KTL Tuition - Auckland Tutoring - Blog

Helping Students Manage Exam Stress

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:54:23 GMT

As the final term rolls on, students across Aotearoa are entering crunch time . With school exams just around the corner, that can mean rising stress, late nights and intense pressure.

Whether your child is preparing for end-of-year assessments, NCEA exams, or internal school tests, this period can feel overwhelming. But with the right support, students can navigate the stress and stay focused without burning out.

Why This Time of Year Feels So Intense

The lead-up to exams often means:

A heavier workload
Revision pressure
Fear of underperforming
Less downtime and more screen time

Even students who are usually calm can start to feel the strain. And for those who already struggle with anxiety, executive functioning, or learning differences, the pressure can be especially tough.

How to Spot Exam Stress

Look out for:

Mood swings or irritability
Trouble sleeping or eating
Avoidance of study or school talk and attendance
Physical complaints like headaches or tummy aches
Negative self-talk (“I’m going to fail” or “I’m not smart enough”)

Simple Ways to Support Your Child During Cram Time

Help Them Prioritise

Break revision into bite-sized chunks. Use a visual planner to map out what needs to be done and when. Tackling one subject at a time can reduce overwhelm.

Protect Sleep

Late-night cramming might feel productive, but sleep is essential for memory and focus. Encourage a consistent bedtime and wind-down routine.

Fuel Their Brain

Nutritious snacks, hydration, and regular meals help keep energy and concentration levels up.

Teach Quick Calm Techniques

Try deep breathing, stretching, or short walks between study blocks. Even 5 minutes of mindfulness can reset a stressed brain.

Keep the Conversation Open

Let your child vent. Validate their feelings and remind them that stress is normal but manageable. You don’t need to fix everything, just listen.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Celebrate effort and improvement. Remind them that exams are just one part of their learning journey, not a reflection of their worth.

With the right tools, routines, and emotional support, students can face exams with confidence and calm. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is: “I believe in you.”

Looking Ahead: A Chance to Do Things Differently

If this exam season has felt overwhelming, you're not alone. Many students find themselves caught in the crunch, wishing they’d started earlier or had more support. The good news? Next year is a fresh start.

Whether it’s building better study habits, seeking support sooner, or learning how to manage stress more effectively—every experience is a chance to grow.

Tuition

Our tutors offer personalised academic support tailored to your teen’s learning style and goals. Whether it’s NCEA, Cambridge, or general study skills, we help students feel confident and prepared.

Therapy

We have experienced therapists that work with teens to manage exam stress, anxiety, emotional regulation, building resilience, and develop healthy coping strategies. We provide a safe space to talk, reflect & reset.

Cognitive & Educational Assessment

Not sure where to start? An Educational Psychologist's comprehensive report to help identify strengths, challenges & underlying issues that might affect academic performance.

Avoid These Common Study Mistakes and Learn What to Do Instead

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:27:29 GMT

Some common study habits that seem helpful can actually waste time and limit progress.

Not many students enjoy studying for exams - so it makes sense to study as effectively as possible, but some common study habits that seem helpful can actually waste time and limit progress. Let’s take a look at some ineffective study methods and explore what you can do instead to boost learning and retention.

1. Cramming the Night Before

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Cramming might help you get through tomorrow’s exam, but it doesn’t lead to long-term retention. The brain needs time to process and store information properly, and cramming overloads it with too much at once.

What to Do Instead:
Use spaced repetition, a study technique that spreads out learning over time. Review material regularly in shorter sessions leading up to an exam, rather than all at once. This method strengthens memory and understanding, ensuring information sticks.

2. Highlighting Everything

Why It Doesn’t Work:
While highlighting seems like a way to mark key information, many students end up highlighting entire sections. When too much is highlighted, it’s hard to distinguish what’s important, and this approach can lead to passive learning.

What to Do Instead:
Active learning techniques, like summarizing information in your own words or creating concept maps, are far more effective. Instead of highlighting everything, identify core ideas and challenge yourself to explain them.

3. Studying for Hours Without Breaks

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Long, unbroken study sessions can lead to burnout and decrease concentration. The brain works best with focused attention followed by rest.

What to Do Instead:
Try the Pomodoro Technique—study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and repeat. After four cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break. This keeps your brain fresh and boosts productivity by working in short bursts.

There are some great Pomodoro apps you can use to help:

Pomodor - simple web-based Pomodoro timer
Marinara Timer - shareable web-based Pomodoro timer
Forest - mobile Pomodoro timer
Session - Apple users
Toggl Track - combines Pomodoro with time-tracking

4. Re-reading Notes Over and Over

Why It Doesn’t Work:
While re-reading notes may feel productive, it’s a passive approach that doesn’t engage your brain deeply. It leads to familiarity with the material but not true understanding.

What to Do Instead:
Use active recall and self-testing. Instead of simply reading over your notes, quiz yourself on the material. This challenges your brain to retrieve information and strengthens memory. Flashcards, practice problems, or explaining concepts aloud are all great tools for this.

There are lots of great apps that can help you create quizes and flashcards from your notes. For example StudyBlue , Aniki , Cram or Brainscape to name a few!

5. Multitasking During Study Sessions

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Many students try to juggle studying with watching TV, checking social media, or texting. However, multitasking reduces focus and efficiency because the brain can’t fully concentrate on more than one task at a time.

What to Do Instead:
Create a distraction-free study environment. Set aside specific time blocks where you focus entirely on studying. Turn off notifications, use website blockers if necessary, and make sure your environment is quiet and conducive to concentration.

