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	<title>TTC Blog</title>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/building-strong-maths-foundations-why-early-primary-years-matter-117s163</link>
<title><![CDATA[Building Strong Maths Foundations - Why Early Primary Years Matter]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[For many children, the first few years of school are full of discovery &mdash; learning to read, count, and make sense of the world around them. But among all the new things they learn, mathematics stands out as one of the most important.

These early maths experiences &mdash; counting apples, recognising shapes, learning to add and subtract &mdash; aren&rsquo;t just about numbers. They form the building blocks of logical thinking, confidence, and problem-solving that children will carry throughout life.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[For many children, the first few years of school are full of discovery &mdash; learning to read, count, and make sense of the world around them. But among all the new things they learn, mathematics stands out as one of the most important.

These early maths experiences &mdash; counting apples, recognising shapes, learning to add and subtract &mdash; aren&rsquo;t just about numbers. They form the building blocks of logical thinking, confidence, and problem-solving that children will carry throughout life.

Unfortunately, for too many students, maths can start to feel &ldquo;too hard&rdquo; too soon. By the time they reach upper primary, many have already decided that maths isn&rsquo;t &ldquo;for them.&rdquo; And once that confidence is lost, it can take years to rebuild.


&#x1F9EE; A National Focus on Early Maths

In the recent announcement &ldquo;Next Steps in School Education Reform&rdquo;, the Education Minister emphasised the importance of improving maths curriculum in the first three years of school.

Minister put it simply:


&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to identify really early the children who are falling behind and need more help.&rdquo;


The review aims to simplify expectations and ensure teachers have access to improved teaching materials. The changes would complement other national initiatives to support students who fall behind.


&#x1F4AC; What Experts Are Saying &mdash; &ldquo;Maths Isn&rsquo;t Just for the Few&rdquo;

On ABC Radio Adelaide, the guest speaker from the University of South Australia discussed why so many children (and adults) view maths as &ldquo;too hard.&rdquo;

The guest speaker explained that unlike other subjects, maths often has an unfair reputation. People sometimes believe you either &ldquo;get it&rdquo; or you don&rsquo;t &mdash; but that&rsquo;s simply not true. O&rsquo;Keefe said,


&ldquo;Everything you learn in history isn&rsquo;t relevant to everything you do in everyday life, but we don&rsquo;t seem to ask the same question.&rdquo;


Her message was clear: early experiences with maths matter deeply. When children feel successful and supported, they&rsquo;re far more likely to enjoy maths and stay engaged. But if they feel confused or anxious, they can develop &ldquo;maths anxiety&rdquo; &mdash; a lack of confidence that may persist into adulthood.

This is why both researchers and policymakers are pushing for reform &mdash; to make maths accessible, achievable, and confidence-building from the very beginning.


&#x1F31F; How Tutoring Makes a Difference

That&rsquo;s where tutoring can play a powerful role.

At The Tutoring Company, we&rsquo;ve seen first-hand how a little extra support early on can completely change a child&rsquo;s learning journey. Tutoring isn&rsquo;t just about drilling times tables or finishing homework &mdash; it&rsquo;s about helping children feel capable, confident, and curious about maths.

Here&rsquo;s how personalised tutoring can make a lasting impact:

1. Catch Up Early

Early intervention is key. If a child is struggling with counting, number sense, or basic operations, addressing these issues early prevents frustration later. Small gaps can grow quickly &mdash; but with one-on-one support, children can rebuild understanding before it becomes a major obstacle.

2. Build Confidence and Positivity

We focus on creating small wins. When students experience success, their mindset changes &mdash; &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do this&rdquo; turns into &ldquo;I can learn this!&rdquo; This shift is often what reignites their love of learning.

3. Personalised, One-on-One Support

Every child learns differently. Some need more time to explore patterns and problem-solving; others benefit from real-world examples that make abstract ideas concrete. Our tutors tailor each session to suit the child&rsquo;s pace and learning style, ensuring no one feels rushed or left behind.

4. Ongoing Communication with Parents

Our tutors provide regular feedback and updates, so you always know how your child is progressing &mdash; and how to support them at home. Together, we can create consistency and momentum that lasts beyond the tutoring session.


&#x1F468;&zwj;&#x1F469;&zwj;&#x1F467;&zwj;&#x1F466; Why Parents Value Early Maths Support

For many parents, it&rsquo;s not just about better test results &mdash; it&rsquo;s about confidence and peace of mind.


	
	You&rsquo;ll know your child is keeping up with what&rsquo;s being taught in school.
	
	
	You&rsquo;ll see them grow more confident with numbers and less anxious about homework.
	
	
	You&rsquo;ll be equipping them with essential skills for future learning &mdash; not just in maths, but across all subjects.
	


Now is the perfect time to ensure your child feels supported, capable, and ready for success.


&#x1F4A1; Let&rsquo;s Talk About What&rsquo;s Right for Your Child

If you&rsquo;ve noticed your child starting to say &ldquo;maths is too hard&rdquo; &mdash; or if you simply want to give them a stronger start &mdash; we&rsquo;re here to help.

Our tutors are patient, experienced, and passionate about helping children build lifelong learning habits. We can create a tailored program that makes maths engaging, achievable, and rewarding.

&#x1F4DE; Let&rsquo;s chat!
Contact The Tutoring Company today to discuss our Maths Tutoring options.

Together, we can turn confusion into confidence &mdash; and help your child build the solid foundation they deserve for every year ahead.
]]></content>
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<pubDate>24 Oct 2025 04:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/helping-students-learn-their-way-how-tutoring-can-reignite-the-joy-of-learning-117s162</link>
<title><![CDATA[Helping Students Learn Their Way: How Tutoring Can Reignite the Joy of Learning]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Recent report (watch here) has drawn attention to a growing concern across Australia &mdash; more students than ever are quietly stepping away from traditional schooling. The data revealed that school attendance has dropped dramatically in recent years, with millions of school days missed annually.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Recent report (watch here) has drawn attention to a growing concern across Australia &mdash; more students than ever are quietly stepping away from traditional schooling. The data revealed that school attendance has dropped dramatically in recent years, with millions of school days missed annually.

Behind these figures are students who feel anxious, disconnected, or overwhelmed. Many face learning difficulties, or social pressures that make it difficult to thrive in a one-size-fits-all classroom environment.

At The Tutoring Company, we see these challenges every day &mdash; and we also see how the right support can completely change a student&rsquo;s learning journey.

&#x1F4A1; Learning Should Never Be One-Size-Fits-All

Traditional classrooms are often unable to provide the personalised attention that many learners require. Tutoring bridges that gap. It offers students the opportunity to learn at their own pace, receive targeted help, and rebuild their confidence in a supportive, encouraging environment.

&#x1F3AF; How Tutoring Helps Students &ldquo;Learn Their Way&rdquo;

1. Personalised Learning Support

Every student is unique &mdash; and so are our lessons. Our tutors design sessions around each student&rsquo;s goals, challenges, and strengths. Whether it&rsquo;s catching up, keeping up, or extending beyond the curriculum, we help each learner progress with confidence.

2. Confidence and Motivation

Many students who disengage from school have simply lost belief in their own ability. Through consistent encouragement and small, achievable goals, our tutors help students rediscover their self-belief and take pride in their learning again.

3. Flexible, Supportive Environments

With both face-to-face and online tutoring, students can learn where they feel most comfortable. This flexibility reduces stress, supports wellbeing, and helps maintain steady progress &mdash; even during times of change or challenge.

&#x1F91D; A Partnership in Learning

At The Tutoring Company, we believe that true learning happens when students feel understood and supported &mdash; not pressured or left behind. By working together with families and schools, our tutors help students find their rhythm, rebuild confidence, and rediscover the joy of learning.

If your child is finding school overwhelming, struggling to stay motivated, or needs a confidence boost, tutoring can make all the difference. With the right guidance, every student can learn their way &mdash; and thrive.

&#x1F4AC; Let&rsquo;s Help Your Child Thrive

Contact The Tutoring Company today to discover how our personalised tutoring programs can support your child&rsquo;s learning journey.
]]></content>
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<pubDate>16 Oct 2025 07:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/a-wake-up-call-from-naplan-2025-117s161</link>
<title><![CDATA[A Wake-Up Call from NAPLAN 2025]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The most recent Naplan results &mdash;a snapshot of Australia&#39;s students&rsquo; literacy and numeracy performance in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9&mdash;are in. The overarching story? Results remain broadly stable with some isolated improvements, but deeply troubling trends persist.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[The most recent Naplan results &mdash;a snapshot of Australia&#39;s students&rsquo; literacy and numeracy performance in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9&mdash;are in. The overarching story? Results remain broadly stable with some isolated improvements, but deeply troubling trends persist.


	
	Approximately one in three students aren&rsquo;t meeting the minimum benchmarks in literacy and numeracy.
	
	
	Roughly 10% of students are classified as needing additional support&mdash;meaning they&#39;re significantly behind where they need to be.
	
	
	Encouragingly, 20,000 more students are now performing at an &ldquo;Exceeding&rdquo; level in numeracy compared to last year&mdash;but these gains are limited in scope.
	
	
	Students from regional, remote, Indigenous, and disadvantaged backgrounds continue to trail behind their peers&mdash;deepening the equity divide.
	


As Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (&quot;ACARA&quot;) warns, while participation has rebounded and bright spots exist, systemic and targeted action is urgently needed.

Why Tutoring Is No Longer Optional&mdash;It&rsquo;s Essential


	
	Bridging the Learning Gaps
	With one-third of students falling short of national expectations, many are at risk of long-term academic consequences. Personalized tutoring helps address deeply rooted weaknesses and keeps kids on track.
	
	
	Beyond &lsquo;Broadly Stable&rsquo;: Targeted Gains Matter
	While national metrics may appear flat, individual students can&mdash;and do&mdash;experience significant improvement through tailored intervention that traditional classrooms often can&rsquo;t provide.
	
	
	Equity in Action
	The most disadvantaged students are being left behind&mdash;but tutoring levels the playing field, giving every child a fighting chance regardless of background or school context.
	
	
	Evidence-Based &amp; Proven
	Experts have long highlighted that phonics, numeracy checks, evidence-based teaching, and catch-up tutoring are among the few interventions shown to deliver real outcomes (source: EducationHQ).
	


Why Choose The Tutoring Company?


	
	Tailored Learning Paths tailored to each child&rsquo;s unique strengths and challenges.
	
	
	Qualified and Experienced Tutors who go beyond curriculum, building confidence and skills.
	
	
	Flexible Scheduling that fits a family&rsquo;s lifestyle without disrupting day-to-day routines.
	
	
	Proven Track Record&mdash;we&rsquo;ve helped countless students boost their proficiency, confidence, and enjoyment in learning.
	


What You Can Do Now


	
	Check your child&rsquo;s NAPLAN report carefully. Identify if they&#39;re in the &ldquo;Developing&rdquo; or &ldquo;Needs additional support&rdquo; category.
	
	
	Monitor strengths and weaknesses&mdash;especially in reading, writing, and numeracy.
	
	
	Reach out to us at The Tutoring Company. We&rsquo;ll walk you through how we support students and tailor a learning plan that gets results.
	


NAPLAN 2025 isn&rsquo;t just another set of numbers&mdash;it&rsquo;s a clear signal that many students need more than traditional schooling can provide. Tutoring isn&rsquo;t a luxury; it&rsquo;s a necessity for ensuring every child achieves their full learning potential.

Let&rsquo;s turn these worrying stats into individual success stories&mdash;your child&rsquo;s could be next.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/a-wake-up-call-from-naplan-2025-117s161</guid>
<pubDate>23 Aug 2025 02:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/mastering-phonics-how-victoria39s-phonics-plus-progrm-impacts-early-learning-and-how-tutoring-can-help-117s160</link>
<title><![CDATA[Mastering Phonics: How Victoria&#39;s Phonics Plus Progrm Impacts Early Learning and How Tutoring Can Help?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Starting in Term 1, 2025, the Victorian Government has mandated that all public school teachers dedicate a minimum of 25 minutes daily to explicit instruction in phonics and phonemic awareness for students from Prep to Grade 2. This initiative aims to enhance reading outcomes, addressing concerns highlighted by recent studies indicating that many Victorian students are not meeting the national proficiency benchmark in reading.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Starting in Term 1, 2025, the Victorian Government has mandated that all public school teachers dedicate a minimum of 25 minutes daily to explicit instruction in phonics and phonemic awareness for students from Prep to Grade 2. This initiative aims to enhance reading outcomes, addressing concerns highlighted by recent studies indicating that many Victorian students are not meeting the national proficiency benchmark in reading.

Phonics instruction, which emphasizes the relationship between sounds and letters, is fundamental in early education. It equips children with the skills to decode words, facilitating fluent reading and comprehension. For students with dyslexia or other learning difficulties, systematic phonics-based instruction is particularly beneficial, as it provides a structured approach to reading that can significantly improve their literacy skills.

However, implementing this phonics-focused approach presents challenges. Some educators express concerns about increased workloads and the need for adequate training to effectively deliver the new curriculum. Additionally, students may face difficulties adapting to this method, especially if they require more individualized attention than what is feasible in a classroom setting.

This is where personalized tutoring becomes invaluable. One-on-one tutoring offers tailored instruction that addresses each student&#39;s unique needs, reinforcing classroom learning and building confidence. For children struggling with phonics or those diagnosed with dyslexia, specialized tutoring can provide the focused support necessary to master reading skills, ensuring they do not fall behind.

At The Tutoring Company, we understand the importance of early literacy and are committed to supporting students through customized tutoring programs. Our experienced tutors employ evidence-based strategies to help children excel in reading and phonics. Contact us today to learn more about how our tutoring services can benefit your child.
]]></content>
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<pubDate>14 Mar 2025 03:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-tutoring-at-the-start-of-the-term-is-better-than-last-minute-exam-preparation-117s159</link>
<title><![CDATA[Why Tutoring at the Start of the Term is Better Than Last-Minute Exam Preparation?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As students embark on a new school term, many parents consider when to begin tutoring. Some opt to wait until exams are approaching, hoping for a quick boost in grades. However, starting tutoring at the beginning of the term is a far more effective strategy. Investing in early tutoring support not only reduces stress but also leads to better long-term results. Here&rsquo;s why starting early is the smarter choice.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[As students embark on a new school term, many parents consider when to begin tutoring. Some opt to wait until exams are approaching, hoping for a quick boost in grades. However, starting tutoring at the beginning of the term is a far more effective strategy. Investing in early tutoring support not only reduces stress but also leads to better long-term results. Here&rsquo;s why starting early is the smarter choice.

1. Builds a Strong Foundation

The first few weeks of a school term are crucial for laying the groundwork for the topics that will be covered throughout the semester. If a student struggles with early concepts, those difficulties can compound over time, making it harder to catch up later. Tutoring at the start of the term helps students grasp foundational concepts, making advanced topics easier to understand.

2. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Many students (in particular for year 12 students) experience high levels of stress as exams approach, especially if they feel unprepared. Last-minute cramming often leads to burnout and does not allow for deep learning. By starting tutoring early, students build confidence over time, reducing anxiety and ensuring they feel ready when assessments arrive.

3. Encourages Consistent Learning Habits

Regular tutoring sessions throughout the term establish a disciplined approach to studying. Rather than relying on last-minute revision, students develop strong study habits that help them retain information effectively. This not only benefits their current subjects but also equips them with skills that will be useful throughout their academic journey.

4. More Time for Practice and Reinforcement

Learning is most effective when concepts are revisited multiple times. With early tutoring, students can go over challenging topics several times, reinforcing their understanding. This approach helps move knowledge from short-term memory to long-term retention, making it easier to recall during exams.

5. Avoids the Last-Minute Rush

Waiting until exams are near often means competing for limited tutor availability. Many tutoring services become fully booked, leaving parents and students scrambling for help. Early enrolment ensures students receive consistent, high-quality tutoring without the stress of last-minute arrangements.

Start the Term Strong with The Tutoring Company

At The Tutoring Company, we believe in proactive learning. We help students build a strong academic foundation from the very start of the term, setting them up for long-term success. Don&rsquo;t wait until exam pressure sets in&mdash;give your child the advantage of early support today. Contact us now to enrol in our personalised tutoring programs and make this term the best one yet!

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-tutoring-at-the-start-of-the-term-is-better-than-last-minute-exam-preparation-117s159</guid>
<pubDate>24 Feb 2025 02:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-ai-can39t-replace-human-tutors-117s158</link>
<title><![CDATA[Why AI Can&#39;t Replace Human Tutors?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Artificial intelligence (AI) is popping up everywhere. In particular for teaching/tutoring, some people wonder if it could replace human tutors. Sure, AI can crunch numbers and answer questions fast. But when it comes to actually teaching and connecting with students, it just doesn&rsquo;t measure up. Here&rsquo;s why human tutors are still irreplaceable.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Artificial intelligence (AI) is popping up everywhere. In particular for teaching/tutoring, some people wonder if it could replace human tutors. Sure, AI can crunch numbers and answer questions fast. But when it comes to actually teaching and connecting with students, it just doesn&rsquo;t measure up. Here&rsquo;s why human tutors are still irreplaceable.

1. No Real Emotions or Empathy

Learning isn&rsquo;t just about getting the right answers&mdash;it&rsquo;s also about feeling motivated and supported. A great tutor picks up on frustration, encourages students, and knows when to give them a confidence boost. AI, on the other hand, just follows its algorithm. It can&rsquo;t really care about a student&rsquo;s struggles the way a human can.

2. Can&rsquo;t Read the Room

Ever had a tutor notice you zoning out and switch things up? That&rsquo;s because human tutors pick up on body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. AI doesn&rsquo;t get these cues, so it keeps going even if a student is confused or disengaged. That can make learning feel robotic and frustrating.

3. Doesn&rsquo;t Adjust on the Fly

Great tutors know when to change their approach. They can explain things in a different way, use real-life examples, or even crack a joke to make a topic more relatable. AI can only make up responses based on its algorithm  &mdash;it doesn&rsquo;t truly think on its own or get creative in the moment.

