Private Tutor - Florida and Indiana, USA

Students

At three, the eldest daughter is friendly and confident, curious and engaged in the world around her. She is being raised in a bilingual environment so sometimes switches between languages as she talks. She was slow to start speaking - possibly a product of her bilingualism - but her parents are of the belief that emerging problems should be dealt with promptly, and so she has benefitted from a few sessions with a speech therapist. She loves butterflies, singing and dancing. She has a highly expressive manner and a warm disposition which will make her a joy to work with.

The younger sister is 18 months old, but already displaying a strong character. She is a determined young lady, and almost doesn’t recognise the age difference between her and her sister, trying to join in even if her motor skills aren’t quite up to the level of a 3-year-old. Like her sister, the girl is friendly, curious and confident. She loves the outdoors and will happily spend time sitting in the grass and chattering with a trusted grown up. Her language skills are more advanced than her sister's were at the same age, but this may be the result of having an older sibling to converse with.

The children’s parents have a successful family business and a strong work ethic. Their mother works from a home office and is on hand for activities like swimming lessons in the nearby town. Their father is very involved, but he too works long hours, and this often takes him away from home for a couple of days at a time.

Together, the girls and their parents make a very strong family unit. The girls’ father is from a Christian background but believes that religion should not be blindly followed. He wants his children to grow up thinking independently and having the confidence to ask intelligent questions. Both parents want their girls to be open-minded, tolerant and kind young ladies, but with the wisdom and street smarts to spot poor logic trails or duplicitous behavior in others. They want them to be well prepared for the world, with solid academic foundations and the self-belief to pursue their passions as far as they can take them.

It is possible that a second 18-month-old girl may join the sisters’ activities. This girl is the daughter of the mother’s assistant – she is a smiley child who currently spends her time either in the family office or playing with the sisters. 

Role of the Tutor

As the girls are so young, the Tutor’s focus should be on learning through play. In Florida, the family live on a small-holding of 100 acres, with ample space to play and explore. They have a vegetable plot with many butterflies, two miniature cows, and chickens from which they get their eggs. This environment provides plenty of opportunity for nature walks, leaf rubbings, forest school lessons and more. In the house, there is space to be creative with art, movement and music, all of which should be encouraged. The house in Indiana is similarly appointed, but the family are considering building a designated tutoring area where the Tutor can base themselves without the need to pack away each day. This schoolroom will need to be properly resourced with interesting pictures, a well-stocked bookshelf and an array of craft materials as well as educational toys, musical instruments and more.

Both girls love books and being read to. This interest in literature should be encouraged, especially as the girls edge towards reading themselves. The Tutor should weave literacy and numeracy into their sessions in a way that encourages them to learn almost by osmosis, and they should explore a range of activities and crafts that can engage both girls while helping them develop strong academic foundations.

As the girls grow, the Tutor should seek out opportunities to connect with other home-schooled children. Their parents are very mindful of the need to socialise their children - sports teams, dance and drama groups and organisations such as the Scouts provide good opportunities for mixing with peers. The Tutor should explore all such available activities alongside learning groups and child-friendly sessions at local libraries, museums, art galleries, theatres and so on.

The family primarily speak Spanish at home, so it is imperative that their Tutor is fully bilingual in both Spanish and English. A third language would be looked upon favorably. They would like their girls to be exposed to music and as many extra curricula activities as possible– a Tutor who can bring a range of skills to the role would be at an advantage.

The family try to eat organically and present the girls with as little sugar as they can. That said, the older sister has a weakness for ice cream, although surprisingly she is not fussed by regular candies. The father would like the Tutor to have an understanding of nutrition, partly to help keep the girls’ diets as healthy as possible, but also to help him and his wife ensure that they make good choices for meals and snacks. The parents also want the Tutor to hold or be willing to obtain a current first aid qualification.

The role is one that will likely grow as the girls pass through their developmental stages.  It requires a creative, energetic and fun individual who can embrace the whimsy and imagination of young learners and engage them in constructive play. The Tutor should encourage conversation and curiosity. They should be able to explain complex concepts at an appropriate level and should encourage the girls’ natural inquisitiveness. They should differentiate their teaching to ensure the sisters learn at their appropriate levels and should aim to teach both girls a broad range of topics. Their home in Florida, for example, is a brilliant place to view the stars, and an early introduction to astronomy (appropriately pitched!) may spark a life-long interest in the subject.

The family have mixed feelings about electronics. They understand that it will be necessary for the girls to embrace technology so they can fully experience the modern world, but they try to limit screentime to one hour a day centred on good shows like Bluey and education apps like Duolingo ABC.

Hours, Holidays and Miscellaneous

The Tutor will typically work on 5 days each week from Monday to Friday for an average of 40 hours with preparation time in addition. The Tutor will be entitled to at least nine weeks off per annum.

The Tutor should follow a structured timetable as much as possible but should look to adjust this to fit with the children’s needs. It is essential that the Tutor collaborates with the Client in overall child management responsibilities.

The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 9 weeks holiday per year, to be taken at times agreed upon with the family. 

The Tutor will be provided with furnished accommodation and a car.  Expenses related to travel, save for the Tutor’s personal telephone bill, will be covered by the Client.

The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position. They will be a superb Early Years practitioner, and a good role model: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.

For more information and instructions on how to apply, please visit: 

tijobs.net/579