From Primary to Secondary School: The big step!

May 15th, 2012 by Sara

The move from primary school to secondary school is a big step for your child. The secure and perhaps small environment of primary school where your child may feel like a big fish in a small pond will suddenly be exchanged for a large school building that can seem quite intimidating to many children.

The transition from primary to secondary school can also be a difficult time for parents too. You may be worried about the school your child will be attending and wonder if they will be able to cope with so many changes. New friends, new subjects and perhaps a new travel route too, are just some issues many children worry about.

Here are a few tips to help you and your child overcome some common concerns.

  • As a parent it is vital to be positive and up-beat about the change, try not to pass your anxiety to your child.
  • Set aside an “exciting” day with your child to buy all necessary equipment your child will need for their new school.(i.e. school uniform, PE kit, stationary etc.)
  • Make sure you and your child have visited the new school- most primary schools will arrange visits to secondary schools but if this is not the case with your primary school, arrange a visit yourself well before the new school term begins.
  • Parents should encourage children to be independent. If your child has to travel alone to school, make sure they are aware of road safety issues, bus routes and timetables.
  • Some children will be quite worried about starting secondary school, be sympathetic but remind them that all the new children will be feeling the same.
  • Once your child has started secondary school, keep an eye on things while he is settling in. Talk to your child everyday about his new subjects, new friends and teachers. Show a real interest in what your child has to say.
  • Your child will be given more homework at secondary school so they must learn to organise their time so that homework is completed when requested. Ensure your child has a quite place to work.

Some children will have encounter difficulties a few weeks after starting their new school. Watch out for the following symptoms:

  • Lower self-esteem.
  • Difficulty managing their time.
  • Fears about new social situations.
  • Increased academic stress.
  • Not wanting to go to school or frequently “sick”.

If you recognise any of above symptoms, talk to your child’s teacher and also to your child. If the problem appears to be academic stress or low self-esteem, consider finding a private tutor who can help find a solution to your child’s individual needs and offer ongoing support.

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Why Desire Still Matters: Loving What you’re learning and Learning What you Love

May 8th, 2012 by Sara

Many modern students look at higher education primarily as a means to an end. If you ask any student on a college campus why they’re there, chances are they’ll tell you it’s because they want to improve their qualification for a job, preferably one that includes status and monetary value. Although financial stability and greater opportunities in the job market are certainly concepts that are worth justifying an education, having a sincere thirst for learning will often take students much farther than these basic gains. Keep in mind, however, these passions will be different for everyone, and sometimes they’re not always best-suited for a traditional academic environment.

Understanding the Diversity of Academic Passions

The only way to truly understand why personal passion is necessary for academic success is to also understand that college will require a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Without a true desire to learn and follow their passions, students likely won’t be motivated to put forth the effort required to succeed. When the general public realizes that passion comes in a different form for everyone, perhaps the idea of applying these passions to an academic setting will be more encouraged.

Not everyone will be set up for success by going the same route in academia. In fact, some experts would argue that spending top dollar for even a community college education isn’t a particularly good investment for someone whose passion is to become an automobile mechanic or a flight attendant. The value of the investment of college can only be properly weighed in respect to a student’s true passion. For example, a student with a passion for literature may choose to take the more practical route by choosing a business degree program instead because of the fear that a literature focus won’t win a job interview.

Discovering Your Passion

Some students claim they “always knew” they wanted to follow such-and-such career path, but for most the answer won’t come as a powerful revelation. At the time when most students are expected to start thinking about college, they are only in the latter half of their teen years. This is a pretty young age to be expected to have all of the answers about passions and what would be the most successful route to take in academia.

The concept of discovering your passion sounds complicated, because it is. In fact, your passions are likely to evolve as you grow and learn different things anyway. So, although you may have assumed that your passion was for economics, taking a required English course may cause you to realize that your true passion lies with literature instead of within the science of money.

