Personalised one-on-one sessions
Sessions start at the child's level, not the child's grade.
Imagine this now:
Your child is with a “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book in her hand and enjoying a Weekend!!
It seems so unbelievable to many of us. Now think about this.
Your child loves to read a book. But unfortunately, she is unable to read by herself. So, as a parent, we jump in and read for her. But then, we start noticing that she struggles with reading and understanding simple passages in the following days.
Why is the intelligent child struggling?
Most times, parents find that it was not the same in her kindergarten days.
Are you the parent in the above scenario?
Listening is a natural skill, whereas reading is not an innate skill. It has to be learned by the child from a parent, teacher, or sibling.
As an adult, reading appears like a basic, straightforward task.
Let us take the small word ‘window’ and dissect the reading and writing steps.
Reading
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Split the word - window- win/dow (There are specific rules for splitting the word into syllables.)
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Read the first part - win - using the “Blend as you read” technique.
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You should know the sounds of /w/ /i/ /n/ to read the word.
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Read the second part - down- using the “Blend as you read” technique.
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You should know the sounds of /d/, /ow/, and /n/.
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Here /ow/ sound has to be read as row and not as how.
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Combine the two parts - win + dow = window and read smoothly
Spelling
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The child should write down the corresponding letters for the sound they heard.
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To spell the first part, the child should know the difference between v and w.
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Once the child writes the first part, the student should go to the second part of the word- dow.
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For the long sound /o/, the child should choose the correct letters, ow (Long /o/ sound is spelled as multiple combinations- go, home, show, boat, toe)
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The child should remember to use correct punctuation when writing.
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Write legibly in cursive handwriting.
For a child who struggles with reading and spelling, everything seems complicated. The child would have wished to write - “I see a beautiful garden every day through my window,” but ends up writing, “I see a plant.”
It's no wonder why Louisa Moats referred to Reading as rocket science.
V.S.Gayathri
Dr. Gayathri, Co-founder, Flourishing Kids
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What do I do in my one-on-one classes?
I give personalized coaching to kids with dyslexia, learning challenges, and learning gaps. The classes are for learners to strengthen their foundation skills in the English language with a focus on Reading, Spelling, and Comprehension.
Q. What are the key features of the classes?
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Multi-sensory approach - Using Visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic -motor learning pathways
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Diagnostic teaching - Based on the continuous assessment of the learner's needs.
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Systematic approach- The sequence begins with the easy and basic steps and progresses to more complex material.
Q. Why do I do one on one sessions and not in groups?
Kids having difficulty already struggle to express themselves at school. In personalized classes, they are under less pressure and more confident. Each child needs a unique approach, and they receive it in one-on-one sessions.
Q. What are the first steps as soon as the parent approaches?
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Informal assessment (click here to book an appointment)
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The assessment is both comprehensive and child friendly.
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I assess the kids for their literacy skills using a battery of tests. In addition, I also evaluate their behavior, social, attention, and oral language skills.
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It generally takes 1-1.5 hours for the assessment.
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Interview with parents
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This step is to understand more about the child from the parent’s perspective. Following this, I prepare a detailed report for each child. Then, I plan and discuss the number of monthly sessions needed.
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Q. How long will it take for the remedial classes to complete?
It entirely depends on each child’s difficulty level and child’s progress. On average, it may take anywhere from 12 months to 2 years.
Q. Why should you start now and not later?
A child's self-esteem mainly depends on their parents, teachers, and peers. It’s always beneficial to start early rather than wait until the child loses self-confidence.
Q. Are your classes online or offline?
I take classes both online and offline. Usually, sessions are 45 mins to 1 hour long. Depending on the child's needs, the sessions can be two/three times a week.