By: Charlene Brown

Recently I was helping a grade 4 boy with his homework on similes, and I couldn’t help but be struck by the clichéd notion that “everyone is unique and special in their own ways.”

When I was still in school – feels like ages ago, I must be getting old – I often wondered how teachers taught the same syllabus year after year without getting bored. It’s only since I have become involved in one-on-one tuition that I have realised that every time you teach someone the same work, it is a completely different experience. Even during maths tuition – something that I am particularly passionate about, as I enjoy rules, structure and a step by step process leading to one correct answer – I am constantly surprised by the way different people attempt a maths sum, sometimes coming up with concepts and ideas that I have never considered before. So I can confidently say that I have always been aware that every student that I have tutored thinks of things in different ways.

So I'm not sure why I was suddenly so moved by this fact when the boy I was tutoring told me that the correct simile was “as free as air” as opposed to the conventional “as free as a bird.” After all, when was the last time you paid for air and when the last time was you saw a bird in a cage – definitively NOT free? Nevertheless, it made me consider the ways that tutors, their students, and the students’ parents could all help out, in order to make sure that the maximum advantage is gained from the private tuition that everyone is investing their time in. After all, the main reason for private tuition is in order to ensure that a child’s specific needs and talents are addressed, rather than allowing these talents – and unique thoughts – to be lost in the sea of mainstream schooling.

TIPS FOR TUTORS

Acknowledge that fact that an explanation that worked for one child may not work for another. People really ARE unique. Everyones’ brain processes things differently, and need different explanations and examples in order to understand identical concepts. Don’t make any assumptions about where the problem areas will be, or about what needs to be focused on. Most importantly, always continue to think of innovative and interesting ways to explain what you may think is a simple or basic concept.

TIPS FOR STUDENTS

Always be honest with your tutor about what you do and don’t understand, as well as how well you understand. Your tutor is there to help and guide you through your curriculum and you need to be open about the sections that confuse you. Remember that at the end of the year YOU are the one who will have to write your exams, not your tutor, so make sure that you tell him or her whenever you would like to spend some more time on a section, or if you would like something to be explained in a new or different way.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

As I get older, I can admit that my parents really did know what was best for me while growing up. You know your children better than your tutor could ever hope to know them – and you probably know how their brain works better than anyone else too. It’s important for parents to try and share this information with their child’s tutor. For example, if you know that your child relates better to picture or videos than to written explanations, this could make it much easier for your tutor to plan lessons that involve aids that will speed up the learning process.

Even Albert Einstein recognised the importance of individual based progress and teaching. He once said that: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Let his words always serve as a reminder that sometimes it is the explanation, rather than the work, that is the problem.

Written by Charlene Brown

In a world that demands high performance, excellence, success- why is it still so easy to become complacent? Why do so many people wake-up every morning, and do exactly the same thing as they did the day before? How have we, as a society, let an apathetic redundance replace a thirst for knowledge and a desire for excellence? And more importantly- how do we make it stop?

At BrightSparkz tutors, we believe, as Andre Olivier once said, that “Average is the best of the worst, and the worst of the best. The opposite of excellence is not bad, its average!” and it is this mantra that pushes our tutors to strive for more- from not only themselves, but from their students as well. Each tutor is chosen with the unique requirements of the client in mind, allowing for them – or I should say “us”, as I am a BrightSparkz tutor myself – to relate to our students in ways that are not as easily accomplished in a school environment.

I strongly believe that an interest in education, and a strong desire to learn, is not only crucial in ensuring a pleasant, prosperous schooling career, but also in a fulfilled and well-rounded life. Sometimes all it takes is a simple connection- between tutor and student – to break down the walls of confusion and start building a pathway to understanding and, more importantly, interest in the subject.

Being a tutor is not easy and again being a great tutor is even harder. Adequate tutoring tips are needed in order to flourish as a tutor and a willingness to work hard is indeed the primary criterion in order to be a great tutor. This is one of the key attributes needed when working for BrightSparkz Tutors.

· Being a great tutor means you have to be prepared and be well planned before you start any tutoring lesson.

· You should always plan your sessions and the way you are going to present topics thoroughly.

· Another vital part in the process of becoming a great tutor is practice. The more you practice the more you become perfect. So you must be well practiced in order to flourish as a good tutor.

· Patience is indeed necessary and is an important tutoring tip. Remember that all learners are on different levels and some may take longer to grasp a concepts than others.

Here are a few tips to remember when preparing for and during a tutoring lesson:

• Firstly, it is important to differentiate between visual learners and auditory learners. All people have a dominant method of learning, either by seeing things or by hearing. Trying to teach a visual learner by telling them facts and figures will have poor results and vice versa. Use a simple memory test to discern what type of learners your students are before trying to tutor them.
• Have fun but remain in control. Remember that you are being paid to get results but a few laughs along the way have a great boosting effect.
• Concentrate on the subject areas that the student struggles with. New private tutors tend to ask the student what they want to work on but a lot of students will prefer to go over areas they already know so they don’t have to work to hard! Ask to see their school books so you can see where extra help is needed.
• Set small bits of homework that are fun but challenging. Don’t make homework tasks to lengthy and tedious as this will make tuition feel like school.
• Use as many learning methods as possible so that private tuition sessions don’t become boring. Have question and answer sessions, play games, set 2-minute tests, do practical experiments or conduct some internet research.
• A good tutor will always give regular feedback to their students and their parents. When students see and hear that they are progressing well they often gain confidence and the improvement just gets better.