Try downloading an app such as Forest or Cold Turkey

6. Skipping Sleep to Study More

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Staying up late to squeeze in more study time might seem like a good idea, but sleep is essential for memory consolidation and cognitive function. Lack of sleep makes it harder to focus and recall information the next day.

What to Do Instead:
Prioritise quality sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night, especially before exams. Instead of pulling all-nighters, plan ahead and use spaced study sessions to maximize learning without sacrificing rest.

7. Relying on Only One Study Method

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Using a single study method, like just reading the textbook or only using flashcards, doesn’t fully engage your brain. It can lead to shallow understanding, especially when trying to grasp more complex concepts.

What to Do Instead:
Mix up your study techniques to engage different parts of your brain. Combine methods like reading, writing summaries, drawing diagrams, explaining concepts to others, and applying what you’ve learned to real-world examples. This active engagement helps solidify your knowledge.

8. Overusing Flashcards for Memorisation

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Flashcards can be helpful for memorising facts, but relying solely on them for complex topics can be limiting. Memorisation alone doesn’t build deep understanding or critical thinking skills.

What to Do Instead:
For complex subjects, go beyond memorisation by applying the concepts. Practice problem-solving, discuss ideas with peers, or teach the material to someone else. This helps reinforce the deeper connections between ideas and improves long-term retention.

9. Studying with Background Music or Noise

Why It Doesn’t Work:
While some people believe that listening to music while studying helps with focus, for most, it actually distracts from the learning process—especially music with lyrics.

What to Do Instead:
Study in quiet environments or listen to instrumental music without lyrics if you need background sound. Experiment to find what works best for you, but remember that silence often leads to deeper focus.

10. Studying in Bed

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Studying in bed blurs the line between rest and productivity. Your brain associates the bed with relaxation, making it harder to concentrate and retain information. It can also affect your ability to sleep later.

What to Do Instead:
Create a designated study space that’s free from distractions and separate from where you sleep. A desk or table with good lighting can help signal to your brain that it’s time to focus, not relax.

11. Not Setting Clear Study Goals

Why It Doesn’t Work:
Going into a study session without clear objectives can lead to aimless studying. Without specific goals, you may find yourself wasting time on unnecessary details or not covering important topics thoroughly.

What to Do Instead:
Set specific, measurable goals for each study session. For example, aim to understand a particular chapter, complete a set of practice questions, or master a key concept. This keeps your study time focused and purposeful.

Conclusion

By avoiding these common study mistakes and adopting more effective strategies, students can use their study time more efficiently and improve their chances of success. Implementing techniques like spaced repetition, active recall, and setting clear goals can make a big difference in retaining information and building understanding.

Introducing the best apps to help students work smarter

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 03:35:45 GMT

The reality is that for teenagers in 2023, school, socialising and leisure time all revolve around screens.

Technology can be a huge help with keeping students organised, focused and motivated. It’s about finding the right tech that offers real benefits and balancing that with a screentime solution that works for your family.

Here at KTL Tuition, we hear about many apps that are a game changer for students. So, here is our guide to the top apps to help students study smarter, manage money better and help stay healthier.

Apps to help get you organised

Citationsy ( IOS / Android )

When you’re in the flow of writing an essay, it may seem easier to put off your referencing until you’ve got your final draft. Citationsy makes referencing a breeze by allowing you to organise your citations with their barcode scanner.

Free to download, requires in app purchases

Google Drive ( IOS / Android )

Google Drive is a student essential. It’s used in many schools, homes and workplaces and is one of the easiest ways to store and share your documents.

Free to download

Todoist ( IOS / Android )

If you keep losing track of what you need to do when, try Todoist. It’s a simple but powerful task planner and to-do list app that can be used for everything from keeping track of assignments or organising your birthday party.

Free to download

Microsoft Lens ( IOS / Android )

Don’t have time to copy all the notes on the whiteboard? Or need to borrow a friend’s notes to catch up on a missed class? Microsoft Lens is like having a portable scanner. Simply point, capture the image and export to PDF, Word or several other formats.

Free to download

Apps to keep study sessions on track

Focus Keeper ( IOS / Android )

If you struggle to maintain your concentration when doing assignments and study, try Focus Keeper. It’s a Pomodoro technique based app that will help keep you focused and avoid burnout.

Free to download

iStudy Alarm ( IOS / Android )

Similar to Focus Keeper, this is another Pomodoro technique based studying tool that is designed to keep you focused. As well as keeping track of your study time, this tool also offers study tips, brain break ideas and exam tips.

Free to download

Apps to help manage money

Pennies ( IOS )

Although many of us cringe when we hear the words budget or budgeting, it’s an essential life skill. Pennies is a friendly, simple, easy to use app to help your student learn to manage their budget (and maybe even help them save!)

$8.99 to download

PocketSmith ( IOS / Android )

A lot of budget apps don’t allow for more than one income but many in Generation Z have at least one side hustle on the go. If your student has a couple of part time jobs to make ends meet, PocketSmith may be the answer they’re looking for.

$8.99 to download

Apps to help keep you healthy

Waterllama ( IOS )

It can be hard to keep track of how much water you have in a day when you’re a busy student. Enter Waterllama! A water tracker app that helps make sure you get your 8 glasses a day.

Free to download, in app purchases available for premium version

Headspace ( IOS / Android )

Stress can be an issue for many students especially around exam time. Headspace is a science based guided mediation and mindfulness app that aims to help positively impact user’s mental and physical health.

