Travelling (YCT-0618)

The student is a lovely young boy. At 7½, he is already described by his teachers as “even-tempered and kind.” He is known to be a polite and co-operative member of his class, who is admired for his mature, outgoing, and curious nature. He is “full of enthusiasm, humor and goodwill” and is known to be “an entertaining friend who gets along with everyone.” His mother describes him as a “happy, affectionate, clever, quick, and engaging” boy who is a “complex thinker.” He can also be “fiery, impatient, and irritable,” and attempts “to have others do things for him,” which can make discipline challenging.

The student comes from a kind and loving family in which his parents are keen to support their children in every endeavor. He has a younger brother (aged 5), and older half-siblings who do not live in the familial house. His favorite activities include playing hockey and baseball, cooking, art/building projects, as well as playing cards and chess.

He is gaining independence within the home, helping to clean and organize his room, clear the dishes from the table, and recently began to earn an allowance. He enjoys school and related that his favorite subject is math. However, concerns about the development of his reading skills emerged this school year accompanied by problems with inattention and avoidance of school work.

A recent EP assessment has identified certain weakness in the student’s reading fluency and spelling skills which seem to be having a knock-on effect on his schooling, reducing his self-confidence and impacting the speed at which he is able to work. While he is undoubtedly a competent and able student in other spheres, it is these areas of comparative weakness which the family hope to address before the problems compound themselves and make remedial efforts much more difficult.

This is a short-term role designed to set good foundations for a long-term tutoring role starting in September 2018. The Tutor should be familiar with the techniques employed to help dyslexic students master the written word – while the student is not himself dyslexic it may be that using some of these strategies will help him unlock his true potential and enable him to access more complex texts with ease.

Alongside helping the student to tackle his reading issues, the Tutor should also provide him with strategies to help improve his confidence and independence. They should lay the groundwork for successful self-study skills. He has a tendency to over-rely on any adult help in the classroom, and the Tutor should be careful not to encourage this dependency, aiming instead to give him the support needed to make a success of his academic career independently.

The Tutor will be required to work with the student on a regular basis throughout the family’s summer vacation, but should not expect their studies to take place solely in a classroom environment. Instead, the Tutor should design exciting and engaging projects for the student, incorporating elements of their local environment and using each location as a springboard for their lessons. There may be some occasions of formal tuition, but for the most part the Tutor should remain conscious that the family is on holiday, and should weave their lessons into their activities accordingly. If he shows an interest, there may be circumstances where the Tutor’s ‘lessons’ include the student’s younger brother – or indeed the whole family, such as an excursion to a site of historic importance where the Tutor has prepared research and inclusive activities for everyone attending.

The successful candidate for this role will need to be upbeat and have plenty of energy. This role requires a resourceful, intelligent, and knowledgeable Tutor who is relaxed and easy-going with a sunny disposition, whilst also firm, encouraging, and sensible. They should set a good example for the student through their behavior and conduct. It is important that the Tutor remembers that, although the family and working environment may be relaxed compared to formal schooling, it is essential to remain professional at all times and respectful of the family’s privacy.

The Tutor should be eloquent, able to explain concepts simply and able to inspire with his or her enthusiasm for any given subject. He or she should have a wide knowledge base and a range of extra-curricular skills and interests that they can share with the family. The Tutor should be a natural communicator with a kind and caring disposition, and a firm-but-fair approach to their work.

The Tutor will typically have an average of about 35 hours over 5 days each week contact time with the student, with preparation in addition. The timetable must be established with reference to the family’s excursion plans and any extracurricular activities and travel arrangements, and it must be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected changes.

The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week but should not expect these to occur at weekends or to be regular in their timing. For this short-term summer contract, no additional paid vacation time accrues, but the Client appreciates that the Tutor will benefit from some breaks from teaching for general wellbeing and for additional preparation time.

The Tutor will be provided with furnished accommodation in all locations. While aboard the yacht, the Tutor will have a private cabin and be considered a member of the family rather than the crew. During periodic stays in New York, the Tutor’s accommodation will be either living-in in the family’s home, or in a furnished apartment, or at a hotel, booked and paid for by the Client. All rent, utilities, and Internet on the Tutor’s accommodation will be arranged and paid for by the Client. As yet, classroom arrangements are undecided.

The Client is not responsible for the Tutor’s personal phone bills.

Periods of this assignment will be aboard the family’s yacht in the Mediterranean, with periods of travel to and from the family’s main residence in New York City and the Hamptons. The Tutor will be reimbursed for all local public transport and any travel costs incurred while travelling with the family.

The Client is aware that, due to the late notice of this assignment, the Tutor may need time off for summer commitments already in place. The Client agrees to cover flights home for at least one of these trips.

The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and must have been raised in a socially appropriate background. He or she will not only be an excellent educator, but also a good role model: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.

The Tutor should be fit and healthy, a non-smoker.