It seems as the semester goes on
some recent nights at the Homework Help Program have slowed down a bit. I
guess those students feel the need for a mid-term break as much as I did.
On my last two visits I have waited for someone to help rather than the usual
full lobby helping student after student.
As I was waiting for the others in my group to finish up thinking we would just call it a night, a little man who was visible upset came in and announced he needed help. He was not on the list but Mr. Lynn pointed to me so we sat down. It seemed he was very upset over not being able to work division problems. We sat there and wrote out each problem on a side sheet of paper and I watched him make guess after guess when I asked questions like how many times does eight go in to twenty-four. This is how I learned long division.
As I was waiting for the others in my group to finish up thinking we would just call it a night, a little man who was visible upset came in and announced he needed help. He was not on the list but Mr. Lynn pointed to me so we sat down. It seemed he was very upset over not being able to work division problems. We sat there and wrote out each problem on a side sheet of paper and I watched him make guess after guess when I asked questions like how many times does eight go in to twenty-four. This is how I learned long division.
After a while I switched to multiplication table to see if we needed to start there. He knew a lot of answers but then told me he did not know his sixes very well. As we worked he stated he didn't know his sevens very well, and then his eights. I was started to understand his frustration.
We spent the next half hour working on the multiplication
tables. I spent the time to show him how if 2*3 = 6 then 6/3=2. I showed
him the 8*4 is just 8+8+8+8. He seemed to relax with addition as a
tool. We made table after table practicing while focusing on
understanding the math rather than just memorizing the numbers.
I find that high fives for correct answers is a huge
motivation.
It seems tedious, and at times at
the end of a day with work and class, it can be tedious but the look on his
face was worth it. He relaxed and when we went back to his homework
problems he attempted to write the problems out all by himself. It is
times like this that reminds me why we are there. That taking the time to
work through the problems no matter how tedious or late is worth it and makes
all the difference to a student who just needs some help.
I am not sure how well he did the
next day but I do think he went home a little more confident. I know that
although I was just waiting to leave I was grateful to have been there when
this one student walked in the door. It was worth the wait.
I have experience with situations like this because I got to help my little brother with his homework all the time. He often got very frustrated with math and sometimes I had to come up with interesting ways of explaining things until it finally clicked for him. Even with us being 6 years apart, I learned things very differently than how he was learning them. Is this something that you ever struggle with when you're helping these kids with their homework?
ReplyDeleteYes it is. I think by the time we meet with them they are tired and their attention span lasts about 30 minutes. I find that pointing out any accomplishments help keep them interested. School days and homework make for long days with these kids. I also recognize that we all learn in different ways so I assure them we will find a way.
ReplyDeleteI have found that slow days have been the most meaningful. I work with Step by Step, and when there's fewer babies than volunteers, then we get to pay more attention to each individual baby. I can tell that the same thing happens here. I love the slow days because of the one-on-one attention, but more often than not, it is more hectic. Do you ever feel rushed to get to help all the kids and how do you manage that?
ReplyDeleteI admit I have spent some extra time with my favorite students on slow nights. We stay with our students until their work is finished and some night and some students that is a long night. I have never felt rushed so that I could help other students. Those long nights are rewarding because you can see the relief and increased confidence in the students. It makes me wonder if classes are too large since most students just need some one on one attention to understand the work. Makes me feel for the teachers and students.
ReplyDelete