Tutoring idea-- summer reading club?

I think all ya need is enough publicity to get a “critical mass” to you, or the skills to make it fun even if there are thre epeople there. I’d go!

Hopefully I’d make to it the last two weeks of school. I’ll float around and hand out the flyers to the front orifices :-). Also at the public library, book stores, etc.

I thought of an early reader group, going into 1-2 grade. Reading out loud, PA activities, singing, games, arts and crafts.

The ideas I thought of for the books would be to take a book with a story that has potential for building or creating something like for HP where you could do a 3d Hogwarts (I have so many ideas on HP!)**. For example, a diarama of the ocean for a book on whales or sharks or the arctic for a book on the artic. Animal puppet for book on animals, etc. I wish I knew of a good fiction space book for kids as I have many many ideas there. I wouldn’t want to repeat school books so Holes, Stone fox and all are out.

I could pick up lots of scrap stuff and save the usual paper towel rolls, shoe boxes, etc. etc.

Someone is doing a brochure for me, half size on folded in half.

** sure hope someone signs up for Harry Potter if nothing else!!

—des

I thought you might like to see what I came up with. I did send this to the printer!!! (there is other info on times, rates that sort of thing, etc.)
And some bio info.

Any idea about rates. I have thought of taking my hourly rate figuring out the amt. of time/cost. Then dividing by 4 for the max. no. of students I could take and then adding a $10 material fee (I won’t call it that or separate it out). Is this fair. I think this would end up being about $80/ two week session. Another way of figuring it is the average for specialized camps, art classes, that sort of thing is $13 an hour which would give me $78, might as well keep it round. Keep in mind that I am in a small city, would be like being in Milwaukee, some Southern City, etc. not Chicago, NY, or CA somewhere.

Feedback welcome. Of course I can’t really change the flyer now.

—des

(alll formatting is lost, oh well).
SUMMER READING CLUB

Work on: Reading comprehension, study skills, writing, creative and fun activities. Keep up skills or jumpstart new ones.

Sessions available for:
* Students going into 3rd- 4th grade.
* Students going into 5th- 6th grade.
*Early readers (going into 1st -2nd grade). Phonics. Sound awareness. Games, songs, and art activities.
* Special Harry Potter session for your “Harry Potterite”! Read *another* book and work on comprehension, writing and study skills. PLUS many Harry Potter activities— drink “butter beer”, have a costume party, build Hogwarts, and MORE.
* 3 week session with any student with trouble in reading, spelling, handwriting and/or keyboarding, writing skills, or basic math (up to and including fractions).

Limited enrollment. Call today: phone no. deleted.

I think that is a great idea. I live in a very small town and would definately pay this for my children. here it was about sixty dollars for a four day long day camp that didn’t even go all day, like 9:30-3:00. Since I as well as other people I know kere would like to get extra hellp this summer for their kids I will assume that rural Nova Scotia isn’t the only place in North America that has people wanting this sort of program.

The advantage for your participants would be that the theme would make it less like work. What about the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series. I know I loved this when I was younger. Depending on the age, my kids love the MAGIC TREEHOUSE SERIES. I believe that there is currently 33 books in the series. My boys aren’t quite ready to read them indepentantly but they are suitable for probably grade two or three reading level.

Good luck I wish you were in my area because I would definately jump at the chance for this opportunity for my kids.

TAMMIE

Tammie, I’m kind of thinking two hours a day. The reason is that one fo the places I have gotten two students is a private school. They have half and full day sessions, but I thought not all kids (or parents) would like this. I was thinking of younger kids going for an hour but I would charge less for them. The rate I listed was for 2 hours a day, 3 times a week, for 2 weeks. I am offering 10% discounts for multiple sessions and also second kids in family. These are VERY small groups. I can’t take more than 4— maybe max at 5. The other thing is this is my house. It isn’t so big, so… (Anyway it is about half the time, the camp you sent our kids to.) Since there are so few kids I have to have it worth the time and trouble, but…
Maybe I am charging too much though?? I really need feedback on this!
(as I said I am basing it on my per hour rate and dividing by no. of kids, etc.) The other way of figuring is the average for this kind of specialized camp or program. Also considering the ones run by pros and not some high school and college kids.

