Not having children myself, I can only imagine how busy, crazy and overwhelming the first term of the year must be for parents, as well as children. I can understand that adding just another appointment to the list of things to do, is enough to make you want to curl up in a corner and cry! I know I would! I’m exhausted just listening to some of the parent’s (and children’s) schedules. How do you all do it? With lots of chocolate, and perhaps some wine too, I hope! So, it’s not surprising that giving tutoring a break in term 1 is a common decision among parents.
But, (yes, there is unfortunately a “but”), unless your child finished term 4 on a high, with heaps of confidence going into the next year, you might want to think twice about giving tutoring a break in term 1. Starting the year off on a high, and getting back into the swing of things sooner rather than later, can pave the way for the rest of the year. It’s always harder playing catch up than keeping the momentum going from the start of the year.
Remember that most children have had a six week break from school, and some as much as 8 or 9 weeks! They’ve lost their “sense” of learning, and need a bit of a kick start into gear for the new year. Most of them will have a new teacher, some will go to a new school and some will be going to high school. All of which can make the settling into the new school year just a little bit daunting. Continuing with tutoring means a familiar face or faces, as well as a continuation of something they know and have hopefully grown to enjoy!