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Do I have to get my primary schooler tested every single time?

In a recent article by the ABC, the answer was a resounding, yes. Every single time. Which means a long wait at the testing centre, followed by, at best, 24-48 hours of school absenteeism or in many cases, a temporary return to full isolation. So, what is a parent to do now that the Queensland Schools Online Curriculum is no longer available?

The never-ending pressure on your teachers

Your primary school teacher is responsible for 20+ young minds. Young minds that have been through a (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime upset to routine and learning. Your teacher is playing constant catch up with kids who’ve been off sick with viral infections for days, weeks or even the better part of the semester. Spare a thought for your teachers. They’re having the most difficult semester of their careers.

What does this mean for your primary school child’s future?

Hopefully, this won’t cause a major upset to their ongoing education. They’ll catch up. They’re young. They’ve been learning at home nearly all semester. They won’t lose out in the long term based on six months of early childhood learning. For most. For kids under 7, the stress of COVID has been more about “magical thinking” – the inability to perceive the reality of a disease outbreak and therefore applying fears and anxieties to the “big picture”. For some upper primary school kids though, this was a crucial year and they understand the implications not only of this terrible virus, but of its impact on their schooling. It’s not just the high school students preparing for ATAR, some kids are in a tighter spot than others.

Children who were relying on NAPLAN scores to get into elite high schools

NAPLAN is canned so kids in Grade 5 will rely strictly on their grades from this year to secure a place in an elite high school. Academic colleges like Queensland Academies and some elite private schools take NAPLAN scores into account in their enrolment programs. Students in year five in 2020 will need to rely more heavily on their regular results. How did your child do this term compared to other terms?

Children who rely heavily on a set routine

Good study habits usually require a study routine that meets the needs of the curriculum. Routine is yet another victim of the COVID outbreak. For some kids, routine is about more than just allotted homework times. Routine plays a major part in the way they “understand” and “process” the world around them. These children face deeper barriers to recovery as getting back to the old routine is, in itself, a change in routine. Be it study routines, or emotional resilience, 2020’s changes can create massive setbacks for young minds.

The goal setters

The most successful students set themselves attainable and tangible goals. Goal setting is a hallmark of good study practices. Your child may have had a ‘mental plan’ for how this year’s academic calendar would play out. It was peppered with attainable goals and those goals were key to keeping their self-confidence on track. For a child who likes to plan ahead and set sights on achievements, having everything destroyed by a runny nose can deeply impact their resilience and their motivation.

Support network disruptions

Your child’s essential support network includes:

•  You
• Their teachers
• Their tutor
• Their peers

Whether you’ve consciously built this study support network, or it’s just ‘fallen into place’, your child has you to help keep them motivated and get support with their daily studies. Their teacher is there to help them understand the curriculum. Their tutor is there to help them meet academic goals and their peers to provide ‘sounding board’ and ‘study buddy’ assistance. In six short months, they’ve found themselves in a whirlwind of change.
You’ve had a rough six months. Chances are you’re adapting to disrupted work, and a lot of new stress. Their teacher is having the worst semester of their career. Their peers are absent from school more often, and are facing these same challenges. Even their tutor has been online, instead of at hand, to provide that one-on-one relationship that helps them thrive.

But…everyone in my child’s support network has been AMAZING!

Everyone is still there to help. In fact, everyone in their support network is doubling down on their efforts to help. But it’s not the same. The support network that was once simply an ever-present and reassuring team that operated seamlessly without your child’s conscious acknowledgment, is now something your child must consider. Do I ask Dad for help if he’s working from home in the office? My teacher has six kids lining up with questions. My tutor isn’t here in the room, so we can’t do that memory game that I find so helpful. My friends are here today! Hooray! No time for talking about schoolwork, let’s just kick the ball. Same-same, but different. Your child, whether consciously or unconsciously, is perceiving a shift in their support network.

How do I help my primary school child catch up?

Be present. That’s always the first rule for helping your child. Listen. Listen to what they are saying, and what they’re not saying. Your child asks, “how are they even going to mark me if I miss the test?” Are they asking about catch up tests, or is that a surface question that indicates deeper fears? Once you’ve listened, talked and done all you can to reassure your child, it’s time to put a plan into action.

• Talk to your teacher about your child’s grades. Find out where they are lagging
• Ask your teacher for ‘catch up work’ for those long days at home, with a runny nose.
• Talk to your teacher about your child’s emotional state at school.
• Embrace the play date. Help your child reconnect with their peers and get their relationships back on course
• Help build resilience around COVID testing. No, it’s not nice. Yes, it means another day or two off school but you are doing an amazing thing – saving lives by helping us control the spread. Be proud.
• Remind them that we’re still working out the new routine and that they’re doing a great job adapting. Ask them how you can make it easier for them.
• Give them security. Bring their support network back into clear focus. Help them to catch up on any subjects that might be causing them anxiety.

Nope, tried all that, my child is still on struggle street

It’s time to get outside help. If your child is struggling with the emotional side of COVID, speak to your GP. You are absolutely not alone. It’s been a hard year for everyone – parents and kids! A child psychologist will help your child develop coping skills which will remove barriers to academic recovery. Your child’s health comes before anything else. While the sniffles may not be a major concern, their mental health should be a top priority.

Your child is coping OK emotionally but not academically

Your A/B student is now a B/C student – or worse! This is where a primary school tutor makes all the difference. Or rather, the RIGHT primary school tutor makes all the difference. A good primary school tutor will understand that your child is facing new barriers to learning.

1. Clear the way for the catch-up. They’ll assess those barriers and develop a study strategy that overcomes them.
2. Fast track their catch-up. Then they’ll assess your child’s learning language to help them absorb the most information in the shortest time – resulting in a faster catch up.
3. Give your child back control. Finally, they’ll help your child reassess their goals to make the catchup an easy-to-comprehend process. This gives your child back the feeling of control. Lack of control in the unknown is unsettling for us all, especially a person with little experience of it.

Learn more about our approach to home school tutoring

How to choose a primary school tutor for this rough time

The wrong tutor will do more harm than good. The wrong tutor will make your child feel MORE pressure. Poor communication between your child and your tutor can reinforce the notion that “school’s too hard for me now”.

After a decade in tutoring, we’ve developed the right combination of strategy, recruitment, training and delivery of tutoring sessions. We don’t just focus on curriculum. We developed our approach to tutoring in partnership with child psychologists, educational academics and elite sporting coaches to find the right balance of motivation, emotional support and educational approaches.

Does it really work?

After fourteen thousand hours of tutoring we can say with all confidence that we’ve determined EXACTLY what works. In fact, 87% of our students go from C/D grades to A/B grades, often in as little as three months. It’s not just about the grades though, it’s about restoring your child’s confidence, their resilience and their sense of security. Couldn’t we all do with a little of that right now?

Get your child they help they need before their current attitude becomes “their new normal”

Talk to us now

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After months of learning from home, many students will be struggling to stay on top of their school work. It may be a result of parents not understanding the work and feeling unsure of how to help their child, or maybe your child doesn’t thrive in a non-traditional learning environment. This doesn’t have to be a stressful time. Assistance is available and tutors in Sydney want to help lighten your load.

From online to in person

During this period of uncertainty, A Team Tuition have been working with some of Sydney’s most reputable schools to ensure students receive the online tutoring so they get the support and education required to stay ahead of the game. 

After months of missing study and classroom lessons, the concern for many parents is that their child has fallen behind. This is particularly the case for senior students that will be sitting their HSC this year. 

