Children with learning difficulties frequently have low self-esteem and confidence and sometimes can even feel like they do not fit in.
They tend to lose interest in their schoolwork and find it even more challenging to learn when they are subjected to all-day school pressure and are ridiculed by other pupils because of their disability.
Thea van Tonder, a local tutor and founder of HT Tuition Centre, online schooling has devised ways to provide a safe and stress-free atmosphere for your child to attain their best potential and focus on what is essential.
“Your child will not compare themselves to other children and will instead focus on progressing at their own pace. Contrary to popular belief, home-schooled children do not lack crucial abilities; it’s the opposite,” she explained.
She claims that home-schooled learners tend to have more skills than the average student in traditional schools.
“During home-schooling, your child learns how to make decisions that children in traditional schools do not have to consider. Further, home-schooled children tend to feel more in control of their studies and understand what it is like to have passion-driven explorations of specific topics. They also grow into more responsible teenagers and adults,” she added.
Thea runs a registered home-school centre that provides online schooling from grade R to grade 12, using an excellent award-winning platform, Think Digital Academy, which is South Africa’s first virtual school offering the South African CAPS and is also registered with SACAI (the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute), and follows the requirements for students to obtain their National Senior Certificate.
Children with low marks in regular schools improved dramatically, going from a 30% average or less to a 65%–80% improvement.
“Because no child is rushed to finish work, they work quickly to avoid falling behind on the school schedule. Not all youngsters understand things immediately and require more time to complete them as well as more explanation. Putting pressure on a child with a learning handicap will lead to emotional outbursts, acting out, avoidance, and behaviour problems since it makes learning more difficult.”
She continued: “Learning disabilities can have an impact on a child’s behaviour, which can lead to complex problems such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and stress. Aggressive conduct and social isolation are other symptoms. Home-schooling can make a difference and transform learning into an entirely new and joyful experience. We are here to help your child reach his or her full potential, and I believe a little more help can go a long way.”
Tutors also provide after-school support to children battling Afrikaans, English, and mathematics from grades 1 to 7, allowing them to grasp their work through one-on-one assistance better.
Some children do not achieve success because they are so far behind in class that coping with new work each week makes learning much more difficult.
In real terms, they are two years behind in their work. A child cannot complete grade 7 if they did not grasp any of the work from grades 5 to 6, yet they face a grade 7 exam.
“If these youngsters are not enrolled in a new learning programme, they will be forced to struggle for the rest of their academic careers. They will eventually drop out of school before the end of Grade 10 and do all of the wrong things in order to survive. Online education can assist any youngster who is ready to take the next step in their educational path, allowing them to strive and realise their full potential,” Thea concluded.
“If these youngsters are not enrolled in a new learning programme, they will be forced to struggle for the rest of their academic careers. They will eventually drop out of school before the end of Grade 10 and do all of the wrong things in order to survive. Online education can assist any youngster who is ready to take the next step in their educational path, allowing them to strive and realise their full potential,” Thea concluded.
For more information, contact Thea van Tonder at 063 615 9500.