Free to download with in app purchases available

Luminosity ( IOS / Android )

A science backed, daily brain training app that will help your student improve memory, processing speed and problem solving.

Free to download

We hope that you've seen some apps that can help your teenagers (or maybe yourself!) keep on top of life, work and school commitments.

Would like to introduce some of these apps to your children but you're not sure about how much screentime they should have? Or maybe you need some tips to help control screentime in your whanau? Many parents say that screentime is an everyday struggle in their household.

If you're looking for some advice and tips around screentime, make sure you read Kidz Therapy’s article Five useful strategies to help curb your child’s screen time .

Five reasons why setting practical goals is important to your student’s success

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:02:04 GMT

It’s the start of the new school year. Nerves, excitement (the students) and relief (parents after 7 or so weeks of school holidays) abound.

The start of school also means that it’s time to set goals for the year. To many students, goal setting feels cringe – worthy and forced. Maybe you’ve heard your children complain, “Why do we have to do this every year?” “What is the point of goal setting?”.

Goal setting is a very important process that helps keep students focused, motivated and moving forward. And once they master the art of goal setting, it can be applied to all areas of your child’s life.

What are goals?

Before we get into why practical goals are important to student success, let’s talk a bit about what exactly goals are.

Goals are things you want to do. They often need commitment and hard work in order to be achieved. The best goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound). Some examples of SMART goals are:

Save $300 by the end of April
Go for a 30-minute run 3 times a week this year
Read 2 books a month in 2023

If you’re having problems getting your rangitahi on board with goal setting, here are 5 reasons why setting practical goals is important to your child’s success.

Prepares students for the future

To set goals, rangitahi need to think about their future. What do they want to do? What are the skills they need to get there? Goal setting also lets students figure out their study motivation on their own terms (instead of your reminders, which if we’re being honest, probably don’t sink in).

Boosts self-confidence

If your rangitahi are new to goal setting, start out small.

For example, if you have a reluctant reader, try setting a goal of reading 3 pages a day. Once your child starts to achieve their goals, they will feel more confident in their abilities. In the long run, this confidence boost will allow your child to tackle trickier, more long-term goals with renewed determination.

Teaches students good time management skills

Good time management skills are critical for students both at high school and beyond. They are basic requirement to getting stuff done (well) on time. Once your rangitahi have set their goals, they can figure out how much time and resources they need to commit to achieve their ambitions.

Increases resilience

While it would be fantastic if your children achieve all their goals, the reality is that sometimes, there will be set backs. The path to success is never smooth. But with your help, your student can use setbacks as a resilience building exercise that will help them learn to persevere.

Helps students to focus and find a sense of purpose

Having goals will give your student something to work towards and clear path on how they can get there. Once your child knows what they need to do to achieve their goals, they will be more focused and motivated to spend time on activities that help them reach their goal.

Next steps

If you’ve managed to get your child through the goal setting process congratulations! That is the first big hurdle out of the way.

But what happens next?

Keeping up motivation is one of the big factors that will allow your student to achieve their goals. If you your child struggles with procrastination, catch up on our article, How to help your child avoid the pitfalls of procrastination .

Or maybe you feel like your high school student’s study skills could do with some help? Our Study Skills and Strategies workshop is the perfect solution. This workshop is run every term and provides high school students with practical, explicit strategies to improve academic performance.

How to help your child avoid the pitfalls of procrastination

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:25:00 GMT

Procrastination is a common problem. At one time or another, everyone has put off a dreaded task or obligation in favour of something more enjoyable. How many of you have said just one more chapter of my book or one more cute cat video instead of getting started on the dishes after dinner?

Long standing psychological theory has believed that people who procrastinate have a faulty sense of time. They think they have more time to get their task done than they actually do. However, recent research suggests that for many, procrastination is linked to difficulty managing stress.

The good news is that procrastination is part of human nature. Our brains have evolved in a way that means we try our best to avoid pain and discomfort.

The bad news is that delaying tasks or obligations usually has unintended consequences. By using avoidance tactics, you often create more work, pain and suffering for yourself in the long term (or sometimes the very near future).

But we have more good news for you. Read on to learn about our top tips that your child can use to conquer procrastination.

Focus on your why

Procrastinators focus more on short-term gains (avoiding the distress associated with the task) instead of the long-term results (the stress of not doing it and consequences of avoiding the task).

Instead of focusing on the immediate gains try getting your child to focus on why they are doing the task. What are the benefits of completing it?

If your child has been putting off cleaning up their room, get them to focus on how good it will feel when they are able to find their belongings easily and how much faster they will be able to get ready in the mornings.

Chunk it

When a task seems too big and overbearing, procrastination will be near. To make these tasks easier to tackle, break them down into smaller manageable parts. Chunking it down like this will help your child feel less overwhelmed and more empowered.

Let’s use the room cleaning as an example again. Instead of tackling the whole room, focus on one part at a time. E.g., get your child to tackle their desk first and if the idea of the entire desk is still too much, chunk it down to a drawer at a time.

Reward good behaviour

Establish a reward system to use when your child accomplishes their goals.

So let’s go back to our room cleaning example one last time. If your child tidies their desk, they get to binge watch their favourite Netflix show, check Tiktok or go out for lunch. Instead of using these things as distractions, they become motivations as you’ve made them dependent on finishing the scheduled task.

