Today, I got to watch Pamela work with her kindergarten student (Luis) during their phonics session!! It was really enjoyable to watch. Luis had a lot of energy from the start; he moved around, talked about his day at school, and lost focus really easily. Despite this, Pamela stayed calm, warm and patient the entire time.

She handled his energy in a super accommodating way. When he drifted off, she gently brought him back with simple and playful cues. She said things like “let’s jump to the next sound” or “show me this letter with your hands!” These little prompts worked really well in keeping Luis involved without making him feel pressured.

Pamela introduced every letter and sound clearly. Her tone was inviting and friendly; she endearingly celebrated every answer Luis gave. She praised his effort, even when the answer was not correct and then guided him (step by step) to the correct one. Luis responded very positively to this as well. He smiled often and returned to the activity on his own, each time he started to wander.

I also noticed how flexible Pamela was!! She altered her strategy whenever Luis needed something different. When he seemed too restless, she added a quick UNO break. When he showed interest, she slowed down and let him explore the sounds a bit more. She matched his energy the entire time, keeping the lesson fun, productive and steady.

Pamela never seemed frustrated. She spoke kindly and with encouragement in every moment. Because of that, Luis stayed comfortable and engaged. He looked like he was having a ball of a time while still learning a bunch.

Overall, I was really impressed with Pamela’s skill as a tutor. She managed a very energetic child with patience, creativity and joy. She kept him focused, feeling supported and excited about learning his letters and sounds. It was a truly warm and positive session to watch!!

Thanks Pamela 😀

Thomas Koutavas