Tag Archive for: tutoring

Understanding ADHD: A Parent’s Guide to Symptoms, Types & Diagnosis

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If you’re here because something about your child’s behaviour has you wondering – a school report that doesn’t match how bright they seem at home, a teacher’s gentle suggestion, or a nagging feeling that things are harder for them than they should be – this guide is meant to help you make sense of what ADHD actually is, and what the process of finding out looks like.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It’s one of the most common barriers to learning among school-aged children, affecting an estimated 5.3% of people worldwide. It’s not a matter of a child being “difficult” or not trying hard enough – it’s a recognised neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain manages attention, impulse control, and activity levels.

Because it’s so common, it’s worth every parent, tutor, and educator having a working understanding of what it looks like and how it’s identified – not to self-diagnose, but to know when it’s worth having a proper conversation with a professional.

Understanding ADHD: A Parent's Guide to Symptoms, Types & Diagnosis

What Are the Symptoms of ADHD?

Here’s where it gets genuinely tricky: most young children get distracted, act on impulse, and struggle to sit still at some point. That’s normal childhood behaviour, not ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD usually appear early, often between ages 3 and 6, but because they overlap so heavily with ordinary development, they can be difficult to distinguish – which is exactly why a proper assessment matters rather than a checklist alone.

Symptoms generally fall into three categories:

1. Inattention – a learner may:

  • Be easily distracted, miss details, or frequently switch between tasks
  • Struggle to focus on one thing, especially something not immediately enjoyable
  • Have difficulty organising or completing tasks, or starting something new
  • Lose things needed for tasks (pencils, books, assignments)
  • Seem not to listen when spoken to directly
  • Process information more slowly than peers, or seem to daydream often
  • Struggle to follow multi-step instructions

2. Hyperactivity – a learner may:

  • Fidget, squirm, or struggle to stay seated
  • Talk excessively or seem constantly in motion
  • Have difficulty with quiet, still activities

3. Impulsivity – a learner may:

  • Struggle to wait their turn
  • Blurt out comments or act without considering consequences
  • Interrupt conversations or other people’s activities

Most children with ADHD show a mix of all three, though not always in equal measure – which is where the different types come in.

What Are the Different Types of ADHD?

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive

Six or more hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms present, with fewer inattentive symptoms (though some may still be there).

Predominantly Inattentive

Six or more inattentive symptoms present, with fewer hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. This is the type most likely to be missed. These learners often sit quietly and don’t act out, so they can look like they’re simply “not paying attention” or “a bit of a daydreamer” rather than showing signs of ADHD – and it’s part of why girls, in particular, tend to be diagnosed later than boys. You can read more about ADHD in girls here.

Combined Type

Six or more symptoms in both categories – this is the most common presentation.

Why ADHD Gets Missed

Because inattentive-type ADHD doesn’t come with disruptive behaviour, it’s easy for parents and teachers to overlook. A learner who’s quiet and well-behaved doesn’t tend to raise the same flags as one who’s visibly restless, even if they’re struggling just as much to keep up.

At the same time, hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are sometimes mistaken for a discipline issue rather than a barrier to learning, particularly in younger children where higher activity levels are developmentally normal.

Both patterns mean ADHD can go unrecognised for years, which is why paying attention to persistent patterns – not isolated moments – matters more than any single behaviour.

How Is ADHD Diagnosed?

There’s no single test for ADHD. Instead, diagnosis in South Africa typically involves a registered educational psychologist (or a paediatrician who may refer you to one), who will gather information about your child’s behaviour across different settings and over time.

The process usually involves ruling out other explanations first, such as:

  • Hearing or vision problems
  • Sleep issues or other medical conditions affecting behaviour
  • Anxiety, depression, or other conditions that can mimic ADHD symptoms
  • A recent major life change (a house move, loss in the family, parents’ divorce) that could be causing temporary behavioural shifts

 

From there, the psychologist will typically look at:

  • Whether behaviours are long-term and extreme, not just occasional
  • Whether they show up more than in peers of the same age
  • Whether they appear across multiple settings – home, school, social situations – rather than just one

This is usually gathered through observation, questionnaires completed by parents and teachers, and sometimes cognitive or academic assessments to check whether a learning difficulty is also present.

What Happens After a Diagnosis?

