Singapore ranks as one of the top countries in the world in terms of its education system. The last Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) indicates that Singaporean students ranked second in the world compared to students from other nations. Competition among students is also known to be fierce, especially when it comes to maths and science subjects.
To be able to keep up with their classmates and gain good prospects for their university admission and future careers, many Singapore students enrol in tuition centres online and offline. Maths and science usually emerge as the top subjects they need help with. Knowing how much a good tutor can strengthen their maths skills, it’s a good idea to look for a tutor and to prepare your child for upcoming tutorial sessions. Here are a few suggestions to optimise their maths tutorial experiences:
1) Create an Optimal Learning Environment for Them
You’ll want to start by crafting a dedicated, distraction-free study zone for your child. First, ensure the area is well-lit and equipped with a comfortable chair and desk. Next, have all necessary materials at hand—notebooks, textbooks, and stationery, and the like. This will help your child focus solely on the tutoring session without worrying about trivial things such as a lost pen or a messy desk.
Don’t forget about the need for a fast and reliable internet connection to eliminate any lags that will prevent your child from following their lesson. Moreover, make sure your child can access the online tutoring class anywhere they are with a mobile data plan. Do a mobile plan comparison in Singapore to find the best options for your child’s needs.
2) Set a Consistent Schedule
As with all healthy habits, consistency is the key to effective learning. Work with your child to establish a fixed timetable for their online maths tutoring sessions. Moreover, remember to strike a balance between these sessions and other activities to prevent burnout and create a routine that promotes both rest and discipline.
3) Teach Them Time Management and Study Skills
Research learning strategies that could help your child clear their weakness areas when it comes to mathematical concepts, and consider practising these techniques with them before they continue them with their tutor. In addition, teach your child time management and organisational strategies to help them juggle school with tutoring and other activities. Indeed, these skills will serve them well beyond their maths lessons.
4) Familiarise Yourself with the Online Tutoring Platform
If your sessions will take place on a particular online tutoring platform, take the time to familiarise yourself with it. You’ll want to understand how to navigate the platform to help your child prepare for online sessions, especially if they’re younger graders. Knowing how to use the platform also means that you can come to your child’s assistance for minor troubleshooting if any technical issues arise.
5) Practise Open Communication with Your Tutor
It’s not enough that you interact with your children’s regular teacher. You should also build rapport and an open line of communication with your child’s online maths tutor. For instance, you can share your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning preferences before the sessions begin so that the tutor can tailor them to your child’s specific needs.
6) Encourage Active Participation in Each Tutorial Session
Motivate your child to actively engage during online tutoring sessions. Encourage them to ask questions, for example, or perhaps share their doubts about mastering a particular mathematical concept. Active participation will enhance their comprehension and foster a deeper understanding of the material.
7) Supplement Their Learning with Additional Materials
Remember that you can also extend your child’s learning experience beyond their tutoring sessions. Gather supplementary materials such as practice worksheets, extra problems, and reference books. These materials will offer your child opportunities for additional practice and consolidation of their maths concepts.
8) Celebrate Your Child’s Achievements
It’s important to understand that mastering maths is not easy for everyone, so don’t be hard on your child when they take longer to fully grasp a concept. Instead, boost their motivation and self-esteem by celebrating and acknowledging even their smallest achievements, like being able to use a certain formula for the first time. In doing so, you’ll encourage them to persist and excel in their studies.
9) Foster Independence and Ownership Over Your Child’s Learning Journey
Empower your child to slowly take ownership of their learning journey and to take the lead during their tutoring sessions. Encourage them to prepare questions for their tutor and set specific learning goals for each session. Ultimately, building independence and self-directed learning skills will benefit them throughout their academic journey.
10) Reflect and Review Together
After each online maths tutoring session, take the time to review what was covered in the lesson. It’s also possible for you and your child to work through problems and concepts together to reinforce learning. Not only will this shared experience strengthen their understanding of the lesson, but also provide an opportunity for meaningful bonding between you and your child.
Being a student in Singapore’s competitive campuses is not easy. Your child will need all the help and support you can give. With your behind their back, your child will be further motivated and inspired to do their best in school and in their after-class online maths tutoring sessions. Don’t hesitate to let them know that you support them in their quest to get better at their maths subjects and that their hard work with their tutor will soon pay off.
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