And the winner is...

Well, in the game of learing, there actually aren't any winners or losers, but there are tutors of the month. For December, we are happy to announce that Bill B. has been awarded this honor. Bill has been with Educational Connections for a while now, and he never ceases to amaze us with his consistency and his knowledgeable approach to subjects, including test prep. While Bill is too modest to recognize his accomplishments, he has not escaped the attention of the staff here at the learning center. Last month, Bill was able to help a student bring his ACT score up by ten points!

Bill has a great sense of what it takes to earn the trust and confidence of a student, so we asked him to describe his approach to tutoring. This is what he said:

My own approach, especially in the beginning, is to focus on the student with whom I am working, rather than coming with a pre-package program I will impose upon her/him. I think that knowing one's student(s) is an indispensable element of teaching, but a student has a natural fear of being known, since that may result in judgment or criticism. This is especially true of students encountering a tutor under conditions in which they already feel they have failed or are inadequate. I try to quickly discover some strengths and positive personal characteristics to affirm in a student, which communicates the message that I view her/him as competent and able. I find that this helps to motivate me as well as the student, since it helps me to appreciate him/her as an individual. I want both of us to look forward to our sessions working together.

Teaching is a challenging art, and I worry whether I will be able to meet the needs of every new tutoring opportunity. But I remind myself that the students are probably nervous themselves, and I try to be as open and honest with them as I can. I'm not an extrovert, but I soon discover things I appreciate in the young people with whom I work, and I find myself enjoying them as people. A sense of humor goes a long way, too; being able to laugh at myself not only helps me to connect with a student, but it makes me feel better! When I think about all the jobs people have to do, I'm grateful that I can do work that I enjoy. Some days I think, "I can't believe that someone is willing to pay me to do this!"

And there you have it! Bill's competence and enthusiasm for what he does shows through to each and every student he works with. More importantly, they all realize he cares about them and their academic success. The fact that Bill wants them to achieve personal fulfillment goes without saying. At Educational Connections, we are lucky to have Bill as a member of our team; and while there are no winners in this game, tutors like Bill are definitely first place in our eyes!