A diagnosis isn’t an endpoint – it’s the start of knowing what kind of support will actually help. Depending on your child’s needs, that might include:

  • Tailored academic support. One-on-one tutoring, paced and structured around how your child’s brain works best, rather than a one-size-fits-all classroom approach.
  • Exam accommodations. Many learners with ADHD qualify for support such as extra time or a prompter during assessments – worth discussing with your school. You can also find more information on our quick blog here.
  • A clearer picture of exam-time challenges specifically. Some learners manage well day-to-day but really struggle when assessment pressure hits – see our guide on why ADHD symptoms often intensify at exam time.

If you’re trying to work out whether what you’re seeing at home fits this picture, or you’ve already got a diagnosis and are wondering what support looks like in practice, BrightSparkz’s neurodivergent tutoring approach is a good next step to explore.

Why Does My Child’s ADHD Seem to Get Worse at Exam Time?

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If your child manages reasonably well through the term – keeping up in class, getting homework done, coping day to day – and then everything seems to fall apart the moment exams or big assessments arrive, you’re probably not just imagining it. This is one of the most common patterns we see, and there’s a real explanation behind it.

ADHD during exam times

It’s Not That ADHD “Gets Worse” – It’s That Exams Demand Exactly What’s Hardest

ADHD doesn’t intensify overnight. What changes is the demand being placed on the parts of the brain ADHD affects most: planning, time management, working memory, and sustained focus under pressure – collectively known as executive function.

Day-to-day schoolwork is broken into smaller, structured chunks with regular check-ins from a teacher. Exams remove almost all of that structure at once: long stretches of independent, self-paced work, often across multiple subjects in a short window, with real stakes attached. For a learner whose executive function is already working harder than most just to keep up, that’s the exact combination that tends to expose the strain.

Why This Often Shows Up Specifically at Report Card and Prelim Time

A few patterns show up again and again around Term 2 report cards and Matric prelims in particular:

  • The gap between “knowing it” and “showing it” widens. Your child may understand the content perfectly when you go through it together, but freeze, blank, or run out of time the moment they’re sitting the actual assessment.
  • Studying itself becomes the obstacle. Revision requires self-directed planning – deciding what to study, when, and for how long – which is precisely the executive function skill ADHD makes hardest. It’s not unwillingness; it’s a genuine difficulty getting started and staying on track without external structure.
  • Time pressure amplifies everything. A learner who manages time reasonably well with support may completely lose track of pacing once they’re on their own in an exam venue.
  • Stress compounds the difficulty. Exam pressure adds an emotional-regulation load on top of an already-stretched attention system, which is part of why a capable learner can seem to “shut down” under pressure in a way that doesn’t match how they perform normally.

Is It ADHD, or Is It Just Exam Stress?

This is a fair question, and the honest answer is: it can be both, and they can worsen each other. Ordinary exam nerves are common in almost every learner. What tends to point specifically toward ADHD-related strain, rather than general stress, is a pattern where:

  • The struggle is disproportionate to how well your child understands the actual content
  • It happens consistently across assessments and subjects, not just one stressful test
  • It’s paired with the same difficulties you may see at other times – losing track of tasks, poor time estimation, trouble starting – just more visible under pressure

If you’re not sure which is driving what you’re seeing, that’s a reasonable thing to raise directly with a psychologist or your child’s tutor, rather than trying to work it out alone.

What Actually Helps at This Stage

The good news is that this pattern, while frustrating, is well understood – and there’s a lot that can help:

  • Structured, one-on-one support that breaks studying into manageable, externally-paced chunks – rather than expecting a learner to self-organise their own revision from scratch.
  • Practising under timed, exam-like conditions in advance, so the pressure itself becomes more familiar rather than something they’re facing cold for the first time.
  • Checking whether exam accommodations are appropriate – many learners with ADHD qualify for support like extra time or a prompter, which can meaningfully change how an exam actually plays out for them. See our guide on accommodations and concessions if this is new territory for you.
  • Tutoring specifically paced around how your child’s brain works, rather than a generic study plan. BrightSparkz’s neurodivergent tutoring approach is built around exactly this kind of individualised pacing.

You’re Not Overreacting

If report card season or prelims have you noticing a real dip that doesn’t match how capable you know your child to be, that instinct is worth listening to. This is one of the most common reasons families come to us for support in Term 2 and ahead of Matric finals – and it’s very fixable with the right structure in place.

Get in touch with BrightSparkz Tutors if you’d like help figuring out what kind of support would make the biggest difference for your child right now.

