Successful Tutor

This student had a dream. 

He wanted to go faster.

He wanted to be a mechanical engineer and a race car driver.

He was failing English.

He was predicted to fail senior English and the QCS test. 

He worked with me for three terms.

Together, through hard work, perseverance and keeping in mind his goals, he did it!

He not only graduated, he did so with an A- in English, an OP score of 8 and got into his first choice university degree. Here he is now, employed as a mechanical engineer and racing Formula 3 cars.

What is your dream? 

Call me now so we can make it happen, together!

This is again a very busy time of the year for me as a tutor. I am called on a weekly, sometimes daily basis regarding senior English and QCS exams. Unfortunately, I often have to turn students away at a very stressful time, because I am unable to help them. Some students leave seeking help until the QCS exam is imminent or their English assessment piece is due the next day. Last year, I found myself working until 10pm in the evening, trying to meet demand and I just cannot do that again. The skills required to succeed in senior English and to sit the QCS examinations take time to develop. They are higher order skills of analysis, abstract thought and academic writing to name a few. The busy schedule of a senior student does not always allow for this learning and neither does only having English lessons two or three times per week at school. English skills affect other subjects such as history, geography and even science.

In response to this ever-increasing demand, I have developed a seminar concept where I can teach and tutor more students in one place at one time. The personalized service will not go astray, individual lessons that I have with long standing clients will continue but in this seminar context, I will devote one hour out of three for personalized tuition to help students with questions and to view drafts. These seminars will deal directly with senior English and QCS preparation for Year 11 and 12 students only. If the demand for the seminars proves to be a success, I intend to add more and develop them further, adding academic writing and university preparation among topics covered.

To cover the cost of hiring a conference facility, I need at least eight students or more to commit to each session. Payment would be required in advance. My plan is to conduct these seminars once or twice per week during school terms. So, I am currently asking for serious expressions of interest. At this stage, a seminar will tentatively be held on Wednesday 23 August at Chermside Library, north of Brisbane. With eight students booked in and paid for, I can hire the conference room and proceed. I ask that if you feel others may benefit from knowing about the seminars, that you forward this information to anyone who may be interested. In this group setting, I can offer my services at a significantly reduced rate, more than half price. This only benefits you. At this stage, $95 for three hours tuition has been set, paid in advance prior to the day. Students only need to bring a notebook, pens or their laptop and any assessment pieces that need review. Most of my editing service is now online for students to send me their assessment pieces for review. Although the QCS exam is only weeks away, the time is now to start preparing and for Year Eleven students who will be sitting the exam next year, it is time to start looking ahead. If all goes well, these seminars will be offered in 2018, beginning Term 1. 

At Successful Tutor we are very excited to announce our new classes designed to get students a step ahead. It is true that for nearly 16 years we have provided an exemplary tuition service but now we want to extend our services and give you, the client what you have been asking for over the past few years. In line with Nicole’s professional stance on improving the gap between the Queensland school curriculum and what she believes students need to know in todays world, we have developed our new enrichment program. This program has been based on several trial programs developed and run by Nicole in the classroom over the past ten years. Nicole has conducted enrichment classes, arts programs and a transition program while teaching Years Prep-Three and Year Six at two Brisbane schools with great success and the enjoyment of the students. These programs markedly changed the progress of students throughout the year.

Nicole has always been an advocate for enhancing the opportunities that are offered to students and became convinced after witnessing consistently positive results in Europe with educational streaming, focusing on a students strengths rather than their weaknesses.

So, with all of that still in mind, we offer an enrichment program available during the school term and school holidays. Please keep reading for further details.  

Enrichment classes will be available Fridays starting Term 4, 2016 from 3:45-5:45pm and during school holidays on specified days and times beginning Tuesday 13 December, 2016. Students can be booked in for one lesson or for several each week ranging from one hour to three hours in duration. Nicole will take small groups of three. These lessons will incorporate hands on learning and include English, science, geography, political science, the arts and information technology to name a few. 

