Step 1
Listen & map the landscape
We start with a low-pressure conversation and a quick academic check-in: current grades, executive function habits, and how your student feels about school right now.
About Roots of Reason
Where curiosity, confidence, and rigor meet
Roots of Reason is a small, neuroscience-informed tutoring program serving East San Jose. We help students who are tired, overwhelmed, or bored by school rebuild a sense of competence & direction—without burning them out on worksheets.
Our Philosophy
Why “Roots of Reason?”
The name comes from how learning actually feels: messy, personal, and rooted in a student’s lived experience—not just what’s on the test next Friday.
Roots are where understanding begins. For a student, those roots might be a favorite game, a family story, a frustration with school, or a private curiosity they’re not sure is “smart enough” to share yet.
Reason is both purpose and direction. It’s the “why” that turns curiosity into deliberate work: I want to understand this instead of I have to finish this.
Our job is to connect those two pieces: help students notice the roots they already have, and then build sturdy reasoning skills on top—reading, writing, math, and executive function that actually support their goals.
Short version: we don’t ask kids to choose between joy and rigor.
We build both, on purpose, in the same session.
About the Founder
Hi, I’m the human behind Roots of Reason.
Former classroom teacher, neuroscience nerd, and the person your kid will actually be working with when they show up to tutoring.
[Founder photo]
I’ve worked with students who love school, students who hate it, and students who quietly decided a long time ago that they “just aren’t smart.” Most of my work has been with multilingual, working-class, and neurodivergent kids who don’t see themselves in the way school is usually designed.
Roots of Reason grew out of a simple pattern I couldn’t ignore: students learned more—and kept the skills longer—when we built units around their interests, tied directly to the real academic work they needed to do now.
“The goal isn’t to make kids perform like machines. It’s to help them feel like the kind of person who can understand hard things, ask better questions, and actually use what they learn outside the worksheet.”
How It Works
What sessions actually look like
We blend direct support on current schoolwork with longer-term projects that build identity and motivation. No “mystery curriculum” parents can’t see.
Step 2
Pick a “hook” project
Together we choose a project that your student actually cares about—then connect it to the skills they need: writing, reading, problem solving, or math fluency.
Step 3
Build habits & evidence
Each week we track one or two clear wins: a finished assignment, a new strategy, a calmer test, or a “wow, I did that” moment. Parents get plain-language updates.
Who We Serve
Students who are capable—but stuck
Most Roots of Reason students are bright kids who are underperforming relative to their potential because of stress, boredom, executive function challenges, or a rough experience with school.
Upper Elementary
Grades 3–5
- Math fluency & number sense
- Reading comprehension & writing basics
- Gently building stamina & confidence
Middle School
Grades 6–8
- Organization, planning, & missing work
- Fractions, pre-algebra, & multi-step problems
- Identity: “I’m not just bad at school.”
Early High School
Grades 9–10
- Algebra foundations & writing for real classes
- Balancing school, work, and home responsibilities
- Figuring out what comes after “just getting by”
Questions Parents Ask
Is Roots of Reason a good fit?
Not every student needs this kind of tutoring. Here are a few quick answers to help you decide.
Do you follow school curriculum?
Yes. We work directly with current assignments & standards so support shows up in grades and confidence—not just on separate worksheets.
Is this only for “advanced” students?
No. Many students we work with are behind in at least one area. The common thread is that they’re willing to show up honestly and try something different.
How do I get started?
Reach out using the contact form with a short note about your student. We’ll set up a free consult to see whether we’re a good fit and what kind of schedule makes sense.
Ready to talk? Get in touch here and we’ll follow up with simple next steps.