Who Shall Lead True Educational Reform in America?

There have been some great responses and a collection of private emails sent to me regarding my recent post, both here on this website and on my Facebook wall. (See Question: Why Impose an Educational System, That Has Limits On Its Ability to 'Educate'?)

Below is my response and further argument.

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It is imperative [that] people--our society--is forded the opportunity to hear perspectives from each of the three (the three essential pillars for appropriate societal education of our children)...the school system (representatives), the educators themselves and the parents. If a consensus could be reached between the three, we would have, I believe, created the ideal and most appropriately functional basis for an appropriate educational 'system.' Now, how we go about that is the general issue I believe. If we are to properly educate our children, it will take efforts on all sides to cooperate together. Now, its no easy task, that we know. But I think, and I am fond of teaching, self-awareness is the key to growth. We as a society must first realize, our system of education IS broken. Then, relieving special interest and primarily, money, we need to embark on a journey to discover a better means of offering an education to our children. Someone must take the reigns and someone must lead, and that leader must follow the council and direction, requests and passions of the people he/she leads. Apathy I believe will be the very cause of the decline of such an ambitious endeavor.

I think, historically, we are doing the right thing by first discussing it. There are people who care, but don't know where to begin. There are people who wish to care, but aren't sure of the 'facts (which are and should be contested). There are also people who could care less and see the system as a functional tool for processing drones, as you say, in efforts to keep cash-flow running smoothly. I see as a vision a new system, born by a combination of what has worked in the past, and what can be applied for the future, mixed with traditional and nontraditional methods. Who shall lead the charge is open to public determination. Whether or not that leader can bind Apathy, well, that is another fight altogether.


~Bobby Ozuna

Why impose an educational system, that has limits on its ability to 'educate'?

With the dramatic decrease in employees & staff in our school systems...I wonder, should we, as parents and community members...cease to send our children to school? If we are 'failing' with full staff, what will we become with a severely limited availability of resources? What's the point?

If the system is already designed to "tell" not insight "free thought"...then why can't we just tell them what to do already? Why can't they read and study books on their own, without fear of being judged by "minimal test scores"? Why not encourage them to think freely and prepare them, as a parent, as a community, for a college system that doesn't "tell them what to know" but rather, encourages them to "think for themselves?"

Apart from "having to go to school" because its "the way we do things in America"--why do we really have to (or why would we want to) send them to school?



~Bobby Ozuna

"I-Tutor Math"--Announcing the 2011 Summer School!

The "I-Tutor Math" 2011 Summer School is coming up! IF you wish your child to touch elements crucial in developing skills for Middle Grades (6~8), including 9th Grade, to help them master TAKS and fundamental skills, you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS SUMMER SCHOOL!!!

The school will be 6 weeks long, focusing on Pre-Algebra and Algebra I fundamental skills. It will begin July 11th and run through August 19th. Six weeks, 3 days a week, 3 hours per day, including 2 hours of study on Tues/Thurs. There are a... total of 66 hours of study/curriculum practice (equivalent to 4.5 months of school time) for a low cost of $400 per child, which totals about $6 per hour, including supplies they can use the entire (and upcoming) school year!

More details to come!!!

~Bobby

"The Serving Soul"--March 21st, 2011

"It is my job to teach them whatever it takes, to teach them whatever it takes for them to learn."

~Bobby Ozuna

One more night until the "I-Tutor Math" FRACTIONS Workshop in Fort Worth, Texas!

There is still room available to register for the "I-Tutor Math" FRACTIONS Workshop in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, February 19th.

Registration/Workshop Details are below. Cash is easy, but you can bring a Money Order (leave blank).

Registration Starts @ 11:15

Workshop Begins @ 12:00

Drinks provided.

You can bring food and snacks.!!! (PLEASE BRING FOOD!!!)

Workshop Ends @ 4:30

Holiday Inn Express, (@ Western Center)

6351 North Freeway 76131

$25 per Family Unit (1 Adult + 1 Child) $15 for Each Additional Child

I will have paper and pencils.