This enrichment program is a well priced, worthwhile activity run by an experienced teacher. Lessons will take the student beyond curriculum learning and focus on personal interests, strengths and a sense of discovery. Most lessons are conducted in your home. For a more comprehensive brochure, including prices, please contact Nicole today and get in quick! Places are limited. 

Enjoy the benefits of our new enrichment program!

* students are not bored during school holiday periods

* advancing learning

* self confidence

* small group of individual focused attention by a professional

Someone recently asked me to name the top five things that I believe make a successful learner. I really tried to make it five. But I couldn’t. After the conversation I had with this person, I felt I had an important blog post to write. So, here we go...

1. Self regulation

This is where learners set goals, implement strategies, monitor their own learning progress, and modify their strategies when they believe they are not effective. Another feature of self regulation is an emphasis on intrinsic motivation, whereby the learner is self motivated and finds meaning in what they are doing. Discipline could certainly fall under this area as well but I felt it deserved to stand alone this time around.

2. Taking risks 

Taking risks and experiencing both failure and success are important aspects of learning and achievement. All students need a safe and supportive environment to do this in. Scaffolding learning is one way to reinforce taking risks and dealing with failure. Praise for effort regardless of outcome is important. 

3. Discipline

Discipline is so essential to learning. All students at some time must be able to draw upon this strength, particularly when responding to deadlines, exam pressures and when they come across subject material that is difficult. Discipline to me involves developing routines around learning or study and being consistent. 

4. Coping skills & resilience

Considered by me to be the doyenne of learning and success in life, developing positive coping skills and being resilient will never fail any student. No matter how hard something is, no matter how pointless something may seem, you keep going. Coping with study demands, exam pressures, meeting expectations, struggling with content all require the resilient student. Coping with change and adaptation are important markers for a successful student. 

Being resilient means finding and taking advantage of opportunities to develop social skills whilst also engaging explicitly with the key areas of emotional literacy, decision-making, problem-solving, positive self-regard, stress management, positive coping, help-seeking and peer support. These areas of resilience support development of key skills students require to lead balanced and happy lives. 

5. Synthesis & sharing what you have learned

After decades of teaching and providing learning support I have observed that synthesis is really about understanding and being able to apply what one has learned. This is vital and for me, I believe learning is pointless if a student does not comprehend what they have learned nor can they utilise it. One social aspect of learning that seems never written or spoken about is the time when students then go on to share what they have learned with others. I have come to believe that this aspect of the learning process (and learning is a process not an outcome) is an important final step. Synthesis has truly occurred and the success is reinforced. 

Synthesising looks like this: 

Students build a structure or pattern from diverse elements; it also refers to the act of putting parts together to form a whole. Compiling information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions. 

Production of a unique communication 

Production of a plan, or a proposed set of operations 

Derivation of a set of abstract relations

Questions that look like: 

Convert an unhealthy recipe for apple pie to a healthy recipe by replacing your choice of ingredients. Explain the health benefits of using the ingredients you chose vs. the original ones.

6. Commitment

Finally, this is a big one. Commitment has to come from the student, which means he or she must find their learning meaningful. They must make their own choices at some point. They must be intrinsically motivated. Parental modelling of this kind of behaviour is important in a student’s environment. Setting goals but also establishing boundaries goes a long way to reinforcing healthy student commitment.  

You may have noticed how some of these aspects overlap or seem to be saying  something similar. You would be right. However, each aspect is also important in its own right and together, when combined, create a positive and happy student and much success. 

                             Is your child an introvert? 

