The start of a new school year can be an exciting time, but also stress-inducing for students who struggle to keep up with classwork. Many students are still experiencing pandemic after-effects and have yet to catch up to their grade levels. A tutor can help ease their struggles and lift their grades, but finding the right match is important. Here’s what to consider when hiring a tutor. 

Take a long-term approach

While most parents reach out to a tutor after seeing poor test marks, Suman Joseph, Centre Director of Sylvan Learning Burlington, says a student’s struggles often stem from issues deeper than academic misunderstanding. “A child’s struggle at school may stem from lack of self-confidence and school engagement, which significantly impacts their academic performance and perseverance.”

While parents’ main goal of hiring a tutor is often to improve academic grades, Joseph says tutoring is also about changing a child’s attitude toward learning. While a tutor can help improve subject matter understanding in the short term, developing a love of learning and resilience in kids will help them to face further challenges later on in their academic journeys. 

Helen Trang, Centre Director of ICan Education for Burlington says a tutor is like a coach. “Great coaches boost a person’s confidence and inspire them to achieve higher standards,” she says.

So instead of asking your potential tutor how they will improve your child’s grades this year, ask how they will help your child’s confidence and prepare them for future academic success.

Tutoring isn’t one size fits all

Every child learns differently. A tutoring centre that customizes its strategies to the individual is more likely to experience success than a centre that blindly throws grade level work at a child. “The right tutoring centre or tutor should be able to change teaching strategies and/or the student’s program accordingly, so that the student is always learning at their comfort level and challenged at the right times,” says Joseph.

Vineet Khanna, owner and Centre Director of Mathnasium Burlington says it’s important to consider the child’s learning style. “For some students, one-on-one tutoring works better, while others require a more listening and hands-on approach,” says Khanna.

Most tutoring centres will assess the student’s learning level to create a custom program. Everyone (parents, student and tutor) should be on the same page about what the goals of the tutoring sessions are.

Time commitment

Helen Trang says the length of time a student sees a tutor will depend on the objectives. “If the objective is to foster a love for learning and to keep the child challenged, the child could continue every school year. If the child needs remedial support, it depends on where the child’s skills are today versus their goal,” says Trang.

The amount of time a child will spend with a tutor also depends on the level the child is currently at and what their goals are. Khanna advises parents not to impose a timeline or tell a child they have “x” number of sessions. “It’s important to not put pressure on the child to improve in a certain amount of time. Everybody learns differently and at their own pace.”

Budgeting for tutoring

Typically tutoring ranges from $50 to $65 per hour. How much to budget will depend on how much help a child needs. Joseph advises not to hold off to “save for tutoring” at a later date. “While tutoring may seem expensive at the start, it’s important for the child to get the right help at the right time,” says Joseph. Many tutoring centres have payment plans to help parents with budgeting.

by Lisa Evans

I was a band kid. Yup, I went to band camp. I played clarinet and saxophone in a jazz band, a symphony, and even a marching band. So, when my 7-year-old expressed interest in music, I assumed it was genetic. Except he didn’t want to play the clarinet. He wanted to play drums or guitar – “the cool instruments, Mom.”  I think the piano is pretty cool, too – I mean, look at Elton John. 

Aside from being cool, though, music has many benefits for children, from aiding in the development of language skills, to strengthening cognitive functions such as planning and working memory, to building self-confidence. One 2004 study by E. Glenn Schellenberg at the University of Toronto at Mississauga found an increase in the IQs of six-year-olds who participated in weekly voice and piano lessons.

My search for music lessons first led me to Waterdown Music Academy. This music studio offers everything! They include piano, guitar, bass, flute, and drum lessons for children and adults, and even have voice and ukulele lessons. Lessons are one-on-one with  professional musicians either in-person or online. While age 6 – 8 is typically the sweet spot for learning an instrument, Waterdown Music Academy starts their lessons at 5 years old. Whether you want to learn Beethoven or Elton John, they’ve got you covered… their teachers love to help students learn their favourite songs! Students will learn fundamentals such as reading music, technique, and theory.

If your child isn’t set on an instrument, TipToe Music in Oakville offers an interactive Rhythm Kids class for ages 4 to 8. This class explores music through games, rhythm pattern play, and drumming. Kids sing, dance, and jam to rhythms inspired by worldwide musical traditions.