According to Julie Feinerman of WetFeet, one of the best ways to discover your passion is by trying out internships in college to determine whether or not a real-world application of your passions is what you expected. So if you are looking to obtain a Business degree, but your true passion lies within creative writing and literature, don’t be so quick to turn your back on it. Literature helps students to analyze, problem solve and develop the ability to uncover patterns, motifs and the human psyche, which could make you the perfect candidate for becoming a lawyer or business owner.

Learning What You Love

Some experts would argue that learning can’t even be properly accomplished without the learner’s genuine love for the subject. For example, think about the last thing you learned that stuck with you and determine why you were able to absorb this information in particular. Then think about all of the information you were taught throughout your education and determine which subjects seem to have been more easily retained in your mind. Practicing this exercise is an effective way of discovering your passions because true learning–the kind that sticks– only really occurs when you have a deep personal interest in the subject at hand.

About the author: Derrick Cruise is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. He specializes in education, technology, and health articles. Follow him on Twitter @DerrickCruise2

 

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Bilinguals: 2 languages = 2 personalities?

May 2nd, 2012 by Sara

Learning a second language both builds on the first language and consolidates it but there is a Czech proverb that says “Learn a new language and get a new soul”

Bilinguals have often reported they feel and act differently when they speak in another language. Realistically, bilinguals don’t have a second personality but adopt a shift in attitudes and behaviours, depending on the context and/or situation in which they are using the language.

Think of the following situation. The way you speak and act when talking to your best friend will be very different from the way you would speak to your boss or a complete stranger! Certainly your behaviour and attitude will differ, even though the language is the same. The same concept applies to bilinguals – they adapt to the culture, context and situation they are interacting with.

It is also very common for bilingual people to alternate their languages during a conversation because expressing their thoughts or feelings in one language seems easier than another. It has also been suggested that bilinguals report more “tip of the tongue” (TOT) failures than monolinguals because they experience between-language interference at semantic and/or phonological levels, or because they use each language less than a monolingual uses a single language.

I speak Spanish and English fluently and have been told by English speaking friends that I sound excited, agitated and generally over enthusiastic when I speak Spanish! However, my Spanish friends and family tell me that I sound cool, relaxed and formal when I speak English. I also admit to TOT failures in certain situations. (technically known as failure to retrieve the correct word!)

We all know the advantages of being bilingual but recent data from researchers in the US claim that bilingualism is a form of brain training that fine-tunes the mind. Lab tests with biological evidence revealed that speaking two languages profoundly affects the brain and changes how the nervous system responds to sound. Research studies in the 1990s confirmed that students who do successfully complete bilingual instruction perform better academically.

First Tutors have many bilingual language teachers that can help you master the language of your dreams!

As always, we welcome your comments!

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Choosing Maths A-Level modules

April 25th, 2012 by Sara

Students who are confident they will pass their GCSE maths exams this year may already be thinking about taking A-level maths next year. Depending on your school and exam board, you may have the option to choose which modules to take.

A-level maths includes six modules, with each score of these modules contributing to the final grade. Most students compete three modules in one year, which will create an AS-level qualification in their own right and will complete the A-level course the following year with three more modules.

Below we have listed a few A-level maths modules to help you make the right decision.

Mathematics.

Main A-level maths that covers trigonometry and calculus but could include other concepts depending on the exam boards and other courses your school may offer. If you are thinking of studying maths at university, this is the course for you but it’s also useful for students wishing to take other courses such as science, engineering or economics.

Pure mathematics.

Pure and applied maths is also covered in the ordinary maths A-level course but if you are only interested in focusing on pure mathematics you may have the choice to take a pure maths course. Pure maths studies entirely abstract concepts with the trend towards meeting the needs of navigation, astronomy, physics and engineering to mention only a few.

Statistics

A-level statistics is about real world data, it includes concepts such as probability and estimation. Statistics is useful for business studies, economics or sociology although it’s probably not the best choice if you wish to study maths at university because it doesn’t contain any pure maths elements.

Mechanics

Considered to be one of the most demanding modules but if you are thinking of doing physics or engineering, the mechanics module is your best bet. You will learn the technique of mathematical modeling – turning a complicated physical problem into a simpler one that can be analyzed and solved using mathematical methods.

