Does your child want to play the piano -- or the ukelele? Maybe he'd like to draw cartoons like Jim Davis of "Garfield" fame? TeachStreet.com presents a way to browse for your next French tutor or Kindermusik class.

TeachStreet went live about six weeks ago, and provides a matchmaking-style interface for users and teachers to connect. Katie Gruver, TeachStreet's operations manager, says the goal is to "help create more interesting and informed communities, and a way for people to meet online so they can meet up offline."

Education's a big deal in Seattle, where half the population over age 25 possesses a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And because -- what else are you gonna do with all this rain?

Spanish, guitar lessons, cooking, jewelry-making and parenting are some of the most popular searches right now on TeachStreet, Gruver says.

She adds that they'd like TeachStreet to act as an alternative to Craigslist and a complement to the parent networks. For example, if you'd like to take postnatal yoga, the site provides access to citywide information and feedback on different options.

The site is still coming together, and will be more complete as instructors and users add data and experiences. But it's a great idea, and it definitely fills a void in the class-o-sphere.

Gruver says that they're seeking feedback right now on the site, hoping parents will take it for a test-view and let them know the types of classes or tutoring we're looking for, the decision-makers and decision-breakers when deciding on classes or a teacher (cost? distance?), and anything that makes the site easier to use.

Send your thoughts to info@teachstreet.com, or just play around with it for a while. I liked the fact that I could find independent teachers, and unusual subspecialties -- whether beekeeping or talking to kids about the birds and bees.

Contact Lora at littlekidsbigcity@nwsource.com, read past entries at http://littlekidsbigcity.com.

 

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