I used to think that tutoring was all about using my own knowledge and my tutee's textbook.
Then I started tutoring younger kids and it changed the way I tutored forever.
Kids can be great to work with. They are enthusiastic (most of the time), are honest about what they do and don't know, and have a very different way of learning...they also, like myself, have shorter attention spans than most grown adults!
I started realizing that my tutoring sessions with kids were just not as exciting and full of zest as they could be. So, I sat down and did some thinking. What did I respond to at a younger age? What bored me? What got me enthusiastic about learning?
The answer, as it turns out, was using learning tools during our tutoring sessions.
Learning tools can turn a drab tutoring session into an exciting learning opportunity!
I used simple experiments to tutor the concepts of electricity and chemistry. I brought games and activities that showcased the exciting world of math. I dug out my old microscope and brought simple slides to go over biology concepts and make them more interesting.
In other words, any tutoring tool I could get my hands on (that related to the subjects I tutored), I brought with me to tutoring sessions.
The results were amazing, and I noticed that not only was I getting more excited learners, but I was getting happier parents. One mom told me that I was the only person who had managed to get her son excited about science. He had hated the subject before our tutoring had started.
An unexpected benefit to this new technique were the referrals I was getting from other parents. I was known as the fun tutor who could actually get kids to learn boring subjects. I was honored, and thrilled to have the "title."
So, if you are looking for a way to spice up your sessions, thrill parents, and garner referrals, look no further than tutoring and learning tools!
~ Charlie
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