What does Jeanine Benca Tutoring Offer?

Jeanine primarily offers small group Language Arts classes for students in Grades 5-12. Classes emphasize reading comprehension, academic and creative writing, vocabulary, critical thinking, English grammar, and preparation for SAT/ACT, AP/Honors English, and college application essays.

Who are classes best suited for?

Most of the students on the roster can be described as academic achievers seeking to refine their Language Arts skills and prepare for college and beyond. Because Jeanine works mainly with groups, her classes are not particularly well-suited for students with severe learning disabilities or for those who are struggling to maintain passing grades in English. For students in need of intensive remediation or highly individualized attention, she feels that one-on-one tutoring is a better fit.

Is one-on-one tutoring offered?

Due to the high volume of students, Jeanine’s 1:1 tutoring availability is extremely limited and can usually only be offered on a short-term, limited basis (such as for students who need customized assistance with their college application essays).

How many students are in each class?

Classes have a maximum of 3-6 students. Students are grouped based on grade and skill level.

What are your operating hours?

All classes meet for one hour per week. Jeanine’s hours of operation are 3 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sundays. No classes on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

Where are classes held?

Classes are held in person in Jeanine’s office space, located in the Civic Center Station building at the corner of Bernal Avenue and First Street in downtown Pleasanton. The exact address is 4725 First Street, Suite 253, Pleasanton, CA 94566.

Are online classes offered?

Although Jeanine shifted her classes online during the quarantine of 2020, she is a strong believer in the value of face-to-face Language Arts classes, especially for younger students. Therefore, as of August 2021, most of her classes are once again being taught in person at her classroom site in downtown Pleasanton.  However, for older students and for those who live outside of the area, online classes are still available.

What curriculum is followed?

Drawing on her journalism background, Jeanine prepares students for the SAT and beyond by guiding them through thought-provoking current events articles from newspapers and magazines. Students learn to summarize and think critically about what they have read while expanding their vocabulary and general knowledge. They also plan debates and argumentative essays around many contemporary topics. Additionally, students improve and develop Honors and AP English-based skills by reading classic literature and analyzing characters, themes, and literary devices. They practice writing various styles of essays, including literary analysis, research/informational, narrative, argumentative, and descriptive/creative essays.

How is progress assessed?

Prospective students are initially given a grade-level reading and writing assessment, which is used to get a sense of the student's overall strengths and weakness. Then, with input from the parents, Jeanine develops a list of goals and priorities for the student. Reading and writing assessments are administered periodically afterward to gauge progress.

What are your class fees?

The Group Class fee for the current school year is $65 per group class, per student.

Can you help my child with his/her English homework during the class?

Because the curriculum has to be generalized enough to benefit everyone in the class, large amounts of class time will not be spent helping individual students with their specific school essays or projects. That said, students are welcome to bring drafts of their school essays to class to receive peer review/feedback from Jeanine and the other students.

What is the attendance and cancellation policy?

Classes are month-to-month. An invoice is sent at the start of the month for all classes that will be held that month and the fee is due on the last day of the month. There is no charge for classes that students miss due to illness, emergencies, conflicts, or vacations. If fees for the month have already been paid and a student needs to miss, they will be given a credit for the following month. That said, consistent attendance is necessary for progress in Language Arts. It is disruptive and counterproductive to the whole group when one student misses class constantly; hence, students who miss classes repeatedly are asked to leave the program.

How long does the program last?

There is no fixed program length; however, class schedules are set at the end of August and remain in place until the end of the school year. Students are grouped according to skills, personalities, and goals. With few exceptions, the same group of kids remain together throughout the academic year. Though some students may choose to stay for only a few months, many are longtime attendees who return year after year. It is typical for a student to start this program in middle school, receive SAT prep in high school, and then prepare college application essays when the time comes. Jeanine prides herself on her multi-year relationships with families.