Teacher Tips

TUTORING TO PREVENT UNDERACHIEVEMENT

Avoid fostering dependence. Explain concepts. Have children demonstrate understanding. Insist on independent problem solving and carry-through of assignments. Children should absolutely not have someone sitting by their side as they complete all their assignments. Encourage them to push their own limits a little at a time.

Provide a goal-oriented framework for the students, including time lines and the charting of accomplishment. Tutoring should feel purposeful. Will they be able to test out to a higher reading or math group? Can they learn to write for a school newspaper? When they achieve their goals, will they be able to choose to discontinue tutoring?

Move children through material as quickly as they can handle the skills. These are bright children receiving individualized instruction. The sense of rapid progress will encourage their confidence in their achievement and will generalize to their classroom.

Poor tutoring can reinforce the underachieving pattern. Good tutoring can provide a spring-board to better achievement in school. Underachieving children can easily trap tutors into dependencies. Tutors, therefore, should understand children’s patterns to avoid the trap and help them correct the deficiencies as quickly as possible.

From Learning Leads Q-Cards: Teacher Tips, by Dr. Sylvia Rimm (Apple Publishing, 1990).

Interested in learning more? Visit www.sylviarimm.com or look for the book: WHY BRIGHT KIDS GET POOR GRADES—AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT by Dr. Sylvia Rimm.

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Last update: 8/14/2006 11:12:04 AM