Learn more about our specialist ATAR Intensive Tutoring Programs

If you are worried about the progress or lack thereof from your child or students, A Team Tuition are now offering one on one in house, in-person tutoring in Sydney. Your teen can now get all the advantages that exclusive private school kids have but at a fraction of the cost. 

Sydney Tutoring for your child’s future

There are many reasons why your child might require tutoring. It may be to simply get back on track with education. It could be to further understand a particular subject. Or even to prepare them for the life changing exams they will soon take.

Whatever the reason, private one on one tutoring in Sydney will help your child prep for the ATAR and achieve the results they need to fulfil their dreams. 

What is ATAR and how is it calculated?

ATAR is otherwise known as Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank. This is a number between 0.00 and 99.95 and it will determine a student’s entry into university and the choices available to them. 

REMEMBER: The ATAR is not a score out of 100. It is a rank. 

The ATAR considers a few factors when calculating the rank. Why? To put it simply, it makes it easier for universities to compare applicants for courses when they are being judged the same. Using the four criteria below, the ATAR essentially makes it possible to compare apples with apples. 

• Examination Mark
• Assessment Mark
• HSC Mark
• Performance Band

For example: Sam who studies Advanced English (apples) and Jesse who studies Standard English (oranges) – the criteria converts their scores to apples. You can read more about the process here.   

Prep for the ATAR with one on one tutoring in Sydney

Let A Team Tuition help your child in the lead up to their final exams. Watch your child thrive and grow as they graduate high school with less stress and the best results possible. 

START MY CHILD’S TRANSFORMATION TODAY!

FIND AN ATAR TUTOR IN SYDNEY

Whether you need help with homework, assignment & exam preparation or just a confidence and motivation boost at school – we can help!

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Economics, as you may know, can be a pretty weird subject.

After all, there aren’t many high school subjects that juggle mathematics with essays, hand-drawn graphs and a decent amount of educated guessing to produce crazy conclusions like why milk costs the Government millions of dollars every year.

If you’re struggling to figure out how you’re meant to get an ‘A’ in a subject which comes across as pretty darn strange, then you’ve come to the right place!

True, Economics might not seem like your other subjects – but just like you get guidelines in English and formulae in Mathematics, there is indeed a set of strategies and measures you can undertake in order to improve your grade.  It’s worth noting, too, that these are the very same steps which I still use as an Economics Major at Bond University – no short-term tricks here, just proper strategies!

So, let’s begin!

1. Translate the Task Sheet into a Plan

It often seems like Economics task sheets are written in a different language; if we are able to translate all of this business jargon into plain old English, we stand a much greater chance of answering the task succinctly and effectively.

It’s easy to freak out when the task sheet outlines the topics that are required in your assessment piece.  But hidden in all of these confusing words is something super useful; an assignment plan!

By categorising the types of topics that you are required to address in the essay, the task sheet has inadvertently given you a ready-to-go outline for your essay structure.  Less work for you!  Choose which topics are similar, pop your now-grouped-together topics into separate paragraphs, add a cute introduction and conclusion and boom – plan complete!

For example, consider an instance where the terms GDP, inflation, demographics, target-market, and supply-demand graphs were all mentioned in a task sheet which asked you to explain how the rapidly increasing output of goods and services within Australia will affect overall prices in a certain market.

You would first group together your like terms.  Inflation rises because of GDP.  Target-markets are a part of a demographic.  And supply-demand graphs work with the law of supply and demand to demonstrate how prices will change in a certain market.

Then, you would use these groups of terms to create a body paragraph for each one which contributes towards your argument.  An example of an Economics essay plan is shown below:

Introduction – Address task and what the essay is striving to achieve

Body Paragraph 1 – Introduce ‘inflation’ and ‘GDP’ and the impact that these factors have historically had on overall prices.

Body Paragraph 2 – Talk about what part of the demographic your target-market fits into, and thus explain how they are impacted by the previously mentioned inflation and GDP.

Body Paragraph 3 – Outline the law of supply and demand, including graphs, and visually demonstrate how the price of the product or service changed due to the rising GDP/inflation figures.

Conclusion – Summarise your findings (and provide a recommendation!)

See what I did there?  I didn’t actually create any new ideas.  I didn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel and produce the most mind-blowing piece of Economic theory ever seen.  I simply reorganised a whole heap of topics that were handed to me on the task sheet to form the outline of an essay structure.  Easy!

So, instead of putting on your I-look-okay-but-am-actually-freaking-out face when your teacher puts the task on your desk, relax!  With a little bit of reorganising, you’ll have a finished assignment plan in no time.

2. Work with the Teacher

Economics is similar to humanities subjects in that the marking guide is often subjective.  The result of this is that you need to work closely with your teacher to ensure that you are writing essays and answering exam questions in a style which is both factually correct and to the teacher’s liking.

What does ‘working with the teacher’ look like, though?  It looks like several different things: paying attention to the way they describe and define economics; listening carefully to how they want you to structure answers and essays; and it always involves submitting a draft where possible.

Because a lot of Economic theory is in ‘the grey’ – i.e. the answer is not absolutely clear – the manner in which you present your findings becomes critically important.

Why is it that some of the greatest economists throughout history of directly opposing opinions on certain matters?  Because plenty of Economics is not set in stone.  Plenty of Economics is, in fact, based on assumptions which can be interpreted quite varyingly, thus requiring justification and explanation.  Therefore, it is essential that you tailor your justifications and explanations to suit your teacher.

By ensuring you work cooperatively with your teacher’s preferences, you immediately stand a far greater chance of working towards that ‘A’.

Is economics one of your atar subjects? find an atar tutor here

3. Nail your Terms and Definitions

You’ve been studying all term.  You’re itching to get into the end-of-term exam and smash out the extended essay.  The teacher ushers the class in, you take a seat, the exam bell rings and you’re off!  You make a flying start to your extended essay – but wait!  You realise you’ve forgotten something terribly important…

Definitions!

Economics is built upon a language of confusing terms and business jargon; the importance of providing articulate and concise definitions to topics cannot be understated.  Want to talk about how employment is affecting Gross Domestic Product? Explain Gross Domestic Product to me first.  Want to discuss why inflation is good at a certain rate but not at a higher rate?  Explain inflation to me first.  Do you want to draw an elaborate set of supply-demand graphs to demonstrate the impact of negative publicity on a certain market?  Explain the law of supply and demand to me first.

Getting the picture?  Awesome.  If you can cohesively bring in succinct definitions to each of your economic terms as you write an essay or extended exam answer, your knowledge and understanding criterion is going to go through the roof!

And when criteria go through the roof, so too do our chances of getting an ‘A’.

4. Think in Real Terms

Thinking exclusively in Economic terms can get a bit stressful.

When we talk in Economic terms, it is highly conceptual and very abstract.  In other words, none of it actually seems to relate to anything real.

Consider this question: How will a change in consumer preference shift the demand curve?  Will this shift subsequently put upward pressure on price and generate more economic profit for the firm in the market?

Don’t worry if you’ve already zoned out.  After all, that question doesn’t actually mean anything real, does it?  It’s just a whole heap of different concepts mashed together to prove something which only someone studying Economics would be able to understand.

Instead, consider this question:  A Current Affair runs a one-hour program on the benefits of sourdough bread; they claim it will make you live longer, feel fitter, slim down and half your chance of heart-attack.  Will the sales of sourdough bread go up or down because of this? Will the profits of sourdough bread vendors go up or down because of this?

Better?  I thought so.  It is fairly logical that good publicity for sourdough bread will lead to more sales and thus more profit.  Thinking in real terms helps us give context and application to otherwise obscure concepts, thus making them far more palatable.

