The Whole Kid

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The Whole Kid’s professional tutors are unified by the belief that every child can learn and deser

10/09/2026

Meet the founder of The Whole Kid, Tim Tibbitts! 👋

20 years ago, Tim turned his passion for teaching into something special.

After stepping away from a teaching job he loved to spend more time with his young children, Tim began working with students one-on-one. It didn't take long for him to realize just how powerful individualized learning could be.

As more families reached out for help, Tim knew he wanted to do more. So in 2006, he brought together a small group of talented teachers and launched what would become The Whole Kid.

And the name? That came from a thank-you note from a parent who told Tim, “You don't just see a struggling student. You really see the whole kid.”

That sentiment has guided our work ever since.

Today, 20 years later, Tim and our team of tutors continue to help students build confidence, strengthen their skills, and experience those wonderful “light bulb” moments when something finally clicks.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we're especially grateful for Tim's vision and the countless students and families who have been part of this journey.

Here's to 20 years of helping kids learn to succeed! 🎉

10/08/2026

We all had that ONE subject in school. 😅

The one that required twice as much studying, a little extra patience, and maybe a few frustrated sighs.

Math? Chemistry? English? History? Something else entirely?

Parents, we're looking at you, too! What subject gave you the most trouble back in your school days? 👇

10/07/2026

Ever look at a test question and think, “I don't even know where to start”? 😵‍💫

Sometimes the problem isn't that you don't know the material. It's that the question gives you so much information at once that you don't know what to do with it!

That's where the GMA Method can help. 👇

G = GIVEN
What facts, numbers, words, evidence, or information did the question give you?

M = MISSING
What EXACTLY are you being asked to find?

A = APPLY
What formula, grammar rule, passage evidence, data trend, or other strategy connects what you have to what you need?

It sounds simple, but that's the point. Instead of trying to solve everything at once, you're giving your brain a clear path forward.

And GMA isn't just for math. You can use the same approach with English, reading, science, and ACT/SAT questions.

The next time you feel yourself rereading a question, overthinking it, or thinking “I don't know how to do this,” try giving yourself three smaller questions instead:

What was I given?
What's missing?
What should I apply?

Want to see how GMA works with real examples in English, math, reading, and science? Read our latest blog from The Whole Kid tutor Jay Crump! Head to the link to read more.

🔗
https://www.thewholekid.com/post/given-missing-apply-a-simple-wayto-process-test-questions

09/30/2026

“I did my homework. Doesn't that count as studying?” 📚

Not exactly... 👀 Homework and studying can overlap, but they have two different jobs.

📚 Doing homework means completing the work your teacher assigned. You're solving the problems, answering the questions, reading the chapter, or finishing the worksheet.

🧠 Studying means actively working to understand and remember what you're learning so you can use that knowledge later, without the answers sitting in front of you.

That might mean reviewing your notes, testing yourself with flashcards, working through extra practice problems, explaining a concept out loud without looking at your notes, or going back to figure out WHY you missed a question.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

Homework asks, “Did I complete the assignment?”

Studying asks, “Could I do this again tomorrow without help?”

Both matter! But finishing your homework doesn't always mean you're ready for the test.

Before you close the books for the night, take a few minutes to make sure you didn't just finish the work. Make sure you understand it, too. 💡

09/29/2026

Meet The Whole Kid Tutor, Madeline Hertz! 👋

Madeline brings a seriously creative background to our team. She earned her B.A. in Radio/Television/Film with a minor in Psychology from Northwestern University and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.

At The Whole Kid, she works with students in English Language Arts, writing, AP Psychology, study skills, and organization.

One lesson she especially wants struggling writers to remember? Don't be afraid of a terrible first draft! Instead of getting stuck trying to find the perfect words right away, get something on the page. It's much easier to edit and refine something that already exists than to create perfection from nothing. ✍️

Outside of tutoring, Madeline works on the video production crew at Cavaliers, Browns, and Monsters games, is writing her first young adult fantasy novel, enjoys rock climbing, and once worked at Disney World as a Jungle Cruise Skipper. Talk about a résumé. 😂

As we celebrate 20 years of The Whole Kid, we're also celebrating the talented tutors who make this work possible. We're so glad to have Madeline on the team! 🙌

09/25/2026

Students, parents, former students... everyone gets a vote. 😂

You can eliminate ONE from school forever:

📚 Homework
👥 Group Projects
🎤 Presentations
😳 Pop Quizzes

Which one are you choosing? And yes, you have to pick just ONE! 👇

09/24/2026

You got the test back... and that is definitely NOT the grade you were hoping for. 😬

First: don't shove it into the bottom of your backpack and pretend it never happened.

One disappointing grade can actually give you some really useful information! Take a closer look and ask yourself:

👉 Was there a concept I didn't understand?
👉 Did I make careless mistakes?
👉 Did I run out of time?
👉 Did I actually study effectively, or did I mostly reread my notes the night before?
👉 Were there questions I should have asked before the test?

Then make a plan.

Review what you missed. Ask your teacher questions. Change your study strategy if you need to. Get extra help with concepts that still aren't clicking. And use what you learned when you prepare for the next one.

One grade is one data point. What matters now is what you do with the information it gave you!

Learn from it, adjust, and keep going. 💡

09/22/2026

If your hand hurts after class because you tried to write down every single word your teacher said... we need to talk. 😅

Taking good notes isn't about writing MORE. It's about capturing the information that will actually help you understand and remember what you're learning.

A few things to try:

✍️ Listen first, write second. Before you write something down, make sure you understand the main idea.

👂 Listen for clues. When your teacher says things like “this is important,” “remember this,” or “the difference is...,” pay attention. There's a good chance you want that in your notes.

📚 Prioritize the big stuff. Focus on main ideas, key terms and definitions, formulas, important dates or names, helpful examples, and anything your teacher emphasizes.

💭 Use your own words. You don't always need to copy a definition word-for-word. Try explaining the idea in a way that makes sense to YOU. That forces your brain to actually process what you're hearing.

❓ Leave some space. Give yourself room to add examples, questions, connections, or things you realize you need to clarify later.

And here's a good test: Could you look at your notes a week from now and understand what you learned?

If the answer is yes, they're doing their job!

Better notes aren't necessarily more notes. They're notes you can actually use. ✍️

Save this one for your next class!

09/18/2026

Parents, think back to your high school days for a second. 👀

What's one thing about high school today that feels completely different from when YOU were a student?

Technology? Homework? College prep? Social media? The pressure students are under? Or maybe something completely unexpected?

Tell us in the comments! 👇

09/17/2026

What does a tutoring session at The Whole Kid actually look like? 🤔

The short answer: It depends on the kid. And that's the point!

Our tutoring is one-on-one, which gives us the opportunity to meet each student where they are. A session might mean working through a difficult concept, preparing for an upcoming test, strengthening study skills, tackling a challenging assignment, or figuring out why something just isn't clicking.

But we're also paying attention to the bigger picture. How does this student learn best? Where are they getting stuck? What are their goals? What can we do to help them become more confident and independent?

Because we're not here to simply get tonight's homework finished. We want students to develop skills and strategies they can continue using long after the tutoring session ends!

That's what it means to see the whole kid. 🔍

Address

11201 North Park Place
Shaker Heights, OH
44104

Telephone

+12169911707

Website

http://www.thewholekid.com/

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