4. Makes Silly Mistakes and Lacks Logical Thinking

While AI is great at processing information quickly, it sometimes makes silly mistakes or provides incorrect answers (e.g. &quot;9.11 is bigger than 9.9&quot; answered by some of the state-of-the-art AI models) . It doesn&rsquo;t truly understand logic the way a human does and might struggle with complex reasoning. A human tutor, however, can catch these errors and help students think critically to arrive at the correct answers.

Final Thoughts

AI can be a helpful tool, but it will never replace the human touch in education. Learning is personal, emotional, and ever-changing&mdash;qualities that only real tutors bring to the table. AI might make studying more convenient, but when it comes to truly understanding and supporting students, human tutors will always be essential.

If you&rsquo;re looking for high-quality, one-on-one tutoring that provides real support and personalized guidance, just give us a call to discuss!
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-ai-can39t-replace-human-tutors-117s158</guid>
<pubDate>22 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-can39t-i-get-a-home-based-tutor-117s157</link>
<title><![CDATA[Why can&#39;t I get a home-based tutor?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As with many industries, the tutoring industry is experiencing a tutor shortage at the same time as it is experiencing an increase in the number of students wanting a tutor. 

Home-based tutors are the hardest to employ and this blog explores some of the reasons for this. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Prior to Covid-19, home-based tutoring was very common across Australia. Online tutoring was not common.

Today, that has been reversed with most tutoring occurring online and very little tutoring happening in homes.

Online tutoring does not suit all students and, for various reasons, these students are best catered for when a tutor can visit them at home. But these students are currently not being tutored at all, are attending tutoring centres, getting group tutoring or having in-home tutoring simply because they found a tutor who lives locally. In some instances, the local tutor is a perfect fit, but at other times, this has not been successful.

The Tutoring Company receives requests daily from parents wanting a home-based tutor and we only occasionally can find a great tutor. Many other parents have been on our waitlist and have also been trying to find an in-home tutor privately. Many of these parents are now asking to simply transfer to online tutoring as they are keen for their children to start tutoring and understand that this is the only option.

The Tutoring Company has also had requests from other tutoring businesses asking if they can pay to use our tutors!! Yes, the situation is that desperate and no, we don&#39;t allow other businesses to use our tutors. 

Australia is currently experiencing a severe shortage of teachers and this is having a flow-on effect on the tutoring industry. As teachers are so highly sought after within schools, many teachers have stopped tutoring to focus entirely on school employment. The situation is so severe in some areas that teaching undergraduates are even being employed within schools. These undergraduates form a large part of The Tutoring Company workforce and we are therefore experiencing a lack of such tutors applying for tutoring positions, or leaving tutoring to work part-time in schools.

The demand for tutoring services is greater than ever, and many of our own tutors are fully booked. In fact, we have very little availability remaining. We are constantly looking to hire more tutors, but the response to our ads is minimal. Many applicants are not suitable candidates as they do not meet our requirements. This includes the fact that we only allow either primary pre-service or qualified teachers to work with children in the primary years and tutors for senior year students must have experience either tutoring or teaching at that level and must be very familiar with The Australian Curriculum. We are committed to maintaining our standards even though we could hire many tutors if we lowered them! I am sure our many clients support this view, which is the reason they refer our services to their friends and why we get many new tutoring requests daily.

Many tutors do not want to visit homes as after two years of tutoring online, tutors now realise the many benefits, including being able to tutor a greater number of students and hence earn more, together with not having to battle peak hour traffic getting to student&#39;s homes after school. In addition, many tutors simply want to reduce their risk of contracting Covid or the flu by not visiting homes. In addition, some tutors are unvaccinated preventing them from entering homes to work. 

The Tutoring Company has tried as hard as possible to absorb rising costs and keep any price increases to a minimum. To entice tutors to do in-home tutoring, the price increase can simply be too great and puts this out of reach for many clients. Clients are likely to pay up to $20/hr more for a tutor to come to their home and are therefore opting to have online tutoring instead.

Many clients are choosing online tutoring and are surprised by how much their children enjoy it.

The Tutoring Company online tutoring platform is a specialised, education-based platform that can be customised for each student. We have been delivering online tutoring for years before Covid-19 and know that our delivery method is far superior to zoom, google meets etc.

If you think you would like to try online tutoring, just give us a call to discuss. 

If you want to check the price or availability of a home-based tutor, also just give us a call.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-can39t-i-get-a-home-based-tutor-117s157</guid>
<pubDate>09 Jun 2022 02:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/top-10-mistakes-people-make-when-choosing-a-tutor-and-how-to-avoid-them-117s156</link>
<title><![CDATA[Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Tutor and How To Avoid Them]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Choosing a tutor for your child can be a difficult process, but it need not be if you understand a few things about the tutoring industry.

The Australian tutoring industry is unregulated meaning that anyone can present as a tutor. This is quite a problem, especially given the current climate which has seen an explosion in the number of tutors, especially online.

Many people see tutoring as an easy way to make some extra money, especially if it can be done from home. Of course, some of these tutors are excellent, whilst others will not be so good. So how do you separate the good from the not-so-good?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Choosing a tutor for your child can be a difficult process, but it need not be if you understand a few things about the tutoring industry.

The Australian tutoring Industry is unregulated meaning that anyone can present as a tutor. This is quite a problem, especially given the current climate which has seen an explosion in the number of tutors, especially online.

Many people see tutoring as an easy way to make some extra money, especially if it can be done from home. Of course, some of these tutors are excellent, whilst others will not be so good. So how do you separate the good from the not-so-good?

 


	Choosing based on price alone.


There is always a reason why a tutor&rsquo;s price is set at a certain rate. If it is on the low-price end, it might be because the tutor is inexperienced or unqualified. They might have very little infrastructure or support behind them, making for a poor-quality tutoring session.

Paying a very high rate also doesn&rsquo;t necessarily mean a superior service. A tutor may feel that they should be paid a high rate based on their qualifications. But if this is not backed up by experience within the Australian education system and knowledge of the Australian Curriculum, then you might be wasting your money.

The best tutors are those with both experience in tutoring or teaching and with a great knowledge of The Australian Curriculum.

 


	Discounting online tutoring as an option.


When tutors use the right online tutoring delivery method (not Zoom!), then sessions can be highly productive. The most important thing to be considered is the relationship between the tutor and the student. An excellent rapport can be developed online, just as easily as face-to-face. This also means that the online tutoring platform must have both video and voice communication.

In addition, an online tutoring platform should be equipped with a range of inbuilt features, allowing for a seamless and highly productive lesson.

 


	Not checking a tutor&rsquo;s credentials when hiring privately.


It is compulsory in Australia that all tutors possess a Working With Children Check or Blue Card.

If your tutor presents you with an actual card, it should have both their photo and an id number. If a tutor just provides you with an id number, this must be checked on your state&rsquo;s database. Companies should be doing this before employing tutors and this is a mandatory step conducted by The Tutoring Company.

If you are hiring privately, it might be a bit more difficult to check and you, therefore, run the risk of placing a tutor without the right credentials in your home, working with your children.

In addition, referees and qualifications should also be checked and the tutor should be interviewed thoroughly to determine their suitability.

Lastly, there is no formal qualification for tutors in Australia. Any company that tells you they have &ldquo;certified&rdquo; or &ldquo;qualified&rdquo; tutors are simply referring to the fact that the tutor has completed that company&rsquo;s onboarding process.

 


	Choosing a tutor unfamiliar with The Australian Curriculum


As children progress through the year levels, their skills build on those taught the year before. When tutoring, it is important that a tutor understands the curriculum on either side of the student&rsquo;s current year level so that they are not tutored beyond the year level expectations and that they can be &ldquo;backtracked&rdquo; in the learning and retaught earlier skills.

Also, the curriculum can differ significantly between counties and a tutor may not have learned the skills necessary for The Australian Curriculum.

All Australian states are bound by law to follow the same Australian Curriculum guidelines.


	Choosing a tutor without a Primary Years education background for students in the primary years.


Developing both literacy and numeracy skills in the primary years is a complex process. Only a tutor with a background in primary years education understands how these skills develop and in what sequence. Just because someone is good at Math or English doesn&rsquo;t mean that they are suitable tutors for primary years students, especially if these students are struggling at school.

 


	Not understanding the platform used for online tutoring.


Most tutors and many tutoring companies use zoom as their method for delivering online sessions. The main for this is that most tutors and companies did not have an online tutoring platform before Covid and had to quickly find an online solution that they could transfer their students to. This was Zoom. The other appealing factor about zoom is that it has a free version, and this is the version used by most tutors. Being free also means that it has limited functionality, and this impacts the quality of the tutoring session.

Alternative online tutoring platforms, vary in their functionality and parents should understand what the platform is and how it works, so they can compare platforms and services more accurately when making a decision.

The Tutoring Company was using a specialized education platform for years before COVID and therefore had no scrambling, or any issues when COVID suddenly shut down tutoring centres and home-based learning and we simply transferred students into their own private classroom. In fact, we make each classroom specifically for each student, allowing us to customise the classroom where necessary. The online classroom is a complete system where the student can see their tutor and they work on any type of document or website etc. Literally, everything is done through one login.

We believe we provide a far superior service, and the many positive reviews support this.

 


	Choosing a group lesson rather than one-on-one private tutoring.


Within a group lesson, the students are generally guided through a set curriculum. For some children, this is the ideal tutoring environment, but for others, especially those who are struggling to keep up at school, this can be ineffective. The students have a lesser opportunity to ask questions, may feel less confident to ask questions, and do not get the required personalised assistance they need. The experience is simply a repeat of a school-based lesson but with fewer students.

Many students crave an opportunity to ask questions specifically. The only real way this can happen is with one-on-one tutoring, either face-to-face or online. It is also the only way for specific individualised instruction to be delivered.

 


	Booking too many lessons.


If tutoring sessions are of high quality, and if they are one-on-one, then one hour per week should be enough for most students. The session is very focused, and parents can be quite surprised by what can be achieved with a great tutor one hour per week!

More lessons per week won&rsquo;t result in better or faster results, especially if the tutoring consists primarily of repetitive, worksheet type of work.

 


	Choosing a pre-set curriculum rather than opting for needs-based tutoring.


This is like the issues with group tutoring as opposed to one-on-one.

It is the school&rsquo;s responsibility to deliver the curriculum and a tutor&rsquo;s responsibility to provide the support required to allow the student to confidently understand the curriculum and complete school-based tasks.

A set curriculum means that the student has no impact on what is to be covered in a tutoring session as it has already been pre-determined by the set curriculum, just as it is at school. This, therefore, means that the student might not get an opportunity to address the particular aspects of the curriculum they are struggling with.

Children who are struggling at school do not just need a repeat of the classroom lesson but need an opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas and talk to their tutor as much as possible. This allows the tutor to understand how a student thinks about what they are doing and why and therefore enables them to correct any misunderstandings in the students&#39; conceptual or procedural knowledge.

In addition, some curriculum delivery methods mean that the tutor is only supervising, rather than actually tutoring. A tutor delivering a pre-set curriculum should have the same credentials as a one-on-one tutor and have the same understanding of The Australian Curriculum.

Therefore, many children will benefit more from &quot;needs-based&quot; tutoring instead.

 


	Insisting on a Trial Lesson or Free Assessment


These sound like a good idea in theory, but how much benefit is there really?

A trial lesson provides a very limited time for a student and tutor to get to each other. Just because a relationship got off to a slow start doesn&rsquo;t mean that ultimately that tutor isn&rsquo;t the ideal tutor for that student. Look at giving it about 4 lessons before deciding the tutor&rsquo;s suitability.

Also, make sure that the company has alternatives for you to easily move to if it really isn&rsquo;t working.

Free assessments are only grade-based assessments used to determine a starting point, or where a student should be placed in a pre-set curriculum. This sounds good, but in reality, it doesn&rsquo;t provide any information about why a child is performing at a certain standard or struggling with their schoolwork.

A tutor who really knows what they are doing will gradually determine the underlying reasons, by careful interactions with the student. This will take a bit more time but is vastly more valuable.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/top-10-mistakes-people-make-when-choosing-a-tutor-and-how-to-avoid-them-117s156</guid>
<pubDate>07 Mar 2022 23:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-help-your-child-learn-to-read-and-love-it-117s155</link>
<title><![CDATA[How to help your child learn to read and love it!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[It is normal for some children to struggle to learn to read at the same rate as others. Remote learning during lockdowns has made this even more difficult with many parents struggling to help their children.

This blog looks at some of the things parents can do to ease the stress and rekindle a love of reading in their children. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Many children struggle with learning to read, or simply take a bit longer to develop this skill.

The current remote learning has made this task even more difficult or has caused some children to be learning to read more slowly than if they were in the classroom. Compounding this is the difficulty many parents are facing trying to teach their children to read whilst often also working from home and attending to the needs of other children.

Children are typically competitive, none more so than in a classroom. They can see and hear what others are doing and achieving. This drives children to be like, or better than, their classmates. Remote learning has removed this interaction resulting in many children losing the drive to learn to read. For parents, this feels like an impossible task, often resulting in teary children and frustrated adults.

If your child is digging in their heels about reading or is losing confidence, then change tactics.  

Children simply want to have fun and there are many simple things parents can do to turn reading into a fun activity:


	Let your children recognize that words and letters are everywhere: packaging, number plates, billboards, street signs, brochures, newspapers, magazines, supermarket shelf labels, etc.
	Reading isn&rsquo;t just about what is in a book, but it is about reading everything around us. When going for a walk, ask your child to see if they can find 5 &ldquo;a&rdquo; or five &ldquo;A&rdquo; for example. &ldquo;a&rdquo; is called a short vowel as in &ldquo;cat&rdquo; and A is a long vowel sound as in &ldquo;cape.&rdquo; Vary this in any way you like to make it fun. You might like to reward them for participating by reading a story to them when you get home.
	Use empty packaging and ask your child to cut out/colour in certain letters/words. Cut out words/letters can be glued onto the plain inside of a cardboard packet.
	Have a letter/word of the day: The child fills a jar with an item every time they recognise the letter/word.
	Write letters/words with chalk on the footpath
	Build letters out of toys/leggo
	Place a thin layer of sand/flour in a flat baking tray. The child can write with their finger in the flour, erase it and start again.


One of the biggest issues causing many children to become disengaged with reading is when they are asked to read a text that contains words they find difficult to read or pronounce. This is simply not enjoyable and can be quite demoralizing for a child who must &ldquo;sound out&rdquo; many words, reads slowly, and is unable to follow the story.

The whole purpose of reading is to read with understanding. This must be the priority. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to never ask a child to read a text for the first time that contains words they don&rsquo;t know or can&rsquo;t read.

It is always best to look at individual words first and talk about the word and what it means. What letters does it contain? What sound do these letters make? Only when a child can read and understand all the words in a text and has heard the text read to them are they in a position to read the text out loud.

If you simply don&rsquo;t have time for this, don&rsquo;t stress. Just read to your child each day, typically at night as a bedtime story.

Some of the activities above can be incorporated when you read to a child. Ask them to clap their hands each time they hear a certain sound or word. Can they find this word/letter on the page? Or, simply make sure they can see the page when you read to them.

Discuss the story. What do they think will happen next? How do think the characters feel? What is their favourite part of the story? Discuss the pictures and even have a few picture books to focus on as this still helps to develop a love of storytelling without the burden of decoding words.

In essence, it doesn&rsquo;t really matter what you do, so long as your child is interested in reading, whether that be reading to themselves, out loud, or simply listening to a story.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-help-your-child-learn-to-read-and-love-it-117s155</guid>
<pubDate>30 Aug 2021 03:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[How to help stressed and underperforming students]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Are your children stressed about their classwork and remote learning?

Are they falling behind academically?

This is the case for many students who are really struggling with remote learning.

This article explores a few things parents can do to help. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Many of us are feeling the strain of this lockdown, more than we have previously. In particular, children are being greatly impacted by the lack of time with their friends and the opportunity to socialise and just be kids. In addition, many children are also being impacted academically and are falling behind. On the other hand, some children are thriving and have in fact improved academically.

So how can you tell if your child is struggling and what can you do about it?

Start by talking to them

Ask your children how they are feeling about school.

Try to be specific here as many children (especially adolescents!) will give you a simple answer that does not promote further conversation. Your child might be afraid of getting into trouble if your find out they are falling behind and not submitting work.

Think about where and when you can have this conversation. A great time is when you are going for a walk or drive. The key is to be out of the house and doing something together, even if it is as simple as grocery shopping. Keep your antennae up for an opportunity to have this conversation occur naturally.

In particular, ask them if they are finding the work easy or not.

Are they able to ask questions when online with their teacher?

Are they getting the help they need as they might get in the physical classroom?

Understand that teachers simply have limited time to individually assist children in the online environment.

Have a look at the work your child is submitting

Are they keeping up or is the list of non-submitted tasks growing?

Are the submitted tasks brief and without detail?

A child who is struggling may not fully understand what is required and simply needs some 1/1 support to ask questions and successfully complete work.

Have you noticed changes in behaviour?

Children can become quite stressed when they know they are not keeping up with classwork, or the standard of their work is not what they would like.

Stress and anxiety may result in many behaviour changes such as being quieter than normal, angrier, more disruptive, appear to have given up or you simply think your child has just grown lazy.

Any change in behaviour needs to be attended to. What might look like a lazy child, may in fact be a symptom of a child who is feeling completely overwhelmed.

Talk to your child&rsquo;s teacher

Don&rsquo;t wait for parent/teacher interviews if you have any concerns.

Teachers want to know now.

Is the teacher noticing the same things as you?

Are they doing anything specific to help your child?

If your child has an Independent Learning Plan (ILP), has this been adapted for the current situation?

What does the teacher think you could do to help, that is reasonable and easy?

What do you think the teacher could do to help, that is reasonable and easy?

Remember that the teacher is also likely to be highly stressed and working exceptionally long hours.