So, there you go; whenever faced with a dizzyingly conceptual question in that pesky Economics mid-term, try to think of it in terms which make sense to you, as opposed to relying exclusively on your understanding of Economic terms. In doing so, you’ve taken yet another step towards that ‘A’.

5. Connect the Dots – Linking Sources

Economics, like a crime scene, is filled with clues.  Some of these clues are obvious, whilst others are almost invisible.  It’s time to put on your detective hats and pull out the magnifying glass; in this section of How to Get an ‘A’ we are going to be looking into how to link sources (i.e. the clues) to produce a comprehensive and complex conclusion.

When posed with a broad question in Economics – perhaps something along the lines of “How does inflation affect employment?” – you as the Economist will be required to investigate a variety of sources, each with their own opinion or facts.

Consider these opinions and facts to be a pile of scrambled jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Identifying what these opinions and facts are will get you a ‘C’.  Grouping together the pieces which look similar and show the same thing will reach a very respectable ‘B’.  But what do we do if we want to reach that coveted ‘A’?  We must strive to not only solve the puzzle in its entirety but to explain how each part of the puzzle interacts with the others.

If you’re having trouble imagining how this applies to Economics, let’s use Step 4 and think in Real Terms.

Consider the question posed before: “How does inflation affect employment?”  Now, let’s think of pocket money.

Let’s assume you receive $10 per week in pocket money.  You always spend the whole $10 on ten individual lollies, each costing $1.  It’s a lovely routine and you enjoy it very much.  Good for you. 

Unfortunately, however, the rate of inflation is rising in Australia.  The Reserve Bank of Australia, in turn, increases interest rates; in other words, how much money families and businesses have to pay back on their loans. 

What does this mean for your lollies?  It means the corner-store you buy them from has to suddenly increase the amount of interest it repays to the bank it received a loan from.  More money being spent on the loan repayments means that they need to raise prices of everything in the store in order to compensate.  To your dismay, you see the price of your $1 lollies has increased to a whopping $2. 

Shocked, you decide to never shop there again.  Your train of thought is mirrored by half of the customers who also shopped there.  And so, the number of customers that shop in that corner-store is halved. 

As a result of this, the manager of the corner-store dismisses half of his/her employees due to there being too many employees for the number of customers coming in.

Identifying that inflation will lower employment is akin to identifying what the facts of the situation are; a ‘C’, in other words.  Pointing out the how and the why – i.e. explaining that the rate of repayment affected the cost of lollies which in turn detracted from customer-numbers and thus employees – is an excellent way of reaching a ‘B’.  If we put this example in the context of an entire nation, however, we can explain that the reduced consumer spending is exactly what the Reserve Bank of Australia wanted when it raised interest rates and that this reduced spending will reduce the rate of inflation via increased unemployment and loan repayments.  Now we are well positioned to achieve an ‘A’.

Just like detectives follow clues, figuring out and explaining the complex web of Economics is akin to solving a crime.  The more clues we can prove to be correlated, the greater our chance of getting an ‘A’.

6. Don’t just Conclude – Provide Recommendations

This step is actually pretty easy.  By this stage you’ve done all the hard work.  You’ve already translated the task sheet, consulted your teacher, nailed your definitions, rethought the topic in real terms and connected the dots.

All that remains is for you to demonstrate your knowledge of Economics in one final way; by providing recommendations.

Consider this step the final few metres in a marathon.  Sure, it’s only a fraction of the total distance, but without taking this final leap the entire race has been for nothing!  Use all of the background information you have gathered, as well as the analysis provided in your essay, to craft a reasonable and insightful recommendation as to what path the relevant parties should pursue in order to maximise Economic efficiency.

So long as your recommendation is supported by evidence and Economic theory, the possibilities are limitless.  Every morsel of data and every varied opinion collated during your research process has led to you being able to provide an astute recommendation.  Back yourself!  With logical justification, you can’t go wrong

7. Find Your Passion in Economics!

With all of the nitty-gritties out of the way, all that remains is for you to find your passion in Economics. Don’t worry, either; Economics doesn’t have to be as boring as it sometimes comes across.  With the help of A Team’s Academic Personal Trainers, discovering a topic which is inspiring and stirs a sense of passion within you is entirely achievable.  By collaborating and brain-storming with energetic and enthusiastic tutors, you will be able to best showcase your comprehensive understanding of Economics within a topic that will motivate you to produce your finest work.

You may even be surprised where you find a passion.  After all, many things you already hold strong opinions about are, in fact, outcomes of Economic decisions.

People flood the street and holds riots when outrageous tax increases are enforced. 

Families are forced into homelessness when Social Security allowances are decreased. 

Legalising certain drugs may negatively impact our daily lives, however the Government revenue generated by regulating the sale of said drugs would create fabulous facilities for all of society to enjoy.

Cigarette sales produce millions of revenues in the form of tax but cost just as much in the form of health care.  If health care costs outweigh tax revenues, we are losing twice; with both our health and our finances.  If the revenues outweigh the costs, however, we’re essentially compromising our collective health for a bigger pay cheque. 

The complexity of Economic issues is endless.  The range of topics to address, too, is effectively limitless.

So, try not to roll your eyes when you find out what next term’s topic is.  Because hidden inside that topic is a puzzle.  A puzzle of complex, multi-dimensional Economic concepts all waiting to be discovered.  Try to dig deeper than the surface of any Economic topic and you will find a vast and fascinating network of interrelated facts, figures, graphs and opinions.  The contradictions, the corroborations, the agreements, the furious denials, the nuanced political background to Government Economics; they all weave together to create the fabric of perhaps the most stimulating and thought-provoking subject around.

What now?  It’s time to follow these 7 Steps and start working towards your ‘A’ in Economics.

There are many things in Economics that remain uncertain – one thing you can be certain of is that you won’t regret following these Steps for one minute.  Good luck!

Looking for an economics tutor? click here

The post How To Get An A In Economics – 7 Actionable Steps appeared first on A Team Tuition.

But how did Jamie learn to cook in the first place?

It’s hard to imagine the affable rascal learning his trade in a classroom, with recipes and methods written on a chalkboard. In an interview with Bryan Elliot for his YouTube channel ‘Behind the Brand’, Jamie admits that while he was “rubbish at school”, cooking was “his thing”, and that by working in his father’s pub kitchen from the age of 10 to 16 he was able to learn the “economies of movement” that have translated into a successful culinary career. For Jamie, it was all about getting in the kitchen and just learning on the hop.

But is practical experience the only thing that separates great chefs from those who burn toast?

As the old saying goes, practice does make perfect, but there is also a scientific explanation that offers an answer too. As we interact with the world around us, humans rely on their five senses to absorb and comprehend information. Naturally, individuals will favour some senses over others. The combination of which of the senses a person uses in this process determines what we call a person’s learning style. Some people will have a learning style more suited to making great food, while the toast burners may be more at home writing an essay, or painting.

There are three primary learning styles– visual, aural and kinaesthetic – however people may be a combination of any of these, as the diagram below suggests:

“How do I know what learning style I have?”

Great question! (And an important one too). A Team Tuition has developed a diagnostic test which all of our tutor’s use with their students to determine their learning style. This test asks a series of multiple choice questions (some of which are shown below), and offers responses varied by their sensory focus. ‘A’ responses focus primarily on a visual engagement, ‘B’ responses on the use of speech and sound, and ‘C’ responses on actions and the surrounding environment.

You can use these questions to help identify your learning style or that of your child. Additionally, you might think of some more of your own, or pay attention to the way you or your child behaves in certain situations.

Do you remember people’s faces while perhaps forgetting their names? Did you used to decorate your school books with colours and drawings? Is YouTube the greatest educational tool ever invented? Chances are you’re a visual learner who responds well to anything that engages your sense of sight.

