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The Tutor Outreach Group

Mar 19
0

How to Juggle Classes With Other Responsibilities

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In many cases, it can feel overwhelming to balance a full course load with everything else you have going on in life. Classes can take a lot of work and a lot of time. However, there are ways you can still take care of everything.

Create a Fixed Schedule

A fixed schedule is one where all necessary tasks have an allotted time given to them. This type of schedule is usually consistent from week to week. It can be very helpful to do this so you can easily keep track of and schedule everything. If your schedule changes every week, it can be difficult to stay on top of all your responsibilities. As you create your schedule, have a fixed time for your classes and work. You might also want to schedule time for other activities such as exercising or relaxing. Having a clear and consistent outline for your life can help you have structure, and it can help you be more prepared to handle all your responsibilities.

Take Online Courses

Online courses help to create opportunities for people in a variety of situations. They give you more autonomy as you fulfill your coursework. In most cases, you can decide when to work on things and you can fit your classes around your schedule. An online course is ideal for busy parents or people who work during the day. If you have a lot of other responsibilities, you don’t need to deny yourself an education. Taking courses online can help you get a degree while still working with your current situation.

Take Care of Yourself

There’s a lot you need to handle all at once. However, you can’t properly do anything if you don’t also take care of yourself. Along with coursework and a job, you need to also make time for sleep. This is when your body recharges and helps prepare you for the next day. Get plenty of sleep at night so you can be fully productive every day. You also need to make sure you are eating well and fitting in some time to be active. Keeping your body healthy will only make it easier for you to function and complete other tasks.

Finding ways to juggle classes and your other responsibilities is very important. Doing so can help you reduce stress and feel more confident in fulfilling everything you need to. Everyone’s situation is different, so find out the best way for you to find a balance.

Read this next: How Studying in College Differs From High School

Dec 08
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How Studying in College Differs from High School

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College is an exciting time and will give you many new experiences. It will also be very different from high school and you’ll need to be prepared for everything it’ll throw at you. Here are a few things you should expect that will be different once you start attending college.

Less Individualized Attention

Your high school teachers were able to work with you and help you through the class if you needed it. College classrooms are much larger than in high school, meaning professors might not be able to give you the same individual attention. However, once you get into your major classes, they’ll become smaller and you’ll get to know your professors better. You’ll have more luck scheduling meetings with your professors after class. To ensure you succeed, make sure you know your professors’ office hours. These hours are allocated by professors to help students. You might not be able to get help right away like you did in high school. But if you schedule a time during the listed hours, your professors will be available to help. Larger classes often also have teaching assistants (TAs) that can give you that one-on-one help if you need it. Getting a tutor can also be very helpful, as they can give you their complete attention and answer your questions one on one.

More Responsibility

High school will introduce you to a lot of responsibility, but college is filled with many things you’re responsible for. Studying, completing assignments on time, and even just going to classes are all things you’ll have to be in charge of. Your mom isn’t around anymore to remind you of all the things you need to do. If you take online courses, you’ll be even more responsible for managing your time. You won’t have an in-class experience to remind you of deadlines. You’ll need to come up with an organizational tool that helps you keep track of all the due dates. Try using a planner or frequently looking at the class’s syllabus and schedule to stay on track.

More Study Time

In high school, you might have been able to pass your classes by studying for a short amount of time or no time at all. However, college is different. You’ll need to commit to studying for long periods of time if you want to do well. This means that for every class hour you have, you should be studying for 2-3 hours outside of class to keep up with the coursework. For example, if you meet twice a week for one hour each, then you should be studying 4-6 hours per week for that class. This can add up, so it’s a good idea to schedule this time in advance. You’ll need to prioritize your time so you can get in enough study time.

Studying in college is very different from high school. You won’t have as much individual attention, you’ll have more responsibility, and have to study for longer. When you leave for college, you’ll need to be prepared for how different college is. That said, college is also the best time of your life and you’ll create many lasting relationships and fond memories. If you account for all these differences and make adjustments, you can be successful in your college career.

Need some extra help knowing how to help college students succeed? Join our group on how to become a better tutor!

Jan 03
0

How to Manage Extracurricular Activities and Still Perform Well in School

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Fulfilling all of your school obligations on top of your extracurricular activities might seem overwhelming or daunting at first, but it is definitely possible as long as you stay organized and manage your time well. First, remember that your academic work comes before anything. That’s the whole purpose of being in school in the first place. You’ll see that once you complete your assignments and prepare for exams, there’s still plenty of time left in the day. Use this time to participate in extracurricular activities, so you can stay social and healthy and become more competitive for future applications whether it is college, graduate school or even jobs.

