Tag: report card

DIY Parent Tutoring

Let’s Talk About: DIY Parent Tutoring with Lindsey Casselman.

Did your child receive a less than stellar report card? It’s totally normal to feel stressed and worried about your child’s grades. As parents we want our children to be successful with their education but also to enjoy it. If your child’s report card isn’t reflecting how great they are, just remember that for two years now, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down.

Due to two years of scrambled education and uncertainties your child’s education has likely suffered along with everything else. So, please try not to worry too much. In no time this slight setback will be handled, fixed up and your child will be right back on track.

Before you consider DIY Parent Tutoring, First ask yourself these questions:

Question 1: Do We Need a Tutor?

Tutors can be so expensive, and because of that fact it’s not always an available option for some. Whether hiring a private one-on-one tutor, or going through a learning centre, the costs can be almost as much as a car payment. This expense added to your monthly expenses can really break the bank. So, don’t worry, because Schoolio wants to bring some equality to the world of tutoring by making DIY parent tutoring a feasible option. Yes, that’s right! DIY mean you can Do-It-Yourself and tutor your own child!

Question 2: Am I Qualified to Tutor My Own Child?

Of course, you are! Firstly, there are absolutely no rules about qualifications needed to tutor. In fact, most private tutors and learning centres use university students as their tutors, which no teaching backgrounds.

Secondly, it’s really important to remember that you’ve been teaching your child since the day they were born. And you can teach them anything that you want them to know.

Thirdly, there are literally millions of parents that are successfully homeschooling children over the world. And, studies show that not only are these children getting a quality education, but it turns out the one-on-one time and the personal care of learning from a parent makes learning even easier for most children.

Question 3: Does DIY Parent Tutoring Work if I Suck at Math?

You don’t suck at math! No one does! Maybe you’ve just forgotten the things that you learned in school. That doesn’t mean that you’re terrible. If you graduated from Grade 8, then you know enough to teach your 8th grader, and certainly enough to teach any grade lower than that! Refreshing your memory and learning together with your child is a remarkable experience.

You have the opportunity to model to your child the skill of not getting frustrated, and instead persevering. Also you can model to them how to find the answers to their questions by finding solutions together as a team. You can ditch the school model of an all-knowing leader, lecturing information into an empty-vessel student.

Instead you can work as a team to learn and discover together. You’ll be so surprised at how quickly that grade eight math comes back to your memory after the refreshing experience of tutoring your child.

Question 4: How Do I Get Started?

Getting started is often the hardest part, but once you’re rolling with it, it will get easier and easier.

First, decide what type of tutoring you want to do: Most people will fall into one of two categories.

  1. I want to tutor my child in topics that interest them, to help re-ignite their love of learning while exercising their brains.
  2. I want to tutor my child in specific areas that they are struggling with in school to help them improve their understanding and bring up their grades.

Most home tutors are in category 2. So, if you’re in category one, you should check out the Schoolio Marketplace, where we have affordable mini units on all sorts of topics. There’s bound to be something there that will spark an interest in your learner. Check out the Schoolio Marketplace: https://schoolio.io/mini-units/

If you’re in category 2, the first thing you need to do is determine which subjects your child is struggling with the most. You probably already have a good idea, either from their report card or helping them with their homework. If you are still unsure, a really great place to start is to contact your child’s teacher and ask them!

Be sure to get specific:

If they’re struggling in Math, what area of Math are they struggling with? Math is most frequently broken into 4-5 strands, such as Numeracy, Algebra, Geometry, (often called Spatial Sense), Data Management and Probability, Money and Finance and even Coding. All of these areas of Math are often included in a lot of school math programs. (Note: Coding is often covered in Algebra.)

The same goes for Science. Is your child struggling in all areas of Science? Or just some? There will likely be Life Sciences, Chemistry, Each and Space Sciences and so on. When you’re talking to your child’s teacher, also find out what grade level they would recommend you start tutoring at. Some kids are working within their grade level, they just need a little extra practice to fully master the concepts.

While other kids can really benefit, especially after the turmoil of covid years, from going back a grade or two and building strong foundations in the concepts. Doing that before building to their current grade level. Remember, your child’s teacher should be able to guide and advise you with this.

Second, get a good program to help you be the best DIY Parent Tutor.

Most homeschoolers know that they key to a successful homeschool experience is finding the right tools and materials. Finding a good fit for your learner will go a long way. A home education program will be extremely beneficial in that is will easily help you tutor your child. Schoolio is one of the only education (homeschool) companies that offers a unitized system for purchasing curriculum.

This means if your child is great at Algebra, but struggling with Geometry, you can choose to purchase only Geometry. Then you won’t have to pay the cost of a full year program. Instead you can purchase the units of study that you need to help your child with the areas that they are struggling with the most.