Do you ever notice your child staring into space when you’re trying to demonstrate and explain something to them? Yes? There’s a good chance they might be an aural learner who is actually paying close attention to the words, while not engaging with your actions.

Are you always fidgeting? Maybe you’ve even invested in a stress ball? Do you like to get your hands dirty, finding yourself in your element learning new trades and crafts? Did you find school a little boring and hard to engage with, but have instead thrived in more flexible and hands-on environments in adulthood? In all likelihood you’re a kinaesthetic learner. You learn best by simply doing.

Once you’ve identified you or your child’s learning style, the next step is to understand its unique characteristics, and ways and means to get the most out it.

The Aural Learning Style

Aural learners lean primarily on their sense of sound. They love words, rhythms, tempos, lyrics and tones. They thrive in the traditional classroom environment, with a teacher explaining concepts mainly through speech, because they can soak up much of what is being said and recall it even after class has finished.

Aural learners tend to make great readers, writers, speakers and musicians. Their intimate understanding of rhythm and sound allows them to analyse and employ language (including the language of music) masterfully.

Think about someone like the great Ray Charles. Despite being blinded as a child, Charles was able to absorb and process information with his ears. Without the aid of sheet music, he became a master pianist and pioneered the soul music genre. Charles enjoyed a long and illustrious career which included 17 Grammy Awards and 11 number ones.

“What are the best learning strategies to use for an aural learner?”

As we have discovered, aural learners respond best to anything that engages their sense of sound, and are more likely to retain information gleaned in this fashion. Some strategies and activities that would be of great benefit to an aural learner include:

• Reciting flashcards aloud. While flashcards are great for visual learners, reciting them out loud brings the ears into the fold, adding a rhythmic dimension.
• Teaching content to someone else. It is often said that you don’t truly know something unless you can teach it to another. Having an aural learner try and express content through speech is a great way for them to synthesise and remember their thoughts and ideas.
• Engaging in discussions. Bouncing ideas off others allows aural learners to hear their thoughts out loud and analyse them more effectively, and also provides an opportunity to soak up other perspectives.
• Using podcasts. The trend of the 21^st Century! The world of podcasts is continually expanding, and you can find one on just about anything these days. Podcasts may be a great way to get some introductory knowledge on a topic, or to complement what may already be known.
• Recording notes for playback. Think of this one like a DIY podcast. If you’ve got a smartphone, it’s as simple as speaking your written notes into the voice recorder, hitting save and then pressing play. Voila, a bespoke educational podcast!
• Inventing rhymes or songs. Aural learners probably know the tune to the alphabet song as well as the order of the letters themselves. Creating rhymes or songs is a fun and effective way to use sound to make content more engaging and memorable.

The Visual Learning Style

Visual learners engage with the world around them first and foremost with their eyes. They pay attention to colours, lines, designs, patterns and spatial parameters. Elements of the traditional classroom suit them to a tee, such as the use of whiteboards, smartboards, educational videos and worksheets.

Visual learners are intimately aware of their spatial surroundings, and therefore tend to make great artists, architects and designers.

To some, a blank canvas is a no-go zone, or simply a weekend pastime. To people like Pablo Picasso or Leonardo Da Vinci, however, a blank canvas is a masterpiece waiting to be brushed to life, an opportunity for poetic and political expression. Their rich grasp of colours and patterns delivered us the Mona Lisa and the Guernica.

“What are the best learning strategies to use for a visual learner?”

The most effective study strategies for visual learners will engage their sense of sight. Some of the best examples include:

• Colour coding. Those 4-colour biro pens and multi-packs of highlighters are your best friend. Organising different topics or ideas with different colours is an excellent way for visual learners to subconsciously form connections between content and commit it to memory.
• Mind maps. By reorganising content into mind maps, connections between different materials can be seen much more easily.
• Using videos. YouTube is a gold mine for visual learners! You can find a video on just about anything on these days, including educational animations and infographics. The visual dimension of videos can hammer a piece of information home much more quickly and effectively than a wordy textbook for learners that rely on using their eyes.
• Use graphics and diagrams. Visual learners remember things they see. Supplementing written material with graphics or diagrams will dramatically assist their ability to recall material.
• Organise your notes. It may sound like a no-brainer, but this is particularly important for visual learners. Remembering that visual cues are these individuals’ primary means of interacting with the world, an organised work space translates to an organised mind ready to learn.

The Kinaesthetic Learner

Kinaesthetic learners have a feel for the world around them. These learners use their sense of touch as the primary means of interacting with their environment. They won’t necessarily remember the specifics of a conversation, or who they had it with, but they’ll likely remember where they were when they had it, and maybe even what the weather was like too. Kinaesthetic learners are likely to relish the more practical subjects at school like physical education and design and technology, but may find the conventional classroom environment boring.

Kinaesthetic learners remember what they do, and store information through action. Their intimate feel for the world means they tend to thrive in more hands-on professions like cooking and carpentry, and also make great athletes!

Think about someone like Usain Bolt. His imposing physique no doubt gave him an edge in his pursuit of sprinting domination, but his sense of what 10 seconds and 100 metres must feel like would be second-to-none. He would have an intimate understanding of every inch of the track, and what his body must be doing at every stage to achieve running perfection. He would have been able to just feel the difference between hundredths of a second in his training. This awareness ultimately aided Bolt to 9 Olympic gold medals and the fastest 100m and 200m times ever recorded.

 “What are the best learning strategies for kinaesthetic learners?”

The best learning strategies for kinaesthetic learners are those that engage them physically in some way, including:

• Use a stress toy or a fidget spinner. These kinds of toys may be seen by some as nothing but a distraction, but for a kinaesthetic learner they are a fantastic way to bring the hands into play while engaging in other tasks like making or reading notes.
• Create physical, hands-on activities and games. Get creative! Grab the costume box and do a Shakespearean role play, or set up an at-home supermarket to practice budgets and working out change. Anything hands-on will have a lasting impact on these learners.
• Try note taking on different platforms or devices. Recent technological innovations like the iPad are perfect for the tactile learner. Even the subtle difference between typing on a laptop and drawing using a touch pen can make a world of difference.
• Carefully curate a suitable study environment. As discussed, kinaesthetic learners are intimately aware of their surroundings. Too hot, too cold, too bright, too dark – if their study space is even slightly out of balance it can be hugely distracting. Creating a comfortable environment is critical.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that we use all of our senses at some point. While we may prefer some over others, the best learners are those who can employ bits of all three learning languages. They can all be nurtured with a little time and effort.

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Queensland couldn't have chosen a worse year to move from OP to ATAR systems for university placements.  So, as your child struggles with the challenges of studying in 2020, we've prepared this guide especially for Queensland parents of year 12 students who wish to study law in 2021.  The move to ATAR may be ill-timed, but there are definite benefits for your child applying under the ATAR system over the OP system.  So, what ATAR do you need to be a lawyer?  Here's a guide to Queensland universities offering a Bachelor of Laws.

Find out how university entry has changed with ATAR

What is the ATAR for Law?

The short answer is a minimum of 73.  In Queensland, the lowest ATAR score your child can achieve and still study a Bachelor of Laws is 73 - at James Cook University in Townsville or Cairns. This equates to an OP score of around 12.  Not all teens dreaming of becoming a lawyer dream of doing that in Far North Queensland...  If your child hopes to study Law in Brisbane, they'll be looking at 78 (or an OP of around 10) at Australian Catholic University.

 

What is the ATAR for law at the prestigious University of Queensland?  The bad news is, if your child aspires to a law degree from UQ, they're going to need an ATAR score akin to entry into a medical degree!