If you need to contact me, please do so here. If you need to call me, provide your number and I will call you.

I hope to see you tomorrow at 11:15AM!

Bobby Ozuna

Tutoring and Teaching Tips For Parents: Building the Environment of Learning

LEARNING requires two things: Attitude & Attempt.

Learning requires an attitude that says, "I will try" and it requires an approach that allows and encourages mistakes. Try telling your kids: "Let's see how many mistakes you can make" instead of saying, "Let's see if you can get this right."


Building an "Environment of Learning" in your home requires a NEW and DIFFERENT approach to teaching, tutoring and mentoring your children. Illiteracy is more than an inability to read, but rather an inability to comprehend what is being read, or what is being taught. To conquer what I call mathematical illiteracy, it will require a different approach to mastering mathematical skills.

Teaching can easily conjure negativity from a student, even from adults, because teaching can easily be misconstrued as "telling me what to do." If you are going to establish a new method, philosophy and approach to helping your child (or children/adults/pupils) learn, then you need to learn how to remove negative stigmas associated with 'telling people what to do.' When you opt to use a mentoring or coaching approach to teaching, you are thereby allowing yourself and your student(s) to receive the information in a more positive way because mentors and coaches HELP without lecturing. A coach or mentor will show us what we did wrong, by encouraging and establishing a faith in our ability to get it right. Lecturing loses focus and lecturing can easily tune people out. None of us like being "told what to do." But, showing someone HOW and WHY to do something, while encouraging mistakes, because you know in time they will get it right, helps relieve the tension and stress associated with having to be perfect all the time.

I encourage my pupils to make as many mistakes as they wish, thereby freeing their mind and focus. Encouraging someone to try something, without fear of reprimand for "not doing it right" helps maintain the positive--I can do it!--attitude and it encourages multiple attempts at failure, which is really a key ingredient to success. You cannot succeed at anything until you have done it wrong so many times, that it becomes impossible later for you to get it wrong. As I am fond of saying, "We learn how to ride a bike because we have fallen so many times." Also, "you never learn how to hit the ball, until you become the kid who is always striking out."

When you encourage a student to make mistakes, by showing them how and why something is or isn't WORKING (as opposed to telling someone how or why something isn't RIGHT) you give them back the creative freedom to LEARN. Allowing a child to think for themselves is critical to retaining the knowledge necessary to comprehend something. We only learn the stove is hot, not after we've been told it is, but after we've touched it. A student/child/adult learner needs to be shown how to do something, and then given a free pass to try it, make a mistake, make adjustments, adapt and correct it, with your mentoring and coaching. This is the embodiment of learning.

Allowing a child/student/pupil to challenge you in your process is just as vital. We have become a society of "do what I say, because I said so" when in reality, we need to change this approach, especially in mathematics, because like fundamental math (problems) there is always more than one way to get the right answer. Encouraging a child to challenge the process teaches them how to become visionaries, to see things differently, try a new method, and discover a way that works best, all for the sake of mastering an element--with homework, in the classroom or in Life.

I challenge and encourage you to break loose of the philosophy that a child has to do homework because "you said so" but rather encourage your child/student/pupil to make mistakes, with you by their side, coaching them, mentoring them and challenging them to think freely or creatively, all for the sake of proper learning.


...building an environment of learning, one household at a time...


~Bobby Ozuna
Vice-President/Co-Founder, READ3Zero Non-Profit Literacy Foundation
Writer. Motivational Speaker. Tutor

READ3Zero Literacy Foundation Announces NEW Math Workshop Series for Adults & Children!

