Samson is ready to start the next book.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Rasknolnikov Revisited
Above: the newest version of Crime and Punishment which is translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. Summer tutoring perk: less required reading = more Suzybuzz assignments (i.e. I can assign my favorite angsty novel to strengthen students' reading comprehension and critical writing skills). After reading four of the six parts of this Dostoevsky classic, my student said incredulously, "Wait, only one part is 'crime' and the other five parts are 'punishment?'" C &P is a long novel and many of the paragraphs fill entire pages. Yet Dostoevsky's intricate exploration of the Superhuman complex is well worth slogging through the characters' patronymic and surnames. Making a list of the characters to refer to as you read can be very helpful. Also, with a book this long, annotations (making notes in the margins, underlining passages). If a work is assigned in school, buying the same edition that is used in class discussions is worth the extra few dollars, particularly with works that are in translation. You'll want your page numbers to correlate with the professor's, and you'll want to refer to your annotations when making points in class - particularly in smaller, more discussion based forums.
To my student’s chagrin, I like to assign response papers after around 100 pages are read. Response papers are less formal and allow students to respond on a more personal level to what they find more salient in the text. Short quotes and examples are nevertheless vital for this type of assignment; make friends with the text! The beauty of response papers is they tend to intimidate students less than the longer, more formal analytic writing that tends to be assigned when a book is finished. If all the response papers are compiled and reread, students are likely to feel more encouraged and less paralyzed when it is time to write the longer paper as they already have a bunch of ideas in front of them.
To my student’s chagrin, I like to assign response papers after around 100 pages are read. Response papers are less formal and allow students to respond on a more personal level to what they find more salient in the text. Short quotes and examples are nevertheless vital for this type of assignment; make friends with the text! The beauty of response papers is they tend to intimidate students less than the longer, more formal analytic writing that tends to be assigned when a book is finished. If all the response papers are compiled and reread, students are likely to feel more encouraged and less paralyzed when it is time to write the longer paper as they already have a bunch of ideas in front of them.
Business cards
I love this design! Thanks to my sister, Laura Bee at Laura Bee Designs (www.laurabeedesigns.com) for generously giving her time to create an eye-catching cards that are cheerful and fun yet appropriately market the skill set I have acquired over the years. The back of the card is pretty cool, too. Now if I could only find it on my computer. Note to ADDers: don't let your desktop become messy. Make folders for each project).
The beginning
Welcome to Boston Learning Buzz! In writing this blog, I hope to create some fun, hip entries about the tutoring business, and hopefully share some insights, tips, strategies, (occasional) rants, as well as some words of (sometimes cheesy) inspiration.
I work with students in the Boston area (and make occasional Skype calls) from the junior high level all the way through the PhD level of education. Some students want to improve their reading comprehension skills, while others want to hone their organization and planning skills. Some want to refine their writing and editing before submitting a final product. Others are terrified that they could fail at any moment.
I truly think tutoring can benefit anyone who seeks it. You don't need a diagnosis to want to strengthen your writing. Collaboration can turn messy ideas into seamless, well-constructed drafts that you reread and think, "Wow, this is really good!"
While anyone can benefit from tutoring, my background and specialization is ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities/learning differences. It is my conviction that some of the most creative, talented and brilliant people are those who need to work harder because their brains work a bit differently. Unfortunately, some of these differences can make academic settings grueling - our society does not always reward those who do not fit the mold. Sometimes we have to play the game, and that can be frustrating. During our sessions, I work to identify students' strengths and weaknesses (students are often more aware of their weaknesses); together, we can build upon strengths and manage weaknesses. And with a lot of hard work and determination, students' strengths can translate into finished academic work of which they can be proud.
More later.
I work with students in the Boston area (and make occasional Skype calls) from the junior high level all the way through the PhD level of education. Some students want to improve their reading comprehension skills, while others want to hone their organization and planning skills. Some want to refine their writing and editing before submitting a final product. Others are terrified that they could fail at any moment.
I truly think tutoring can benefit anyone who seeks it. You don't need a diagnosis to want to strengthen your writing. Collaboration can turn messy ideas into seamless, well-constructed drafts that you reread and think, "Wow, this is really good!"
While anyone can benefit from tutoring, my background and specialization is ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities/learning differences. It is my conviction that some of the most creative, talented and brilliant people are those who need to work harder because their brains work a bit differently. Unfortunately, some of these differences can make academic settings grueling - our society does not always reward those who do not fit the mold. Sometimes we have to play the game, and that can be frustrating. During our sessions, I work to identify students' strengths and weaknesses (students are often more aware of their weaknesses); together, we can build upon strengths and manage weaknesses. And with a lot of hard work and determination, students' strengths can translate into finished academic work of which they can be proud.
More later.
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