Two music schools that have been around for quite some time are Burlington’s Academy of Music and Oakville’s Academy of Music. These schools offer private music lessons for piano, guitar, drums, violin, voice, and ukulele, and also some woodwind instruments including flute, saxophone, and clarinet. Piano classes begin as young as four, and guitar and drum lessons start at six. Both schools offer optional recitals twice a year. They also have a rewards program called the music ladder system, providing students with cool coloured wristbands and certificates for passing music tests. 

In my search for my 7-year-old’s request for “cool,” I found Rock This Way! School of Rock. If that doesn’t sound cool, I don’t know what does. With locations in Burlington and Oakville, Rock This Way takes a modern song-oriented approach to music lessons and throws out some cool alum names. The school’s founder managed Hall of Fame guitar player Rik Emmett from Triumph and drummer Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rock This Way teaches students their favourite songs, whether Taylor Swift or Metallica, citing on their website “forget Twinkle Twinkle.”  With guitar, drums, and keyboard lessons, Rock This Way encourages students and instructors to jam together. Instructors are multi-instrumentalists, so guitar students can jam with a pianist, allowing students to practice alongside other musicians and really feel like a rock star.

Finding the right music school for your child is a bit like finding the right instrument. Visit a few and see which one is the right fit for your child. Regardless of which school they choose to study in, take it from this former band geek – there’s no doubt learning a musical instrument will provide your child with skills and memories that will last a lifetime. 

by Lisa Evans

Local Links

Waterdown Music Academy
waterdownmusicacademy.ca

TipToe Music
tiptoemusic.net 

Burlington Academy of Music
musiclessonsburlington.ca 

Oakville Academy of Music
academymusic.org

Rock This Way School of Rock
rockthisway.ca

It’s no surprise that in today’s high-tech world, parents seek STEAM learning opportunities to prepare their children for their future careers. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) learning is hands-on and incredibly beneficial for children’s development. Plus, the emphasis on creativity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking are skills that translate into just about any career path. STEAM programs empower children to be inquisitive, to ask questions, and explore and understand the world around them.

Oakville and Burlington have endless opportunities for children to test the limits of STEAM. Here are a few options to check out:

MakerKids • www.makerkids.com/oakville

Virtual only, serving Burlington, Hamilton, Milton & surrounding area Un leash your child’s potential with MakerKids, designed and created by industry professionals and makers! Offering award-winning coding, robotics, and Minecraft programs for children ages 6 to 13. Embedded in all MakerKids programs are lessons that help kids build confidence, resilience, social skills, and a positive relationship with technology. Makers will love designing their own video games, creating robotic inventions, designing, and experimenting. Some  programs even expose kids to technologies used by industry professionals. MakerKids offers weekly group classes, private classes, camps, and birthday parties. Your little one can even join them in a free trial class!

Code Ninjas • www.codeninjas.com

3410 Mainway ActivityPlex, Burlington • 2333 Taunton Road Unit 6, Oakville

Le arn to code while creating your own video game with Code Ninjas! With locations in Oakville and Burlington, Code Ninjas provides a safe, fun, and inspiring environment for children to gain problem-solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills. Their unique self-paced program is led by Code Senseis (mentors) as they guide children (ninjas) through their game-based curriculum. Kids will love building their own video games along with popular games like Roblox and Minecraft. As students complete their levels, they’ll move through the martial-arts style belting system, beginning with a white belt and finishing with a black belt. Parents can book 1 to 2 hours sessions right on the Code Ninjas website.

E-Bots • www.ebots.ca

3325 North Service Road #108, Burlington

Located in Burlington, this familyrun business has been operating in Halton for over 15 years. E-Bots teaches computer programming through the medium of Lego robotics. Founded in Oakville in 2008, this organization and its students have already had tremendous success. They are nine times Provincial Champions and eight times secondplace champions. Students have traveled to nine International Championships and were winners of the 2011/12 First Lego League (FLL) World Festival. Most recently they placed second at the 2017/18 World Festival. E-Bots engages students through two levels of classes: WeeBots and E-Bots. WeeBots is for grades 2-3, while E-Bots is for Grades 4+. Students investigate concepts and mechanizations of simple machines, compound simple machines, and an introduction to programming, using LEGO models and WeDo programming. (WeDo software allows students to program the robots, controlling their actions, sounds and responses).