Use of mathematics.

A new course that might not be available at your school or perhaps only at AS level.

Use of mathematics doesn’t include pure maths elements but focuses mainly on statistics and algebra and their uses in the practical world. Good option for students who want to extend their study of mathematics beyond GCSE but who are more interested in its application than in theoretical ideas. This course is not suitable for students aiming to study mathematics or an engineering course at university but is an acceptable A-level for many other courses such as business studies, biology, geography or psychology.

Decision Mathematics

This involves the study of algorithms and other methods used to solve problems involving networks. Applications included in this course could entail the design of circuits on microchips for example.

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New reading test for primary school children.

April 18th, 2012 by Sara

In a couple of months time a new reading test for six-year-olds will be introduced that has fired much a debate between language experts and teaching unions.

The purpose of the check will be to confirm that all pupils have learned phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard. Children who do not reach this level should receive extra support from their school to ensure they can improve their decoding skills, and will then have the opportunity to retake the test.

Systematic Synthetic Phonics is a teaching method that helps children learn to read. It begins with teaching the letter sounds and then blending these sounds together to achieve full pronunciation of whole words.

The tests are expected to take five to ten minutes and according to the Department for Education will measure whether pupils have a good understanding of phonics which is the key to helping children to read.

Year 1 children will be asked to read 20 words and 20 made-up words such as “zog” or “vot” to their teachers. David Reedy, President of the UK Literacy Association said the inclusion of non-words would be counter productive since most six-year-olds expect to make sense of what they read. Mr. Reedy also added that the test was sending out the message that all words are decodable using phonics when they are not.

Teachers fear the test will be used in league tables in the near future, although schools minister Nick Gibb confirmed that synthetic phonics will not be compulsory in schools. Teachers agree that they should be trusted to use their judgement to use a range of techniques suited to their pupils.

Only 32% of pupils passed the National Phonics Check during the pilot phase.

The Department for Education said: “Standards of reading need to rise. At the moment around one in six children leaves primary school unable to read to the expected level.”

We welcome your comments!

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Gilad Atzmon and Sarah Gillespie playing at the Wenlock Poetry Festival 2012.

April 2nd, 2012 by Sara

The world famous jazz musician and composer Gilad Atzmon and brilliant jazz guitarist and vocalist Sarah Gillespie are to play at Wenlock Poetry Festival as well as running a Composition Workshop.

Gilad Atzmon is filling theatres and festivals all over the world and Sarah Gillespie has two critically acclaimed albums to her name. They are both very much in demand. And they will both be in Much Wenlock over the WPF2012 weekend of 13th-15th April!

Sarah (guitar and vocals) and Gilad (saxophone, clarinet and accordion) will be playing with Enzo Zirilli (Drums) and Ben Bastin (Bass) on Friday April 13th at 9.30 at The Edge Arts Centre. Tickets for this performance are now available.

As a bonus, Gilad and Sarah will also be sharing their love of words with everybody at a composition workshop on Saturday April 14th 11am-1pm, again at The Edge Arts Centre.

The workshop is open to everybody. No experience necessary. If you do play an instrument at any level bring it with you. If you don’t play an instrument then bring your voice and your hands to clap. Any percussion is welcome too. But the main requirement is enthusiasm and a love of words.

The workshop is in two halves – the first half deals with improvisation and the second half with song writing. You are likely to work in small groups and perform your latest composition at the end. Sarah arranges her sessions around the 12 Bar Blues tradition but the main focus is on an awareness of lyric writing and the musicality of words.

If you want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to share the creative experience with two experts in the world of jazz you can buy tickets from:

• The Edge Arts Centre Farley Road Much WenlockTF13 6NB

Tel: 01952 728911

• The WPF Box Office 23 Barrow St, Much Wenlock, TF13 6EN

Tel: 07969 253221

• Online at the WPF website www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org

We look forward to seeing you there! It will be an unforgettable three hours. Prices £20 for adults; £18 under 26; £8 for those in full-time education, aged 12+.

