Megan TS#6

This week I learned that teaching (and tutoring) is definitely not always a piece of cake. In order for me to be more of an English "coach" than an English "sage," it is pertinent that my student(s) put in just as much effort as I do. Me doing all the work for the student is not what is going to make the student grow in their knowledge and use of the language. David was unfortunately very uncooperative in our last meeting. Although I had planned to work with David on the past tense of irregular verbs, his mother had printed out a reading with questions that she had wanted me to go over with him. The paper began with a short article about a woman who had "translated" the constitution into a book that children could understand. I had asked him to read it over and I would time him, but he merely glanced it over and tossed it aside. For this reason, I had him read it out loud instead to make sure he actually read and comprehended the content of the story. I understood that a story of this nature must have been very boring for him, so I plan to have him read an article more interesting to him (perhaps about video games?) in our next meeting. Regardless it was extremely difficult to get through the lesson. During multiple choice he continuously said "Fudge this" and "fudge you." I told him not to say that word because in the context he was using it he and I both knew it didn't mean "chocolate." Although he stopped he didn't do so without adding in that I am a "bad tutor."  This undoubtedly hurt my feelings; however, I didn't give it much attention since I know that he is just being a middle school boy. Rather, I returned to the lesson because I know that what he truly wants is to arise a response from me so that there is an interruption to our lesson. Pulling every answer from him with great effort we completed the lesson. However, I spoke to his mom afterwards about different options. She is a wonderful woman and is very involved in the education of  both her twin boys. She and I both realize that David needs extra help focusing on his studies and I have assured her that in my next lesson I will try to implement the computer more as a means of keeping him engaged.