Be kind to yourself

Not only are you worried about your children, but you have your own stresses to deal with.

Take time out to do something you enjoy. This can be as simple as going for a walk with your children or playing board games.

Most importantly, whatever you do it must be FUN!

Laughter is the greatest de-stressor. Play hide-and-seek inside and tiggy outside! Build a couch cubby. Get your children to teach you their games and then play with them!!

Get additional support through one-on-one online tutoring

Neither you nor the teachers can do it all.

Providing your children with an opportunity to finally ask their questions, without being interrupted by their classmates, could be all they need to get back on track academically.

The Tutoring Company&rsquo;s private and personal one-on-one online classroom allows children to do exactly that.

We do not have group classes, nor do we provide a curriculum that we slot children into. Instead, we provide an environment for children to be in charge and to direct what they want to cover with their tutor. The tutoring is targeted and specific and the tutor can also provide further instruction on what they believe to be areas of weakness.

To find out more about how we can get your children back on track, please feel free to contact us, or simply visit The Tutoring Company for more information.

This article was written by Jenny Pownall, an education professional with over 35 years of experience and owner and founder of The Tutoring Company.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-help-stressed-and-underperforming-students-117s154</guid>
<pubDate>20 Aug 2021 01:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Not all Online Tutoring is the same: Comparing &quot;apples with apples.&quot;]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[When parents are considering online tutoring, they need to be incredibly careful about three major aspects and to be sure that when comparing tutors and companies that they compare &ldquo;apples with apples&rdquo; to get a true indication of the quality and value of the tutoring.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[There is currently a huge demand for online tutors across the globe. In addition, there are literally many thousands of online tutors and online tutoring companies.

When parents are considering online tutoring, they need to be incredibly careful about three major aspects and to be sure that when comparing tutors and companies that they compare &ldquo;apples with apples&rdquo; to get a true indication of the quality and value of the tutoring.


	The platform used to deliver online lessons.
	The qualifications and background of the tutor.
	Set curriculum versus needs-based tutoring


Most online tutors deliver lessons through Zoom. Personally, I do not rate zoom as an online tutoring platform, especially when there are so many superior options. The truth is most tutors use zoom as they use the free version. This means that there are limited features available. This has a direct impact on the quality of the online lesson.

The Tutoring Company uses a specialized education-based platform designed specifically for tutoring. Students experience personalized, one-on-one tutoring in their own private classroom built especially for them. They can see and talk to their tutor, work on shared documents in real-time, write essays, perform math calculations, label diagrams plus much more. Inbuilt math features, collaborative writing tools, and the ability to write directly in the classroom mean that students can do anything within the room they would do if their tutor were sitting next to them.

No more zoom links to worry about, nor are there any tools or apps to download. Students simply log into their private lessons through their personal account. Simple and easy.

Understandably, many students are hesitant to try online tutoring as they had an unpleasant experience with it in 2020 when many Australian schools delivered home-based schooling during lockdown periods. However, The Tutoring Company&#39;s online platform is quite different from what students have experienced. In fact, the most common response from hesitant students is &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not what I thought it would be. I love it!&rdquo;

The other consideration is the quality of the tutor. The primary years are the developmental and formative years of education. This means, that only adequately trained tutors have the required understanding of how children acquire their numeracy and literacy skills. Therefore, Primary years tutors MUST be qualified primary years teachers or studying to become one. Secondary tutors must have an excellent understanding of the course content. For example, simply being good at math does not mean that a tutor understands the specific curriculum content of the different math courses for senior students. Tutors should either be qualified teachers, pre-service teachers, or studying the subject at University and with a proven track record of tutoring.

Finally, ALL tutors must have a Working With Children Check. Parents need to know how to determine the authenticity of the WWCC or teacher registration number, and how to conduct referee checks.

The Tutoring Company carefully conducts background and reference checks on all tutors in addition to tutors participating in a personal interview. Only when a tutor successfully passes all steps in our hiring process are they able to tutor with us.

Set curriculum tutoring is based around students completing lessons as they work through a computer program for their year level. Needs-based tutoring is based on the specific needs of an individual and addresses the issues underlying the skill level. Parents must understand which option is best for their children.

So, when you are looking for an online tutor what questions should you ask?


	What are your qualifications? If you are looking for a primary year tutor, try to have only a teacher or pre-service teacher. These are the only people who understand how children develop their literacy and numeracy skills. Secondary tutors who list a large variety of subjects to tutor should also be avoided unless they have particular qualifications in each subject area.
	Does the tutor have a Blue Card or Working With Children Check? This is a mandatory requirement for all tutors across Australia. Ask for proof! Do you know how to check this?
	If the tutor is a teacher, do they have current registration? Ask for proof! Do you know how to check this?
	What platform is used for online tutoring? A tutor who uses zoom may be cheaper, but is this reflected in the quality of the instruction?
	What understanding do they have of the Australian Curriculum? This is especially important for tutors of Year 11 and 12 students as the curriculum is quite specific. Again, internationally trained tutors may not have any specific understanding of the Australian Curriculum and this can present issues.
	Is it curriculum-based or needs-based tutoring? Students with Learning Difficulties or who are behind their year level are most likely to gain more from needs-based tutoring.

]]></content>
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<pubDate>10 May 2021 05:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[How to find the time to run your business!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Whether you are a solo tutor or run a business that hires tutors, finding the time to do everything you need, and want, to do, can feel like an impossible task.

This blog outlines my favourite tools that help me manage my time and actually free up my time so that I can do what I really want.

 

 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Finding the TIME to actually WORK ON your business rather than just WORK IN your business is crucial if you are to GROW your business.

Have you ever actually tracked your time in one 24 hr period?

Are you thinking: &quot;I don&#39;t have the time to do that?&quot;

Then you absolutely MUST do this.

Once you actually understand what you are spending your time on, and I mean being really explicit here, you can&#39;t really plan how and what needs to change.

This is a good list of what to track:


	answering the phone
	making phone calls
	booking in students
	creating and sending invoices
	taking payments
	reconciling payments against invoices
	overdue payments
	sending emails
	time on social media (personal)
	time on social media (business)
	sending zoom links
	creating zoom links
	managing other online tutoring platforms
	sending reports
	speaking with parents after a lesson
	preparing lessons
	finding resources
	managing tutors
	hiring tutors
	advertising
	etc, etc. for your business
	time spent on your family
	and of course, time sent on you!


When I first did this, I was shocked by how much time was being wasted on administrative tasks. I was frustrated because I couldn&#39;t spend time growing my business or developing social media skills.

I tried a few different apps and platforms and nothing really worked.

Until I discovered tutorcruncher. 

Tutorcruncher manages absolutely everything you would consider to be an administrative task and automates the vast majority of these tasks.

I estimate that this platform alone saves me up to 5 hrs daily! 

Also, tutorcruncher has inbuilt links to my amazing online classroom and this saves me more time.

I use groupworld for online tutoring, but you can really choose from quite a few platforms from within tutorcruncher itself. Using groupworld means there are no links to send as students access their classroom from within their tutorcruncher account. Perfect. 

Social media is a must for any business these days and I love Sendible for automating posts to multiple channels and managing the scheduling of my posts.

I add in Canva to design posts. You can choose templates to save you time designing, among many other time-saving features.

I also save time by repurposing content. Blogs are turned into social media posts, old blogs are redone and improved, old posts are reposted. 

Emails are automated through either tutorcruncher or Mailchimp, depending on the audience.

I love Xero for all my accounting and this is also linked to tutorcruncher.

Clients&#39; payments are automated through GoCardless and Stripe which even automate overdue payment reminders.

My website is externally managed, but I am still able to go in and edit anything I want. My blogs can be done en masse and scheduled to go out at various times. 

As well as running my own business, I manage the social media for another organization and am a Board Member of the Australian Tutoring Association. I also mentor other tutors wanting to develop their businesses. These activities also take up time, but I can do this extra stuff because I have more time available!

Now I can hear you saying &quot;But those platforms/apps cost money!&quot;

Yes, but the time these have given back to me has meant that I have been able to develop my business and substantially increase my income. So, the monthly outlay on these subscriptions has actually made me money!!

Many of these apps/platforms have free trial periods so sign up and give it a go. If you want a 4-week tutorcruncher trial please let me know. 

If you simply love a lot of these ideas but are not really a techy and a lot of this sounds a bit too much for you, then perhaps you might consider joining The Tutoring Company with your own branch?

Everything is set up for you and I&#39;m here to guide and support you on your journey.

If you want to know more, please send me an email: jenny@thetutoringcompany.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-find-the-time-to-run-your-business-117s152</guid>
<pubDate>26 Mar 2021 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Top Tips on How To Choose the Right Tutor]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Choosing a tutor can be confusing but understanding a few simple things about the tutoring industry and how tutors work will make the choice easier.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[What You Might Not Know

The first thing that most people are unaware of is that the Australian tutoring industry is unregulated, meaning that anyone at all can call themselves a tutor in whatever subjects/areas they want to.

Tutors can make any claim they choose to promote themselves and there is no agency or guidelines to oversee this. 

Why is this a problem? It&#39;s like choosing a mechanic: you wouldn&#39;t choose someone to work on your car simply because they told you they were a mechanic. We tend to choose a mechanic based on their reputation, the size of their business, premise location, etc and we also want to know that they are qualified. 

There is no tutor qualification as such, but you can certainly determine if a tutor has the right skillset. 

For example, children in the primary years are in the developmental phase of acquiring numeracy and literacy skills. Therefore, only a tutor who understands this development, such as pre-service and qualified primary teachers, is suitably qualified to tutor primary years children. Someone who got a high Year 12  English score, might be a great tutor for another senior student but will have absolutely no understanding of how children acquire literacy and numeracy skills and are therefore unsuitable to tutor primary children. 

The same can be said of any tutor who promotes themselves as very good at maths and may be studying math-based subjects at university (such as engineering.) Being good at a subject personally doesn&#39;t necessarily mean that they know how to impart knowledge. Also, there are a number of different senior math subjects in years 11 and 12, and each has quite a different curriculum. 

A tutor must be very familiar with a subject&#39;s curriculum in order to effectively tutor that subject.

The other thing to consider is the type of tutoring that is actually being delivered. Is your child simply being supervised while they complete worksheets or an online program? Do they simply complete work that is then corrected? This not tutoring!! How much of an opportunity do they have to ask questions and receive individualized instruction?

Is your child receiving individualized instruction that allows them to learn at their own pace? Is time being spent in ensuring that your child understands the underlying concepts and can apply these to numerous situations? Or, is your child simply learning some procedures which, on the surface, make it appear that they are improving, but in fact not learning anything specifically about concepts? 

The Tutor/Student Relationship

When hiring a tutor, do you know that they are actually who they say they are? Do they have a Working With Children Check?  Do you know how to check credentials?

Probably the most important consideration is the suitability of a tutor for a student. It is critical that a very good relationship develops between the student and their tutor, otherwise there is the potential that tutoring will never work. Students who are disengaged with their learning, or who are &quot;coasting&quot; will work harder to please a tutor they respect, admire, and trust. Simply allocating a student a tutor because they live in the area, or can tutor certain subjects or the time of the lessons suit the tutor best completely devalues the importance of the relationship. 

Why Choose Us?

At The Tutoring Company, we take the time to understand the type of tutor that would best suit your child. We can recommend tutors that we feel are best suited or, you can choose your own tutor yourself. In fact, many parents choose a tutor, together with their child, from our online list of tutors. When students have a say in who their tutor is, they feel an immediate connection with their tutor and are more likely to commit to working hard with them. Also, parents know their children so doesn&#39;t it make sense that you are the best person to choose a tutor?

The Tutoring Company is adamant that all tutors undergo a stringent interview and vetting process. Tutor&#39;s Teacher Registration status is checked as is the Working With Children Check issued by each State. Reference checks are also made.

We do not employ anyone who does not meet our standards. This may mean that it takes us a while to find our ideal candidates but it is always worth the wait.

When a child starts with a tutor the most important thing is the relationship between them. A child will only progress with a tutor they trust and one who encourages them and helps to build their confidence. 

Of course, content knowledge is also important but so are teaching strategies and an understanding of the developmental process of acquiring skills and knowledge. This is why our Primary Years tutors must be qualified primary teachers or those studying to become a primary teacher. Secondary tutors are also either studying to become teachers, qualified teachers, or specialists in their field with a proven history in tutoring.

Be wary of tutors claiming to tutor across multiple subjects, or claiming that they are &quot;qualified tutors&quot;. There is no tutor &quot;qualification&quot; but there is tutor certification through the Australian Tutoring Association.

This means that the tutors/organisations have been thoroughly vetted by the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA.)

ATA tutors are bound by a Code of Conduct, providing you with additional reassurance about the authenticity of your tutor.

The Tutoring Company is a member of the Australian Tutoring Association and Jenny is a board member.  

Feel free to call Jenny for a chat on 1300 186 172.

 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>23 Jan 2021 06:39:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/tutoring-contracts-and-terms-and-conditions-117s150</link>
<title><![CDATA[Tutoring Contracts and Terms and Conditions]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Understanding the difference between Terms and Conditions and Contracts will help you decide which is best for your business, your tutors, and your clients. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Contracts and/or Terms and Conditions are an important part of any business. Both provide clear direction as to the expectations of clients and employees when they work with you.

Terms and Conditions are generally the set of rules that clients agree to when they use your service. They provide certainty about all aspects of the service before clients use your service and prevent misunderstandings. They are usually agreed to via a checkbox online,  without requiring a signature.

Terms and Conditions protect both you and the client when a dispute arises. Business owners, therefore, need to think about aspects of their business that might be disputed such as refunds, and include clauses that protect their business.

The Terms and Conditions are also important in protecting both the client and student and careful thought and planning need to surround how this is to be incorporated in Terms and Conditions. For example, Child Safety must be the number one factor in lesson delivery and therefore home-based tutoring should never be conducted in a child&#39;s bedroom and parents must agree to provide a space within the home that is visible by them. 

A Contract is very similar but will be more detailed and allow for personalization such as the agreed hourly rate. A contract must be signed by both parties. It creates a formal atmosphere and should be used when hiring tutors. 

Tutoring companies need to decide if they are to use Terms and Conditions or Contracts with clients and tutors.

Clients of tutoring companies are often quite uncomfortable with signing a contract for the supply of tutoring services. They don&#39;t want to be obligated to ongoing tutoring if they are unhappy with the service or cannot continue for personal reasons. Knowing that money cannot be refunded (often a clause in client tutoring contracts when Term bookings and payments are made in advance) can mean that a client chooses not to sign with the company. 

Tutoring businesses, however, must protect their clients, students, tutors, and their business and therefore find client contracts the most effective means of doing this. But, I have never asked my clients to sign a contract but agree to Terms and Conditions instead. 

Our Terms and Conditions cover all aspects of the service and outline both The Tutoring Company&#39;s and the client&#39;s responsibilities. The Terms and Conditions are automated on client accounts and they must be agreed to before the client can proceed to log in. Our Terms and Conditions cover both the company and client responsibilities about aspects of the service such as cancelling lessons, payment terms, child safety conditions and lesson delivery in online, home-based and centre-based environments.

We have never had an issue or any concern from even one client regarding the Terms and Conditions. I&#39;m not sure if this would be the case if we asked clients to sign a contract. In fact, I am told by clients that one of the reasons they choose The Tutoring Company is simply because we have Terms and Conditions as opposed to a signed contract. 

I use a contract for tutors joining The Tutoring Company. The contract is deliberately extensive as we want to make sure that every conceivable aspect is covered, thereby protecting the tutor and The Tutoring Company. The contract is non-negotiable. 

Writing a Contract and Terms and Conditions can be difficult but these templates are purpose-built for tutoring companies. Simply add in your own company details, edit the templates to suit your business and you&#39;re ready to go!

Terms and Conditions Template

Contract Template
]]></content>
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<pubDate>30 Nov 2020 06:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-write-a-tutoring-industry-business-plan-117s149</link>
<title><![CDATA[How to Write a Tutoring Industry Business Plan]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Many tutoring businesses fail or thrive to grow because the owners do not have a clear idea of the current state of their business and how they want to grow. 

A Business Plan is the necessary means to address this and this guide provides tutoring industry-specific guidelines. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Business growth won&#39;t happen just because you have a website and provide a service. 


If you want your business to grow you must plan for the future and think long-term. This means that you must have goals to be achieved over time and a plan of how you are going to achieve these goals. 

This is what a Business Plan is all about.

A great Business Plan will let you work out the current state of your business, assess what is and isn&#39;t working, and help you create a step-by-plan plan for building on your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses. 


Overall Action Plan


Your tutoring business success depends on the quality of the service you provide and the tools you use to deliver this service.

Are you still doing the same things in your business as you were two years ago? Five years ago? How about ten years ago?

Are you aware of changes in technology and understand how these can improve your tutoring business?

Do you know your profit margin? Do you know how to work this out?

These are only a small number of things that must be considered in order to grow your business. 

But to start, you need to do the following:


	List your short-term goals: Where do you want your business to be in 6 months&rsquo; time?
	List your medium-term goals: Where do you want your business to be in 12 months&rsquo; time?
	List your long-term goals: Where do you want your business to be in 3 years&rsquo; time?


A Business Plan will establish the means by which you are going to achieve these goals.

The next step is to develop a SWOT analysis, followed by a detailed examination of all your financials.

This will provide you with very detailed information about the current state of your business and make planning for the future so much clearer and easier. 

This process is likely to highlight aspects you had not even considered or previously thought of, such as integrating the latest technological trends into your business.

Whatever the outcome of this process, you are always the one in control and who determines what you will actually do next. 

To learn more about writing a Business Plan by starting with a One-Page Action Plan, click here.

If you want to develop a Business Plan but really don&#39;t know what to do, you might want to consider purchasing my editable template specifically designed for tutoring businesses.

Business Plan Template 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>26 Oct 2020 00:52:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-start-your-tutoring-business-117s148</link>
<title><![CDATA[How To Start Your Tutoring Business]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Starting a tutoring business is an exciting time. But, did you know that the majority of new businesses fail within the first 12 months? 

