When you're starting as a new tutor, nothing seems more intimidating than figuring out exactly what you will do during your sessions. At my first session, I was freaking out because I thought I wouldn't be able to fill the hour with activities. Needless to say, I survived. And over time, I have found that there are several methods to creating a lesson plan that everyone should use.
First, always try to incorporate a greeting. This can be a few simple questions about school, work, or family, and it seems to make everything run a little more smoothly. During my sessions, I try to ask questions about what my learner studied in school that day, what activities they participated in or planned to participate in, and what book they were reading. This seems trivial, but it can really help the learner feel more comfortable and it will help you know more about your learner.
Second, no matter what your topic, always attempt to incorporate some sort of fun activity. When I was tutoring an adult, this meant reading magazines and talking about current events. With my high school learner, we would play scrabble (he was very competitive!). When I was tutoring a 13-year-old who was very interested in art, we would draw or do a craft at every session. And when I tutored a kindergarten student, we colored with sidewalk chalk, carved pumpkins, made comic strips and puppets, and played board games. There is so much you can do to help your learner understand that reading can be fun!
If you feel like looking online for activities to go with every lesson you teach, I recommend sites like Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and First-School for younger learners, and, for older learners, sites like Education Online and Internet for Classrooms. Be creative with your activities and your learner will be sure to have fun!
Third, always write with your learner. Although writing doesn't seem like a confusing activity to do, tutors often ask what they should write about. In my opinion, any writing works. If your learner enjoys poetry, read a popular poem (Where the Sidewalk Ends is a very good book to use!) and have them try to write their own following a similar style, tone, or subject. If you prefer to use writing prompts, there are websites like Super Teacher and The Teacher's Corner. These sites have printable writing prompts as well as daily writing topics for learners of any age!
When it comes to writing with your learner, remember to always set a few "Writing Guidelines". For example, I would print up a few simple rules about grammar (use a period at the end of your sentence, capitalize names, etc.), and place that sheet in the front of their writing notebook. Also, remember to keep your writing area as free from distractions as possible. Don't forget to be relaxed about it. You wont be tutoring a young Charles Dickens, so don't expect their writing to be perfect!
Finally, always read for pleasure. Allow your learner to choose a book or choose a book that you think they would truly enjoy reading. Read aloud to them and let them know that the book you are reading is just for fun. If you do this, it will help to end every lesson with a reminder that reading is fun and it models good reading skills for the learner.
By including these elements in your tutoring session, you can make each session enjoyable for you and for your learner, and you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you have plenty of activities to keep your learner interested!
No comments:
Post a Comment