Private tutor - Delaware, USA

Student

The youngest of three, the student is a boy in grade 8. He is kind-hearted, sociable, has a great sense of humor and is naturally talkative. He’s a dependable friend, has a taste for adventure and particularly enjoys longboarding. He also excels at soccer and is attracted to all sports that allow him to be outdoors with friends.

The boy plays percussion as well as the piano, and politics and social media are also on his radar. Like most people, he particularly enjoys activities and subjects that he is good at and tends to avoid those things that are more challenging! His patience is further tested when things appear boring or less achievable.

The boy is highly numerate and enjoys identifying solutions for others in everyday life. Reading and writing have always posed a problem. He finds it challenging to access and process written information or transfer his own thoughts from mind to paper. He required speech therapy in his first years and was diagnosed as having a Specific Language Impairment (SLI) in 3rd Grade. He has since received a lot of support to develop his language skills at a more normal rate. He often needs the written word read and explained to him to better digest it. He finds it difficult to reuse what he has learned in new contexts, write about information or write creatively. Reading and writing activities highlight problems in comprehension and linking new material with existing skills, making many tasks and homework exercises stressful. This of course impacts his whole academic development.

Well-structured schooling and tutoring have assisted him in working hard to reach his goals. His general morale and self-belief have not yet been affected. To date, he has been enrolled in the standard US educational system, following a traditional path of study, albeit heavily supported by homework buddies and tutors.

The boy responds most positively to upbeat, fair teachers. He cannot stand two-faced individuals and would always prefer friendly, honest conversations regarding any issues or problems. His best teacher managed to engage him in English, despite the challenges, by incorporating personal life experiences into his lessons. Relatable anecdotes and the right balance of humor made his classes more interesting.

Role of the Tutor

The best of the boy’s previous tutors had impeccable academic track records themselves and an ability to explain complicated things in a way that he can understand. They were personable, unpretentious and fun. The Tutor to follow in their footsteps would ideally come from a similar background and be a fantastic role-model to this young man. The boy needs to feel at ease, valued and supported by his Tutor, preferably sharing interests and wit. In his own words, the tutor should be an “academic weapon.”

For him to achieve the best possible results during high school, his parents seek a Tutor who will tailor resources and their delivery to address the boy’s specific learning needs and language barriers. His parents would like their son to attend a respectable college, possibly to pursue his interest in business, along with becoming increasingly willing to learn independently and take responsibility for his own education. They would like him to become more dynamic and able to apply his knowledge with confidence, in a timelier fashion. They hope his comprehension skills and ability to analyze information for himself will become second nature, in addition to writing extended essays and using a range of literary devices.

The ideal Tutor will assist the boy in an after-school capacity to help him manage his learning by supplementing his school teaching, combining bespoke material, and mechanisms to encourage easier understanding. The boy has the potential to flourish under the right direction and influence. His parents would also like the Tutor to advance his public speaking skills, foster a clear, confident voice and evaluate sources to develop cogent arguments. Listening skills are fundamental and could be taught in line with an understanding of political arguments, focusing on informed, productive and respectful discussions.

Privacy and discretion are fundamental values of the household and the Tutor will adhere to any safety protocols regarding the boy’s wellbeing. A sensible Tutor will inspire imaginative, interactive learning tools and engage technology in a thoughtful manner, to add value to lessons, research, and projects. They will be tasked with converting the tutoring space in the main house into an engaging and well-resourced learning environment.

The Tutor is encouraged to advocate for participation in community-based services and will essentially serve as an inspirational mentor to the boy. An educator who could potentially commit until the end of 12th Grade would be privileged in coaching the boy throughout the rest of his high school years, including helping with applications for summer and college programs. Solid experience in teaching the American curriculum is paramount, as is a deep appreciation and understanding of the implications of SLIs. The Tutor will be innovative in helping the boy break down and confront any difficulties and ultimately progress alongside or beyond his peers. His language impairment should in no way hold him back or have a detrimental effect on his studies or self-esteem.

Hours and Holidays

The Tutor will work with the boy in the evenings for around 20 hours per week, with extensive preparation in addition. In the past, the general tuition routine covered Monday-Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as two designated days off per week. Sunday would be spent working together to consolidate past work and learning goals, before preparing for the week ahead.

The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 9 weeks holiday (45 working days) per year, to be taken during school holidays and at times agreed upon with the family. The Tutor will be flexible with respect to any changes in schedule, be they travel-related or otherwise and will adapt accordingly. The Client will strive to give up to two weeks’ notice of any planned alterations.

Accommodation and Travel

The Client will provide a private, furnished residence for the Tutor in a carriage house within their grounds. No guests will be allowed on the property. They will provide a car and ensure that the Tutor stays in private accommodation when travelling. All expenses are covered by the Client except for the Tutor’s personal phone bill and fuel.

Miscellaneous

The Tutor will ideally join the family mid-August 2021 to start to prepare for the academic year ahead. He also has pre-season soccer to contend with, therefore, a Tutor with similar athletic tendencies would be highly valued, as would a Tutor with the ability to teach French in line with the school curriculum. The Tutor must also be comfortable around animals as the family have a number of pets.

The Tutor must be a fit and healthy non-smoker – active and energetic with a love for the outdoors; the kind of person who always makes the most of their environment to enhance teaching and learning opportunities.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, please visit: tijobs.net/525