Teaching & Learning Page

Tutoring

If you are considering additional tuition for your child in literacy, there are several factors to consider. Research shows that tutoring can significantly help students improve and is one of the most effective ways to provide additional support.

Not all tutoring programs are equally effective though. The best programs are evidence- based interventions based on the Big 6 of Literacy, although as a parent, these can be difficult to identify.

The components of effective reading and spelling instruction include:

• Explicit and systematic phonemic awareness instruction
• Systematically sequenced phonics and morphology instruction
• Oral reading with appropriate error correction and feedback to improve reading fluency
• Direct instruction in vocabulary, reading comprehension and spelling strategies

Learning to read and spell is essentially learning to code. The letters we use are simply symbols for the speech sounds of English. Learning about the relationship between the letters of the alphabet and the speech sounds they represent allows us to “crack the code” in reading and spelling.  Students also need instruction in the structure and formation of words and their parts (morphemes).  These parts carry the meaning in a word. The word <construction> can be broken into 3 parts - con “with, together” + struct “build” + ion “state of, act of”.  Children can develop a strong vocabulary, knowing the meaning and pronunciation of words.

When you are reviewing a tutoring business, ask whether the teaching approach is based on MSL (Multi-Structured Literacy) or Orton-Gillingham, as this is a teaching practice at Surfside.  As children require multiple exposures to concepts they are trying to learn and remember, it is essential that the tuition a child receives outside of school is in direct correlation with the approach and content they are learning at school. Some tutors also use programs that are based upon Sounds Write or Multi-Lit. An additional option is online tuition, which can be found at Learning Difficulties Australia.