Ask Micki: Yes or No?

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Question: Hey, Micki, I need a quick answer to a question about prizes and tutoring rewards.  I tutor kids in English, mostly elementary school students in grammar, spelling, etc. 

Since most of my tutees are under the age of 11, they are still excited about stickers, pencils, toys, etc.  I was thinking that it may be a good idea to implement some prizes or rewards for my young tutees, but my friend said that you should never bribe kids.

Help!
Alan from PA

Answer: Hey there, Alan, thanks for the question.  First of all, I have to say, that even as a full grown woman, I still love stickers, pencils, and toys, so you are never too old for the fun stuff - it never goes out of style!

Second, little prizes and rewards for your young tutees are definitely not the same thing as a bribe.  A bribe, in the spirit of the word, is a way of controlling another person (typically making him or her going against his or her ethical beliefs) by promising money or goods. 

Providing prizes, on the other hand, is a way of rewarding great behavior, good study habits, and enthusiastic learning.  In other words, prizes are similar to a raise at work, or a medal for winning a competition - they act as rewards, and help enforce good behavior. Nothing wrong with that!

Ask Micki: Free or cheap math tutoring supplies?

© RAWKU5

Question: Hi, Micki. I have a quick question for you. I have just started tutoring really recently, as in a few days ago, and I was wondering if you could help me figure out what supplies to get.

I tutor math to elementary school children, and I am looking for some fun math supplies to get that will make tutoring a little more exciting for my tutees. 

The thing is, I am also on an extremely tight budget.  I'm a single mom to 2 kids, and don't have much expendable income after bills, food, and everyday life expenses.

Any ideas that won't cost anything, but will be fun (and educational) for my little math tutees?
Thanks for your help, Micki,
Angie (ITA tutor from CA) 

Answer: Hi, Angie! Good for you, wanting to make math more fun for the kids while still teaching them what they need to know - your tutees will love you for it! 

The good news is, it doesn't have to cost a fortune to have fun math learning tools on hand for your tutees.  In fact, it can range from free to only a few cents in printing costs.

Your first stop should be right here at ITA!
Check out the resources that we have just for math tutors:
http://www.scribd.com/collections/2907423/Mathematics

Some of these will obviously be a bit out of range for your elementary school math needs, but a lot of them will work great for your tutees.  Best of all, they are free!

There are also some free resources out there for math tutors that can be found online.  Head to your favorite search engine, type in, "printable free math resources," "printable math tutor worksheets free" or something along those lines, and take your pick of some good resources for math tutors.  A word of caution: the majority of these resources will be for personal use only.  In other words, you can't reproduce these and sell them, claim them as your own, etc.  But they should be just fine for what you will be using them for - tutoring your math tutees. 

Last but not least, don't overlook your own creativity! Try your hand at making paper (or clay) pizzas and pies for fraction work, colorful worksheets for addition, fun little quizzes for subtraction, math games, flashcards, etc.  Get creative, keep it colorful, have fun, and ask about what types of things your tutee kids would like to see (Dinosaurs, Cowboys, Sharks, Horses, etc.).  Not sure what age your own children are, but if they are about the same age as your tutees, try running some ideas past them. 

Good luck, and stop by when you get a chance to let us know how things worked out for you!

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Photo Credit: © sxc.hu/RAWKU5

Field Notes: Math Flashcards

When I found this blog, I knew that I had to write a quick post to sing the praises of flash cards for tutoring math - they are phenomenal, and my tutees and I love it when we use them.

Why?
Easy! They are easy to personalize, can be changed based on my student's math level at the time, and are economical enough that I have a set of math flash cards for every student I tutor. 

So how do I use them, and do they work?
Well, first let me tell you a little about my tutees - I tutor math to 2nd-5th grade kids.  Not exactly a thrilled bunch when it comes to doing math problems.  I knew I needed something more entertaining than their math class books and practice assignments.

So, I talked to each kid I tutored, and figured out some of his or her interests.  Then, I personalized each set of flashcards with pictures and stickers of their favorite subjects.  One of my tutees loves horses, so her flashcards are horse themed. 

Of course, all of the flash cards also reflect the level of math tutoring that we are working on at the time.  Using the horse flashcards as an example: my tutee is working on multiplication and division.  So, along with pictures and stickers of horses, each card features a multiplication problem or a division problem.  Putting the flashcards couldn't be any easier, and my tutees really seem to enjoy them.

I have also noticed some positive changes since I began using these flashcards a few months ago.  My tutees became a lot more interested in math tutoring, and their grades improved.  It's been great for all of us, and I even earned a nickname from one of my students - "The Flashcard Lady." :)

Field Notes: Food and Drink in ESL Tutoring

Field Notes: Using Food and Drink in ESL Tutoring

After my ESL students and I got back from our field trip together, I realized that I had another tip to share about how to make ESL tutoring a huge hit, a lot of fun, and educational all at the same time!

