Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Jackie Vasquez ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Excellent services, caring therapists.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 8 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Chris duke Fields ★★★★★ a month ago
    The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
  • Avatar Nikhil Jaisinghani ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
  • Avatar Linda Parsley ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
  • Avatar Amanda Clay Mackin ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
  • Avatar Pete Peters ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
    Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
    Thanks to both for a job well done...
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Larry Barton ★★★★★ a year ago
    Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
  • Avatar Megan Haller ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
  • Avatar Megan Magsam ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
  • Avatar Collins Youngblood ★★★★★ a year ago
    Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
  • Avatar kanu patel ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
    Kanu Patel
  • Avatar Liz Jones ★★★★ 2 years ago
    We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
  • Avatar S CL ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
  • Avatar Nicole May ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
  • Avatar Gillian Davidoff ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
  • Avatar carolina luttmann ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
  • Avatar Eric Fingerman ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
  • Avatar Susan Wong ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
  • Avatar Christine Gennetti ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
    I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them.
  • Avatar Fabiola FITZPATRICK ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
  • Avatar Jude Eugene ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
  • Avatar Janice Eidus ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
  • A Google User ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Fara Jones ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
  • Avatar Frances Simpson ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Mary Jean Babic ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Nina Herman ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
  • Avatar Frances ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Michael Birnbaum ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
  • Avatar Monica Alzate ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.

8th Grade Preparation NYC | Build Systems Before High School Starts

From Struggling To Excelling—unlock Better Performance Today

8th Grade Preparation NYC

8th grade preparation in NYC helps students build the academic systems required before entering high school, where workload, independence, and expectations increase significantly. Many students are doing well in middle school—but are relying on support systems that will not exist in high school. We provide structured, in-home academic support across NYC, helping students build organization, planning, and execution systems before 9th grade begins.

 

Students across Manhattan and Brooklyn often appear “on track” in 8th grade—but are not yet working independently at a high school level. We help students build systems early—so they enter high school prepared, independent, and able to manage increased demands without falling behind.

8th Grade Preparation NYC: The “Are We Ready for High School?” Moment

Many NYC families begin preparing for high school when students are performing well but not working independently. This is a very specific moment—and most parents recognize it right away. Everything looks fine on paper. Grades are steady. Assignments get done. But day-to-day, it tells a different story. You might notice:

 

  • “I’m constantly reminding them to start their work.”
  • “Why is homework taking so long?”
  • “They understand it, but their grades don’t show it.”
  • “They do it—but only if I stay on top of them.”

 

The issue isn’t ability. It’s execution. Homework gets done—but inefficiently. Planning exists—but only when prompted. Long-term assignments feel overwhelming, so they’re delayed or rushed. Students at this stage are still leaning heavily on external structure:

 

  • Parent reminders
  • Teacher check-ins
  • Predictable routines

 

That support disappears quickly in high school. This is where preparation matters most—not when things fall apart, but when the foundation is still flexible enough to build on. Families looking to strengthen planning and independent work systems can also explore executive function tutoring in NYC as part of a broader academic preparation approach.

Why Waiting Until 9th Grade Is Risky

Prepare for High School Success

Academic habits formed in early high school are difficult to change once performance declines. Many families wait. The thinking is simple: Let’s see how 9th grade goes.” The problem is what happens next. High school doesn’t ease students in—it accelerates immediately.

 

  • More assignments
  • Less oversight
  • Faster pacing
  • Higher grading pressure

 

And habits lock in quickly. If a student enters 9th grade without systems:

 

  • They fall behind on assignments
  • They underestimate workload
  • They struggle to manage multiple classes

 

The first report card becomes the wake-up moment. But by then:

 

  • Stress has already built
  • Confidence has dropped
  • Habits are already forming

 

Fixing problems at that point is possible—but much harder. Preparation in 8th grade is about avoiding that cycle entirely.

What Changes in High School (And Why It Catches Students Off Guard)

Academic support for 8th grader

High school requires students to manage more work with less structure and higher expectations for independence. The shift is not subtle. It’s structural. Students suddenly face:

 

More Subjects, More Teachers

Each class operates independently. There is no centralized system keeping everything aligned. Students must track:

 

  • Assignments
  • Deadlines
  • Expectations
  • Materials

 

Longer, More Complex Assignments

Work shifts from short tasks to multi-step assignments:

 

  • Essays
  • Projects
  • Multi-week timelines

 

Students who rely on last-minute completion struggle immediately.

 

Less Built-In Structure

Teachers expect students to manage themselves. There is less:

 

  • Reminder-based instruction
  • Step-by-step guidance
  • Structured pacing

 

Higher Expectations for Independence

Students are expected to:

 

  • Start work without prompting
  • Plan ahead
  • Manage time across subjects

 

This is where many students fall behind—not because they don’t understand the material, but because they can’t manage the workload. In NYC schools—especially those with Regents sequencing, honors tracks, or private school rigor—this shift happens fast.

Building Systems Before They’re Tested

Students who build planning and execution systems before 9th grade transition more successfully into high school workloads. Preparation is not about doing more work. It’s about doing work differently. We focus on building systems that students can carry into high school.

 

Planning Systems

Students learn how to build planning systems that allow them to map out assignments, break down long-term work into manageable steps, and plan ahead instead of reacting at the last minute. This shift helps reduce stress and ensures that work is approached with clarity rather than urgency.

 

Assignment Tracking

Instead of relying on memory or constant reminders, students learn how to use structured systems to track their work. They develop a clear understanding of what’s due, when it’s due, and how long each assignment will take, which helps prevent missed work and last-minute stress.

