A Parent's Blog About Parent Interests by our Tutoring Company

What if we could help improve self-confidence in children that would benefit them at school, on the playground and in the classroom?  What if this confidence went with them to university and helped them through their first job interview to land a successful job?  This is a common desire among parents and educators.  What if giving our kids confidence was as simple as a two minute exercise?

During a TED Talks event, Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard Business School, presented the concept of how our body language can have the ability to shape who we are. Cuddy explains how we can hold our bodies in a way that not only makes us “feel” powerful and confident, but we begin to act and become more self-confident people.

What does the research prove about improving self-confidence?

Amy Cuddy discovered certain “power poses” that can improve self-confidence like holding your arms wide and high above your head for two minutes, or sitting back with your hands behind your head and your feet up on the desk.  These types of poses are what we might imagine someone with power doing. People who tend to be more timid might choose to sit in a hunched over position, or fold their arms in front of them like they were trying to hide.

According to  Cuddy’s research, the people who did “power poses” for 2 minutes had lower cortisol levels and higher testosterone levels than they did before doing the “power poses.” Cortisol is a stress hormone and testosterone is the hormone that causes people to feel more confident and willing to take risks.  The people who did not do power poses, but rather posed in timid, inhibited positions actually had increased cortisol levels and lower testosterone levels.  These tests were done by taking saliva samples before and after the 2 minutes of posing.

How can educators improve their students’ self-confidence?

If power poses can improve the confidence of university students and adults, they can also help younger school aged children and adolescents as they go through the stresses of life.  Some children struggle with being shy or not wanting to participate in class discussions.  Other children may suffer from being bullied.  Older students may have test anxiety or social anxiety.  By teaching students how to practice “power poses,” they can also experience feeling more confident and will have lower stress levels when they are at school.

School districts throughout British Columbia predominantly run according to a traditional school calendar. There are some schools that have adopted the year round school schedule that consists of a shorter summer vacation with more frequent, shorter breaks spread throughout the year. There have been arguments for and against both schedules, but the main focus should be how to ensure that students are getting the most benefit from both of these systems.

Traditional Calendar Schools:

Originally the school year was set up so that children were released from school during the springtime for planting season and again during the autumn months so they could help their families during the harvest.

The traditional school calendar was developed in the early 1800s with the thought that children need to have a break from school in order to maintain the joy of childhood and to prevent children from being over stimulated, which could result in mental disorders. In Canada and the rest of North America, a traditional calendar for most schools has remained in place even today.

There are some people who believe that having too long of a summer vacation actually causes students to forget what they learned the previous year, resulting in students needing the first few months of the school year just to catch up to where they left off.

The Thought Behind a Year Round School Schedule:

Some school districts have implemented year-round school schedules. The thought behind year-round schooling is that the school year would be broken up by more frequent breaks. This schedule enables students to maintain a more regular schedule throughout the year with 6-9 weeks of school followed by a 2-4 week break with an extended break of 6 weeks during the summer. Students who attend year-round school still have the same amount of vacation as traditional calendar schools.

On the one hand it is important that students have the adequate time away from school to take a break, relax, enjoy the flexible hours of vacation to explore new hobbies and engage in childhood activities that create lifelong memories. On the other hand, we don’t want children to lose valuable knowledge during those long summer months.

How to bridge the learning gap between school breaks?

How can educators and parents ensure that children get the best of both worlds? Kids need their time off and they also need the proper brain stimulation that enables them to retain knowledge and be ready to learn when school is in session.

Regardless of whether your child attends a year-round school or one that operates according to the traditional school calendar, there is still the question of what to do during school breaks.  Here are some suggestions for how you can make the most of your child’s school breaks and summer vacations.

Summer learning opportunities

At home summer learning opportunities include getting your kids involved in summer reading activities or creative science activities.  Winter break, spring break and summer vacation can be fun and relaxing and still include educational activities.

Summer camps and summer learning programs

There are a variety of summer camps in British Columbia that are available through most school districts for children of all ages. Find a summer camp that matches your child’s interests or focuses on subject areas where your child needs extra help.

Summer tutoring sessions

Another great way to continue your child’s education during the summer months is to have regular tutoring sessions with a certified teacher tutor. This way they are ready to jump back into school when they return from their vacation. Students who struggle with math in school can work with a math tutor during school breaks in order to catch up to where they need to be.