It is a passion that will drive you to be a good tutor, this combined with hard work and dedication will lead you to become an amazing tutor. For more information on tutors visit www.brightsparkz.co.za

If you think you have what it takes to be a great tutor then visit www.brightsparkz.co.za and complete our application form.

Prepare properly for your Maths & Science exams! Enrol at any one of our Matric Rewrite Preparation courses starting on 28 January – 05 March 2011.

The BrightSparkz Maths & Science Academy will be running small group classes in preparation for upcoming Matric rewrites.  Each student will receive individual and supportive attention and tutoring and in so doing, we will be able to assist them in areas where they need the most time and preparation.

Our course includes a pre-assessment exam before the course begins, weekly Saturday classes in the morning or afternoon, weekly tests before each class, a post-assessment exam after the last class and a final revision class the day before each exam.

For more information please contact us via our Academy Contact Form or call 084 404 4006 for more information on class dates, times and our fees for this course.

Alternatively, you can contact us for one-on-one private tuition for the matric re-writes in the comfort of your own home.

All Matric subjects are covered by our tutors and tuition lessons are organised around your schedule. This tuition service is available throughout Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

For more information please contact us: Johannesburg, Cape Town or Port Elizabeth

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Matric 2010 students who wish to register for their supplementary exams (rewrites) only have a few days left!

The deadline for the supplementary (rewrite) exams is next week Monday, 24 January 2011.

Western Cape students must register at the Western Cape Education Department, which is located in the Cape Town CBD in the Grand Central Towers, corner of Darling & Lower Plein Street (Old Post Office Building) opposite the Parade. Here they must first report to the Client Service booths on the 2nd floor, where after they will be referred to the Exams Department on the 5th floor.

The Western Cape Education Department said that examination centres are currently at the school or institution where the student wrote their exams the previous year. Students are to please contact their school / institution to find out more information.

The preliminary examination timetable (subject to change) is available on www.education.gov.za . Click on “NSC Supplementary Exams Timetable” under the NOTICES section on the homepage.

Supplementary examinations are scheduled to start on 10 February 2011. Interested parties can contact the WCED on 021 475 2000 for more information.

According to the Department of Education, Maths & Science results were of the most concerning to them. There are fewer students sitting for and passing these exams in these subjects than in previous years. Students who wish to study for certain degrees need to pass with more than 40%.

Students who feel they need assistance to prepare for their Maths & Science exams can contact the BrightSparkz Maths & Science Academy on 072 503 6961 to enrol for a special Maths & Science Matric Rewrite Preparation Course, which is running from 28 January – 5 March 2011.  ( available to students in Cape Town only! )

Alternatively you can contact BrightSparkz Tutors for one-on-one private tuition in the comfort of your own home.

All Matric subjects are covered by our tutors and tuition lessons are organised around your schedule. This tuition service is available throughout Joburg and Cape Town.

For more information please visit www.brightsparkz.co.za or email us at: Johannesburg or Cape Town

School is out and the learners are rejoicing (well most of them), no more Maths problems, no more Chemistry experiments, just the bustling sound of excited learners eager to entertain their long awaited Christmas break! 

During this period there are plenty of interesting activities for learners to take part in, some of which are completely free, such as Cape Town’s beautiful beaches (Clifton and Camps bay in particular) or Hiking trails up the famous Table Mountain or Devils Peak.  You will be amazed at how many locals have not actually even been up Table Mountain.  For the more adventurous students out there we have activities such as shark cage diving, bungee jumping and abseiling.  For those of you who are not quite ready to jump into shark infested waters or plummet down a bridge, there are plenty other activities which are not as daring but definitely just as exciting.  Check out http://www.selftours.co.za/todo.htm for a complete list of interesting activities that will keep you occupied for hours. 

During this time, try taking a trip to the MTN Science centre situated in Canal Walk, Cape Town.  Or check out http://www.saasta.ac.za/links/centres.shtml for a list of science museums and centres throughout South Africa.  This may not seem like everyone’s cup of tea but these centres are usually filled with fun and fascinating activities to keep you entertained while educating you. 

BrightSparkz Tutors Tip of the Week:   “It’s always best to keep the brain stimulated during the holidays, even if it is revising a section of Mathematics for an hour a week, or having your BrightSparkz Tutor go over a few topics you found difficult during your exams.  If this is carried out you should see a tremendous difference in concentration levels and commitment.”

From the BrightSparkz Team, we wish you a safe, fun & restful festive season!