If so, is this a problem? No. In fact, it may be a blessing. After decades of favouring the extraverted personality who loves the limelight, large parties and constant activity, the world is slowly starting to pay attention to the other side. Introverts do well typically at school and have a strong dedication to activities such as reading. They are some of the most successful people in the world. They may seem quiet, reserved or not that interested in making friends or going out. This can become a concern for children but the good news is that here at Successful Tutor, we can help. We understand the ins and outs of personality and child development. We have worked with many children who are inclined to introversion over the years and have watched them flourish. They are special children with a lot to offer the world and their families and friends. What they need is time out. Alone time, quiet time. An overstimulating environment can be harmful and exhausting. Recharging is very important. School is a very noisy place and for introverts who work well independently, big groups and classroom fervour can be taxing. It can interfere with their natural ability and success. If you think your child may be quieter than other kids and you are worried, just contact us and we can talk with you and maybe help. It is definitely not the end of the world. Things to look out for that may indicate you have a lovely introvert in your life:

* plays or spends time alone more than with others 

* refuses to go out and engage in activities

* is fearful or avoids getting up in front of others or in front of classmates at school

* wary of strangers more than usual

This post discusses the messages you send your children about what you expect of them and what they should expect of themselves. The following article, written by another professional does very well at describing what I feel is very, very important. We are not just parents. We are guides, role models and what we think matters to our children. It shapes their future selves and how they feel about their own self worth and potential. After years of struggling to get schools, other teachers and an education system to listen to and regard the whole child, I am finally seeing some attention to this vital aspect of child development. I was told years ago, while working in outback remote Queensland to STOP worrying about the whole child and only care about maths and English outcomes. It was a day I will not forget. A principal whom I will not forget. As a psychology graduate and counsellor, I know the importance of this aspect of child development and its correlation to learning. We cannot stop making sure we send the right messages to our children. All children are different and we have to allow them to learn in their own way, at their own pace and they should enjoy what they do. Sadly, I do not always see this as a teacher or tutor. I always remind myself that my children need to do what they love and they need to be who they came here to be. Not what I want them to be. We must love the children we have. We are blessed. 

I remember the positive messages my parents gave to me when I was growing up. My parents were far from perfect but some of their messages have stayed with me and go into my own communications with my children. My father told me to always think for myself. Have my own mind. He instilled in me the love of reading, art and asking questions. Challenging what does not feel right. But also to just do my best. That is all anyone can do. This is all our children can do. Our kids look to us for approval, validation and love. They want to be loved whether or not they succeed or fail. Failure has to occur in life for us to learn and improve. We must take risks and find out how things can be done better. For positive self esteem and success to develop in our kids, we must accept them for who they are and acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses. 

I invite you to read the article that follows on by clicking the link and ask you to reflect on your own childhood messages about learning and success and think about what your kids have learned already from you. They are our precious children and they are the future. We cannot afford not to... 

The mighty Amazon River from our plane!

Local children playing

Well, I am back from Peru and do I already miss my little hut in the jungle and the people who made my stay there very special. That includes the beautiful children I had the pleasure of meeting, teaching and playing with. While the language barrier was clearly present it was a challenge to not only teach English but learn Spanish. I never even got to begin learning the local indigenous language of Shipibo. It was a magical moment, as a group of children and I learned each others names and drew symbols and pictures in the sand on crouched knees. I learned the Spanish word for apple and they learned the English word. The most fun I had was teaching them all to play ball games that children here in Australia play every day. Handball, hopscotch and chasing games were so much fun but hot work in the 100% humidity. We wore out quickly, well, I did. The locals played soccer every afternoon on a big field cleared of vegetation and where only sand remains. The heat of course, did not change their level of motivation for the game. 

As I settled into a very simple life of no hot water, electricity and internet it became apparent to me that I could stay longer very easily. I would probably have been lost chasing after an exquisite butterfly that caught my eye or while wondering along the Amazon River. My first sights of the river were from the air and I knew in that moment that travelling and experiencing other cultures is an education that all children should have. 

You may have heard about it. You may practice it yourself. Well, now there are ways you can introduce it to your children and see them benefit from it. 

My husband and I are supporters of and active participants in mindfulness and we teach our children how to achieve a state of mindfulness in most things they do. We have seen the change it can make for the better. This article I am posting a link for discusses easy and practical ways you can teach children from a young age how to achieve a mindfulness state. 

