Can’t we just use Spelling Checkers?
Why is Spelling so Hard?
infographics_2 (1)Those of us who struggled with learning to spell or are in the process of helping little ones learn their ‘tricky’ words, would love the answer to this question to be “Yes!” Spelling rules just seem, well, unruly, and anyway don’t too many corrections crush creativity?
The problem is that we learn spellings in a variety of ways. Sometimes we have to spell the whole word from memory, these are the dreaded ‘sight’ or tricky words, but more usually we need to sound out and decode words using phonics (letter sounds).
Words are both symbols on paper and sounds we say. So when we read words we hear them in our head. This is what makes poetry or songs work well and sound attractive (or not). If we can’t hear words when we read them we won’t enjoy their rhythm or rhyme.
You might say, but why not just spell phonetically? Sadly, there is no one way to say a word (just watch Coronation Street), and this is made more complicated by English being spoken by people all over the world.
Also, if words that sound the same (e.g., rain, rein and reign) were spelled the same way, their meanings would be harder to work out.
Spell checkers are fine as an aid, but the student who spells “does” as “dose” will not see the mistake, and will continue with the misspelling habit. However, the good news is that technology can help us learn our spellings more efficiently, with tuition programmes, online resources and spelling gadgets.
Back to the tricky words then; try getting the child to see the shape of the word (using joined up handwriting), say, and hear the word. This will help the ‘working memory’ learn better!
Most Improved in Tutor Group and Year Group!
Most Improved Maths
Finley was struggling with Maths at school when his mum got in touch. She said “It scared him that he was finding if so difficult. I had tried contacting tutors before but there’d been no response. I was really pleased when I spoke to someone and got a free assessment. He enjoys the lessons and has no problem now.”
Linda his tutors says,”He has become more confident and improved a great deal. He works hard and he want to do well each lesson.”
Finley has gone from strength to strength and now enjoys maths. He got certificates for most improved student in tutor group and year so school have certainly notice it!
Tuition Centre Director
Havant Centre Director: Role and Responsibilities
We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Centre Director to join our team in Havant. As a senior tutoring role, you will have the freedom to manage pupils, parents, and tutors while
focusing on marketing strategies to drive centre growth. This role comes with performance targets, providing you with the opportunity to excel and achieve outstanding results. We
currently have centres in Portsmouth, Fareham, and Havant, UK. This is a full-time position that may require some financial commitment.
Interview Dates: ASAP
Read Our Fareham Centre Director’s Story Here..
Remuneration:
We offer a two-stage remuneration package. During the probationary period (8-12 weeks), wages will be based on the tutoring sessions worked. However, this requirement can be waived for those who are already tutoring with us.
After successfully completing the probation and training period, you will receive a management element, a minimum number of 4-6 sessions per week, and a bonus related to targets based on centre %profit. Your remuneration will depend on your success in growing student numbers, as outlined above.
Discover more about our new Havant Centre and the exciting opportunities at I Love to Learn Professional Tuition Here…
Centre Management
As the Centre Director, you will have complete responsibility for managing and growing the centre. Your key responsibilities will include:
- Opening and preparing the centre for business
- Recruiting and enrolling students
- Attending regular team meetings during term time
- Senior Teaching Responsibilities, including teaching students during term time
- Communicating with and management of tutors
- Recruiting and managing tutors
- Providing excellent customer service and building strong relationships with parents
- Recognizing and rewarding students with prizes and certificates
- Organizing missed lessons and catch-up sessions
Marketing & Communication
As part of your role, you will actively contribute to marketing and communication efforts, including:
- Organizing sales events to attract new students
- Managing social media posts and website updates
- Networking with schools and local organizations to promote our services
- Taking part in marketing activities to increase brand visibility
- Actively seeking out marketing opportunities to expand our reach
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Qualified Teacher Status
- DBS Cleared
- First Aid Training (preferred)
Preferred Skills
In addition to the required qualifications, we value the following skills:
- Entrepreneurial potential to drive innovative ideas and initiatives
- Classroom experience to effectively manage and engage with students
- Marketing experience to contribute to our growth strategies
- Leadership experience to inspire and guide our team
Join our dynamic team as a Centre Director and unlock the opportunities and freedom this role offers. Make a significant impact on our students’ lives, while enjoying a rewarding and fulfilling career with I Love to Learn Professional Tuition. Apply now and be part of our success story!
