Our Approach to Learning
Our Approach to Learning
Skillscribe training solutions is proud to bring First Class Learning to Dubai. We are a study skills center, offering a structured programme developed by experts and teachers in the UK. First Class Learning centers pride themselves on instilling critical study skills which support children from early years up to GCSE and MYP level.
Proud to bring the First Class Learning ethos to the Middle East, we help and support and coach parents on how their little ones can navigate their academic journey at school.
How do we do this?
We have 10 key identifiers on measuring our success:
1. Confidence
How:
Confidence is usually the primary change we observe in our First Class Learners. When a student begins to grasp the coursework and the answers are perpetually becoming more accurate, parents and classroom assistants at the center will notice an obvious difference in the child. This will also transition into the classroom at school where teachers will comment on the child’s confidence and enthusiasm to learn.
Measure:
Teacher and parent feedback as well as more confident students at the center.
2. Speed
How:
Is based on plenty of practice, some repetition, regular assessments, the student being held accountable for doing the worksheets and working through the programme.
Measure:
Speed will increase with consistency and reflect in the child’s schoolwork, feedback from teachers and, termly reports will show that the child is improving. Also center diagnostics have shown an improvement in the students tests only a few months after starting the FCL programme.
3. Improved errors
How:
This requires plenty of practice. Marking the work that the student has completed immediately, so that corrections can be made and unlikely to be repeated again.
Measure:
Diagnostic tests and assessments at various intervals of the programme will show a reduction in errors. Progress reports will be provided for parents to review and see areas of improvement.
4. Independent learning
How:
FCL work in partnership with parents when we take on new students. FCL help children so they excel at school however, being a self learning programme we request that parents are also invested at home. This can be in the form of ensuring a daily discipline routine where the child completes their FCL worksheets. Parents can also help with marking the child’s work, praising the child when work is completed. They can insist on the child working independently at home as the child gets more adjusted and adapts to the FCL work. At the center's we promote independence and we are on standby for support if required. We are not teachers, we don’t teach. We are helping the students to reinforce, revise and master what they are taught at school using the worksheets.
Measure:
Within six to eight months of starting the FCL programme students age five onwards should be completing the worksheets independently at home with no adult supervision or pairing. Students should only call upon parents if they cant solve a problem on the worksheet or if the work needs marking.
5. Discipline
How:
Master a daily routine to complete the worksheets and also encouragement from parents. Like any other extra curricular activity, whether it's sports or art, FCL worksheets are non-negotiable. Students should aim to complete the bite-sized homework minimum 5 days per week and report back to the center once a week for review and new work.
Measure:
Progress through the First Class Learning programme, strands and modules, showing consistency in work completed week on week. Maintaining a routine and discipline during school holidays. Don’t let the brain switch off during the holidays, it takes weeks to recalibrate the brain back to study mode!
6. Structure
How:
First Class Learning modules are based on the UK curriculum and follow what schools are teaching students. Therefore, we are able to provide a truly individual course for each student, through flexible setting of work and the use of supplementary FCL materials.
Measure:
The FCL worksheet programme
7. Recall and retention
How:
FCL work in partnership with parents when we take on new students. FCL help children so they excel at school however, being a self learning programme we request that parents are also invested at home. This can be in the form of ensuring a daily discipline routine where the child completes their FCL worksheets. Parents can also help with marking the child’s work, praising the child when work is completed. They can insist on the child working independently at home as the child gets more adjusted and adapts to the FCL work. At the center's we promote independence and we are on standby for support if required. We are not teachers, we don’t teach. We are helping the students to reinforce, revise and master what they are taught at school using the worksheets.
Measure:
Within six to eight months of starting the FCL programme students age five onwards should be completing the worksheets independently at home with no adult supervision or pairing. Students should only call upon parents if they cant solve a problem on the worksheet or if the work needs marking.
8. Preparation for exam conditions
How:
By creating regular test conditions through timed diagnostics tests, FCL students become accustomed to exam based conditions.
Measure:
Students and parents will inform us that their child managed to complete exams at school in the given time or earlier and had spare time to check and correct any errors. FCL record test times and measure progress throughout the modules.
9. Getting ahead and staying there
How:
The FCL course is not linear for any subject, it’s tailor made based on the child’s ability therefore, it’s always great to see students working through the programme at a good pace. In some cases parents opt for additional worksheets for their children as they would like to keep the child ahead at school. Parents know whats best for their child and if there are cases where students can be challenged and given more sheets to work, we support the parents on a case by case basis.
Measure:
The obvious indicator for a child who will be ahead in his or her year group will be when the child tells parents the work at school is too easy for them. Also center managers have the intel to know where a child should be in the curriculum according to their age and school year group.
10. Fun environment
How:
We are not a school and we don’t teach students, we help to develop study skills using a structured programme. We reinforce, revise and consolidate what students are learning at school. Teachers and schools are doing an amazing job with the concepts and learning, we instruct and nurture master learners. We provide an environment where students can be themselves, work with peers, ask questions, take guidance and instruction and thrive. Children do not feel like they are in an academic environment, you will often see FCL students in fits of laughter, often when they realise they made obvious errors. Each child is unique and being part of their learning journey and watching them blossom into First Class Learners is an enriching experience.
Measure:
FCL like to think that our students enjoy their time at the center and see the benefit of the work they put into the worksheets. Customer feedback and testimonials for FCL centers across the world are abundant and our primary aim is to bring those experiences and wins to Dubai and the rest of the Middle East.
