Paul C.'s Blog at WyzAnt.com

Suggestions for finding the BEST tutor for your child or student.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

When interviewing a prospective tutor, parents should ask about the tutor's skills and experience, and find out if the tutor truly enjoys teaching. When the tutor feels enthusiastic about the subject, and communicates well, the student has an opportunity to learn to enjoy the subject too.

I recommend for parents to observe the first lesson to see the tutor's skills in action, and watch/listen carefully to future lessons when possible, to make sure the tutor has an encouraging, supportive attitude at all times. (Tutors should welcome and respond positively to the child's questions, and NEVER make the child feel "stupid," no matter what.) It is most important to have a safe and quiet place for studying, without distractions. I like to find a quiet table at a library, and work with students there. I welcome suggestions from parents, and I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching skills.

Congratulations to Scott W for passing all of your classes and getting very good grades!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Scott W for passing all of your classes and getting very good grades, in even the very challenging subjects!

Different types of learners need different approaches to teaching

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

We've been told that each student tends to have a dominant learning style. In my experience, I would say that the Visual-Dominant Learning Style is most common (#1), then the Auditory Learning Style (#2), and then the Tactile or Kinetic Learning Style (#3).

Some teachers seem to love talking a lot, so their students may get 90% of more of their information in the Auditory form. That is not good for some students. Other teachers and professors like to "put it all on the board," and let students do their own note-taking, and draw their own conclusions. There are some "teachers" who do not do very much explaining. Worst of all, a few teachers--at least-- actually discourage students from asking questions. (Amazing, but true, right?)

Before I paint a picture that is too gloomy, please understand that I believe most teachers do a good job of teaching. Some teachers are great at their jobs. In typical classrooms, the visual and the auditory go together, so students don't have to depend on just one learning style. But students probably don't have that many opportunities for "hands-on" learning, except in science lab classes like Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.

From my experience, the "mix" that seems to work best is actually a combination of all three learning styles. When you can see it, and hear it, then talk about it, and "draw a picture of it," or utilize a "hands-on learning model," you are more likely to learn and remember the concepts. When we can make the subject material more "concrete" for students, they are less likely to forget it all too quickly. After we go over a new concept, I ask my students to "teach it back to me," so that I know they understand it fully. That really helps.

The more I learn about the various learning styles, the more I realize that I have a lot more to learn! Any helpful comments or feedback you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to MADISON for her dedication and good grades in her challenging business classes.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to MADISON for her dedication and good grades in her challenging business classes. Madison, we're proud of you for doing a great job--it looks like you're going to get A's and B's in all of your classes. Since you are taking some very challenging subjects, passing them all and getting good grades is a praiseworthy accomplishment on your part!

Congratulations to CHRIS, for getting A's in some very challenging business courses.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to CHRIS, for getting A's in some very challenging business courses. You are taking a heavy load of classes, plus you have other multiple responsibilities. You deserve a lot of credit for your good work in your Information Systems, Financial Accounting II, Management, and other classes. You're headed for success. Keep up the good work!

Congratulations to Niesha for getting an "A" on her Operations Management final exam.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Niesha for getting an "A" on her Operations Management final exam. That was a challenging class, and I know you worked hard for your good grades. I am so proud of you for your dedication and resulting success. Keep up the good work, and before you know it, you will be graduating!

This one is for the Moms...

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

I'm sure you've noticed this--For some reason teenagers in general, especially young men, tend to "resist" when their mothers ask them to do something. Even when they do obey, they seem to have an attitude of "dragging their feet" sometimes....It might be a subconscious part of growing up. I'm not sure why, but I do remember feeling that way when I was a teenager too.

So sometimes it really helps to have a coach or tutor or someone else do the "pushing" that is needed. (And it can give moms a break, so they don't have to be the only ones doing all the pushing...Moms, you deserve a break once in a while too.) :)

I encourage--push--my students to put in more effort before our sessions, doing as much as they can on their own, which saves time & money and also lets the students build confidence that they can do more "self-starting" in the future.

Comments are welcome--I'd like to hear your thoughts and feedback on this.

Thanks, and have a great day.

