I picked these categories to highlight because I am excellent, acceptable and down right bad at them.
modeling 3/4- When I tutor, I usually bring my notes, books and any other worksheet that helped me understand the material at the time. By doing this I have modeled that it may take more than reading the text to fully grasp a concept. Also, I am revealing to my clients that I am some amazing super-learner that can do it with her eyes closed or something. You have to work at it.
fosters independence 2- In the same way I model, I also ask my clients to find certain concepts for me in their book. This way they are getting used to using their book for all it has to give, and they are used to the time it may take in order to use their materials fully. I try to say things that congratulate them on finding the answer (in the book) by themselves. Hopefully, they will start to realize that they can open their book without me sitting next to them!
approachability 3- I try to be very welcoming! I wanna help the students feel like it’s “okay” to come to TJ’s. I also try to make them comfortable with talking and thinking out loud in front of their tutor. I tell them that it makes the whole learning process easier!
scaffolding 1- if not worse! Anyway, I feel that I have a hard time breaking things down into little digestable pieces for my clients. Sometimes I can’t help but throw in unnecessary details that I think help but actually are just more complicating. I try to soldify certain concepts by explaining their influence in another area or class which only makes thing more confusing for them. I need to work on keeping it simple and ignore my urges to throw in extra facts!
