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
Coffee and a Tutoring Chat: The importance of relationships
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I think that when we start tutoring one of our biggest assets that we often over look is our ability to build relationships. Personally, I think this is so much more powerful that any marketing could ever be.
It starts long before we start working with the child, just proving that we are here to help and genuinely care.
Then as we move forward grow that rapport so that the child knows that if they have a question they can ask if they need to. If they don't understand something they can ask and not fear ridicule.
Building that relationship with the parents is also vital as they are the ones who are inviting you into their child's life to build their knowledge, their confidence, to help them to achieve their dreams.
But also, by getting to know them and building that relationship will increase the likelihood of them recommending you forwards, because they like you, you're more than "just a tutor". Or, if money is tight and something needs to give, they will be less inclined to get rid of you first, because they care about you.
I think I realised how much people genuinely cared and didn't just see me as the tutor was last November when mum unexpectedly died, the love I felt was completely unexpected and it meant the world.
So, please as you step into the world or tutoring or travel further into it, never underestimate the power of the relationships that you build.
One last point. I think this is also the superpower of many teaching assistants, because they work every day with a small group of children or may be even 1:1 working with a child and getting to know them becomes second nature and a strength that they can build on as they go forward.
I recently wrote a book: Become a Tutor. Build Confidence. Change Lives. It answers the questions that I had when I first started tutoring. If you would like a free copy (no strings attached just a gift from me to you) drop me an email at info@clarajamestutoring.co.uk and I will happily drop a copy in the post for you