ontheedgeofeverything

If you were to ask any random child how they felt about the idea of having, or needing, a tutor, chances are they would likely say they aren’t entirely enthusiastic about the idea. Understandably so; when I was in elementary school, I needed a math tutor because I was really struggling, and I can recall feeling ashamed and embarrassed about it. I didn’t want anyone to know I needed a tutor outside of my immediate family because requiring one suggested to me that I wasn’t intelligent enough to study a subject without outside assistance. I felt stupid and helpless, and while the tutoring did in fact help me tremendously, I still was not able to look past my own pride and acknowledge that needing a tutor was not an indication of my own lack of intelligence.

No one particularly enjoys recognizing they need help with something, arguably because it feels a little demeaning. Not for everyone, of course, but based on my own experiences and observations now that I am a tutor myself, most kids are not thrilled about needing one.

Now that I’m working as a tutor and have grown up a little, I have come to realize just how helpful tutors can be. I am a firm believer that all people learn and retain information differently, so it makes sense that some kids struggle in school because they’re presented with one learning method; if this method doesn’t jive with how they intake knowledge, they’re probably going to struggle.

I enjoy familiarizing myself with a client’s learning style because it helps me to assist them to the best extent possible. It doesn’t make much sense to attempt to tutor someone using the same learning methods they’re being presented with in the classroom if it already isn’t working for them, so I try my best to understand each person I work with in hopes of truly and actually assisting them with learning. It’s a personalized approach, and I think it’s very beneficial.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash