New Term Greetings...

Well, we're into the first week of the new academic year; pupils are sussing out their new teachers; getting used to new timetables and the shops are brimming with half price stationary, as we all pick up a bargain to help us get those creative juices flowing...

We're finding, as the term starts, that more and more A Star English lessons are being arranged to take place in Winchester's Discovery Centre, as a convenient local hub, offering a productive atmosphere for learning too! Especially for our local A-Level students, who can walk into town from Peter Symonds in ten minutes or so...so if you live out in the sticks, fear not, this could be the answer!

We will aim over the next term to post regular updates on here, both from myself and our wonderful team of tutors, (whose profiles can be viewed on www.eversoenglish.com) and we may even get some blogs up from happy parents or pupils themselves. So here's hoping we're at the beginning of providing a very stimulating and successful new year. Happy New Term Everyone....Leanne

Facebook

We have joined the world of social networking and can now be liked on the communicative wonder that is Facebook, check us out to share some lively, rousing or amusing (Fry & Laurrie) English related vids, or just to get in touch with both tutors and students...

A Tutor's thoughts

Another academic year comes to a close but my passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning will not dwindle.  The work of a tutor doesn't stop after their pupils have left. I shall spend the summer creating lots of new and exciting resources for my pupils to tackle in September. I love working as a tutor for A Star English as I am able to study with diligent and conscientious pupils who are determined to succeed. Perseverance is a trait I admire the most. To quote Alex Rodriguez, "Hard work doesn't guarantee success 

but without it, you don't have a chance." 

Pupils who are stimulated by individual lesson plans and work tailored to their specific needs are able to thrive. I aim to boost the confidence of my pupils by setting achievable, time-framed targets. I set work at the correct level and then give additional challenges to further develop the understanding of my pupils and to move their learning on. I expect very high standards both in class work and in homework tasks and create a happy yet focused atmosphere in which pupils can excel. The benefits of one-to-one tuition are endless and I would highly recommend a private tutor to any parents considering this form of education. It can help children who are struggling or it can boost talented pupils even further. Knowing your audience well and enabling them to shape their own learning is key for optimal results. The solid hour of tutoring time is so jam-packed that there is no time for boredom, distraction or daydreaming to set in. This is something that can only too easily happen in large classes...

My specialism is the Primary and early secondary age group and therefore I have recently been busy preparing pupils for their SATs. I never tire of hearing the fantastic ideas and brilliant thoughts of the pupils I work with. I am in such a privileged position to be tutoring young people in and around the Winchester and Southampton areas. I also help pupils studying for their common entrance exams (originally called 11+.) This continues over the summer months as the exams are in December and January so pupils have to 'hit the ground running' come September. The common entrance follows a more traditional way of learning that differs from the child-friendly form of the National Curriculum.

Also, in the coming months, I will be thrilled to work with some overseas students via Leanne's new business venture Everso English. There is so much to learn from other cultures so it’s a really exciting prospect and something I know I will enjoy.

Right, I have glowing monthly progress reports to write for parents and some intriguing poetry to absorb and ponder. I hope you have enjoyed my musings!

Amy

End of term update from our superb tutor, Andy

Well, the busiest period of the year slowly draws to a close, and as our hardworking students disperse to complete those GCSE courses, A Level projects or controlled assessments, we at A Star wait with anticipation to hear of individual successes.  Having worked at A Star English for two academic years now, I can say that working in private English tuition, in and around Winchester and Hampshire has never been more satisfying or exhausting! This year’s clutch of tutees have surpassed themselves and already I am receiving feedback from pupils who have achieved unit grades above and beyond what they were hoping for! It has been hard work, and word of mouth recommendations have led to me travelling further and further afield to meet and help some really great kids.

I would not have it any other way though, and as we slowly slip into what is, by tradition, the quietest time of the year for us tutors, it is with real pleasure that I look forward to being busy further still, as the first of our foreign language students arrive for our new offshoot organisation, Everso English- www.eversoenglish.com. Leanne has worked hard over the last year to set up a business with the same ethos and standards of A Star English, but offering ELT, (English Language Teaching) and ESOL, (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses to students of all abilities over the summer months within Winchester’s stunning surroundings. (Let’s hope the sun comes out soon!)

Here’s to another exciting year at A Star English and Everso English!

Andy (tired but satisfied tutor.)

Summer exams over for another year

The Gothic unit on Wednesday saw the last of the public exams this year. Our A-Level Lit students were able to go out with a bang on a Frankenstein question that you could really get your teeth stuck into about mirrors and doubles, as well a general question about aspiring beyond human limitations. A great paper this year.

Now waiting for 2012 exam results with anticipation.

End of a Tutoring Era

Just about to head off to my last ever English lesson with one of A Star's long-term students. Having tutored all four children in the family, who live in Southampton, over a time period of 7 years, it really does feel like the end of an era or an end of a time period in the A Star History :( Still, I am sure we will stay in touch. L

The best laid schemes....

Will hopefully all go to plan during the Of Mice and Men section of the Literature GCSE paper tomorrow morning.

Very much like the new-style exam questions, presenting students with a passage to analyse seems much more approachable. I always used to enjoy being given a passage to work with.

Well, all that's left today is to say good luck to all of our students and to hope the months of exam preparation and planning will, unlike George and Lennie's scheme, stay well and truly on course.

Food Glorious Food

Have really enjoyed using the new anthology for AS Lit and Lang this year, so much more interesting to read such a variety of texts focusing on food, rather than the previous theme of transport!

Anyway, after a year spent preparing our students all over Winchester and beyond, it's exam day tomorrow, so wishing all A Star English students the best of luck....Leanne.

Once more unto the Gothic...

Very much enjoying re-visiting Fred Botting's 'Gothic' to help develop pupils' understanding of the gothic genre. It's useful in terms of the history of gothic lit, as well as also exploring many key gothic texts, some of which appear on the AQA list of texts for the exam, such as 'Frankenstein' or 'Wuthering Heights.'

 At A Star English, we have noticed how going through some secondary reading in depth with their tutor is really helping pupils with their overall understanding and knowledge of the genre. Now to encourage them to use Botting in lots of lovely past papers!

 Am off to re-read Dr Faustus for this unit.

And so it begins...

The familiar signs of exam season are re-appearing as gcse and A-Level students are bidding adieu to facebook (temporarily); flocking to the library and even asking for extra lessons from their English tutors! Meanwhile, we tutors are finding our Saturdays suddenly filled with lessons and our printers working flat out to produce endless past-papers from the AQA website, as well as digging out any old ones we can lay our hands on. And so exam season begins for the next month or two, good luck to all our pupils.