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GCSE Maths Success in Only 3 months!
GCSE Maths Grade 2-4 in Three Months
Alex had always found maths difficult at school. He found himself in Year 11, dreading the thought of taking his GCSE maths exam. He enrolled with us for maths tuition with just three months to go and attended two lessons a week to try to catch up. It was the repetition and individual attention that he found very helpful. Alex says, “I learned more in the three months than my whole time in the maths classroom at school. I went from dreading it, to feeling much better about being there.” This Summer he was overjoyed to find that he had gone from a Grade 2 in his mocks up to a Grade 4 (C) pass in his final exam.
Now he is at Portsmouth College studying his A levels and very happy! Howard Jones, his tutor, said, “Alex was a very motivated student and knew what he wanted. I was able to channel this energy into a really positive direction. If students are prepared to put in the work, it is amazing how quickly some targeted one-to-one tutoring can make a difference in many cases.”
We had to go right back to the level of maths that Alex could cope with. We then focused on drilling his number work to improve his fluency and arithmetic (remember, at least one of the papers is non-calculator). Each lesson, we also completed a set of mixed questions which analyzed areas of weakness. These were matched each lesson with GCSE-type questions which we repeated until Alex could answer them independently for himself. As the exam got closer, we then focused more on exam-type questions, making sure we repeated each one to give Alex maximum confidence.
11+ Common Entrance Assessment Dates January 2019
11+ Entrance Assessments for January 2019
Indepedent Schools in Portsmouth and Fareham
We love helping children prepare for 11+ common entrance assessments. I thought it might be a good idea to make sure everyone has the dates they need.
The entrance exams always cover maths and English to a high level. Children are also usually tested on their verbal and non verbal reasoning. These tests are designed to be more difficult to prepare for as they are not a school subject. Verbal reasoning is concerned with language and words problems while non-verbal reasoning looks are logic, shape and number patterns.
Here is a testimonial we received earlier.
“We are so pleased that Mahera has got a FULL BURSARY for the local girl’s high school in Portsmouth. She has been to your centre before for tuition but we came back in November so she could get ready for the exams. She has worked so hard and Linda has really encouraged her in her writing! Thanks so much!”
Click here to find out more about tutoring for Entrance Exams …
Are you considering entering your child for an independent school? Tell us and we can help prepare them.
Click here to read more about our success…..
Portsmouth High School
11+, 12+, 13+ or 14+
Saturday 19th January 2019
Portsmouth Grammar School
11+ and 13+ Entrance Assessment
Saturday 26th January 2019
Mayville High School
All Candidates Sit Exam
Saturday 19th January 2019
St John’s College
11+ Entrance Assessment
Thursday 20th November
Tuesday 22nd January 2018
The Gregg School
11+ Entrance Assessment
Saturday 2nd February 2019
8 +11 + 13+ Exam Success
Once again we are celebrating 11+ exam success !
We have heard that everyone has passed exams and been offered places to at lea
st one of their chosen schools. This is such fantastic news and well deserved, you did it!
A big thank you to all our tutors who worked so hard with the entrance exam students. We are able to design programmes that focus on areas such as verbal and non- verbal reasoning. We also work with students to improve any areas of maths or English that need attention.
Special Mentions go to;
- Conrad, Christ’s Hospital scholarship and Grammar School
- Zeeshan, Salisbury Cathedral School, scholarship and other school offers
- Lissiana, Grammar School, scholarship and English prize
- Alex and Jamie, St John’s scholarships
- Ivan, Grammar School
- Christian, Grammar School
We wish you all a great transition to your new schools and every success while there! There are more results to follow!
