Combat Summer Brain with Summer "Edu-tainment"

Online, July 11, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Summer "brain drain" in which students typically lose three months of knowledge acquired during the school year, is no longer an issue thanks to College for Kids held by Eldridge Overton Educational Programs. With help from Kean University and Raritan Valley Community College, the program strives to provide children aged five through thirteen with the tools necessary to excel academically and put them on the right track to college. Classes run in two week intervals starting July 11, 2011 and ends August 5, 2011.
A variety of courses are offered through the College for Kids Program at the Kean University campus including Debate Team, Reading Fundamentals, Writer's Club, Singapore Math and Minding Your Mendel: DNA Dynamos, a class teaching students about DNA and the human body. Highly qualified and accomplished teaching professionals teach each course. Many of the teachers hold advanced degrees and have several years of teaching, administrative and supervisory experience. Because teachers are well qualified in a wide variety of topics they are able to truly engage the students using a rigorous yet entertaining format. The classes are designed to be fun for the students while simultaneously engaging them in instruction and learning.
"It is especially important for us to provide these types of courses over the summer because children want to have fun during summer vacation. However, parents want their children to have some type of instructional program," says Tiffany Overton, Founder of Eldridge Overton Educational Programs. "'Edu-tainment' provides the best of both worlds."
The Gifted and Talented Institute is held on the Raritan Valley Community College campus. The institute is aimed towards students who already perform well in school but want to get even further ahead in their academics. Scholarships are available for students enrolled in the Gifted and Talented Institute as well as students participating in the other courses available through the College for Kids Program.
In addition to the College for Kids Program, the "edu-tainment" model can be found in many of the other educational enrichment programs provided by the organization. For the past six years, Eldridge Overton Educational Programs have been implementing fun but academically enriching programs throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania such as math, reading, and digital photography. Qualifying Pennsylvania and New Jersey students can also take advantage of the free tutoring program available under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.
"EOEP tutors helped my son develop better studying and test taking skills; all of which he utilizes today, " says Darnea La Pierre of her son who enrolled in a course. "The program helped him gain confidence in reading and comprehension, which he struggled with prior to his enrollment. He also discovered a talent for math during his tutoring sessions which has now become his passion."
Montclair University graduates and former roommates, Natasha Eldridge and Tiffany Overton, founded the Eldridge Overton Educational Programs in 2005. Both left careers in the school system with the purpose of positively impacting students of all skill levels by providing high quality supplemental educational programs to reinforce what has been taught in class. The College for Kids Program is amongst the most recent offerings available through the organization.
Those interested in providing their child with a healthy dose of "edu-tainment" can inquire about The College for Kids Summer Program by contacting Natasha Eldridge and Tiffany Overton at 908- 595- 2106. Program descriptions and registration forms can be viewed on the website, www.aypacademy.com.