There comes a point in a child’s education when they learn something their parents don’t know. For example, long division! How is a parent supposed to help when they don’t know how to do it themselves?
Your child’s coding education is another area where this may come up. If your son or daughter has expressed interest in coding, you are likely to seek out an expert who can help. The goal of this article is to compare two of the top companies providing tutors for kids coding: Juni Learning vs. Breakout Mentors.
Importance of coding at a young age
There are numerous benefits for kids learning to code — not even considering the benefit of a future career. It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, going beyond just learning a programming language.
However, not all types of learning are equally effective. An introduction in a summer camp or school can be wonderful, but short term. An afterschool program or online tutorial can take kids step by step through code, however might not challenge them to move from beginner to intermediate. Personalized learning is excellent for becoming independent with a child’s coding abilities.
Personalized learning makes coding education engaging for children.The goal of personalized learning is to generate interest for years to come, not force them to do something they don’t enjoy. Here are the core reasons:
Personalized Pace
Personalized 1-on-1 coding lessons allow students to learn at their own pace, fostering growth without limitations imposed by traditional classroom settings. It is important to adjust to each student, striking the right balance between challenge and support to keep them engaged.
Pressure-Free Learning
Creativity flourishes when students are given the freedom to explore their interests without constraints, enabling them to discover and innovate. With guidance from the right instructor, kids can bring their ideas to life and make projects they can proudly showcase. This approach ensures tangible progress and a sense of accomplishment with each session.
Convenient Learning
Learning is made convenient with flexible scheduling options, whether virtually or in-person, allowing students to thrive in environments that suit them best. It is very tough on parents when a course is at a tough time across town. Often at-home learning is more convenient, and many families like the option of holding classes on weekends.
Learn more in our article: Why Personalized 1-on-1 Programming Lessons Are Ideal For Kids.
Juni Learning vs. Breakout Mentors at a Glance
When selecting a coding provider, it’s crucial to make the right choice. Today, we’ll discuss two great options, Breakout Mentors and Juni Learning. These organizations are two of the longest running and most popular for 1-on-1 learning.
Below is a table for a side-by-side look at Juni Learning and Breakout Mentors. Then later in the article we’ll break it down and explain in more detail.
Criteria | Breakout Mentors | Juni Learning |
---|---|---|
Subjects | Coding Fundamentals, Computer Science, Girls Coding Academy, USACO Competitive Programming, and Machine Learning. | Broad spectrum of STEM, Math, and Coding courses. Plus Finance & Investing, and Communications courses. |
Ages | Late elementary to high school. | Early elementary to high school. |
Pricing | Starts at $85 per hour. | Starts at $82.50 per hour. |
Standard format | Weekly 90 minute session with flexibility to skip occasionally without rescheduling. | Weekly 50 minute session with rescheduling tools (might be with a different instructor). |
Curricula | Uniquely tailored to individual needs. Hands-on projects with a lot of room to customize and jump around based on student skill and interests. | In-house developed, student-paced curriculum. Hands-on projects with clear progression through various courses and programming languages. |
Mentors | Engineering students at prestigious universities like Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and more. | Students at prestigious universities like UIUC, BYU, UC San Diego, University of Texas, and more. |
Set up | Online with the option to do face-to-face sessions. | Exclusively online sessions. |
Comprehensive Comparison: Juni Learning vs. Breakout Mentors
Subjects Provided
Breakout Mentors provides personalized coding mentorship with specialized tracks like Coding Fundamentals, Computer Science, Girls Coding Academy, USACO Competitive Programming, and AI Machine Learning for middle to high school students. There is less separation for courses by different coding languages, although they typically offer Python, Java, and Scratch.
In contrast, Juni Learning offers a broad spectrum of STEM, Math, and Coding courses, encompassing Scratch, Python, Java, Web Development, AI, and C++. For example, there are many levels of Python programming before students get tracked into a new area. Plus, they offer non-STEM courses like Finance & Investing and Communications.
Ages
Both Breakout Mentors and Juni Learning offer coding for a wide age range of students. Breakout Mentors starts in late elementary school and has advanced focus options for high school students. Juni Learning starts in early elementary school and goes through high school as well.
Curriculum
Breakout Mentors offers several curriculum tracks including Coding, Computer Science, USACO Competitive Programming, and AI Machine Learning. Each of these use a combination of the best publicly available resources and resources created by Breakout Mentors. The goal is to tailor the learning to each student’s individual interests and abilities, not move everyone through the exact same projects at the same speed.
In contrast, Juni Learning presents an in-house developed, student-paced curriculum, ensuring a personalized approach guided by expert educators. It is project-based and more tracked than Breakout Mentors: you know exactly what projects are coming next and what focus the student will move to after the current unit.
Set-Up
Juni Learning exclusively offers online sessions. Breakout Mentors is similar, with the majority of their students meeting online. However, they also have the option to meet face-to-face at the college campus for students who live nearby (only at Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA, University of Texas, and University of Washington).
Mentors
Breakout Mentors has highly skilled mentors hailing from prestigious universities like Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and more.
See some sample mentor profiles here.
Similarly, Juni Learning features instructors from prestigious universities as well. Looking at their employees on LinkedIn, top schools include UIUC, BYU, UC San Diego, University of Texas, and more.
Pricing
Breakout Mentors is slightly more expensive per hour and requires more hours each month. It starts at $85 per hour for their most frequent students. Juni Learning starts at $82.50 per hour.
Choose Breakout Mentors for More Personalized (Including Advanced) + Dedication to Coding
Breakout Mentors is the more personalized option. This might fit better for students who have a particular interest, learn quickly, or come in with a lot of experience. It might also fit better for students who are more creative or unsure if coding is for them, since the mentor has leeway to adjust the approach.
Breakout Mentors prides themselves on the stability provided by long term mentors at elite universities. This also means that advanced students doing USACO or AI Machine Learning are able to continue to be challenged at the perfect pace.
Choose Juni Learning for More Structure + Wider Choices of Courses
Juni Learning has a more structured curriculum and is an excellent choice for parents of coders who want to know exactly what their child is learning when. Their sessions are 50 minutes long, so a great choice for families with packed schedules or kids just trying coding for the first time. They also feature a sophisticated approach to rescheduling conflicts and substitute instructors if needed.
Furthermore, Juni Learning is excellent for families that want more than just coding and computer science. If you also want math enrichment or exposure to categories like investing, it may be beneficial to do it all through one provider.
The Verdict: What to choose?
To make an informed decision, schedule a call with representatives from both programs to discuss your child’s specific requirements. Initiate your child’s coding journey on the right path today!
Come Experience Breakout Mentors
This article provided a quick overview of two top kids coding providers. We might be a little biased at Breakout Mentors, but our track record since 2011 talks for itself!
Over the years we have spoken to hundreds of parents who have bounced around from summer camps, coding centers, and online tutorials. They were glad they finally found the 1-on-1 personalized approach that can keep their child challenged over months and years.
Speak to us today and let’s discuss your goals. Book a free phone consultation with Breakout Mentors to kickstart your child’s coding adventure.