The Study Lounge is going virtual with mini tutoring sessions and offering 10 tips on distance learning in advance of its planned opening this summer at the Delray Marketplace.

The 15-minute mini-tutoring sessions are being offered in a package of four sessions for $75 and can be done via Facetime or Zoom.

The 4,000-square-foot Study Lounge will offer a variety of study and social spaces, from small study rooms and classroom style settings, to couches and communal. A café area will provide light meals, snacks and drinks. Danish Kurani, a specialist in education spaces, designed the interior.

“The Study Lounge is set to be a vibrant and welcoming environment that encourages positive socializing while creating a safe haven for students to gather, complete homework and receive tutoring assistance as needed,” said Holly Steamer, president and co-founder. She has 20 years of experience in education.

Roaming tutors will assist with homework and school projects, and several classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions are planned to help with subject-specific matters and SAT test preparation.

The Study Lounge will be open Sunday to Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Memberships are $350 per month with no contract, $315 a month with a year commitment and $3,500 annually when paid in advance.

The Study Lounge is planning a variety of social programs during the week and weekend—from dinner/game nights and afternoon movies, to art and yoga classes to engage and entertain. Seminars will tell parents how to best support their children’s education habits.

“A combination of educational programming and social activities will be offered in a dynamic atmosphere to better students’ lives in multiple facets and serve as a pillar of the community, furthering education and child betterment,” said Duke Steamer, vice president, co-founder and CFO.

Distance learning tips

Here are Holly Steamer’s 10 tips for distance learning:

• Get out of your PJ’s: This may sound harsh, but you must. Keep up the normalcy as much as you can when it comes to your morning routine. Don’t worry, PJ’s on the weekend are still allowed!
• Set a schedule and stick to it: For some of you, your school will dictate a schedule at least a few days a week. You still want to fill in the gaps for the downtime. Try to keep your regular bedtime, wake up time, mealtimes and homework time.
• Have lunch with friends: Everybody looks forward to lunch and you still can! Set up a Zoom meeting or other video app and hang out with your friends while you eat.
• Have a designated work area (and a play area too): As tempting as it might be to log into class from bed, don’t do it! Pick another spot to be your classroom and while you’re at it, a spot to do some creative stuff too.
• Keep your materials in one place: It’s good to be organized no matter where you are. No need to abandon your backpack now. If you don’t want to keep your stuff in there, grab a bin or designate a spot for books and supplies.
• Reach out to your teacher: If you need help, ask. It’s easier for a teacher to get a sense of understanding during a lesson by looking at the class. Distance learning makes it hard. If you don’t get something, ask. I guarantee you’re not the only one.
• Set other devices aside: You are probably going to need your laptop or tablet for distance learning, but put your phone aside during “class.” While you’re at it, shut off the TV and turn off notifications on your device. Trust me, you have plenty of time for social media and everything else.
• Get outside: Take the dog for an extra-long walk or just go for a stroll. Reconnect with nature and say hi to your neighbors (from six feet away … at least for now).
• Make time for some sort of physical education: Even if PE wasn’t in your original schedule, find time for some exercise. Airplay a yoga video, grab the weights from the garage or go for a run. There should be a balance between mental and physical engagement.
• Take advantage of down time to learn something new: Speaking of balance, not all mental activity has to be focused on schooling. If you ever said, ‘I’d love to try that if I had the time,’ well now you do. A shout out to YouTube for having a video on how to do anything you can think of. Origami? Knitting? Sign Language? Go for it!”