Avoid the many pitfalls with this guide. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[
Congratulations!

You have the taken the first and most important step for anyone considering starting a tutoring business. Researching and planning now will save you money and time and increase your chances of success.

Running your business from home is a great way to start a tutoring business as you have very few overheads and can run it easily on your own if you have the right tools (including a CRM and Online Tutoring Platform.)

Considerations

Parents vary greatly in what they are looking for in a tutor. Some are happy with a university student who can provide some weekly assistance and charge a low hourly rate. Others are very specific about the qualifications they want in a tutor and will pay a much higher rate for a highly qualified and experienced tutor.

What is most important is what makes you unique as a tutor and your ability to convey this to clients, so they choose you.

Tutors typically can earn anywhere from AUD$20 to AUD$120 per hour (or even more!) depending on qualifications and experience. Tutors with expertise in specialized topics or with specialised skills can often charge higher rates. Your hourly rate will also depend on your overhead costs and the profit you would like to make.

Tutoring can be done at the client&#39;s home, at the tutor&#39;s home, or in another location, such as a school or library. Online tutoring is also becoming increasingly more popular and there are many fantastic online delivery platforms available. These platforms are specifically designed for online tutoring, unlike Zoom which is designed as a meeting platform and does not meet best practice requirements for online tutoring.



Running your own tutoring business, as opposed to working for another tutoring business, has its own set of pros and cons

Pros


	Easy to set up
	Upfront costs are small
	Hours are flexible and you suit them to fit your lifestyle
	Supplement current income
	Opportunities for growth and expansion by hiring tutors
	You are your own boss, establishing your own reputation and putting your own ideas into action.


Cons


	Most tutoring occurs at nights and on weekends Long working hours as you get established
	Lack of business development skills may impede business growth
	Website development skills may be lacking, or you may not have the finances to pay for a website to be developed.
	No knowledge of marketing your business and getting new students Students can be temporary leading to inconsistent income
	School holidays can impact bookings


Tutoring Business Options


	Buy a tutoring franchise or business opportunity. High up-front costs are involved. Many aspects to the business are set and you must adhere to these as a franchisee. You may not be able to set your tutoring rates.
	Work as a contractor/employee for other tutoring business. Tutoring businesses will vary in whether their tutors are an employee or a contractor and there are benefits and disadvantages to both. Tutor rate will be set by the business and will be a lower rate than if you had your own business.
	Start your own tutoring business. You have total control over all aspects of the business, and you can charge a higher rate.
	Align yourself with an established and reputable tutoring business. Similar to starting your own business, but without the cost of buying a franchise.


Each business is unique and you must decide what is right for you. Whilst this list might look intimidating, some of these decisions are really quite easy. If you have difficulty making any of these decisions, then you should seek support from an industry body or professional.


How to decide what is right for you:


	Understand your tutoring skills and the subjects and year levels you can tutor. Tutoring more subjects doesn&rsquo;t mean you will get more students so stick to what you know.
	Know who your students are. What is the age and year level of your students? What is their academic history? Do they have Learning Difficulties?
	Know where your students live. Where do your students live and what travel is involved for you or them? Where are you going to tutor them?
	Online tutoring will broaden your possibilities but what platform will you use, and do you have the right equipment?
	Decide on your pricing. What is the pricing range you can charge? What is the average rate for tutors with a similar skill set?
	Contracts and Terms and Conditions. Will clients need to sign a contract with you, or should you have Terms and Conditions? How do you write a contract and Terms and Conditions? Have you thought about public liability insurance?
	Decide on your business structure. There are a variety of options within Australia, but it is more likely that you would start as a sole trader.
	Do you have an accountant to advise you and do you understand the tax implications of your business structure? When, and how, do you charge GST?
	Name and register your business. Consider doing this at the same time as registering a URL. Do you register as a .com or.com.au?
	Write a business plan, outlining all aspects of your business, and how you plan to grow it.
	Map out a marketing plan. A good tutoring marketing plan will include a website and social media platforms where people can learn about you, a networking strategy, and a referral system.
	Manage bookings, invoicing and payments. Should you automate these tasks with a CRM? What payment methods should you use?


For a detailed guide to starting your tutoring business click here

About the author: Jenny Pownall is a highly qualified and experienced teacher and Founder and Owner of The Tutoring Company (Australia). Jenny is a member of the Australian Tutoring Association board, winner of the global &quot;Top 50 Businesses in Education 2019&quot; and conference presenter and speaker.

You can email jenny@thetutoringcompany.com.au
]]></content>
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<pubDate>16 Oct 2020 01:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Jenny Pownall Interviewed on ABC Radio.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[As an ATA Board member, Jenny was interviewed by Patricia Karvelos on ABC Radio regarding the Victorian Government announcement of the 2021 &quot;Tutors in Schools&quot; program. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[ 

ABC Interview with Patricia Karvelos and Jenny Pownall

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;I&#39;m sure, wherever you are around the country, your child or children in your life, have probably had to deal with a really disrupted school year of some sort. So how are they keeping up or even getting back up to speed, whatever that is, and are they in some cases disengaged? Students have been dealt a dreadful hand over the last six months with the school year thrown into chaos around the country. And nowhere has probably been more disrupted than in Victoria where most students this week finally returned to classroom learning in Melbourne, recognizing the challenge many kids might face the state government today announced a 200 and $50 million plan to recruit and to deploy thousands of tutors across the stage.

Here&#39;s Victoria&#39;s Education Minister, James Merlino:

&ldquo;We know that the vast majority of our kids spent term two and term three studying remotely. And we know that whilst many thrived in that environment. Many students struggle particularly disadvantaged students, and my message to parents and carers. If your child has fallen behind. We will bring them back up to speed. I&#39;m sure, wherever you are around the country, your child or children in your life have probably had to deal with a really disrupted school year of some sort.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &rdquo;So how are they keeping up or even getting back up to speed, whatever that is, and are they in some cases disengaged?&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;I&#39;m joined by Jenny Pownall who&#39;s a Board member of the Australian Tutoring Association. She also runs The Tutoring Company in Melbourne. Welcome to the program.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;What do you what do you think of the government&#39;s plan?&rdquo;

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a relief! Actually, the ATA has been lobbying the government all year actually for a program like this, so it was some wonderful news to hear that today.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;You&#39;re a tutor, how have the students you&#39;re working with cope during the pandemic?&rdquo;

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;It varies quite a bit. Some children, as I think as we all know, have flourished in this environment. They&#39;ve really loved the independent learning, whereas others, and probably the majority, tend to not thrive in this environment and have really struggled. They&#39;ve really missed that contact with their teacher, which is why I suppose a lot of children have turned to tutoring to try and supplement what they&#39;re missing out at school.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;Yeah, of course. Students around the country have had a really tough year. Have you seen more families turn to tutors elsewhere also outside of Victoria?&rdquo;

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;Yes. So, predominantly Victoria obviously has had a big influx of children in tutoring, but I&#39;ve also noticed it within my own business. Australia wide, here has also been an increase and I think some of that&#39;s also been due to parents&rsquo; hesitation to send some children with underlying health issues back to school. So, I think things like home-schooling might have seen an increase as well.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;The plan is to support small group tutoring an individual tutoring where necessary so walk me through how small group tutoring works. I mean it&#39;s not one on one, it&#39;s a bit different, isn&#39;t it?&rdquo;

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;Yes, but small group tutoring would be anything up to about five children. And, if you limit the number of children to that smaller group, then you can get as close to possible as to individualized instruction as you can. Schools also try and do this where possible, but that&#39;s the main emphasis of tutoring is to either have a one on one focus or small group tutoring, and it means that the tutor is able, within the hour, to provide quite individualized attention and focus on each particular student&#39;s individual needs.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;Do you foresee any challenges with students who spent the last few months learning online from behind the screen, who are now transitioning back to real life learning?

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;Yes, there will probably be some children who will be disadvantaged by that. For example, English essays in schools need to be handwritten. You can&#39;t use technology for that because of the corrective technology with grammar etc. So, for some children, if they&#39;re going back to doing a lot more pen and paperwork, they might not necessarily be very happy about that as we all know kids love being in front of the computer screen. So, it&#39;s going to be an interesting transition for a lot of children and look, for some children, it&#39;s going to be the exact opposite. They&#39;re going to be relieved to get off the laptop and onto the pen and paper and actually sit in a classroom and working physically in a classroom.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;The government are hoping in Victoria to recruit thousands of tutors by next year but, as you know, there are plenty of tutors already working to support kids right now as you mentioned. Is this the sort of thing you think should happen nationally as well, to have a kind of program where kids are brought up to speed who&#39;ve missed out in other places?&rdquo;

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;Yes, an interesting question. Other countries, like England for example, do have a national program like that that runs in schools, and was running before COVID hit. The focus there is on students having individual attention not small group attention. So I think that perhaps next year when the government sees the results of this small group tutoring, then perhaps they look at whether there&#39;s implications for running a program like that nationally, and perhaps extending it beyond COVID.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;The Education Minister appealed to older teachers to come out of retirement and if they could, will they take up that offer, do you think?

Jenny Pownall: &ldquo;I think some will, as long as it&#39;s restricted to either individual or small group tutoring. There are many reasons of course why teachers will retire. So, it will be it will be interesting to see. There are a lot of retired teachers who love to tutor, so I would imagine that a lot of them will see this program in exactly the same vein as tutoring and I&#39;m sure that there will be appeal to a lot of those retired teachers.&rdquo;

Patricia Karvelos: &ldquo;Jenny thanks for coming on the show. Jenny is a board member of the Australian Tutoring Association. She also runs her own company in Melbourne, The Tutoring Company.&rdquo;

 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>14 Oct 2020 01:04:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/career-planning-for-vce-students-117s146</link>
<title><![CDATA[Career Planning for VCE Students]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Planning for 2021 can be quite a daunting task for many VCE students, especially when they may not have had access to their career&#39;s counsellor. 

This blog looks at some simple things students can do now and who they can turn to for support and advice. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Year 12 always has its challenges, however this year has certainly been an incredibly difficult and stressful year for students, parents and schools. The ongoing threat of COVID as well as navigating the rules around restrictions, the back and forth between on-site and remote learning, and the corresponding lack of opportunities for students to be physically present with their subject and career teachers has led to more anxiety at this time of year as we head towards exams, the release of final results and offers for tertiary courses.

In terms of career and pathways planning, there are many students who haven&rsquo;t had access to their school careers teacher in the way they normally would have. For students who are still unsure about what they want to do when they finish school, this added pressure of completing the application process and choosing courses on top of keeping up to date with their school work and study can cause significant angst. As a parent, I&rsquo;m sure it&rsquo;s difficult to know how you can support your child through this.

The best way to alleviate some of this pressure is to be aware of what needs to be done and to take some action. Although there are some institutions that accept a direct application for their courses, in general if a student wants to go on to tertiary study in Victoria, they will need to complete a VTAC application. Here are the relevant dates and tasks:


	Timely applications were due on 30th September, however students can still apply as late as 4th December (late fees apply).
	Payment is due by 17th December for the application to be considered for the first round of course offers (and most offers are made in this round).
	Students can change the courses in their preference list right up until 4th January.
	Scholarship applications through VTAC are due on 9th October, however there are other scholarships available that may still be open and are worth looking at. 


It&rsquo;s important to understand the logistics of how students can change their preferences. To be clear, your child&rsquo;s preference list doesn&rsquo;t need to be finalised when they submit their application or pay the fees. If they&rsquo;re still not sure what they want to do next year, they can submit their application with one course listed for now, and then spend some time looking at courses and making decisions about what to include in their preference list after exams if they need to.

Lastly, I strongly recommend that students take the time to think about what they want to do next year before results are released on 30th December. If they plan their preference list around what they want to do, and include a range of courses with varying lowest selection ranks (the ATAR required to receive an offer into the course), then they shouldn&rsquo;t need to change their preferences after they know their results. Doing this removes the urge to completely change what their list to unrelated courses if their ATAR is higher than they expected and makes it more likely that they will actually enjoy the course they get into.

 

Kim Whitty is a qualified careers practitioner and VCE teacher, and she has worked in schools for almost 15 years. She loves connecting with students and empowering them to make great decisions about their future. In her business, Roadmap Education, she helps Year 12 students work out what they want to do when they finish school and find the pathways they need to get there so they can feel less stressed about exams and results and more excited about next year. For more information about VTAC applications, change of preference, tertiary courses and more, visit www.roadmapeducation.com. 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>09 Oct 2020 00:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-ttc-specialised-online-tutoring-platform-117s145</link>
<title><![CDATA[The TTC Specialised Online Tutoring Platform]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Online tutoring works most effectively when students are tutored in an environment that most closely resembles face to face tutoring. 

The Tutoring Company Online Platform is packed with features that do exactly that by allowing a student&#39;s private online classroom to be customised so that their classroom best matches their needs. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Unprecedented demand for tutors, together with a shortage of face-to-face tutors across Australia has made online tutoring more popular. But, not all online tutoring delivery methods are the same, nor are they all effective.

Online tutoring works most effectively when students are tutored in an environment that most closely resembles face to face tutoring. 

The Tutoring Company Online Platform delivers an exceptional tutoring experience for students and allows tutors to personalise the online tutoring experience uniquely for each student. 

How do we do this?

Each student has their own private room which is customised just for them.

Students have different needs so it makes sense that their private classroom, and instruction, should be adaptable to these needs.

For example:


	A math student will have specific functions included in their room that an English student will not have. These functions include built-in graphing and calculator tools, and an advanced equation editor. 
	The inbuilt math tools are also excellent for Biology, Physics and Chemistry students who can also use the equation editor.
	An English student will easily be able to work collaboratively on a document in the shared text editor.
	Any student can upload any type of document, including word, excel, PDFs and even PowerPoint slides, that can be used in a variety of ways with their tutor. This includes being able to write on the document itself or using the document to guide the lesson in the shared workspace.
	Both students and tutors can share their screens. Tutors can see the student&#39;s school LMS and provide guidance and assistance to view and complete school set tasks. Screen share is also a great way for students and tutors to work on external websites, adding an engaging element to lessons. 
	Primary years students who struggle with writing will benefit from the shared text editor where a tutor can model writing, assist a student to edit their work and guide them closely in the essay writing process. 
	Younger students will often need greater visual contact with their tutor so increasing the video screen size up to full screen achieves exactly this. 
	Turning off the student video can be helpful for very shy students, or those who are really lacking in confidence.
	Text chat is a great feature for groups or even private students who might find it easier to type their questions or responses rather than speak.
	Tutors can have complete control over a student&#39;s ability to interact within the classroom. This is a great feature for students who are easily distracted or working in a room with another student. The tutor can allow a student&#39;s writing/speaking access only when asked and prevent students from interrupting each other.
	Student microphone and video controls can be disabled and only provided access when the tutor allows. 
	Students working in groups can work separately in a break-out room and then re-join the group later. 
	Students can draw/label diagrams which is an essential feature for science students.
	Primary students struggling with numeracy will be able to use a simple calculator.
	Primary students will also benefit from grids on pages that allow for explicit work on concepts like place value. Grids can also be used for spelling and even handwriting practice.
	Any page can be saved to the student&#39;s computer or immediately printed.
	Every lesson is recorded. Apart from the security aspects, this also allows students to focus completely on the lesson without having to also try to take notes off-screen. Students can review the lesson within the next few days and take notes then. 
	Making mistakes is a wonderful learning opportunity so we often recommend that a page with many errors is not deleted but that the student restarts the task on a newly inserted page. When the work is correctly completed the student can simply look back at their previous work to see where they were going wrong and then explain what they have learnt. 
	Work can be retained in a room to be reviewed in the next lesson or used as the starting point for the next lesson. This relieves the pressure many students feel to complete work in a set time and allows time for the student and tutor to really explore a concept.
	The personalised nature of each classroom also means that tutors can quickly and easily adapt instruction during the lesson itself. This is of great benefit to students who may need to review or relearn work taught earlier and where this becomes apparent during the lesson. 


You can find out more here or call us on 0432221995.

 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>24 Sep 2020 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/needs-based-vs-set-curriculum-tutoring-117s143</link>
<title><![CDATA[Needs-Based vs Set Curriculum Tutoring.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Deciding to hire a tutor is only the first in what could be a lengthy and confusing decision making process. 

Not only are there many tutors to choosse from, but there also many different tutoring styles.

How do you choose which is right for you? 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[

If you have decided that your child should receive additional support through tutoring, you will soon discover that there are not only many tutors to choose from but also many tutoring styles. 

Many tutoring companies choose to deliver a set curriculum which a student begins at a point determined by an assessment. Others, like The Tutoring Company, deliver &quot;Needs-based&quot; tutoring and may or may not offer an assessment.

A set curriculum may be delivered through workbooks, worksheets or an online program. A student works through the program under the guidance of a tutor. For students with a history of struggling at school, this may not be the best option. 

The Tutoring Company only offers needs-based tutoring and do not conduct grade-based assessments. For more information on assessments please refer to this article: Understanding Assessment

So why do we take this approach to tuition?

In general, most students require tutoring assistance because they have an incomplete understanding of concepts taught earlier in their schooling. Frequently, students may only misunderstand certain parts of the concept, rather than the concept as a whole. Also, students may understand some units very well and do not need to review these, as they would if they were receiving tuition with a pre-set curriculum. 

The Tutoring Company is more interested in WHY a student is having issues rather than the year level at which an assessment determines they are &quot;At Standard.&quot;

Addressing the core reason for struggling academically is the most important aspect to be considered if a student is to make lasting progress. This also means that many other teaching strategies are used, rather than relying on repeated practice. This is also often referred to as Explicit Instruction.

Lastly, we believe that tutoring should complement the school curriculum and provide children with the skills to complete school-based tasks to a high level. 