All families are different and what works for one family may not be possible for another. Keep in mind that today’s world is full of new things just waiting to be discovered. There are always ways to turn even small things into learning opportunities. However your child spends this summer, be sure to include some activities that will contribute to your child’s ability to learn in and out of the classroom.

Raising teenagers can be a difficult, confusing and frustrating but it can also be exciting, rewarding and full of new experiences for parents and teenagers. The book, Parenting the Teenage Brain: Understanding a Work in Progress, is a great resource for parents, teachers and tutors who interact with teens on a regular basis.

This fascinating book, by Sheryl Feinstein, looks at the developing brain of teenagers and explains why adolescents behave the way they do and how adults can help foster teenagers’ growth and development during this crucial stage in life.

Feinstein uses different scientific studies that show the spike in neural activity that is going on in certain parts of the teenage brain. This period of growth in the brain allows adolescents to absorb information and develop new skills. It also affects how they think about certain things, changes in their emotional responses, decision-making skills, how they view themselves and even the consideration of how they are viewed by others.

Most teens don’t understand what changes are taking place in their minds and bodies, therefore, they can’t explain why they do or say certain things. You may try to talk to your child about their behavior or attitude but their response is full of anger and frustration or they may tell you to just leave them alone. You are not the only one who doesn’t understand your teenage child.They also don’t understand themselves.

Teens need structure and stability at home and in school. They also need good role models to look up to. Part of helping your child to succeed is being an active part of their lives. If your teenager is having a hard time, try to talk to them about it. If there is another adult, like your child’s tutor, who your child is comfortable opening up to, ask your tutor to spend time during tutoring sessions just talking with your child. Having a tutor who is a good role model can help your teenager learn how to cope with new situations. Your child should know that they are not alone, but are part of a team.

An interesting concept, which Feinstein points out in the book, is that during adolescence, certain skills are getting hard-wired into the brain. This means that whatever teens are doing during this crucial developmental period could possibly shape their brain for the rest of their lives. For example, if a teen spends their time reading, studying, exercising, playing musical instruments etc., these parts of the brain will maintain these skills. If they are sitting around all day watching TV then their brain will not be able to develop and lock in other functions of the brain. This is referred to as the “use it or lose it” principle.

Knowing that if teens don’t use certain parts of the brain could cause them to lose the ability to develop those areas later in life is not just good for parents and teachers to know, but this principle can motivate teens to use their brains while they are young. If teens are helped to see that doing homework, reading, tutoring sessions, and sports activities will have a positive impact on their adult lives, this will motivate them to use their brain while it is still developing.

This book is full of helpful examples of how to effectively communicate with teens, parenting tips on how to make it through the teenage years, scientific facts to help adults understand typical teen behaviors, book club discussion questions and more. The more adults understand the developing teenage brain the more they will be able to accept and adapt to these changes and help facilitate this life-changing transition from teen into adulthood.

When looking for a tutor it is easy to assume that all tutors can provide the same services. If this were true then finding the cheapest tutor would be the way to go. However, this is not always the case and not all tutors are equally trained or qualified. In fact, tutors often have varying levels of education and teaching experience, thereby creating a wide range in terms of quality. If you are looking for someone who can help your child learn in an effective way with lasting results you should consider hiring a tutor who is a certified teacher.

Why should you hire a certified teacher as a tutor?

Certified teachers are familiar with the grade level requirements and the curriculum taught in schools. Your teenage neighbor might have the top Math and Science scores at their school, but they probably are not trained to teach the material in the most effective way. Certified teachers, on the other hand, are not only knowledgeable in different subject matters, but also have the necessary teaching skills to help students learn the subject and make noticeable progress.

Teachers care about your child’s success

A certified teacher views tutoring as a way to give students the extra instruction and attention they need in order to develop proper skills. Ultimately, as a result of the tutoring sessions, students should be able to continually excel in school, and not just to pass a test or get a good grade on a paper. Teachers who are tutors want their students to succeed in life and not just in school.

