Let's Celebrate Roald Dahl Day

The 13^th of September isn’t just a regular Tuesday- it’s the official Roald Dahl day, meaning fans up and down the country can celebrate the talented writer and his classic children’s books. In fact, this year marks 100 years since his birth, which is even more reason to get involved. Here at Tutor Doctor, we thought it was only fitting to dedicate a whole blog post to this wonderful day. Not only have we found the best ways to join in with the celebrations, we've also chosen our four favourite Roald Dahl books for your kids to start reading! Happy Roald Dahl Day!

How can we get involved?
Many schools and libraries will be celebrating Roald Dahl day- so make sure you check out what’s going on locally. If you can’t find anything close-by there’s loads of other ways to get involved.
Puffin Virtually Live’s Roald Dahl Special
Starting at 2pm on Tuesday the 13^th of September, your kids can watch a performance of Matilda the Musical, draw with Quentin Blake or even invent magical Roald Dahl inspired words. Make sure you get your child’s teacher to register for free here.

Dahlicious Dress Up Day
Many schools around the UK will be joining in on this year’s Dahlicous Dress up Day. Your child simply dresses up as their favourite Roald Dahl character and donates £1 to the Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity. Make sure you check if your child’s school is taking part first though!

Explore Roald Dahl's City of the Unexpected
Roald Dahl’s city of the Unexpected will be taking place on the 17^th and 18^th of September in Cardiff. Not only will the streets be transformed, there will visual displays and performances that any Roald Dahl fan is bound to enjoy. For more information check out the official website here: www.cityoftheunexpected.wales.

Celebrate at Home
If you want to do something simple to celebrate, why not have a mini Roald Dahl party at home? All you have to do is download your Roald Dahl party pack here and celebrate! You could even get the kids to start reading a Roald Dahl book- we’ve chosen our favourite four below.

Tutor Doctor's top four Roald Dahl books
The Twits- The Twits is for sure a favourite for many Roald Dahl fans. It follows the tale of Mr and Mrs Twit who are possibly the nastiest, smelliest and meanest couple you could ever meet. They even like to play awful tricks and jokes on each other just to amuse themselves. The story focuses on Muggle-Wump the monkey and his family who are locked in a cage in the Twits garden. After they meet the Rolly Polly bird, their luck starts to change. He helps them escape from their cage and play a joke of their own on the Twits. The book is full of fantastic descriptive passages, humour and more importantly has lovely underlying messages about morality and friendship.
The Magic Finger-The Magic Finger follows the story of an ordinary little girl with magical powers. If someone makes her angry then she simply zaps her magic finger and flash- something strange happens! The book follows her telling us the story of the Gregg family and how her magic finger helped them change their ways. Not only is the story funny, it’s easy to read and represents a fantastic moral compass for children to be inspired by.
The Witches- The Witches tells the story of an eight-year-boy and his grandma. On a summer trip, the boy discovers that all the witches of England are staying in their hotel for an annual meet. The witches disguise themselves as ordinary citizens and are known to make small children disappear into thin air. It's a truly gripping read, sure to be thoroughly enjoyed and read in just a couple of sittings!
Matilda- This book is all about Matilda Wormwood, an extraordinary young girl with a magical mind and a passion for reading. Her life is by no means easy, she has to deal with her father who calls her a ‘little scab’, her mother who’s too busy at Bingo to notice her, and worst of all, her Headmistress Miss Trunchbull who is just awful. After being thrown in the Chokey by Miss Trunchbull and having a rotten time at home, Matilda finally decides she’s had enough and uses her powers to teach all the grown-ups a lesson. This well-loved classic is witty, beautifully written but also shows the importance of treating people the same way you wish to be treated and that kindness really does go a long way.

Tips for Freshers’ Week

The long summer break is finally coming to an end, meaning for many students their University journey is just about to begin. Here at Tutor Doctor we know how daunting Freshers’ week can be- not only are students moving away from home, they’re starting from scratch, which means there’s lots of new people to meet and places to discover. That’s why we’ve put together some tips for Freshers’ week to help make the first few days as great as possible!

