Term 3 2023 Blog Post
Once again we are part way through another Term! We know many families are having a super busy Winter, with a range of school activities and sports into the semi and finals stages, as well as avoiding the Winter bugs, which seem to be hitting extra hard this year. Please enjoy our Term 3 blog post below.
Missed Lessons
Our tutors all appreciate you letting them know when your child is unwell and won’t be attending school and/or tutoring sessions. The more notice you give your child’s tutor the easier it is to reschedule, or switch to a Zoom session instead. A reminder that our LS policy states that all offered tutoring sessions are paid for but that tutors will offer one make-up session per term for missed sessions. If the tutor is unwell then you receive a refund or a credit for missed sessions.
Neurodiversity
“Neurodiversity” is a word used to explain the unique ways people's brains work. While everyone's brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.
Here are some links to a couple of great podcasts which discuss neurodiversity and we are sure will be relatable for many of you!
https://neurodiversitypodcast.com
https://nzpod.co.nz/podcast/no-such-thing-as-normal
TVNZ Documentaries
Many of you may have seen or heard of these documentaries that were released by TVNZ towards the end of last year. With cold chilly nights ahead, we’ve linked them below in case you have not yet had a chance to view them.
“Kids Wired Differently”- Hosted by Sonia Gray, it is an interesting insight into the lives of NZ families who have children with autism. Sonia is now also doing a podcast series, with her link above, called ‘No Such thing as Normal’.
“You, Me and Anxiety” is a documentary hosted by Robyn Malcolm and talks us through her personal battle with anxiety and panic attacks.
Understanding Processing Speed
The Understood.org website explains that processing speed is essentially ‘how long it takes for someone to get a task done’. It is important to note that processing speed is not linked to cognitive ability or IQ, however it can impact a child’s everyday life and their learning if they are slower to process things.
Here is a great video to give you a quick insight into processing speed and how it can impact a students life. Be sure to click on the ‘Dive Deeper’ section to find more information. This is another longer video with more in-depth information about processing speed – it starts at about 3 minutes in.
The Neurodiversity Podcast by Emily Kircher-Morris has many excellent episodes on neurodiverse individuals. Listen to Episode 148: Processing Speed: Why some kids are faster than others.
Try it Tuesday
If you follow us on Facebook, we hope you are giving the ‘Try it Tuesday’ series a go, where we recommend a different app each week! If you aren’t following us, you can do so, by following the link https://www.facebook.com/learningsupportnz
Ergonomically friendly pens and pencils
Our tutors have all been trailing some new ergonomically friendly pens and pencils with those students who experience challenges with pen/pencil grip and/or letter/number formation to see if these can make a difference to support them. If you are interested in purchasing some for use at home/school, please follow the link to find out more. https://ergogo.co.nz/product-category/ergonomic-solutions/twist-n-write/
We hope the rest of the Term goes well for you and your family. We thank you once again for your continued support and collaboration with your child’s learning.
