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A+ ACADEMICS INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY
Introduction
A+ Academics has a strong track record for helping
students in grades K – 12 improve their academic performance in
reading, language arts and math (including higher math, algebra, and
calculus). Since 2002, A+ Academics has tutored over 4,000 SES
and private students in individual and small group tutoring venues.
Evidence shows that our students improve an impressive 2.5 grade
levels on average from our instructional program. This success
is based on two key factors: (1) hiring highly-qualified and
motivated tutors; and (2) using various high quality research-based
instructional methods and materials during our tutoring sessions.
You have been selected to serve our students because you are a
highly-qualified and motivated educator who sincerely cares about
the students you tutor. Congratulations and welcome to the A+
Academics’ Team! Now that you are a valued member of the A+ Team,
we need to provide you with an overview of A+ Academics
Instructional Philosophy so you have a better understanding of our
approach for offering tutoring services.
Learning Mode and Environment
Before designing an effective tutoring strategy for
students, A+ Academics determines the student’s best learning
mode (e.g. visual, auditory or kinesthetic) by administering
tests for this purpose. Our tutors are then given examples of ways
to determine the best methods for teaching visual, auditory or
kinesthetic learners in the student’s tutoring program.
Along with discovering the student’s best learning mode,
we believe that the environment in which a student learns is
crucial to their self-esteem and, therefore, their ability to
learn. Research and experience has shown that poor self-esteem
creates passive learners, fosters poor communication and language
skills, and causes extreme anxiety. The A+ Academics program builds
self-esteem, reduces anxiety, and encourages students throughout the
tutoring process. Maintaining a stress-free environment, where
students can enjoy learning and feel safe and unintimidated, makes
it easier for students to grow in self-confidence and learn with
greater ease. Also, academic exercises that incorporate all of the
student’s senses brings about a quicker understanding and learning
process during the student’s tutoring experience.
A+ Academics strongly believes that children will be
children, and that they are curious young “learning machines." They
love to play and, therein, enjoy learning if it is a safe and
pleasant experience. Just as we all do, they perform in the manner
expected of them. If they think you believe in them, they can learn
to believe in themselves. If they know that you care, they will
strive to meet your expectations, and then learn to expect more from
themselves.
Researched-Based Instructional Material
A+ Academics incorporates various research-based methods
into our instructional programs such as neurolinguistics,
memorization, and brain-based learning from William K. Estes, B.F.
Skinner and Robert Bjork. Our materials closely align with all
Georgia Performance Standards and CRCT testing for grades K -12.
Reading / language arts skill development is also aligned
with the National Reading Panel (NRP), Center for the Improvement of
Early Reading Achievement (CIERA), and National Institute for
Literacy (NIFL) and includes mastery of phonics, oral reading,
comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, parts of speech,
essays, and writing skills.
Math skill development is based on math intervention
principles such as: Equity (math is for all students),
Curriculum (math should be taught as a whole, in
progressive steps, slow enough that the student can grasp new
concepts), Effective Teaching (teacher should have a
deep understanding of the individual student and how they learn, and
be able to select strategies that promote student learning),
Problem Solving (should promote student’s understanding,
thinking, and reasoning skills), and Technology (use
tools to enhance learning). Our techniques include memorization of
addition and subtraction facts, multiplication tables, long and
short multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, conversion
of fractions to decimals, decimals to fractions, ratio, geometrical
formulas, order of operations, and other mathmetical basics from
elementary shapes through calculus.
A+ Academics believes that supervised practice allows for immediate
feedback from the student. Research has shown that practice in and
of itself is crucial to convert skill development from short- to
long-term memory. According to Bjork (2005), “The ability to retain
information over long periods is fundamental to intelligent thought
and behavior. Memory is, in effect, the ‘glue’ that holds our
attention and language to reasoning, decision-making, and
problem-solving. Memory also plays a critical role in social and
emotional functioning, because our sense of who we and other people
are is distilled from factual and autobiographical information in
our memories.” Our tutors prefer to use these highly-skilled
training methods as they are very measurable. Meanwhile, our
students find these learning approaches challenging and enjoyable.
Empirical research, based on observed continued advancement,
indicate the effectiveness of these methods. We have found that
implementation of these methods result in mastery of basic skills
and creates solid building blocks for further academic advancement.
Additional research-based
instructional strategies include:
The Direct Instructional Strategy is highly
teacher-directed and actively involves students. It is very
effective in developing step-by-step skills. Methods of direct
instruction include explicit teaching, drill and practice, and
demonstrations. Research shows that average retention rates using
the “Practice by Doing” method is 75%, while “Lecture Only” is 5%.
The Interactive Instructional Strategy has a high
level of student involvement such as observing, investigating, and
drawing inferences and conclusions. It stimulates student interest
and curiosity, and helps to encourage them in solving problems. It
opens new avenues of thinking and sparks student interest and
creativity.
The Drill & Practice strategy promotes skills and
knowledge through repetitive practice. This strategy is important
for early learners and students with learning problems. It includes
small tasks, such as memorization of spelling and vocabulary words,
and addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts. Drill and
Practice is a core element to acquire and retain basic math
principles for advanced learning.
The Cooperative Learning strategy concurrently
addresses academic and social skills learning. It is effective for
students in small-group tutoring and is implemented many times with
special-needs students. This strategy is effective with students
struggling with social skills as students work together to achieve a
united goal. This strategy is usually implemented by credentialed
instructors with special-needs training.as Safe and Stress-Free Environment
and Building Confidence and Self-Esteem which
As indicated earlier, A+ Academics incorporates other instructional
strategies such have
shown that students learn at a faster rate with better retention in
a stress-free and safe environment.
Parental Involvement in Student
Learning
We strongly believe that parents play a critical role in student
learning. In most cases, students who progress the most have had
active parental involvement in their student’s tutoring process.
Therefore, A+ Academics makes frequent contact with parents to
ensure ongoing communication regarding student advancement. Parents
and students understand that the program is one of expecting
increases, without demanding results on a particular time schedule.
One-on-one instruction usually brings the child to a full
understanding and proficiency in areas of weakness rather quickly.
Small tutoring groups consist of students with similar academic
deficiencies and are designed to put students at ease with their
peers. If the tutor determines that a student is struggling in a
small group setting, the parents will be contacted to discuss
changing the venue to one-on-one tutoring.
Concluding Thoughts
In many cases, a person’s belief in themselves and in their ability
to learn began with an exceptional teacher. Using various
techniques and methods, while becoming a trusted friend, the teacher
was able to capture the person’s attention and young mind and
channel them towards a positive learning experience over time.
The same can be true for a skilled tutor. A+ Academics
incorporates research-based brain/mind learning principles and
practices into our tutoring program. We strive to build a student’s
self-esteem by providing ongoing positive encouragement throughout
the tutoring process, thereby reducing anxiety and creating a
stress-free learning environment. Most students respond quite well
to this approach and realize most or all of the academic gains as
outlined in their student learning plan. But principles, practices,
programs, student learning plans, etc. are only as effective as the
skills and passion of the tutor. That’s where you come in! We look
forward to working with you to combine your skills and passion with
our instructional philosophy to not only help a student raise the
bar in one or more academic areas, but to encourage the student to
become a life-long learner. Again, congratulations on
becoming a valued member of the A+ Academics Team!
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