The Learning Ladder

04/04/2024

The key of learning anything is to have an exemplary model to begin with. Slowly peeling back the scaffold and allowing a student to take risks in their learning ensures success.
The result: confident, independent learners. 💡

10/10/2023

The physical act of reading is NOT a natural process to learn. It’s not like speaking, nor is it like listening.

Children require an expert to navigate and tailor their learning to read, which is achieved through having in depth knowledge of the individual child to make correct text selection based on language and life experience.

Steven Pinker, esteemed cognitive psychologist and psychology professor of Harvard University, says it this way:

08/10/2023

Can YOUR child answer this question?

“Why do we read?”

Primary school aged children often struggle to answer this, and the reason they fail to do so is that they lack purpose for their reading.

We READ for enjoyment.
We READ to learn.
We READ to UNDERSTAND!!!

One to one and small group tuition provides children opportunities to engage in texts that pique their interest, which solidifies that PURPOSE for reading.

“Comprehension involves the construction of a mental model of a text. This requires knowledge (background knowledge, vocabulary, text structures), as well as skills (retrieving and connecting background knowledge and vocabulary, making inferences, understanding grammar and syntax) and strategies (comprehension monitoring). Not all children know how to do these things. And those that do know how, don’t always use them.” - Dr Jennifer Buckingham

Full article can be accessed here:
https://hubs.la/Q024B6J_0

04/10/2023

Happy World Teachers’ Day to all of my talented teacher colleagues!

Thank you for all that you do-not just for our students, but for their families and the community at large. It takes a very special heart to advocate relentlessly for the most vulnerable and impressionable members of our society: our children.

The education of our children is the future of us all. 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 👧👶🧒👦👩👨👱‍♀️🧑‍🦱

02/10/2023

There is SO much children need to master to be literate; and being literate is not optional in our world.

The reciprocal relationship between reading, writing, phonics and spelling is the foundation of developing effective literacy skills.

Having a quality tutor who understands the current theory behind teaching the skills required to read and write effectively, backed with many years of experience and demonstrated success in doing so, can be the difference between a child mastering the skills required to be literate, and, quite frankly, not.

“The most effective instruction in phonics, spelling and vocabulary links word study to the texts being read, provides a systematic scope and sequence of word-level skills, and provides multiple opportunities for hands-on practice and application. Word study teaches kids to focus on words to be able to have a better understanding of how they work.” (Bear, Invernizzi, Templeton and Johnston. 2008)

28/09/2023

Tailoring programs to suit the needs of the individual is what truly makes an educator’s heart sing! The beauty of tutoring is the ability to truly achieve this. 😍

26/09/2023

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25/09/2023

The key to self efficacy. 🔑 🤔💡
Children and adults alike need to realise the power they possess to make change for themselves; and seek assistance along the way. 💪🫵🤩

You have a voice. Learn how to use it.

23/09/2023

18/09/2023

One thing I say to my students (and my own children) every day: “Make good choices.”

It’s so easy for things to get in the way of learning nowadays. Setting that time aside to be disciplined and actively seek out learning is crucial to living a happy, fulfilled life.

What new thing did you learn today? 🤔🤓

16/09/2023

Read. Every. Day!
Parents often underestimate the importance of reading TO their children.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found in a recent study that “Reading regularly with children from a young age stimulates patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships.”

14/09/2023

The reciprocity between reading and writing.

If you can read it, you can write it.

Strengthening self efficacy by building on “the known.”