Ask Micki: Texting during tutoring

Question: Hi.  I'm a math and science tutor for a high school student.  Bright kid, but the problem is, he has trouble switching off his cell phone during tutoring.  Since he got his new phone, he is texting nonstop, even during the tutoring sessions, and is just not paying attention.  His grades are also starting to slip quite a bit.  How can I get the texting to stop so that we can have an effective tutoring session?

Thanks,
John from GA

Answer: Hi, John, good question! As technology has gotten more and more integrated into daily life, this problem has, unfortunately, become a lot more prevalent. 

I had a tutoring situation like this a while back myself - I had a tutee who was a smart student, but would not stop picking up the cell phone when her friends called.  It got so bad that we spent 25 minutes of one tutoring session doing nothing because she wouldn't hang up the phone!

The good news is, this is an easy tutoring problem to fix!
So what are the steps to fixing this?


1. Communication.
Let your tutee know that you are happy to help him succeed academically, but that it is important that you have 100% of his attention so that you two can work effectively.

Have him finish up whatever text message he is sending, and then ask him to set the phone aside (and even turn it off) until the end of the session.  Instructors do this all the time in schools around the world, so it is not unheard of for tutors to use this technique as well.

Let your tutee know that shutting his phone off, and not texting his friends, for 45 minutes-1 hour will not hurt his social life (it's not a long enough time frame for that!), but it will allow him to get the most out of the tutoring session. 

2. Relate tutoring to something your tutee is interested in, such as a hobby or sport.
Explain to your tutee that tutoring is a lot like hockey, playing the violin, or painting a portrait.  If your mind is in too many places at once, the results will not be as good as if your mind is 100% focuse on the task at hand (in his case tutoring).

Too many tutees expect that tutoring doesn't require much effort or concentration.  Let your tutee know, in a friendly way, why this is not true.  Putting in 100% in sports, music, art, or tutoring is important!

3. If it is really out of hand, talk to your tutee's parents.
If you have tried the above techniques and your tutee is still texting nonstop, talk to your tutee's parents.  Chances are, they are paying for a service that their son is not utilizing, and they will be interested in knowing this. 

When you get right down to it, you aren't his parent(s), so you can only do so much to help him.  Talk to his parents about the cell phone use during sessions, make them aware of his attention shifting in and out of the tutoring sessions, and let them know that his grades are suffering a bit. 

If anyone can do something about restricting your tutee's cell phone usage during learning it is (and should be) your tutee's parents.

Good luck and, as always, happy tutoring!

Ask Micki: Too young to tutor?

Question: Hi, Micki.  This may seem like an easy question, but I am pretty new to the tutoring business, and I need some help on this.  I had a dad contact me a few days ago about tutoring his daughter in English & writing.  The thing is, his daughter is only 4 years old. 

This seems exceptionally young to start putting pressure on the child, and I am not sure I should take the job.  I want to help her, but I know what it is like to have too much academic pressure put on you at a young age - it stinks.  Help!

Signed,
Laurie in Syracuse

Answer:  Hi, Laurie - thanks for your question!  First of all, I agree with you.  I think that a lot of parents are putting way too much pressure on kids these days.  Kids need to be kids, and childhood is short enough without all of the adult pressures to succeed at everything under the sun. 

That being said, I would absolutely take the job!

Think of it this way: who would be better for the tutoring job?  A hardcore tutor who pushes a 4 year old too hard in the name of success?  Or you, a tutor who will be understanding and compassionate enough to patiently help the tutee brush up on reading without making her stressed about her progress?

It seems to me that with your outlook of the situation, you will be cautious not to push her too hard, but will be willing to put the time in, and help her learn to enjoy reading and writing.

Technically, if tutoring is done correctly, and the tutor pays attention to the tutee's learning style, it is never too young to begin tutoring.  If you think about it, babies are tutored every day as they learn to walk, talk, etc.  As long as the tutoring is done in a low key, kid friendly way, tutoring can actually be a fun part of a young child's week.

I would definitely suggest making the sessions as entertaining as possible while still helping your tutee pick up the basic concepts.  Write a few stories together, have her read her favorite books as practice materials, check out the resources for some cool reading/writing games.

Whatever you can do to make the tutoring more fun will undoubtedly make the tutoring session more enjoyable and much more effective.

Good luck, and as always, happy tutoring!

Ask Micki: 10 year old tutee hates science

Question:  Hi, Micki.  I am hoping you can help me come up with some ways of making tutoring more entertaining.  I work with a bright, friendly 10 year old who is really, really bored with the botany part of her science class.  She works really hard, and her grades are good, but I feel bad that she is so bored during tutoring.  Any ideas for how to make botany more thrilling to a 10 year old? 

Thanks!
Science Tutor in IN

Answer:  Hi there, Science Tutor - the short answer to your question is ABSOLUTELY!  Sorry, I know I'm a bit too excited, but science is one of the few subjects for tutoring that automatically lends itself to fun, hands-on activities.

First, if you are an ITA tutor, check out the resources once you login to your account.  There are a ton of cool science experiments for kids, exercises, and activities that will jazz up any tutoring session.  Besides botany, there are also experiments and activities for biology, chemistry, astronomy, and a host of other subjects!

Second, look over the lesson plans and homework for the next few weeks (if it is available), and talk to your tutee about what she is currently studying, what she is going to be studying, etc.  Then, come up with a few simple experiments that will highlight the botany principles she is studying.

For example, if she is learning about chlorophyll, check out an experiment like this:
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

Is she studying up on plants and watering?  Check out this experiment:
http://www.helium.com/items/1608049-plant-science-experiments-for-kids

Is your tutee learning about different plant and flowergroups?  Try putting together a plant field guide or a flower press: http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/2009/06/make-a-portable-flower-press.html

Is your tutee learning about fungi or growth patterns of other plants?  Try putting together a simple herbarium!

The possibilities are endless, so have fun with them - Your tutee will be grateful, and your tutoring will be even more effective!

And, as always, happy tutoring!