Tag: online biology tutor

Top 5 tips for preparing your child for the new school year 2022/2023

Top 5 tips for preparing your child for the new school year 2022/2023

Top 5 tips for preparing your child for the new school year 2022/2023

The new academic year is not far away, with August flying by at a rate of knots, lots of parents are beginning to think about the new school year.  For many children it will be an exciting time, meeting up with friends, getting to know their new teacher, exploring their new classroom or school (if moving to secondary).  But for some children returning to school can be a nervous, anxiety inducing experience. So to help smooth the transition back to school here are 5 top tips to help you prepare your child for the new school year.

        1. Get back into a routine before September arrives.

Around a week before school starts back, start setting you and your child/children’s alarm clocks for the school day, get dressed and have breakfast as if they are going to school.  Even if they then watch TV or do whatever they normally do in the holidays afterwards.  This will help to set their body clocks, and ease the stress of early starts in September.

        2. Re-establish your homework routine

I know that sounds too early, but in the long run it will save you time and stress to sort out before the homework arrives home. Create your routine with your child; allow them to be involved in deciding what time, day and where they will complete their homework.  This gives them some responsibility for their homework and by allowing them to help make the decision; they are more likely to complete their homework at the agreed time.  If you want to know more about how to stop homework becoming a battle, then download my free guide ‘The top 5 ways to solve homework battles today!’ https://www.subscribepage.com/serenityeducationandtutoring

       3. Practice Routes if your child is travelling to school independently

This tip is more likely to apply to Secondary aged children.  If your child is travelling to school independently, practice the route with them.  Which bus, do they need to get, which bus stop do they catch it from near your home, which stop it drops them off at school. Make sure your practice any transport routes more than one, so your child is confident in getting to school on time.   Have a plan for what happens if they miss the bus home? Knowing in advance of a situation can help your child stay calm if something goes wrong.

       4. Encourage friendships

If your child is worried about friendships, help them to build strategies to approach new classmates.  How could they start a conversation or join a group.   If your school has a Facebook group/WhatsApp group arrange meetups in advance of the new school year, even if they are not in the same class as your child.  It could help your child to know there is friendly face they can seek out at break times.  Once school starts encourage your child to join in an extracurricular activity clubs/group. Some friendships can last a lifetime, bringing confidence and happiness.

        5. Communication is key

If your child is feeling nervous about the new school year, try to reassure them by focusing on the positives.  What are they looking forward to on their first day back?  Talk about who they could ask for help if they experience any problems – their teacher, their friends etc.  Remind them they can always speak to you about their thoughts and feelings. 

You could introduce your child to mindfulness, which means paying attention to what’s here in the present moment (our surroundings and also our internal world of mind and body).  It includes kindness, to ourselves and also to others.  For our children this means we can:

  • Validate their feelings and normalise them. All feelings are normal, some don’t feel very nice but they are all normal.
  • Empathise and understand that they are feeling worried. “This is a worrying time, change can be scary.”
  • Share times when we felt worried ourselves.
  • Remember a time when they were worried before but got through it.
  • Think up some positive thought statements and write them down. Your child can say these statements to themselves if they are feeling wobbly. “I am brave!”, “I am choosing to have an amazing day!” “My challenges help me to grow!”
  • Also learn some mindfulness breathing practices. This brings our mind into the present moment. The breath is a powerful tool for settling worry.
  • To learn more about mindfulness and how it can help school transitions please read our guest blog from the wonderful Carol the Founder of Chatterminds.
  • Visit chatterminds.com, or join Carol’s facebook group – Mindful living for ‘imperfect’ parents 

However your child feels about school, we hope these tips for preparing them for the new school year will enable a smooth transition.  Our biggest tip of all is communication, it continues to build that bond between you and your child, giving them the confidence to believe they can try and succeed at new experiences and subjects.

Whether your child needs support or a challenge, at Serenity we can help develop their confidence and skills.

If you feel that your child would benefit from tuition, please get in touch today to discuss your needs, requirements or to book your free half hour consultation.  You can also book your free consultation here.

Contact me on 07717845007

email: nicola.sanders_tutor@outlook.com

or visit https://www.serenity-education-and-tutoring.co.uk/contact-me/

Introducing The benefits of Online Group Tuition Lessons

Introducing The benefits of Online Group Tuition Lessons

Introducing The Benefits of Online Group Tuition Lessons

Welcome to the February 2022 edition of our blog.  This month I will be looking at the benefits of online group tuition lessons.  As this is something we at Serenity Education & Tutoring will shortly be offering (depending upon numbers).

Why Online Tuition?

Since March 2020, I have been tutoring exclusively online; I have seen the impact and benefits it has for both students and parents alike first hand.

These include:

 ·     No travelling, therefore no delays due to traffic, changing weather or any of the issues that have arisen and resulted in me being delayed during the past 2 years.

 ·     Location is no longer a problem; I am now able to teach students from across the UK and in fact worldwide.

 ·     Home comforts, students can complete tuition in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home.

 ·    Access to greater number of digital resources, rather than my resource bag which is rather limited in what I can physically carry to face to face sessions.  I have access not only to my entire digital library, but also to other online resources.  Including science simulations, and manipulatives (cubes, shapes, fractions etc.), making it easier to share resources tailored to the students’ needs, therefore enhancing learning. With work completed in the lesson and homework set (when requested), all available online on the students own bitpaper, which they can access at any time.

 ·     Immersive experience, I have found that every student who has tried online was impressed with the range of tools and enjoyed what the technology has to offer.  With students learning being rapid and extremely effective.

Why Group Tuition?

Often when parents think of online group tuition, they worry that there will be too many children, so their child won’t get the individual attention they deserve and need. 

At Serenity we will only be offering (from March 2022) small group tuition with a maximum of 6 students at a time, helping to make tuition more accessible and affordable in order to benefit more students.  Thus giving children the opportunity to receive the individual attention they need to support their learning. 

There are numerous benefits to group tuition, including the enjoyment children get when working and learning with their peers. 

How does Group Tuition benefit students?

The provision of group tuition enables students to learn collaboratively, successfully solving
problems together.  This can greatly enhance a student’s confidence in their own ability, enabling them to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar situations/problems, in the security of the group.  When amongst peers, students feel less alone, knowing it’s not just them that struggle with a particular concept or topic.

The social factor also plays a part in group tuition, where students’ can support each other,
look at a subject area from new perspective.  This teamwork can support students’ with remembering and retaining new information. 

For many students learning in a peer group with a healthy level of competition, friendship and support, with tutor guidance, makes accomplishing academic success enjoyable, boosting their confidence.

Small online group lessons will be available from March 2022 (depending upon numbers), a minimum of 3 students are required for group lessons to go ahead, with a maximum of 6 students per group.

 Fees for students (Small group tuition 3+ students sharing 1 hour lesson up to a maximum of 6) will be:

 

 

All online tuition is completed using a combination of Zoom (Video Software) and Bitpaper (online whiteboard).  All students attending groups are invited to attend a Free Zoom chat with your tutor ‘Nicola’ free of charge prior to group tuition starting, to disucss your requirements and needs.

 

If you feel that your child would benefit from learning in a small group, please get in touch today to discuss your needs.  Please complete the registration form here to register your interest in online group lessons, or feel free to contact me on 07717845007 or  nicola.sanders_tutor@outlook.com