Why Temperament Awareness is Important for Tutors Often children who come for tutoring exhibit temperament traits that make classroom learning difficult. Tutors, because they work one-on-one, can adjust teaching style to temperament style. Thus, both learning and enjoyment increase. Activity Level Affects Classroom Learning High energy children need to move as they learn. This need […]
education
Tutoring Tips on Sensory Comfort
What does Sensory Comfort Mean? Sensory comfort refers to providing for student needs related to sounds, light, smells, textures, and tastes. Why Sensory Comfort is Important in a Tutoring Session Setting the stage for the best possible tutoring session involves helping the student become aware of his or her sensory environment. Sights or sounds that […]
Home Education with Help from a Tutor
More Parents Choose Home Education Many parents who would not have considered home education in the past do so now. Surprisingly, many parents indicate that time or scheduling informed their decision to homeschool. Students spend up to seven hours a day at school. Then they bring home one to two hours of homework. That leaves […]
Dyspraxia: Quick Tips for Tutors
What Does Dyspraxia Look Like? Dyspraxia comes from “praxis,” a Greek word describing the learned ability to plan and to carry out coordinated movements. Add “dys,” the Greek prefix meaning “bad,” and you get dyspraxia. It literally means bad sequential coordination. Dyspraxia looks like clumsiness, klutziness, and failure to think ahead. Recognizing Dyspraxia in Children […]
Twenty-four Questions to Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Ask the Right Questions Help your students learn to use the information they already have to problem-solve in new situations. Do this by asking questions. What can you do about that? Do you have some other ideas? What could you substitute for that? Do you see any advantages or disadvantages? When is the best time […]
ADHD or ACCD? (Active, Creative, Curious, Distractible)?
Is ADHD a Child Problem or a School Problem? Children who don’t sit still and work quietly at school often earn labels such as ADD or ADHD. A few children really do peg the unnaturally active meter, but in most cases, I believe the sedentary, indoors school setting carries most of the blame. Many children […]
Homework Support: Tutoring Tips
Homework is Not a Test Tutors find they are often engaged for homework support. Homework frustrates both student and parent. Parents may find it encouraging to understand that homework is not a test; it is a chance to practice a skill. The skillful tutor devises a way for the student to practice the skill and […]
Dyscalculia: Dyslexic Mathematics
Dyslexia Affects Math Learning Obviously, dyslexia affects how a student learns to read. But it also affects how a student learns mathematics! Testing may diagnose “dyscalculia.” Thankfully, I discovered a terrific resource for parents and teachers working with bright students who just don’t learn math in the traditional mold. Take a look at this Mind’s […]
Help! My Kid Hates School!
Dyslexia and ADHD Can Produce School Trauma When a student hates school, wise parents take notice. As an academic tutor, I find that most children who hate school exhibit dyslexia or ADHD. Both of these learning differences affect reading, writing, and math. This does NOT mean the children are defective! It does mean the classroom […]
Help! My Smart Kid is Flunking Third Grade!
The Third Grade Wall I’m a dyslexia tutor. I get most of my new students around third grade. Why? Because they hit the “third-grade wall.” The wall refers to what happens to bright curious kids with dyslexia when the learn-to-read stage of school ends and the read-to-learn expectations start. The wall shuts them out of […]