*** Become
Certified in the CleverTutor Method ***
The CleverTutor method
focuses on fostering the love of learning through hands on experiences.
It enriches children’s vocabulary by incorporating the arts, music,
dramatic arts, language arts, science, social studies, math, writing and
reading. The
CleverTutor Method focuses on color and light and agrees
that the Reggio light table, which originated in a small town in Italy
called Reggio, is an asset for children to utilize. The light table
integrates all areas where children can learn to mix colors with paints
and transparent shapes and be able to discover secondary colors.
The
CleverTutor Method
focuses on the rainbow colors in addition to the primary colors in
learning to create letters and words, developing mapping skills using
transparent colors to designate states, oceans and countries. The light
table will be used to explore seeds using direct light, planting and
working with hydroponics. Light has scientifically been proven to
stimulate peoples thinking processes and reduces depression with
children and adults as well as increasing the cognitive development.
While
similarities exist between
CleverTutor and a number of other early-childhood learning
programs, there are also stark differences.
CleverTutor, on the other hand, encourages children to play with
materials (like pots, pans, and dishes) that are child-safe and child
proof, in order to minimize risk and maximize pleasure. All cooking
activities are strictly supervised and all materials are not diminutive
in size.
There may be a large chair in the reading center
for a visiting author and a large
rocking chair that reminds the child of a comfortable place at home.
The
CleverTutor philosophy
agrees with the Summerhill approach by A.S. Neil which was founded in
England in 1921, in so much that education must be intertwined with the
intellectual and emotional and where children direct their own thoughts.
CleverTutor agrees with the ideas of The Indigo Children, where
children who need devoted attention due to an abundance of energy and
who are difficult to work with are children that are further advanced
than the rest of the children, and are like sponges, ready to absorb the
thirst for learning.
CleverTutor focuses on
respecting children, where the teacher is the facilitator and the
children work as protagonists. The philosophy feels that children have
rights and need to be respected. It is an approach where children feel
free to use their imaginations and move from one topic of interest to
another. Topics for study are engaged in from the ideas and talk from
children, and compiled by formulating ways of exploring the hands on
from the children as well as the facilitator. Children begin to
critique, negotiate and compare as well as problem solve and
hypothesize. This promotes multiple prospectives of learning from the
child and encourages families to become active members of this program.
The facilitator distributes ideas to the children allowing the
potentials of the child to develop. An educator must direct children in
expanding their own knowledge. The
CleverTutor philosophy encourages
the child to promote imagination, creativity, and extensive vocabulary
and allows for projects to be explored without the rigid focus of time
constraints. The role of the teacher is a partner, director, facilitator
and works adjacent to the child.
The
CleverTutor Method
develops concepts and self esteem in allowing the young child the
ability to communicate through the use of public speaking, observation,
developing creativity, imagination, integrating math, science and social
studies, as well as expanding their language abilities. The light table
should encourage the children the ability to examine the mixture of
colors, shapes and various materials. The
CleverTutor philosophy feels
that is it essential to incorporate the seven rainbow colors: red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet – into the reading area.
This philosophy focuses on each color representing a specific
meaning. At the end of the day even though children are flexible to move
beanbag chairs around the classroom, they must be placed back in its
proper place representing the rainbow colors in order.
The
CleverTutor method uses
the visual arts in advancing the child’s thinking and learning skills.
These strategies are used to express the child’s thoughts through
molding clay, painting and displaying their work to show the child that
their work is valued. All materials displayed are from the child, who
enforces confidence, self-esteem, creativity and thinking individuals,
which takes on the philosophy of fostering the love of learning.
The
CleverTutor method
believes in play where children chose what they want to explore and
create, either free or self-directed play. With this philosophy,
children are engaged in the many activities and are able to keep their
minds active where there are hardly any behavior issues present. Children treat other children with respect, grow at their own pace, and
are encouraged to think. The facilitator asks an open-ended question to
encourage children to think along with observing the children and
notices their choices. If the facilitator observes one child who is
spending too much time in one area, they will try to discover why.
The
CleverTutor Method
records the children’s dialogue through the facilitator and also
documents it with photographs and artwork. In addition, the philosophy
implements Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. The
objective of the
CleverTutor Method is for the child to learn the skill
of socializing and becoming creative problem solvers through play and
hands on activities. In effect, children will develop self-confidence,
self-esteem, become self-motivated, respect others and become self
disciplined. Children learn to become researchers in the classroom by
learning to ask questions and collect data in order to obtain answers.
Children combine manipulatives and materials, which determine the
teacher’s observation to the child’s cognitive structures.
CleverTutor encourages projects to last weeks, months, or even an entire year.
The
CleverTutor method is
currently being implemented in the United States as well as
internationally. It places an emphasis on centers where hands on
activities are encouraged to be explored. Centers are designated for
specific areas and have the flexibility to be integrated with other
centers.
The future architects area
includes cardboard blocks, which are preferred to rather than wooden
blocks. The puppet theatre center allows for exploration of feelings and
expressions. The house keeping area includes child-sized materials,
tables, and chairs in order to interact. The centers allow for three
children to a center. The math center is integrated with the science
center including manipulative tools, such as; puzzles, legos, Cuisenaire
rods, live plants, small animals, rocks, shells, crystals, prisms, and
measuring scales as well as a Zen garden. In the computer center three
children can work together with a variety of cd roms and story writing
activities, an art center with a light table, a sand and water table, a
music area with several musical instruments, a food table where snacks
are provided each day which includes all healthy foods, apples, celery,
pears. Children can choose a snack when they desire the need to eat,
rather than a rigid schedule. A language/reading center including
writing ideas from facilitator instructional lessons which ideas are
frequently added to the center, a box with colorful sand which is
changed each week in the colors of the rainbow, to allow for writing
letters, hands on manipulative to encourage ideas, published books from
the children- laminated and bound, huge pencils, a large
CleverTutor
rug with
specially
designed CleverTutor rainbow beanbag chairs, each representing a color
of the rainbow, books on tape and a library filled with books in English
as well as a section for books in different languages.
CleverTutor provides all materials. Children’s ideas create what they are already
ready to learn and the centers provide the activities as opposed to a
teacher-dominated curriculum. Children are not meant to be empty vessels
filled with instruction, they learn when appropriate opportunities are
presented Children have an innate understanding of how to relate to the
world and the facilitators position is to nurture the child so they can
grow and learn. The teacher exhibits flexibility, which in turn allows
the children to become researchers.
A very essential part of The
CleverTutor Method has discovered that soft music along with a lavender
scent are used to help children focus and relax. This successful
technique has been an asset with children’s ability to concentrate and
bring them to a level where their thoughts and creativity will enable
them to flow. Using The
CleverTutor Method will be an asset as well as
a gift for those children who are fortunate enough to be exposed to it.
The focus of The
CleverTutor Method involves three steps. Wait, watch and respond and you will
see a magical world of wonder and creativity through fostering the love
of learning.
