FAQs
- Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
One of my favorite success stories is a student who came to me as a fourth grader. She was extremely confused about math because her first three years of elementary school were at a French language school. Not only was math taught in French, which was not her first language, but the math instructors were also really bad. Also, she would get emotional about mathsometimes shed get so upset that she would freeze up. We started with a lot of math drill, reviewing arithmetic concepts that were unclear from years of math instruction in French. Then we moved on to mixing that with a review of what she was working on in class. We worked very slowly, and at the end of every page or every problem I would give her a high five and a special sticker. (Now, after all Ive learned about rewards and motivation, I might not give her a sticker every single time.) Another helpful strategy was paying attention to her emotions of frustration and anxiety, and modeling how to handle them. When she got frustrated or anxious, I would stay calm, just like I hoped shed learn to stay calm in the face of a challenge. One day she got really upset about some things in her life that were stressing her out, and I could tell she needed a break. So we packed up our work and spent the rest of the session leisurely exploring the beautiful library where we met for tutoring. Very gradually, things improved to the point where she even told me that she loved certain kinds of problems. This made me so proud of her! It was amazing to see her going from feeling scared and confused about math to actually being comfortable and delighted with it. Overall, I think what worked for her was just personalized and caring attention with a stress-free vibe.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
The first time you speak with a tutor you're thinking about hiring, pay attention to how the interaction feels. Does the potential tutor listen to you carefully? Do they ask you good questions? Do they seem to have a sense of humor? Would you feel comfortable working with them one-on-one? Trust yourself. Then, try the tutor out for one paid session to make sure theyre a good fit before making a final decision. By the end of the initial meeting, you should have a clear sense of whether or not you want to continue. Things to look for: Does the tutor pay attention to whether or not the student understands? Do they adjust their approach if the student doesnt understand? A good tutor will explain things different ways until they find the way that clicks for you. Ask yourself, do I feel comfortable with this tutor? The more honest you can be about what you dont understand, the more effective the tutoring will be. Also, is the tutor helping? It may take several sessions before you start to see improvement in grades as a result of tutoring, but you should feel like you understand things at least a little bit better after the first session. The bottom line: Trust your own instincts and feelings. Every tutor has their own style, and you want to find someone who works with your style. The best tutors not only know what theyre talking about and can help you understand it, but theyll also help you feel good about the whole process.