Who We Are

There is an old Chinese proverb that says "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand."

That is the philosophy behind what Pinecone Active Learning Center does. Math and Reading are the foundation skills for any form of learning, and the sooner a child is able to master them, the better equipped he or she is for the future. There are three aspects to learning - understanding, retaining and practicing. Pinecone offers these to your child in a learning friendly atmosphere that is designed to make the child comfortable and mentally prepared to learn.

The Pinecone Active Learning Center is the brainchild of Vivian Hobbs. She has an MS in Industrial Psychology with minors in research design and mathematics. She has 30 years of experience in math and research, including operating her own businesses, one of which was a well known supplemental education franchise. She has always been involved with children's education and has visited Italy to study the renowned "Active Learning" Program used there. With this knowledge and an understanding of the problems faced in imparting education to young children, she spent years working with educators and colleagues to formulate a system of teaching using focused individual tutoring that would provide the right foundations for children and also be aligned to state school requirements. The result is Pinecone.

There is a special offer available for the monthly tuition - from February 15, 2010 students can receive a discount $50/month. Details of the fee structure are available here. Please note that this offer is applicable ONLY when students sign up for both Math and Reading and is a permanent monthly discount as long as enrollment continues.

Call (408) 270-4548 or visit www.pineconelearning.com for more details. Read testimonials.

What We Do

Pinecone has two foundation programs - Math and Reading. Both are based on a series of weekly booklets that allows children to progress at a pace and in a manner that permits them to not just learn concepts but to internalize them and then to use what they have understood.

In the case of the Math Program, calculation skills are taught in a phased manner that includes practice of a concept until it is mastered. The written work is supplemented by regular oral exercises to help the students retain basic mathematical principles. Problems are given so that the students are able to reason and use their new skills. This enables them to use math without the aid of calculators and other such aids which only serve to reduce their self reliance.

Pinecone's Reading Program works on the proven principle that the ability to read is based on recognition of letters and the sounds associated with them so that reading becomes a simple matter of understanding the alphabetic code. The aim is to enable students to combine phonetic sounds to decode the printed word. Studies have shown that children who are skilled decoders have high levels of comprehension and fluency. The use of a comprehension series designed to promote reading for meaning and not merely putting words together gives students the ability to absorb and retain what they read. In conjunction with a vocabulary building program and an understanding of grammar, this develops children who are not just fluent readers but students who are able to absorb the meaning of what they read. Furthermore, the rigorous grammar exercises lend greatly to improved writing.

How Do Children Benefit?

All learning at Pinecone is individualized and tailored to each student's specific abilities. The regular practice and support given to them allows for progress to be made in small, controlled stages so that the students improve their concentration and study skills. This, in turn, leads to greater levels of self confidence and increases the desire to progress further.

Pinecone Active Learning is not about simply teaching kids to read or understand math. Pinecone's aim is to focus each child's inherent intellectual abilities towards an appreciation and understanding of what is learned to create a foundation from which continued learning becomes a natural process.

It's always better to equip a child to overcome the challenges that education presents than having problems arise and trying to react to them. A child who has access to Pinecone's tutoring services will show immediate improvements in concentration, focus and attitude along with faster times and neater writing. The result is a child with a better understanding of concepts that leads to better grades and test scores which means a happier child who can be proud of his or her school work.

Call (408) 270-4548 or visit www.pineconelearning.com for more details. Read testimonials.

Where We Are And Our Class Schedules

Parents in San Jose California, who want to give their children a start in life that will enable them to make continued progress in their education and beyond, should contact Pinecone without delay. Classes are between 3 and 7 P.M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and children may come in at any time during this period. A student will normally spend about 20 minutes being given tutorial help per subject. There is a reading area especially created for the children where they can stay safe and happy until they are picked up. Click here for our full address and a map that shows where we are located along with directions for getting to us.

Call (408) 270-4548 or visit www.pineconelearning.com for more details. Read testimonials.

Find Out More

We know your children's education and future is extremely important to you and you must to be sure of every step you take. Everything you need to know about us is available on our website at www.pineconelearning.com.

Click here to get information on the enrollment process and fees. You can email or phone Pinecone at (408) 270-4548 for any additional information you may want or questions you would like answered. There is a special offer available for the monthly tuition. Check out the Pinecone online store to see the range of jackets, jerseys, mugs and more that the children will love and which will add to the enjoyment of the Pinecone experience.

Call (408) 270-4548 or visit www.pineconelearning.com for more details. Read testimonials.