Congratulations to BEN for passing all of his classes, and getting good grades!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to BEN for passing all of his classes, and getting good grades! Ben, we're proud of you!

Physical Exercise and Nutrition DO affect our brain performance and brain health.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

As you may know, I am a big fan of the well-known author and brain specialist, Dr. Daniel Amen. He mentions in several of his books that Physical Exercise is good for the brain. I have read of research studies that showed a clear correlation between IMPROVEMENT in students' test scores in math and science, and their level of physical activity (for example, when math class followed PE class, the students had significantly higher scores). Maybe we should schedule PE before all math classes in our schools. What do you think about that idea?

This morning I read an online article on the myhealthnewsdaily site, entitled "6 Foods That Are Good for Your Brain," and another article about how Physical Exercise helps maintain healthy brain in older adults too. The second article, "For a Healthy Brain, Physical Exercise Trumps Mental Workout" was found under Yahoo News.

The remainder of this note is quoted from that article:

Regular physical exercise appears to protect the brain from shrinking, an otherwise natural process in old age that is associated with memory and thinking problems.

Conversely, mentally and socially stimulating activities, long believed to stimulate the brain, had no major effect on preventing brain shrinkage, according to a study published today (Oct. 22) in the journal Neurology.

In other words, if you want to maximize the mind-enriching benefits of playing chess, pick a match across town and run or walk vigorously to it.

This relatively large brain-imaging study, which included brain scans using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), involved more than 600 people in Scotland between the ages 70 and 73. The researchers found a strong and direct correlation revealing that as physical exercise increases, brain shrinkage decreases.

"People in their seventies who participated in more physical exercise, including walking several times a week, had less brain shrinkage and other signs of aging in the brain than those who were less physically active," said lead author Alan J. Gow of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. "On the other hand, our study showed no real benefit to participating in mentally and socially stimulating activities on brain size, as seen on MRI scans, over the three-year time frame."

We ALL have some GAPS...

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Even the best teachers are not perfect. Thinking back to my own experience with my previous teachers, I realize that some of them had a bad day now and then. Or maybe I was the one having a bad day. In either case, it seems that most classrooms have some distractions* from time to time. Once I got "off track" during a lesson, it was really hard to catch up.

*Examples of distractions include situations where other students are moving or making noises, my own worries about friends or school, family concerns, being hungry, needing to go to the restroom, looking for a pen or pencil, or needing to sharpen a pencil, etc. There are many sources of distraction. Even "fear of failure" can be a distraction!

During those distracting moments, we probably missed out on some element of a lesson, and that created a GAP--maybe a critical missing piece of our learning process. One of the goals of working with a tutor is to fill in those gaps, so we can do our best in the future. Sometimes it only takes a lesson or two. Filling in some gaps can build confidence, bring relief from "test anxiety" headaches, and allow us to succeed in subjects that we used to find difficult.

Making math and science fun

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Playing a math game. Following a recipe. Building a science project, robot, or electronic kit... These are some ways to use hands-on learning activities to make science and math more interesting. This summer, for example, I have been using some new modules that include electronics/science of electricity, automotive engine technology, solar energy labs, etc. for "gifted", "average", and "special needs" students. And everybody loved the new study lessons. Even the ADD/ADHD students (myself included) stayed interested during entire lessons.

I think we need more of this sort of thing in the schools. What do you think? If hands-on learning can keep the attention of ADD/ADHD students, it can work for other students too! I enjoy watching students learn through interactive games that utilize technology. For example, we like to race the clock and fill in math and science puzzles. There are many active ways to make learning more interesting, and before you know it, lessons can go from "boring" to FUN!

Congratulations to Niesha for getting an "A" in her graduate-level STATISTICS class!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Niesha for getting an "A" in her graduate-level STATISTICS class!

Success vs. Stress, including Fear of Failure and Memory Problems

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

A few keys to success in school (for people with or without A.D.D.):

We need to concentrate on taking notes in classes, and possibly use a digital recorder to record some classes. (That makes a tremendous difference for many of my A.D.D. students, because they can "go back and listen" to things they missed when distractions occurred.) Examples of distractions include when other students are moving or making noises, worries or concerns**, being hungry, needing to go to the restroom, looking for a pen or pencil, or needing to sharpen a pencil, etc. There are many sources of distractions. Even **fear of failure** can be a distraction!

