Do you use sight words?
No. We do not emphasize or use word walls, sight words, or whole word reading. We also try to choose stories with few to no images that may be used to guess words. The previous strategies have been proven to be ineffective and have been found to create learning barriers that make it hard for students to learn more effective methods. Whole-word reading encourages memorization, and students tend to focus on shapes or arrangement of letters and not what the words actually are. Imagine how restricted your reading vocabulary would be if you could only read words that were part of your photographic memory. Now compare that number to the amount of words you could potentially read because you can sound out letters. You improve your potential reading pool of words 100-fold.
- We suggest keeping your child’s time the same each week to help her establish a comfort level with her peers. However, sessions are “first come, first reserved.”
- Cameras need to be on to allow tutor opportunity to watch for obvious changes in students and encourage engagement on the student’s time (ex. Student may be processing and need a few more seconds to think. I can’t tell if the student is attempting to sound out a word or is frustrated and needs a moment to re-center if I can’t see him.)
- Students may drink on camera (ex. water bottle). Students should eat prior to coming on camera or wait until after the session for a meal. Eating on camera has proven to be a distraction for the child eating and for those who are watching.
- Refunds will be given for any session the tutor cancels (not including planned asynchronous activities). You are paying for a space that is closed off to the next family. If you have paid for a 4-week block and request a refund. You will receive 50% of the full weeks remaining of Part 1 or Part 2.
- Recording and/or taking pictures of students is prohibited.
- Parents should not be visible in the camera as the presence of an unknown adult may make other students nervous.
- Prohibited: cursing/profanity, disrespect of tutor or peers, using God’s name in vain, blatantly not following instructions/rules.
- Students may be denied entry if the weekly fee has not been paid.