What?
Individual, interactive Skype tutorials with a qualified teacher are suited to your child's unique needs and strengths to nurture the development of:
-- language and literacy skills such as vocabulary development, letter recognition, phonics, phonetic substitution, rhyming
-- pre-math skills such as sequencing, number recognition, number concept, one to one correspondence, patterning, shapes
-- pre-printing skills such as tripod pencil grip, proper scissor grip, fine motor strength development
-- social and emotional learning such as encouraging positive relationships, good manners, facilitate the development of empathy
-- science, good health and safety habits
-- creative expression through art, drama, language, movement, music
Where?
Many parents are concerned about their young child being part of a full class during a pandemic. Skype tutorials take place in the safety of your own home. It is recommended that Skype sessions be in front of a computer screen or tablet on a table or desk so the teacher can see your child's face and hands. Phone screens may be too for your child to see appropriate detail. Materials (see supply list) should be close by as needed. Best results are obtained if a parent is in the same room to support child if needed. (e.g. top of glue stick stuck, assist in arranging fingers for pencil grip, trouble shoot computer difficulty)
When?
Our goal is to have a standing time each week so families can incorporate it into their regular schedule and children can predict when they will have time with their teacher. Please ensure your child has already used the washroom, has finished eating, has finished viewing a TV program, etc. so your child transitions smoothly into time with their teacher.
If there is a dentist appointment or other conflict one week, Mrs. Chandler can reschedule your child's tutorial. One week notice is preferred, but 24 hours notice is required. If less than 24 hours is given, the tutorial will be cancelled. No refunds are given for missed appointments.
Why?
As infants, parents are a child's first teachers in terms of language development. If the baby smiles, the parent returns that smile. As a toddler, a finger may point and the word, "water", might be uttered. The parent responds to the request by giving the toddler water in a sippy cup and saying, "Here is water". Building on the "serve and return" communication from those early years the introduction of phrases and sentences continue to build effective language development. The child feels cared for, heard, and valued. Interactive screen time allows for "serve and return" and is therefore more conducive to learning than passive screen time.
In early childhood, children learn best when a positive relationship is formed. In an individual Skype session, the child develops a positive relationship with the teacher through dialogue, sharing in play, creativity, and fun. It is easier for a young child to focus on one person than if there were multiple children on the screen to distract.
How?
You will receive an email the day before your child's tutorial as a reminder. One or more pages will be scanned and attached to the emailed for you to print for your child to use with the teacher during their tutorial or afterwards once the teacher has given directions. This serves to reinforce what is being taught in order for learning to be better retained. Using the scanned page prior to the lesson may not be as meaningful. (If you do not have a printer, please let Mrs. Chandler know so she can email pages out weekly or monthly so you can ask someone else to print them for you. There would be an extra fee if Mrs. Chandler prints and delivers them to you.) Handwriting Without Tears, Animated Literacy curriculum, music, and quality fiction and non-fiction children's literature will be some of the resources utilized during our sessions. Mrs. Chandler will initiate the Skype call.