The Tutor.com Blog

Each month our team of mentors nominates a “Tutor.com Tutor of the Month”. We are pleased to introduce this month’s Tutor of the Month, Rebecca F!

After relocating to a new state Rebecca F. decided to stay at home full-time with her three kids. However, she missed the daily student- teacher relationships she had back in Wisconsin. As a high school biology teacher for 14 years she grew used to the constant demands of being a teacher, but the shift to stay-at-home mom brought new opportunities. That’s when a colleague referred her to Tutor.com. The chance to maintain a flexible schedule initially drew her in, but her dedication to staying connected to the classroom and helping students with biology is why she is May’s Tutor.com Tutor of the Month.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I currently live in Iowa, after moving from Wisconsin last year. I have been tutoring with Tutor.com since October of 2011, and am approved to tutor Biology and Elementary Science. I graduated from Marquette University in Education with a minor in Psychology back in 1997. Then I was able to finish my Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Carroll University in 2002. For the past 14 years I was a high school science teacher in Greendale, WI where I taught Honors Biology, Biological Processes, Biology, and Physical Science. I also taught pre-service science teachers a science ethodology class at Alverno College. Last year my husband landed a new job in Iowa, and with the move I decided to stay home full time with my three kids.

How did you find out about Tutor.com?

One of my colleagues who knew about my career change mentioned Tutor.com to me and its flexibility in scheduling and thought that it may be something I might want to pursue part-time while staying at home with my children. I have always had an interest in online teaching and learning, and I value its benefits, so this opportunity was appealing to me.

What is your favorite part of tutoring with Tutor.com?

I miss the relationships I had with my students while teaching full-time, so I really enjoy when a student and I “connect;” when we both are excited about what we are learning together, and sometimes share a quick story or joke that relates to the discussion at hand.

I get the chance to work with lots of great students, and they always have new and challenging biology or science questions that keep me fresh and involved with science related topics. I also appreciate the flexibility I have to change my schedule week to week so I never have to miss one of my own children’s activities and events.

What is one piece of advice you think all students should know?

Students are their own best advocates in what they need to be successful in school. Nothing makes a bigger difference than when the student approaches me with a question or admits some content is confusing and difficult. That is when I know I need to re-teach a topic in new way or find other strategies to help that student figure the material out.

What do you like to do for fun?

For fun I enjoy spending time with my family. This summer we are taking a family trip Out West (Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, WY, and various places in Colorado). I also like to scrapbook, read, bike, spend time outdoors, volunteering at my boys’ school, and have recently become involved with various “mom” groups in the city I live in to create great learning experiences for my youngest daughter who stays at home with me while my two older boys are in school. I have also picked up running, and my goal by this fall is to run 10 miles as part of a team in the Fall 50 Race in Door County, WI along with my husband, who is going to attempt to run the entire 50 miles on his own!!

As “Enduring Corporate Partners” of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), we were invited to attend yesterday’s ceremony in the Pentagon inner courtyard to honor the new group of companies and organizations joining the organization.

Companies like Tutor.com, Amazon.com, General Dynamics, The Home Depot, and a few dozen more were previously inducted into the Military Spouse Employment Partnership because of our dedication and commitment to hiring military spouses and sticking with them as they relocate to new homes across the nation and around the world.

For Tutor.com, hiring military spouses was an easy commitment to make. We were hiring military spouses before we even knew of this program, and many of our great online tutors are military spouses. We find them as a group to be smart, hard-working, creative and adaptable–characteristics that are really important when working as an online tutor. Also, many military spouses tell us that being an online tutor for us is an ideal part-time job because we offer flexibility; their work for us is not imperiled when they move from duty station to duty station.

Today, we welcome companies such as ADP, ClearChannel, Safeway, and TriWest, along with organizations such as the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Association of the US Army (AUSA) to the Partnership, and we look forward to working with them to collectively hire tens of thousands more military spouses.