Using technology to overcome procrastination

If you want more high-tech methods to help your child avoid procrastination, there are a lot of options available. As a starting point, try one of these:

Beeminder: This online provider specialises in willpower as a service. You can ask Beeminder to track anything you can graph, push-ups, time spent studying, to do tasks. You set a goal and a daily target. Then if you don’t achieve the goal, you get charged via your nominated payment method.
Caveday: Focused online work sprints that last between 45 and 52 minutes (to optimise your brain’s focus capacity). The work sprints are broken up by short energising breaks which are run by your trained Cave Guide. Caveday offers a free 7-day trial so you can test whether this works for your whanau.
Focus@will: This app uses music to boost your child’s concentration and productivity. The music available through this app is created specifically to enhance productivity. The team behind this app consists of neuroscientists, musicians and engineers. The in-app assessment tool is linked to the biggest brain database in the world and combines their 10+ years of music brain research to help you customise the music for your needs.

Final words of wisdom

There are many strategies that can help your child overcome procrastination. But remember, there is no perfect solution. And trying to find the perfect solution can become another form of procrastination! Often the best thing to do is:

Remove distractions (yes we’re talking about phones)
Set clear goals on what your child wants / needs to achieve
Take a deep breath and get started with any small task on their list.

6 Surprising Ways Tutoring can Benefit your Child

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 23:26:00 GMT

As a parent, you want to help your child when they’re struggling. But as they progress through school it gets harder to have all the answers.

Hands up if you’ve ever looked at your child’s homework and haven’t been sure where to start. Or have you been heard about your child’s good learning attitude at school when your attempts to help turn into disagreements and tantrums?

There are many reasons why parents choose to start their child at tuition. It could be one of the above or maybe it’s simply that the reality of working, running a household and helping your child get ahead at school is overwhelming.

We all know that tutoring can help improve your child’s understanding in key curriculum areas. But did you know that there are many other surprising ways that tuition can help your child succeed at school and beyond?

Individualised one on one learning

At school, your child is usually one of 30 kids in a classroom. So, if they’re struggling with the material, it can be hard to get the help they need. Here at KTL Tuition, we offer one on one tutoring. This means that each session is tailored to the individual needs of your child.

As well as covering the specific topics that your child needs help with, our tutors also tailor their lessons to suit your child’s individual learning style.

Better study habits

Tuition is not just about increasing your child’s knowledge on specific subjects. It’s also about building good study habits and learning strategies that your child can use both now and in their future. These skills easily translate both to tertiary education and the workplace.

Boosted confidence and self esteem

Here at KTL Tuition, we are big believers in building not only your child’s knowledge but also their confidence. It’s a key part of our tuition philosophy . We see time and time again that equipping our students with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed academically are key factors in improving confidence and self-esteem.

A relaxed, judgement free environment

Not all students are comfortable raising their hand and speaking up in class. Maybe your child is a little bit shy or they’re just happier in smaller groups. The one-on-one nature of tuition is the ideal environment for your child to ask all the questions they need to in a safe, empowering judgement free environment.

Prepares your child for tertiary education

When your child moves to tertiary education, they need to have the tools to self-manage their time and studies. Tuition helps students discover what study methods work best for them so they can learn their course material in the most effective way. It also teaches students good study habits including time management and creating study plans. All skills your child will need to succeed later in life.

Helps your child discover the joy in learning

Our tutors are passionate about their subjects. This passion, along with a strong tutor - student relationship, encouragement and positive reinforcement is a key component in helping students discover their natural curiosity and a passion for learning.

Is tuition the right choice for your child?

Have you been thinking about enrolling your child in private tuition but you’re not sure where to start? KTL Tuition offers free tuition consultations . You can meet with KTL Tuition Founder and Educational Psychologist Marie Kelly to how we can help your child realise their full academic potential.

8 common mistakes when choosing a tutor for your child

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 01:47:44 GMT

Many parents fall into one of these common traps when choosing a tuition provider for their child. Here's how to avoid them. Using any tuition company is a big decision for parents and their children. Ensuring the tutoring company you choose has a good solid reputation and reliable and delivers the results you want is all important. Here’s how you can you avoid the pitfall of choosing the wrong provider. 1. Assuming the larger the company the better. Many of the very large companies are franchised and market driven focusing on the filling of seats. The statistics do not support that the large companies make better gains for your children. Most often the larger companies take groups of children who may not necessarily be at the same academic level and thus lack individualization of what your child actually needs. KTL Tuition is not a franchised company.

How to successfully prepare for exams

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 01:55:40 GMT

If your student wants that Achieved or Excellence this year, exam preparation is a key component. But how do successful students prepare for their exams?

5 early signs that your child is struggling at school

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 22:27:00 GMT

If your tamariki are struggling at school it may be hard for them to talk about it, especially if they get easily embarrassed or are anxious.

However, it’s important to keep on top of things. Teachers need to cover all of the prescribed curriculum and classes will carry on whether or not your child is coping.

If you suspect that your child may be struggling in class, don’t wait for their report card. Here are 5 signs that are early indicators your child is struggling to keep up at school.

You notice a change in attitude about school

This is one of the biggest signs that something is not going well at school. A change in attitude about school can take on a few different forms:

No longer wanting to talk about what they are learning or how their day went
Making excuses to not go to school
Getting upset or anxious on Sunday evening or in the mornings before school
Getting angry or upset whenever you bring up school

I’m bored!

Often, kids will complain about being bored if they don’t understand what they are learning at school. Many parents think that being bored is a sign that their child isn’t being challenged at school when in fact it’s the complete opposite.

