Sushila TP#14

TP#14

Date: 10/13/14

Time: 5-6 pm

Location: Tallahassee public library.

On Monday afternoon, I tutored my child tutee Matthew. My first mistake was that I forgot to bring my extrinsic motivator…. candy! The other week I finally figured out how to get my fourth grade to behave, this week I initially felt powerless without chocolate. I looked at this as a learning experience because I know when I am teaching in a classroom, the last thing I would want is to have all my students on a sugar high. So this week I tried an alternative approach. At first he would not stop fidgeting, and he refused to participate. Then I put a strict face on and used a stern voice and simply said “you will not leave the library with your brother until we finish what we need to go over. The sooner you participate the sooner we will be done”. Immediately he listened. The agenda today was just like all our other sessions. We finished reading “What the tiger had for Lunch” and then I had him answer a handful of comprehension questions and write a summary. Then we proceed to doing math word problems, which he breezed through. After my stern talking to Matthew was very receptive and gave his full attention to me. As a result of his good behavior, I told him that I would reward him with a big Twix bar next week instead of a small one (if it was ok with his mother, which it was). With each session I have with my child tutees I feel as though my teaching methods are improving.