Sports

Sports are a very popular choice among students who seek extracurricular activities outside of their academic obligations. Be sure to remember that schoolwork is of the utmost importance, and sports are there to facilitate your academic career and not get in the way of it. Students who pursue contact sports, such as football and hockey, however, must be careful.

Younger athletes are highly susceptible to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a clumping protein inside your brain that can kill brain cells. CTE can impact a person’s behavior, mood and memory and cause impaired thinking/judgment and dementia in the long term. If you’re playing contact sports, it’s important to wear protective gear, especially for your head, because wearing a helmet can lessen the chances of getting CTE.

Theater

Another popular extracurricular activity is the theater. Working in theater as either an actor, stagehand, writer, musician/singer or anything else is a lot of work. It requires a great deal of energy, time and focus. It might seem overwhelming at first, but as long as you write out your schedule and manage your time consistently, you’ll be fine. If you commit three hours to your schoolwork, make sure you commit yourself to that time. If you finish all your assignments before the three hours are up, you can apply to colleges or scholarships during that time. Use your time productively and wisely.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is very important during this period. You’re learning how to multitask and balance a number of things at once, but you can’t do it if you don’t take care of your body, mind and spirit. Be sure to get plenty of sleep. An average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night will work wonders for you. Get a planner, and stay organized. This is also a practice in self-care because you’re managing your time in a way that is ideal for your performance. Also, remember to eat well. Don’t skip meals. Bring snacks, and make sure they’re nutritional and balanced. Taking care of yourself will allow you to perform at your optimal level in school and extracurricular activities.

Balancing academia with extracurricular activities is possible as long as you protect yourself, practice self-care and learn to use your time wisely. Keep in mind that your academic success comes before your extracurricular activities. Remember this whenever you find yourself stuck between these two worlds.

Oct 10
0

Yes, Sports Tutors Are a Thing

By | Tutoring, Tutoring Industry News | No Comments

When you think about tutors, you probably think about people who help a student struggling with an academic class. They work one-on-one with the student to help him or her grasp difficult concepts. Tutoring is often a temporary relationship, providing extra help to bring the student to the required level of understanding to keep up with a class. This kind of teaching relationship does not need to be limited to academics. A sports tutor can be a big help as an athlete tries to pick up a new sport.

What is a Sports Tutor?

A sports tutor is someone who helps an athlete improve in a specific sport. Some people are exposed to a sport at a young age while others encounter it later on. An all-around athlete may want to switch to a new competitive sport. A sports tutor provides one-on-one coaching to get that person up-to-speed in the new sport. The tutor will explain basic concepts, common moves, and proper execution. A team coach needs to focus on how the entire squad performed. A sports tutor can look at the performance of an individual on the team. By spending time observing the player, the tutor can highlight the individual strengths and weaknesses this person brings to the game. Then, together they can develop a routine that will help make the student a better player.

Why Sports Tutors Are Needed

When people take part in sports, there is a greater risk of injury for people who do not know what they are doing. They also increase the risk of injury for other players on the field. Competitive athletics are notorious for injuring its athletes. As a sports tutor, one of your duties is to teach your athletes how to move without hurting themselves or others. The tutor can explain the flexibility and strength required for basic and advanced movements so the athlete can train appropriately. This type of training is especially important if an athlete is switching from one sport to another. The style of movement does not always transfer between sports. For example, the close-contact shoving found on a hockey rink would lead to yellow and red cards on a soccer field.

How to Become a Sports Tutor

While there is not a certification process to become a sports tutor, it is important that you have firsthand knowledge of the sport. You need a thorough understanding of strategy, rules, and gameplay. You should be fit enough to demonstrate the different moves associated with the sport. Many sports tutors have some coaching experience in addition to playing experience. In order to gain a reputation, you may want to offer your expertise to local teams as a one-on-one training specialist.

The sporting world offers many opportunities for people who are experts in their sport. Young athletes are always looking for something to give them a competitive edge. As a sports tutor, you can pass your knowledge to another generation of players. Sports tutoring is an opportunity to stay connected to the game you love.

