admin Administrator June 20, 2021 No Comments

The Tutoring Toolbox

One of the biggest objections we hear in regards to tutoring is ‘Tutoring is just giving kids the answers.’ This could not be further from the truth. A good tutor will, yes, teach your children the curriculum, but they’ll do it in a way that adapts to your child’s particular learning style and level, and teaches them to think critically and creatively. A good tutor will never tell your children the answers. They’ll arm them with the tools to figure the answers out for themselves.

Question Time

Thinking back to when you were in school, did you ever wonder why your Maths Teacher would insist you “show your working” in your grid book?

Did it ever cross your mind as to why your English Teacher would say, “you can make any claims you like about a text… as long as you back it up with evidence”?

Tutors use a similar approach, but are in the advantageous position of focussing on one child at a time.

Simply giving students the answers to an equation, riddle or problem does not teach the child how to answer similar questions in future. In fact, authors Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana reveal that encouraging students to ask the questions is more important than having them give the answer. Your child’s tutor won’t give away the answers. Rather, they will help your child consider the right questions to ask, support dynamic thinking, and investigate a problem or question from a variety of angles.

The authors go on to note that tutors who use this approach facilitate deeper learning, and suggest four simple rules for structured questioning:

Rule 1: Encourage the child to ask as many questions as they can, as this gives permission to ask.

Rule 2: Do not judge, discuss, or answer any question in the initial stages, as this creates a safe learning space and protects the child’s potentially fragile confidence.

Rule 3: Record every question exactly as it is stated, which shows the child the tutor respects their independent voice.

Rule 4: Help the student change any statements into a question.

Students who embrace this approach are able to look further into a topic and unlock alternative interpretations of meaning. Not only that, but their confidence is established at a base level.

Learning Transferable Skills

There is much argument for the teaching of processes as opposed to tools in modern education, as evidence suggests this generates transferable skills in students.

Shaun Beard, Superintendent of Teaching and Learning in the USA argues that it is important to teach students why we use certain tools or programs, rather than simply how to use them, and it is argument is valid.

Beard explains that learned skills should be transferable to the workforce after graduation, and that while one business may utilise a specific program, interface or tool learned through school, another may lean towards use of another.

A good tutor will take a holistic approach to your child’s learning, with the view to build upon what they already know, and encourage the application of critical thinking, questioning and understanding of processes in a broad array of areas.

Our Online Tutors at Choice Education Group provide students with a ‘toolbox’ of broad learning skills that help your child get ahead, including the how and why of tools commonly practised in the classroom.

Get Ahead of the Curriculum

Another reason to have a tutor is to master new material before your child learns it in school. This gives your child an advantage by understanding concepts before their peers. It also builds their confidence and encourages participation in class discussions, especially if they were previously reluctant.

A good tutor will begin by reviewing the current syllabus with your child. This helps them understand why they are learning specific topics. It also allows the tutor to explain the rubric and what the teacher expects in submissions. This approach gives your child a better understanding of the subject and its relevance.

Feedback is Important

At Choice Education, we believe children are learners with a natural instinct to seek improvement and achievement. Classroom teachers face significant pressure to give every student equal attention. However, time and curriculum requirements often limit this. Our experienced tutors are dedicated to providing descriptive and useful feedback. This feedback helps guide students to review their own work critically.

In the past, teachers would deliver (sometimes scathing!) feedback to students in front of the whole class. Needless to say, this was arguably a demoralising and defeating experience. Education Consultant and Curriculum Writer Laura Reynolds reminds teachers that feedback should always be either positive or neutral; this is because the ultimate goal of providing feedback is to give the student a “can do” attitude in their approach to academic study.

Suffice to say, your child’s tutor will always focus on your child’s best efforts. Tutors often deliver constructive feedback using phrases like, “What I love about your submission is…” or “I love how you included the main criteria points.” They might say, “You’re halfway there already—fantastic!” before addressing areas for improvement.

Feedback is important to improvement. Students often feel discouraged when they invest time and effort into schoolwork that remains unchecked or receives harsh criticism. Regularly receiving constructive feedback is essential for your child’s academic progress and skill development.

Tutoring is for High-Achievers, too

Likewise, there are students who feel they are not challenged enough at school. Perhaps they are considered high achievers in their mixed-ability English class, or simply don’t find the Mathematics equations difficult to comprehend.

Classroom teachers often recognize a student’s extraordinary capabilities. They may plan ahead to provide additional challenges or extra work. However, teachers are often busy managing large classes. As a result, high-achieving students finish quickly. They may waste the remaining lesson time on unrelated tasks or develop detrimental behaviors.

Our tutors at Choice Education Group excel at providing academic challenges tailored to each student’s ability. They encourage children to explore topics deeply and develop higher-level thinking skills. Your child will gain a broader understanding of school concepts. They will also learn to question and critique information at a level beyond their age group.

Learning to Learn

Once your child has accessed the ‘tutoring toolbox’ and become acquainted with their newfound skills, they are on the fast track to becoming independent learners.

Becoming independent in learning empowers a child to choose what they learn, often beyond the curriculum. They can also decide how they learn, using study techniques that suit them best. Additionally, they can select where they learn most effectively without distractions and whom they learn with.

Tutoring does not mean giving children the answers. It is providing every student with bespoke learning strategies and one-on-one education within and beyond the curriculum. It is the process of learning how to learn, how to question, how to research – and applying those skills to all facets of a child’s life.

Whether you need high school tutors or online tutoring, Choice Education Group is here to help. We prepare your child for scholarship tests and foster critical and creative thinking. Join our one-on-one, group, or online tutor sessions today.