Saying “I’m bored” is easier than admitting that they don’t understand or are confused.

Spending excessive amounts of time on homework

Does your tamariki seem to spend a lot of time outside of school doing homework?

This could be a sign that your child is struggling with either the workload or the topics they are learning about. While homework varies between schools and teachers, your child needs time away from the books to unwind and pursue other interests.

Most of us need to put in a bit of hard work to achieve good results. However, if your child is spending every night or all weekend playing catch up, chances are there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

Complaints about pain or problems sleeping

Many children suffer from physical symptoms when they are stressed or anxious. This could include headaches, stomach aches, nausea or disruptions to their usual sleep or eating habits.

Children and teenagers don’t always have the knowledge or understanding to process their feelings when they are under pressure or upset. This can lead to their bodies expressing their stress or anxiety as a physical ailment.

Getting in trouble at school

Similar to complaining about being bored, sometimes, both children and teenagers find it easier to act out than to admit they are struggling.

If your previously well-behaved child suddenly starts getting in trouble, make sure that you take into account everything that is happening at school. This includes friendships, social skills and how they are coping with their workload.

What can you do to help?

Whenever your tamariki are having problems, the best thing you can do is be patient, kind, understanding and empathetic. As anyone with a teen or tween knows, getting your child to open up to you can be hard. If your attempts at conversation are constantly shut down, try some of the tips in Kidz Therapy’s recent article 7 tips to make communicating with your teenager easier.

Next, talk to your child’s Classroom or Form Teacher. They are the person who will have the best overview of how your child is coping in class and whether there are any particular areas of concern.

They are also the best person for you to work with on any potential solutions. Schools want their students to do well and are used to dealing with many different types of learners. There could be some easy, practical steps that can be put in place to help improve your child’s school experience.

Finally, if you still feel that something is not quite right, you and your child may need professional help. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help. KTL Tuition Founder Marie Kelly is an Educational Psychologist and former teacher. Marie and our team of tutors have the knowledge and expertise to ensure your child reaches their full academic potential.

Kidz Therapy, our parent company also has a range of specialists who can help with your child’s educational journey including:

Educational Psychology Assessments. Kidz Therapy Educational Psychologists can assess whether your child has a learning difference or meets the criteria for Special Assessment Conditions.
Education Advocacy. Education Advisor Karen Blackall can provide advice, guidance, support and practical strategies to help you and your child successfully navigate the New Zealand education system.
Child, teenager, parent & family therapy. Psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors who can offer guidance and support for anxiety, stress and school related behavioural challenges.

What is Executive Functioning? And how does it affect your child?

Fri, 06 May 2022 02:02:39 GMT

Impulse control:

Blurting out inappropriate words and perhaps acting impulsively

Emotional control:

May consistently overreact to situations and find it hard to keep emotions in check

Flexible thinking:

Might find it hard to adapt thinking to another angle and adjust to the unexpected

Working memory:

Might find it challenging to follow instructions and retain key information in the short term

Self monitoring:

Helps to evaluate how we are doing, a child with weak EF might struggle with realistic self-monitoring

Planning and prioritising:

Helps a child to know where to start on a project, what is most important and how to plan

Task initiation:

Helps a child to know where to start, otherwise they may not or simply freeze up

Organisation:

Helps a kid keep track, kids with weak EF may lose their phones, jackets, shoes, homework etc.

If your tamariki struggles with any of the above Executive Functioning skills, it can negatively affect many areas of their life including:

Friendships: children who struggle with impulse and emotional control may find it hard to develop and maintain strong friendships
Family life: parents of tamariki who are inflexible and disorganised can find it difficult to manage the demands of their whanau and unexpected events
School life: children who find effective task initiation and organisation tough may find it difficult to take the right gear to school and get their work completed during class time.
Academic success: teenagers who struggle with self monitoring and task initiation can struggle to get assignments done on time and effectively revise for exams

How can I help my child?

No one is born with excellent Executive Functioning skills, they develop over time. Just like any other skill your child can improve this skill set by working on it.

If you suspect that your child struggles with executive functioning, speak to the team at Kidz Therapy .

Their Get Sorted course teaches tamariki how to improve their Executive Functioning skills using exercises, strategies and life hacks in a fun, empowering environment.

If you think your child would work better in a one on one situation, Kidz Therapy's Education Advisor, Karen Blackall , specialises in working with students on strategies to assist with executive functioning .

Get in touch with the team Kidz Therapy to see how they can help.

Why it's a bad idea to use cramming as a study strategy

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 03:24:00 GMT

Why cramming is a bad study strategy

Somehow, your teenager is managing to meet deadlines and pass exams while leaving everything to the last minute. You might be thinking why rock the boat when everything seems to be working.

But studies have shown that procrastinators experience higher stress levels, worse health and overall lower grades. If you’re still having issues convincing your teenager that leaving everything to the last minute is a bad idea, here are some more reasons why cramming is a bad habit:

Going without sleep for long periods of time is dangerous. Many studies have shown that sleep deprivation is one of the worst things you can do for your brain function. Not getting enough sleep increases mistakes and decreases your ability to pay attention for sustained periods of time.
Studying is most effective when done in 30-to-50-minute blocks, then having a mental and physical break. This means removing yourself from your study environment and doing something completely different. This technique is commonly known as the Pomodoro Technique.
Dr Barbara Oakley, author of Learning How to Learn has an excellent Ted Talk where she covers the different modes your brain uses when learning, procrastination and working memory

How to break the habit of cramming

There are lots of effective strategies students can use to break the cramming habit. The key is to find the ones that work best for your student. Here are a few ideas to get your teenager started:

Create a schedule AND follow it
Use checklists
Set yourself incentives e.g., if you complete your English revision, you can do something you enjoy like bake a cake, meet up with a friend or play PlayStation
Work with a classmate or friend so they can help keep you on track

And finally, one of the best ways to break the habit of cramming is by learning effective study skills.

