If learning has always been your passion, why not try to pass it on to those who don't have it? After school for children is rewarding in many ways. It can be an easy task, such as reading aloud for the student, or more complicated, such as creating worksheets to complete. Either way, after school is fun, and this article gives you some tips on how to put it into practice.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Looking for After School Students
Step 1. Talk to the head teacher and suggest that he or she tutor students who need it
The manager will be able to indicate the internal students most in difficulty, or contact other schools to offer your service. Tell the manager about your hours, how you want to help students, and what you intend to do. This way the manager will get an idea of what you are proposing and which learners can benefit from your support.
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Let the manager know what your hourly availability is and what subjects you intend to do after school on.
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Make a work plan to submit to the manager before you visit him. By doing this you show that you already know how to move and the manager can give you advice and suggestions on how to make your project work best.
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Step 2. If you want to do after-school care outside the school setting, think about the children you know who have learning difficulties and talk to their parents about your project
Investigate your circle of friends as well. Helping a friend learn is one of the most useful things you can do. Spread the word by clearly specifying what kind of support you intend to give.
Part 2 of 4: Prepare the Lessons
Step 1. First you need to plan your lessons
To do the after-school training it is necessary to make a preliminary effort to prepare the lessons well. If you skip this step, you will go haphazardly and the student will not focus on the learning they need to enhance. This is no time to digress, so prepare your lesson well.
Step 2. Try to understand in which areas the student is lacking and needs to improve
These sectors will become the hub around which you will build the lesson. You can also introduce new materials right away, but before continuing, take the time to verify that the student has mastered the fundamentals of the discipline.
Step 3. Prepare the materials you will need
If the materials have a cost, you can upload it to the student, informing the family in advance. Alternatively, use the materials you already have, or ask the student to bring what they need, such as stationery materials, keys, textbooks, CDs, etc.
If you plan to create worksheets, prepare and print them before class. Do not underestimate the time needed: it will take at least an hour for the preparation, writing and printing of the sheets
Step 4. Work out the lesson adapting it to the characteristics of the child you will be doing after school
Sit down with him and talk to him, in order to identify and write down his main learning goals, but don't neglect to value his personal goals as well. Precisely write down the cognitive areas in which he needs help most, as well as the learning methodology that is most congenial, then apply everything you have detected in practice. Your work would be practically useless if you didn't actually apply what you wrote in your annotations. You have to become a real point of reference for your student, providing him with all the help he needs.
Step 5. Keep your lesson materials in perfect order
Use binders, folders, ring binders and anything else you might need. Keep the work done by the student and the forms he has filled in, also keep track of the results, shortcomings and progress made. You can reserve a folder for each student, or use one to collect the students' work and another to collect their results and assessments.
Step 6. Look for the most suitable place to do your business, such as a library room used as a study or an empty classroom, or go to the student's home
Whatever the location, choose one that's safe, distraction-free, and has access to everything you might need, like power outlets for a laptop or audio player, etc.
Part 3 of 4: Learning to Know the Students
Step 1. Schedule a meeting with the child's parents, or guardian
First contact is vital as parents learn to know you, trust you and believe in your project. Show them all your references, including your titles and character strengths.
Step 2. Discuss the student's gaps and shortcomings with both the parents and the student himself, so you are likely to get a broader perspective of what really needs to be done
Learn not only about the needs and gaps, but also about the student's interests. If you also know what he likes, you can adapt the lessons to his interests and thus make them more engaging
Step 3. Stay in touch with the child's parents
Let them know how their learning is progressing, if they are getting better or if their grades are getting worse, and what can be done to help them further. Do not neglect to ask parents to clearly establish the timing of homework and play for the child, to ensure that he or she concentrates sufficiently on the study; parents may not care about what their child is doing, who instead needs to be encouraged to do his homework and study.
Part 4 of 4: Starting After School Activities
Step 1. Activities must be enjoyable
If the child loses interest, he will never want to come again and your relationship will break down. Use fun and educational didactic games! On the Internet there are many sites that allow you to study through interactive games and educational software, very useful for learning.
Step 2. Insist
The greater your effort, the greater the effort of your student!
Step 3. Try to figure out if something is out of your reach
If you are not comfortable with the topics or exercises, perhaps because they are getting too complicated, honestly admit it. Perhaps it is better to send the pupil to someone who is more knowledgeable about the subject - or it may be that the pupil no longer needs you!
Advice
- Create rewards and incentives to help achieve learning goals.
- Work out a large list of questions and come up with tricks to memorize the answers.
- With older children you can try to involve other students, with whom you can create a sort of Socratic circle focused on learning.
- If your after-school business grows, offer discounts and coupons.
