CHRISSY OHLINGER / Special to the PVT Nancy Irwin, left, and Kara Curto have opened the C.H.A.O.S. office at West and First streets in Pahrump. Advertisement

Most parents know the frustration of watching their children struggle with at least one subject in school, or just wish there was more to offer their child academically than what is available in Pahrump.

Now there is a new alternative to help students with their academics. C.H.A.O.S. opened its doors to new students March 3. It is a study club dedicated to "assisting students with assigned homework, or to assisting students who are having difficulty with a subject."

Students will be able to do homework, study and get assistance if they are having difficulty.

C.H.A.O.S. stands for Children's Homework Alternative of Studying and is located at 601 West St., to the left of MasterTech. It's the space with a yellow door. The Tutor group's slogan is "Take the CHAOS out of homework."

Advisors "help students, organize materials, check homework agendas, assist in understanding subject matter, and prepare for tests by quizzing (students) on the material."

Resources include monitored Internet access, research materials and resource books, educational activities and fun games for kids to play.

It is open Monday through Friday after school, from 2 to 6 p.m. This summer's program is still being worked out and will incorporate more daytime activities.

The study group is focused on classes K-8. Primary objectives include meeting school homework requirements, but Kara Curto and Nancy Erwin are happy to make adjustments to individualize their curriculum.

Curto and Erwin really appreciate input from parents and potential clients about what kind of additional programs they would like to see.

Classes that will definitely be offered in addition to homework help are art, beginning sign language and technology classes.

The art classes will range in media types and the sign language classes will be taught with help from members of the deaf community in Pahrump. Technology classes will be in conjunction with MasterTech.

Curto and Erwin both agree that "our passion is kids." Both ladies are parents and have outside experience working with kids.

Qualifications and experience between the two are extensive.

Curto is about halfway through her coursework to complete her bachelor's degree in education from Great Basin College. She has to complete first aid and CPR, and she is a certified child development advocate. She will tutor geography, history, social studies and science.

Erwin worked at Community Christian School in the San Francisco Bay area. At the school, she worked with many kids with dyslexia and learning disorders. Her specialty is math, and she can help students with their math homework through algebra.

Both ladies are knowledgeable about the special education needs of children and are familiar with the public school system of individualized education plans, or IEP's.

"You have to know how their brain works in order to understand them," says Erwin about special education students.

Curto likes to "keep the family atmosphere" and assures parents that all employees will pass a full background check.