It is now becoming more apparent that it is something that can benefit students of all ages and improve learning outcomes.  

Give it a go!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-rudell-beach-/8-ways-to-teach-mindfulness-to-kids_b_5611721.html?ir=Australia

As a part of our service provision and our development as a business, Successful Tutor has always been involved in community service. We have a strong philosophy in giving back and contributing to local and global communities. Nicole has travelled and worked around the world and has provided her services to children and education in countries such as Cambodia, Vanuatu, Thailand, Scotland and the European continent. Now we have exciting news!

In March, Nicole is off to South America, to spend time in villages where schooling is provided at a very basic level. Another learning experience and an opportunity to affect positively children around the world. So, please keep these dates in mind...

From March 3rd - March 20th, Successful Tutor will not be providing its services. This is for all existing and new clients. In this period, work can be arranged for students while Nicole is way. If this is something you are interested in, please let her know as soon as possible.

As usual, our travels around the world always inform our practice and add to the already innovative service we provide. We thank you for your understanding in these matters and thank you for supporting our development and our passion for community work.

Hate is a strong word. Frustration is certainly a good alternative and often that frustration has led to a few quiet angry moments. After fifteen years in this field, I am disappointed to not have seen more change that provides students with what they need. The focus still remains built on power relationships and this detracts from the authentic nature of education. A student should not only learn content but also about themselves.

I do not understand why the education system has not turned to other countries where high success rates in academia have been demonstrated consistently by systems of education and people that focus on student and teacher satisfaction. 

I am at a loss sometimes to understand why we have not tailored our curriculum to be more flexible and current with global and local employment systems and the changing face of different industries, let alone the needs of students to stream their abilities positively towards what they are passionate about and where they find their strengths. The liberal democracy that our education system is supposed to be still favours some students over others, regardless of a merit based approach. 

I am certainly disappointed by the governmental aspect of our education system that values good publicity over the true needs of students.

I am always overwhelmed by the extensive need in Queensland for student support services. Our children are the future. They deserve more. They deserve to reach their full potential. These needs are not being met.

I am personally saddened by the change in focus from the Arts to Maths and Science. One should not be sacrificed for the other when we have incredibly gifted students who can change the world through their artistic contribution. All subjects should be treated equally as they are equally important. 

I wish that we would shift from an outcomes based to a process based system that provides students with the essential ‘how’, not just the ‘what’. So much of my work is filling the gaps for students because of an outcomes based system that fails to teach a child how to accomplish something. It is like pointing to a final destination on a map but not giving the child any instruction or resources on how to get there. This is failing our children and much of my work involves rectifying this. 

So that was more than five, I know...

It all sounds a bit negative but the point of this blog today is to address how I help with these issues instead of just talking about them. 

Firstly, I work with a student. We are a team. I always focus on a student and their strengths. We work together towards their goals. We get results. I help them feel confident about themselves and lead them towards independence. I teach processes, not to outcomes. However, I do know the curriculum and know what skills and abilities your child needs to succeed at school. I have spent years compiling observations and developing approaches that I know work. With me, your child or yourself as student acquires strategies, self esteem and success. My work is personalised and this is not something the education system can provide. 

So, please comment or ask questions. I welcome comments about anything I have said. I do wish to engage with students, parents or other tutors who have something to say!

Here at Successful Tutor, I provide a new range of services that are not just about private tuition for students. Hopefully, business owners and interested groups will now contact me about a diverse range of transferable skills and services. It is my goal to apply years of experience and training to help others and pursue new interests for myself outside of the classroom. 

Educators are a highly educated and highly skilled demographic who can provide value to the workforce. Educators are equipped with good organisational skills, communication know-how, time management awareness, leadership experience and research skills. They are used to problem solving, teamwork and conflict management. Many are competent report writers. Generally, teachers are patient, good at solving problems, able goal setters and willing team players. These skills are all highly sought in the business world. For me personally, my scary new venture this year is public speaking and writing a book! What is yours?