What about memory problems?

Actually all of us have trouble with remembering from time to time--it's part of being human, right? Heck, even computers have memory problems occasionally, so it seems that some degree of "forgetfulness" is basically a universal condition.

Some good news for A.D.D. students: If we are able to use a digital RECORDER, that should help to "level the playing field," like wearing glasses can level the playing field for a student who needs glasses to see well. Many students can look back on times when they got discouraged, and it made it harder for them to do their best work in classes. **Fear of failure**, or a feeling that "it's just too hard" can have a negative impact on performance in classes. It can be a distraction that makes it harder to focus and concentrate on the present.

I remember a few years ago, when President Bush sent some additional troops to help in combat zones, we called that "a surge," and it helped to improve the overall situation there. Sometimes we need to use a "surge" strategy, like sprinting at the end of a marathon, to help get us through a class.

If our goal is to pass all of our classes, we're have to give it all we've got. Success in school (especially in high school and college) leads to success in life.

Speaking as a parent of an A.D.D. student now: Since we want our children to do their best, we tend to put pressure on them. We have to be careful in doing this, because it can sometimes backfire--if we put too much pressure on them, it could cause them to "obsess" about failing, which in turn makes it harder for them to concentrate on succeeding. The challenge is motivating with just the right amount of pressure, and also making sure to give words of encouragement. If a student knows that people believe in him or her, it makes it easier to visualize success, and visualizing success is a key to making it happen.

Helping students to become self-sufficient, confident, and successful in school

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

I was reading what another WyzAnt tutor said, and I realized that he and I have the same attitude towards tutoring:

We cherish each and every student, and enjoy working with them, but we don’t necessarily want to build a long-term relationship with them. I compare this situation to birds learning to fly. They need help at first, but it is important for them to learn to be self-sufficient, and learn to handle the challenges on their own.

My goal is to help you to get on track, fill in some "gaps," and then let you "fly" on your own, when you are ready.

In the future, if more help is needed with a new challenge, I am always glad to help.

As John from California said, "Many students were never taught the basic concepts behind their courses. Because of that, the entire course can be a struggle for them." That problem does not just happen out West. I have found that to be true here too. If you were never taught the basic concepts, we will work on those first. That will give you a "foundation" that we can build on, so you can be confident and master your most challenging subject.

Congratulations to Dhruv for getting straight A's on his report card!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Dhruv for getting straight A's on his report card!

Congratulations on another GREAT exam score

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Donetta, for doing a GREAT job on her licensing exam. Your dedication and hard work during our lessons, and on your own, really paid off. I'm looking forward to studying with you for your GRE exam next.

Have a super day!

Congratulations to BEN S. for bringing his overall ACT score up by 6 points!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to BEN S. for bringing his overall ACT score up by 6 points! And "more congratulations" for getting into the college of your choice! I have really enjoyed working with you, and I'm thrilled by your success. Your hard work and dedication to studying paid off.

Best of luck to you in school, and always.

ACT and SAT scores coming UP! Isn't it nice to get some GOOD NEWS?

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Several of my students recently got the test results from their last A.C.T. exam, and we have lots of good news! Math and Reading scores improved the most, followed by Science and English. Most students showed great improvements in ALL areas. The new study methods really make a difference. If you have any questions, please EMAIL me for details:

www.wyzant.com/tutors/MakingMathEasy

I'll be happy to share with you and/or work with you to help you improve your TEST scores!

Congratulations to Jourdan for her GREAT score on the GRE exam!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Way to go Jourdan---We're proud of you for getting a GREAT score on the GRE!

Best wishes for your continued academic success as you pursue your higher education.

Study tips from the Professionals

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

I have been giving my students some of the same tips as you will find below. I don't consider myself an "expert" like these fine University College Deans, who were asked if they had any words of wisdom for students.

Here are some of their "Tips for Success" in school:

Dr. Anne M. – "Be sure to participate in class and submit assignments on time."

