I agree with these observations by Brian Tolentino (a gifted educator btw - I strongly recommend checking out his website), but I feel powerless in my school-based role to change the current situation. While I can instigate change in some areas, overall, it requires a united effort across an entire staff to bring about tangible change. Fortunately, I run my own small business and I can conduct my tutoring sessions in the way I know works.
Whenever possible, my sessions involve:
• Short handwriting warm-ups (letter formation, spacing, pencil control);
• Stopping to review a spelling misunderstanding, highlighting patterns;
• Modelling editing aloud, showing how to spot punctuation errors;
• Pausing to highlight particular words or sentences during writing tasks;
• Constantly questioning to activate engagement and idea-sharing;
• Reiterating the purpose, meaning and structure of written texts;
• Reading aloud and rereading to solidify language patterns and fluency.
After a while, momentum really starts to kick in. I also encourage students to make links between tutoring sessions and how they function in the classroom. These micro-tasks keep the tutoring highly interactive and instructive while directly building the foundational habits needed for school success. - Mel
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