Talk to as many people as you can!
One of the scariest things about starting University is not knowing anyone. The trick is to talk to as many people as you can and be friendly and approachable! Even if you feel slightly out of your comfort zone, just remember everyone is in the same boat as you! Once you’ve made an acquaintance or two, don’t stop there. Use the safety in numbers and knock on some nearby flats and introduce yourself!

Don’t forget..

The people in your student halls don't have to be your lifelong friends! You are bound to find some like-minded people in the first few weeks, just be patient.

Explore your surroundings
In your first week, it’s always a good idea to get to know your surroundings. Start by having a wander around your halls, find the laundry room, reception area etc. Then think bigger- check out your route to Uni, find somewhere that will be convenient to do your weekly food shop and explore the local area. The sooner you get to grips with where everything is, the sooner you’ll feel right at home!
Don’t forget..
Don’t go alone on your outings. Take a new friend or two and make it a bonding experience!

Get involved!
There’s going to be a whole load of activities to get involved in during freshers’ week, so be sure to get involved. The freshers' fair is always a great place to see what’s on offer- let’s not forget about all those freebies!  We guarantee there’s going to be a society or sports team that interests you- so why not sign up and give it a go? Societies are a great way to meet people and also give you the opportunity to pursue your interests, no matter how quirky. We’ve even heard there’s a Harry Potter and Gin Society at the University of St Andrews. Cool or what?

Remember to budget
It’s easy to lose track of how much you’re spending during freshers’ week. Try and work out a budget early on and stick to it. An easy way to do this is to take out how much cash you think you’ll need at the beginning of each week- this way you can really keep track of those pennies! Remember you’ll need money for food shopping, socialising and other bits and bobs along the way!

Enjoy yourself
Most of you will only experience Freshers’ week once in your life, so remember to enjoy yourself and have fun!

Going Back to School With a Positive Attitude

Categories: Education, Children, Tips, Performance

The summer break is over, which means it’s time for your children to head back to school. For some kids, school- with its strict teachers and never ending mountain of homework, can mean they dread going back in the classroom. Here at Tutor Doctor we know how far a positive attitude goes, especially when it comes to getting the most out of education. That’s why we’ve put together some ways you can promote a positive attitude towards school and help your kids gain enthusiasm and a passion for learning. Back to school will be a breeze!

Set an example
Children often adopt attitudes held by adults they look up to- yes that means you! This means it’s vital to set a great example and become their role model! A great place to start is by expressing an interest in your kid’s academic experiences. Spend time discussing classes, checking homework, helping with big projects and offering tips for studying and revision. If your kids can see that you consider school a priority- they will too, and will be more likely to adopt a positive attitude.

Praise, praise and praise some more!
Positive reinforcement is a great technique to help your kids sculpt an enthusiastic attitude towards school. Offering verbal praise and recognition for good grades and trying their best helps your child create a connection between academic effort and desirable outcomes. Not only should this improve their attitude towards school, but also mean they put in maximum effort!

Talk about what your child dislikes about school
A great way to help your child have a positive attitude towards school is by talking through all the things they dislike or fear. Maybe they’re scared about failing their exams or they find a particular subject really tricky. Whatever the problem, there is always a solution- make sure they remember that. If they are struggling, why not suggest a private tutor once a week to get their grades up. If they’re scared of not doing well in upcoming exams, help them create a revision schedule and encourage them to stick to it. By identifying their worries and discussing solutions together, it’s bound to help them feel more enthusiastic and develop a can-do, positive attitude!

Help them visualise success
Helping your child visualise being successful in their studies is a great way for them to get focused but also be positive about school! Start by getting them to set academic goals and imagining themselves succeeding. Do they see themselves heading to University? Encourage them to order some brochures and start thinking about where they can see themselves fitting in! Maybe they want to achieve an A in their science project. Help them imagine their finished project and explain to you why it’s going to stand out? Visualising being successful is a really easy way to motivate your kids as well as help them realise that they can do anything they set their mind to. This is sure to make them feel positive, excited to get back in the classroom and start achieving their goals and beyond!