Dr. Kevin B. – "Get in class early and often. Do your work early...If you think the assignment or quiz will take an hour, plan for two hours. Never be afraid to ask for help, use tutors and topical forums."

Claude P. – "Attend class and participate—it's your education, get involved. Get the work done early to allow for revision and review. Be prepared for class so that you can maximize your learning."

Dr. Hank R. – "Plan Ahead and Practice Often:

Plan Ahead – At the beginning of the semester carefully review readings, assignments and other major activities and write up an action plan to complete the work in advance of the deadlines. This will allow for extra time to review your work, make any last minute revisions, and prepare adequately. If you do this with a few classmates – even better!

Practice Often – ... At least once in each class complete an assigned paper early, get feedback..., and incorporate the suggested revisions into a final version. With this guided practice you will learn to critically evaluate your writing and incorporate improvements from your own review and feedback of others. Quality writing will always translate into academic success!"

These were so good, I just had to share them. I hope you find them helpful too.

Congratulations to Dhruv!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Dhruv for his accomplishment of getting 100% on a challenging math test.

His dedication and hard work paid off --- Three cheers for Dhruv!

The Full Job of a Tutor

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Yes, you're are right -- my job includes helping students get A's in challenging classes. Even if I do a wonderful job at helping them "master the material," pass all the tests, "learn how to learn and think for themselves," and get A's in all their classes, I am still only doing half of my job.

The other half of my job is just as important, and it starts with preparation, and ONGOING learning on my part. There is always improvement in technology, and there are always new methods of teaching being developed. I must constantly be improving my teaching and communication skills, in order to help my students maximize their own potential. So in a nutshell, it's not just about students learning what they need to learn. It's also about me learning as much as I can to help me do a great job at instructing them. It's all about the student, but it has to start with me doing my part. I always like to learn new things, and I hope to help cultivate that attitude--the love of learning--in each student that I work with.

How to do your BEST THINKING during the BIG TEST

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Getting plenty of sleep EVERY NIGHT during the week of the big test.

Drinking plenty of water (some extra) for SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE the test, and enough during the test too, in small sips. (Having to go to the bathroom a lot is also stressful, so moderation is important here). They say most people don't drink nearly enough water. If we are even slightly dehydrated, it can cause the brain to slow down 10 to 20% or more, which makes a big difference on timed tests that require you to think QUICKLY.

Getting exercise, and the right mix of oxygen to the brain is so important. Exercise can also help reduce feelings of stress. Does anyone want to go jogging for a while before you get ready to go to the big test?

Good nutrition -- protein is "brain food," along with the right vitamins, minerals, Omega III essential oils, B-Complex vitamins, Lecithin, etc. It is worth consulting a nutritionist if you want to have peak performance from your brain. I know several excellent nutritional consultants, if you are interested in that.

Staying away from toxins, avoiding too much sugar or salt, and keeping caffeine to a minimum can help a lot too. When people drink too much caffeine, they get "hyped-up" and the brain sometimes reacts to caffeine like it reacts to adrenaline--kind of a "fight or flight" reaction that keeps them from staying cool and thinking clearly. When we are in "panic mode," we don't do our best thinking. For example: If we were running from a tiger or lion, we would have a hard time thinking about how to do an Algebra problem, right?

What do you think of that?

For more study tips, click on the EMAIL button to send me an email, and BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ON THE BIG TEST!

Congratulations to Steven on ACT score, and getting accepted to the college of his choice!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to Steven on improving your ACT score, and getting accepted to the college of your choice! We're proud of you for your dedication to studying. The time and energy that you invested in studying will pay off for you "many times over" in the years to come.

Your understanding of technology, and your skills with computers are simply amazing. If you are consistent and stay on track with your studies, I am sure you will do GREAT things.

Studying and working with you has been an honor, and I hope we can work together again in the future!

Here's wishing you an AWESOME first year at the University!

Congratulations to Shelia for surviving BioStatistics, and getting a good grade!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

BioStatistics is one of the toughest classes out there... When I first saw some of the problems you had to solve for that class, I realized we were in for a challenge! Even though we got a late start working together, you were able to bring your grade up to a very respectable ____ % in the class. You worked with amazing dedication, in spite of a busy schedule with family, work, and school...

