How is the course structured and conducted?
The Ten Minute Tutor provides seven very important learning areas in 28 video streamed lessons in each level of the program, there are 12 levels in the program. You can log into the members area of the website at any time from any computer or mobile device. Each lesson has a sequentially numbered video with an accompanying worksheet for students to fill out and for parents and teachers to use as feedback. In each level students will receive approximately 20 reading and spelling lessons and 8 lessons to build self confidence and self esteem.
The lessons are broken up into 7 key areas:
Phonics
These lessons focus on letter sound/alphabet symbol relationships in words in the English language. There are 26 letters in the English language that have 44 phonemes, the individual sounds these letters can make. In English words, letters can make up to 1200 different sound combinations. Now you know why English is so difficult to master for many people. The inconsistencies are almost endless. In this lesson we teach strategies to decode English words by learning strategies and rules associated with phonics.
Word Study and Spelling Skills
These lessons progressively teach strategies and skills to decode and spell words. Spelling is difficult for approximately 50% of the English speaking population and this is because there are so many words and spelling rules and then so many words that are exceptions to the rules. It can make reading, writing and spelling very frustrating. This lesson aims to make spelling easier, more logical and memorable.
Punctuation and Grammar
Punctuation and grammar often receive very little attention from a struggling reader and/or speller who is more focussed on trying to decode individual words to read them, rather than comprehending the whole text. This weekly lesson takes the emphasis off word decoding and teaches the importance of the little, but powerful punctuation mark and the correct use of grammar.
Reading Day
Reading books increases a person’s vocabulary and provides them with increased literacy and language skills, yet it is uncommon to see a book in the hands of a struggling reader by choice. This lesson provides students with a read along experience, utilising popular books, where the student is encouraged to listen and read together with the audio/video. All book texts are provided on the downloadable printouts.
Singing
This weekly video tutorial uses popular songs, their lyrics and videos to allow students to practise reading skills. I hope you have good set of headphones and a sound proof room in your house or classroom. Get ready to rock.
Life Skills
Anyone who has struggled to learn at school or over a prolonged period of time has the potential to suffer from low self-confidence and reduced self-esteem. Experiencing feelings of low self worth on a daily basis, can impact on an individual’s feelings of self worth, which in turn can affect a person’s long term future prospects as secondary psychosocial issues arise.
This weekly session aims to rebuild self-confidence, by providing skills and strategies to encourage individuals to overcome adversity. We also include lessons on how to use technology to overcome learning difficulties and to provide strategies to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in an educational or workplace setting.
Inspirational Interview Day
There are many amazing examples of individuals who have found formal schooling difficult or who have failed dismally, yet went on to achieve great happiness and life success. There are others who have overcome incredible adversity and life challenges to live a fulfilling life. In this session students will watch an inspirational interview with someone who falls into this category.
Interview candidates include people from all walks of life, including airline pilots, entrepreneurs, academics, sports stars and even children and teens. All have an amazing story to tell with an inspirational message to encourage confidence in those who like to listen and learn from great role models.