Planning Your Child’s Future

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Recently, I was at a friend’s braai under the shade of an enormous tree on a very hot summer afternoon. While helping out with the braai, I overheard a parent talking to another parent, wondering which university to send his son. To my surprise, his son is only six years old. Well, a thought came to mind, what a lovely topic to write on… “Planning your child’s future”.

Starting to think about which university to send your 6-year-old to might seem extreme, but if we break university acceptance down, we’ll see that it’s necessary to start planning right from the start!

planning

Perhaps a good point to start on the topic is:

Life Skills Development

Countless surveys have shown that money doesn’t necessarily lead to job satisfaction. For many people, enjoying what they do at work is much more important. As your child progresses through the school years towards high school, so they have been slowly but steadily developing as an individual, gaining new insights, talents, abilities, and self-awareness. They have also been expanding their social skills, their own brand through the technology of digital media and have by then already have put in place their personality and psyche stamp, so to speak, garnered a network of contacts and delved into university courses and other career options. 

Coming back to the six-year-old boy mentioned above, what is no doubt important, is to first master their home language.

Literacy Development

A core skill necessary for excelling at school and obtaining that university acceptance, is literacy. You can begin your child’s literacy development from a young age, through an introduction to books, regularly reading to your child, and encouraging a love of reading. Here are what some of our famous literates had to say on the topic:

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.

–Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

And remember: “All great Leaders are Readers!”

Developing a passion for reading will enlarge your child’s vocabulary, improve their grammar and writing skills, allow them to communicate eloquently and increase their creativity. All of these skills will end up helping your child when they start writing tests and exams. 

School Readiness

It is important to ensure that your child is adequately prepared to start school. This will prevent a great deal of stress and perhaps the necessity of your child being “kept back” a year due to not coping at school. 

If you’d like to ensure that your child is ready to cope with the rigors of “big” school, you may want to try the BrightSparkz Little Sparkz school readiness programme. Developed by qualified ECD experts, this programme will give your child that little extra boost to ensure they meet the milestone levels for starting school, all done in a fun and interactive way. 

Exam Tips

In Grade 3, children will start writing tests, which will build to writing exams in later grades, and the need for study skills, and possibly “burning the midnight oil”. Excuse the pun in these days of load shedding!

The following tips might be helpful to a child facing tests and exams:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help
  • Sleep well before exams, so that you’ll stay alert
  • Don’t doubt yourself – often your first answer is the right one
  • Study hard – short bursts of studying, with large bursts of concentration, work best
  • Know your learning style and find appropriate study methods
  • Don’t try to learn everything the day before the exam, but give yourself time to go over your work multiple times

Planning for University

Wow, after writing and passing Matric with flying colours, what is next? Most matriculants aspire to tertiary education. What does it mean to live a university life, “freedom”? Well, yes, but the important thing to remember is to survive the first year with all its distractions and to excel in the subsequent years, perhaps then studying towards an Honours Degree. 

Graduating from University sets your child apart from the rest. Employers are likely to see a University degree and think: this is someone who is equipped with sound financial skills and the ability to think laterally. University graduates have a strong ability to problem solve, are able to think critically, have a sound theoretical base of knowledge, and are able to apply this knowledge. This offers a distinct competitive advantage, career-wise!

To assist your young graduate to navigate the job-seeking minefield, watch out for our Mind The Gap programme for graduates, coming soon. 

Aim for the End Product!

Although university may be many years away for your child, remember to keep this final goal in mind: There is more than one way of getting there, and the most important thing to keep in mind is your child’s happiness and passions. 

Our skilled tutors will be able to assist you and your child in achieving their best possible results. Our friendly consultants can help you to decide on a tutor who best suits your needs, as well as your child’s personality. We also offer Study Skills Crash Courses, to teach your child how best to study according to their learning style, as well as several language Boot Camps, designed to bring fun into learning a language. If your child is still at the beginning of their journey, our Grade R readiness course can help start them on the right foot. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you!

 

Written by: Dor Yen Low, BrightSparkz Tutor & Blog Contributor

Blanking Out During An Exam – What To Do!

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Blanking out in an exam, whether it happens once or every time you face a test situation, can be unnerving and frustrating. In most cases, exam stress and blanking out are caused by anxiety. The pressure to perform well is immense, particularly for school-leaving exams, where results can shape future opportunities. Even younger learners may fear disappointing their parents or facing consequences for poor results. The good news is that you can take steps to overcome exam stress and boost your confidence. In this blog we’ll look into some strategies to help you stay calm and focused.

