The World Is Your Classroom

Some kids balk at the prospect of tutoring, and this reaction is somewhat understandable. After all, they've spent hours cooped up inside a classroom, answering questions and poring over textbooks—why would they want to re-create a similar experience at home?

Here's the secret: Tutoring can be different, fresh, and intriguing. Rather than feeling like an extension of the school day, a great tutoring session can feel more like a fun break (where learning just happens to take place). Sure, some work needs to be done at the kitchen table, with books open and pencil in hand. But there are plenty of other times when you can take the opportunity to make the world your classroom.

First, recast the whole way you view tutoring. In fact, when you plan these imaginative and engaging sessions, don't even think of what you're doing as "tutoring." Instead, consider it "project-based learning." This teaching model is taking root at great schools all across the country, and it can be the perfect model for at-home teaching, too. No matter which subject your child is studying, there's likely to be a real-world project that will expand her horizons and her knowlege base. Let's discuss a few ideas for a variety of academic subjects.

Science: Of all the school subjects, science is perhaps the best-suited to project-based learning. Your child can identify the types of clouds in the sky, or locate the North Star and its surrounding constellations. He can examine the types of rocks you have near your home—igneous? Sedimentary
?—and even start a collection. With the help of a good chemistry-project book (and perhaps some goggles!), you and your child can do experiments that teach about the phases of matter, the characteristics of acids and bases, and so much more.

Math: As we've discussed previously on this blog, math lends itself perfectly to project-based learning. Whether you're asking your child to help you with liquid measurements in the kitchen or explaining the concept of price-by-ounce at the grocery store, you're imparting math lessons with real-world value. Older, more advanced students may want to measure the velocity of falling objects, or determine the angle of a ladder propped up against the wall of your house. There are very few situations that don't involve at least a bit of math!

Writing: It's important that your child can write well on any variety of topics. But instead of just sitting in the house and asking her to pen an essay about "What I Did This Summer" (yawn), try an activity that is active and project-based. One idea is to assign a "newspaper story." Tell your child that she's just like a real reporter on a certain beat, tracking down the day's news. She could interview a neighbor about his interesting job, or attend a school athletic event and write a sports column. This form of writing requires research and imagination—a great pairing.

In a future post, we'll discuss ways to incorporate community service into your project-based learning sessions. Lifelong learning begins with a curious mind and a positive attitude!

If your child needs help with math, science, writing, reading or any other subject, you can find online tutoring help.