Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If your child is receiving online instruction, you may be unsure whether or not you should remain with him during his sessions. On the one hand, you want to ensure that the person who is working with your child is a good fit for him, and that everything is going smoothly during the lesson. On the other hand, you don't want to be distracting to your child (or the tutor).

Like all aspects of education, the question of how much supervision is needed is an individual one. Where some kids will need to be supervised continuously, others may be able to work more independently.  Some students may need more encouragement to stay on-task and complete their work. Other students may do well with more independence, but still need to know that they are accountable for their work in some way. Still, other students can be highly motivated to succeed on their own and require no supervision to complete their work.

Naturally, you want to consider all the needs of the student when considering your role during his lessons. The most obvious place to start is, does the child want you to remain? They are working with an adult they most likely have never or will never meet. Are they comfortable using the computer? Do they understand how to use whatever platform is being used to teach them (i.e. interactive whiteboard, Skype)? Also keep in mind the age of your child. Very young (1st grade and below) students have different attention needs from older students which can often be helped best with adult assistance. A student with attention differences would most likely benefit from adult assistance during tutoring time as well.

Many students prefer to work 1:1 with their tutor. This format is probably the most common and works for the majority of students. As long as the student is listening to and learning from the tutor, this is a format that works. It is important to ensure, however, that your child is taking direction from the tutor and feels comfortable with him. If you can be nearby to ensure that learning is happening, particularly in the beginning stages, you can help to make sure your child's relationship with his tutor is a positive one.

Online tutoring can be a great forum for teaching your child. It can put him together with tutors and resources he wouldn't normally have access to. It can also give your child an added sense of familiarity and comfort as lessons take place in his own home. It is vital to ensure that students have the level of supervision needed in order to make online tutoring a success.

 

Is Online Learning The Best Option For Your Child?

As the world becomes more and more dependent upon its electronic devices and Internet activity, more parents are considering virtual tutoring for their struggling students. Sure, it is probably the most convenient way for you or your child to receive instruction. You don't have to leave the comfort of your home, you don't have to drive anywhere, you don't even have to get out of your pajamas if you really don't feel like it.

But, not everyone can actually benefit from virtual instruction. There are many students whose learning and behavioral differences may inhibit their ability to learn effectively from an online teacher. Also, there are a variety of other factors to consider as well. Following are some points to think about when considering whether online instruction is the best fit for your child.

1. Does your child like to be on the computer? This should seem fairly obvious, but most parents erroneously assume that their kids automatically like to be on the computer because they are kids. Individual likes and dislikes naturally vary, and it's a good idea to confirm this with your child.

2. Does your child have the ability to use the computer in a basic fashion? Again, this may seem obvious to some, but I have had students who barely knew how to operate a mouse. It is an added frustration to the student when he or she can't manipulate whatever tools are on the learning platform and it is a drain on instructional time. 

3. Does your child have the attention capacity? Sitting in front of a computer for lessons requires more discipline than receiving face-to-face instruction. Your child needs to be able to remain seated for the duration of the lesson and keep their focus exclusively on the screen. It is essential that you are as honest and accurate as possible when considering this factor. If your child is not present, whether physically or cognitively, he or she will not get the full benefit from the tutoring session. Some time ago, I actually had a 3-year-old as a student for a few sessions. Her mother was displeased with her local Pre-K (they played too much ) and thought that her daughter would benefit from an online tutoring program to learn reading readiness and math skills. Suffice it to say, the child, being only 3, preferred doing other things rather than sitting still in front of a computer screen. Not to mention she barely knew her alphabet, could not count past 4, did not know her colors and neither she nor her mother could barely work a mouse. Still, it took several sessions of her mom struggling, I mean physically trying to hold the child to the spot, and me trying to convince her that the toddler's squirmy behavior was typical of most 3-year-olds, before she realized this may not be the best option for this child.

4. Does my child have the right equipment? I am not saying you need anything fancy here. A solid, working computer with a good, reliable connection to the Internet are all you need for most virtual classes. Check with your tutor to ensure nothing more is required. However, do be sure that these two basic components are,indeed functioning. You cannot have Internet learning without the Internet, or without something with which to access the Internet. It seems so obvious I shouldn't have to mention this, right? You would be surprised.

5. Does my child have the time to make a commitment to tutoring? Like anything else, tutoring takes work and it takes time. Before you pencil tutoring into your child's schedule, be sure that he or she will have the time available to make a go of it. 

