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BOOST - Blossom's One to One Strength Training

Research has shown that students learn most efficiently when they are taught at a rate that matches their intellectual capacity to learn. If students are taught at a rate that is too slow, other problems such as disinterest, boredom, underachievement and behavioral issues may arise. Placing students in a challenging learning environment where they must invest effort to succeed ensures the student will continue to mature academically.

Many children discover at an early age that they already know a majority of what is being taught in the classroom, or else they have the ability to learn it very quickly. For these children, a grade skip may be beneficial.

Some students may find that they have intellectual abilities in specific subject areas beyond their classmates. These students can benefit by taking advanced coursework that is one, two, or three years ahead in grade level. In order to take these courses, it may be necessary to accelerate through some previous coursework.

How does acceleration work?

A student can be taught a typical one year subject in less than a year. For example, summer is an advantageous time when a student can choose to concentrate on one subject and complete it within the three month span of the summer break. Another example is when a student covers the same curriculum during the school year, but compacted. What is typically taught in 3 class periods can be covered, or compacted, into one class period. The student will finish the class sooner, before the end of the school year.

What type of student is successful at acceleration?

The student who has interest and aptitude for a particular subject is a good candidate for acceleration. Prior test scores and quantitative data should show that the student is advanced in cognitive ability, in the 90th percentile of grade level standardized testing. The student should be receiving superior grades in the subject(s) that they wish to accelerate in. The student should be self-motivated and able to adapt to doing coursework in a way that might be different from their regular school classes.

Advantages of acceleration

For younger students, grade skips can sometimes bring about a better match socially as well as academically, for the child. The year or two difference may also allow the student to find suitable intellectual partners. For older students who accelerate early in the acedemic career, they are able to begin high school coursework earlier, resulting in access to AP courses sooner, and taking college level courses while still in high school (post-secondary education options PSEO). Colleges look favorably upon students who have taken AP courses as well as PSEO courses so acceleration can also yield benefits during the college application process.

What is acceleration?

Acceleration refers to the rate that a bright student is given new academic content. Students may accomplish this by moving faster in a typical year (compacting curriculum), doubling up on courses (such as two science courses in one year), or skipping courses and jumping to the next higher level course. In the United States, one grade level of curriculum has been standardized to be taught by the teacher and learned by the student within one calendar school year, typically eight months, excluding school breaks and vacations. For many bright students, this pace, which has been designed for the typical learner based on their age, will be too slow. These students need to be taught at a faster or “accelerated” pace. In doing so, they have the ability to cover more academic content in the same eight month period of time.

How often should we tutor?

Typically, tutors meet with the student once or twice a week for one hour. As a general rule of thumb, enough material is covered and homework assigned so that the typical year long course is covered in 4 to 5 months (half a school year). A minimum of 30 minutes of homework per night is to be expected at that rate. However, individual pacing is recommended based on the total course load that the student is carrying and the extracurricular activities that they are involved in. Individual pacing allows the course to be completed anywhere from 4 to the full 8 months during a typical school

What materials and curriculum will be used?

Blossom will attempt to use the same materials used by your school. We request that the parent provide a list of relevant textbooks and arrange to procure copies of school tests and quizzes so that they can be administered by the tutor. We have found schools grant credit more readily when the student uses the same curriculum. If requested, Blossom will provide progress and grade reports to the school on a regular basis. The tutor will provide weekly session summaries to the student and parent. The tutor will also include a monthly parent-teacher conference to review progress and discuss any concerns/issues.