Find them on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4kOw2FvzcA

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Teaching and tutoring – A look at the differences.

March 27th, 2012 by Sara

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between teaching and tutoring? You may have not given it much thought but there are fundamental distinctions between a teacher and a tutor.

Teachers providing services in schools must have specified professional qualifications, however, private tutors are not required by law to have qualifications in the subjects they teach. It’s also true that many teachers supplement their day time job with private tuition so they are both teachers and tutors.

Let us take a look at the main differences between teachers and tutors.

Teachers

  • Teachers provide tuition to a large number of students, they are required to follow a standardized curriculum focused on specific academic standards. Their classroom should reach targets and this is done within a time limit.
  • A teacher must try and devise a method of teaching that fits most students.
  • Teachers will have to provide learning material that helps children with many different learning styles.
  • Teachers will adjust the pace to the classroom as a whole, if the majority of students have understood the information the teacher can move ahead.

Tutors

  • Tutors provide individual one to one tuition. They can tailor the lessons to the students’ learning style.
  • Tutors can present information in several different ways or methods to help the student grasp concepts.
  • Students often lead the way with tutors, they request help with specific tasks or assignments. Tutors help fill in the gaps.
  • Tutors reinforce what has been taught in the classroom.
  • Teachers teach a subject but tutors pay attention to the students individual needs.

A qualified teacher who perhaps charges a high hourly rate when providing one to one private tuition does not necessarily define the quality of lessons. Not all qualified teachers are naturally good tutors. The classroom environment is very different to home tuition. Tutors with few or no qualifications that have a  passion for the subject they teach – with time and experience can become excellent tutors.  In an ideal world, teachers and tutors should complement each other.

If you are looking for a tutor to supplement your child’s education we can certainly help. Take your time to browse tutor profiles, check out their feedback and feel free to contact as many tutors as you wish to discuss your child’s needs.

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Home schooling your child?

March 20th, 2012 by Sara

In the 19th century more children received education in the UK from home than in schools. Nowadays, most children attend school although recent data estimates there is an annual increase of 17% of children who are home schooled in this country.

Education from the age of five is a legal requirement in Britain, but there is no law that enforces children to attend school. However, all children must receive an “efficient full -time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude.”  There is no obligation to follow the national curriculum, sit exams, mark work or follow term times.

Nevertheless, if a local authority considers that a child is not receiving a suitable education it does have powers to oblige a child to attend school.

There are many different reasons why parents choose home schooling for their children. Here are some of the most common justifications.

  • Religious or philosophical reasons.
  • Parents were educated at home.
  • Child unhappy at school due to bullying.
  • Children with special needs.
  • Unable to obtain a place for their child in their school of choice.
  • Family live in a rural area.
  • Child’s ill health.


Help with home schooling.

You will need to think carefully about the kind of education you will be providing your child.  If you decide that you would like your child to follow the national curriculum you will most likely need external help. You may be capable of teaching your children at basic levels of education but if your child is going to take GCSE’s they will benefit from the help of a private tutor. This help could be ongoing or just to prepare your child for upcoming exams.

First Tutors have seen a gradual increase in requests from parents who provide home schooling. Many parents wish to have one tutor who can provide tuition in several subjects but this is not an easy task.  Many private tutors supplement their day time job as a teacher in a local school so they don’t have the time to provide lessons during the day. Other tutors may have the time but are not confident enough to teach more than 2 or 3 subjects. Another aspect to consider is commitment – finding a tutor that will commit to long term tuition (perhaps more than a year) is easier said than done.

Considering the above circumstances, we advise parents to search for tutors well in advance. You may find the perfect tutor for your child but he/she has no immediate availability (good tutors are booked up very quickly!) but you may be able to discuss long term tuition with the tutor starting at a later date, perhaps for the following term or year.

We can help you find private tutors for home schooling, feel free to contact as many tutors as you wish and take your time to discuss all your child’s tuition needs.