Find out more about overcoming exam stress by boosting confidence!

blanking out in an exam

Tips To Avoid Blanking Out in an Exam or Freezing

1. Content Preparation

Effective study habits are key to preventing blanking out during an exam. Ensure you:

  • Pay attention in class and listen for hints your teacher may drop about common exam topics.
  • Ask your teacher if there are particular areas you should focus on.
  • Practise regularly by completing examples and past papers.

If you struggle with certain subjects, consider seeking help from a hand-picked tutor. A tutor can help fill knowledge gaps and offer different perspectives. If you’re unsure about your study methods, a study skills crash course can significantly boost your confidence and reduce stress.

2. Prepare Emotionally

Beyond academic preparation, emotional readiness is crucial, especially for subjects you find challenging. Try the following:

  • Visualise yourself entering the exam room, staying calm, and working through the questions methodically.
  • Remind yourself that doing your best is all anyone can ask of you.
  • Understand that a disappointing result is not the end of the world—having a contingency plan can provide a sense of control and reduce anxiety.

3. Prepare an Exam Strategy

A good exam strategy can help you stay focused and manage time effectively. Some key tactics include:

  • Reading through the paper carefully before starting.
  • Answering the questions you are most confident about first.
  • Reviewing your answers at the end if time allows.

4. Look After Your Physical Wellbeing

Your physical state can impact your mental performance. To optimise focus and energy levels:

  • Get enough rest before the exam.
  • Engage in physical exercise to reduce stress.
  • Eat brain-boosting foods, such as fish and nuts, while cutting down on junk food and sugar.

5. Get Exam Assistance if Necessary

If you qualify for examination concessions or accommodations, due to some barrier to learning or learning disability, ensure that you apply for this well before exams. Ensure that you have the necessary help during your exams by booking a trained and qualified concessions facilitator beforehand to avoid disappointment.

What to do if You Blank Out During an Exam

Even with thorough preparation, blanking out can still happen. If it does, try these strategies:

  • If you have a facilitator, let them know immediately so they can guide you.

  • If you are alone, remind yourself that this is not a life-threatening situation. Take slow, deep breaths to calm your mind.

  • Turn your paper over, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Repeat this a few times until your breathing steadies.

  • Move on to another question. If you get stuck, leave space for that question and tackle one you feel more confident about.

  • Mark the questions you feel most prepared to answer and start with those. You do not need to follow the order of the paper, but you must number your answers correctly. An examiner cannot mark a disorganised paper, and you may lose marks unnecessarily.

After the Exam: Moving Forward

Once the exam is over, avoid dwelling on your performance. Exam post-mortems are only helpful if they identify what caused you to blank out and how you can prevent it next time. Otherwise, let it go.

Remember, exams are naturally stressful, and most people do not enjoy them. However, if exam stress consistently prevents you from performing at your best, consider consulting an Edu-coach or looking into exam concessions.

The key to overcoming exam stress is taking action. Identify what needs improvement and work on it. Exams do not define your future – your success depends on much more than your results!

Why tutoring is the best part-time job

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Looking for a part-time job? Be a Tutor!

If you are interested in getting a part-time job, there are so many options available to you – it’s often daunting trying to choose! Part-time jobs may require different skills sets, and range from less skilled jobs (washing dishes or flipping burgers), to the highly-skilled spectrum where formal education and experience is required, like business consulting or coaching.

Tutoring as a part-time job falls under the spectrum of skilled work. You need to be well educated yourself and have achieved good results to be able to help others as an academic tutor. Tutoring offers you many benefits as a part-time job – here are just some of them:

Being a tutor helps you develop your character and life skills

You will learn patience and empathy as a tutor, or develop these traits further. Some learners will grasp concepts more quickly than others, and all learners learn in different ways.

You will also learn or improve on your own time management and goal-setting skills as you assist your learners to do the same.

Tutoring grows your own knowledge base – you learn when teaching others

As much as you are teaching others, you will learn from them. This might not be in an academic sense, but in many other ways. Tutoring will “cement” your own knowledge as you teach key concepts, which may make the experience more enjoyable for you as well.Tutor value best part-time job

Being a tutor allows you to share the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gained so far in life

People who are a few steps behind you on the ladder of life will benefit greatly from the life lessons and academic achievements that you have already passed through. Learners may see you as a mentor and adviser. You can use your own experience to give them tips and advice on studying, managing stress, a study-fun balance and more!