This year I am providing the following services to business and other educational institutions and community groups. Please contact me if you are interested in the following: 

* Consultancy on all matters educational and training

* Consultancy on the sociological and psychological aspects of human identity

* Observation and analysis

* Divergent and Creative Thinking

* Marketing for small business

* Public Speaking

* Child Development

* Producing teaching programs or curriculum

* Writing feature articles and blog posts; grant applications

I have experience and transferable skills in education, marketing and profiling, psychology, work place health and safety, publishing, project management, counselling, media and curriculum development. I have designed curriculum, managed large projects in public and private sectors, consulted in youth mental health services and have international experience as a teacher. Please contact me for a more in depth CV and a chat about what I can do for you. Fees are discussed upon application. 

“Hiring a tutor may have short-term gains but long-term losses...”

This quote above is from an article I read yesterday and I feel the need to respond. I always accept that there are people and organisations who do not support private tuition as a viable and important way to assist students with learning difficulties. Granted, there has been an explosion in recent years of these types of services as we come to understand that more of our children need help. In my experience thus far, many of my clients have come to me after being completely dissatisfied with other service organisations and private tutors. I am very aware of the financial burden this help can place on families however, can we really afford not to help our children? Let me address here now some of the comments that came from this article...

“...individual tuition sessions are often arranged on a weekly or fortnightly basis, which reduces the immediacy of the interaction and consequently diminishes the impact of prompt, constructive feedback.” Private tuition is personalised and typically a routine arrangement. It offers the regular and personal attention that students need to be successful. This is away from crowded classrooms and these lessons can be intensely focused to benefit particular problems. I argue that it reduces immediacy, as too often classroom teachers cannot give that attention to every child in a classroom and sometimes that child will go unnoticed. This is simply a sad fact of school classrooms today. I also argue that private tuition cannot provide constructive feedback. In fact, I know that as part of my service, I offer this particularly.

“...Tutors may be poorly qualified, thus compromising content knowledge, and placing the student at risk rather than in a strengthened position. Dependence on a tutor can also be a disadvantage, as students do less and less for themselves. They may leave even the simple tasks of critical thinking, problem solving and brainstorming to the tutor.” I agree wholeheartedly that many tutors providing services should not be. They are under-qualified and inexperienced. They are not trained teachers. It is vitally important that you do your research and ask for qualifications from a prospective tutor. Ask for evidence of experience and hear their success stories. Dependence is an issue with some students. I have seen this develop and as a highly trained and experienced psychologist and teacher, I am able to see this dynamic before it gets started. It is my personal philosophy that all students get to a point where they do not need me anymore. That is the purpose of what I do. I teach competence and strategies that can then be applied in my absence. I instil confidence. I always place onus on a student to work with me, that we are a team and that they must make the effort. It is always my intention to end the relationship and foster independence. This is something you should encourage in children always. My background in social work and psychology allows me to address the holistic needs of a student and their family. Below is a quote directly from one of my long term clients when asked about what makes a good tutor.

“...What I believe is a good tutor is someone who has the ability to impart knowledge to his/her students in a way that they are able to absorb the knowledge easily, i.e. the best scientist and mathematician does not necessarily translate into being a good teacher if he/she does not have the skills to impart his/her knowledge. Hence, someone with a teaching background rates highly amongst my criteria of selecting a tutor as he/she should have the skill/ability to teach. The second criteria for me when choosing a tutor is his/her specialisation, i.e. will not look for a music/art teacher to teach English, Math or Science (unless he/she also specialised in those areas). Thirdly, I evaluate the relationship between the Tutor and Students. As imparting knowledge requires close working relationship between teacher and students, hence, there needs to be "compatibility" between the teacher and students, I.e. a great teacher may find difficulty teaching a student if there is a personality clash between teacher and student relationship.” K.P 2015

“...While the tutor may help with the short-term goal of achieving, the question should still be posed: are they improving overall study skills and knowledge management? Finally, for some students, the extra work imposed by a tutor may add to the pressure and anxiety of an already high-stress year at school.”