Above: Bart Epstein, Senior VP & GM of Military and Federal Programs at Tutor.com, is pictured with Patty Barron, Director of Family Programs for AUSA. Learn more about Patty’s experience with Tutor.com here.

For this month’s Tutor.com Reads post, book club newcomer Cardine Caffery, Graphic Designer and Australian native, reviews her first book club pick and tries to confuse us with talk of Utes and shouts.

After being part of the book club for one short month I was taken by surprise when asked to pick our next book.  I chose The Slap: A Novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas.  I had heard it was a controversial book, which presents the reader with uncomfortable situations and confrontations.  Being Australian myself, I thought I would heat up book club this month and at the same time confuse everyone with a lot of Australian slang.

The book starts with a barbeque amongst friends and family. The day looks like it could be pleasant until one of the children begins to act out. The boy is eventually slapped across the face, not by his parents but by another adult.  Although you believe the boy should have been punished for his behavior you also believe the man should be able to control himself, especially around a 3-year-old boy.

What follows is a chain reaction where we are shown the aftermath through eight different characters’ stories that were either directly or indirectly affected by the slap.

The book touches on various themes such as the difference between generations, differences in the way children are raised and adultery. Just a side note, on behalf of Australians I would like to make a disclaimer that although The Slap makes it seem as though we commit acts of adultery like it’s a rite of passage, there are  (I would like to believe) a majority of us that do not.  One of the more prominent themes throughout the book is multiculturalism seen through the various ethnic backgrounds of the characters, which is a huge part of Australian culture.

Don’t be deterred by how infuriated some (actually, most) of the characters make you. The book really does force you to think honestly about how you would act in certain situations. For me, the book pointed out that not every situation is black and white and I believe Tsiolkas accomplished this by taking us on an emotional tour within each character’s mind.

Did you enjoy The Slap? Then check out the trailer for the Australian T.V. show version:

Join us next month as we shift to a classic! We are reading Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. Read along with us & join in on the discussion as we live tweet our next book club meeting on June 5^th at 12PM EDT! #TDCReads

Are you active on GoodReads? Then join in on Tutor.com’s GoodReads group here!

Whether they are out saving the world or at home managing the household, mothers always seem to know best. And what’s best can be anything from getting a batch of cookies sent to your office, a much needed hug, or getting homework help from the right place. So this year we are celebrating Mother’s Day by sharing some of the Tutor.com student comments that showcase that relationship. They may not always be experts in math and science, but moms are always willing to try and lend a helping hand. All quotes are unedited.

“thank you so much. My mother and I really appreciate for what you’ve done!!!!! Keep up the good work ,Tutor.com!!!!!”

“The tutor helped me to figure out a math problem that my mom and I were both stuck on. This service is great, and I’m so happy that Stephanie could help me with the problem.”

“My mom and I love this website.  She has been telling everyone about it.  We have used is quite a few times.  She says she hopes it will still be offered as my sister gets older!!!   Thank you very much for the help you give!!”

“this was great i’ll tell all my friends about this. My mom will be proud on report card confereces”

“this is the best site i have ever used, my mom thinks its unbelievable…we owe  you chocolate ”

“this service is great now my mom was right”

And sometimes, we are lucky enough to hear from mom herself.

“This service helped my daughter enjoy her Math assignment.  She will deffinately be back again for more tutring.  Thanks, O’s Mom.”

“Thank you for offering this program!! I’m a mother and so out of tune with this school work. I use it to help my son and at the same time I can help myself.”

“I am a mom who uses this service to talk out issues I don’t understand so I can help my kids.  Thank you so much!”

“My sons are both GATE students and we have used tutor help with a couple of math problems that have stumped us.  It’s a great service and one that I hope the library can continue to offer.  It’s a wonderful service that empowers students to think about their resources when trying to solve problems.  Plus, as a parent, the Tutor Help reduces the friction between mom/dad and child when we’re trying to help our kids.  Thank you! Thank you!”

