Follow the Map to Tutoring Success

With GPS in our cars and on our phones, do we even need the ability to read directions? Although this satellite technology has only been available (and relatively affordable) for a few years, it seems downright quaint to stop at a gas station and ask whether we're on the right road. But don't throw out those road maps just yet. In fact, gather all of the maps you can, because they are absolutely terrific tutoring tools. Let's look at two great ways to incorporate maps into learning sessions. (I promise to keep the "headed in the right direction"-style puns to a minimum.)

Map reading promotes spatial understanding. For students who are naturally spatial learners, maps are easy to read. It takes little time for them to identify the cardinal directions and find the correct orientation. For those students who are not intuitively spatial, however, maps can present a challenge (this is true for many adults, too!). That's why it's a great idea to work with your child to help her understand map-reading. Spatial awareness is necessary not only in reading and giving directions, but also in more advanced disciplines such as architecture or scientific modeling.

When we "train" the brain in this basic yet vital discipline — the ability to navigate and make sense of the space around us — we prepare ourselves for 1) better general understanding and 2) future field-related accomplishments. To give your student a jump-start on spatial understanding, ask her to use a marker to plot a familiar route (e.g., your house to her school, or your house to a favorite shop). She will see that her innate understanding of three-dimensional directions (i.e., physically walking or driving from one place to another) can translate to an understanding of two-dimensional directions (i.e., tracing a route on a map).

Maps teach math. Sure, geography might be the first subject that comes to mind when you think of maps. But maps can provide educational benefits far beyond simply locating the U.S. capitals or labeling the Asian mountain ranges. Maps provide an excellent real-world template on which to practice math problems. These math lessons can be simple; for example, you might ask a third-grader if he can find the total distance between your town and the next town over. Or, the math lessons can be a bit more complicated; you could, for instance, ask a tenth-grader to describe the ratio that was used in making the map to-scale. No matter the grade or ability level, students can benefit from the highly applicable math lessons that maps naturally impart.

If your child needs help with math or you're looking for other creative ways to teach subjects like spatial reasoning, you may want to collaborate with a tutoring expert. We list many of the best tutors here.