 

Worried your child won't get the ATAR they need to study law?  Don't wait until it's too late.

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Bachelor of Laws in Queensland

Most Queensland universities offer a variation on the Bachelor of Laws. As 2020 is Queensland's first crop of ATAR graduates, there are currently approximate scores for entry into most degrees. While these are a good goal for your child to aim for, there may be variance not only due to the new ATAR system but due to the allowances being made for kids studying at home during the pandemic. Like all solid study goals, your child's university aspirations should be attainable - and where possible, they should aim a little higher just to be sure.

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) University of Queensland

• UQ offers an Honours level law program in keeping with its reputation for prestige in this area. The OP score for this course was 2 and it's predicted to carry an ATAR requirement of 98. This is by far the most difficult law degree to access in Queensland.

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Queensland University of Technology

• QUT formerly had an OP 7 for admittance into a Bachelor of Laws. This translates to an approximate ATAR score of 87.

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Griffith

• Griffith's 3-year Bachelor of Laws (course code 1620) at the Gold Coast and Nathan campuses, will likely carry an ATAR requirement of 93 which is an approximate OP of 4. The 4-year version (course code 1619) has an approximate ATAR entry score of 84.

Bachelor of Laws ACU

• Australian Catholic University offers a four-year Bachelor of Laws and predicts an approximate ATAR score of 78. This equates to an approximate OP of 10.

Bachelor of Laws University of Southern Queensland

• USQ's 3-year law degree is available online, in Toowoomba and in Springfield. The expected ATAR entry score will be 77 which equates to an OP of 11.

Bachelor of Laws Bond University

• Bond University on the Gold Coast has an approximate minimum entry ATAR score of 84, which equates to an OP of 8.

Bachelor of Laws Central Queensland University

• Central Queensland University offers a 3-year Bachelor of Laws online. The estimated entry requirement is an ATAR between 74 and 81 (OP 9-12).

Bachelor of Laws University of the Sunshine Coast

• USC offers a 4-year Bachelor of Laws at the Sunshine Coast campus with a minimum estimated entry ATAR of 77 which equates to an OP of 11.

Bachelor of Laws - James Cook University

• JCU offers a 4-year Bachelor of Laws at the Townsville and Cairns campuses. The approximate ATAR entry score is 73 which equates to an OP of 12.

Bachelor of Laws - Southern Cross University

• Southern Cross University offers a law degree online, at Lismore and at the Gold Coast campus. Students can also attend summer school to knock over this four-year course faster. Previous ATAR entries were gained at 84 (OP of 8) however, projections for the 2021 intake have not yet been released.

Bachelor of Laws - Open University

• Open University offers a Bachelor of Laws via the University of New England and delivers the course online. The entry requirements for Open University are different to those of a regular university. To learn more about studying with Open University, contact their Advice team.

Calculating your ATAR Score for a Law Degree

ATAR scores are complex beasts. In fact, the guide to doing it is a 31 page PDF. Each subject score is calculated based on four key marks:

• Examination marks
• Assessment marks
• Senior study marks
• Performance Band

However, these are then subject to school scaling and subject scaling (read our first timer's guide to ATAR). Aiming higher than expected is the safest way to ensure your child gets the offer that they dream about.

All ATAR scores are calculated on a minimum number of subjects and each carries a different "weight". For a Law degree, the key subject is English. (Learn how to get an A in English) Your child's English performance will be important so make sure they keep their rankings up.

Plan to get into Law

A Team Tuition specialises in building actionable study plans for our students. Our plans go beyond simple schedules, and into the mindset of getting better marks. Time after time, we've achieved incredible results with our students and we're here to help your child achieve their dreams too. Here are some actionable steps to rapidly improving their grades.

Help them work faster and smarter, not longer and harder - by addressing any gaps in their study skill set.

Create a plan for getting an A in their ATAR subjects based on these actionable guides:

• English
• Maths A
• Legal Studies
• History
• Economics
• Business
• Geography

Discuss the time needed for assessments and create a PRACTICAL schedule

Listen carefully to their objections, are they legitimate? What can you do to boost their confidence and improve their mindset?

Support them. Having a solid support network makes all the difference

Apply these strategies to one assessment and note what a difference a small change in approach can make.

Your child can then take specialised ATAR tutoring that drives them to take the leaps they need to get the ATAR they need.

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How to get into Law without an ATAR

Check each university's site for specifics but some also offer clear pathways to a law degree if your child doesn't get the ATAR score needed to get straight into a Bachelor of Laws.  Some universities also offer mid-year intakes where the requisite ATAR score differs to the start of year score.  If your student misses out on a placement by a fraction of a rank, talk to your school guidance counsellor about options.

If your child doesn't qualify for an ATAR score as they did not complete a minimum of ten units of ATAR courses, they may still be able to attend university.  The most common way to get onto the academic track if you don't attain an ATAR at graduation is to take a short, intensive bridging course or do a VET (Vocational Training) course. Each university has a different policy on non-standard entry.  Your child may be able to sit admissions tests or use life experience to gain a placement as a mature-aged student.

What ATAR score do you need for a Bachelor of Legal Studies (Arts) or Justice Studies?

If your child misses out on the ATAR score needed to enter a Bachelor of Laws, they can take classes in related fields.  Legal Studies or Justice Studies may offer core first year units that are also requirements of first year Law students.  If you are worried about gaining entry to a Bachelor of Laws, you can always add a lower scored course to your child's preferences - to be sure to catch an offer.  Do your research, learn which subject codes are common to both degrees.  That way the "fall back" course serves as first year of Laws too.  When your child transitions out of their "stop gap" course and into their Law Degree, they can transition straight into second year.

How to achieve the ATAR for Law in Queensland

If you're worried, call in a pro - our high school tutoring program has proven time and time again to get REAL results.  Our team of professional tutors don't just help with subject matter, they help adjust your child's mindset and attitude.  An inspired child reaches their goals far easier than a resistant one.  A Team Tuition isn't just simple tutoring. Our techniques were developed by educators and child psychologists to achieve better results.  And we do.

See how one year 12 student went from Cs to As in a single semester.

What ATAR do you need to be a lawyer? Tell your child this!

What ATAR do you need to get into law?  The best possible ATAR you can achieve.  Aim high.  Pursue your goals with passion.  The real competition isn't about your cohort, or other students aiming for a place in a law degree.  The real competition is with yourself.  Outdo yourself at every turn.  Work smarter.  Work harder.  What ATAR you need to be a lawyer is not as important as the ATAR you need to be your best.

 

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What is the plan for year 12, 2020?

Today Dan Tehan announced that all year 12 students will complete their ATAR (or other year 12 certification) in 2020.  ATAR scores and university placements will be “adjusted” to take into account the additional struggles that the class of 2020 will face this year, however, it’s largely “business as usual” in unusual circumstances. The government is actively trying to avoid mass repeats of the senior year and is calling on both schools and universities to develop policies for achieving fair ATAR results and placements. Schools will be open for children who cannot stay at home because parents need to work or if they have limited access to technology.  By year 12, however, the issues around childcare for essential workers are less of a priority than in younger children.

What does this mean for your child’s ATAR score?

ATAR has been hailed as a fairer and more accurate assessment of student achievement (learn more about ATAR VS OP), however it does rely more heavily on single examinations for rankings than the old system.  The announcement did not go into specifics on how they plan to alter the ATAR testing model to keep students from being disadvantaged if they’re unable to attend a regular classroom.  They also failed to elaborate on subjects like Chemistry where the majority of the coursework cannot be done at home (unless, you know, you’ve got a Bunsen burner in the kitchen).  What does it mean for your year 12 student?

