Ellington

Most tutoring centers in the area help students improve their math and English skills, but according to E.nopi Learning Center owner Anita Merchant, only center in the state of Tennessee offers a specific program designed to help students improve their critical thinking.

That center is the E.nopi location at 7401 East Brainerd Road. As part of a worldwide franchise with more than 25 million students enrolled, the center provides high-quality supplemental instruction with emphasis in math, reading, writing and critical thinking, said Merchant.

“Critical thinking is important because it’s important for students to learn how to think more logically,” she said. “It’s not just about helping them in one subject, because it gives them multiple approaches to one problem.”

Merchant and another of the center’s instructors, Heather Welch, said they have found through their experience with E.nopi that students who improve critical thinking skills score better on standardized testing and gain more confidence in the classroom.

“There are lot of critical thinking questions on standardized tests,” said Welch. “Schools teach to the standards but kids are tested on critical thinking and then don’t know how to apply it.”

E.nopi offers more than just critical thinking instruction. Welch and Merchant agreed that one of the No. 1 goals of the center is making learning fun and accessible to students ages 3-12. With separate tracks for English and math, a student-teacher ratio of 5-to-1 and nationally approved curriculum, E.nopi’s programs are designed to provide a thorough approach to supplemental education.

“We not only help kids who need help, we’re also here to help students get ahead,” said Merchant.

According to her, when students begin at E.nopi they complete a diagnostic test and then are matched with the curriculum that best suits their needs. She said students set goals with instructors and maintain a progress report that parents can view to showcase their student’s progress.

“So far, parents have been very happy with the program, because you can see immediate results,” said Merchant. “We take a student-teacher-parent approach that helps make sure everyone is on the same page and aware of the goals we’re working toward.”

With school starting next week and back-to-school specials running at the center, Merchant said she would encourage potential students to come to the center sooner rather than later.

“If a student has a problem at school, the earlier we can catch it the better,” she said.

For more information call 716-6674 or visit www.enopichattanooga.com.