Tutoring allows you to help others and make a difference in their lives

You will gain a great deal of personal satisfaction from being a positive force in the life of a learner and possibly a role model too. When your learner improves their marks, and gains a more positive attitude, you will feel like you’ve achieved something great. You surely have, as the impact you have made affects the academic future and ultimately, the life options of the learner. Make a difference as a tutor part-time job

Being a tutor improves your relationship-building skills and gains you friendships

You will be dealing with a variety of clients and learners, some of whom you may naturally relate to better than others! This will develop your communication and negotiation skills, both of which are important life skills to have.

You may end up having lifelong friends among the clients and learners that you tutor.

Tutoring will give you valuable experience to add to your CV

Being a tutor, like a teacher, is an honorable job which impacts the lives of others. You are required to demonstrate not only academic skills, but also responsibility, reliability, planning and commitment, which are all very valuable skills to potential employers in any field.

You will also be able to get valuable references from your clients if you deliver a great service, as well as from your tutoring company.Improve learners lives tutor part-time job

Being a tutor gives you flexibility

You can choose the days and times that fit into your schedule more so than most other part-time jobs, making this a job that fits into your schedule and doesn’t encroach on your study and leisure time as much as other part-time jobs, like being a waiter or cashier.

Tutor at a great hourly rate

Tutoring is a great way to earn income, at a much higher hourly rate than minimum wage. An hour of tutoring a week will allow you to earn the same amount as several hours’ in another part-time job. If you need a little extra income in your budget, tutoring regularly will give that to you without sacrificing a huge amount of time.

 

If you want a part-time job, and would love to experience all the benefits of tutoring, apply now to BrightSparkz Tutors and join the team!

 

Written by: Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer

Why I Love Tutoring

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Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. I admired my teachers throughout my schooling years; the good and the bad. There is always something you can learn from them, whether that be the content they taught in the classroom or the manner in which they handled themselves in tough or awkward situations. One can teach anywhere – it’s just a matter of creativity. Tutoring is a fantastic way to bring this dream to life.

love tutoring

As a tutor, my job is to help a learner achieve their academic goals and guide them through their academic struggles. It truly is rewarding when you physically get to see how your efforts helped improve a learner’s mark on a test or report. The smile you get to see on your learner’s face as to how proud they are of themselves is really all the matters at the end of the day. I have learnt how to be myself through teaching. I don’t have to always know it all and be the ambassador of the subject. I love teaching because your learners want to feel as if you are both going through this journey together. You are helping them achieve something they want and the journey is much more important than the destination.

Tutoring can be challenging, especially when it comes to motivating your learner. You see the potential they have, and they often hear about the potential they have, but they do not feel as though they’ve got what it takes. Living in such a busy and demanding time can often make us feel the time constraints on everything we do and we expect our learners to get things done and understood as fast as possible. Sometimes it’s okay to take a step back and sit with your learner to reflect on where they are emotionally, mentally and physically. Taking the time to help them stop what they’re doing and to spend a few moments to take a deep breath and talk about where they are in life can take away a tremendous amount of pressure from them. I find this exercise vital as it also gives me an opportunity to strengthen my relationship with my learners. It helps them see I am human just like them and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. I encourage my learners to take baby steps as they work toward big goals and the proof is in the pudding.

I love tutoring because I am given the opportunity to help children achieve their best and inspire them on a personal and academic level. It excites me to see how energetic a learner becomes as soon as they understand a topic they struggled with. The determination and enthusiasm that stirs within a child is heart-warming. I enjoy getting to know my learners and to learn about life from their perspective. It brings me such a sense of joy to gain insight into their views and opinions about life. I can confidently say that I have learnt as much from my learners as they have learnt from me. That is why I love tutoring. 

You can become a BrightSparkz tutor here.

Written by Neeza Ramiah, BrightSparkz Tutor

5 Helpful Responses To Your Child’s Report Card

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How to respond to your child’s report

Report card

It’s that time of year – the much anticipated (or dreaded) school report card will be coming home soon. As a parent, it’s often difficult to know how to respond to poor results, and how you do may impact your child more than you realize. Here are 5 helpful responses to your child’s report card: 

1. Talk to your child’s teacher 

If your child performed poorly in a certain subject, and you aren’t sure why, contact their teacher to ascertain whether this is due to not understanding the concepts, or some other aspect. You could also ask for an idea of how their peers performed, and where they rank on this scale. 