“This site is amazing.  I am a 40 yr old mom and I have no clue on alot of this stuff.  It has helped me to help my daughter immensely.  Thank you. My tutor was awesome and patient!”

How are you celebrating Mother’s Day?

The National Education Association summed it up nicely in their #thankateacher sample tweets: “if you can write your name, if you can read, and if you followed your dream, then there is a teacher you can thank.” From the simplest tasks to the most complicated concepts, teachers are there to help us learn.  And often that can go unnoticed. So today, along with thousands of others, we are celebrating all the things teachers have done for us!

I’d like to thank my dad, Ed Sobanski. I never had him as a teacher in a classroom, but he taught Math for over 30 years and would sometimes help me with my homework. Thanks to him I always had an appreciation of Math and saw learning as a fun game rather than a challenge. Thanks, Dad! – Evelyn Sullivan, Onboarding Manager

I’ll always remember Bill McCandless, Honors English Literature Teacher, 11^th grade, South Lake High School.  Mr. McCandless helped all of us see past the sometimes difficult vernacular of Shakespeare’s plays, showing the true drama and humor inherent in Shakespeare classics such as Macbeth and Hamlet.  I can still recall his explanation of just exactly how “Birnam Wood did come to Dunsinane Hill.” He also helped me realize that I needed to broaden my tastes and start reading outside of the genres that I usually chose back then.  From across a veritable gulf of years, a shout out to Mr. McCandless!! – Tom Squillace, Sales Director

Mrs. JoAnn Puleo (11th and 12th grade: Commercial Art & Photography). It’s because of her that I do what I do, and I love what I do. – Duane Romanell, Creative Services Director

My sister, Betsy Schrage (5^th Grade – Oxford, MI). Thank you for putting your heart and soul into teaching students about the values of teamwork and maintaining an open-mind.  Your kids are going to be world travelers and thought leaders thanks to the year they spent with you. – Steve Schrage, Marketing Coordinator – Military & Federal

My favorite teacher was Kathleen Depres. Not only was I lucky enough to have her as my fourth grade teacher, but she was my sixth grade teacher as well when she decided to leave the elementary school soon after I did.    What I remember most about her was her sense of adventure and curiosity. She loved to travel the world and explore new cultures. After every school vacation, she would bring us back tales of her adventures that she would craftily weave into the day’s grade school lessons. Because of that, I want to say thank you Ms. Depres for passing on to me your passion for learning as well as an amazing sense of adventure that still burns within. – Linda Gordon, K12 Trainer

Which teacher would you like to thank?

April was the Month of the Military Child, National Library week, and a variety of holidays from Earth Day, to Poem in your Pocket Day, to Patriots Day. Even though it was full of events, the debates on remediation in college, flipped K-12 classrooms, and e-tablets continued on. Those debates and more were the focus of our top reads this month. What were yours?

Have Increased Graduation Rates Artificially Depressed America’s 12th-Grade Performance? via EducationNext.org: One of the great mysteries of modern-day school reform is why we’re seeing such strong progress (in math at least, especially among our lowest-performing students) at the elementary and middle school levels, but not in high school.

With A New Educational Platform, TED Gives Teachers The Keys To A Flipped Classroom via TeleCrunch: As an increasingly powerful medium through which the world’s experts share their hard-won knowledge, TED is also an educator. In March, the organization launched the first phase of its “TED-Ed” initiative, in practice a series of a dozen short animated YouTube videos “created for high school students and lifelong learners,” in the big picture an invitation to teachers to collaborate with TED to create more effective video lessons that can be used in classrooms.

Report: College remediation fails students via Brownsville Herald: A new study released Wednesday faults college remediation programs for failing struggling students, but local trends suggest public schools have significantly helped lower the need for development education.