Our workshop Study Skills and Strategies teaches teenagers explicit, easy to use study skills and strategies to improve their academic potential. Keep an eye on our newsletter and Facebook for the next course date.

Top 5 tips to avoid the dreaded summer slump

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 23:57:00 GMT

When I was a teacher, we often used to talk of the ‘summer slump’ in the staffroom.

The summer slump is when students forget some of what they have learnt during the previous school year. We always found that reading was one of the most affected curriculum areas. This backwards slide means that often, a good portion of Term 1 is spent helping students return to the levels of the previous year.

What can you do to avoid the summer slump?

The excitement of festive season has passed. So, now is the time to look at how you can help your child stay on top of their game. We have some practical strategies you can use to reinforce their learning without turning the holidays into a reading boot camp.

Find time to read

Spending 10–15 minutes reading with your child each day is one of the best ways you can help them with their learning.

Ask gentle questions and discuss tricky vocabulary, but remember the main goal is to enjoy this time with your child. The aim of this time is to encourage your child to enjoy reading. You want reading to be a pleasure, not a chore.

Take turns reading

Children of all ages and reading levels will benefit from both reading aloud to you and hearing you read aloud to them. Reading aloud to children is an excellent way to build their understanding. It shows them what expressive reading sounds like and gives them an opportunity to enjoy a story.

By taking turns reading and listening, your child gets the best of both worlds. They learn more than if they were only the reader or the listener.

Listen to audio books together

Audiobooks take the pressure off your child to read aloud, especially if they are not yet fluent readers. There are some fantasic audiobooks available from Auckland libraries. You could also try Tumblebooks . It’s an online collection of read-along titles which feature adjustable text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are read which can help with developing listening skills.

Another option is text readers. There are a variety available, including a free version, WordTalk which runs on Microsoft Word. This can be set this to read one word at a time, one paragraph at a time or continuously. It can also convert text to MP3 so students can record their own voice as an audio comment which can be useful for capturing their ideas straight away to revise later.

Become a regular at your local library

Take advantage of your local library, you’ll be surprised at what you can find there! The librarians are always happy to help you select books that match your child's age, interests, and abilities.

Libraries often run summer reading programs that motivate kids to read, with a series of goals and rewards. I can highly recommend Auckland Libraries’ Dare to Explore programme.

If you have a reluctant reader

Some children need more help than others to learn to read. The book, 101 Ways to get your Child to Read is full of way to encourage reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.

Finally, remember,

Reading should be fun! Enjoy this special time with your child.

If you want to motivate your child, consider using sticker chart working towards an end goal. Maybe you could plan a fun activity or special outing to finish of the summer holidays.

Written by Marie Kelly, Director, KTL Tuition and Kidz Therapy

Visiting KTL Tuition under the Covid-19 Protection Framework

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:12:00 GMT

New Zealand is moving to the new Covid-19 Traffic Light system on Friday 3rd December. You can find out more information on what each level involves here.

This means that when you or your tamariki visit us at our Morningside centre, there will be new regulations in place to ensure that we meet all necessary Government health and safety guidelines.

Vaccination requirements for in person tuition

At KTL Tuition, our priority is ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff when on site at our Morningside centre. As such, effective from Friday the 3rd of December, we will require all students aged 12 and over and all staff members to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

We have chosen to take this precaution due to the close proximity required services. While all efforts will be undertaken to ensure 1m physical distancing, at times, this may not be possible during some tuition sessions.

We also share premises with Kidz Therapy who cater to a large number of clients who are not yet eligible for any vaccinations. A large part of our decision was based on the need to provide the safest possible environment for those aged 11 and younger.

We understand that vaccinations aren’t guaranteed to stop the spread of Covid-19 but they are proven to limit the severity of the virus and it’s spread.

How do you get a Covid-19 vaccination?

If you have not yet had the opportunity to get your Covid-19 vaccination, you can book through the Book my Vaccine website .

Providing proof of vaccination

Our tutors will require proof of yours and your child's / teenager's vaccination status prior to your first tuition session and will be in touch with you to organise this. However, please ensure that you bring either a digital or physical copy of both yours and your child’s proof of vaccination with you to your first tuition session.

What happens if you are not vaccinated?

We understand that some people may choose not to get vaccinated. It is your right to choose what is best for you and we respect your decision. However, please understand that your child/teenager will not be able to undertake any in person tuition with us.

Medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have a medical exemption, please provide a medical certificate from your doctor or other medical professional.

Covid-19 Health Protocols for in person tuition

In addition to requiring students aged 12 and over to be vaccinated, we have also put in place the following health protocols for in person tuition at KTL Tuition.

We request that you and your child b/ teenager wear a mask if he/she/they are over 12 years of age
Parents / caregivers and students are asked to sanitise their hands on arrival at the Kidz Therapy offices
Please sign in using the QR code or the manual sign in sheet provided
Practice social distancing at all times
Students are asked to bring their own pens, paper, pencils and felt pens to sessions as we cannot provide shared resources
In order to limit the number of people at the KTL Tuition centre, we ask that you drop your student off for their appointment. At present, we are unable to offer spaces for parents to wait on site.