This ESL tutoring technique is all about food and drink (something we plenty of at the farmers market).

Yes, it is great to bring in food to work on vocabulary (apple, banana, carrot, cookie) and grammar (this is a cookie, these are carrots, etc.), but the learning with food and drink realia for ESL tutoring goes beyond that.

Food is a very cultural product.  What is completely normal to eat in one location may be completely outside of the realm of "normal food" for another culture.  I'll never forget one student I had who was so excited about sunflower seeds.  He had never tried them before, and it was love at first bite! 

Try bringing in a few foods to your next ESL tutoring session.  A few students may love the foods, and a few may hate them.  Either way, a good time will be had by all, and the conversation will be flowing.

The point is, sharing foods from each of your cultures is a great exercise in cultural learning, vocabulary, grammar, and traditions.  I believe that when learning a language, it is important to immerse yourself fully in that culture.  Seek out foods, try traditional drinks, listen to the music, watch the cartoons...whatever gets you involved at a cultural level.  Food is a huge part of this immersion. 

Food as ESL tutoring realia is also a great chance to learn how to follow directions in English.  If you are comfortable doing so, all of you can meet at someone's home, and make some type of food together.  Better yet, make it a full on meal, with each ESL student following a different recipe.  This will allow your ESL tutees to gain confidence in reading comprehension.  Plus, who doesn't love a good meal prepared with enthusiasm?

~ Tammy

Ask Micki: Tutee Poaching

© datarec

Question: Hi, Micki. I have a situation here that is really ticking me off, and it involves an ex-friend, and fellow tutor.


Here's what has happened: my friend and I decided to start tutoring math during our first year of college.  We used to kind of cover for one another, and when she couldn't make appointments, I'd cover for her.  Of course, if I couldn't make sessions, she'd cover for me.  It worked out great, and at one point, we even talked about going into business together.

I'm glad we didn't.  Now, a few years later we are both still tutoring, but there's a problem.  She has been stealing my clients.

She has dropped her rate to a ridiculously low amount (about 25% of what she used to charge. What I still charge.  It is a very fair rate.), and she has been putting ads up at school about avoiding the expensive tutors and hiring her instead.  She has also taken down my posters from the school bulletin boards, I've watched her do it.

To make matters worse, one of my tutees told me that when she ran into her at school, my ex-friend started bad mouthing me, saying that I charge too much, and that she is just as good for much cheaper.  The thing is, I have heard from other tutees that she is not as good, just way cheaper. 

It makes me wonder how many other tutees she told this to who didn't tell me.  Let's just say, I've lost about 10 clients this year, and I'm not happy about it.

What do I do? I've tried talking to her, and all she did was tell me to "get over it" or lower my prices.  We have tried talking about it before, and it always ends badly.  So now what do I do?  Put up ads talking about how cheaper isn't better? Talk to her clients about her? I'm really annoyed, and not sure how to handle this.

Thanks,
Anon.



Answer: Hello, there, anonymous.
Wow, that's an uncomfortable and frustrating situation, I'm sure.

The good news is that it sounds like you are dedicated to quality tutoring at fair rates.  Chances are, several of the tutees who switched to her lower rates will be coming back to you once they discover that they miss the quality tutoring you provide.  The tutees who have stuck with you know that it is about value, not low price, and that they are getting a lot for their money with your services.   

So, keep your head up, and don't let it get you down (I know, easier said than done, but give it your best shot!).  Just continue to offer good tutoring at fair rates, and you will get clients who want to learn.  Word spreads fast, and good tutors are always in high demand. 

Since it sounds like you two are beyond talking about this, we need to move on to Plan B.  As annoying as this situation is, the first thing to do is take a step back from the situation.  Stay calm, cool, and collected.  Getting angry won't help, and a smear campaign is only going to make things worse.

Instead, talk to the clients you have now.  For the tutee who mentioned having talked to your ex-friend, be honest about your concerns.  Let him or her know that there may be cheaper services out there, but that they get what they pay for.  Don't name names, and don't use this as an opportunity to stoop to your ex-friends level.  You are simply giving your client an idea of why you charge what you do. 

Offer loyalty incentives for current clients.  Give them bulk discounts for paying up front (guaranteeing future business).  Offer discounts after sticking with you for X amount of months.  Provide additional services, such as homework verification services, etc.  You get the idea - give little bonuses that keep your tutees coming back for more. 

Also, try widening your tutoring area.  Put up flyers at other schools.  Tutor other ages, such as elementary school or junior high.  Try advertising your tutoring at local community centers.  Anything to distance yourself from the pettiness that seems to be taking place on your school's bulletin boards.

Also, like I said earlier, just continue to provide great tutoring, and word will get around.  Good tutors are always in demand, and people will pay for quality.

Good luck!

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