The rise of e-reading via PEW: One-fifth of American adults (21%) report that they have read an e-book in the past year, and this number increased following a gift-giving season that saw a spike in the ownership of both tablet computers and e-book reading devices such as the original Kindles and Nooks. In mid-December 2011, 17% of American adults had reported they read an e-book in the previous year; by February, 2012, the share increased to 21%.

Soure: Remediation: Higher Education’s Bridge to Nowhere, Complete College America

The stats are staggering:  51.7% of students entering a 2-year college and 19.9% of students entering a 4-year college are in remediation. And of those taking remedial courses, only 62% of 2-year college students and 74.4% of 4-year college students complete remediation. Even fewer complete remediation and associated college-level courses within two years. With 1.7 million students in remedial courses at a cost of $3 billion to states and students, it’s time to take a harder look at remediation solutions.

That’s just what the non-profit organization Complete College America did with their recently released report, “Remediation: Higher Education’s Bridge to Nowhere”. Relying on data from 31 states, the report takes a hard look at what’s going wrong with remediation and how to fix it to create a clear path to graduation for millions of more students.

The report shares compelling statistics as well as success stories from colleges around the country that have been implementing changes the group suggests including:

• Redesigning college classes with just-in time tutoring and support
• Moving extra academic help to be a co-requisite not a pre-requisite
• Working with high schools to provide transitional classes and earlier testing to see if students are on a college track
• Forcing students to choose a course of study right away

As a provider of online tutoring and academic support for 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities across the country, Tutor.com has seen firsthand how supplementing instruction with just-in time tutoring delivers results. And after a decade of delivering one-to-one, on-demand tutoring we have a good sense of why it works.

Anytime Help Motivates Students

The frustration of not “getting it” drives many students to tune out and then drop out of the challenging math and science coursework that they need for college. Once they are placed in remediation classes the same issues arrive. The introduction of 24/7 on-demand help from expert tutors gives students the support they need to ask the “dumb” questions and attain the skills they never learned in high school.

“Knowing I could connect to a tutor…whenever I needed to gave me the motivation to keep going and get the work done. The tutors always gave me encouragement and they gave me motivation to stick it out. It really helped my confidence, “ explained Melissa S a college sophomore referring to her experience getting on-demand help from Tutor.com for math help through high school and college. “I can’t picture my academic career without it. I don’t think I would have even tried to take college level calculus without Tutor.com.”

Unlike other intervention programs, Tutor.com is introduced the day a course starts and is available to students throughout the semester for help just when they need it. This on-demand approach to learning lets a student seek ongoing help and encourages them to complete more assignments, be better prepared for class and more engaged in the classroom and their own learning.

Working one-to-one with experienced tutors also helps students learn at their own pace and on their own terms – they choose when to get help and how much help they need. Embedding tutoring time into the class schedule gives students a healthy dose of one-to-one time to work out their own problems and keep up with the class pacing and assignments.

While online and on-demand tutoring support may not solve all of the remediation issues facing colleges, it’s a compellingly good start.

To learn more about the Tutor.com College Center, please visit www.tutor.com/higher-education.

Today is Poem in Your Pocket day. A day to keep a poem close to you and celebrate this art form with family, friends or classmates. “What makes something a poem?” you may ask. Poetry is about any topic, takes any shape, and can be of any length. There is classic form, like iambic pentameter so famously used by William Shakespeare. Or simple rhyme, like the all time classic “Roses are red, Violets are blue…”

They can be humorous and witty, like Billy Collins’ Litney (poem begins at 1:55).

Or full of sadness, like Gottfried Benn’s Fragments 1953.

They can be artistic in form and structure, like Dylan Thomas’ work Vision and Prayer.

They can be under 140 characters, like those contributing to #micropoetry or #poetweet.

Or they can be epic works, like The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer.

What kind of poem is in your pocket?

Each month our team of mentors nominates a “Tutor.com Tutor of the Month”. We are pleased to introduce this month’s Tutor of the Month, Hope W!