Prior to each session we require the Health Form to be completed:

https://kidztherapy.co.nz/kidz-health-agreement/

The form should be completed and forwarded two working days prior to your first tuition session. In the event you or your child shows flu like symptoms prior to and up to two weeks after the visit, please inform us immediately via:

Text: 021 295 0089
Email: info@kidztherapy.co.nz
Or the appointment reminder you received

Once your child / teenager has started their weekly tuition, the Health form will need to be filled out once every 2 weeks. If you would prefer to fill in a hard copy version, your tutor can provide this before the start of your tuition.

Top 7 tips to get the best from online tutoring

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 23:35:00 GMT

At KTL Tuition, our tutors are focused on delivering the best possible online tutoring experience for your children. We've gathered some guidelines to ensure your child gets the most out of their online tuition.

The best possible online tutoring experience is one in which the student feels as if the tutor is right there with them. The technology fades into the background as learning takes centre stage. With this in mind, here are some quick tips to help your child maximise the learning experience.

1. Be prepared -tech wise

Remind your child to be prepared at least five minutes before the session starts.

We use Zoom so check access and logins
Students should have their laptop/tablet charged or plugged in and on a flat surface (a desk is ideal)
Make sure the camera is clean and at the best angle, it may mean putting the device on some books/box etc.

Mobiles are not suitable for tutoring nor are beds.
To maximize the ability to hear the tutor eliminate background noises, such as TV's or use a headset.
Check to make sure that what’s behind the screen isn’t distracting.
Make sure the family knows the session is on so they don’t inadvertently disrupt it.

2. Be prepared resource wise

Make sure any resources needed during the session are ready too. These can be online such as OneNote/Google docs or hard copy resources such as text books.

3. Get the right tools for any learning differences

Technology has come a long way and introduced many useful tools for all of us, especially those with learning differences.

Changing the font can be helpful, your child could trial using Opendyslexic3 or Comic Sans. Make sure you let the tutor know what suits best.

Other tools include:

Using speech to text, e.g., voice dictation in Google Docs
Grammar tools: e.g., Ginger the AI powered writing assistant , or Grammarly .
The Augsburg University Website

4. How to tell if your child is paying attention

Many children actually concentrate just as well, if not better, on a screen rather than in a face-to-face lesson. These days, technology is an accepted part of our society, not just in our personal or work lives but also increasingly within education.

Any device comes with the opportunity for distraction; however, your child is not watching an online lecture. Aside from the tutor being able to tell if your child is distracted, online tutoring is too interactive to allow time for the student to scroll through the internet.

Each session can be recorded for reference.

5. Time management

With home schooling, there is no bell to remind students it’s time for the next class.

For those who need some help with organisation, try:

Google Keep to access visual and audio reminders
Time Timer has apps for android, iOS or desktop - perfect for us all

6. Glitches

Even the best planning and preparedness can’t prevent the occasional glitch.

If the audio feed echoes, the video is delayed, or a laptop runs out of battery (things that are no different from the kind of disruptions that might happen during an in-person session), your tutor will have a troubleshooting plan to resolve such problems quickly, then get back to tutoring.

7. Feedback

You will continue to receive emailed feedback after each and every session. If you have any concerns or feedback (great, good or otherwise) please email Marie at anytime.

Extra resources

Although many schools have put together an excellent online learning programme, there are a plethora of websites out there with excellent resources to support your child's home learning.

This Australian based website that has a wealth of resources to support learning from babies through to high schoolers. For younger kids, there are heaps of tips on how to include Maths and literacy in everyday activities. For high schoolers, there are a range or practical articles on everything from good nutrition through to cyber bullying.

We also have a downloadable PDF that contains links to educational websites for children preschool through to Year 6. We have websites that cover English, Maths, mindfulness and a list of 100 fun activities to do indoors.

website_links_for_home_learning.pdf

Download File

A - Z Boredom Busters for Kids

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 23:52:00 GMT

Are you running out of ideas to entertain your tamariki?

We're here to help! Whether its rain and winter bugs or the long stretch of summer holidays that have got your kids stuck at home.

Here's some fun and interesting ideas to help kick boredom out of the door in your household. Bonus: some of these are educational as well!

Create some art

Arts and crafts activities for nature enthusiasts

Crafts for teens and tweens

Rustle up some baking

Make a bird feeder

Build a website

Create a camp in your lounge or garage

Try coding for free

Check the couch for loose change

Decorate your bedroom, move things around and while you are there check out what is lurking under your bed!

Learn to draw with Captain Underpants

Do some exercise

Eat a food you have never tried before

Hold a paper flying competition

Study free online Teenagers courses and MOOCs from top universities and colleges

Play some board games for kids and teens

Check out those holidays you have always dreamed about in New Zealand and overseas

Make ice-cream!

Get creative and make some jewellery

Do a jigsaw puzzle

Try finger knitting

Get your Lego out and create some mosaics or models

Listen to audio books

Do some letter mazes

Make some spelling mnemonics

Make some home made pizzas

Listen to music and make a playlist of your favourite songs

Make a lava lamp

Awesome Nerf gun games

Reach out and offer to help someone

Learn how to do origami

Take some photos and create a photo book

Practice your times-tables

Make up a quiz, and test your friends online. Need some help with questions? Ask Jeeves!

