Children's Education & Homeschooling

Celebrate the Effort, Not Just the Right Answer

Our students need to hear what they’re doing well — not just when they get it right.
For many, effort is the biggest win of the day.

🗣 “I love how you stuck with that.”
🗣 “You checked your work — that’s awesome!”
🗣 “You remembered that sound from last week!”

✨ Praise the process, not just the product.
It’s just like an art project — the real magic isn’t in the final piece, but in the experimenting, the mistakes, and the moments of persistence that lead there. That’s where growth happens.

💡 Why it works:
When tutors celebrate perseverance and strategy instead of perfection, students learn that effort leads to progress. This builds intrinsic motivation and resilience — key ingredients for lasting confidence and success.

Not Rude — Just Different

Some students say things that sound blunt or surprising — but that doesn’t mean they’re being rude.

🧠 Many neurodivergent learners (especially those with autism or ADHD) are literal, honest, and highly observant.

🗣 “You have yellow teeth.”
🗣 “This is boring.”
🗣 “I already know that.”

Years ago, I remember feeling caught off guard when a student made a comment like that — my first instinct was to correct the tone. Now I know it wasn’t disrespect; it was direct communication.

✅ Respond with calm curiosity, not correction.
Understanding their intent builds trust and makes space for authentic learning.

💡 Why it works:
When we assume positive intent and model understanding, students feel safe to communicate openly. That safety fosters self-awareness, emotional regulation, and meaningful connection — the foundation for learning.

Connection Before Correction

A structured lesson is important — but so is building trust.
Especially in the first few sessions, take a few minutes to get to know your student.

🗣 Ask about:

• Their favorite (or least favorite) subject
• Pets, hobbies, or sports
• Something fun they did this week
• Or let them teach you something they’re good at!
  (One student showed me how to make stickers from photos on my phone! 📱✨)

When students feel seen and valued, they show up more fully for learning.

💡 Why it works:
Connection builds safety, and safety builds engagement. When a student’s nervous system feels calm and supported, the brain is free to focus, take risks, and learn.

📚 Connection = engagement = progress.

Give Remote Control During Online Games

Make your lessons more multisensory!
🎮 Let the student take control — drag, click, move pieces.
👆 Don’t do it for them. Engagement and ownership go up when they’re hands-on (even virtually!).

💡 Why it works:
When students physically interact with the activity — even through a mouse or trackpad — they activate more sensory pathways. That movement strengthens attention, memory, and participation, turning a simple online task into a full-brain learning experience.

Give Wait Time — Don’t Rush the Response

Ask your question… then wait.
Students with slower processing speed often need a few extra seconds to think and organize their response. When we jump in too fast, we interrupt their thinking — even if they look stuck.

🧠 Slow = Thoughtful
Let them sit in silence for 5–10 seconds. It’s not wasted time — it’s processing time.

💡 Why it works:
Wait time gives students the space to retrieve information and respond accurately. It reduces anxiety and increases participation — especially for learners who process language more slowly.

Hear, See, Say, & Touch = Multisensory Success

Support in learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some students benefit from accommodations that reduce barriers and help them show what they know, while others need remediation that targets and rebuilds missing skills.

Both are valuable — and both work best when lessons are multisensory. Engaging the ears, eyes, voice, and hands helps information travel through more than one pathway in the brain, improving memory, accuracy, and fluency.

👂 Hear – Students should hear accurate sounds and words, repeat aloud before writing, and read back what they’ve written word-for-word. This supports retention and helps you catch errors early.
👀 See – Model clearly. Use visual cues to show what to do, where to look, and how to respond.
👄 Say – Get students talking through their process. Have them name sounds, spellings, or steps aloud and verbalize their corrections.
✋ Touch – Incorporate movement and tactile feedback. Tracing, highlighting, tapping, or using manipulatives adds a physical layer to learning.

💡 Why it works:
Multisensory instruction strengthens the connections between auditory, visual, and kinesthetic pathways in the brain. Research shows that when multiple senses are activated, students process information more deeply, store it more effectively, and retrieve it more easily later on.

Follow the “I do, we do, you do” model to help students build confidence and mastery step by step.

Many learners need clear modeling and guided support before they’re ready to work independently. It’s not just okay to slow things down — it’s effective.

✨ Model it → Practice it together → Let them try independently

Ensure you model the step, engage students in guided practice with you, and only once they show strong success should you move to independent practice. If errors remain high during independent work, go back to guided practice until the skill feels solid.

This gradual release supports success, reduces frustration, and builds a strong foundation for future learning.

Behavior = Communication

When a student gets silly, rude, or shuts down, don’t assume defiance — assume distress.
It could be:
😣 Frustration
😞 Shame
😕 Confusion

Many kids mask difficulty by saying things are “dumb” or “boring.” It’s easier to say “this is stupid” than “this is hard.”

🧩 Instead of pushing harder, try:

• A quick reset
• A smaller step
• A moment to name the feeling: “This looks tricky. Want to try it together?”

💡 Why it works:
When teachers respond with curiosity and compassion, they calm the nervous system and reopen the learning pathway. Emotional safety is the foundation for academic progress — connection before correction.

Reading, writing, and language—these are the foundation of learning, and Structured Literacy ensures they’re taught explicitly and effectively.

Here’s how Structured Literacy develops these core skills:
✔️ Reading: Teaches decoding, fluency, and comprehension step by step.
✔️ Writing: Helps students organize their thoughts, spell accurately, and express themselves clearly.
✔️ Language: Builds vocabulary and grammar skills essential for effective communication.

Structured Literacy makes these critical skills accessible to learners of all levels, ensuring that no child is left behind. Whether it’s unlocking the world of books, improving written expression, or enhancing communication, Structured Literacy equips students with the tools they need to succeed.

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is renowned for its ability to transform how we teach and learn literacy. Built on key principles, it’s designed to empower learners by focusing on:

✔️ Diagnostic & Prescriptive: Tailored to the unique needs of each learner.
✔️ Emotionally Sound: Builds confidence and fosters independence.
✔️ Multisensory: Engages multiple senses for deeper learning.
✔️ Structured & Sequential: Skills are taught in a logical, step-by-step way.
✔️ Personalized: Every lesson is customized to fit the student’s progress.

These principles create a foundation for success, especially for students with dyslexia and other learning challenges. 

Structured Literacy is the bridge between the Science of Reading and real-world learning. This approach is:
✔️ Systematic: Skills are taught in a logical, step-by-step order.
✔️ Explicit: Every concept is clearly explained and modeled.
✔️ Multisensory: Engages visual, auditory, and tactile pathways for deeper learning.

By connecting research to results, Structured Literacy ensures that every learner—especially those with dyslexia—has the tools they need to succeed. It’s a proven method for teaching reading, writing, and language in a way that works for all learners.