From Idaho to South Carolina, from kayaking to hockey, from Algebra to Biology, Hope W. leads a very busy life. Yet her motto is to keep it simple. Whether that means breaking down an algebra problem by drawing out each individual angle, or making a connection between a math problem and real life, Hope knows that students do their best when they understand the problem step by step. This teaching style combined with her stellar student reviews, are why Hope W. is this month’s Tutor.com Tutor of the Month.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Integrative Biology. I am currently looking to get my Master’s degree in Marine Biology. I tutor students privately a few hours a week, and I am a supervisor at a county beach park here in Charleston, SC. I really enjoy kayaking, boating, and going to the beach. Before I moved to Charleston, I enjoyed playing hockey on a Women’s Team in Utah. I have been tutoring with Tutor.com for two years, and I am currently approved to tutor Algebra, Algebra II, Biology, Elementary Math, Mid Level Math, and Math en Español.

What is your favorite part of tutoring at Tutor.com?

My favorite part about tutoring is helping students find the right answer, without giving it away. A lot of students already know how to get the answer; they just don’t realize it and need a little bit of guidance. I like tutoring with Tutor.com because it’s a good way to earn some extra money, and I tutor as little or as much as I need to with my busy schedule.

How did you hear about us?

I found about Tutor.com from my sister, who is currently a tutor

What is some advice you have for students?

I’d tell students that to better understand the material they are learning in school they need to make connections  to real life.

What’s your favorite book?

Of the books that I have read recently, I really enjoyed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because it’s an interesting mix on ethics, biography and the history of cell research. (Check out our Tutor.com Reads Book Club Review of Henrietta Lacks here!)

What’s  your favorite movie?

One of my favorite movies is Rookie of the Year. I love it because it makes me laugh every time I watch it.

What is your best homework tip for current students?

My best homework tip is pretend like the questions on the homework are questions on a test. That way you are more motivated to work through the problems.

Every week millions of teachers spend time planning out lessons that will engage a classroom of students. Mat Doty, a ninth grade teacher at the Crossroads Center, an alternative education center that is part of the Baltimore County Public School System, is one of those teachers. But, Mat doesn’t have to plan alone.  Mat has been participating in the MyLivePD™ Online Coaching Service pilot program since September 2011. Thanks to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, several school districts, several Teach for America (TFA) regional districts and National Education Association (NEA) members have enjoyed free access to experienced Algebra coaches online.

Mat uses the service regularly to connect to a coach during his prep period or after-school hours to collaborate on lesson plans especially for upcoming high stakes exams. Here’s how MyLivePD is helping Mat every week.

Tutor.com: Mat how long have you been teaching?

Mat: I’m in my fifth year of teaching at the Baltimore County Public School System. Right now I teach Algebra to classes of 18 ninth graders, who all have different challenges when it comes to school and school work.

Tutor.com: Ongoing professional development is an important part of your profession.  What types of professional development programs have you participated in?

Mat:  I’ve done a lot of professional development (PD) since I started my teaching career. I’ve attended conferences, workshops and I have even provided PD to other teachers, as well.

Tutor.com: What type of PD were you providing?

Mat: I focused on helping teachers make math relevant to their students to help really engage the students in the classroom. The program also brought the elements of urban culture to suburban teachers.

Tutor.com: How is MyLivePD different from other PD programs you’ve done?

Mat : It’s a completely new way to get help. Before MyLivePD, if I had a question about a teaching technique or wanted to try something new in my classroom, I would have to wait for a larger workshop or seminar that may be weeks or months away. Now I can get help from one of the coaches right when I need it, which is really exciting.

Tutor.com: How often do you use MyLivePD and what types of topics do you discuss?

Mat: I started using the program this past September. I have been using it pretty regularly. In the fall I used it to get my courses fully planned and to tweak some of my lessons. I also connected to coaches to prepare for my observation. Now, I’m using the service for suggestions on engaging my students to prepare them for the Maryland High School Assessment (HSA). Our recent benchmark tests were not as high as I’d like and I want to find innovative ways to prep them for the test.