I have many long term clients. Goal setting is always important and every student has a different need. I have seen the long term benefits of tuition in high school and tertiary students and in primary school students. It is never too late or early to start thinking about your future and making change. Learning and growing. A tutor can help with this for however long it takes. I have been with some students for a year or more. As a rule, I only ask students to do tasks that are required for their success and learning. I am extremely mindful of overwhelming a student. I can assure all potential clients that unless it is absolutely necessary, no homework tasks are prescribed. Many students I help have pre existing anxiety problems when I start with them and by the time I am finished these problems are usually gone. I am able to help them find ways to actively cope with learning, the school environment and any other issues they have. This is one of the added benefits of working with me. Further, sharing tuition in a pair or group of three is very beneficial. There is a critical social component to learning and I have had great success with this in the past. It also saves you money!  

If you have any further concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. My schedule is filling fast and it is important to secure your time with me now. I have a current special for new clients. Pay for ten lessons in advance and receive a free first lesson! This is for the first five students to book and pay.

Below is another quote from a former client. His words echo what is most important about helping our children.

Here at Successful Tutor, we are already gearing up for the new academic year. Our schedule is filling fast and it is best to book and secure early your time with Nicole. Our waiting list last year was long and we were unable to fulfil all requests for tuition. We have a new format this year, new scheduling times and brand new strategies and a brilliant focus on English. Please join us for a successful year of learning, growing and discovering potential. Below is a testimonial from one of our recent high school senior clients who went proudly from a ‘D’ in the QCS practice tests to gaining an overall ‘A-’ in English and an OP of 11. He successfully got into his preferred course at university and is well on his way to success. We are about results here at Successful Tutor. Please contact us now. We wish you all a bright and successful year ahead! 

With the Summer holidays only days away, parents everywhere are thinking about how they might fill that endless number of hours so their children are not bored. Although children everywhere deserve a break from school and the routine of learning, it is still possible to fill some of their free time with educational activities without them even knowing it! So below is a shortlist of ideas that will help you get through the holidays.

* Word Searches

There are plenty of these to be found on the internet and they vary in difficulty and age level. They are actually very valuable in developing vocabulary, improving spelling and word recognition therefore also assisting with reading development. You could also try mazes, puzzles and crosswords.    

* Art supplies

Items such as sketch books, pencils and paints, collage materials and such give a student important free space to use their imagination. This activity can be very social if done with friends or siblings. This socialisation is important for learning and exploration. Provide items for children to free sketch such as flowers, unusual objects or just let them go crazy! Imagination is important for things like creative writing too so any way they can visualise ideas is valuable.  

* Art Gallery, Museum or Science Centre

All of these places are centrally located in the Brisbane area near Southbank. There is parking or trains and buses are available. All are conducting children's activities over this summer holiday period. I was only at the Art Gallery yesterday with my own family. It was fantastic. There are excellent programs where children can participate. There are also numerous other places in and around Brisbane that offer this type of activity.

* Physical activities, sport and recreation

Learning or practicing a new physical skill or sport is important for a sense of achievement.  When a child receives positive feedback and success, he or she will continue to try new things and have a go. They are encouraged and supported. There are now many organisations that offer this kind of activity or you can just go yourself with the kids down to the local park or sporting ground. My two boys love rock climbing walls!

* Local libraries

An oldie but still a goodie. These places are free and so are the books your child can borrow. Reading or even just exploring books is vital to develop exceptional literacy skills. Getting your child excited about reading is a positive long term behaviour that will serve them their entire life. Many local libraries also offer young early childhood programs. Just ask!

* Give a gift of a Camera

Buy your child a disposable camera. These are not that expensive and they can have hours of safe fun exploring their environment. Photography actually incorporates visual skills and geometry, composition, perspective and math. It is a creative endeavour but one that also involves other areas of learning you would not think of. Further, to see their images developed provides a sense of pride and ownership and they can learn to safely appraise their own work and skill level for improvement.