Take time out to relax and chill

Read or listen to a book

Skype with your friends and family

At night, star-gaze find the Southern Star

Well you could tidy your bedroom, that would keep your parents happy!

Or improve your typing speed

Find your Uno set, rack up those points!

Visit a virtual museum , art gallery or NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Watch some of your favourite movies again (and again)

Write a letter, poem or song,

Create a website,

Wash a vehicle, that too will keep your parents happy!

Conduct an eXperiment

Yoga with Adrienne

Visit a Zoo:

Best virtual field trips

World zoo virtual tours

Over 50 virtual field trips

August 2021 Covid-19 Update

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 01:49:00 GMT

We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our clients and employees. KTL Tuition follows all government guidelines for Covid-19 responses. Please see below for further information on how KTL Tuition clients are affected at each alert level.

Alert Levels 3 and 4

Our tuition centre in Morningside is closed for face-to-face tuition sessions under Alert Levels 3 and 4.

Our focus is providing support to children and families where and as we can. This will be primarily through online tools. KTL Tuition services are available through online sessions.

Current Students

If you are a current student and wish to continue tuition with virtual sessions, please contact your tutor directly to arrange this.

We understand that not all students respond well to virtual sessions. If this is the case for your child, please let us know by emailing ktltuition@kidztherapy.co.nz .

New Students

We have capacity for new students to start online tuition sessions during the current lockdown. If you would like your child to start tuition, please contact us to find out availability.

Alert Level 2

The KTL Tuition rooms are open for face-to-face tuition at Level 2. There are some restrictions, plus safe hygiene practices and contact tracing protocols in place:

All clients are required to provide their details for contact tracing. This can be done either through the NZCovid Tracer App or the hard copy register provided in reception.
Additional cleaning protocols are in place to ensure our therapy rooms are spotlessly clean. This includes regular cleaning of common areas such as the reception.
KTL Tuition staff will wipe down surfaces in therapy rooms between clients
Hand sanitiser is provided for client and staff use in each room
Although face coverings are not mandatory at Alert Level 2, we ask clients to consider wearing one in our therapy rooms and common areas where it is not possible to maintain a 2 m distance from others.
As there is limited space available at KTL Tuition, we ask that under Level 2, parents / guardians do not wait at the centre while their child is in their appointment.

If you or your child are more comfortable continuing with online sessions during Level 2, this can be arranged directly with your tutor.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation, our Number One priority is to keep ourselves, children and families safe and healthy.

Extra Information

There is a lot of information out there at the moment about Covid-19 and it can be hard to tell facts from fake news. A website which provides factual worldwide- information regarding the pandemic can be located at https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Support for Young People

The suddenness and uncertainty when Covid Alert Levels change is challenging for most of us. However, young people can find them particularly challenging. Especially if they are finding it difficult to remain linked into education or if their employment is impacted.

If you or a family member are in crisis, contact your District Health Board for urgent advice and support.

Otherwise, there are a range of dedicated self-help tools and support available for young people including:

SPARX is a computerised self-help programme intended to help people aged 12-19 who may be feeling down
Mental Wealth by Le Va provides online resources to help young people look after their mental health, and includes online counselling
The Lowdown provides videos and articles about anxiety and depression and also includes support through a free 24/7 helpline, text and webchat
Aroha is a chatbot to help young people cope with stress
Youthline provides support for young people via the fee call service, text and webchat
Melon Health provides online tools and resources to help people manage stressful times, and also has an app available for download
Sparklers is a free online toolkit of wellbeing activities for tamariki Years 1 to 8.
1737 is a free service for any New Zealander, including young people, that may be feeling down, anxious, a bit overwhelmed or just need to chat to someone. People can call or text for free 24/7.

Social media resources
A range of organisations and services are providing useful content focused on sharing mental wellbeing messages. Some examples that you may wish to look at sharing across your own networks include:

Mentemia’s blog and Instagram and Facebook content
Melon’s series of Facebook videos
The Mental Health Foundation’s content on the Five Ways to Wellbeing (via the Getting Through Together campaign)
Youthline’s daily reminders in Instagram and Facebook

Free Reading Resources

Mon, 11 May 2020 00:31:00 GMT

Reading can help children cope better during the pandemic which has affected more than 1.5 billion students across the globe. Reading is a great leveller, reading brings joy, excitement, sometimes sadness but overwhelmingly reading transports us to other worlds.

Authors and celebrities have put together unique digital story-time initiatives to help spread the joy of reading until school can start again. I have selected a few of the best for different age groups of children, they are all free to access and reading online brings no pressure for the children to read independently.

Have a look at some fabulous resources for all age groups of children to seek out and more importantly have fun. Beginning with the littlies to comics

NZ celebs read

Watch New Zealand celebrities - including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - read bedtime stories

Audible

Audible has also made its children's stories open and free to all.

Marvel Comics - Official

Free issues. When you select an issue and click on it, you just select the first 'Read Now' option besides 'Marvel Unlimited'. It's a really cool interface to read on when you get through.

Harry Potter at Home

Welcome to the Harry Potter At Home hub where you’ll find all the latest magical treats to keep you occupied - including special contributions from Bloomsbury and Scholastic, nifty magical craft videos (teach your friends how to draw a Niffler!), fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and plenty more for first-time readers, as well as those already familiar with the wizarding world.

With thanks to Dunedin Public Library for most of the links.

Happy reading!

Marie Kelly

Educational Psychologist (reg)

Kidz Therapy and KTL Tuition

May 2020