INVITATION TO PLAYZONE
Our entrance exam students are all invited on
Friday 23rd March between 4pm and 6pm
PLAY ZONE, Unit A4, Oak Park Industrial Estate, North Harbour Rd, PORTSMOUTH PO6 3TJ
Hotdog and drink on us! See you there!
New Fareham Tuition Centre Open Party!
New Tuition Centre Opening Party Sat 10th Feb
Come and celebrate the opening of our new tuition centre. We are giving away cake, I Love to Learn T-shirts and balloons. Have a look around, play some educational games and chat to the tutors!
Please feel free to drop in and find out more, even if you are not thinking about getting help at the moment. It is a free event so all are welcome. Whether it is for now or the future, for reading, writing, spelling or maths; we are happy to talk. Your child might be getting closer to SATs, GCSEs, or you may be considering 11 plus/common entrance exams. We are here to help all children from 6-16 and all abilities.
Time: 12.30-1.30pm
Date: Sat 10th February 2018
Place: 4 Delta Business Park, Salterns Lane, Fareham, PO16 0QS.
The latest addition to after-school education in Fareham is now open with the I Love to Learn Professional Tuition Centre now officially in operation. We have already got lots of students studying with us and are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
We will be offering a free assessment to every child who attends the event. This is a chance for you to get a detailed snap shot of your child’s educational progress. Please talk to us about how to arrange this.
Parking is free in the business park and we are the very first unit on the right! We have got lots of signs up now so you can’t miss us!
Click here to find out more…
Meet the Fareham Centre Director
Meet the Centre Director: Howard Jones
Howard is the Centre Director. He is a secondary teacher with over 13 years experience and has now tutored 6 to 16 year olds for 13 years. He loves to teach all topics but especially secondary Maths. He is passionate about education and love seeing children reach their full potential. He enjoys politics, running and reading but not at the same time! He is married to Linda and they have two fantastic children.
Click here to find out more about tuition in Fareham…
Loving to Learn: Activities and tasks that your child Can Do!
After the assessment we use their results to create an individual plan for your child. It will focus on any areas of weakness and allow us to set work at the right level. We will give your child work that they can do so their confidence and feeling of success returns. We will ensure that in each lesson they will discover success and also find a challenge. Homework is set to practice and repeat their learning- this helps them to retain it!
“A Real Confidence Boost”
“She Loves It!”
Katelyn really struggled at school with confidence and wasn’t making the progress expected of her. Her mum, Caroline, already used a home tutor but had seen little improvement. When she heard about us she wondered if we could help boost her.
Since beginning tuition with us she has gone from strength to strength. Now Katelyn’s attitude has completely changed. Caroline says,
“ She has grown loads in her spelling and I have seen a massive improvement. She loves it and her confidence has really grown. It has helped her with her numbers and reading too! She is much happier at school now and really starting to learn.”
We are so delighted to hear this and excited to hear Katelyn loves to learn!
Wow 100% Pass Rate for 11+Exams!
11+ Entrance Exam Success
Well done to all our 11+ and common entrance exam students for passing their tests. All students, who attended our sessions regularly, passed their 11+ exams in at least one of the schools they applied for. They included; Christ’s Hospital, St Catherine’s, Badminton, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, PGS and PHS. One of our students even got a full boarding scholarship, including all music tuition and exams paid in full!
Over the years we have had a lot of success, but this is definitely the best year ever. In order to celebrate we invited them all to Playzone on us! Quite a few were able to make it and really love the event. One mum said “Once again thanks you and Linda for organising this evenings party, the children had an amazing time and it was such a special treat to celebrate the end of the ordeal from the past few months! ”
It was really fun to celebrate together and we hope we can do it again soon.