Education Week states: &ldquo;Something that&#39;s really important to us (Britain&rsquo;s National Tutoring Programme) is that the tutoring is well- coordinated with the classroom teaching,&rdquo; Coleman said. &ldquo;The worst thing that can happen from a teacher&rsquo;s perspective, and an impact perspective, is when you have teaching and tutoring that collides.&rdquo;

Students need help with what they are studying in school now and this can only be met through needs-based tutoring. Tutoring should enable them to complete their school tasks independently and to understand what their teacher is delivering.

We want our students going to class and being able to follow the lesson. We want them to be able to submit high-quality homework and assignments on time. This will help students gain confidence and improve their self-esteem. When they feel better about themselves and their ability to do their schoolwork, they become more engaged in class and more willing to do what is asked of them, including doing their homework instead of fighting about it!!

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/needs-based-vs-set-curriculum-tutoring-117s143</guid>
<pubDate>04 Sep 2020 00:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-start-a-home-based-tutoring-business-117s133</link>
<title><![CDATA[How To Start a Home-Based Tutoring Business]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Tutoring is a global industry destined for phenomenal growth over the next few years. Many people are interested in becoming a part of this fast growing industry but, like any business, there is huge competition. Therefore, thought and planning needs to occur prior to starting a tutoring business to increase the chances of success.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Tutoring is a global industry destined for phenomenal growth over the next few years. Many people are interested in becoming a part of this fast growing industry but, like any business, there is huge competition. Therefore, thought and planning needs to occur prior to starting a tutoring business to increase the chances of success.

1. PLAN

Tutors need to think of the following:


	How am I going to attract students?
	How am I going to manage bookings, payments etc?
	How am I going to deliver lessons?
	Should I have website?
	How will I promote my services?


2. DECIDE

Making decisions regarding each of these aspects is not easy as there is a vast array of choices:


	Adversting/promoting on social media platforms: which ones to use and how to use them
	What customer management software should be used, if any.
	Lesson delivery can be at a tutoring centre, tutor&#39;s home, student&#39;s home and online.
	There are numerous online platforms available so how to decide which is the best one for you?
	Should I make my own website or pay someone? 
	Shoud I even consider a franchise?
	Should I hire tutors now or later?


I have only just touched on the decisions that need to be made and you should be clear that these decisions come at a cost, both in time and money. So tutors also need to decide if they have the time and the money to accomodate their decisions.

3. SEEK SUPPORT

In addition, tutors need to consider if they have the skillset required. This refers to both business management skills (these can be learnt!) and the skillset required to tutor varying subjects. 

To assist you on your journey, you can join one of our programs through My Tutoring Business with The Tutoring Company. We have taken the time and spent the money to make sure that we have the best systems in place to deliver both home-based and online tutoring. 

Tutors can have their business up and running within 24 hrs. Tutors pay a low monthly subscription and are not locked in by term contracts. Tutors can opt out or upgrade at any time.

All the hard is done. We have sourced what we consider to be the best and most affordable CRM and online classroom platform. We are skilled at using both and training is provided to help you use these systems quickly and effectively. We are passionate about helping you succeed so are here to support and guide you. You will be personally mentored by Jenny Pownall, the owner and founder of The Tutoring Company. 

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-start-a-home-based-tutoring-business-117s133</guid>
<pubDate>04 Aug 2020 07:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/understanding-assessment-117s126</link>
<title><![CDATA[Understanding Assessment]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Assessment&quot; appears to be a buzzword within the tutoring industry. A quick look at many tutoring websites shows references to assessment. In particular, many companies advertise free assessments. But what are these assessments and how useful are they really?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[&quot;Assessment&quot; appears to be a buzzword within the tutoring industry. A quick look at many tutoring websites shows references to assessment. In particular, many companies advertise free assessments. But what are these assessments and how useful are they really? 

Assessment is a broadly used term in education but there are many different forms of assessment and each has it&#39;s own place and merits. 

Within the tutoring industry, assessment generally refers to a grade-based assessment. This means that they are designed to determine the overall  grade level that a student is performing at. This is not really very useful as students abilities may vary according to the skill and not the year level. Other assessments are more specific and can give information regarding specific skills. The result determines the starting point for a student in a company&#39;s pre-prepared curriculum, or for a tutor who is designing a personalised program. This means that a student will only be provided with material at the level they capable of working. Sounds good doesn&#39;t it? 

The main issue with this type of assessment is it doesn&#39;t provide any information about WHY a student might be underperforming. For some students this won&#39;t be an issue and they will definitely improve once given the opportunity to start at a level they are comfortable with. This allows the tutor to &quot;fill in the blanks&quot; and to re-teach previously misunderstood concepts. 

The end result for other students however, may be that they never really progress and teachers and tutors are constantly trying different approaches/apps/websites to see what will &quot;work.&quot; 

The other type of assessment is termed &quot;diagnostic.&quot; This means that the assessment determines WHY a student is underperforming for the purpose of recommending the best strategies for that student. Once a student is being taught by the most appropraite strategies for them, learning is enhanced.

Both assessments types can be quite useful when administered correctly to the right student. For example a student with a history of struggling with numeracy and literacy skills throughout the primary years won&#39;t really benefit from a grade-based assessment. It would be well known that the student performs at a lower grade level so the main question that should be asked is WHY? This student is better suited to a diagnostic assessment. Informal diagnostic assessments can be performed by trained teachers and are also frely available to tutors. More specialised diagnostic assessments are performed by specialists. 

A tutor&#39;s training in, and understanding of,  the use of any informal diagnostic assessment is paramount. A tutor must have an excellent abilty to administer the assessment and to interpet the findings. in order for the assessment to be of any value. 

Why should a  child have a learning (diagnostic) assessment?

Teachers and parents are concerned about a student&#39;s progress. Teachers have been unable to provide any specific answers as to why the student appears to be struggling and their efforts to assist have not been successful. The parents are also concerned about what they observe at home. A diagnostic assessment can therefore be recommended:

&quot;1. To discover what their learning potential is. In other words, what might they be capable of achieving given their ability to absorb, process and recall information?

2. To reveal how they learn and process information &ndash; their &ldquo;learning profile&rdquo; &ndash; showing their particular strengths and weaknesses.

3. To find out if they have any specific difficulties with reading, writing, maths or attention (or, more rarely, to find out if they might be &ldquo;gifted&rdquo;).

4. To identify the specific learning strategies and types of support they are likely to benefit from &ndash; at home and at school.

5. To help them gain insight into their own learning ability. Children can start to notice differences between their own learning and that of other children as early as grades one or two. And this can affect their self-esteem and confidence. A simple understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses is often helpful.

6. So parents can make informed decisions about their education, such as school choice, extra-curricular programs or applying for extra time on exams.

When should a learning assessment be done?

7. One thing is clear: Earlier is better than later. A 2015 study found that children with learning difficulties risk falling into a long term &ldquo;learning gap&rdquo; that persists into adolescence and adulthood, with serious consequences for academic achievement and emotional development. And research has consistently shown that early intervention improves long-term learning outcomes.

8. What about other medical or developmental issues? If parents are concerned about significant delays in social, emotional or intellectual development (other than a learning difficulty) we suggest consulting a GP or paediatrician first.&quot; (Melbourne Child Psychology) 

Let&#39;s look at examples of when a diagnostic assessment is a better choice: 

Sarah is in Grade 5 and struggles with math. The tutor assesses her as performing at a grade 3 level. Sarah starts the tutoring program at Grade 3 and does a lot of activities and worksheets where she practices her math skills. Over time, Sarah moves from grade 3 to grade 4 and then to grade 5. Everyone is happy and the tutoring program is deemed to be successful. Sarah stops being tutored as she is now performing at grade level. In Grade 6, Sarah starts the year well but difficulties arise when new concepts are taught. She is unable to relate these concepts to anything she has learnt previously. It is noticed that she struggles with worded problems and so is given a lot of worded problems to practice. Improvement is slow and so she starts tutoring again. Sound familiar?

Consider this: Sarah is in Grade 5 and struggles with math. A review of her academic history reveals that Sarah has always had some problems with her numeracy skills. In addition, Sarah has never been a competent speller and has always been assessed as &quot;at standard&quot; for comprehension, despite thinkng that Sarah has always struggled to understand what she is reading. She doesn&#39;t like reading and avoids it. The school arranges for a formal diagnostic assessment which reveals that Sarah has an Auditory Processing Disorder. This means that Sarah&#39;s brain simply doesn&#39;t process auditory information in the same way as others. This has resulted in her not fully understanding verbal instructions. This accounts for the difficulties she is experiencing at school and specific strategies are recommened and adopted by her teacher. To further support her learning, Sarah has a private tutor who uses the specific teaching strategies within each session. Sarah progresses throughout the year and is equipped with some fantastic strategies that she can use for independent learning. Sarah finally feels that she is understood and has found new confidence in her abilities. Math concepts become clear and she is now much more capable of completing worded problems. With the support of her tutor, Sarah works on comprehension strategies and finally begins to enjoy reading. 

At times, simply speaking with parents can reveal the underlying issue. For example, the student loves everything related to sports but is not really interested in the academic side of work though they are completely capable of it. The student prefers to spend time outside and neglects their homework. The right tutor is able to provide assistance with study and organisational skills and generally ensure that the student has the correct understanding to be able to complete their homework independently and submit it on time. 

Some highly capable math students do very well in class but perform poorly on assessments. Their overall grade on their semester report is quite low. The tutoring centre assesses them and determines that they are two years behind. The student is then placed in a program at the lower level but thye become bored and don&#39;t really enjoy tutoring. But the reality is that the student simply has very poor study skills and assessment strategies. By working with a tutor who provides the student with the study skills and organisational advice and equipping them with excellent assessment strategies the student is finally in a position to correctly demonstrate their level of understanding and their grades suddenly jump to be at the correct year level. 

This can all be quite confusing for a parent. When a parent is concerned about their child&#39;s progress, they should firstly speak with the school to see if there are grounds for specialist diagnostic assessments. Many schools will have a specialist educator who they can speak with regarding their concerns. The school may also be able to help with organisational strategies etc but I have found that student&#39;s benefit more from the personalised assistance of a well informed tutor. 

If a tutor/company says that they will do an assessment parents should ask the following:


	What qualifications do you have to administer the assessment and interpret your findings?
	What are you assessing?
	What type of assessment is it?
	What is the purpose of the assessment?
	How will my child benefit from the assessment?


Lastly, as a tutor there is no shame in referring a student to someone else for the assessment. This defines you as a professional who puts the children&#39;s needs first. 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/understanding-assessment-117s126</guid>
<pubDate>29 Jul 2020 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-best-transition-your-business-to-online-tutoring-117s125</link>
<title><![CDATA[ How to best transition your business to Online Tutoring.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Transferring a tutoring business to an online environment can be difficult and frustrating, if not time-consuming. 

Follow these simple tips to easily transition your business.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Do not rush into online tutoring. Preparation is the key to a successful transition. There is a vast array of choice available for clients and you must make sure that you have the correct systems in place in order to compete. Your reputation is everything and you must ensure that clients have a positive online experience right from the beginning.

Remember: Bad news spreads much faster than good news!!

Choosing an online tutoring platform

1. Be very clear about what you want an online platform/app to deliver both now and in the future.

To do this, think about how you work in person with a student and find a platform that will deliver an experience as close to this as you can find. 

In my experience, the best platforms/apps allow students and tutors to


	screen share
	work together on documents through 
	
		a collaborative whiteboard and
		document annotation
	
	
	print or save completed work
	record the lesson


2. Be passionate about the platform/app. 

Parents don&#39;t want someone just talking to their child over Skype. They will want to know how the online lessons will work before they book with you. If you are convinced that you are using an amazing platform that delivers an exceptional experience, and you can describe this to them, then the parents will want you!!

3. As your business grows, you may need a platform/app that allows students to have their own &quot;room&quot; personalised for them. This means that you use separate features for younger children than you would use for senior students. For example, inbuilt calculators that be simple or advanced may be an advantage for Math tutors as would be equation editors and graphing tools. 

4. How adaptable is the platform to this new environment and consumer needs and how much support is provided? Is this easy to access? 

Build your business

5. Know your clients and understand what they are looking for.

Many parents who are working from home don&#39;t necessarily need a tutor but someone who can easily supervise their children online. 

6. How flexible are you and what choice can you offer?

Can you change the lesson length/number of lessons to accommodate for a range of learners and their needs?

7. Focus on the service you provide before you focus on the financial aspects. This refers to the decisions you make and how you respond to customer needs. You need to be authentic, knowledgable, honest and trustworthy to connect with your customers and make them want to stay with you and refer others to you. 

8. Revisit your marketing and branding. 

How do you stand out from the thousands of other tutors? Are you seen as a specialist in your field or someone who seems to know a bit about everything? 

Do you have a business Facebook page and Linkedin profile and a business page?

9. Surround yourself with a team of professionals. This can be easily done through networking groups via your local council or by connecting your Facebook page to networking groups. 

10. Stay connected to your clients (both past and present) by sending out regular newsletters or email updates.

Don&#39;t overlook a simple phone call to touch base. 

11. Don&#39;t promise what you can&#39;t deliver. 

It is better to lose a client than a good reputation. 

12. The best free giveaway is your time. You are building a reputation, so spend time talking and, more importantly, listening to your clients. 

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/how-to-best-transition-your-business-to-online-tutoring-117s125</guid>
<pubDate>20 Jul 2020 02:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/do-you-set-homework-117s123</link>
<title><![CDATA[Do you set homework?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[This is a question we get asked a lot! The answer is &quot;No.&quot;

This blog explains why we believe that it is not the job of a tutor to set additional homework, but to support students to be able to independently complete school set homework.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Setting homework and the amount of homework is a contentious issue. However, there is ample evidence to support the fact that students who consistently make a concerted to complete homework perform better at school than those who don&#39;t. 

This is not to suggest that homework is the reason for good school performance but I think everyone would agree that we remember a new concept better when we revise it within a few days. This is the function of homework - to consolidate the understanding of concepts.

In general, schools are very mindful of the type of homework set and the quantity of it.  At Year 7, it is not unreasonable to expect a student to complete a total of 30 mins - 1 hour of homework nightly. This increases throughout the secondary years with many Year 12 students completing at least 2-3 hours of nightly homework. 

When students struggle to understand the concepts taught at school or have difficulty recalling what they did, they will also struggle to complete their homework. Many students will avoid doing their homework simply because they don&#39;t know what to do, or how to do it. 

This is where tutors can be invaluable. Private instruction provides students with the opportunity to revise the concepts so that they can complete their homework independently. Tutors can also help students with time management.

Should the tutor also provide additional homework, this added burden on students may mean that homework in other subjects may suffer due to less time now available. It may also result in overly tired students trying to complete homework from two sources and students developing a reliance on &quot;procedure&quot; rather than &quot;conceptual&quot; understanding. 

Learning through repetition has its place. For example, learning the time&#39;s tables. However, if maths is consistently learnt through repetitive tasks ie doing lots of practice questions, then there is an increased risk of a student developing a reliance on the procedure without developing a firm understanding of the underlying concepts. 

We believe that it is a tutor&#39;s role to support a student to be able to independently complete their homework by focusing on conceptual understanding. Tutor&#39;s can also support students by assisting with time management for all school homework. 

It is quite empowering for a student who has been struggling to finally submit their homework on time and to a good standard.  

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/do-you-set-homework-117s123</guid>
<pubDate>22 May 2020 02:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/managing-knowledge-gaps-on-returning-to-school-117s122</link>
<title><![CDATA[Managing knowledge gaps on returning to school]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Students have varied considerably in their ability to manage home learning. The range of abilities within a classroom is likely to be much greater than before restrictions so how do school, students and families cope with this?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[It is widely accepted and understood that there is a range of abilities within any classroom. Teachers are experts at delivering curriculum suited to this range. However, the COVID-19 restrictions forcing schools to close and students to learn online will result in a greater range than normal when students return.

The added burden that this places on teachers may be unsustainable and schools must have a plan to cope with students who now appear to be in need of intensive instruction. Many schools will do this well and others will struggle.

Many parents will not want to wait to see if the school can provide this additional instruction and will search for tutors to &quot;fill in the gaps.&quot; 

Parents must be extremely cautious in selecting a tutor and only deal with those tutors/organisations that have a background in and a firm understanding of, education.  

Mohan Dhall, the ATA CEO, was recently interviewed on 2GB by Luke Grant to discuss recent issues facing the tutoring industry. Mohan mentions many of the above points and when referring to online tutoring, states that &quot;only a few businesses have managed to effectively ...deliver tutoring... where students can learn at their own pace...and only a few organisations do that to date.&quot;

The Tutoring Company is one of these organisations. 

Jenny Pownall is an experienced teacher and special needs educator and available to assist parents with the right advice when they are considering a tutor.

The Tutoring Company has a well established online platform, in addition to its home-based services. 


 

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/managing-knowledge-gaps-on-returning-to-school-117s122</guid>
<pubDate>19 May 2020 01:38:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/my-top-tips-to-manage-remote-learning-117s121</link>
<title><![CDATA[My top tips to manage remote learning]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Jenny Pownall shares her most popular tips for parents struggling with remote learning.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[
	Be kind to yourself &ndash; you are not expected to know all the answers! Remember, you are the parent, not the teacher.
	 
	Limit chances of distractions and interruptions. Turn off the TV and set parental controls on children&rsquo;s devices and websites. Parent Support has great tips.
	 
	Foster independence. Make sure children know what to do and how to do it. Most importantly, make sure they know what to do if they get stuck. This DOES NOT involve always asking you!! Respond with &ldquo;What do you think you could do?&rdquo; Encourage them to try different solutions, even if you know it won&rsquo;t work! Stand back and let them problem solve (this is how kids learn). 
	 
	Praise their efforts and encourage them to keep trying. Use terms like &ldquo;I really loved the way you did/said/wrote&hellip;.&rdquo;
	 
	If an activity is causing stress and anxiety, then don&rsquo;t do it! Take a break and rethink. Can this be done in a practical way that you and your child will find more enjoyable? Cooking, writing lists and even housework can be turned into a learning opportunity!
	 