Tutor.com: What do you like best about connecting to a coach for PD online?

Mat: I like how immediate the help is and how personal it is. I get to ask a specific question and get a very personal experience and response. Not long ago, I prepared a lesson and it didn’t work out as well as I had hoped. That day I was able to connect to a coach online during a prep period and work through some other options. I had a new lesson plan ready to go for the very next day. Other PD doesn’t work like this.

Tutor.com: How would you recommend other teachers use MyLivePD?

Mat: There are many ways teachers can use MyLivePD. I recommend it for planning lessons to help make them more exciting and to better engage students. When you are planning alone you can hit a wall sometimes. It’s great to have a coach to share ideas. The service also helps teachers take more risks and try something new like inquiry-based lessons. And I like that I can have a great new idea and lesson plan in 30 minutes or less. It really saves me planning time.

If you or your school district would like to check out MyLivePD go to www.mylivepd.com to watch a video and read more about this new, teacher-driven PD.

This year Operation Homefront declared April 13^th PURPLE UP day to show your support for Military Children. Once Tutor.com got wind of it, we knew we wanted to participate. So, today we got a few members of the Tutor.com team to wear their various shades of purple: eggplant, lavender, violet, etc. Luckily enough we were able to all pile into the picture behind the purple Tutor.com for U.S. Military table drape that you may have seen at an event near you!

Another way we wanted to celebrate Military Children this April was by sharing what they have to say. We receive thousands of post-session comments from students after they finish up working with a tutor, and many of these comments are quick to put a smile on our face.  Check out below what students from National Guard and Reserve families shared with us these last few weeks!

“I was having a bad night with math and I was really frustrated and not in the mood to talk with anyone. But when I got Alexandra, I felt way better. She helped me with my math and was so nice! She was really bubbly and fun. Thanks for everything Tutor.com!”  —7^th Grade Student in Army National Guard family

 “Thank you for making this free for the military I am very thankful. Doing homework is a pain when I don’t know how to do it. Luckily I have tutor.com to help me when I’m in need. Thank you!” —9^th Grade Student in Army Reserves family

 “This was the first time I had used this and the first tutor I got was of great use to me!! I now can look at my homework and know what to do!!! He was great!! Thanks!” —7^th Grade Student in Navy Reserves family

 “This has helped me so much and I can now understand my homework which helps me understand what is going on in class as well.” —10^th Grade Student in Army National Guard family

For more information on Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families click here.

Tomorrow marks the end of National Library Week 2012 and we’ve had a great time these last few days recognizing all our libraries have to offer. We thought a fun way to close out the week would be to share some quotes from prominent figures that celebrate what libraries mean to them. From members of the Supreme Court and astrophysicists to actors and actresses, we all value the resources that the libraries in our communities provide. Where else could we fight dragons, study for the SAT, and file our taxes, all at the same time?

“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.” Sidney Sheldon, Author

“In my work a good library is essential. It enables me to learn the background and previous discussions of the various issues I am called upon to decide. It provides the stability and continuity for the rule of law.” Sandra Day O’Connor, First female member of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

“My guess is (it will be) about 300 years until computers are as good as, say, your local reference library in search.” Craig Silverstein, Director of Technology, Google.com.

“Libraries have always seemed like the richest places in the world to me, and I’ve done some of my best learning and thinking thanks to them. Libraries and librarians have definitely changed my life and the lives of countless other Americans.” Barbara Bush, Former First Lady of the United States

“When I was young, we couldn’t afford much. But, my library card was my key to the world.” John Goodman, Actor

“I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture, and our concern for the future, can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.” Carl Sagan, American astronomer, Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, Author and Science Communicator

“What in the world would we do without our libraries?” Katharine Hepburn, Actor

Source for all quotes comes from: http://www.libraryquotes.org/index.html