Many of their alumnae have gone off to robotics, engineering, and mechatronics programs. Two of their students won the $80,000 Schulich Scholarships and both are in mechatronics programs at the University of Waterloo. Additionally, some of their graduates have held jobs at Apple, Nvidia, and HexBugs.

Idea Lab Kids • www.idealabkids.com

1393 North Service Road East, Oakville

IDEA Lab Kids offers a wide variety of enrichment programs, afterschool programs, camps, and birthday party experiences across a wide variety of STEAM subjects for kids ages 3+. Learn coding, engineering, science, visual arts, culinary arts, robotics, and even movie making. There’s a program for every child’s interest at IDEA Lab Kids.

The Learning Tree • www.learningtreecanada.com 1450 Headon Road, Burlington

Burlington’s teacher-owned and operated educational resources store offers Lego Bricks Challenge, a fun and educational program for builders and coders ages 4 to 10. Students learn physics and science while building a motorized LEGO model.

Snapology • www.snapology.com/location/halton

Snapology offers fun themed programs using LEGO bricks and K’Nex. Whether your child is into Harry Potter, Superheroes, or Minecraft, Snapology has something for them. Snapology offers a wide variety of STEAM programs, robotics, movie making, drones, and video game design.

Snapology’s approach comes from the philosophy that children learn best when actively designing, creating, interacting, and inventing. Snapology programs encourage teamwork and social skills while teaching science, technology, engineering, art, and math concepts They also offer themed birthday party workshops.

by Lisa Evans

Do you remember the thrill that came with pencils racing across a piece of paper as a teacher scribbled notes across the chalkboard? And by thrill, we mean panic. There was never a guarantee one could scribble fast enough to gather that day’s lesson. Then there was the collective moan that came with the sight of an overhead projector – a sure sign students were in for some lengthy notetaking…followed by a hand cramp. Before Dropbox, there was the floppy disk, before iPads – a notebook, and long before the classroom technologies of today, there was the clunky technology of the ‘90s that paved the way.

For students of today, technology has come a long way from colourful, original iMac computer labs and the infamous rolly-cart TV. Modern students have access to everything from virtual field-trips, video conferencing, digital portfolios, online guest speakers, and more. Their technology is a broad term and encompasses many things such as computer hardware, software, and applications as well as large and small machinery including laser cutters, smartphones, iPads, and digital cameras.

Julie Hunt Gibbons, superintendent of secondary program and student success for Halton District School Board, says parents, teachers, students, staff, and community members expect the use of technology in the classroom to enhance both teaching and learning – after all it is the 21st Century and young people today are often described as ‘digital citizens’.

With technology an increasing requirement in almost every industry, it only makes sense that our schools are also effectively deploying mobile technology in the classroom. However, for many schools, implementing the latest technology is a difficult strategy to navigate.

“The biggest challenge in the use of technology in school, as it is globally, is protecting the privacy of all engaged,” says Lisa M. Duranleau, Executive Director at MacLachlan College. Hunt Gibbons agrees, “ensuring the privacy of our students is a priority for our Board. That is why our Board has implemented a software catalogue for our teachers to use. The catalogue identifies “green” tools that teachers can use in their classrooms.” At MacLachlan, acceptable use policies are continuously updated while teachers and students are constantly educated on how to navigate their way through emerging technologies. Other challenges include the choice of tool, equity of access to tools, safety concerns, and staff development.

Despite the challenges, both Lisa and Julie agree technology is an essential component of today’s classroom tool kit. “Utilizing new approaches through inquiry and participatory technology inspires students to ask questions, research, and think critically to find solutions for an evolving world,” says Lisa. Students are exposed to real-world, authentic experiences. 

Through virtual field trips, they can travel around the world, understanding and resolving problems as a reflective citizen. Technology has become an incredible tool for critical thinking and problem solving, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and self-directed learning. While technology is the tool, the success of its use is dependent on the facilitators that guide students in their learning – because it’s not just the technology a school has in its classroom but the application of the technology and the learning outcomes.

From kindergarten through to grade 12, Halton students are being exposed to the wonderful benefits of learning through technology. The future of education relies on building a community of collaborators – students, teachers, and parents – and technology is central to community building. While there is no way to predict where technology will go from here, educational leaders are required to morph their practices to best prepare children of today to be global citizens of tomorrow.

by Anneliese Lawton