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3/21/2020 0 Comments How to make a zineLearning should be fun. When a tutor needs a student to explain what they've learned, consider having them make a zine. They'll have fun making their own comic, it will help them recall what they've learned in their session, and they can keep it to refer back to later. Solid win for fun learning!
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1/19/2020 0 Comments January 19th, 2020Life is busy. It often takes us in multiple directions, usually at the same time. It's difficult for our human minds to easily jump from one subject to another without a bridge of some sort. This is very true in tutoring. Some tutors leave their "day jobs" and go on to meet their students. Others have classes of their own and go from their teachers on to teach their own students. Some tutors go from one student to the next, each having their own subject to master. The scenarios are as numerous as the tutors and students.
This is why it is so very important to take some time before each engagement to re-center the tutor-self. This may be sitting in the car and praying and meditating for a few moments before walking inside. It may be heading out to this site on a mobile devise to look at the upcoming subject matter. It may logging on to Solaro (TD 24/7) before leaving home or work to get into the swing of things. Some like to take an abbreviated practice test the evening before as a warm up. In whatever path each tutor takes, it is important to be one with the subject when walking through the front door. This may prove more difficult for the "what's hot" sessions but a quick text to a parent to see what is hot that day will help. Why does a tutor want to take a few minutes of quiet reflection for the subject matter? There are two amazing reasons! 1) The students! Each student deserves their tutor to arrive on-time and engaged in the subject at hand. They don't know if a tutor just came from a chemistry engagement, they only know the tutor is with them for geometry. Did the tutor just spend the day realigning support beams for an office building their designing? Maybe but the student who is struggling with differentials isn't thinking about support beams. The student is trusting their tutor will be fully engaged for their own struggles and a good conversation on those challenges. This is not selfish, it's a reasonable expectation. And the students are usually kids who may have had their own struggles that day. They may be emotional that the boy they liked asked another girl to prom. Maybe a student didn't get to play in the big game that weekend. Maybe their grandparent is ill and the student is worried. Being fully engaged for each student is exactly what the pupils needs, as well as a possibly empathetic shoulder to lean on. 2) The tutors! When a tutor is prepared for their sessions they can relax in knowing they did their best and brought their A Game each time. The tutors themselves deserve the few minutes of calm (often before the storm) to re-center their minds and hearts. Rarely is the person who goes to their job with the intention of doing poorly. People naturally want to perform well, obtaining solid results. They want the win. Tutors love teaching. They look for the "aha' moments and the epiphanies from their students. Being prepared and fully engaged in each subject allows for these wins. And every tutor deserves the space to bridge into their next assignment. Life is busy and sometimes tough. Being prepared and engaged to each session will bring the win for both students and tutors alike. 1/1/2020 0 Comments X-Skills X-Skills is an amazing tool to help tweens and teens learn to prioritize and organize their lives for the best educational success. All our tutors who work with tweens and teens should take the on-line tutorial on how to execute X-Skills properly as well as review the tutor guide. All this is found in the Tutor Resource Library on this site. The Academic Game Plan (AGP or X-Skills) should be used when students are overwhelmed or need help organizing. There are tips, tricks, and techniques to show them how to study and prepare for projects and exams. This tool is to be implemented along with normal tutoring. While working on AGP, the tutor should think of themselves as an accountability partner or coach more than a subject tutor. AGP helps students break down old, poor habits and rebuild healthy, new ones. This takes an academic coach. Proper and consistent use of the AGP will help the Tutor Doctor circle (teachers, parents, tutor, student) achieve the goal of life-long, independent learners. This sets us apart from other tutoring organizations. This is necessary for success. |