Social issues, learning problems or even something as simple as needing glasses could be affecting your child’s grades, and their teacher should be able to provide insight into this. 

2. Talk to your child Talk to your child about their report

Maybe they hate the subject, or don’t understand the teacher. Maybe they are being bullied, or don’t like their school or classmates. You will gain far more from talking to your child to understand what is going on in their lives and minds. Above all, do not disregard their feelings. Talk to them about how you could work together to improve their grades. 

 

3. Re-evaluate your own expectations 

If your child has one B on an otherwise straight-A report card, this may not be the issue you think it is. Are you being too hard on your child? You want the best for them, and for their future, which is why you push them, but be sure you don’t push them to the point of burnout. 

4. Reward your child Reward your child

Your child worked hard, and deserves praise for their achievements. Highlight areas where you are proud of their achievements, and celebrate with them in some small way – this could be taking them for an ice cream, or to see a movie, or just some quality time. Children want you to be proud of them, and will work hard for this, so make sure they know that you are. 

5. Arrange extra support 

BrightSparkz can help!

If your child is facing any kind of academic difficulties, they may need extra support. Contact BrightSparkz Tutors to arrange for a private, personalized tutor, or to arrange a session with our Edu-Coach to better understand why your child is struggling. Your child may need assistance in writing exams, such as a reader/scribe, or they may be lacking study skills that could be resulting in poor exam results. Whatever the reason, BrightSparkz offers a range of services that will help your child succeed. Contact us today! 

 

 

Written by: Tessa Cooper, BrightSparkz Contributor

Holiday Tutoring WILL Give Your Child the Edge!

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School's out - how to make the holidays productiveAre your children daydreaming about the fast-approaching school holidays? Late nights, lazy mornings in bed, spending time with their friends, and most of all – freedom from homework! Perhaps you are looking forward to not fighting the traffic for a few weeks, not preparing school lunches or making sure uniforms are ironed and no after-school pick up drama? We imagine all of the above! We also know that holiday tutoring and how to get the right tutor are not the most popular or important things on your (or your child’s) mind right now, but we’re going to try to change that!

The school holidays give children a much-needed break from day-long learning and routine, and are a definite necessity in the life of every child. It allows them time to recharge, have fun and be a child! However, this can be a time to really take advantage of your child’s available time for their own good.

If your child is excelling at school, and there is no room for improvement, you are indeed fortunate and probably the envy of most parents of school-aged learners. However, for many children, a complete brain shutdown over the holidays is not as good an idea as parents may think. Studies have shown that learners, particularly young children, display a dip in their academic abilities after extended periods of relaxation, such as long holidays.

Once back at school, learners are expected to continue on the same, if not a higher level (due to them having had a break), but, teachers do notice a significant downward shift in all subjects, as well as in reading and handwriting levels – all at an even weaker level than prior to the break. Learners (and their parents) can expect it to take a week or two to get back into the swing of things again, and for academic performance to be restored.

Help your child avoid the post-holiday academic dip!

Young minds need to be continuously stimulated. Children will find something to do with their holidays, but the question is: Are these activities going to benefit them, or simply allow for academic regress? Holiday tutoring can ensure that your child avoids the post-holiday academic dip. 

 

Here’s how a Holiday Tutoring Program can give your child the edge:

  1. It keeps a general structure

Although we may sometimes resent it, we all need structure in our lives, and children even more so. Without it, a certain level of anxiety can begin to set in, as too much unpredictability is uncomfortable for most people. Learners go from a strict and organized schedule of classes, tests, homework, sport and extracurricular activities, to weeks of screens, games and mobile devices, sleeping in, and countless hours to fill.

A holiday tutor will ensures that the academic realm of life is still under control. It also allows for the other 80% of the holiday time to be enjoyed as resting time, knowing that someone constructive and stimulating has been accomplished. It leads to the satisfaction of “keeping on top of things” instead of subconscious stressing time – knowing that the break will soon end and that they are not at all ready for the new workload that awaits them.

Giving your child the opportunity of tutoring at regular intervals throughout the holiday (even for as little as 1 lesson per week), will provide just enough structure to help your child keep their focus on academics, as well as ease the transition back into the new term.

  1. It allows time to go back to the basics

All subjects, particularly Maths and Science have basic building blocks. I recall from my own Maths struggles at school, as soon as you’ve missed a set of basics, it is nearly impossible to make sense of anything that comes after that!

