Ready to Understand What Your Child Needs?

In preschool, children often feel confident trying new things and believe they can do anything. But as they move into elementary school, difficulties with reading, writing, math, tests, and homework can make them feel less confident about their ability to learn. They start saying things like, “I'm not smart.” “I'm just not good at this.” “I'll never get it.” As a parent, of course it's difficult to watch your child who is bright and capable start to doubt themselves. You mig

When a child struggles with learning, parents usually start by requesting additional support from their child's classroom teacher. They may enroll their child in a cram school, or seek help from a retired schoolteacher or university student to help get their child back on track. These are all very reasonable steps to take. But after months of extra lessons, they see that their child is still struggling. Sometimes, the problem isn't that a child needs more lessons. It's that

When a family entrusts me with their child's learning, it is one of the highest honors I can receive. I hold myself to an uncompromising standard because I understand how much is at stake. I work with a small number of families each year because I believe every child deserves individualized attention. When parents choose to work with me, their child's education may be on the line. Their child may be falling behind, losing confidence, or struggling despite previous tutoring. T

Not every child needs to work with a learning specialist. Some do perfectly well with regular tutoring. But sometimes, tutoring isn't enough. Here are six situations where it may be worth looking at a different level of support. Your child's place at their international school in Tokyo may be at risk. Perhaps the school has raised concerns about academic progress, your child is struggling to meet grade-level expectations, or you've been told that the school may no longer be

Most international school parents in Tokyo focus on their child's destination. They will tell you, “I want my child to get into a top school.” They have a clear picture of where they want their child to go and who they want them to become. That is completely natural as a parent myself, I want the absolute best for my children too. At More Than Just Tutoring Tokyo, we work directly with your family and your child to build the roadmap to get them there. We look closely at whe

If the relationship between you and your child’s current international school in Tokyo is strained, or you are thinking about applying to another international school in Tokyo, there is a requirement you need to consider which is the confidential teacher reference. Most schools of the school that your family will be applying to will ask for one, so you need to think carefully about how you will handle it. What you don't want is a negative reference affecting your child's appl

Growing up in Toronto, Canada, I always used to hear my parents say, “Kids these days…” They used to tell us that back in their day, they walked 10 kilometres to school through the snow and ice in minus 60-degree weather, past polar bears and wild wolves. (smile) They respected their teachers, always did their homework, and never had to be reminded. They were completely independent and incredibly responsible. Oh, the stories our parents used to tell us. Now that we're raising

This is one of the hardest things I have experienced in my 19 years of teaching. When this happens to a family, I have a lot of compassion for everyone involved. I have worked with many families after they have received this news from their school. The child may be struggling in the classroom, having repeated difficulties with teachers or classmates, or simply not responding to the support the school has been able to provide. Eventually, the school may reach the point where i

You may already know your child needs some extra learning support. The problem is that the school year is already busy. School, homework, sports, activities, and family commitments leave very little room for another weekly appointment. You don’t necessarily want ongoing tutoring. You just want to use the school break to give your child focused support, address the areas that are holding them back, and get a better idea of what they need before the new school year begins. That

There are a lot of tutors in Tokyo. So why work with me? Because my background goes well beyond traditional tutoring. I have spent nearly two decades working in international education, including positions at some of Tokyo's best-known international schools. I have been a classroom teacher at The Montessori School of Tokyo, a department head and school librarian at International School of the Sacred Heart, and have also worked with students at The American School in Japan and

Proud to share a milestone, that we are now an official individual member of the Tokyo Association of International Preschools (TAIP) for 2026–2027. Kinota Braithwaite - Learning & Assessment Specialist More Than Just Tutoring Tokyo kinota@morethanjusttutoringtokyo.com #TokyoTutoring #TokyoTutor #JapanTutor #PrivateTutorTokyo #InternationalSchoolTokyo #InternationalSchoolTutoring #LearningSupport #LearningSpecialist #AcademicSupport #StudySkills #ExecutiveFunction #MathTutori

I’m super excited to start a new school year with my students. And this year, I’m back in school myself. I’m completing the Instructional Leadership program at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I’m studying teacher leadership and how educators can improve their practice. You might be thinking, “Kinota, why do you need to study at Harvard to teach a four-year-old their numbers or help them learn to read?” Fair question. It is a bit much, don't you think? But I’ve alw