An experienced early years teacher is required to develop and deliver a full curriculum education for two boys, aged 8 and 6. The family split their time between Los Angeles and San Francisco, with some other travel. We currently have a teacher for this family, but they cannot continue in February for personal reasons. We are looking for someone to build on the excellent foundations they have established, providing an excellent broad and deep education with appropriate targets and pedagogical theory behind it. The current tutor describes a really lovely family with very sweet children, and says that it is an exceptional opportunity as an educator to find exciting and engaging learning experiences and to be creative.
The children have always been home schooled; by their parents, by a general tutor, by a specialist math tutor, and by Beacon. The parents would like to formalize their education at this stage, to encourage a separation of the roles of parent and teacher, and to provide for an easier transition into mainstream schooling if required in the future.
STUDENTS
There are two boys, aged 8 and 6. They both enjoy games, science, discovering how things work, and nature. Continuing to develop these aspects of their education, with an increased rigor is important to the parents.
The older boy is advanced in math and enjoys science and technology. He likes to build things, both physically and virtually. As well as the design and construction process he is also interested in understanding how things work; ranging across such areas as electronic circuits and the natural world to Minecraft objects. He doesn’t currently choose to read for pleasure, but can when he sees a purpose, such as while playing games etc.
His younger brother is particularly interested in animals, particularly dinosaurs. His math and reading are at an age appropriate level as he starts his education journey.
Both boys have the expected response to learning at the moment – they can sometimes be reluctant to engage with more formal lessons, but they are naturally inquisitive and respond well to engaging, inspirational teaching.
There is a younger child as well and the tutor would be expected to spend some time with them doing more informal learning through play activities.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The tutor will be responsible for designing and implementing a suitable curriculum for the boys. The educational plan should emphasize STEM and reading.
The aspiration is that the boys have the educational framework and the opportunity to allow them to pursue their interests, which may of course be in some new topic they haven’t met yet, to a deeper level than would be possible in mainstream schools. It is likely that a project led approach will be the optimum approach.
Experiential learning and the encouragement of an enquiring mind are to be encouraged, with opportunities for investigation and research being actively followed. The teacher will ideally be well placed to lead discussions on a wide range of topics as they arise, in science, the humanities, literature, and more generally.
This style of teaching requires someone who, as well as being knowledgeable and enthusiastic, is also organized and capable of maintaining progress towards long term goals without giving a sense of coercion. There are going to be times when the boys would rather not do an activity and the teacher needs to have strategies to get around this without being over controlling.
As well as more academic topics, the teacher will include real world activities in the program. For example, understanding money, shopping, cookery, budgeting, social situations can all be made into fun activities that reinforce curriculum content as well as having independent value.
The children love to be read to, and currently enjoy weekly visits to the library. The boys have started choosing books that they want to read with the tutor, and usually start each morning reading books, laughing, with the boys and their sister sitting close to the teacher.
Each week presents ample opportunity to take field trips, play outdoors, and introduce new activities. An ideal candidate would be active, patient and creative, while also setting clear expectations and boundaries.
The boys are very curious and have loved building robots, digging up fossils, and other activities that have been introduced to them. The tutor should be able to listen to and observe where the boys’ interests are heading, and find appropriate activities that expand on these.
Teaching is to be delivered in English. The tutor must be completely fluent.
The successful candidate will be forward thinking, apolitical, tolerant and respectful towards others.
TRAVEL
The tutor will be required to accompany the family on some trips. All accommodation and travel costs will be covered by the client.
HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
This is a full-time position, with the teaching schedule to be confirmed but likely to be 9am – 5pm, 5 days per week.
The teacher will be entitled to 45 days holiday per year, to be taken at times convenient to the client.