	Kids love to compete so what can you turn into a competition? Challenge them to time themselves making their bed? Can they better this time the next day? How many pieces can you cut your banana into, count household objects, etc. The list is endless and adaptable for all age groups, and you can&rsquo;t go wrong!
	 
	Manage challenging behaviour by asking your child &quot;What would your teacher do if you did/said that?&quot; Encourage them to behave in the same way as they would for their teacher. &quot;Time out&quot; is a great option that allows children to calm down and reflect on their behaviour.


 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/my-top-tips-to-manage-remote-learning-117s121</guid>
<pubDate>05 May 2020 06:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/does-your-tutor-record-online-lessons-117s120</link>
<title><![CDATA[Does your tutor record Online Lessons? ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What are the benefits of recording online lessons? Should you insist on it?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[With the vast majority of tutoring sessions across Australia now being delivered online, it is important to consider if the lessons should be recorded. 


	 Security is the most important consideration, any time a child is online. Recording tutoring sessions gives you peace of mind that you can always review a session. All lessons delivered by The Tutoring Company are recorded and this is non-negotiable when hiring tutors. 
	 Some students will struggle to focus for an entire lesson or will focus on and off throughout the session. Reviewing a lesson enables these students to pick up the information they may have missed during the session.
	 Some students will have difficulty processing the information presented in an auditory form and will benefit from being able to replay the lesson, pause and take notes or rephrase the information. 
	 Other students will simply enjoy replaying their lesson and focusing on the auditory content without being distracted by the visual component. 
	 Some students will simply forget aspects of the lesson and replaying the recording will let them review the information.
	 Senior students can focus on the lesson with their tutor and then replay the lesson to simply take notes from the lesson. 
	 It&#39;s not just the lesson that should be accessible but documents and completed work also. With The Tutoring Company Online Classroom, work can be saved to the student&#39;s computer or any number of pages can be printed. 


 

 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/does-your-tutor-record-online-lessons-117s120</guid>
<pubDate>04 May 2020 05:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/parent-support-for-managing-children39s-screen-time-117s119</link>
<title><![CDATA[Parent Support for Managing Children&#39;s Screen Time]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Is your child being distracted by social media, notifications, games etc when they should be doing their online schoolwork? Understand parental controls and site restriction settings. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[In this current climate of remote learning where you cannot see what your children are doing onscreen at all times, it is essential for your peace of mind and your child&#39;s online safety that you use Parental Controls and site settings to manage what your children can access and when. 

You might even decide to use some of these settings on your own device!


	
	Many devices have built-in parental controls allowing you to determine what sites/apps your child can access and when.
	
	
	Sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram have a setting allowing you to restrict the content that your child can access. 
	
	
	You can control when your child can access their device and how long they can access to it during the day.
	
	
	Disable features such as chat and notifications.
	


Follow the guidelines detailed in the link below:

Parent Support
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/parent-support-for-managing-children39s-screen-time-117s119</guid>
<pubDate>23 Apr 2020 23:41:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-tutoring-company-announces-partnership-with-the-smith-family-117s118</link>
<title><![CDATA[The Tutoring Company announces partnership with The Smith Family]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Tutoring Company is a proud supporter of Learning for Life: a Smith Family education support program. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[The Tutoring Company is very proud to announce that they are sponsor of The Smith Family and their &ldquo;Learning for Life&rdquo; program.

Not everyone is able to access tutoring services. Therefore, it makes sense for The Tutoring Company to partner with The Smith Family so that tutoring, and other education services, can be made available to many more Australian children, free of cost to them.

Right now, a staggering 1 in 6 Australian children are living in poverty and we know the effect of poverty goes beyond a child&rsquo;s home life and onto affect their schooling too.

The Smith Family&rsquo;s Learning for Life program recognises that disadvantaged children need extra support to stay at school and go on to further studies or a job. Learning for Life helps create better futures for children in need by providing:


	financial assistance from a sponsor to help disadvantaged families afford the cost of their child&rsquo;s education 
	support from a Learning for Life Program Coordinator to connect the child and their family to local learning opportunities and other supports; and 
	access to Smith Family educational programs to help children get the most out of their school years.


The Tutoring Company provides financial aid enabling the Learning for Life program to be delivered to disadvantaged children across Australia. 

In addition to The Tutoring Company sponsorship, we are offering you the opportunity to also make a one-off donation. We are grateful for any amount donated as we hope to raise an additional $1000 within the next 12 months.

Please follow this link to make a donation: 

Make a Small Donation
]]></content>
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<pubDate>14 Apr 2020 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/free-daily-activities-117s117</link>
<title><![CDATA[Free Daily Activities]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Scholastic Learn At Home program
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Have a look at this amazing resource of daily activities to keep kids reading, thinking and growing.

Children can choose to engage with all daily activities, or just on the days that they find interesting. 

Daily Activities
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/free-daily-activities-117s117</guid>
<pubDate>09 Apr 2020 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/free-audible-stories-117s116</link>
<title><![CDATA[Free Audible Stories]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Audible has released an amazing number of FREE stories for both children and adults.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[For as long as schools are closed, Audible is open.

Right now, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.

Explore the collection, select a title and start listening.

It&#39;s that easy.  

Children will love listening to their favourite stories and discovering new ones. Parents will love the range of stories and even having someone read the bedtime story for you!!


Free Audible Stories
]]></content>
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<pubDate>07 Apr 2020 23:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/activities-to-keep-kids-busy-117s115</link>
<title><![CDATA[Activities to Keep Kids Busy!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What were your favourite indoor activities when you were a child?

What indoor activities do your children enjoy the most?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[This photo reminds of when my children were young and we were stuck indoors during those cold and wet Melbourne winter days! 

We would create a cubby under the kitchen table and cover it with sheets so that the table was completely covered down to the floor. The kids would cover the floor under the table with cushions and even their doonas. They took torches, books, games, puzzles etc and I literally did not see them all day!! I even gave them their lunch in their &quot;cubby&quot; and at times, they even had a nap!!

We also did something similar with the lounge cushions. Think of a &quot;deconstructed&quot; lounge turned into a cubby!!

What were your favourite indoor activities when you were a child?

What indoor activities do your children enjoy the most?

Check out these great websites for activities to keep kids occupied while stuck at home:

Stuck at Home? 20 Learning Activities to Keep Kids Busy

Many more activities!

Do you have an activity to share? Please comment below:
]]></content>
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<pubDate>01 Apr 2020 01:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/kids-should-see-this-117s114</link>
<title><![CDATA[Kids Should See This]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[TKSST is an unprecedented collection of over 4,500 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to our members, it&#39;s free for everyone.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Check out this amazing collection of videos. 

Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. TKSST champions smart STEAM, history, and culture-focused content by museums, organizations, and creators who celebrate curiosity, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, kindness, and other essential themes for all ages.

 

Enjoy around 10 to 15 newly-added videos every week, browse the collections, and search topics in the archives. Founded in 2011, The Kid Should See This is curated and maintained by me, Rion Nakaya, with input from my 9 &amp; 12-year-olds.

Not only will it keep your kids entertained, but they will also learn.

You will also love the videos, so watch with your children and learn with them!

Kids Should See This
]]></content>
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<pubDate>26 Mar 2020 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/getting-ready-for-remote-learning-117s112</link>
<title><![CDATA[Getting Ready For Remote Learning]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[How do I help with remote learning? Follow this guide and respond with your own questions!
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[The most important thing for parents to remember is that schools are not expecting you to be the teacher. Teachers will run online lessons and set work to be completed. Work will be checked and marked by teachers just as they would normally. The parent&#39;s role is to help provide a space within the home where children can join online lessons and complete their work.

When setting up at home so your children can complete their school work, the following might help:


	
	The main aim is to create an environment that has some similarity to school so that children understand that this is still school time. Saying this, this is also a great time to play to children&rsquo;s strengths and alter their day in a way that best suits them (and you!).
	
	
	Compromise and be flexible. Your children may also be feeling anxious and behave in ways you don&rsquo;t expect. Like you, they will have good days and bad days. Some days they will work as you want, others they will dig in their heels and refuse. Try to stay calm and be patient and try physical activities that they are more likely to engage with.
	
	
	It&#39;s ok to take lots of breaks and to work in short spans of time if that&#39;s what works for your child. 
	


Setting Up The Environment


	Designate an area in your home that can be set up as your &ldquo;school.&rdquo; &ndash; quiet, well-lit and private. This could just be the kitchen table where a number of children can be working, or you might prefer to have each child at a desk in the bedroom - As long as it works well for you and your children.
	Limit chances of distractions and interruptions. This includes turning off the TV and not playing any music, especially for subjects that are more intensive. Some activities can be well suited to the music playing in the background, especially less intensive subjects that they might do in the afternoon. The effect is to try to recreate some similarity to their classroom, so they understand that this is now &ldquo;school time.&rdquo;  
	If students are using an IPad, turn on &ldquo;aeroplane mode&rdquo; and disable notifications.
	Provide adequate supplies, such as pens and paper. Primary years children might need to have some additional supplies, such as Lego blocks, to makes math more meaningful. Cue cards can be great for spelling activities but more on this in another post.
	Provide &ldquo;recess&rdquo; and &ldquo;lunchtime&rdquo; breaks! This is a great time to go outside and play with the family dog, go for a walk or bike ride etc. The main aim here is to eat, drink and do something physical.


Manage School Time


	Establish a routine to help establish good habits. Your school has likely created a schedule of class-based activities which they must log in to. The other times during the day present a great  opportunity for them to pursue what they love the most. For example, a child who loves to write might enjoy the chance to write with unrestricted time.
	Just make sure to factor in time to work on what they don&rsquo;t love, just as they would at school!! This includes working independently to complete school set tasks
	Some children work best with shorter spans of work time so factor in frequent short breaks (probably no more than 5 mins). Others like to work for extended periods of time, with fewer and longer breaks. There is no one right way to do this. The right way is what works best for your child.
	Stay close to them and be available to help.
	Help create an atmosphere of study &ndash; this could also be your work time. Teachers frequently ask children to focus on a task unassisted for a while, before checking in and helping.
	 Ask: &ldquo;What could you do if you get stuck?&rdquo; The answer does NOT always ask you!! Has the school provided videos they can view? Are there information sheets and has the student read these and understands them? The school&rsquo;s online portal will have many associated resources to help the students so point to these to help them become independent learners.
	Be kind to yourself &ndash; you are not expected to know all the answers! Remember, you are not the teacher.


Good Practice


	At the end of the day ask your children what they liked. Repeat and build on this the next day. You don&rsquo;t really need to ask what they don&rsquo;t like as I&rsquo;m sure you have figured that out already throughout the day!! This is about focusing on the positives of this new experience, no matter how small it seems.
	Discuss and praise good work and behaviours. Use terms like &ldquo;I really loved the way you did/said/wrote&hellip;.&rdquo;
	Show interest in what they are doing. Your children will love showing you what they can do!
	Share and discuss books, articles, TV programs, or even TED talks relevant to their schoolwork. Are there normal daily activities that you can link to their schoolwork? We are surrounded by opportunities to learn Math, Science and English related concepts. More on this in later posts.
	Stay in touch with the teachers and seek their help if needed.
	Contact the teacher if problems arise that you are unable to solve.


Do you have any questions? Would you like to post a tip?

Please comment below:

Don&#39;t forget to share this post so that we can help more people.

 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>26 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/covid-19-how-to-cope-with-home-schooling-117s113</link>
<title><![CDATA[COVID 19: How to cope with home schooling]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Welcome to The Tutoring Company community blog to help parents and carers cope in this current crisis. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[We&#39;ve all heard the saying &quot;It takes a community to raise a child.&quot; 

This includes educating a child and this has never been more relevant than right now.

Throughout this current crisis, while children are completing their schooling at home, I will be posting regular tips and videos to help parents and carers find answers to their questions by connecting them to a community of other parents, teachers and tutors. 

Anyone can respond to a post with advice or other comments, or parents can ask questions for others to respond. 

To get this started, I invite you to ask a question in the comment section below. If some questions seem to be quite common, I will create these as a separate blog. 

Please share this post to spread the word. This is a free service for everyone!
]]></content>
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<pubDate>25 Mar 2020 07:05:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/jenny-appointed-first-female-board-member-of-the-australian-tutoring-association-117s111</link>
<title><![CDATA[Jenny appointed first female board member of The Australian Tutoring Association!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[It is with great pride and excitement that I announce that I have been appointed as the first female board member of The Australian Tutoring Association.

This is an incredible honour and a wonderful opportunity to represent all Australian tutors and tutoring organisations.

The Australian Tutoring Association is Australia&#39;s peak national body representing tutoring organisations and educational tutors nationally. We represent members, act as a lobby group and raise the standard of tutoring in Australia.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[What an exciting 12 months it has been! In 2019, I was a guest speaker at the ATA National Conference and in December I travelled to Dubai to receive a global award for &quot;Top 50 Businesses in Education.&quot; Now, my appointment as the first female ATA board member is probably the most exciting announcement yet!

The Australian Tutoring Association (ATA) is Australia&#39;s peak body representing tutors nationally.



The ATA&#39;s Mission is to:


	Represent the tutoring industry
	 Act as a lobby group
	 Raise the standard of tutoring in Australia


All of our members share this vision. They are all committed to helping students and by ensuring that all tutors abide by the Code of Conduct. Widespread application of this Code will help protect clients and ensure that they are receiving a high standard of service and accountability. This includes ensuring that tutors receive additional training where necessary and that all tutors hold a valid and current Working With Children Check. 

 

The Australian tutoring industry is unregulated and nothing is more important than protecting our children. Parents can feel confident that they are choosing a reputable and reliable tutor by choosing an ATA tutor.

 

All tutors at The Tutoring Company undergo a rigorous interview and background check to ensure that they maintain the same ATA standards.  

 



The Australian Tutoring Association
]]></content>
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<pubDate>18 Mar 2020 06:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/helful-hints-if-your-child-needs-to-stay-at-home-due-to-the-coronavirus-117s110</link>
<title><![CDATA[Helful hints if your child needs to stay at home due to the Coronavirus.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With the Coronavirus beginning to impact schools, please find simple helpful hints to reduce anxiety amongst children and keep them busy if they need to stay home.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[With the Coronavirus beginning to impact schools, please find simple helpful hints to reduce anxiety amongst children and keep them busy if they need to stay home.

Helpful Advice
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/helful-hints-if-your-child-needs-to-stay-at-home-due-to-the-coronavirus-117s110</guid>
<pubDate>12 Mar 2020 01:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-best-organizational-tool-for-managing-homework-117s89</link>
<title><![CDATA[The best organizational tool for managing homework.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Managing homework is probably the hardest part of school for many students. A few simple strategies can take the stress out of homework and make it manageable.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Nightly homework is one of the major causes of student and parent frustration. But, it doesn&#39;t have to be like this. By making a few simple changes to how homework is managed and allowing a student to fit in homework around everything else they want to do this nightly frustration can be overcome. 

Most schools equip students with a diary so that homework and assignments can be managed but many students find this to be ineffective for a number of reasons:


	they simply don&#39;t write anything in their diary!
	homework due dates are not entered so that students forget when to hand in their homework
	entries are recorded on the day in which they received homework rather than when they intend to complete it. 
	students will forget to turn the page and see what is happening, or due, the following week and therefore end up doing a lot of their homework the night before it is due.
	assignments are not broken down into manageable parts and therefore the task seems too big leading to procrastination where the student doesn&#39;t know where to start. 
	homework is not seen as part of the nightly routine and is only completed when the student finds time at the end of the evening. This can lead to rushed and poor quality work. 
	many students are simply too tired or have after school activities that take priority.
	some students don&#39;t feel that homework has any &quot;added value&quot; 


Two simple strategies can overcome many of these issues:


	Homework is recorded as a general &quot;task list.&quot; As homework is completed, it is crossed off the list. Incompleted tasks from one week go to the top of the list for the next week. This is a great way for very busy students to still complete all their homework, even it means they might still be submitting it a bit late, particularly for homework that is intended to be completed overnight. For some students, there simply isn&#39;t time on some weeknights due to other commitments, so this method allows them still do their homework but at a time that is more manageable. 
	By using the homework planner shown in the video below, managing a homework schedule becomes the student&#39;s responsibility. This planner is completed by students, with parent support if needed,  and allows students to include all after-school activities they enjoy, including watching a favorite TV show, playing sports, practicing a musical instrument, and, yes, even playing video games! In fact, homework is the last thing to be entered in the planner as students will usually realize that there is plenty of time for them to do everything they want and to do still do their homework. Where there is insufficient time for homework remaining then the student must decide where the compromise will be. They may choose less TV or time on social media, for example, to free up more time for homework but the decision is theirs. This leads to complete ownership of the study routine by the student and therefore, a greater sense of responsibility. Parents are freed from reminding their child to do their homework and passes the responsibility to the school and the student. 


When a student feels that they are the one in control of what homework they do and when, they are more likely to actually attend to it. Students also need to understand that homework is just a part of their nightly routine and not something that prevents them from doing anything else. When they see that they actually have plenty of time in their week to do everything they want to do, including watching TV, playing sports, or simply hanging out with their mates, as well as completing all their homework requirements then there is far less resistance to homework and much more compliance!

In addition, when we hand control over to the student then this greatly lessens the need for parents to be constantly reminding their children about their homework. This reminding is one of the major sources of nightly frustration and arguments at home and I can absolutely guarantee you that these arguments will almost completely disappear when the student feels that they are the ones in the driver seat.

Watch the video to understand more about this works.

If you have any questions about this, please call jenny on 0432221995.



 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>22 Jan 2020 05:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/tutoring-in-the-21st-century-is-online-tutoring-the-right-choice-for-you-117s88</link>
<title><![CDATA[Tutoring in the 21st Century: Is Online Tutoring the Right Choice for You?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With an increasingly busy life, many families are choosing online tutoring over home and centre based tutoring. The benefits are numerous, including no travel time and the saving on petrol. But, is online tutoring right for you?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[As many of you may know, The Tutoring Company were awarded the &lsquo;Top 50 Organizations in Education&rsquo; at the GFEL Conference in Dubai. 

