1) How much assistance will I need to give to my child?
Pre-K through kindergarten children may need help identifying picture names and may need assistance with the phonics homework, which may correlate with the use of a sound recorder (for second-language learners only). Students ages 4 to 7 may require guidance and adult supervision while completing assignments.
Children in grades 1 through 3 may or may not require parental help. Once students get used to the program, after a couple of sessions perhaps, they should be able to manage without the help of a parent, except for reminding the children to do their “Miss Allie homework”. Kids tend to want to do their tutoring assignments for Miss Allie, though they might not do any work that their parents are assigning!
Students in grade 4 through 12 should need no parental assistance or reminding.
2) How long will it take for my child’s grades to improve?
If your child is ready and willing to complete the daily assignments for the tutoring program, quick improvement will happen. However, the program may take some getting used to because it aims to completely transform study habits, attitudes, and abilities to learn and acquire new skills and knowledge. Some students may lack the motivation to buckle down, and some take longer than others to improve study habits.
3) What if my child has a learning disability?
If your child has a documented learning disability and an IEP (Individualized Education Program), your child needs TOOLS to succeed. Miss Allie will provide some realistic measures that you can implement at home to achieve more success. Miss Allie will help students learn techniques to improve the ability to learn.
4) How often should I plan tutoring sessions?
Generally, Miss Allie recommends a one-hour session per week for children in grades K through 5. More time may be added to a session for kids ages 12 and up. Also, two sessions a week over the summer is not unusual for children who are behind in school or for Second Language Learners.
5) What if my child has behavior problems?
Behavior problems are Miss Allie’s specialty! She has turned kids with poor study habits and bad attitudes around and has changed their lives. Miss Allie has the ability to develop a great rapport with even the most difficult kids, resulting in mutual trust, respect, and cooperation. Through a cooperative effort between the parent and tutor, kids can blossom!
6) What materials will my child need?
All supplies will be the parent’s responsibility. Students ages 4 to 6 will most likely need a Sony voice recorder (about $25 on Amazon). The student should be ready with a sharp pencil, a white eraser, and a book bag containing all of the materials that we are using, such as the novel/story book, any workbooks, and any supplementary materials. Also, a journal/composition book and a spiral notebook will be used for assignments and writing. The parent will be responsible for purchasing any recommended workbooks.
7) What if it becomes necessary to cancel an appointment?
Miss Allie requires 24-hours’ notice if a cancellation becomes necessary. For cancellations less than 24 hours before the scheduled session, half of the regular session fee will be charged for the first cancellation. After the first cancellation, the parent will be responsible for the full-session payment amount if the session is not cancelled before the 24-hour cutoff.