Whether your child has missed a few days of school, or has had little understanding up to a point, holidays are a great time to catch up on concepts and fill in the gaps. Once the new term commences, there will then be even more new work to get to grips with.

3. It gives learners the time they need to process information

Without the pressure of class tests and assessments constantly creeping up on them, the break allows learners to feel as though they have the time to spend fully grasping various concepts.

Additionally, because children are generally more relaxed in the holidays, they retain more information and have time to process it before moving right onto something new, as is most often the case at school.

  1. It allows learning to happen at the BEST time

Extra lessons normally take place after a full day at school, when very often a learner is already so drained that all they want to do is something mindless such as kicking a ball or watching TV. There are unfortunately only so many hours in a day, especially during the term, which makes it difficult to schedule tutoring at any other time, but that’s what makes the holidays such an ideal time for tutoring! Learners can have lessons in the morning when minds are fresh and able to process and retain new information, much more effectively. 

  1. It helps to alleviate test and exam anxietyStudy Skills Crash Course

Most people have some degree of test-related anxiety, often due to feeling unprepared. Tests make up a large part of a learner’s grade, and it is therefore essential that they can perform in this area. A holiday tutor can use the time to not only help your child prepare for future tests and exams, but also to improve on study skills. BrightSparkz also offers a unique “Study Skills Crash Course”, designed specifically for our learners in order to highlight the most important tips and advice for each learner’s individual learning style. This one is not to be missed!

  1. It lightens a parent’s load

While children seem to spend more time on holiday than they do at school, parents most often still need to be at work all year round. When your child is sent home with holiday homework and assignments, it can be a challenge finding time to help them get this done.

Thank goodness for tutors, who can not only make sure that the holiday work is completed, but also that your child understands the content of the work. It’s a no-brainer! 

  1. It is a time to re-evaluate and set new goals

Tutors are great motivators who inspire and encourage their learners to constantly try to achieve better results. Why not make the most of the accountability relationship your child develops with a tutor and allow them to spend time together in the holidays, not only for the sake of working on school material, but to help them set academic goals for the new term and keep them motivated? This allows your child to start the new term feeling inspired and driven to achieve the goals that they have set for themselves.

  1. It teaches learners to step-up to challenges

Holiday tutoring is not mandatory, so learners who spend a bit of extra time on their academics during the holidays are learning the value of taking charge and responsibility, as opposed to being a victim of their academic struggles. This is also an opportunity to improve on average marks and put in the time to push for that distinction. This is of great importance for Grade 11 and 12 learners who desire a place in a tertiary institution or course of choice.

Holiday tutoring instils discipline, and teaches the value of doing what others won’t, to achieve what others don’t. There is no doubt that learners will see the positive outcomes of their hard work when returning to school with a greater confidence and understanding, even before they see the fruits when they receive their first tests back!

Myth Busters!

Many parents may assume that it is only necessary to make use of a tutor if their child is struggling, and some even wait until the child has already failed before seeking the help of a tutor. However, tutoring is extremely beneficial to every kind of child – whether they are a failing student desperate to pass, or an average one chasing distinctions.

“Research suggests that 1 hour, 2 – 3 times per week is an effective way of helping children catch up, maintain or even excel in their academics, especially if they are given one-on-one input. This is the best way to ensure they get the most out of their education”.

 How BrightSparkz can help you 

  • Private Tutoring

BrightSparkz Tutors offers one-on-one, subject specific tutoring that takes place in the comfort of your own home, or at a venue of your choice. Tutors aim to identify the gaps in knowledge, while simultaneously facilitating learning through the explanation of basic concepts, practising concept application, revision of theory, and interactive discussion.

Contact us about our holiday tutors today!

Our tutors are unique individuals, who are hand-picked by our experienced team of consultants. based on their specific strengths in their chosen subjects.  They not only have excellent subject knowledge, but also a passion for tutoring and helping learners reach their potential! Get a tutor today!

 

  • BrightSparkz Mobile Maths & Science (Maths & Science App)

BrightSparkz Online is an award-winning online Maths & Science App tailored to South African learners from Grades 8 – 12. It covers all content for Maths, Natural Science, Physical Science and Chemistry, and is suitable for both CAPS and IEB syllabi. The platform provides top quality resources broken up into manageable sections, and is an excellent way to supplement your child’s one-on-one lessons as it’s something they have unlimited access to, once registered for just R499 for the year. Get your 7-day fee trial here!