 

Workload Management

Students begin to understand how long their work actually takes, which allows them to plan more realistically and avoid underestimating assignments. They learn how to distribute effort across subjects instead of focusing on one area while neglecting others, and how to pace their work so it doesn’t build into last-minute stress.

 

Starting Work Independently

One of the biggest shifts is how students begin their work. Instead of waiting for prompts or relying on repeated reminders, they learn how to start independently. They know what needs to be done and move into it without hesitation. This is where real independence develops—not through pressure, but through consistent systems that make starting and following through part of their routine.

TESTIMONIALS

My son got to a point in his writing where he just hit a wall with brainstorming. He needed some extra 1:1 time outside of school with someone who could handle the executive functions aspect, the anxiety piece, the extra time/silence my son sometimes needed, and the warmth and creativity that is his native space. Jake was beyond perfect. I just couldn’t have dreamt up a better fit. In addition, he documented his process and what was working with my son so that I have a collection of emails to look back on when I need reminders about how to help my son when he’s feeling stuck – which is now very seldom. If I had five thumbs, they’d all be up. So I’ll just say 5 stars! Thank you, Jakek, and thank you, Themba Tutors. (By the way, this was affordable, to boot.)

 

-Micaela B.     

Samantha was great! Samantha was always punctual, nice, and clear when she sent her message to my son during her sessions. It helped my son improve his writing skills and schoolwork and gain some confidence.
After each session, she explained how he was doing and his progress, which I appreciated.

 

-Kay L.

Jill does an amazing job. She is incredibly patient with my son, and he has made great progress with his writing.

 

-Lisa V.    

Stephen was an amazing tutor to my bristly middle schooler! He helped with his writing and high school application process and was a wonderful influence on him. We are so grateful for his help and would highly recommend him!

 

-Erica W.    

At Themba Tutors, we take the time to help students/clients understand their strengths and progress in areas where they need to improve. We offer personalized tools for each of our clients to help them become more aware of their individual needs as they work towards short-term goals. Improving these skills will benefit our students’/clients’ long-term plans.

8th Grade Preparation NYC | Prepare for High School Success
REBECCA S.

Master’s in Social Work, Bachelor’s in English Writing

BRIAN F.
BRIAN F.

M.S. in Education

8th Grade Preparation NYC | Prepare for High School Success
MARIA

M.S. in Bilingual, Childhood and Special Education & Ed.M in Language and Literacy

STEPHEN S.
STEPHEN S.

BA in English and History, MA in Teaching, MA in Liberal Studies

8th Grade Preparation NYC | Prepare for High School Success
JURGA

Special Education Teacher, Certified Orton-Gillingham Literacy Specialist

When Students Typically Need 8th Grade Preparation

8th grade preparation is most effective when students are stable but not yet fully independent. This is not crisis support. It’s forward-looking. Common situations include:

 

  • “Everything was fine and then suddenly it wasn’t” (usually late 8th grade—too late)
  • Homework is taking too long every night
  • Students rely heavily on reminders
  • Long-term assignments create stress
  • Planning is inconsistent or reactive

 

Students in this stage are capable—but not yet structured. That’s exactly when preparation works best.

In-Home Tutoring vs Waiting for School Support

Private in-home tutoring provides earlier and more consistent structure than school-based academic support. School support typically begins after problems appear. By that point:

 

  • Grades have dropped
  • Stress has increased
  • Confidence is affected

 

In-home tutoring allows earlier intervention. It focuses on:

 

  • Building systems
  • Improving execution
  • Strengthening independence

 

Rather than reacting to problems, we prepare students before they happen.

NYC Academic Environment: Why This Transition Matters More Here

support for 8th graders in NYC

NYC students face accelerated academic expectations that make early preparation especially important. In many NYC schools:

 

  • Regents coursework begins early
  • Honors tracks accelerate pacing
  • Writing expectations increase across subjects
  • Grading becomes more performance-based

 

Students are expected to keep up without constant support. Families across:

 

  • Manhattan
  • Brooklyn
  • Upper East Side
  • Park Slope
  • Tribeca
  • Brooklyn Heights

 

often notice that the transition into high school is where gaps become visible. Preparation in 8th grade helps prevent that gap from widening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 8th grade too early to prepare for high school?

No. 8th grade is the most effective time because habits are still flexible and workload has not yet intensified.

 

What skills should students have before entering 9th grade?

Students should be able to plan assignments, track deadlines, start work independently, and manage workload across multiple subjects.

 

Why does my child rely on reminders so much?

Many students rely on external structure in middle school. High school removes that structure, which is why systems need to be built earlier.

 

What causes students to fall behind in 9th grade?

The most common cause is not understanding content—it’s difficulty managing workload, planning, and execution across multiple classes.

 

How do I know if my child needs preparation support?

If your child is doing well but still depends on reminders, struggles with planning, or takes too long to complete work, preparation is likely needed.

Not ready to fill out the form yet? We’re here to make this easy.

📞 (917) 382-8641 | 📲 (917) 382-8641 | ✉ [email protected]


Every coach offers a free 15-minute remote meet-and-greet, so you can get to know them and see if it feels like the right fit. We’re very responsive and easy to communicate with throughout the process. From there, we’ll thoughtfully match you with one or more of our coaches.

Learn more about academic expectations through NYC Regents Exams. High school coursework often aligns with Advanced Placement (AP) standards.