Global Education Award 

You can read more about Jenny&rsquo;s experience receiving the award here:

Interview with Jenny Pownall

Two of the main criteria for this award were Spirit of Innovation and Future Readiness. 

Arguably one of the key ways in which The Tutoring Company is ready for the future is through their use of an online tutoring platform. Increasing online operations is one of the primary aims for 2022 and beyond.

Whilst The Tutoring Company provides both face-to-face and online tutoring, this blog explores why online tutoring might be the right choice for you. 

Convenience

One of the main reasons why many people choose to get online tutoring is because of the convenience. Being able to have direct access to a vast range of tutors at the click of a button means you can be sure to find what you need, when you need it. Choosing an online tutor means you can have easy access to a tutor no matter where you are. 

With no travel time, it is far easier to fit in extra lessons. If your children have a busy after-school schedule it is probably much easier to fit online tuition into the schedule. All you need do is log in from home and begin sessions immediately. Whether you want recurring lessons to help improve grades, or a one-off session before a big test, you will find the right tutor for your needs. 

Having your tutoring online is also more convenient as you can get automated texts and emails about lesson changes and updates. This means you can be sure that you never forget about a tutoring session again! 

Resources

With online tutoring, you will get the best information about your subject of choice. With highly knowledgeable tutors you can be sure that the tutoring sessions are specific to the student&rsquo;s needs with access to up-to-date resources. Online tutoring also means you will be able to have your sessions saved online, meaning your resources and notes will never be lost. 

Safe, quality service

All tutors at The Tutoring Company are screened and interviewed before they can start working. They also all have a current Working With Children Check or Teacher Registration, meaning you can be sure that your online tutoring sessions are safe, and tailored for your children. The Tutoring Company also provides student matching, to match each student with the right tutor for them.

The Tutoring Company takes advantage of automated Stripe and GoCardless payment integration, so you can be sure that your transactions are secure. Automated payments mean that you don&rsquo;t have to worry about remembering to pay invoices.  

The Tutoring Company is proud to offer a safe, convenient and easy-to-use online tutoring service. So why not try it out today?

If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of online tutoring you can read TutorCruncher&rsquo;s blog: https://tutorcruncher.com/business-growth/pros-and-cons-of-online-studying/
]]></content>
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<pubDate>08 Jan 2020 22:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-tutoring-company-receives-global-education-award-117s87</link>
<title><![CDATA[The Tutoring Company receives global education award!!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[In December 2019, The Tutoring Company was awarded a &quot;Top 50 Organisations in Education&quot; Award at the GFEL conference (Global Forum for Education and Learning) in Dubai. 

We are the only Australian tutoring organisation to receive this award!!
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[What an honour!! The Tutoring Company has been awarded &quot;Top 50 Organisations in Education.&quot; We are the only Australian tutoring organisation to receive this award!!

Being presented with the award in front of an audience of global leaders in education at the GFEL Conference in Dubai was very humbling. 



The three day conference covered many aspects concerning current trends and topics in Education. Jenny&#39;s expertise and understanding of education was recognised as she was invited to be a discussion panel member on the topic &quot;The New Literacies: Data Literacy, Spatial Literacy and Cyber Literacy.&quot;  Listening to the many speakers from around the world was incredible and we hope to bring some of this knowedge back into further developing our services. 

The Tutoring Company received this award based on a number of factors, including our unique approach to assisting students. We focus on delivering personalised and explicit tutoring based around a student&#39;s particular needs. We do not deliver pre-prepared content, nor do we have our own curriculum. It is our belief that tutoring should supplement the curriculum taught within schools and aid students in resolving issues they may have in understanding this curriculum. 

The award recognised home-based and online tutoring services and the ease of use of the online platform. Online tutoring effectively uses a &quot;virtual classroom&quot; to provide tutoring to students around the world. Australian students unable to access home-based tutoring also benefit from the online tutoring services. 

Most importantly, the award also recognises the high standards of our tutors and their ability to deliver exceptional tutoring. We are very particular about the tutors we employ, many of whom go on to become, or already are,  teachers in Australian schools. 

We are dedicated to maintaining our high standards and to ensuring that our students receieve the best possible tutoring experience. We are also dedicated to supporting parents and working together with schools. 
]]></content>
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<pubDate>07 Jan 2020 22:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-explicit-instruction-117s85</link>
<title><![CDATA[The benefits of explicit instruction]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Explicit instruction continues to be at the forefront of improving students&#39; academic success as explained in this recent article in The Australian. Explicit instruction is also what The Tutoring Company tutors are skilled in and is considered to be one of the main reasons for so many of our students achieving success. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Explicit instruction involves teaching skills explicitly. To be successful with this approach. a tutor must know specifically where a sudent is struggling and instruct explicitly to this area.

For example, there can be many underlying reasons why a student might struggle with comprehension. Simply getting a student to complete more comprehension exercises could be a waste of time, if the underlying cause for the difficulty is unknown and if instruction is not explicit.  

In maths, many students struggle with wotded problems but asking them to simply do more worded problems as practice may again, be a waste of time. The issue may be based on literacy, specifically comprehension or could be a numeracy based. Again, instruction must be explicit in order for the student to improve their skills and understanding.

If your tutor does not understand explicit instruction then do you need a different tutor? Should your child have individualised instruction as opposed to group classes in a tuition centre? 

Please speak to Jenny if this raises questions for you, or if you are unsure about the type of tuition your child might need. 

 

To read more about explicit instruction for reading, please read the article in The Australian.
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-explicit-instruction-117s85</guid>
<pubDate>18 Nov 2019 01:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/education-award-117s84</link>
<title><![CDATA[Education Award]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[It&#39;s Official!!

TTC is to be awarded a &quot;Top 50 Organisations in Education&quot; Award at the Global Forum for Education and Learning.

Jenny will be accepting the award at the conference in Dubai on Dec 16-18.

Can&#39;t thank my amazing tutors and lovely clients enough!!

 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[We are we proud and excited to announce that The Tutoring Company was recently nominated for an award in the category of &quot;Top 50 Organisations in Education&quot; by the Global Forum and Education Conference Award Committee (GFEL). 

We are even prouder to announce that we have won an award in this category!!

The Tutoring Company was judged on 5 categories:

Overall Reach: This includes the popularity of TTC services and the exposure of our services to a broad range of clients. 

Industry Impact: This refers to the impact that TTC has on services provided within the tutoring industry. As a specialist in individualised home based instruction, TTC stands apart form other companies delivering prepared content in centres, or online. 

Spirit of Innovation: The application of internet technology to bring new perspectives and supply solutions within the tutoring industry. This is also linked to the CRM in use.

Future Readiness: The ability to deliver high quality tutoring services through our online platform and the ease with which this can be implemented.

Market Demand: The ability of the online tutoring platform to be able to cater to the increasing demand for such services and this is also linked to the CRM.

Jenny will be accepting the award in Dubai at the GFEL Conference Dec 16-18, 2019.

This award would not have been possible without the support of our website designers, Web Ideas who have been incredibly supportive from the start. In addition, a big thankyou to our accountants, Hayes Girling and our CRM and Online Tutoring Platform.

This award is also testament to the amazing job that is done by the team of TTC tutors. Their care for their students is second to none and they work very hard at ensuring that their students receive exceptional tutoring. 
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/education-award-117s84</guid>
<pubDate>21 Oct 2019 05:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/mr-eddie-woo-sends-a-warning-117s78</link>
<title><![CDATA[Mr Eddie Woo sends a warning.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Celebrity maths teacher Eddie Woo said private tuition could help students with gaps in their knowledge but warned parents to be careful. &quot;There are other kinds of tuition which are frankly just pumping out an industrial model of education,&quot; he said.
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<content><![CDATA[I was very pleased to read Eddie&#39;s thoughts on Math tutoring as published in The Sydney Morning Herald and couldn&#39;t agree with him more. 

I have posted a number of blogs on the issue of tutor standards and Eddie&#39;s comments are fully in line with these blogs. 

I am so pleased to see that this message is being broadcast by such a highly respected teacher and also The Australian Tutoring Association, of which we are members. We really do need to increase awareness of this issue to make sure that our students are only receiving the best possible assistance from their tutor. 

This issue is why The Tutoring Company has such strict hiring guidelines for our tutors and why we focus on an individualised tutoring session, rather than delivering a set program. 
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/mr-eddie-woo-sends-a-warning-117s78</guid>
<pubDate>31 Jul 2019 02:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/simple-strategies-for-improving-maths-marks-117s77</link>
<title><![CDATA[Simple strategies for improving maths marks.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Some students may have a very good understanding of math but frequently perform poorly on exams. Some simple strategies can improve grades significantly. 
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<content><![CDATA[Many students are better at Math than their grades indicate, and this can be quite frustrating and upsetting for many students. They study hard and enter exams feeling quietly confident. However, they are frequently disappointed by their final grade and don&rsquo;t know what they need to do to improve. 

By adopting some simple strategies, a student&rsquo;s math grades can be improved by one, or even two, grades! 

Some students often feel that there are questions on topics not covered in the classroom and complain to their parents that &ldquo;the teacher didn&rsquo;t teach us that&rdquo; or &ldquo;we never did that in class.&rdquo; This suggests that the student&rsquo;s approach to revision and study is focused on memorizing steps to be reproduced on the paper. This is a &lsquo;procedural&rdquo; approach to problem solving and indicates a lack of &ldquo;conceptual&rdquo; understanding. Therefore, when presented with a problem that is worded differently, or combines concepts differently, the student cannot recall a procedure that fits the problem and therefore feels that they were never taught this. This procedural approach to problem solving must be changed to a conceptual approach for the student to increase their math grades. But how is this achieved? Firstly, a student must clearly understand the difference between the two approaches and identify which approach they are using for a problem. Then they must try to focus on the concepts only and solve problems by applying mathematical reasoning correctly, even if they feel the steps are different to what they learnt in class. Students must be patient and persistent in trying to correct their approach as they would if trying to break a bad habit and create a good one. 

Another issue is the lack of working associated with a problem. When a student begins an exam, they are already anxious and concerned about time. They may tend to cut corners to complete all questions on the paper. However, this is likely to be the worst possible thing a student can do. By slowing down and showing all working, more marks will be achieved for each completed question. For example, a rushed exam paper which details very little working may receive a grade of 25/60. However, if only 40 marks of the paper are attempted but these questions are fully completed with working, then it is possible for the student to receive 35/40 which translates to 45/60!  It&rsquo;s a simple strategy but it makes sense. The same applies to multiple choice questions. Typically, students will work out answers in their head, increasing the chance of making mistakes.

Associated with this is the lack of attention paid to the number of marks a question is worth and failing to read the question correctly. In general, if a question is worth 4 marks, then there should be 4 main lines of working clearly demonstrating 4 main steps. This is an important clue that indicates to the student how much working needs to be shown. An answer alone will only get 1 mark. Also, attention should be paid to the words within the question as not only are these indicating what needs to be done i.e. solve, evaluate etc., but the words are also clues as to what topic the question is on. An end of semester exam could be on 5 topics and students must firstly understand what specific topic that question relates to. 

Lastly, some students study by simply reading over their notes and trying to remember procedures. Instead, they should focus on memorizing rules and equations and practice their ability to solve problems by completing as many questions as possible from revision papers.  Here the focus should be on solving problems from a variety of topics rather than just focusing on one topic. This will encourage demonstration of conceptual understanding. Adding to this, a student can then attempt practice papers under timed conditions when revising to &ldquo;desensitize&rdquo; them to exam anxiety. This also enables them to practice all the above strategies within the one practice exam. 

As a student becomes more comfortable with these strategies only then should they begin to increase their rate of work and complete more questions on a paper.  
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/simple-strategies-for-improving-maths-marks-117s77</guid>
<pubDate>12 Jun 2019 05:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/adhd-and-anxiety-117s76</link>
<title><![CDATA[ADHD and Anxiety]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Anxiety among school children seems to be on the rise and the reasons for this are various. Among them is a greater awareness of anxiety and how it impacts children.

This article looks at the relationship between ADHD and anxiety.
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Anxiety and ADHD
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/adhd-and-anxiety-117s76</guid>
<pubDate>06 Jun 2019 00:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/managing-social-media-117s73</link>
<title><![CDATA[Managing Social Media]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Kids share a lot on social media, be it SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook or the latest platform you may not know about. But how do you know when your child is sharing too much, or oversharing on social media?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Hear from teen psychiatrist Jodi Gold, M.D. She talks about what oversharing means, and how and when to step in.

Managing Social Media
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/managing-social-media-117s73</guid>
<pubDate>21 May 2019 23:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-educational-assessments-117s72</link>
<title><![CDATA[The Benefits of Educational Assessments. ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[We all want our children to do well at school and can be concerned when they are not performing as well as expected and nothing seems to be working. Parents and schools have a range of options to help get to the bottom of this.  
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<content><![CDATA[We all want our children to do well at school and can be concerned when they are not performing as well as expected and nothing seems to be working. The reason for underperformance can be simple, such as they need to do their homework, or more complex, such as an undiagnosed Learning Difficulty. But don&rsquo;t be alarmed by this term. We have all had trouble with learning something, at some time and by definition, we have experienced a Learning Difficulty. A Learning Difficulty simply means that the child has difficulty learning certain concepts. This may be due to environmental or physical factors such as long absences from school, visual or hearing impairments or emotional issues. A Learning Disability refers to a range of conditions including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia or ADHD.  

Understanding how to teach a child with a Learning Difficulty or Disability is a bit like finding the right light switch in a hotel room. We want to turn the light on, but we can&rsquo;t find the right switch. Eventually, after pressing every button and every switch the light eventually turns on. This is what teaching and learning is like. We can&rsquo;t teach effectively until we know which switch to turn on. Finding the right switch, however, may require some extra assistance and this is where a range of professionals connected to education can help. These professionals can be Special Needs Teachers, Educational Psychologists, Speech Therapists or Occupational Therapists. However, it is common and understandable for parents to be concerned and even fearful when referral to these professionals is suggested and the term &lsquo;assessment&rdquo; is used. 

Instead, this is a very positive step forward and the outcome for a child and parents can be life changing. Any assessment will always produce a report which can then be given to teachers and tutors. This report is the most important part as it lists specific teaching strategies and approaches for teachers, tutors and parents. This is the switch that turns the lights on.

Educational Psychologists work with schools and parents to identify learning, social and behavioural issues that impede children&#39;s learning. This leads to a range of best practice strategies that teachers can use within the classroom and suggested strategies for parents to use at home. This results in improved learning for the child. Educational Psychologists are attached to all government schools and certain assessments are provided free of charge. Non-government schools may have a psychologist on staff or may refer the child to an external psychologist where payment may be necessary. 

A Special Needs teacher may be also be on staff and, dependent on their qualifications, can also perform a range of diagnostic assessments. There may, or may not, be a cost to parents. Special Needs teachers within schools will manage development and implementation of IEP&rsquo;s and work with individuals or small groups. Please note that not all schools have highly trained Special Needs teachers on their staff. 

Speech and Occupational Therapists can also be helpful for certain assessments and for delivering ongoing support. Speech therapists are specialists in language development and are involved in working with children requiring assistance developing verbal and non-verbal language skills. For example, this may be a child who needs additional assistance when learning to read or spell. Occupational Therapists are well suited to working with children with specific handwriting issues, amongst a range of other conditions. 
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-benefits-of-educational-assessments-117s72</guid>
<pubDate>13 May 2019 05:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-pitfalls-of-an-unregulated-tutoring-industry-117s71</link>
<title><![CDATA[The pitfalls of an unregulated tutoring industry. ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Australian tutoring industry is unregulated. This means that there are no checks and balances in place to guarantee that tutors are capable of delivering a high quality service, or that they are actually who they say they are!! This is a perilous situation for parents, but there are a few things you can do to protect your children and  get the service you are paying for. 
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<content><![CDATA[The Australian tutoring industry is unregulated. This means that anyone can put themselves forward as a tutor of any subject at any year level, irrespective of their experience or qualifications.

Searching for a tutor online will reveal an abundance of tutors to choose from. These tutors vary dramatically in experience and qualifications and I would consider the majority of these to be unqualified to tutor.

For example, a university student studying Commerce, IT or even Engineering is not qualified to tutor VCE English and possibly not even VCE Math subjects. VCE course requirements are very specific and only someone who has a clear knowledge and understanding of these requirements and the curriculum content is capable of tutoring at this level.

Similarly, being able to speak and write in English and perform mathematical calculations does not mean that this person is capable of tutoring primary aged children in Literacy and Numeracy. Only someone with specific training in Primary School education is suitably competent to tutor primary school children.

In addition, parents need to wary of tutors who claim to be able to tutor a wide variety of secondary school subjects. Alarmingly, many tutoring agencies or centres appear to be employing these people as tutors. A quick look on websites, or an enquiry phone call will quickly reveal the extent of &quot;unqualified&quot; tutors manning tuition centres or working in private homes.

Similarly, most tutoring applications that I receive are rejected. Yet many of these applicants are already working elsewhere as clearly listed in the &ldquo;experience&rdquo; section of their CV.

For example, a recent applicant for a VCE English tutor listed their qualification as a Bachelor of Science and 2 years&rsquo; experience as an English and Math tutor at a Melbourne based tuition centre. Unfortunately, this is a common theme among many of the applications I receive.

Background checks on applicants have also revealed bogus VIT registration and Working With Children Checks, deregistered teachers and applicants with non-existent qualifications. And yes, I have discovered that even some of these people are working as tutors elsewhere. I have a thorough understanding of the Australian Education system and know exactly what I am looking for in a tutor. I do not accept anything less than the high standards I demand.

Our tutor profiles are clearly listed on our website, including their qualifications and all tutors undergo a rigorous interview and vetting procedure. The Tutoring Company is a member of The Australian Tutoring Association and we are therefore bound by a code of conduct.

