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Learning
to multiply with a cool teenager
By Ryleigh Cloyd
Edison State Communications Student
There was a lot of genuine quality and tons of value that came from
tutoring students in grades kindergarten through six. Using free time
throughout the semester to help kids who struggle with reading,
writing, and math is really a great way to spend time. And being able
to work with different kids of different ages every time I tutor was a
nice experience. I became close with a few of the students and knew the
names of almost all of them by my last day. And when a kid or five walk
into the cafeteria and personally ask for me to work with them or help
them with their homework really made me feel good. I liked having the
kids enjoy working with me. It made me feel like I was doing something
right and being a good role model to these young new leaders of the
world.
To me, there were a lot of positive factors that came out of tutoring
these kids. The first, and most important to me, was seeing all the
kids every day who remembered my name and were dying to have me as
their tutor that day. Working with them to better their reading,
writing, and mathematical abilities really warmed my heart. I knew some
of those kids were really struggling in some areas, and when I’d ask
them a question and they’d answer correctly, it made me smile so big
and feel so accomplished. I’ve never enjoyed anything more.
There were very few negative aspects that came from tutoring kids at
Greenville Middle School. One of them was it was difficult to change
almost my entire schedule, even though it was for a very good and
rewarding cause. If my schedule wasn’t so hectic and all over the place
as it is, maybe it wouldn’t have been a big deal. It just wasn’t always
easy.
The relevance in the completion of the six core values was of high
importance. Communication was a huge one because I had to be able to
talk to the kids I was tutoring and know how to communicate to them
specifically. Ethics was also very important because what seems right
and wrong to an adult could be very different to what seems right and
wrong to a kid. I had to be able to relate to them on their level and
understand from their point of view. Critical thinking came into play
whenever they asked me questions I didn’t have an immediate answer to.
I had to be able to think outside of the box and tell them in a way I
know they’ll get my point. Diversity is everywhere, especially in kids.
All kids are different and learn differently. Working with different
kids every time I tutored meant it’d be a whole new personality and way
of teaching things than it was with the previous kid I worked with. I
had to be able to work around the different learning types to be sure
they all got what they needed out of that lesson. Inquiry is a huge
relevance in tutoring kids. If the tutor doesn’t have a respect for
learning, then how is the kid they’re tutoring going to have an
appreciation for it? You have to be a role model with kids and guide
them into the right path. Finally, teamwork is a very important factor
and also very relevant to tutoring kids. You have to be able to work
one-on-one or one-on-four with our kids. Sometimes, I had 4-6 kids just
to myself to tutor by myself. I had to come up with a way that I could
help all of them with whatever they needed. Not all the kids knew each
other, but if they have the same math homework, doing it together was a
nice way to help the kids make new friends.
The impact from my tutoring reflected on the kids and the community. It
was a tremendous one. For the kids, it meant getting help with
something they may not quite understand, and not having to do it with
an adult. Younger kids look up to teenagers; they want to be teenagers.
It’s more fun for them to learn how to multiply with a cool teenager
than it may be for their teachers to try and push more information into
their brains. For the community of Greenville, I believe it has also a
great impact. The parents of these kids didn’t have to pay money for
their kids to be tutored and learn something they may not have the time
to teach them. This program also gave parents a chance to finish any
errands or jobs they had to get done before 5 o’clock.
I personally feel like I’ve gained a lot of perspective and knowledge
from doing this after school tutoring. I felt more in touch with the
younger generation and can more understand how different education has
become since I’ve been in those grades. I’ve learned how to be more
patient with a kid who might not understand something as well as
another kid, and to just let them take their time and to work with them
on it. They thank you for not giving up on them or getting upset if
they don’t get it on the first try. Some kids just don’t absorb
information as well as others, and it really kills their love for
learning when someone pressures them to understand something or just
gives up on them all together. If I had a less busy schedule, I would
happily give more of my time to tutoring those kids. I made a lot of
new friends there, and I was sad to say goodbye to them. I hope to see
them all grow up to be smart, successful people who make this world a
better place.
Editor’s
Note: Edison State Darke County Communications students had to
volunteer 26 hours during the semester, preferably at the Empowering
After School Program. If a student’s schedule or distance from campus
made that impossible, they were allowed to work in a comparable program
under licensed supervision. The purpose was to teach the student how
the fundamentals of communication impacted their own lives and the
lives of those around them.
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