Hello again,
I just found an article in Edutopia entitled: "What Makes a Successful Tutor?" The article states that one of the most consistent factors for successful tutoring is developing a strong personal relationship with a student.
"More and more parents and educators are realizing that tutoring gets to
the heart of learning, personalizing the meaning and instruction of the
subject at hand. With all the distraction in today's hyper-technological
world, some face-to-face interaction through mentoring, tutoring and
coaching is exactly what students need most."
How many of you are connecting with at least one student in your class that you can work with consistently. Or perhaps several students for whom you can rotate working with one-on-one? Please don't mention any student names but describe in a few sentences how this is working for you.
I have a select few kids I work with in my class. Over the class period I have become closer to these kids to where they feel more comfertable working with me and sharing when they need help. I think this article has a good point because who would want to learn from someone they did not like?
ReplyDeleteAshley,
DeleteI'm glad to hear that students are feeling comfortable with you, and I'm sure they are benefiting from your help. I know you are an asset in Ms. Crossen's class. Good job thus far.
In my class there is a handful of students that don't necessarily struggle with the work but just don't want/ think they can do it. In these cases I have been working one on one with pretty much each of them to maybe explain the assignment in a different way and or help them with presenting/ completing it. I also agree with Ashley in that I think that working with someone you are comfortable with and like will probably have a better outcome.
ReplyDeleteSloane, I'm happy to hear that you've found some specific students to work with and help academically. Keep up the good work! I'm sure they are feeling comfortable with your help.
DeleteI met one girl who doesn't speak English very well and came to Wilson a week late. She has a very hard time and doesn't talk to many people in the class. My teacher had me go to get her textbook with her on her first day, and we talked a lot and had a lot in common. I always say hello to her outside of class, and start conversations with her. I think its important that she feels like she has someone in her class. I often help her read. After every page or so we finish, we both talk about what is happening in the text and what we like or don't like about it. I also try to explain the things that might be harder to understand. Lately she has been doing a lot better. And her English has been improving a lot too. I think Ashley's comment is important. The more this student has been getting comfortable with me, the better she has been doing in class. She asks me more questions, and it's easier to help her.
ReplyDeleteGreat Clare! It sounds like you have found a good match with this female student, and it's very nice of you to say hello outside of class as well. Good job!
DeleteI've made a conscious effort to get to know the students in my mentor class, and i've formed some superficial friendships with the kids that need help. Everybody seems more comfortable with me, and it certainly improves the class dynamic.
ReplyDeleteGood job in developing positive relationships with students in the class. Please check in with your mentor teacher to see if there are specific student/s for you to work with on a regular basis. Keep up the good work.
DeleteI've found that by often walking the classroom and just talking to the students, sometimes joking, makes them feel safer in a sense. I feel the students feel they can be open with me and when too afraid to ask a question to the teacher, in fear of embarrasment, they can ask me. I have atleast four students that constantly call on me in class for help, often times if theres more than two I will set up a group help table in the back. I've also found that students are more likely to ask a question if I'm walking around rather than me seating in the front. My biggest break through was having one of my students stop me in the halls during lunch and ask for help on an assignment, Its nice to know they feel they can come to me whenever. Seeing how I often stamp the homework at the start of class, I've noticed that more and more student who often don't do their homework are completing their assignmnets. I appreciate the respect most students have shown me and the trust they have displayed.
ReplyDeleteGreat Greg! That's a wonderful idea to set up a group help table. I'm happy to hear that students are asking you for help even outside of the classroom-- that's exactly what we hoped for. Keep up the good work!
DeleteI have a student who I think wants to succeed but isn't quite there on his own. He seems to feel comfortable with me and I hope to be able to work with him more. My class has a writer in the schools right now, so I can be helpful in making sure students (specifically those struggling) know what is expected of them and can answer their questions.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of how I get along with the whole class, they seem to be less afraid of me and I think they feel comfortable enough talking to me. I can see that it's a good class filled with students who want to learn, but some of them might just need a little push from me. In time I think I'll be able to get them on the right track.
I'm glad to hear that you have made a connection with one student, and that you have a sense that students feel comfortable with you. Sounds like things are going well!
DeleteI have several students in the class I mentor who have a hard time staying on task and completing the work. When I first started the class the teacher introduced me to these students so I could start helping them. The two students who I help a majority of the time are English Second Language and have a harder time keeping up with in-class reading. I have developed a relationship with these students and they talk to me outside of the classroom comfortably. This relationship has helped the students be comfortable working with me. They have a certain amount of respect for me now and will listen to me when I sternly remind them to stay on task.
ReplyDeleteIan, sounds like you have developed a good rapport with some of the ESL students in the class. Keep up the good work in helping them achieve positive results in their academics and learning.
DeleteThere are only a few kids in the class who have difficulty focusing, but I've found ways to connect with them on a personal level, specifically through personal interests. It gives me a reason to approach them other than just to remind them to stay on task or that they have work that they can be doing. I think this helps me appear more like a real person rather than their "mentor", and to find a deeper understanding in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are connecting with students Tristan. Please check in with your mentor teacher to see if she has some specific student/s she would like you to work with regularly. Thanks.
DeleteI found its definitely easier to help students when you're not talking down on them as a teacher or "mentor," but talking to them as if they are just another classmate or peer. Students are more likely to ask for help if you walk around the class and offer if they need anything, connecting with them by getting on their level affects their willingness to ask for help on their own. There are already a few students in my class that I know need a little more help than the others and I have worked when them on certain projects and helped them organize their work to be able to keep up with the rest of the class. A few days ago a new student arrived and I helped them adjust and catch up to where the class was already at. I found it easier to approach the new student at a personal level because they seemed more comfortable, and being a new student at a school, I know that it can be hard.
ReplyDeleteSeems like you're fitting right into the classroom. I hope you have found a student to work with on a regular basis. Perhaps the new student?
ReplyDeleteIn Mrs. Anderson's 3rd period English class, most of the students are quite smart and independent. The teacher often comments on how great the class does as a whole. There is a small number a students in the class, 3 or 4, who I'm helping out on a frequent basis. The other mentor and I will take the select few up to the library and help them complete assignments that were late or missing. That's the main problem the students are coping with. Their class work is just fine, it's just their homework that is lacking. Since I sometimes suffer from the same problem from time to time, I can connect with them directly and help them through that.
ReplyDeleteJake, I just found this comment. I'm glad you have connected with some students to work with on a frequent basis in Ms. Anderson's class. Keep up the good work.
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