“We’re all in the same boat” – or are we?

For the majority of Australian kids, it means that they’ll study at home while mum and dad go to work.  All good.  Except that it means kids who struggle with study skills, self-motivation, taking initiative, managing their time – this is where the system may fall down.  While “attendance” in an online classroom could be mandatory, the level of focus and how hard your child applies him or herself in that situation comes down to the individual.  Not all teens are brimming with enthusiasm and motivation.

It also creates problems for non-neurotypical students who may face additional barriers to learning.  Some children with autism struggle with sudden changes to routine.  Where a regular classroom setting may be a suitable environment for some non-neurotypical kids, online learning may not be.

For children in remote areas or areas with patchy internet access, there will also be struggles beyond what city kids experience.  While your child may have all the advantages of any suburban Australian child, each individual child will react differently to this sudden change in the system and routines they’ve known their whole academic life.  Some will fare better than others.

Does your child need some extra help? Find a Home Schooling Tutor HERE

Are all schools doing the same thing?

While all year 12 students in 2020 are technically in the same situation, levelling the playing field for ATAR ranking isn’t as simple as jumping online.  While all students will undergo the same assessments at the same time, some students will have better support.  As a concerned parent, you’re already giving your child the edge by demonstrating that you’re on their side and ready to help.  Some schools, however, will have better infrastructure for online learning and be better resourced for one on one student help.  This is a big year for high achieving Queensland schools, as their stellar record for OP scores and university placements will be on trial as we transition to ATAR.  Schools will be going the extra mile to ensure their students get all the support that they need.  So, how can you ensure your child remains on a level playing field?

Review their study skills

Study skills aren’t just ‘putting in the long hours”.  The study skills that matter most now are nothing to do with books.  Study skills that are absolutely vital at a time like this include:

• setting the right goals
• keeping focused at this difficult time
• taking ownership of their study
• feeling confident that they can still achieve their goals
• feeling able to solve problems
• and most importantly, being able to pick themselves up after all these setbacks.

Resilience is the most vital study skill your year 12 child can master right now.  As a parent, you’re faced with the impossible task of helping your child understand that they can, and must, overcome setbacks, no matter how unfair and difficult.  Because this is unfair.  This is the worst-case scenario for your teen.  Finding the balance between empathy and motivation will be a hard task for most mums and dads.

Compensate for classroom learning aids

Discuss with your teen how they best learn.  Everyone consumes and processes information differently – this is called our “learning language”.  Assess what kind of learner your child really is so you can make sure that the resources needed to best learn are at hand.  If your child needs a whiteboard, you’ll need to get a whiteboard.  If your child needs visual examples, you may need to seek out videos demonstrating the content they’re learning.  While all this may be available in their regular classroom, not every parent has a DNA model nearby for reference.  Understanding your child’s learning preferences is key to compensating for the lack of classroom.

Understand the new process and break it down into a “plan”

Your child has learned, over the last 13 years, to plan their homework, their assessments and their exam preparation through doing it over and over with the same formula.  When they can’t rely solely on the tried and true combination of taking notes, doing assignments and set study periods, they may feel “out of control”.  That feeling is very real.  In the past few weeks, everyone has experienced this uneasy feeling of being “along for a terrible ride”.  The best way to help your child feel back in control is to establish a workable routine.  Your routine will be key to keeping your child up to date on the senior curriculum.

• Use the new assessment date range to plan out study goals.
• Set up a routine for “live lessons” followed by tutorials/worksheets.  Your school will likely offer advice on this.
• Using your child’s learning language, source resources that will help them to process the curriculum.
• Talk to your teacher about how online lessons will run and what to do if your child begins struggling.
• Nip any bad habits in the bud right now.  While sleeping half the day may be signs of anxiety and overwhelm, it’s not actually a healthy way to deal with negative feelings.
• Set weekly goals and integrate those into the new routine.

The devil is in the missing details

At this stage, further details are due for release on Thursday.  At the moment, schools will resume according to the 2020 planned school year (which differs slightly from state to state).  There were plans floated about a “summer semester” and delayed graduation but for now, the “big picture plan” is business as usual.  The major questions still being asked by parents include:

• Will there be changes to the “weight” of various ATAR assessments?
• Will parents have the option to have their year 12 repeat in 2021 if they don’t achieve their study goals?
• How will ATAR testing happen if social distancing continues?
• How will schools combat “cheating” when children take exams from home?
• How will they determine what is fair compensation for children who are affected very badly (poor access to technology etc)?
• How will they model the effectiveness of ATAR in Queensland when this is its maiden year?
• Will there be a system of appeal if an ATAR score is lower than expected?
• What can be done by parents to help prepare for ATAR testing if that preparation is no longer happening “in a classroom”?
• How will schools monitor attendance, and will this lead to more kids “running amok” during school hours?
• What is in place to ensure that the class of 2020 is up to speed and ready for first-year university – so there are no longterm issues around missing knowledge?

If it’s really important to you, and your child, hire a professional

Parents across the world have just realised that they’re not teachers.  In fact, the textbooks may as well be written in Greek.  A Surd?  What even is a surd?  The anxiety you’re feeling about irrational surds is nothing compared to your teen’s anxiety.  Be careful not to make it worse.  If your very teaching methods are inducing anxiety, then you will actually be harming their chances of achieving their goals.  Step back.  Netflix and chill.  If your school isn’t offering one-on-one coaching for your year 12 student, a quality private tutor makes all the difference.  A professional tutor will focus not only on the curriculum but on your child’s barriers to learning (learn more about secondary school tutoring here).  Typically an A Team Tutor will:

1.  Assess your child’s study skills and implement changes to suit their strengths and weakness.
2. Determine your child’s learning language and craft tutorials around it, so your child stays engaged and processes more information.
3. Tackle their biggest struggles in a gentle way.  If they LOVE English but hate maths, our tutor will help ease them through maths lessons, using language exercises to demonstrate the mathematical content.
4. Provide you with feedback on your child’s progress and give you tips on how to help them through.

Year 12, 2020 is going to be a challenging one.  But don’t worry, you’ve got this.

The post Class of 2020? Here’s What Parents of Year 12 Kids Must Know appeared first on A Team Tuition.

As a trained educator, we learn how to teach people things. This can be complex maths problems through to simply teaching students how to read and write. In practice, educators teach people a wide variety of content through a range of mediums; however, before the COVID-19 pandemic, everything was centred around in-person communication. Due to the highly infectious nature of the virus, as you’re probably aware, this has now all changed. With the closure of schools around the world, educators are being forced into moving to completely electronic systems for teaching and learning at home. While this may seem foreign to many, there are plenty of online resources available. These aim to alleviate the difficulties of moving to completely online and at-home education, for parents, students, and educators.

What Is Happening in Queensland?

While most schools are still open across the country, Education Queensland has taken steps towards allowing school communities to continue teaching and learning during extended school closures. In doing this, they have utilised an online resource called ‘learning@home’. In the event of prolonged school closures, parents and students can access the resources provided on this website for completion at home. Even though the Queensland Government has provided this openly available resource, each school will have its own unique approach to online learning, so it is important to maintain effective communication with your child’s school. You can access ‘learning@home’ here or access our Parents’ Guide to the Queensland Government Curriculum.

