Tutor Talk: My M.O. as a Tutor
Coinciding with the launch of our Tutoring and Test Prep offering, today we’re thrilled to introduce a new column on our blog called Tutor Talk. Contributed by the talented members of our tutoring team, Tutor Talk will address various topics related to study skills, time management, test prep, and more. In our first Tutor Talk, Director of Tutoring Dickson Benesh introduces himself and his tutoring philosophy.
My M.O. as a tutor is to utilize a student-centered, tailored approach that meets students where they are to successfully get them where they need to be. I collaborate closely with my tutees so that I can equip them with the tools and the confidence to flourish. We meet any concerns head on, and I provide immediate, constructive feedback.
My Background and Philosophy
As a classroom teacher for 28 years (and counting!) who has taught 14 different mathematics courses alone, I’ve taught practically every course that I support as a tutor. As a tutor, I’ve worked with hundreds of students at all levels from dozens of different schools – I tutored 60+ students this past school year alone! With this experience as both a classroom teacher and a tutor, I can effectively diagnose student needs so that we can efficiently utilize our time together so that students can thrive.
Additionally, I strive to create a welcoming, comfortable environment where students feel secure about taking risks without the pressure of the classroom environment. This approach enhances student growth by strengthening the agency that they need to flourish when ultimately, they will need to work independently.
On SAT & ACT Prep
When it comes to standardized test prep (SAT/ACT), my method is similar in that my cornerstone is targeted, individualized instruction. Many students that I work with have taken one of the standardized tests or taken a test prep class before we meet. I’m able to build off that baseline – getting students who are in the 600’s into the 700’s on the SAT, for example. The key is my personalized approach in which I embrace their strengths and focus on improving their weaknesses directly.
In my day job as a teacher, I work with high-achieving, gifted students with lofty college aspirations every day. I couple this understanding of how academically strong students tick with my deep knowledge of the courses they have taken to meet students where they are. This synergy underpins my value-added approach to test prep.
I’m so excited to partner with College Solutions clients to help them succeed in school and on their college applications! You can learn more at collegesolutions.com/tutoring.
Tutoring & Test Prep
Want more personalized advice from our team? As part of our full-service approach to college advising, College Solutions offers tutoring and SAT/ACT prep as an add-on to our counseling packages for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. In collaboration with our knowledgeable counselors, our expert tutors create personalized learning plans for math, English, and/or standardized testing prep that align with students’ goals for college admissions and beyond.