I don’t really like CS Lewis, but there are other possibilities. I am definitely going for a theme for everything I do.

In the younger kids one I had an idea to do a Dr. Seuss book and have them make a Dr. Seussish character the first week. The second week we could do a fable book (there is something called a Sip of Aesop) and we could all do an animal puppet, maybe making our own “fables or at least stories” for a bunch of puppet shows.

I got some reading lists from the net and thought I’d go over to some book stores and libraries and talk to the folks for more ideas on books.
I would like things in paper back. But I want a theme, so we can do theme based projects— like diaramas, etc.

The Harry Potter thing I was going to do separately and since I am a HP nut case myself I can think of lots of stuff. But not all parents even want their kids reading HP! Let alone building Hogwarts!

However, if anyone knows any teacher or parent sites with lots of info, please let me know. BTW, this is not a request for all of you out there selling something. I want free sites!!!!!!

—des

Sorry if my meaning didn’t come across properly. I don’t think what you would be asking is too much I would gladly pay that. I was comparing it to the fact that daycamp is in a very large group as compared to a small group with much more indivualized attention. The time sound good too, especially for younger children. Lets be honest, fun or not it’s summer vacation so kids wouldn’t want to spend too much time inside.

I have always been more than an avid reader, maybe thats why it bothers me so much that my son has so much difficulty. I feel like he’s missing out on a whole different world. I would rather read than watch television. There is another very large series that I used to enjoy which is the Dragonlance novels. There are probably at least 30 books in different trilogies. Some of these books are composed of short stories.
Another author I have really enjoyed is Mercedes Lackey. I’m not sure if the reading level would be appropriate since as I said I am and was an avid reader. I read the Lord of the rings trilogy when I was thirteen. The Books I mentioned are in the science-fiction fantasy category.

Hope this will help you out a bit more. Tammie

P.S. If being an HP fan means being on the waiting list at the library six months before the book is released then I guess that makes me a Harry Potter freak too.

By the way, I can’t remember whether or not I mentioned the Magic treehouse series for younger grades, about grade twoish.

Tammie

Yes, you are a HP nut. Might be interested in our online group on yahoo (Harry_PotterBookDiscussionForAdults). Though it has been VERY slow of late (I’m sure that will all end fairly soon!).

Being a HP nut, I thought I would try and get to some of those younger HP fans. I found lots of great stuff at the library today, including crafts, games, etc. That one should be easy!!!

I was kind of trying to stay away from any of these sort of chain books like “Magic treehouse, Magic Schoolbus, Lemony Snicket, etc. etc.”
I’m sure there are some good books (and perhaps not so good ones), but they are very popular anyway.

Not to worry, I came home with an arm full of books on all levels and read thru two so far. (Didn’t like either that well but there are ten or so more to go thru.) I read some easier books in the library while I was there.

I have a couple theme ideas so far— younger kids some nature related book; for older kids (non-HP) some Egypt ficition. There are so many neat Epyptian things and they appeal to boys and girls. I’m a little stuck on 3-4th grade. Reading levels tend to be higher or lower. I will check out the Mecedes Lackey books and Dragonlance (in fact may have one of those?)

Another plus for a book, is if it has copies on Amazon for under a $1! :-)

My brochures are ready… and I’m planning a giantic blitz on local schools shortly…

—des

please check ad (spam) policy — though maybe you want to further lower the opinion about Sylvan here.

Sue, is suggesting a list (that is free) against spam policy? I was not aware that suggesting any free reference (I realize it is off topic) but I don’t think it is any different than say recommending the AS list which is also free (or a dyscalculia forum, etc.). Unless you are referring to something else. I see no references to Sylvan. Unless something was removed.

—des

It was removed — it was genuine spam. Same post, about 10 places, saying Sylvan Can Help, with poor grammar & a picture.

Sylvan would stoop this low! YIKES!

—des

Welp, who knows. It could have been ***anybody*** — this is the Internet. Could have been somebody wanting to make them look bad… preaching to the converted and all that.