Here’s another article you might enjoy: 3 Tips for a More Effective Study Session

May 21
0

3 Qualities to Look for When Hiring for Your Tutoring Business

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Running a tutoring business allows you to bring education privilege to help those who may struggle to learn. With a tutor by their side, students can receive instruction that’s more suited to their needs. While it’s important that tutors know their subjects, there’s more to the job than that. For anyone to succeed in your tutoring business, they must possess the following qualities.

Patience

A tutor needs to be patient, as they will have all sorts of questions from students who are confused about concepts. Many of these will catch them off-guard, but they need to have a mature attitude and not chastise students for asking questions. If they have to routinely go over concepts that the students claimed to have grasped, then they need to address that. However, there has to be a tactfulness to how they handle these matters. When a student senses that a tutor is losing patience with them, they can be reluctant to get as much help as they need. Your tutors need to have a nurturing demeanor that makes students feel comfortable and capable.

Team Player

You don’t have to handle a football or wear a uniform to be a team player. In order for your tutors to help students, they have to understand the importance of collaboration. If you want to hire a good tutor, determine if the candidate is a team player when it comes to helping your clients succeed. Ask them to describe times in which they came through for someone, be it a coworker or a friend. They need to be enthusiastic about working with the student and anyone in their periphery, such as their parents and teacher(s) so that the student can reach the results they need to.

Flexibility

Students are expected to learn all kinds of concepts in order to succeed in school. There’s no reason that the same shouldn’t go for tutors. Your tutors must be flexible not only in their scheduling but also in how they work with students. Some will be easier than others, but they need to view them all the same, as students who will benefit from their instruction. When students succeed, tutors succeed.

Tutors need to have emotional intelligence as well as mental intelligence. It’s one thing to know a subject inside out. It’s quite another thing to be able to help someone who might be struggling to grasp it. When you hire people who care about their students, you’re letting the gift of education touch so many lives.

Looking for more tips on expanding your tutoring business? Join our membership group.

Apr 25
0

3 Tips for a More Effective Study Session

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Sometimes, having a good study session is about more than simply opening a book and reading. Often, you need to be in the right frame of mind to open your mind to learning. Here are some tips for things that you can do to have an effective study session.

Use the Right Music

Sometimes the brain needs more than just straight intellectual activity. Some people find that the right music in the background can help prime the brain for studying. Left to its own devices, the brain may disengage after a certain amount of time, and music can act as a motivator. Pastest explains that  you must make sure that you find the right type of music for your studying. Otherwise, listening to music will be counterproductive, and it will keep you from being able to fully focus on the task at hand. Make sure to try several types of music to find out what works best for you.

Use Essential Oils

Certain essential oils can invigorate and energize you. doTERRA points out that peppermint oil is a great way to stay alert on long drives or late-night study sessions since you can inhale it for a non-stimulating, invigorating pick-me-up. These are more natural alternatives to those products that can either work too much or can cause you to crash after a short period of heightened awareness. Not only are essential oils invigorating, they can also promote clearer thinking and can help you relax. These oils can take away some of the anxiousness that comes when faced with a difficult task.

Exercise Beforehand

There have been many studies that have demonstrated that exercise can help boost your cognitive function as well as your memory. Both of those are necessary ingredients for an effective study session. Exercise works by pumping extra blood to your brain. The impacts of the workout are felt for some time even after the exercise is done. The hormones produced during exercise mix with something called brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the combination helps to stimulate brain function. People who exercise are 23 percent more productive than on days when they did not exercise. Therefore, a workout in close proximity to your study session can boost your academic performance. American University of Antigua suggests that many incorporate studying into their workout routine with great results.

There are things that you do before or during your study session that will help enhance your productivity. Try to find what works best for you for the best results. Adding these things to your routine can also help you to gain some confidence in your academic performance and further increase your success.

Here are a couple articles we think you’ll find helpful!

 

 

 

Dec 12
0

How to Become a Confident Test-Taker

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Taking tests is one of the more stressful parts of being a student. Not only do you need to know the material, but you need to have your mind steady and calm so that you can perform your best. To do this, you should have a plan so that you feel confident when tests and quizzes are administered. Here are three things that you can do to make test taking less stressful and feel more prepared.

Take Practice Exams Regularly

One of the best ways to feel more comfortable is to take the practice tests and quizzes. There’s also plenty of research that backs up how and why practice tests are useful. By doing this, you’ll gain an understanding of how the tests are formatted and what kinds of questions are on the exams. You’ll learn how to pace yourself, too. Many textbooks have practice tests at the end of the chapter or in the back of the book. There are also many teachers that offer practice tests or extra work so that their students are able to do their best when the real test is administered.

