I observed Josie working with Tobias, a primary school student during an English tutoring session. Observing her tutoring approach gave me some valuable ideas about how effective tutoring can create a positive and engaging learning environment that supports both learning and confidence.
One of the first things I noticed was Josie's use of the whiteboard. She used it to clearly explain ideas, write examples and break down the work into smaller, more manageable steps. This made the lesson easier for Tobias to follow and gave him a visual reference while completing activities. I thought this was particularly effective because it catered to different ways of learning and helped make the content less overwhelming and more accessible for Tobias.
Josie was also very friendly throughout the session. She created a relaxed atmosphere where Tobias seemed comfortable participating and asking questions. Rather than simply giving him the answers, she encouraged him to think independently and work things out for himself. This helped make the lesson more interactive and gave Tobias more confidence in his abilities, while also encouraging him to take an active role in his learning.
Another technique that stood out to me as Josie's use of questions. She asked thoughtful, open-ended questions that encouraged Tobias to explain his thinking rather than just provide a short answer. Her questions helped guide him towards the correct response while still allowing him to take responsibility for his learning. This allowed Josie to check Tobias's understanding and encourage critical thinking.
Overall, observing Josie's tutoring session showed me the importance of combining clear explanations, visual resources, positive communication, and effective questioning. I would like to incorporate these techniques into my own tutoring practice, particularly using more open-ended questions and visual tools to help students become confident and independent learners in a supportive and encouraging tutoring environment.
