Interview with Strike Tutoring

 

1. How to release the stresses of examinations?

It's important to know the root of the cause of stress. Often, children have values of parents drilled into them from an early age and while it is our philosophy to push children to achieve their best, we believe that children should feel empowered to work with their strengths and be guided to make life and career choices based on what will make them happy. Children who believe that failure in solitary examinations will result in failure to satisfy other people's expectations are destined to feel overwhelmed. 

 

We encourage our students to understand that failure is a natural part of life but that working hard and achieving success is a part of life as well. Happiness comes from opportunity. When students understand that working to do well in examinations is something they do for themselves primarily and not necessarily for the satisfaction of others then their drive naturally increases and their approach towards examinations is stronger.

 

In regards to physically coping with the stress of examinations, we'd recommend plenty of sleep, water and foods high in anti-oxidants. Also, while studying, employ a number of different methods of retention that involve engaging auditory, visual and kinaesthetic approaches.

 

2. How to find a tutor that caters to a child's specific learning style and needs?

The two most important things to consider are whether or not a tutoring service offers professional teachers and whether or not it offers small group tuition. Too often, tutoring companies evolve to become factory-line production services that fill classes to the brim with students who essentially spend large amounts of time quietly doing practice tests to receive results - sometimes days and weeks afterwards. Often, tutoring companies employ University students who have no experience in education to tackle challenging and complex issues such as differentiation, effective feedback, learning plans and assessment. If a tutoring service isn't seeking to move beyond what a child can already do and focus on improving areas of need specifically, it is genuinely a waste of time and money and it is quite possibly burning out a child's desire and focus.

 

3. What are some effective strategies for improving academic result?

The overwhelming evidence within academia in educational circles around the world at the moment is the way in which trained professionals give students effective feedback. There are three main facets to implementing this approach, none of which will yield results without extensive training. These aspects are the informed creation of learning goals based on what the child can demonstrate an understanding of and what they can't; the communication of clear success criteria and the steps and strategies that must be taken to achieve; and ongoing (formative) assessment that is relevant to the learning goals and success criteria. It is important to understand that feedback in the educational context is not merely acknowledging student achievement, but identifying the 'where to next' for the student and helping them take steps to get there.