Put Together a Study Plan

Studying regularly is important for retention of material. Too many students try to cram studying into a couple of days before a major exam. This is not the best strategy. Instead, you should make the habit of studying for each class at least a few hours each week. By reviewing regularly, you’ll remember more and be able to come up with the information more quickly when it’s time to take the test. Establishing your study schedule will also help you improve your GPA and time management skills, so carve out a few extra hours each week for review.

Stay Engaged in Class

Attending class isn’t a passive activity, and idly listening while the teacher talks is a missed opportunity. To remain engaged during a lecture, make sure that you are up to date on the reading material. Most teachers design their lessons to augment and add greater understanding to the concepts that are presented in the assigned chapters. Also, you’ll be able to take notes in greater detail so that you understand the material better. To stay engaged, you should also participate in class discussions when appropriate.

Taking tests can be many students’ worst nightmare, but if you prepare, you can have a fairly calm experience. Take every opportunity possible to review material and understand the test format so that when test day comes, you feel confident.

The Tutor Outreach Group is a professional organization for tutors, teachers, college students, and other small business professionals. Connect with us today!

Oct 31
0

4 Helpful Habits for Writing Stronger Essays

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Some people absolutely love writing essays, while others find it to be tedious and painful. If you’re in the latter group, it might be because you have trouble bringing your essays together. They might lack a focus or proper structure. When you figure out the mechanics of an essay, they can be better and much more enjoyable to write. Here are four helpful habits for writing stronger essays.

Have Strong Sources

Great writing starts with great research. You need to select sources that are credible and relevant. They should back up the arguments that you make in your thesis statement (which should close your opening paragraph). Look for ones that can be properly verified, and don’t use Wikipedia as a named source. You also need to learn how to cite properly. Without correct citations, you could seriously compromise your grade.

Source: Elite Editing | Where to Find Credible Sources for Your Research Paper

Know What Kind of Essay to Write

Essays tend to generally fall into four categories: persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive. Be clear on what the difference between each type is and how to ensure your essay flows properly. A persuasive essay shouldn’t suddenly become a narrative, and a narrative essay shouldn’t suddenly become persuasive. Take the time to read examples of essays of each type to get a better understanding. You want anyone who reads your essay to be clear on what your intentions are and what the focus is meant to be.

Source: Word Counter | The 4 Different Types of Essays

Quote Correctly

Once you have your sources, you need to figure out how to quote them properly. Don’t just throw in quotes in order to pad out your word count. Instead, use the quotation sandwich method. This means introducing an expert, delivering their quote, and then elaborating on the significance of their statement as it relates to your essay. Quotes are intended to strengthen your essay.

Source: College of Western Idaho | The Quote Sandwich

Recognize Counter-Arguments

One of the main purposes of an essay is to make an argument and back it up. Your thesis statement serves as your argument. To show the power of your arguments, you need to acknowledge the opposing side. Bring up counter-arguments, and then use other evidence to further assert your points.

Writing essays should be embraced, as it’s your opportunity to express yourself. While you still need to have supporting documents and other evidence, you can still showcase your unique voice. Remember to start on all your essays early and to revise them as much as necessary.

If you’re looking for better ways to improve your tutoring, and want to increase the reach of your tutoring business, make sure to see how we can help! We have a robust teaching network of tutors who are all trying to help students learn better.

Oct 13
0

How Tutors Can Approach Teaching Difficult High School Students

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The intrinsic benefits of being a tutor are vast. Empowering students to reach their full potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of working in education. However, many students present difficulties that can be challenging for the tutor. By recognizing these challenges and working to overcome them, a tutor can become an invaluable tool for any struggling student. Here are four ways to approach helping students achieve academically:

Stress Importance Of GPA

Savvy tutors understand the importance of emphasizing that high school students that are interested in attending higher education should aim for a GPA of 3.3 (though some colleges take GPA as low as 2.0). By laying this framework for the importance of good grades for future success, tutors can help to motivate students to stay on task. Students who are resistant to the tutoring service are more likely to buy into the process if they fully comprehend the ramifications of bad grades.

Incorporate Time Management Skills

The root of the struggles for many students is poor time management skills. Some students simply are not equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to effectively balance school with the demands of work, sports, extra-curricular activities, and home life.  This is where having a tutor can really help.