Understanding the ‘learning@home’ Resources

Through their ‘learning@home’ platform, Education Queensland has provided extensive, curriculum-based resources across all year levels. They have provided numerous units of work for all core subjects that can be used in a home-based educational situation. Students and/or parents can either download individual resources, or they can download complete, interactive two-week units of work. They all align directly with the Australian curriculum set by ACARA and are quite extensive. When using them, it is important that students and/or parents select ones that align to the curriculum currently being undertaken by the school. If we move to a completely online, home-based educational system, it may also be a valuable opportunity for students to improve any skills they are lacking, and the extensivity of the ‘learning@home’ resources and links is perfect for that.

Learning At Home Challenges for Parents and Students

While they are certainly comprehensive, understanding the individual skills and content knowledge in the curriculum can be quite confusing. This is compounded by the recent changes to the curriculum in some states, and parents can’t be expected to understand the complexities of the educational system and its content. If you and/or your child is finding it difficult to understand the ‘learning@home’ resources, as well as the requirements of the curriculum, I would encourage you to seek the help of trained educators who are familiar with the Australian curriculum, ATAR and online education. With the effective support of trained educators, students can utilise the provided online resources to their full potential. This will provide them with as many educational opportunities as they usually receive from a traditional school setting and can even allow them to excel!

What If My School Has its Own Learning at Home Resources?

That’s great! Most schools will have their own comprehensive resources for all their available subjects. The vast majority of school students already work from multiple online platforms, so schools are utilising these to provide online teaching and learning opportunities. Whether it be Microsoft Teams/OneDrive, Google Hangouts/Drive, Microsoft OneNote or Notability, most schools already incorporate a large amount of electronic contact time into their curriculum. I would encourage students and parents to use the school-provided resources as a priority, and to use the ‘learning@home’ resources as extra support. While they may be different from what students are used to, they will align perfectly with the curriculum set by their schools and will allow for the most effective teaching and learning experience.

My Child Is Struggling to Learn

With students spending significantly more time at home/online, and relying on resources provided by their schools, they may seek more help for their schoolwork. Working 100% online is not for everyone, so many students will find learning this way more difficult. With the complex educational needs of students magnified by an online learning scenario, if your child is struggling with their education, I would recommend seeking the assistance of trained educators who specialise in accommodating diverse learning needs. It is vitally important that parents, students and educators work together through this extraordinary period so that students are provided with the best educational opportunities and outcomes possible.

Does A Team Tuition provide Online Tutoring?

A Team Tuition provides online tutoring according to our unique educational philosophy.  We combine elements of psychology with education to ensure all kids have the right mindset needed for effective learning at home and in school.  We are currently experiencing a burgeoning number of enquiries and working hard to help everyone we can through this difficult time.  It’s recommended that if you’re considering an online tutor, you get in touch without delay.

Check Current Availability

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A lot of people say that it’s impossible to get an A in high school physics. This couldn’t be more wrong. Physics is a hard subject, not even the most optimistic tutor (me) would ever deny that. But if you work hard and follow these steps, you’ve got great odds of landing that fabled A.

book A PHYSICS TUTOR now

1. Make good notes

This step is a pretty good start for any subject, but it’s particularly important for physics. Physics classes can be pretty intense, and it’s easy to end up blankly staring into space while the equations roll around you.

That’s obviously not the best situation, but it can be hard to avoid once the teacher really hits their kinematic-equation-stride. However, if you get the key points written down, you’ll be able to come back later and work through it at your own pace. In particular, if your teacher writes an equation on the board, get that written down, it is DEFINITELY important. Make sure you write down what they stand for too, so you don’t end up with a “Where did that C come from? What does that even mean?” kind of situation. Ideally, you’re getting everything important your teacher says written down, but if you get these key points, you’ll be able to come back and figure it out later.

2. Understand your formulae

The next step is figuring out how your formulae work. Get used to breaking apart your equations, figuring out how the different pieces work together, and working out what units your answer is going to have.

Familiarise yourself with different ways the formula is commonly rearranged, and other formulae that tend to link in with it. For example, if you’re working with the equation for friction (frictional force is equal to the coefficient of friction times the normal force), then practice rearranging that equation a few different ways, so you’re used to it in all its common forms.

This is an equation for a force, so other equations that use force (like F=ma, for example) might be useful things to be able to substitute in. If you can do this step, then the next one will become much easier.

3. Practice using your formulae. A lot.

It’s pretty much exactly the way it sounds, but it’s really worth emphasising. If you don’t practice using the equations you’ve been given, over and over again till you cringe at the very mention of the word “friction,” you won’t get an A for physics. It’s as simple as that.

Do the problem questions your teacher hands out as homework. Find more in your textbook and do them too. Check your answers and make sure you’re doing them right. If you can do that, then congratulations, you’re already most of the way to getting that A. There’s still a few more tips and tricks that’ll help you along the way though.

4. Look for “reasonable” numbers

Physics is an easy subject to make lots of little errors in, and those silly mistakes really start to add up when they’re costing you a mark or so at a time. Because you probably won’t have time in an exam to check your work as rigorously as normal, the best way to avoid them is to know what sort of answers you expect for these sorts of questions.

If you’re doing a friction question, and your calculator tells you that the object will be experiencing 758, 437N of frictional force,  you should probably take a step back and go “huh, that’s really, really high.” Generally, your answers for certain types of questions are all going to fall within a certain range, and anything outside that is a clue that something’s gone wrong.

If you’ve done a hundred friction questions, and gotten answers between about 2N and 15N every time, then when you see that crazily big (or small) answer come up in the exam, you know something has gone wrong. As a result, you can go back and check, and figure out that you’ve divided the normal force by the coefficient of friction instead of multiplying it, or whatever silly little error you’ve made. Sometimes, there won’t be an error, but it’s definitely a clue that you should go back and check.

is your child struggling? find out more about our high school tutoring

5. Start EEI’s early

EEI stands for Extended Experimental Investigation, or Early… Okay, I can’t think of a second “E” word there, but you get the point. You really can’t start an EEI the night before.

To be honest, starting even a week before is crazy brave. Between the testing and the research, these things are months of work, and you should plan accordingly. If you start the second your teacher hands them out, you’ll be fine.

If you leave them till the last minute, they will become the hell that everyone says they are. Also, if you’re struggling, We have an EEI manual that can be a great investment, available here!

6. Do your research before you test

This one kind of goes hand in hand with the last one, but it makes a big enough difference to get its own heading. At the end of the day, there’s a certain amount of research into the topic you’re doing your EEI on that you’ll have to have done before you can write the final report.

The choice is up to you about whether you do that before you gather your data, or after. However, it’s really worth getting in early and getting this done before you test, because it will make your job a heap easier. Not only will it mean you actually know what you’re looking for when you’re gathering data, you’ll often find helpful tips online when you’re researching that will help you refine your experiment.

Plus, it means less for you to do at the end, when you’re busy tearing your hair out writing the report on your findings, so it’s a win-win.

7. Make a formula sheet, then ignore it

The last step should be done either throughout the term, or when you’re revising for your exam. Either way, it’s really important. Gather up all the formulae you’ve used throughout the term, write down what all the variables mean, and put this all onto one A4 page (they should probably fit, go double-sided if you have to).

You can use this for the start of your revision. Then, once you’re starting to get a handle on the topics you’re covering, try and use it less and less. Even if you know you’ll get a formula sheet in the exam, it’s worthwhile weaning yourself off it if you can. Otherwise, in the exam, you’ll waste heaps of time flicking back to look at the piece of paper with all the tiny little equations on it.

If you can get to the stage where you’re not relying on it, then you know that you’ve got those equations in your head, and you’re ready to rock this exam.

7.5. Don’t freak out!

Physics is hard, but people pass it all the time, and yes, people even get A’s. Follow these steps, and you will be one of them. Good luck!