  • Study Skills Crash Course!

BrightSparkz Tutors now has its own Educoach, Lauren, who runs a tailored one-on-one Study Skills Crash Course, comprising 2 x 1 hour sessions, and based on each learner’s individual learning styles. Lauren has over 10 years in the education industry, having taught a variety of subjects and grades to learners of varying capability. This is a hugely valuable service that we encourage all parents to sign their children up for – and holidays are the perfect time! For more information or to book, click here or contact edupsych@brightsparkz.co.za.

If a holiday tutor sounds like just what you need, BrightSparkz Tutors can help. Take advantage of our Holiday Tutoring Promotion (15% off any 5 or 10 Classic Lesson Package – T&C’s apply) – Just click here, provide us with your details, and we’ll get right back to you!

Written By: Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Blog Writer

Help Reduce Your Child’s Exam Stress

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BrightSparkz’ Top Tips for Reducing Exam Stress

This time of year is busy on all fronts, and if you have children of school-going age life gets just that little bit more hectic as you help them navigate their exam and study workload, and the exam stress that inevitably goes along with it!

Here are 5 tips to help you and your child cope with exam stress during this busy season:

  1. Encourage routine – this includes study time, mealtimes, bed times, as well as making some time for fun and exercise!
  1. Have healthy snacks readily available – Chocolate, energy drinks, and coffee all result in fatigue and spikes and dips in blood sugar levels and concentration. Instead, have a supply of healthy snack options like fruit, nuts, popcorn and ensure they drink lots of water!
  1. Create a study space – Teen bedrooms are not the neatest of places! Try and find an alternative study space (as uncluttered and distraction-free as possible) which can be turned into a “study-zone”.
  1. Provide support – this goes beyond just offering academic support. Emotional support and encouragement goes a long way to boost confidence and positive feelings. Offer to make a cup of tea from time to time, or PVR their favourite show for later :)
  1. Planning ahead – Have a calendar on the wall with all upcoming exam dates. Don’t rush to get to school on the morning of the exam – pack the night before, and leave enough time margin to get to school early.

All that’s left is to make sure you keep a smile on your face :)

Good luck!

From us on the BrightSparkz Team

Understanding Dyscalculia – Part 3

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Our two previous blogs discuss dyscalculia in detail. Now that we know a little bit more, what can we do to help our learners?

Tutor tips (For the tutor and the parents):

  • Use concrete examples that connect math to real life. For instance, use examples that include their favourite things or shopping. This helps to strengthen your learner’s number sense.
  • Use visual aids when solving problems. Draw pictures or move around physical objects. Teachers and tutors can refer to this as “manipulatives”
  • Assign manageable amounts of work so your tutee will not feel overloaded
  • Review a recently learned skill before moving on to a new one, and explain how the skills are related
  • Supervise work and encourage your learner to talk through the problem-solving process. This can help ensure your tutee is using the right math rules and formulas
  • Break new lessons into smaller parts that help to show how different skills relate to the new concept
  • Let your tutee use graph paper to help keep numbers lined up or in columns
  • Use an extra piece of paper to cover up most of what’s on a math test so your tutee can focus on one problem at a time
  • Playing math-related games helps your learner have fun and to feel more comfortable with math
    • Answer fewer questions on a test and allocate more time for your tutee to finish a test
    • Record lessons and lectures
    • Use a calculator in class
  • Boost confidence: Identify your tutee’s strengths and use them to work on (or around) weaknesses. Activities that tap into your tutees interests and abilities can help improve self-esteem and increase your learner’s resilience. Try to pace yourself during your tutoring sessions and do not use more than one strategy at a time. This makes it easier to tell which ones are producing a good result and which are not
  • Help your learner keep track of time: Whether it is a hand on the shoulder, a few key words or an alarm; have systems in place to remind your time-challenged tutee when to start the next activity.
  • See what it feels like: Try to experience what it is like to have dyscalculia. Acknowledging that you understand what your learner is going through is another way to boost his or her confidence and to improve your own level of understanding
  • Be upbeat: Let your tutee know when you see him or her do something well. Praising effort and genuine achievement can help your learner feel loved and supported. It can also give your tutee the confidence to work harder!
  • Support, patience and understanding are key!

To read more about being a great tutor, check out our Ultimate Guide on Tutoring!

If you would like a tutor to assist your child or learner, contact BrightSparkz Tutors today!

 

A version of this article has also been published on our sister-site.