If you would not accept a doctor, lawyer or indeed any trades person who is not a member of the relevant registered organisation, then why accept less of a tutor?
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/the-pitfalls-of-an-unregulated-tutoring-industry-117s71</guid>
<pubDate>18 Apr 2019 01:50:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/understanding-the-difference-between-english-tutoring-and-esl-tutoring-117s70</link>
<title><![CDATA[Understanding the difference between English tutoring and ESL tutoring]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[When seeking either an English tutor or an ESL tutor don&#39;t risk getting the wrong tutor, as there is a vast difference between these two types of tutors and what they are able to tutor. 
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<content><![CDATA[Understanding the difference between an English tutor and an ESL Tutor

If you do a search online for &lsquo;English tutors&rsquo;, you will get hundreds of potential tutors; primary school literacy, secondary school English, or even ESL children or adults. to list just a few. In reality, the vast majority of these tutors are not suitably qualified to teach in either of these areas. Simply having completed VCE or a University course does not qualify someone to tutor either ESL students or English to school children. Neither does having ESL qualifications enable someone to be suitably equipped to tutor school-based English, nor do English teaching qualifications necessarily enable someone to be suitably equipped to tutor ESL students. 

If you want to find the right tutor for your needs, it&rsquo;s important to understand the difference between English tutoring and ESL tutoring. 

An ESL tutor is a specialist in tutoring the English language to people who are learning English where English is their second language, whereas an English tutor is a specialist in tutoring the subject of English according to the Australian school curriculum.

English Tutors:  

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is a statutory authority of the Government of Victoria. They are responsible for providing curriculum and assessment programs for students in Victoria. According to VCAA, the study of English in Australian schools enables students to:


	extend their English language skills through thinking, listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing
	enhance their understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the English language in its written, spoken and multimodal forms
	analyse and discuss a range of texts from different periods, styles, genres and contexts
	understand how culture, values and context underpin the construction of texts and how this can affect meaning and interpretation
	understand how ideas are presented by analysing form, purpose, context, structure and language
	analyse their own and others&rsquo; texts, and make relevant connections to themselves, their community and the world
	convey ideas, feelings, observations and information effectively in written, spoken and multimodal forms to a range of audiences
	recognise the role of language in thinking and expression of ideas
	demonstrate in the creation of their own written, spoken and multimodal texts an ability to make informed choices about the construction of texts in relation to purpose, audience and context
	think critically about the ideas and arguments of others and the use of language to persuade and influence audiences
	extend their use of the conventions of Standard Australian English with assurance, precision, vitality and confidence in a variety of contexts, including for further study, the work place and their own needs and interests
	extend their competence in planning, creating, reviewing and editing their texts for precision and clarity, tone and stylistic effect.


Clearly this is a lengthy list and tutoring accordingly requires specific skills. The people most likely to possess the best skill set are those who:


	are registered English teachers with an Australian teaching degree,
	are undergraduates studying to be an English/Primary teacher or
	some high achieving VCE graduates completing other Bachelor degrees that involve further study of English.


At The Tutoring Company, these are the only tutors we employ. We do not employ tutors with Cambridge qualifications such as CELTA, or English teaching degrees for Teaching English as a Second Language. These tutors are specialist ESL instructors employed by ESL Tutoring Services.

ESL Tutors

ESL tutors cover a wide range of needs for English language learners. Helping students to improve their everyday (general) English is only one facet of English language tutoring. ESL tutors are also skilled at helping students in many other areas.

ESL tutors can prepare students for internationally recognised language tests such as Cambridge IELTS. For people who wish to further their education, there is English for Academic Purposes (EAP) which is particularly focused on the language skills needed in tertiary education settings such as universities and TAFE. The English skills required for reading, writing, listening and speaking in these areas is quite specialised. For example, students need to be able to listen to lecturers and take notes at the same time. Tertiary studies also focus on critical thinking so it is important to know how to present and support your arguments, conduct research, write up research papers and present your findings orally. These are all skills which specialised ESL tutors can teach.

For people who would like help with their English for the workplace, ESL Tutoring Services also has tutors for Business and Corporate English. ESL tutors can teach you how to communicate to your colleagues, employers and clients. However, English alone is not always enough. It&rsquo;s often also important to know about Australian culture and customs; what you should or shouldn&rsquo;t do in the workplace. Having this knowledge and improving your English skills will make you more confident and help you achieve your own personal goals.

Obviously, when English is learned as a second language, ESL students come from a huge variety of nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. Everyone learns languages differently and everyone has their own individual goals and needs. Because of this, there can be no single curriculum that suits everybody. That is why at ESL Tutoring Services every tutor constructs lessons according to the needs of each individual student. Whatever your particular needs are, we will help you.

ESL Tutoring Services has highly qualified and experienced tutors to help you in whatever area of English you require. Our tutors have accredited ESL qualifications such as CELTA and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, in addition to having various university degrees.

 

 
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<pubDate>22 Mar 2019 01:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/preparing-for-parent-teacher-conferences-117s69</link>
<title><![CDATA[Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Turn a 5 minute Parent Teacher Conference from feeling like a speed date to valuable time spent by being prepared and staying calm and in control. 
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Parent-teacher conferences can often feel rushed and like a waste of time. You may leave feeling like you barely learned anything about how your child is doing. 

Or maybe you&rsquo;ve had the opposite experience&mdash;a parent-teacher conference where the teacher brought up something big that surprised you, but then there wasn&rsquo;t nearly enough time to discuss it.

Typically, most conferences will be only for 5 minutes in secondary school, but may be 15 minutes in primary school. Preparation is the key to getting the information you need in a short time period. It is best that you have questions for the teacher, rather then waiting for them to provide you with information. Think about what is most important to you and have 3 questions prepared. For example:

In my child completing all the assigned homework tasks on time and to what standard are they completed? Do you see/mark all their homework and how do you record their progress with homework?

Many students will say that they completed their homework at school. This may be true but it may have been completed in a rushed manner at lunchime, at the end of a lesson or whilst waiting to be picked up from school. The homework may therefore be incomplete or poorly completed with little understanding. The school report will state that homework is always completed but is the teacher basing this on major assignments only and not viewing daily homework?  A student&#39;s effort with homework may be indicitive of issues with the content or organisation strategies so understanding what is going on her may be vital. 

Does my child complete class-based work in a timely manner and to the best of their ability?

Students may be &quot;going through the motions&quot; in class and not really learning. This may be because they are struggling with the concepts and afraid to ask for help, are disengaged or distracted. If distracted, why? What can be done about that?

The most important question to ask is:

WHY do you think my child is doing this?

The answer to this question may lead to developing a better understanding of your child&#39;s performance at school and to developing some strategies, together with the teacher, to assist your child improve their performance. 

Another great idea is to send an email to the teacher prior to the conferrence that mentions which topics you want to discuss. 

If you run out of time and have more to discuss, ask to make another appointment. This can just be a phone conversation or even an email. 

For further information, you might like to refer to:

PT Conference Action Plan
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/preparing-for-parent-teacher-conferences-117s69</guid>
<pubDate>19 Mar 2019 23:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/assisting-frequently-absent-students-through-online-tutoring-117s68</link>
<title><![CDATA[Assisting frequently absent students through Online Tutoring. ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With the help of modern technology, almost everything is possible on the Internet, including education. There are now numerous platforms available to cater to anyone&#39;s educational needs. Online education began with shorter skills and a few courses, but it has evolved significantly, and students can now access tutoring through an online platform. This can be especially useful for students with irregular school hours due to illness or injury, or to those that travel significantly. But are they using the right online platform?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Online tutoring platforms should offer a completely collaborative and two-way experience for both the tutor and student. Typically, many companies or individuals offer tutoring via Skype but this does not provide many of the additional features that a dedicated collaborative platform provides.  Such a platform is utilised by The Tutoring Company. Students can upload exams, homework, worksheets, screenshots etc and gain feedback from their tutor from both the video contact and by the ability for both to write or type on the screen. Students and tutors can work on documents together just as they would if sitting next to each other. In addition, sessions can be played back for easy revision and page notes can be saved and downloaded. This provides the student with the most authentic tutoring experience possible, whilst also providing another layer of security. In addition, The Tutoring Company endeavours to work alongside the school and for tutoring to complement the school curriculum allowing students to catch up on their school-based assessments. Schools may even choose to use their own teachers and implement this program internally. 

The Tutoring Company online tutoring portal allows students to have access to an extensive list of professional tutors even if they are not based in Melbourne. Students and parents can choose their preferred tutor and the day and time for tutoring to occur.  It is even possible to have a combination of home-based and online sessions. This may be particularly useful for students who are elite athletes and frequently miss school as they are competing or attending training camps. 

Watch this short video to find out more: Online Tutoring

Contact Us Now
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/assisting-frequently-absent-students-through-online-tutoring-117s68</guid>
<pubDate>12 Feb 2019 06:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/online-tutoring-considerations-for-parents-117s67</link>
<title><![CDATA[Online Tutoring considerations for parents]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[With the help of modern technology, almost everything is possible on the Internet, including education. There are now numerous platforms available to cater to anyone&#39;s educational needs. Online education began with shorter skills and a few courses, but it has evolved significantly, and many students now choose to access tutoring through an online platform. But are they using the right online platform?
]]></description>
<content><![CDATA[Online tutoring platforms should offer a completely collaborative and two-way experience for both the tutor and student. Typically, many companies or individuals offer tutoring via Skype but this does not provide many of the additional features that a dedicated collaborative platform provides.  Such a platform is utilised by The Tutoring Company. Students can upload exams, homework, worksheets, screenshots etc and gain feedback from their tutor from both the video contact and by the ability for both to write or type on the screen. Students and tutors can work on documents together just as they would if sitting next to each other. In addition, sessions can be played back for easy revision and page notes can be saved and downloaded. This provides the student with the most authentic tutoring experience possible. It also provides an additional of security.

Our online tutoring portal allows you to have access to our extensive list of professional tutors even if you are not based in Melbourne or if you are unable to access home-based personal tuition for a variety of other reasons. These may include:


	You live in a rural area
	Your child misses a large amount of school due to illness and is frequently home during the school day
	Your desired tutor lives outside your area
	You attend an Australian International School and want an Australian based tutor
	You are involved in Distance Education
	Your children are home-schooled
	You do not have access to a quiet space in a public area of the home, hampering home-based tuition


Watch this short video to see how it works: Online Tutoring

Contact Us
]]></content>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/online-tutoring-considerations-for-parents-117s67</guid>
<pubDate>12 Feb 2019 05:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/organisation-difficulties-117s66</link>
<title><![CDATA[Organisation difficulties]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Organisation is the key to success for students managing their increasingly busy school days. Understanding some effective organisational strategies can reduce daily stress experienced by many students. 
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<content><![CDATA[For many students, the weeks leading up to the start of a new school year can be quite stressful. They dread the thought of trying to manage all their daily tasks and simply do not know where to begin. A lack of organisational strategies and tools leaves the student with no option but to keep trying to use the same strategy that has consistently failed for them.

In their frustration, such students may &quot;act out&quot; and refuse to do homework or always say &quot; I did it at school.&quot;

Sound familiar? Well, you&#39;re not alone and there is help available.

The answer may be as simple as the use of a weekly planner (hard copy or an app) and a quiet and tidy work space. If this doesn&rsquo;t help, then seek the support of the school. Have you met with the Year Level Co-Ordinator or Head of House and asked for extra support? Surround your child with a team of professionals who is on their side. This can include the school counsellor or any teacher that your child feels particularly connected to. There may also be an underlying reason for poor organisational skills, so an Educational Psychological Assessment may be warranted, especially if there are additional issues such poor academic grades and inattentiveness. A report is generated which identifies any potential reasons for poor organisation and strategies are suggested for teachers, parents and the student. Alternatively, if the school has a Special Needs Department (this may have varying names but is staffed by Special Needs educators), then ask for an appointment as their involvement could be crucial.

Finally, many students will also benefit from one-on-one time spent with a personal tutors . These intensive, quiet and personalised sessions allow a student to focus in a way that can&#39;t be done in a classroom. A great tutor will also be able to assist with general organisation by keeping tabs on this in the weekly sessions. As a student begins to feel success by completing and submitting homework and assessment tasks on time, their confidence and independence grows.

For more information contact TTC now
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/organisation-difficulties-117s66</guid>
<pubDate>14 Jan 2019 23:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-you-should-speak-with-an-experienced-education-professional-when-seeking-a-tutor-117s63</link>
<title><![CDATA[Why you should speak with an experienced Education professional when seeking a tutor.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The initial phone call from a parent enquiring about tutoring must do more than just determine costs and availability. There must be a conversation with an education professional about why tutoring is being sought and what concerns the parents have.
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<content><![CDATA[I must share a recent phone-call from a parent. When I first spoke to the student&rsquo;s father, he was concerned about his son&rsquo;s poor performance in math and his apparent lack of effort and engagement at school. Our discussion revealed some personal family issues that could account for his behaviour. In addition, I felt quite strongly that the issue was not with his son&rsquo;s math ability but was indeed an underlying literacy issue, compounded by his son&rsquo;s emotional distress. I therefore suggested to the father that he seek the support of the school to a greater degree and explained who he needed to speak to and how to go about initiating and having what would be a difficult and emotional conversation.

I also suggested that an English tutor would be better than da Math tutor for the purpose of improving his son&rsquo;s literacy skills across all subjects, which would in turn improve all subject grades. The father reluctantly took my advice and phoned recently to update me on his son&rsquo;s progress. Academically, his son had gone from very poor grades to high grades, most notably in Science, Math and English. His teachers have noticed a marked improvement in his effort and attitude and were keen to know what had changed to bring about such a noticeable improvement. It was recognised that the combination of greater school support and external tutoring was the reason for such progress.

Dad also mentioned that home-based behavioural issues had also improved considerably. This has been a difficult but extremely rewarding journey for this family, and they should be so proud of what they have achieved both individually and as part of a team supporting their family.

The Tutoring Company is committed to employing only the highest quality tutors with an in-depth understanding of The Australian Curriculum and this boys tutor has been a wonderful mentor, role model and teacher. We are also committed to providing the best advice, even if this means advising against tutoring. This may happen if we feel that the student requires some in-depth assessments or that the school resources may be better utilised. Advice like this can only be provided by an education professional with an excellent understanding of The Australian Curriculum, the requirements of children with Learning Difficulties and the Australian school system.

For more information contact TTC now
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/why-you-should-speak-with-an-experienced-education-professional-when-seeking-a-tutor-117s63</guid>
<pubDate>02 Dec 2018 17:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/our-new-website-is-live-117s51</link>
<title><![CDATA[Our new Website is Live!]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Welcome to our new website! This website also launches our Online Tutoring Platform! This is a very exciting development, enabling many more students across Australia to receive exceptional tutoring from The Tutoring Company. 
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<content><![CDATA[Welcome to our new website! This website also launches our Online Tutoring Platform! This is a very exciting development, enabling many more students across Australia to receive exceptional tutoring from The Tutoring Company. 

The overwhelming response from students currently receiving tuition via the platform is that they feel that their tutor is actually in the room with them. Online students love the opportunity to review their recorded lessons and to upload all forms of documents that they can work on with their tutor. The live video enables students to feel connected to their tutor and are enjoying being able to work wherever they choose, and to not be bothered by their siblings!! A private login code makes entering the online classroom safe and seamless.

We have also made it easier for tutors to work with us and now have all tutoring positions visible on the home screen. This will make it easier for us to match students with their ideal tutor and to specifically recruit tutors who match the high TTC standards.

Tutors also have easy access to a wealth of resources which have been carefully selected and are aligned with The Australian Curriculum.

In our quest for constant improvement, further announcements will occur in the New Year.
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/our-new-website-is-live-117s51</guid>
<pubDate>01 Nov 2018 04:14:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<link>https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/when-you39re-thinking-of-hiring-a-tutor-117s30</link>
<title><![CDATA[When you&#39;re thinking of hiring a tutor]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The decision to employ a tutor is not one that parents take lightly. The Tutoring Company understands this and are very aware of the need to ensure that tutoring not only addresses academic concerns, but also fosters confidence and self-belief in students. 
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<content><![CDATA[The decision to employ a tutor is not one that parents take lightly. The Tutoring Company understands this and are very aware of the need to ensure that tutoring not only addresses academic concerns, but also fosters confidence and self-belief in students.

When considering the needs of the student, many factors need to be understood in determining the type of tuition required, the term of tuition and whether tuition is the right thing at the current time. Sometimes, some children will require some form of assessment to determine why they might be underperforming and struggling at school. In these cases, it is best to delay tutoring until all necessary assessments are completed. But don&#39;t be misled by many of the assessments offered by many companies. These are simply grade-based assessments that won&#39;t really provide you much more information than you already know from the school report. A true assessment is diagnostic, as offered by The Tutoring Company. The assessments offer insight regarding any potential underlying learning difficulties that have not yet been understood or diagnosed. The results will allow the tutor to tailor sessions specifically for the student. If assessment results raise particular concerns, the support of other specialists may be recommended.

In addition, it is necessary to understand whether the child is struggling across the board, or just in certain areas or subjects. For other children it may be more about their organisation and ability to complete homework and to study effectively. Many highly capable students simply lack effective strategies enabling them to demonstrate their understanding and therefore appear to be less capable than they really are. Understanding these aspects of a student&rsquo;s performance will enable The Tutoring Company to determine the type of tutoring and the length of time tutoring may be required.

In addition, the chosen tutor has been carefully selected as The Tutoring Company knows that not every tutor is right for every child. The Australian tutoring industry is unregulated, presenting many concerning issues for parents and students. Therefore, The Tutoring Company is a member of The Australian Tutoring Association. This means that we are bound by a code of conduct, providing parents with the peace of mind required, when allowing a stranger in to their home. Please see the next blog, for more on this issue.
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<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.thetutoringcompany.com.au/blog/when-you39re-thinking-of-hiring-a-tutor-117s30</guid>
<pubDate>29 Oct 2018 04:31:00 GMT</pubDate>
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