Open Minds Studio

Attached is the e-mail exchange with mobefore tutoring session regarding her concern- letters/sounds and numbersStatement of problem: tutor was not preparedResponse: Mom said that she does not have any materials froschool so we prepared materials on letters/sounds and numbers for the lesson.Mom brought in reading homework and math tests that her daughter didn't do well on Statement of problem: daughter was watching YouTube video for half of sessionResponse: student watched an 11 minute video which is less than 20% of the 60 minute sessionTutor used a video, “Alphabet Blocks” that demonstrates how to write letters. Tutor was instructing student in addition to video, and she responded very well. It's not any different than using a book. Statement of Problem: showed up and waited 15 minutes before leaving. Called them, no call back. E-mailed them, no e-mail backResponse: tutor e-mailed moapologizing for not being there and explaining that there was error in electronic scheduling program. Owner e-mailed mom.We did not receive a phone call. Student reportFrom: Karen <***>Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2020 2:54 PMTo: *** <***>Cc: Nina K <***>Subject: Student Report - *** - 2/18/20 2/18/20*** with Karen***'s mother brought in some reading homework and some math ***ts that she didn't do well on.Homework-Writing and readingWe reviewed how to write each letter on her paper by using the YouTube video below. It helped her to write neater. She needs to work on how much space she should have between her letters and words. We watched an Alphabet Blocks video. I tried to have her say the words, but she was too shy. Writing Letters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsue4unC7YQ(Note: She watched little pieces of it that demonstrated each letter that she was writing to complete her homework)Alphabet Blocks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2VIx_b4cgPoor test grades in math. I got the magnetic 10 frames out and she duplicated the questions on her ***t. She knew that one row was 5 and an entire frame was 10. Her difficulty was with 2 ten frames because she is having trouble counting from 10 to 20. Her parents can help her practice. I also think that working on adding numbers to ten would make a big difference. We didn't get to review all of her mistakes. Perhaps her parents can bring the tests back in? I didn't make copies. I will next time.*** is scheduled on Tuesdays 4:30 - 5:30. KarenOpen Minds StudiosMom’s e-mail to tutor and owner regarding tutoring session-----Original Message-----From: *** <***>To: Karen <***>Cc: Nina K <***>; *** <***>Sent: Thu, Feb 20, 2020 10:51 pmSubject: Re: Student Report - *** - 2/18/20Hello Karen & Nina,Thank you very much for the report, it is greatly appreciated. I'sorry I did not get to stay till the end of the session; I work at 6 on Tuesdays so Bob will be meeting me there to pick up the girls. *** starts off shy but she will warm up to you. I think part of it is her trouble with articulation. My husband mentioned she was watching a YouTube video for a lot of the 2nd half after I left, and she had been somewhat during the first half. We just want to make sure we're on the same page; we're looking for something more hands on. I'll bring the tests back next week.Thank you ladies,*** Tutor’s e-mail to momKaren MFri, Feb 28, 9:38 A (6 days ago)https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gifhttps://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gifto me, ***https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif I apologize for not being there on Tuesday. An error was made in our electronic scheduling program. This is first session that I've not shown up for in several years. I am sorry that we made an error and especially because it happened to you and your daughter on only the second session. Owner’s e-mail to mom From: Nina <***>Sent: Monday, March 2, 2020 4:21 PMTo: *** <***>Cc: *** <***>Subject: *** Dear ***,As a follow-up to the student report sent 2/19/20:At the first session, which is 60 minutes, the tutor used one 11 minute YouTube video entitled Alphabet Blocks that teaches letter sounds and blending. We encourage our tutors to use YouTube videos because several decades of research indicated that there are many benefits to using video in education. Shepard and Cooper (1982) and Mayer and Gallini (1990) made the connection between visual clues, the memory process, and the recall of new knowledge.The work of Kearney and colleagues show the benefits of using video to produce authentic learning opportunities for students (Kearney and Campbell 2010; Kearney and Schuck, 2006) More recently, Willmot et al (2012) show that there is strong evidence that digital video reporting can inspire and engage students when incorporated into student-centered learning activities through enhanced learning experience and increased student motivation. In addition, a 2015 study conducted by software company Kaltura concluded that 93% of teachers believe that the use of educational videos improves the learning experience. The tutor was not there at the second session because there was an error in our electronic scheduling system.Upon further review of the student report below and what was accomplished during the 60 minute personalized tutoring session I have deemed that it is an unreasonable request to refund your payment. If you have any questions I am happy to meet with you to discuss this matter further.Please advise,Nina Mom’s e-mail to owner-----Original Message-----From: *** <***>To: Nina <***>Cc: *** <***>Sent: Mon, Mar 2, 2020 10:38 pmSubject: Re: *** Nina, Thank you for following up. I do find it funny, and mildly insulting that you keep blaming a glitch in your scheduling system yet I also called and emailed you on Tuesday, and yet no one responded to either of these until Friday morning. The morning after I posted a bad review, and reported your business to the Revdex.com.And a meeting is not necessary, as we’ve already taken her to a reputable tutoring center where she has been evaluated and will begin to get actual assistance.Interestingly she was there for an hour, and not one YouTube video, guess they didn’t read the studies you googled and copy/pasted to the email.ALSO – Perhaps Karen’s report had a glitch as well? As I left the center at 5 PM for work, and my husband text me at 5:19 PM asking if she had been watching YouTube the whole time? I’d say that the last 10 minutes of when I was there, and the first 20 minutes of when he was there would add up to about 30 minutes of YouTube time?Lastly, Please keep the $35, perhaps putting it towards a better scheduling system or maybe a book on how to lie better?Regards