English tutoring and the power of teaching: pay it forward, History, and Art musings
When I was still in school, I used to tutor a young guy who hated English. When I mean hate, he really loathed event the thought of working on reading, spelling, grammar, or any of the things, I so very much enjoy. I spent my college years covered in the subject. The poor boy was having a tough time in his class and his parents were worried he wouldn't improve especially since he was an athlete wrestler outside of class. The first few times I came over to tutor him, he would whine about how stupid it was, that he had to have help. His attention span was minimal and his parents mentioned in private he had ADHD. I decided to take a different route and forget the label.
One afternoon, I set his textbook down and said let's go outside. He immediately figured the session was over, but agreed to go anyway. We shot some basket hoops in the backyard and I tested his limits by quizzing him on vocabulary and comprehension. The initial reaction was defensive and anger. "You can't trick me like that," he used to say. I told him it wasn't a trick and asked if it was more fun to play ball than sit in a chair. He grumbled for a moment and decided I was right.
I wasn't his tutor for more than a year or two, but his mother noticed he began to do homework without her nagging. English was not a strong point in their family, but it didn't have to be. Eventually, his comprehension improved and he was even accepted to college and continues to be a champion wrestler. I mark it as a such a special moment for me to be able to impact someone like that. Teaching Sunday school I feel the same way and even in my current job.
Sometimes I let my impatience get in the way of someone trying to learn. I remind myself it's about the end goal, which essentially is for them to learn something or get a take away. What 2 cents can I pass on, that isn't too broad, or too simple, but just enough to make a dent. When I taught swim lessons, I had one thing to do: Make sure they don't drown. That seems obvious till you realize, the objective. Sink or swim. I practiced doing minor things such as blowing bubbles to swimming to my arm, to majors like diving down to grab a toy, or swimming across the pool.
Whatever we teach, I think it's remarkable and what teachers, coaches, and trainers do is unbelievable. I guess I am just paying it forward to all those who taught me, whatever it was. The list is long, but these are my pay it forwards Coach Maxwell taught me how to swim in a race, Coach Sherman helped me perfect my freestyle in swimming and how to do a proper flip turn, Mrs. Hagan taught me that nothing gets done if I talk too much, attitude is everything, don't throw out your 4th grade treasure book, and don't even think about half assing anything.
Mr. Wickwire taught me Math isn't my worst nightmare(sorry dude it still is ;)), basketball brackets for class points were extra credit smarts, that he could stick 50 pencils in his beard! Mr. Wilson taught me how to argue my way in a debate, and remember facts of history I wouldn't recall as much if I tried, Mrs. Faye taught me I was my own artist, even if I didn't have a clue how to draw, or sculpt, and hated it. Mr. Pozzi made science seem less boring, Mr. Grubaugh taught me how to write a news article for our editorial and make econ class fun, Ms. Givens taught me how to properly lead a class as president, Ms. Elkin taught me how find real stories for yearbook, , Mr. Stottlemeyer, created a world in English where I was challenged to almost want to become an educator for a living, and told me I could do anything if I just put my mind to it. Ms. Hullman taught me how to speak in front of a crowd and own it, Mr. Ludden taught me to think outside the box, brought humor and even stood on top of tables, pushed me to the brink, which was worth it, and that coffee shops are the best places to attack a rough draft. Mary Webb taught me that you put in what you get out, Ms. Urie taught me how to focus on more than one concept and apply it to life and in class, Ms. Hill taught me you want to fail, there's the door, never, never give up, and when I didn't pass her class, I thought my life was over, she showed me I am not my mistake and my respect for her remains. I could add so many more, but that would take hours, those were just some that came to mind. Their impact will stay with me I hope until the end of my days. I appreciate education a whole lot more than I did growing up.
Lastly, I love English and history. I love being able to look at an art piece in a museum, some of my sister's paintings, or any art from photography, to paintings, to sculptures, to graffiti, whatever. There is just something about it. Like English, there is so much behind these facets that no one seems to give credit for, or at least we don't do enough.
One afternoon, I set his textbook down and said let's go outside. He immediately figured the session was over, but agreed to go anyway. We shot some basket hoops in the backyard and I tested his limits by quizzing him on vocabulary and comprehension. The initial reaction was defensive and anger. "You can't trick me like that," he used to say. I told him it wasn't a trick and asked if it was more fun to play ball than sit in a chair. He grumbled for a moment and decided I was right.
I wasn't his tutor for more than a year or two, but his mother noticed he began to do homework without her nagging. English was not a strong point in their family, but it didn't have to be. Eventually, his comprehension improved and he was even accepted to college and continues to be a champion wrestler. I mark it as a such a special moment for me to be able to impact someone like that. Teaching Sunday school I feel the same way and even in my current job.
Sometimes I let my impatience get in the way of someone trying to learn. I remind myself it's about the end goal, which essentially is for them to learn something or get a take away. What 2 cents can I pass on, that isn't too broad, or too simple, but just enough to make a dent. When I taught swim lessons, I had one thing to do: Make sure they don't drown. That seems obvious till you realize, the objective. Sink or swim. I practiced doing minor things such as blowing bubbles to swimming to my arm, to majors like diving down to grab a toy, or swimming across the pool.
Whatever we teach, I think it's remarkable and what teachers, coaches, and trainers do is unbelievable. I guess I am just paying it forward to all those who taught me, whatever it was. The list is long, but these are my pay it forwards Coach Maxwell taught me how to swim in a race, Coach Sherman helped me perfect my freestyle in swimming and how to do a proper flip turn, Mrs. Hagan taught me that nothing gets done if I talk too much, attitude is everything, don't throw out your 4th grade treasure book, and don't even think about half assing anything.
Mr. Wickwire taught me Math isn't my worst nightmare(sorry dude it still is ;)), basketball brackets for class points were extra credit smarts, that he could stick 50 pencils in his beard! Mr. Wilson taught me how to argue my way in a debate, and remember facts of history I wouldn't recall as much if I tried, Mrs. Faye taught me I was my own artist, even if I didn't have a clue how to draw, or sculpt, and hated it. Mr. Pozzi made science seem less boring, Mr. Grubaugh taught me how to write a news article for our editorial and make econ class fun, Ms. Givens taught me how to properly lead a class as president, Ms. Elkin taught me how find real stories for yearbook, , Mr. Stottlemeyer, created a world in English where I was challenged to almost want to become an educator for a living, and told me I could do anything if I just put my mind to it. Ms. Hullman taught me how to speak in front of a crowd and own it, Mr. Ludden taught me to think outside the box, brought humor and even stood on top of tables, pushed me to the brink, which was worth it, and that coffee shops are the best places to attack a rough draft. Mary Webb taught me that you put in what you get out, Ms. Urie taught me how to focus on more than one concept and apply it to life and in class, Ms. Hill taught me you want to fail, there's the door, never, never give up, and when I didn't pass her class, I thought my life was over, she showed me I am not my mistake and my respect for her remains. I could add so many more, but that would take hours, those were just some that came to mind. Their impact will stay with me I hope until the end of my days. I appreciate education a whole lot more than I did growing up.
Lastly, I love English and history. I love being able to look at an art piece in a museum, some of my sister's paintings, or any art from photography, to paintings, to sculptures, to graffiti, whatever. There is just something about it. Like English, there is so much behind these facets that no one seems to give credit for, or at least we don't do enough.
Comments
Post a Comment