Improving performance
Tackling difficulties
The problem
Even in the best-run classrooms, it can be very difficult to keep thirty children moving forward at a pace which suits them all. It is easy, through a failure to grasp something first time, a sickness absence or simply an off-day in class, for an important point not to be understood properly. If this happens a few times and is not picked up, a child can soon drop off the pace and find that things become a problem. Perhaps the parents are not aware of it until they hear: “Oh, I’m no good at …….”.
My solution
If a child is having some struggles, extra tuition can often help. I identify the areas of concern – by listening to the parents and child, by working through examples and by watching how the child tackles problems. I can re-teach and reinforce the difficult points, build good habits and boost the child’s confidence.
The very able child
The problem
Sometimes the problem is quite the opposite. A very able child might find the pace of the class too slow and boring. If the school does not pick up the most able children and challenge them with extra work, there is the risk that they switch off and start ‘coasting’.
My solution
Here my approach is to find, by working through examples, what the child is really good at and what is more average (they are not always super at everything!). I then really challenge them on their good areas, with more difficult exercises and new work, while not neglecting the other topics. Of course, these more able children may well be candidates for the Eleven Plus, which is covered in more detail here:
English comprehension
One subject which many children, of all abilities, find difficult is English Comprehension. In my experience, it rarely gets enough time and emphasis in class and it also gets relatively little attention in published work books and tests. I am able to give this appropriate emphasis, with multiple-choice test work in most lessons.
Homework
Everybody gets homework! I tell the children that school homework must come first, but with good organisation they should be able to do both, most weeks.
The week’s homework is recorded in a wirobook, together with any feedback from me or comments from parents in the other direction. The book can also be used for any additional notes and exercises. I can supply a suitable book, unless you already have one.
Learning materials
I do some work from published work books and test packs, which I can supply. If you already have some books, I will try to use them if they are appropriate.
I often use books published for Eleven Plus preparation, even if a child is not likely to take the test. This is because they cover the right ground and are familiar to me.
Extra resources
I can also offer pupils the following from my own resources:
Reading List – to help develop reading skills and comprehension
Vocabulary Lists – to practise spelling and encourage better comprehension.
Focused Work Sheets – I have developed 70 A4 worksheets, to give more practice in standard types of question..