My hat is off to you---CONGRATULATIONS!

A word to parents.... there may be a SILVER LINING.

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

I have two (teen) sons, and a younger daughter. I'll bet there are times when my children would listen to advice from you, and take it more seriously coming from you, than they would take advice from me. Whether we like it or not, most kids start at a young age learning how to have "selective hearing," when they hear mom or dad talking.

It's not all bad though. As you know, a big part of growing up is developing that individuality, and that strength of personality, which causes teens to be resistant to the advice of their own parents. I went through that stage myself, and I wish I could somehow give my "hindsight" to my children. (If they would just listen!) We wish our kids would realize how important school is, and take studies more seriously. Success in school leads to success in life, right?

There may be a "silver lining" here, because that "strength of personality" is one trait that can help a young man or woman resist peer pressure, and ultimately can help him or her be successful in other areas of life. Cheers, and prayers, and best wishes!

You deserve the best education, why not give yourself the best tutoring? A good education REALLY pays -- for life!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

It sounds like everyone is having an exceptionally busy week, with school starting, work, music, sports, and other activities....

My schedule is filling fast too--with good students who want to get a jump on studying for the more challenging subjects. As you know, when we can study together consistently, it will make a much bigger difference than just a lesson here or there.

You deserve the best education, so why not give yourself the best tutoring? Like they say, a good education really pays -- FOR LIFE!

Congratulations to Chris for getting STRAIGHT A's in his college summer classes

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Accounting, Statistics, Business Law.... those are not easy classes. Congratulations on getting STRAIGHT A's Chris! Keep up the good work, and call me any time you want to study together to prepare for a test.

Cheers!
PC

Congratulations to Kayla for being "MOST IMPROVED" in math!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Congratulations to my tutoring student Kayla, for being "MOST IMPROVED" in math. Her teacher gave her a CERTIFICATE in celebration of her achievement.

It's NOT all "Peaches and Cream..."

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Paul C.

Some of my students have nice things to say about me, but it's not all "Peaches and Cream..." I've had some bad experiences tutoring too. One very cold day, we had icy snow in the city, and I live about half an hour south, so I was thinking about canceling my tutoring appointment, due to the weather. I was scheduled for a 5:30pm appointment with a new 2nd grader.

In spite of the snowy roads, I drove over an hour to get to my appointment, hoping and praying that I would not end up in the ditch. I really wanted to help these people, who seemed very nice on the phone. Actually they were very nice, and so was their son, but we had several distractions. We were directed to the kitchen table, as the location for our lessons. People kept coming in and out of the room. Then there was the puppy in the cage next to the kitchen table, that kept making noises while the boy tried to read. The mom had asked us to read a long story, and finish several pages of homework in different subjects, in less than an hour. (It was partly my fault, because I was a few minutes late, due to the icy roads.)

The little boy seemed very shy at first, and it took some time to break through that. Just as we were getting up to speed, and the little boy was starting to get comfortable with his storybook, the parents came in and asked me to go outside and look at my car. The mom was afraid that she had hit my car when she tried to back her vehicle out of the garage. It was dark outside, and I could not see very well, but it looked like my car was O.K. As I came back in, a child in another room was making noises. I tried to help the boy concentrate on his story, but he was having trouble with some of the larger words. I helped him sound them out, and made sure he was reading them correctly. The boy became more confident as we went along, and I offered to give the family the next tutoring session free, since I had been a few minutes late that day.

They later sent me an email, and said they would like to try a different tutor. They are the only people who have given me a 3-star review for a tutoring session. All of my other students have rated me at 4 or 5 stars. It is situations like this that make me appreciate the many wonderful students that I work with regularly.

I realize that I should have re-scheduled due to the weather. By trying to "go the extra mile," I may have gone overboard. Maybe that goes to show that we are ALL learning, every day. Myself included.

Most importantly, when I get great students to work with, I offer discounts in addition to the WyzAnt discounts, to show my appreciation for them. Congratulations again to all my current students, who have gotten all A's and B's this semester!