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Maths problems – dyscalculia.

March 13th, 2012 by Sara

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia comes from Greek and Latin which means: “counting badly“. The Greek prefix “dys” means “badly” and the Latin word Calculia comes from “calculare” which means “to count”.


Dyscalculia is considered to be a learning disability involving the inability to understand maths. Although maths disabilities can be a consequence of brain injury, (acalculia) the vast majority of children diagnosed with dyscalculia are known to be of genetic or developmental origin.

Statistics suggest that between 3 and 6% of the population suffer with Dyscalculia in the UK without suffering from any other learning disability (i.e. dyslexia)

Below are a few symptoms that may indicate that your child could possibly suffer from this disability.

  • Your child finds it hard to read an analogue clock.
  • You child reverses numbers: 54 for 45 or 124 for 421.
  • Difficulty with addition, subtraction and multiplication.
  • Confusion between left and right.
  • Inability to visualize mentally.
  • Difficulty keeping scores during games.
  • Your child has exceptional writing abilities but struggles with numbers in general.
  • Your child finds it hard to memorize mathematical concepts, rules or sequences.
  • Lack of concentration with intensive tasks.
  • Confusion over mathematical symbols: +, ÷, x for example.
  • Extreme phobia to maths and mathematical devices.


What help does a child with dyscalculia need?

Multi-sensory teaching methods.

Providing your child with additional supplies such as graph paper and coloured pencils can help your child tackle their maths problems. Using visual aids such as drawing pictures, providing coloured beads, coins or other small objects can also help your child with simple problem solving tasks such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Extra time.

Dyscalculia tends to be associated with a negative self-image as a learner of maths, so anything that builds confidence and self-esteem is likely to be helpful. A child with dyscalculia will not simply catch up on their own – they need extra help as soon as possible.

Most children that suffer with dyscalculia or any other learning difficulty will benefit from one to one private tuition. A tutor can analyse specific issues that your child encounters when tackling problem solving tasks and adapt the learning techniques accordingly. If you are looking for a tutor specialized in learning difficulties, choose our “special needs” field as subject to find a tutor in your local area.

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First Tutors cited in the BBC News Magazine!

March 5th, 2012 by Sara

The BBC News Magazine gave a mention to First Tutors this week,  in their article  “The great school place sausage machine.”

Although the article is centered on the difficulties and methods of entering a child into a good school, we would like to emphasize the main reasons why parents choose one to one private tuition.

Despite the credit crunch, First Tutors statistics reveal that private tutoring is on the increase with an international trend towards supplementary education in general. Many parents perceive their child’s education as fundamental and are willing to sacrifice other expenses if necessary.

Below are some of the most common requests we receive from parents.

  • Distractions.  Average children who struggle in overcrowded classrooms. Shy children find it hard to interact or ask questions in a large classroom.
  •  Lagging behind. Children who have fallen behind their peers and are not reaching the required standard to pass exams.
  • Confidence and self-esteem. Parents notice that their children are considerably capable but they have lost confidence, self-esteem and sometimes motivation too.
  • Learning difficulties.  Our petitions unmask a gradual increase from children suffering with dyslexia, dyscalculia and/or psychological disorders such as ADD and Aspergers Syndrome.
  • Key subjects . Supplementary tuition for maths has always been – and still is, the most demanded cry for help from children  at all levels. There has been an increase for English tuition at primary level too.
  • The bright child. Many parents choose private tuition to boost their child’s natural skills and to ensure their children stay motivated and focused.
  • Home schooling. We have seen a slight increase in requests from parents who have decided to home tutor their children.
  • Entrance exams. Parents who want their children to enter grammar school are discovering that the sooner they start their children with private tuition, the better. Rushing to find a tutor 8 weeks before entrance exams causes unnecessary pressure and stress on the children and family – which usually leads to failure.

Surprising results can be achieved by finding a suitable private tutor for your child. Our feedback proves this!

Click here to register with First Tutors, we invite you to contact as many tutors as you wish to discuss all your tuition needs.

 

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