| | So I've decided to start tutoring this year as for several reasons. One being that I wanted to do some more volunteering, but more selfishly, I am also doing it to help me figure out what I want to do with my life. A long time ago, I decided to do away with the idea of being a teacher, for the traditional classroom is just too overwhelming to me, but I thought maybe working one on one with a child would be easier. I have been proven wrong already and I've only been tutoring for two months.
The first time I tutored, things started off strong. We met, fought our five minutes of shyness where she refused to talk to me, and i found out that she has fifteen siblings. Fighting through my shock I asked " are you sure some of them aren't just your friends or cousins?" (She's seven, maybe she's confused!) It wasn't until she started naming them all that I really started believe her. Wow, can we guess that lack of attention is going to be a problem? The first time ended without any major hiccups besides me having severe anxiety as to how we were going to fill an hour and a half of tutoring time each week when we were forbidden to work on homework with them.
The second time I went, things went relatively well, but my student was distracted and not being very agreeable to the activities I picked out. Therefore, I gave her a 2 out of 3 on "behavior points" for the day. This was obviously the end of the world because once I tried to talk to her about WHY she was only getting a two out of three (and consequently not receiving a sticker this week for perfect behavior) she proceeded to throw all of her papers and activities across her room, including her pencils. I felt like one of those parents in the mall with the temper tantrum throwing child in tow. All of the other tutors were looking at me, the other students were looking at my student. It was not pretty.
This past week, tutoring went relatively well again. No tantrums were thrown because I gave her a three on behavior (I learned my lesson). This week involved lots of dance moves instead of learning...I think my student wants to be a hip hop dancer. I rewarded her for doing math problems by showing her some of my "white girl" dance moves. Those went over well, so well, that she made me show all of her siblings (friends?) and their respective tutors. I, once again, was the girl everyone was staring at. Maybe I am more cut out for a job in a cubicle by myself.
|
| | Posted 12/2/2007 5:00 PM - 81 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
