it
    7    Short Vowel u; Sight words: what, in, this, is
    8    Short Vowel Review; 50 Sight Words

Level 2 Consonant Blends
    1    Level 1 Review
    2    Initial Consonant Blends bl, cl, fl, gl
    3    Initial Consonant Blends sk, sl, pl
    4    Initial Consonant Blends cr, dr, gr
    5    Initial Consonant Blends br, fr, pr, tr
    6    Initial Consonant Blends sm, sn, sp
    7    Initial Consonant Blends st, sw, tw
    8    Initial Consonant Blends Review

Level 3 Long Vowels and Digraphs
    1    Final Consonant Blends -mp, -sk, -st
    2    Final Consonant Blends -ft, -lt, -nt
    3    Final Consonant Blends -lf, -lp, -nd, -nk
    4    Initial and Final Consonant Blends Review
    5    One-Syllable Words Ending in a Long Vowel, including -y
    6    Silent -e Words 1
    7    Silent -e Words 2
    8    Silent e with Consonant Blends

Preschool Learning Group

Students will develop greater control over the small muscles used for drawing, cutting, buttoning and zipping. They will learn to follow directions, identify colors, see similarities and differences in objects, and count concrete objects.

Numbers

counting  and/or writing numbers from 1 to 100

Letters

identifying upper and lowercase letters and/or writing them

Basic Skills

identifying colors and shapes; understanding positional concepts; recognizing quantitative differences

Fine (Small) Motor Skills

holding pencil correctly; tracing vertical, horizontal slanted lines; tracing curves and circles;  tracing letters and numbers

Time

reading clock on the hour; understanding hour and minute hands

Sequences

using ordinal number first to fifth; identifying and creating patterns

Who:  Kids age 3-4

When: January 4th to February 23rd, 2010                                           Monday 12:30 -1:15                                                                      Tuesday 1:00 - 1:45                                                                       Thursday 2:30 - 3:15

 

Reading Comprehension & Writing

READING COMPREHENSION

Level I Grades 2-4
Curriculum Designed by Kami Garcia
for 6 weeks, $20 Materials Fee (novels included)

Instructional materials will be at a high 3rd Grade reading level & geared for students entering 4th grade. Students in this class will develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills through literature discussion and targeted comprehension skill activities. Read and discuss two novels, with a focus on understanding character, plot & theme. Learn test-taking strategies to improve performance on various types of standardized, a well as school generated reading comprehension assessments.

 
Level II Grades 5-6
Instructor: Amanda Sasso
Curriculum Designed by Kami Garcia
for 6 weeks, $20 Materials Fee (novels included)

Instructional materials will be at a high 5th Grade reading level & geared for students entering 6th grade. Students in this class will develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills through literature discussion and targeted comprehension skill activities.

Over the course of six weeks, students will read and discuss two novels, with a focus on understanding plot development, character motivation, theme & author's purpose; develop critical thinking skills, with a focus on drawing conclusions, making inferences & identifying author's purpose; and learn test taking strategies to improve performance on various types of standardized, as well as school generated reading comprehension assessments.

INTRODUCTORY WRITING WORKSHOP

Grades 3-4
Curriculum Design & Instructor: Jody Howard
for 6 weeks

This class will expose students to the elements necessary for success in expository writing. Students will learn to recognize and write clear topic sentences that fit the supporting information in a paragraph. By the end of the class, students will be able to write well-organized paragraphs that clearly answer given prompts – an essential skill for success in both elementary and secondary school.

Math Classes

Students receive customized study plans based on their skills and potential.  Reinforced by class meetings and daily homework, students can learn their multiplication tables, master long division, begin to understand fractions for the first time, or even became comfortable with Algebra I before beginning secondary school.

Level A: Simple Addition and Subtraction

In this class, students will master addition and subtraction math facts up to 20 with kid-friendly tricks instead of rote memorization.

Level B: Advanced Addition and Simple Multiplication

Students will master multiplication facts up to the 9 times tables using fun memory devices in place of drilling. They will also master adding multiple-digits numbers and decimals with speed and accuracy.

Level C: Advanced Subtraction and Simple Division

Level C students will master basic division facts and learn to divide multiple-digits numbers by single-digit divisors. They will also master subtracting multiple-digits numbers and decimals with speed and accuracy.

Level D: Advanced Multiplication and Division

Do you know basic multiplication and division facts but are afraid of more complicated multiplication and division problems? Learn all the tricks of multiplication and division and overcome your fear of long division and multiplication. Learn to multiply and divide multiple-digits numbers and decimals with speed and accuracy.

Level E: Operations of Fractions

Learn to simplify, make equivalent fractions, compare fractions, and identify mixed numbers and improper fractions.  Learn the four operations: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions with speed and accuracy.

Level F: Algebra

Students learn concepts in algebra, reinforced by daily homework.  The class syllabus mirrors the typical seventh grade curriculum at many independent schools, and is meant to ease the transition year from elementary to secondary education. 

Problem Solving

This program is designed to help students think more conceptually, learning the steps that will help them master word problems. Students will learn a multitude of ways to approach a word problem, and to reason and communicate numerically in order to become confident of their mathematical abilities. They will learn problem-solving strategies and build critical thinking skills.

Abacus

Using the abacus to reinforce place value and number relationships, your child will quickly master simple calculations – and eventually be able to visualize and quickly multiply or divide three digit numbers without ever touching a pen to paper.  Abacus and workbooks will be provided; a commitment to complete daily homework is necessary to reinforce new concepts

Toddler Learning Group

The Toddler Learning Group provides children, two years of age, with an educational environment that is designed to nurture their intellectual, physical and emotional developmental needs.  We offer a safe and stimulating environment where a young child can learn by doing and provide experiences and activities that help them to be physically and mentally active.  We recognize that each young child is an individual, develops at their own pace and is interested in many different things.  The Learning Group offers a fun and enriching environment that functions as a gentle transition from home to school.  This is not a separation mandatory program.  Adult inclusion in the classroom is optional.  We do, however, encourage parents to allow their child independence when they are ready. 

Projects and Free Play

We always begin our time together with Free Play.  This is a time for the children to participate in either a special sensory/tactile project or to participate in free play activities. 

Clean Up

At the end of free play the children and teachers clean up the classroom together. 

Circle Time

After clean up we join together on the rug for Circle Time.  This is a time for songs and group discussions.  It is also the time when we learn about the days of the week, weather, holidays and one another.  This is structured time, directed by teachers.

Snack Time

The next transition is to the Snack Table.  Children are given a choice of water or sparkling water and something healthy to eat.  Children must wait to begin eating until all their friends have been served.  At the end of snack each child cleans up their place setting when finished.

Story Time

The class comes back to the rug for quiet time and listens to a story read aloud by one of their teachers. 

Dismissal

Children are brought out by a teacher to their parent or caregiver one by one.

Conferences

Formal conferences for families are held in early January, prior to the start of the Learning Group and at the end of May.  Individual conferences throughout the year are held as needed and encouraged as a communication tool between parents and teachers.  

Test Preparation for Standardized Tests

Standardized Tests such as ERB, CAT or STAR, ITBS, and Terra Nova/CTBS are achievement tests that measure what children know in particular subjects areas such as reading, language arts, and mathematics. These tests do not measure children’s level of intelligence, but they do show how well they know material that he or she has learned, or in some cases, not learned yet. This program will personalizes a study plan to thoroughly go over all skills that your child should know for his or her grade, so they will not be at a disadvantage if his or her class in school has not covered specific material yet. We will get your child comfortable with testing procedures and help him or her know what to expect. We will also provide test-taking tips and strategies so they can score well on the test!

*Please note: There is no make-up or credit for missed class. Space is limited for each time slot. Please schedule your class ahead of time. 

ERB Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is available for $100 an hour for Verbal Reasoning, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Writing Mechanics, Writing Concepts and Skills, Quantitative Reasoning, and Mathematics. 

Test Preparation for Standardized Tests
$800 for 12-Class Course or $75 per class;  $100 Registration and Materials Fee

ERB Private Tutoring

Private tutoring is available for $100 an hour for Verbal Reasoning, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Writing Mechanics, Writing Concepts and Skills, Quantitative Reasoning, and Mathematics.

ISEE

ISEE Exam Preparation

The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is a challenging test, and a low stanine score in even a single area can be the difference between an acceptance or a rejection to secondary school.  Don’t leave it to chance! We offer this more affordable group classes that teach group concepts over a 10-week period. We provide customized homework packets that are designed to target each student’s weaknesses after initial testing.  Our program is also unique because we grade and review weekly work – so that parents will know how their child is doing week-by-week.

                     

ISEE Exam Private Tutoring

$150 per hour

Private test prep tutoring is available in each of the four areas of the exam, as well as essay practice. 

Admissions Counseling

Private Admissions Counseling
If you think the kindergarten applications game can be daunting, make sure your family understands the process from the inside out.  Secondary School admissions and College admissions can be far more intimidating.  Private consulting sessions can target everything from essay writing strategies to where to apply – don’t leave anything to chance.  Every year, wonderful students just seem to fall through the cracks.  Let our Ivy League trained Admissions Consultant lead you through the process.

Chinese for Kids

This program is designed for children 7-12 years old living in non-Chinese speaking environments. Our goal is to make learning Chinese fun for children. We cover topics reflecting what is relevant to the lives of children. We use a “spiral-up structure” to provide repetition of sentence patterns and vocabulary while achieving a varied and interesting story-based curriculum. Our step-by-step lesson structure and overlapping content allow children to quickly apply the words they have learned to real-life situations and start expressing themselves in Chinese right away. Students will learn more than 200 essential vocabulary words for topics including People, Numbers, Colors, Animals, Body Parts, Clothes, Weather, Countries, Directions, Food & Drink, House & Furniture, Transportation, Opposites, Time, Familiar Objects, and Others.