Ask Micki: How to help a young tutor get excited about fractions

After answering my most recent question about getting a tutee more enthusiastic about math sessions, I was inspired to keep the positive vibes going and answer this question that deals with the same sort of topic...enjoy!

Question: Hi, Micki. I am working with a really bright little girl who just started the first grade and is working with fractions for the first time. We're going to be going over them during our next few sessions and I was hoping you might have some suggestions for how to make them more fun than they are right now. I'm thinking black print on a boring white page is just not as exciting as it could be. Thanks!

Answer: Thanks for the great question! I love fractions for kids because there are so many great ways to make them a lot more fun.

Pizza, for example, is a great way to work with fractions. Having a mathematical pizza party is always a winner - just get a few pictures of different pizzas and cut them up into various fraction pieces. Then, have your tutee mix and match how much of each type of pizza he or she wants.

This exercise also works for slightly older tutees as they begin adding or subtracting fractions - the tutee takes various slices and adds them up as he or she "orders."

Technically even multiplication or division works. For division, give your tutee a set number of pizza slices and determine how many party goers need to be fed. For multiplication, determine the number of "guests" and figure out how much pizza you'll need if each person wants one slice, two slices, etc.

You could do the same with cake, pie, or anything else that is bright, fun, and can be segmented into pieces.

Good luck and, as always, happy tutoring!

Ask Micki: Adding zest to your tutoring sessions

Question: Hi, Micki. I have a question about encouraging my tutee to be more excited about the subject matter we're working with during our sessions.

I absolutely love tutoring, and my tutee and I get along wonderfully. He's a bright kid, funny, and pays close attention to the math that we go over together.

The thing is, I feel bad that he is so bored by math, and would love to be able to make things more interesting for him. Just for a little background, he loves music, soccer, and guitars. Thanks!

Answer: Great question! I'm always happy to get emails from people who love what they do, and get along well with their tutees.

Even better, you're going above and beyond the call of tutoring duty to make the material jump off the page for your tutee. Good for you!

Now, how to get him more enthusiastic and involved in math?

The good news is that your tutee likes music! That is good news because a lot of music relies on math, right down to the quarter and half notes used to compose tunes. So, definitely go with that interest. Find articles about math and music being related, put together music related problems, and try to tie the two subjects together whenever you can.

As for his other interests - soccer and guitars - those can work, too. Make up some problems using soccer lingo or guitar talk. Trigonometry that deals with shadows on a soccer field, algebra that focuses on guitar-centric word problems...pretty much anything that even mentions his favorite hobbies can be useful in peaking interest in a less exciting subject.

You can also come up with some games that fuse his hobbies with mathematics. A music worksheet that deals with fractions, for example. These games work especially well with younger tutees, but if you can find some more sophisticated, complex games they would also work for older tutees.

And don't forget about short breaks. Even the sharpest mind can reach overload status pretty quick after staring at the same material for hours on end. Try to take a few short breaks in between problems. Let your tutee know that he's doing a great job, talk about school, and get away from the hardcore math for a minute or two.

Good luck and, as always, happy tutoring!

Ask Micki: Question from a writing tutor

Question: Hi, Micki. My question is regarding not doing your tutee’s homework. I am a writing tutor and a lot of my tutees want to “go over” papers they have written prior to turning them in. I get the feeling that some of them want me to review their work and correct it for them. I don’t want them turning in my work, but I still want to help them with their paper. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Alfred N.


Answer: Hi, Alfred. Thanks for your question. What you are describing is a very common scenario for writing tutors; I've even run across the problem myself from time to time. Here is a technique that is used regularly by seasoned writing tutors:

Read through your tutee’s paper and make mental notes on any common or recurring errors made.

Put the paper aside and address each error one at a time.

Discuss any rules or techniques for dealing with the particular error. Have your tutee practice the new skill, and when you are convinced that they are ready, move on to the next problem area.

Finally, return to their paper, but this time, have them read it, identify any errors that you previously addressed, and suggest corrections to their paper.

This technique allows you to identify and address a tutee’s weaknesses, while at the same time allowing them to take responsibility for their own work.

Good luck, and as always, happy tutoring!