Teacher on Wheels

One of my students was working on skip counting by 2 backwards from 100. He was able to do it, but would get stuck every now and then. So we decided to try timing the process to see if it would help. The previous week, we had about 4 runs and I recorded the time each time, 1:20, 1:03, 1:00 and finally 0:48. We had talked about the sense of panic that I had noticed coming to the surface and practice some belly breathing. This time around, we did the same thing: 0:55, 0:52....When I suggested trying again to see if it would be faster, Miles hesitated. He asked, "Why is it so important to be able to skip count backwards by 2 quickly?" I responded that being able to do something quickly demonstrates mastery. Learning how to perform under time pressure is an important skill to learn, and we talked a bit about real-life examples of this. But Miles was insistent; he countered by saying that he was already fast in other areas of his life. "Some things come easy, and others not so much. Those are the skills that are good to practice." He then wondered why younger kids didn't have to be timed. I explained that he is in Grade 2 and that I had a feeling he was capable of it. Based on my previous observations, I also explained that timed exercises appeared to help with his focus. He seemed to understand, but I still sensed hesitation. Perhaps the intellectual reasoning was not enough; I realized I needed to connect more with the feeling. "I wonder if you might be feeling discouraged?" I said. He nodded and I made space. We reviewed his past performance times and I pointed out that his first time was already faster than his first time just a week ago. "What do you think might happen if we try again? Could it be possible that you might get your best time?" He was still not convinced. "If you try again, it could either get better, worse, or stay the same. If it's better, that's great! If not, we can always try again. It's okay, you're learning! It's not always about getting it right or even doing well all the time. You're trying your best, and that's what matters the most." Miles sighed and agreed to try again. Low and behold...he beat his record! 41 seconds :)

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality of the student*

This just happened today with one of my students:
At the outset, James said to me that he needed to write 3 more paragraphs of his paper by tomorrow, but he is having a block. We sat down to take a look at what needed to be done. After writing the first few words of the summary, he stopped suddenly. "I'm having a block," he said. I asked if it was alright for us to take a step back from the computer and do a little visualization exercise to explore what is behind the block. "I would really rather just get it done and over with, I need to get this done!" "I can see that this is really important to you. At the same time, how can we move forward if there is something in the way? Why don't we step away just for 2 minutes, then we can come back to it right away." And so we did. I asked him to visualize the block in front of him, a wall, and invited him to describe what it looks like. "How tall is it? Is it thick? Can you break through it or walk around it?" When I saw him get distracted, I said, "Stay with me here, this is really important." I asked him what was the wall saying to him. "Well it's just that the feedback I got was that my citations are inconsistent and then I thought to myself I suck at this. And then I have no motivation." "Oh wow, that sounds really hard. If someone told me I sucked, I would lose motivation, too," I said. "Is that true, though? Just because your citations are not consistent, it doesn't mean your paper sucks. Your teacher even said how brilliant your ideas were and not to worry about the citations." Then he went on to explain why he thought citations were useless and not worth his time, and I validated his perspective. I provided an anecdote about my time in graduate school and how I despised citations. Then I noticed a shift in his energy. "How does the block look now, more manageable?" "Yep." And he continued on to complete the entire summary within just a few minutes.

***names have been changed to protect the privacy of the student***

Happy New Year everyone! Let's forward to a fresh start with lots of positive changes. What will you differently this year? How will this create a ripple effect and affect those around you, especially your children? We all need a space to be our true authentic selves and guidance that facilitates progress along the unique paths we create for ourselves. For this, a teacher's unconditional understanding and acceptance is essential. These values are the roots of our tutoring approach. If this resonates with you, please don't hesitate to reach out, we would love to hear from you!

Do you have a strange feeling that your child may be different? Are they struggling in school even though you know they are capable of so much more? Perhaps it's because they are operating within a system that was not created with their needs in mind.

Signs your child may be gifted:
-They learn concepts quickly.
-They are highly sensitive.
-They question and challenge authority.
-They have advanced pattern recognition and are adept at solving puzzles.
-They have exceptional creativity and ability to think outside the box.

We provide personalized individual support for students of all kinds and learning differences. Every child has their own unique talents and abilities to contribute, and we take pride in co-constructing the ideal environment for their optimal growth.
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The traditional education system was made to create compliant workers. Paths were carved out for students and all they needed to do was follow in order to be successful. But what about students who don't fit into molds that were created for them and instead need to find their own way? Those whose gifts were meant to be harnessed and utilized for the greater good, such as to challenge the status quo? Now, more than ever, society is in need of creative thinkers to provide solutions to the rapidly changing demands of today's world. The Montessori philosophy can be interpreted in so many different ways, and it also depends on a child's developmental stage, but what it boils down to is maintaining a balance between freedom and responsibility. I'm not saying let's tear down the patriarchy, but instead let's help our students to design their own learning journey while navigating the system we find ourselves in. We cannot have freedom without responsibility and that is simply a part of human existence.

Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking are core skills required to be successful in today's world. But let's not forget that these skills are built on a strong foundation of knowledge, which requires discipline and grit. Our approach to education is to first and foremost reinforce the basics, then to use these as building blocks for out-of-the-box thinking. If we can achieve that, the sky's the limit!

We take the guesswork out of finding the right kind of support for your child. All of our tutors have been screened, selected, and trained to ensure the best quality of service for your family. They are experts in their subject, excellent communicators, and most importantly very skilled at connecting with students. If you are looking for a tutoring service that delivers lasting results, we would love to hear from you!

Learning is not just about knowledge or content. It's about developing life skills such as resilience, self-esteem, and curiosity. We educate the whole child by creating an optimal environment for their growth and development.

How do I know if my child needs tutoring? Here are some of the signs to watch out for!

Is your child or teen struggling in Math? Is it affecting their confidence and motivation at school? Are you feeling stressed and burned out from trying to help and getting frustrated? Our team of compassionate tutors are here to help! We take the pressure and load off parents so that you can focus on just being a mom or dad 🥰

Happy Back to School! Transitions can be a tough time for many families. Just a little reminder to practice self-care and ride the waves this September :)

It's time for Q&A with expert tutor Hanh Nguyen!