Certified teacher tutors create personalized lesson plans for each tutoring session

Lesson plans in the classroom have to be created for an entire class full of different students at varying levels. Rather than merely presenting information in a general way, as they would in a classroom setting, teachers who are tutors get to focus on one individual student. They have the flexibility to spend more time on areas that the student is struggling with. They can stop at any time during a tutoring session and work with the student on particular areas until they master the concept.

Certified teachers apply professional techniques during tutoring sessions

Certified teachers are able to perform professional assessments to determine the student’s level of understanding on particular subjects. Knowing where the student is at allows teachers to develop appropriate lesson plans for that student. Teachers are trained to keep detailed records of their student’s assessment scores so they can easily track their progress and ensure that they attain their goals.

Certified teachers are familiar with learning disabilities

Teachers are trained to recognize learning disabilities and can thereby adapt teaching methods and use various strategies to enable students to learn according to theirlearning styles. If a student has a limited attention span, such as someone with ADHD or other behavioral disorders, the teachers will know how to facilitate learning during tutoring sessions. Teachers have experience with behavior management so they can use certain techniques to help the student focus during tutoring sessions and can even teach the student to apply these focusing techniques at school.

Benefits of having a Certified Teacher as a tutor:

Tutors spend regular one-on-one time with a student, which is not usually possible in a classroom setting. A teacher who gets to spend personal time with the student will get to know the student’s specific strengths, needs, learning styles as well as their attention span and capacity. Being able to focus on developing specific needs during one-one-one tutoring sessions will have more effective results than being in a large classroom setting.

Hiring certified teacher tutors might be more expensive than hiring a high school or university student. However, having a tutor who is a certified teacher can make a huge difference in the quality and effectiveness of tutoring sessions. The quality of the tutor will show in the advancement and progress of the student. Furthermore, certified teachers can also offer advice to parents on activities to do with the student that will benefit their education and make tutoring sessions even more profitable.

In order to help your child succeed, you and your child’s tutor should spend the time to identify what types of learning styles your child has. Together you can encourage them and work with them during tutoring sessions to use study methods that complement their particular learning styles.

All children are unique. Not one has the exact same personality, likes or dislikes.  When it comes to schoolwork, children maintain their differences in terms of learning styles. We often expect that all children should learn in the same way.  Traditional educational systems can make some children appear to be excellent learners, while others seem to struggle. This may not reflect your child’s abilities. Helping children recognize their particular learning styles could help them succeed in school. Your tutor can create lessons that bring out the best in your child’s abilities if they are aware of your child’s learning style.

Different Learning Styles to know for tutoring sessions:

Spatial/Visual Learning Style:

Learn best by seeing and observing. They learn well with pictures, charts, diagrams and color-coding. The visual learner may benefit from using flash cards for memorization. Spatial learners tend to be creative and artistic as well.

Audio/Musical Learning Style:

Receiving information aurally is usually the easiest way for an Audio learner. Most children with this learning style also have musical tendencies or abilities. Putting information into tunes or songs can help with memorization and learning.

Verbal/Linguistic Learning Style:

This type of learner uses words to understand the subject matter. They learn well in lecture settings, taking notes and reading subject material. They may want to talk through a problem or write it down in order to get a clear understanding of the subject.

Physical/Kinesthetic Learning Style:

Some people learn best by doing. Even if they read about it or hear about it, the understanding will click when they can go through the motions themselves. Using manipulatives and hands on activities as well as role-playing can be helpful for the more physical learners.

Logical/Mathematical Learning Style:

This type of learner likes to take information and figure out how and why. Some people refer to this learning style as Mathematical because these types of learners often excel in Math and Science. They easily understand number problems and are able to do quick mental calculations.

Social/Interpersonal Learning Style:

These types of learners enjoy social interaction. They may be willing participants in class discussions and group projects. They are able to relate to and empathize with others. Social learners may benefit from study groups rather than independent study.

Solitary/Intrapersonal Learning Style:

Some children learn best on their own. They may need to be able to focus in an environment free of noise and distractions. They may be reluctant to join class discussions even if they have relevant information or know the answer to the question.

All of these learning styles are not distinct or separate.  Many people fall into more than one category.  Some people learn a particular way pertaining to one particular subject and another way for a different subject.

Regardless of the learning styles that your child may have, there are ways to help them succeed in school. By determining what type of learner they are, you and your tutor can help them to use certain study strategies that will help them do their school work in the way that best fits their particular learning style.