READ3Zero "I-Tutor Math" FRACTIONS Workshop for Adults & Children (5th~8th grade)

READ3Zero "I-Tutor Math" FRACTIONS Workshop for Parents & Kids (5th~8th grade)

This workshop is designed to help parents learn how to better facilitate FRACTIONS at home, and also teach the child how to master basic fractions by teaching their parents. The concept is to learn together, thereby creating an 'environment of learning' in the home. *Drinks will be provided. Guests are encouraged to bring food and snacks. Pencils, scratch paper and handouts will be provided for this event.* Topics / Workshop Outline Introduction (30 Mins) Math Review and Warm Up (30 Mins) BREAK (15 Mins) Adding & Subtracting Fractions w/Different Denominators (40 Mins) Adding & Subtracting Fractions w/Same Denominators (40 Mins) BREAK (15 Mins) Multiplying Fractions (15 Mins) Dividing Fractions (15 Mins) BREAK (15 Mins) Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers (15 Mins) Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions (15 Mins) Debrief (10 Mins) Close-Q&A (Open) The cost for this workshop is discounted at 50% OFF! The cost PER FAMILY UNIT (one adult + one child) is only $25!!! You can RSVP by contacting me directly via Facebook or via email HERE. Payment can be made at the door for $25 cash (bring exact change please) or if you prefer, a PayPal link can be provided. Thank you for helping us create an environment of learning and master mathematical elements in the home! ~Bobby Ozuna Vice-President & Co-Founder, READ3Zero Literacy Foundation for Kids www.READ3Zero.com Literacy. Creativity. Learning. Holiday Inn Express, Western Center @ Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=7447072574068528187&q=holiday+inn+express+western+center+fort+worth+texas&gl=usSee More

Your Children Won't Learn, Until You Change Your Attitude

Apathy can be defined as 1.) the absence or suppression of passion, emotion or excitement and 2.) the lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. I define apathy as the cultural disease that prohibits a society, community, family or household from progressive growth. It is an involuntary philosophical approach that counters any forward and upward development and it is usually manifested in the behaviors of what we call our "culture" and our "traditions." Apathy is a primary root cause of lack and the reason why our children have little or nothing to look forward to, because to them: "Nobody cares!"

It is not good enough for us as parents to say we 'care' about our child(s)/children's well-being and education, but yet do little or anything to create the appropriate influence to bring about  the necessary change to lay forth an appropriate path for them to follow.

If you want your child to perform better at school, the burden of responsibility does not fall on the educational system. To use the stance, "Our schools are failing our children" or "The system is failing them" and do nothing about it, is to operate in an apathetic mode. This is a misconception and a perception that is presently haunting so many parents today and an approach that will only hinder our children in the future. If you want your child to perform better in school, if you want them to get the "best education possible" then you are going to have to take it upon yourself to teach them yourself--period.

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
Anais Nin

There are entirely too many resources at our disposal in today's age to not have a means, method or tools for helping our children learn. The Internet is full of resources, websites, study-guides, teaching tools, videos, etc., etc., etc., that if implemented in your household, can greatly influence your child's ability to learn, willingness to want to learn and capacity for learning. The key ingredient is YOU.

Do I believe the education system today is designed to truly teach our children? No. Do I believe the educational system is responsible? Yes and No. I believe they are responsible because that, at the end of the day, is what they are here for. But, I never presume to assume or believe my children will ever learn more in a classroom than they will at home with me. It is my responsibility, as it is our duty as parents, to learn the material they are studying, for the sake of being able to offer the support they need to properly learn.

Learning requires two ingredients: Attitude & Attempt. When I tutor I use an approach I call "The Flat Square." FLAT stands for Focus, Listen, Attempt and Teach. The "Square" represents how it is done...again...and again...and again. Routine creates habit and habit determines excellence. In my last article, "Building an Environment of Learning In Your Home" I offered tips for changing the attitude and culture of your household. Attitude is contagious and as we said in the Marine Corps, attitude reflects leadership. If you don't care, or we don't care enough as parents, how could we ever expect our children to care? It is up to you to set the tone, lead by example and make learning a priority in your household.

...serving the soul of humanity...

Bobby Ozuna

Literacy. Creativity. Learning.