Report Cards and Homeschooling

When I was driving by a local school, I saw the sign ‘Report Cards are Out’. And instantly remembered being in high school and the pressure I felt for end of semester marks. I always wanted to get the very best grades, and keep a high GPA. So much so, that I would make myself miserable when I didn’t get the marks I wanted. I put so much pressure on myself to do better, all the time. And that quickly became an unhealthy obsession.
Soon I became my grades. I didn’t feel good about who I was, if I wasn’t getting good marks. It didn’t matter that I was excelling in the arts, what mattered were my report cards. I placed huge focus on the areas I lacked in. And, chances are you’ve felt this way also, at some point in your life. Maybe you just never felt like you could be the best at something. Perhaps you became slightly obsessed with being better and doing better.

For generations society has been obsessed with this fast paced, ‘get ahead’ lifestyle.

If you aren’t working hard, then you’re failing. If you aren’t getting the results you want, then you’re failing. We praise people for getting the highest score, we applaud those who have accomplished the most. And the others get left in the shadows.
Thankfully, that’s not what homeschooling is about. Homeschooling is so much more than just ‘keeping your kids home’. It’s about teaching them that what they’re doing matters. It’s about helping them cultivate a love for things that truly matter to them. And helping them grow and blossom into the people that they were meant to be. Homeschooling is about taking that huge academic pressure off them. Then helping them learn in ways that are unique for them.

Finding Things They Love.

When Homeschooling you can spend more time finding things that they really, really love. Like art, music, science, acting, and then helping them reach goals in those areas. Without the pressure of ‘being the best’. See, homeschooling is just so much more than Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.  Homeschooling is about connection and discovering what truly matters to them. So many people have fallen into this idea that education is only about learning those math equations, mastering those sight words, and making sure your report cards mirror your academic excellence.

But that’s where we’ve got it all wrong.

Education is about learning in so many different areas of your life. It’s about measuring out the proper proportions for a recipe in the kitchen. It’s about spending time outside studying different critters living in the garden. Education is about helping your kids feel accomplished doing things that they love.
I get it, you’re reading this and thinking ‘Uh, but Math, Reading and Writing are all extremely essential to my child’s education.’ And you couldn’t be more right. They are so important! But homeschooling gives your child the opportunity to learn these important subjects in a more relaxed manner. And in ways that they enjoy. Homeschooling teaches them to have fun with learning, which is truly how learning should always be.

Homeschooling teaches your child other avenues of learning.

It’s about helping them excel in areas that truly benefit them. Some kids enjoy the more pressured life, of tracking their grades with their report card and knowing what they need to do better. Other kids feel the need for relaxation, and the very thought of keeping track of their grades makes them overwhelmed and frustrated. As always, it’s important to remember that each child is different. Every child is unique. And literally every child has a different way of learning. I have three kids, and each of them excel in different areas. Each one of them respond differently to their education, they all learn in a way that is unique to them.

An Example of Learning Differences:

My oldest loves the idea of getting an A+ written on her school work. In fact, sometimes after she has completed a sheet of math problems, I see that she’s put an A+ on her sheet after she’s checked her answers. My other daughter is the complete opposite. She doesn’t want to know how she’s doing with her education. She just wants to get it done. Then she wants to play. She doesn’t care if she gets an A+ or a D. However, she’s extremely musical and spends so much time sitting at the piano learning new classical pieces. Her soul seeps into the keys as she learns a new set of notes. And has learned so much more through music, than she ever had in books.
Every child is different, and that’s truly a good thing! Life would be pretty boring if we were all the same, wouldn’t it? With Homeschooling, you have the opportunity to allow your child to excel in the best way that works for them.

But Report Cards can still be so beneficial!

It can be fun to keep track of their grades, year by year. If it stresses out your child, then don’t show them the report. If it makes your child feel pride – then show them!
Either way, keeping small records of how the year went can be beneficial for you and your child. It’ll be easier for you to track where they are at academically and even emotionally. You’ll notice what areas they need a little extra help in. And what areas they’re doing the best in.

The Schoolio Homeschool Report Card.

We have an incredible Homeschooling Report Card available for you to use for free! If you are interested in keeping track of the year, or maybe your child is like my oldest daughter and wants to take it to her grandparents to brag. This report card is the perfect fit. The Schoolio Report card keeps track of more than just their academics. Also included: Character traits, arts and so much more! Because we believe education is holistic! Education isn’t just about the 3R’s, it’s about art, growth, happiness, and academics. A beautiful balance.
You can leave fun, positive notes on your child’s report card. Pointing out just how awesome they are, while offering encouragement for areas that they’re struggling in. Have fun with it! And help your child know that their value goes beyond the grades that they get.

Download your FREE Schoolio Report Card below!

 


DOWNLOAD REPORT CARD TEMPLATE