Empower Students

Students need to be empowered to work within their aptitude and skill level. The first step in empowering your students is to identify their unique learning style. Whether that be through instruction or hands-on demonstration, successful tutors understand the importance of recognizing the individual learning style of each student. Once you’ve learned more about how they learn best, help them to understand how to use that knowledge to help them study better when they’re not in tutoring. If they learn best through writing help them with their note-taking strategies, and so on.

Set Goals

Hesitant students are more likely to strive higher if there are official goals in place. Before each new semester, sit down with your student and lay out a set of formal goals. These goals should be challenging yet attainable with hard work. To ensure a successful session each time you meet, tutors should set a list of mini-goals to meet by the end of the appointment. Not only will these goals keep students on task, but they will also encourage the student as the goals are met. Start small so that the student will feel some measure of success when the goal is achieved and continue.

By empowering students to reach their full potential, you are setting your clients up for a lifetime of success. Despite the challenges that many students face, an effective tutor can help to overcome these roadblocks.

Oct 08
0

5 Ways to Get Students Excited About Science

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Not everyone is excited to learn about science. The subject may be new to them or could seem difficult to comprehend at first. Yet, with all the amazing benefits and lessons science has to teach us, it would be a shame to let students give up just because it’s hard or confusing. Here are some ideas on how to help motivate your students to want to participate and keep learning about science.

Creativity Through Experimentation

Students can utilize their creativity by trying a fun science experiment. It can be suggested that they buy their own kits at the hobby store. You could even do an experiment with them to help demonstrate the concept you’re trying to help them learn. Science Bob suggests lots of simple ideas that can be done both in class or replicated at home to get younger kids excited about new subjects, but they could easily be effective for older students as well. Being creative will allow the students to be free to think for themselves and ask more questions to clarify their understanding.

Volunteer for Science

Volunteering for a charity someone is passionate about often gives their life more meaning. This is important for a job because if it lacks meaning it won’t last. For older students, have them do their research or give them a list of potential opportunities for them to explore in research, writing, or the environment among others. One Green Planet gives a list of great volunteer opportunities that almost anyone can participate in.  Let students know they can make a difference through hard work and dedication if they choose. They can even volunteer at the science fair.

Time in Nature

Exploring the natural world is a great way to inspire students to become involved in subjects like environmental science, biology, entomology, or chemistry. They can hike to study the geology of an area. Drawing plants and animals is a way to help them understand the structures of these bodies. Collecting bugs and water samples can be taken home and examined under a microscope or used for the beginnings of a project. Science is largely based off of people asking questions, so getting your students outside and curious will help them to ask questions of their own.

Go to the Zoo

Aside from being a fun opportunity to see exotic animals, visiting zoos and aquariums is a great way to get kids interested in biology and zoology. Make the experience especially educational by reading the descriptive signs next to each exhibit, and play games like making the kids guess what type of habitat each animal prefers based on its physical attributes.

Encourage Reading and Documentaries

Ask students to read a book or magazine that they’re interested in. A few examples of magazines with science articles are Discover, Smithsonian, and National Geographic. Science documentaries are educational and can be exciting for their artistic approach. Films to consider are Colliding Continents, The Strange Case of Peking Man, and Living in a Parallel Universe. Art has the power to inspire a person to live out their dreams.

Visit a Space Center

One of the most exciting ways to motivate students to love science is to encourage them to visit a space center. Budget.com describes the Johnson Space Center’s exhibit in detail and it even includes a space shuttle replica, a lunar module, and other exhibits that are fun and educational for all ages. Or perhaps traveling to other museums such as the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC could be even more exciting with the opportunity for students to even try astronaut food in the gift shop. Students can feel the wonder and energy of outer space by viewing amazing science exhibits, see an awesome show or maybe even meet an astronaut. Viewing the reality of science up close will help to make it more real.

Whatever you do, trying to make science fun for your students won’t go unnoticed. This includes incorporating technology and its advances. Connections Academy says that technology can be helpful and improves our daily lives. Let it improve your daily way of teaching students the benefits of science. Students can tell when you’re making a real effort to help them understand something, and they’ll reciprocate by doing their best to improve their understanding as well. Speak to them enthusiastically, so they feel excited. Encourage them through inspirational words, meaningful actions, and involvement. For more tutoring tips and tricks, check out our blog!