Sure, as an online teacher, I could sit here and try to make a case that every student can and should learn from some type of virtual instruction. However, as a special needs teacher, I would be remiss if I didn't say that it is not the best method of instruction for everyone. It is important to evaluate each student's unique situation and learning style before deciding which method of instuction would best fit his or her learning needs.

Every Time My Students Are Correct...

It would be pretty cool if, every time my kids were correct, I could play this...

I couldn't find anything equally cool if they were wrong. There is this...

or this...

I think either, or both, would make class a little more interesting.

Thank You...Thank You Very Much

The purpose of this post is not to pat myself on the back.

I am aware that I have been at this teaching gig a long time.

Some would say I was born into it. My sister has neurofibromatosis, which is a neurological disorder that causes a variety of issues, among them learning and developmental differences.

I have always been drawn to children with special needs; several of my childhood friends were children with Downs and Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities. I felt bad for these kids, but not like pity or that I was in some way better than them.

I was sad that other kids didn't give them a chance.

There was a reason they were my friends. They had something to contribute to my life. And I had something to contribute to theirs.

As I became older, it was only natural for me to work with people with disabilities, to advocate for them and to teach them as well.

Of course, I also became a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum. But I had already decided what I wanted to do with my life at that point. Having my unique and amazing daughter was a bonus.

Anyway, that is my background.

After doing what I have done for so many years, I am quite comfortable at my current job and I really put 100% of myself into it every day.

I am really fortunate to have found something that I enjoy and that I seem to have a knack for doing well.

So far, so good, anyway.

But, as I said at the beginning, the purpose of this post is not to pat myself on the back.

I wanted to talk a little about myself before I mentioned what is on my mind.

The thing is I get a little uncomfortable when people compare me to their other teachers. Especially when they tell me all the negative experiences they have with them.

I suppose every profession imagines there is some type of "code" among them. Some are more well-known (who hasn't heard of the "blue wall" or the "old boys' club?").  Besides, it is certainly unprofessional to assess your peers' work ethic or ability. Especially if you are not there to judge it for yourself.

On the other hand, if your student or their family continually vocalizes to you that another teacher is acting in an unprofessional or ineffective manner, or simply that "I get it much better when you explain it," it is hard to remain completely silent. What is a teacher to do?

My stance so far has been to been to thank them for their praise, and to say I am glad that my methods are effective for them or their child. If they do keep mentioning the teacher they are unhappy with, I suggest that they talk with the teacher herself or, if that doesn't get them anywhere, that they talk to her supervisor. I am not trying to get the teacher "in trouble." She may or may not be doing anything wrong. Sometimes, teachers and kids just don't connect. Sometimes, they simply can't figure out the best way to reach a particular kid. Sometimes, it's the parent who doesn't like the teacher for whatever reason (and it may be no reason at all!). I have already had TWO parents get angry with ME because the WEBSITE didn't cooperate with them. I had done NOTHING wrong. One also stopped scheduling sessions with me after she wrote the wrong date down and showed up on the wrong day. I had been doing fine with all of their children up to that point.

Of course, if a student or parent ever told me something alarming about a fellow teacher, I know I would have to report that to my supervisor. Like if they were using suggestive language or wearing inappropriate clothing or something. But, short of that, I am not sure where my responsibilities begin and end as far as giving the higher-ups the 411 about a teacher's know-how.

I think what I am doing is pretty fair. I would hope others would do the same.

Unless I hear differently, I will continue to thank my students and families and encourage them to advocate for themselves.

Student who Cares

As part of my English Language Arts instruction, I often have my students complete some sort of writing exercise.

This afternoon, I was giving an English lesson to a girl who will be entering 6th grade this fall.  Her family is from Pakistan and, although she was born in this country, she speaks and writes like an English-language learner. And she very well may be. I am not privy to that information. I only happen to know she was born in the United States because she has told me. On several occasions. I almost get the feeling as if she has had to explain that far too often in her short life.

This girl is very hard-working and excruciatingly polite. I had been teaching her about a month when I discovered that I had been pronouncing her name incorrectly. She had never dreamed to tell me otherwise when I first said it wrong, and so she permitted me to continue to say it wrong. Then, one day, she had written an essay which contained her name. When she had read it, I apologized greatly, saying it was my mistake for assuming my pronunciation was correct. I acknowledged that she was far too polite to tell me otherwise (but it would have been fine with me if she had!).

Today, I presented this girl with a choice of June journal prompts from which to write a reactionary paragraph. I set no restrictions and told her that she could read through the whole month of prompts before deciding upon a topic to write about. She had only reached June 4th when she circled the topic and said she was ready to begin writing.

