My first tutoring experience was during my senior year of high school. I tutored several kindergartners, as well as a fifth grader. I loved it! Building a relationship with the children while I helped them improve and gain skills was so rewarding. In college, I got a job as a writing center tutor, and have been tutoring in some capacity or another ever since. Many of the students I work with thank me profusely after our sessions—they feel that they have accomplished something worthwhile, and I was able to assist them with that.
In my tutoring sessions, I try to include several things to make the student feel confident and best prepared to learn. I begin the session by checking in with the student about how he or she is, as well as about what he or she wishes to accomplish during the session. As I work with a student on a skill or assignment, I make sure to affirm what he or she is doing correctly--affirmation is so important! After we've talked about what the student is doing correctly, then we can constructively discuss the problems or areas that need to be improved. Throughout the session I also try to make space for the student to ask for clarification. It is important to me that my students learn the material to the best of their ability, and making sure that they understand it is key for success.
Tutoring is something I love because I am able to make a difference in someone's life. I believe that students need more than just more information thrown at them--they need someone who will listen to their frustrations and who will work to find the most effective way to help.
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