Looking to improve inother subject? Find more of our guides here:

• High School English
• High School Maths A
• High School Maths B
• High School Maths C
• High School Legal Studies
• High School History
• High School Economics
• High School Chemistry
• High School Physics
• High School Biology
• High School PhysEd
• High School Drama
• High School Business Studies

The post How To Get An A In Physics – 7 Steps appeared first on A Team Tuition.

Education Queensland has now released the first two weeks of online curriculum for prep to year ten. The Online Curriculum is in downloadable PDF worksheet format (hope you stockpiled printer ink). It’s all a bit overwhelming, this home-schooling thing… so we’ve produced this parent guide to Queensland Schools Online Curriculum.

Understand the purpose of the online curriculum

The purpose of the Queensland Schools Online Curriculum is to stop kids falling behind during a short or prolonged period of isolation. It’s not there to measure your child’s academic capacities. Education Queensland has released lesson plans for “general” consumption. That means that your child may feel “miles ahead” of some lessons and may really struggle with others.

Do not jump onto your year level parent group on Facebook and compare how your child is coping to the other children in their class. Some kids will breeze through this and others will feel anxious and struggle to concentrate. That doesn’t mean they’re not keeping up with the curriculum, it means that as a parent, you must look for signs of their study capabilities.

See Also:  Primary School Tutoring | High School Tutoring | Home School Tutoring

Start with their favourite subjects

If your child can recite the periodic table but HASS makes them want to cry, start with science. This is about building confidence in the new learning format. Remember that this whole home-schooling is a big change to a little person’s routine, and they may be facing new psychological barriers they’ve never felt before.

When your child has completed a few of their preferred subjects, look for signs of strengthening study skills before moving on to their least loved topics.

See Also: How to set them up for study at home.

Signs you’re teaching the online curriculum successfully

• Your child is open to reaching daily, reasonable goals for getting their schoolwork out of the way. They will willingly complete all worksheets for that day, even the subjects they don’t like.
• Your child is focused (at an age-appropriate level anyway) on the new system. They’re demonstrating resilience in this time of change.
• Your child is able to do the worksheets independently without your constant encouragement and supervision.
• Your child is adapting to a new routine and is able to understand that study time is study time. They’re motivated to get the work done – even if playing Xbox is the overall goal.
• Your child displays confidence in their ability to do the work – even if only in their favourite subjects.
• Your child can take initiative to find answers to questions that confuse them – either by going over the materials again or by “Googling it.”
• Your child feels relaxed with you as their temporary teacher. They are not anxious about working with you.

Note that none of these signs relate to the actual course work. As a newbie teacher (and let’s all take a moment to appreciate teachers. Seriously. Not all heroes wear capes), your main goal is to facilitate learning – not to transform your student into a straight-A student at this time of change and confusion.

How to access the Queensland Schools Worksheets

Simply visit the Education Queensland website, select your child’s grade level and the subject matter for week one.  You can download the PDFs ready to print.  There are currently two weeks’ worth of worksheets for every kid from prep to year ten.

Signs you may need professional help teaching the online curriculum

Your child is going through a period of uncertainty and may be feeling untold anxiety. Some kids are very good at hiding anxiety but it’s there. It may culminate in obsessive behaviours like hand washing or Minecraft World building, or it may culminate in rebellion against the Queensland schools’ online curriculum. Most commonly you’ll see an inability to concentrate (this is a very common symptom of anxiety in extreme situations), a “bad attitude” when you call your child to study or a defeatist attitude where you child “can’t do it”. Every child’s reaction to anxiety is different. As a parent, not a psychologist, your only duty is to acknowledge that your child is struggling.

“With all the academic setbacks I experienced with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), I was at a significant risk of failing high school. It was only when I learned to adjust how I went about my learning, and to keep performance anxiety at bay, that I graduated to an A student. It’s not about a child’s ability to understand, it’s about their ability to learn in their own unique way.”

– Hayden McEvoy, founder of A Team Tuition.

Parent Guide to where to get help, and where NOT to get help

Social media is full of armchair experts. Suddenly Australia has eleventy-billion immunologists giving their half-baked opinions based on reading one obscure article written by another armchair expert. Turning to social media groups for support may feel beneficial (and community is so important right now) but when it comes to the science and art of teaching, it’s all about your child’s particular needs. What works for Karen and Debbie in the mum group may not work for your family. There’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than feeling like you’re the only one failing at a task. Stick to chatting about your feelings and how you can support your community, leave education, and health, to the experts.

Talk to a child psychologist

A child psychologist will be able to help with your child’s long-term challenges. If your child has had constant issues with schoolwork, not just during this terrible time, a good psych may be able to help you identify underlying issues. This is a long-term process and right now, getting a seat at a clinic is harder than finding a roll of two-ply.  Learn what a psychologist has to say about managing anxiety here.

Talk to your school

As the dust settles and Australia falls into an online study routine, there will be more time for teachers to spend assisting struggling families. For now, you may find teachers are overwhelmed with the tasks that lay ahead. A great teacher will still answer your questions. Your principal or deputy may also be available. It may take time though. Everyone is in triage mode right now. It may be worth hitting pause on your child’s education for a week or two until your school can devote time to one on one help. This will, however, mean that your child will need to “catch up” which may cause additional stresses down the line.

Book a tutor experienced in diagnosing barriers to learning

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Case Study: B Minus To A Plus in a Month

Choosing the right tutor, with the right skills to overcome poor study strategies, is vital to improving your child’s attitude and aptitude for studying the Queensland schools’ curriculum online. An online tutor once a week can take your child through all the subjects that give them anxiety. That means your time tutoring can focus on the online lesson plans that your child can manage without feeling overwhelmed.

During the session, your tutor will gently delve into underlying issues with your child’s learning and develop strategies for overcoming them.

A Team Tuition is the first and only tutoring program developed by psychologists and educators.

The program addresses your child’s psychological barriers to achieving academic success, not just the “subject matter”. Your tutor will then “educate your child” in recognising these barriers and help them take control of their learning. Your tutor can then “fill you in” on what’s working and give you practical guidelines for continuing with the Queensland Schools Online Curriculum.

Read our online tutoring case study.

A Team Tuition has a stringent recruitment and training program to ensure our tutors aren’t just teaching subject matter, they’re teaching learning skills. Learn more about our approach to tutoring here.

Note that during this tumultuous time, A Team Tuition is taking on a limited number of new clients. While we’re expanding our online education program, it’s recommended that you register your interest without delay. We apologise to parents and students who miss out on a place, but we must ensure the ongoing tutoring of our existing clients first.

The post Parents Guide: Queensland Schools Online Curriculum appeared first on A Team Tuition.

What Hayden Discussed on The Today Show

Did Hayden mention a particular challenge relevant to your child on The Today Show?  If you have any questions about any of the topics covered during the Today Show interview, we’re happy to help.  If you’re worried about your child’s ATAR results, or simply about falling behind, A Team Tuition can help you overcome the struggles and keep your child’s motivation, and grades, up.

What can we expect from School Closures based on other countries’ experiences?  Learn how Japan handled the day to day logistics of school shutdowns.

How to prepare for school shut downs – What you can do right now to get ready.

How can studying online with a tutor impact your child’s grades? – It’s not the classroom format, it’s the educator that counts.

Why Hayden McEvoy sees education a bit differently – Learning difficulties, elite sports training – Hayden had ALL the challenges.

How to get started with an online tutor – What you need to get set up.

How can we help?  If you’ve got questions about your child’s education at this tricky time, we’re here to help.  Simply get in touch and we’ll talk you through the next steps for staying on course.

The post Hayden McEvoy Answering Home Schooling Questions on The Today Show appeared first on A Team Tuition.