Friday, 25 May 2012
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
Monday, 21 May 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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.
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.
Friday, 4 May 2012
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.
Friday, 28 January 2011
GCSE Results 2010
I have used A Star English for two of my children over the last 6 years, and have found that they have improved my children's results by at least a grade, if not two within English. However, we have found that the disciplines that they have been taught, have crossed into other subjects, and improved grades have been achieved in these.
Firstly, I contacted A Star English after recommendations from friends. My son was a typical middle of the road character, not very skilled in English, and with no particular love of the subject. With rewards, encouragement and a strict formula that the tutor used, he became keen, skilled, and surpassed his (and his school's) expectations of him with his GCSE's.
My daughter suffers from a complex form of dyslexia, and was pretty much written off by the school. I was determined that she would pass her English GCSE, and so started a four year long project between her and her tutor to achieve this goal. Again, with lots of encouragement, rewards, and a formula that she could relate to, she achieved spectacular results with a C in language and a B in literature - not bad for someone passed over by the school system, with predictions of D's and E's!!
The tutor had an amazing ability to communicate, and have fun, while at the same time teaching and revising, and the lessons were looked forward to and in no way dreaded. I would have no hesitation in recommending them (as indeed I have several times.) Kate Gibbons, Alresford.
Firstly, I contacted A Star English after recommendations from friends. My son was a typical middle of the road character, not very skilled in English, and with no particular love of the subject. With rewards, encouragement and a strict formula that the tutor used, he became keen, skilled, and surpassed his (and his school's) expectations of him with his GCSE's.
My daughter suffers from a complex form of dyslexia, and was pretty much written off by the school. I was determined that she would pass her English GCSE, and so started a four year long project between her and her tutor to achieve this goal. Again, with lots of encouragement, rewards, and a formula that she could relate to, she achieved spectacular results with a C in language and a B in literature - not bad for someone passed over by the school system, with predictions of D's and E's!!
The tutor had an amazing ability to communicate, and have fun, while at the same time teaching and revising, and the lessons were looked forward to and in no way dreaded. I would have no hesitation in recommending them (as indeed I have several times.) Kate Gibbons, Alresford.
Friday, 4 September 2009
A Level Results
I would 100% recommend Leanne and A* English. Leanne’s constant support, help and determination made me realise with hard work I could reach my potential demonstrated by going from an E to an A! Something that would not have been possible without Leanne’s help.
By always setting homework Leanne helped me learn the materials as I had to know them, rather than thinking I knew them and just bluffing my way through a lesson, similarly, Leanne’s comprehensive but simple notes broke down the material so Icould follow and understand the play such as with Shakespeare.
Leanne also helped me develop new vocabulary therefore building a new confidence when discussing English in class.
The relaxed environment meant I didn’t feel like I was having another boring English lesson but actually I looked forward to learning in a comfortable, relaxed, flexible and friendly environment going home knowing I had learnt something that day and that I would also remember what I had learnt as the teaching was adapted round my needs, I was always the sole focus.
Basically in three words A* English is brilliant, fantastic and life changing and I should have used them earlier! Victoria
By always setting homework Leanne helped me learn the materials as I had to know them, rather than thinking I knew them and just bluffing my way through a lesson, similarly, Leanne’s comprehensive but simple notes broke down the material so Icould follow and understand the play such as with Shakespeare.
Leanne also helped me develop new vocabulary therefore building a new confidence when discussing English in class.
The relaxed environment meant I didn’t feel like I was having another boring English lesson but actually I looked forward to learning in a comfortable, relaxed, flexible and friendly environment going home knowing I had learnt something that day and that I would also remember what I had learnt as the teaching was adapted round my needs, I was always the sole focus.
Basically in three words A* English is brilliant, fantastic and life changing and I should have used them earlier! Victoria
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