The Benefits of Individualized Education
Whether you send your child to public or private school, follow a structured homeschool program, or take more of an unschooling approach, individualized support from an experienced teacher can make a world of difference in their learning.
In Eugene, Oregon, the median class size for the 2023–24 school year across grades and subjects was 23 students, and classes exceeding 30 students are common. Under these conditions, teachers simply don’t have the time and resources to provide students the individual attention necessary to ensure they’re educational needs are being met. As the world becomes increasingly complex and more students experience mental health struggles, students need more support than ever.
For decades now, research has shown that students who receive individual or very small group academic support achieve considerably higher test scores than those who do not. Beyond this, individualized instruction connects students with a caring adult who has the time and bandwidth to see them for who they are, helping to enhance their sense of self-esteem, calm anxiety, and build confidence in their abilities.
Beyond Tutoring
To successfully acquire and apply new learning and skills, students need more than information delivered in a way they can understand. Holistic learning support tailors educational experiences to individual strengths, interests, needs, and learning styles, tapping into each student’s intrinsic motivation for learning and providing the scaffolding they need to reach higher levels of understanding.
When a student gets one-on-one or small group time with a teacher, it becomes possible to develop stronger student-teacher relationships. Positive student-teacher relationships have been shown to be a strong driver of success in school, supporting not only academic achievement but also motivation, engagement, resiliency, and social skill development.
Additionally, individually designed instruction leaves more room for subject matter integration—connecting multiple subjects through real-world contexts. For example, a student who is interested in cats could learn about them through a variety of lenses: scientific, literary, statistical, artistic, cultural, kinetic, and many more. Creating connections across subjects in this way reinforces the understanding of each by creating larger networks of related knowledge—and when it’s fueled by the student’s innate curiosity, the friction of resisting “work” can be greatly reduced or eliminated.
The Advantage of Integrating Yoga Principles
Social emotional learning (SEL) has become a hot topic in education. SEL includes developmental areas like social and self-awareness, self-management, and relationship and decision-making skills. A yoga practice naturally supports the development of SEL skills and abilities while also providing much needed opportunities for healthy movement. A well rounded yoga practice can help students
- Find calm and focus
- Build physical strength, flexibility, and agility
- Feel at home in their bodies
- Notice and name their thoughts and feelings without judgment
- Process difficult experiences and emotions
- Get better sleep
- Appreciate their uniqueness
- Build self-esteem and self-confidence
- Know themselves more fully
- Create healthy boundaries
- Tap into more of their potential
If you’re ready to explore holistic learning support for yourself or your child, learn about Diane’s educational background here, and then fill out the form below to start a conversation.