The Clara James Approach to learning
When it comes to learning we are all individuals.
The past 20+ years have taught me that no matter our learning style if the child is engaged and relaxed they are more likely to learn.
If we just keep giving them the same resources, varied over and over again, all we are doing is giving them one place in their brains to find the information. However, by giving them a variety of resources we can make it more interesting, more relevant, and help them to create multiple memories so that when they need to recall the information, they have more places they can go to in order to find it.
If we can boost their confidence as well as their knowledge we will make their life and ours easier.
For 20 years now I've been fascinated by different learning styles: ASD, Dyslexia, ADHD. The purpose of this podcast is to share my findings with you, so that maybe what I've learned will be of help to you too.
The Clara James Approach to learning
3 bits of advice I would give someone when their tutoring business is looking for a boost
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
There will be days when you are working on growing your business that you will feel like you have slogged away all day and question what you have achieved. Then other days you will do something that takes you seconds but will have you swinging from the chandeliers (metaphorically speaking).
I was asked to offer some advice to someone who’s tutoring business had started to “fizzle out”.
My main 3 things I would have said (had he have shown up) would be: start by being helpful. Don’t just promote yourself in a “salesy way” give a simple tip that the parent can use to support their child, or a revision tip that a child can use. Your instinct might be to ask why you would give when your bank account is screaming at you that it needs to receive, but the thing is that this builds likeability and trust. It shows that you care and you are not just looking for quick and easy money, which sadly tutoring is something often regarded as.
My second suggestion I would make would be “Tutoring for charity”. I did this not long after I started tutoring. I had some spare hours during the holidays and felt I should be doing something productive. So, I found a room for free and offered to provide an hour’s tutoring, but instead of payment asked that they make a donation to one of my chosen charities. I think I made about £50, it was hardly life changing; however, it got a mention in the local paper and the local radio. And people who hadn’t been able to make it to those sessions got in touch and asked if I was able to help their child on an ongoing basis.
My third suggestion would be – keep going, keep showing up. Even if it seems like hard work, keep going because the reward will one day be worth every single tear, every time it is suggested that you get a proper job, every single sleepless night.
Good luck.
Wherever you are on your journey to build a tutoring business, if you would like support, please do ask: Become a tutor