Building An Environment of Learning In Your Home

As a tutor, I find myself in the trenches of educational warfare, daily. There isn't a person I meet, who, after learning that I tutor or hearing of my work with other kids, doesn't open themselves up to me and 'let me have it' with all their concerns for their child and the multitude of reasons why their child is failing, isn't learning, or doesn't care enough to try, etc., etc., etc. Being a parent myself, it breaks my heart and also fuels the fire to develop better, quicker, more insightful and more creative means to inspire children to learn. At the end of the day, the reasons why I tutor revolve around my inner desires to serve others, in conjunction with a purpose and vision for helping parents master learning at home, to establish what I call: an environment of learning. Here are a few tips, things I do when I work with parents who are in desperate need for immediate results.

1.) If its important to you, it will be important to them!

Its easy to say or fall into the trap or misconception [that] "my child's education is important to me, that's why I make them do their homework!" You have to first consider what message is being relayed here and understand that children, in their wonderful, free-spirited youth, are natural renegades, born to rebel against any system that would make them do anything. So, to avoid falling into the trap or philosophy of "do as I say, not as I do", then you will need to show them how important education is, by participating in their learning.

Does this mean you will have to miss some of your favorite shows, skip out on happy hour or cancel a few engagements during the week? Yes! But before you get upset as a parent or become uncomfortable, ask yourself this: What's really and truly important to me? This is a question of values and even though you might say you believe in your child's education, unless you are participative, you are really sending a mixed-signal. You are basically telling your child to "do it because I said so" and really, when did we ever respond to that as children? With this type of attitude, it won't take long for your child to see that you 'proclaim' to believe in their education, just not enough to actually 'do anything' about it.

2.) No Peanut Gallery!!!
When I was in the Marine Corps, you could find any table, in any barracks of any base where Domino's or Spades are being played (among countless other games) and if you listen quietly, you can hear the words "No Peanut Gallery!" being shouted from any of these tables when someone is getting upset because their concentration is being broken or if someone is interrupting the game from the 'outside.' The Peanut Gallery is essentially the external voices that cause interruption in the play of the game. Its equivalent to the back-seat driver. Annoying huh? Well, if you want your child to learn and you want to build that environment of learning in your home, you, as the parent, are going to have to quiet the Peanut Gallery in your home and turn OFF the television, put the cell phones away--yes, even yours as well, and get to work! If you can't keep focus for longer than 5 minutes without updating Facebook, replying to a text or changing the channels, how can you expect a child to do it? Lead by example and schedule some time, 1 to 1.5 hours per night, to studies, together.

3.)Work Hard, Play Hard

Just as we look forward to and count down the days 'til its Friday', so too can--and should--your child(ren). School is school and its an important requirement as much as its a nuisance in America for each of us. It takes a very short period of time to amaze us and let us down, but that's not for  you or I to fix, as much as it is our requirement to work within the educational system and move on with life for the sake of our children. One thing you want to do is establish a routine that says, we work hard, Monday through Thursday and Fridays, we take the night off! I encourage my parents (as well as utilize) the attitude and approach to learning that says, we study every night, contrary to whether your child has homework or not--there are a ton of things that can be learned every night as follow-up), Monday through Thursday and Friday is our NIGHT OFF! No books, no studying, no homework, nothing...just relax and celebrate the end to another successful week of learning.

The list can go on and on, which it will in time, but for now, these are great starter points to begin implementing in your home. Remember, attitudes of others reflects the attitude of the leaders. If education is so important to you as the parent, then start learning with your child, together, learning from them as much as you share your experiences with them. Attitude is critical to learning. The wrong attitude and the best teacher will still produce poor results. A great attitude and poor teacher will produce poor and limited results as well. A willing child and a willing parent, can learn and master anything--together. It starts with a desire to learn, is carried over in the attitude and willingness to learn and it comes to fruition with attempt.

As I tell my students: "You are never wrong if you try, even when you answer incorrectly. You are wrong for not trying."

Bobby Ozuna

Literacy. Creativity. Learning.