Most of us know the word "synergy" to mean something about the efficient power when two or more entities combine forces and basically get in sync.
Here's a hybrid word for you: mentutoring. I know this is not a real word because spell check tries to split it into "men tutoring." But you emphasize the second syllable, men-TU-toring.
This is when a tutoring session is less about the subject matter and more about being a listening ear, or otherwise being a sympathetic mentor to the personal needs of a student.
Yesterday my student had been charged with running a mile for timing during 7th hour. It was a good 90 degrees outside. He was physically drained, and more in the mood to chatter than to learn.
The Type A part of me wants to squeeze math production out of every minute to maximize their parents' dollar, so this can't go too far. But these are teenagers, sometimes pre-teenagers. Even the adults I tutor sometimes need a mid-session break, or just don't have it working that day.
My parents gave me good genes for this aspect of "counseling" except that I don't have advice to give but more like pepping up a conversation where needed. It's one of the subtleties of the tutoring profession to gauge a student's energy level. It's one of the perks of the job.
Time to contact the U.S. patent office.
Mentutoring.
1 comment:
When you have students that require that mid session break- that even emerges on the line of a counseling session? You're dealing with a right brained person! Someone who knows math is 100% worse than any totrure out there, and would rather be traveling, reading, biking, or sleeping than doing any type of reasonable or rational math problem!! Right brains unite! :)
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