The "Five E's" of Science Excellence

The best professors, classroom teachers, and academicians base their methods on their own experiences — and on high-quality research. And guess what? As a tutor, you too can utilize peer- and student-reviewed, time-tested research. In fact, the more you know about these types of field studies, the more effective of a tutor you will become. Thousands of resources are available on the Internet, and we'll also share some of our favorite strategies and methods here.

When it comes to organizations that do great work and affect social change, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory based in Austin, Texas, is near the very top of the list. This nonprofit organization uses state and federal grants to carry out research that leads to a more equitable educational environment for all students. While SEDL offers invaluable insights into many different subjects, today we're focusing on a science-tutoring strategy that is generalizable to other areas. The strategy? Just think of it as the "Five Es." Each of these E-words is a mini-call to action, which will help you design a successful science-tutoring session for your child.

Let's take a look at the Es in detail.

Engage/Excite. Before your child can be expected to learn a new scientific concept or process, she must be interested in that concept or process. That sounds obvious enough, but too often we expect kids to learn things without giving them a chance to really build enthusiasm about the new subject area. In this stage, you can introduce your child to the concept. Then, ask her what she already knows about it. (If she seems stuck, offer gentle prompts. For example, if she is about to undertake a science lesson on cloud formations, you might ask: "Remember last Saturday, when we saw those puffy white clouds above the lake? I wonder what those were called.") When she makes a connection between her own life experience and a new academic subject, she will naturally feel more invested in that subject. All of us — not just students! — feel more compelled to learn about things that we feel relate to our daily lives.

Explore. To use the simplest terms, the "explore" segment of a science tutoring session gives your child a chance to "play." This is where he can begin an experiement, record observations about the world around him, or examine photos in a book. The "Explore" stage encourages questions and interactions. Stay engaged with your child throughout this process, asking questions that help him better understand the new concepts.

Explain. In this stage, your child is ready to explain the scientific concepts that she has observed. She might share the results of a particular experiment, and tell whether those results confirmed or disagreed with her original hypothesis. Or, she might summarize a text that she has read or a procedure that she has observed. The "Explain" segment really gives you, as a tutor, the opportunity to see whether your child truly grasps the subject matter.

Extend. The "extend" stage is something of a natural corollary to the "engage/excite" stage. In that first stage, your child established familiarity with the scientific concept by relating it to something he already knew. In the "extend" segment of this process, he takes what he has learned from the lesson and relates it to something else in his life. For example, an experiment with a small plant and ultraviolet light might help him see why certain plants grow best when they are placed in direct sunlight. The "extend" segment can also be spent doing related activities, such as researching the topic on the internet or writing a "lesson plan" about the topic for a younger student. Regardless of the activity that you and your child choose, the value of the "extend" stage lies in its ability to take your child beyond basic textbook learning.

Evaluate. The final "E," evaluate, does not need to be completed in every tutoring session. Rather, the first four Es prepare your child for this final E, which is the quiz or test that your child will be given in a classroom setting. If you would like to give your child practice with evaluation, help her to complete a practice test, or write quiz questions on flash cards.

There is a near-infinite amount of great academic research in libraries and on the Web. To find the best, look for nonprofit (or university-affiliated) research centers with strong track records and a history of receiving top government grants. To meet a local tutor who will be able to implement valuable research methodologies while teaching your child, visit our resource list here.