The prompt read:

"A new student comes into your class and is very shy. Your friends start to laugh. Write about how you would treat the new student." (prompt via havefunteaching.com)

This was her essay (we ran right until the end, so she didn't have much time to proofread. I didn't want to edit for her, but I might have automatically made a correction here or there as I copied it down. Habit.):

One time this new girl from China came into my class and felt shy in front of other people. My friends started to make fun of her but she didn't say anything. My friends started to call out names that she was weird but I told don't say anything to her because she is new to this school. So what I did was at recess I went to her and said why aren't you talking in class and she said because I used to go to a school in China and people were so nice to me. But here in America people always make fun of me when I live somewhere else in a different country. I decided to help her out and say what is your name and she said my name is Mahek. It felt really hard til the next day our teacher moved her to a table where my friends were and they said you never talk to us because you seem sad. Soon my friends got used to her and asked questions about herself and all about China. By the time everyone was at recess all of us made really good friends and were really happy. My friends learned a lesson not to be mean or cruel to other people because it hurts their feelings and you should always get to know others in a polite manner.

What an awesome kid! And what a great little essay! I am so proud of her!

Teaching In Sweats

I am a teacher.

My classroom happens to be in my bedroom.

Well, not technically. Technically, my classroom is an interactive whiteboard on a tutoring website.

My students are from all over America and Canada.

My typical teaching day can start anywhere from 10:00 A.M. and go until 10:00 P.M.

I tend to teach one student at a time and usually my scope of focus is narrowed to English, Math, Reading and Study Skills.

My students generally range in age from Pre-K through middle school.

They are receiving instruction for a variety of reasons. Some have dyslexia or other reading-related issues. Some have dyscalculia or other math-related issues, such as math anxiety. Some are English Language Learners, meaning that English is not their first language. Some have attention deficits. Some have speech delays. A few are there simply to improve or to ensure that they don't lose the skills they already have. Many are with me for a combination of reasons.

Because I am a certified special education teacher and have worked with students who have a variety of disabling conditions, none of this is foreign to me.

It is a bit different providing all of my instruction from in front of a computer screen.

So far, I have been fortunate. Most of my students have been engaged and interested just about every minute of every lesson. They have been polite and respectful and have done the work I have asked them to.

There have been a few tense moments. But I have learned to adjust rather quickly. I also know to come to every lesson very prepared.

It is definitely a lot of work. But I love it.

I am already used to people not understanding how hard it is to work from home, so I didn't expect people to understand how hard this job would be.

For example, people will call me throughout the day, or text me, then be upset when I don't answer.

If I am in session, it is THE SAME AS teaching in a classroom. Just because I happen to be sitting in my bedroom, that doesn't make me teaching any less.

I am devoting myself 100% to that child for that hour.

If I didn't have time to do anything else during the day because I saw, say, 8 students, hey, give me a break.

That's an 8-hour day! That's as long as anyone else typically has.

Also, there is more to teaching or tutoring than just sitting there and waiting for the student to arrive.

I have to find the right resources for each child each day. On the Internet and, if I can't find it there, then I buy them, scan them or copy them and note which materials I will use. And, by the way, you would think with so many resources out there on the Internet, I would have UNLIMITED materials at my disposal, but you would be mistaken. There's actually only so many free ones out there. Which is why I've had to start buying some.

Then, there are progress reports to write each week, schedules to update all the time, notes to go over and correspondence with my supervisor and with parents.

But, yes, my job does have its perks.

I only have to "dress up" from the waist up because that's the only part you see on camera. If I am feeling particularly "lazy," I can wear fancy pajamas.

I can bring my pets to work. In fact, my students like that.

I get to see my family in between students (some people might see that as a negative!).

No commuting. No brown-bagging. My coffee pot is only a few steps away. So is my bathroom. I can take a shower if I have enough time between students. And I have. If I were a better napper, I could take a nap between students since my bed is literally right behind me. But I wake up horribly! So I don't ever try that. Occasionally, though, I have laid down to watch TV.

I also get to work with some great kids from around North America. Kids I never would have met before.

Tutoring from home has been a perfect fit for me. I get to teach, which I have always enjoyed, but I don't have to drive anywhere to do it. Driving has been an issue for me since I developed my vestibular condition.

So, yes, I sometimes teach in sweats. I like to be comfy. I teach better that way.

For another perspective on being comfy while working at home, here's an article on "The Pajama Mentality" in The Freelance Writing Jobs Blog.