Tools on The Web - 4teachers.org

Hi Everyone!

It's hard to believe that this is my 17th post. My goal is to go 5 days a week, Monday-Friday for posting. So far, I've only missed one day!

Today's featured website is www.4teachers.org. This site is amazing. While it says 4teachers.org, it's really a free resource for tutors as well. It allows you to create quizzes and rubrics in both English and Spanish. The site consists of many resources that are worth your time.

QuizStar is an online test creation and student assessment module. It is a part of the www.4teachers.org world. This is a great tool for a tutor!  Often, I need to quiz my students based on previous lessons.  Sometimes using this tool can be lengthy in process, but the end result are quick and easy to gather and maintain.  Typically, I use ExamView to create assessments.  However, there is not a free test portal that I can use.  QuizStar fills that missing link!  Best of all, it's free!!!

Check it out here:  http://quizstar.4teachers.org/

I hope this helps.  Quizstar is definitely worth your time.  Make sure that you at least bookmark 4teachers. org!

Friday What's in my "Tutor's Gig" Bag?

Hi Everyone!

I knew that when finished the Tutor's Gig Bag I had left some things out.  I listed my ten most important.
Yesterday, I added a few more things.  While they're not essential, they are very helpful

In the first picture I have 3 items.  The first is multi-colored pens.  This is very helpful for me when I'm explaining concepts to students.  The second item are paper clips.  Third, is the little box that I got them in.  I got the box and the paper clips at Staples for only $1.00 on clearance.  Staples and Office Depot always have a clearance section...I always find awesome deals on awesome teacher/tutor items.

The fourth item is "card stock" Paper.  I got a multi-colored pack with about 150 sheets (I think) for $9.99.  I use these for foldables with my clients that are hands-on learners.  Parents love these by the way!

So those are my add-ons for this post.  I think I'll continue to post on Friday - What's in my "Tutor's Gig" Bag?

Tools for Tutors Found around the Web

Hello!  Today's post features "Tools for Tutors that I found around the web!"

There are many bloggers out there that share their ideas freely.  Some of them are really good and I want to share them with you!

Today's Feature Blog is:

Teaching in Room 6

Teaching in Room 6

One of my favorite Simplifying Fractions Activities!

Click Here
Simplifying Fractions

I had some time to read the blog and try out some of the suggested activities with a client.  I had a client struggling with the traditional method of finding fractions.  Stephanie's suggestion and model helped my client to better understand the process and become better at the process!  Honestly, it was a life saver!

 I am really impressed with the knowledge and details of the blog.  Please check out Stephanie's Site.  It's definitely worth the time!

The Tech Savvy Tutor - 4 Resources to Help You Stay Ahead of Your Competitor

The Tech Savvy Tutor  

4 Resources to Help You Stay Ahead of Your Competitor

My first client was a referral from a friend.  The only thing tech related was the phone I was using.   As my number of clients increased (even to 3) I realized I needed some help.  Certain clients wanted to pay in cash, while others payed by PayPal.  Clients liked being able to communicate through phone and texting, while others liked e-mail.  And with 3 clients and 3 different subjects, I sometimes got confused as to what I was bringing with me during my next session.

Here are some of my tools that I have tried or currently used to operate as a tutor:

1.  Tutors Office - My first tutor management program.  It's simplistic and easy to operate.   They offer it for free for a trial period.  Then it's only $5.95 and up depending on the number of clients.  They offer tools for tutos to include calendar scheduling, student management, payment management, invoicing, expensing, and tax reporting.   They're definitely worth your time to check out.

2.  Tutors Nirvana - This is my current tutor management program.  It offers a good rate including a 30-day free trial.  I find it to be an excellent portal to your clients.  Like Tutor's Office, they offer a calendar, scheduling, potential client contact portal, student/family management, payment/expense management, invoicing and other great features.  It also offers a list of recommended tutors in which you'll be listed.  Your recommendations from clients will be posted here.  That is, primarily, why I made the switch.  The profile lists a summary of my experience and allows potential clients to link up with me.

3.  Pay Pal - While Tutor's Office and Tutor's Nirvana offer invoicing capabilities, I like to go with Paypal.  I use to sell and buy regularly on eBay and I have grown accustomed to PayPal.  What I like best is the ability of paypal to take credit card payments.  Of course there are fees that you have to pay, but it's small.  It's even easier to get payment if the client has PayPal.  Creating an invoice is also a lot easier.

4.  ALEKS - One of my favorite math tutorial sites is www.aleks.com.  From their website:

"Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking.

ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor."

But wouldn't it replace you?  No, not really.  It provides what I can't to the client.  Extra hours, extra practice for a low price.  I'm still needed to explain concepts that the program can't.  I typically recommend this program when I identify a student that is really far behind in math and needs more than 2 sessions a week.  It's only $20.00 per month.

Well, that's it for today.  I'll bring new resources every Monday to Help you stay ahead of the competition.--Randall

The Tutor's "Gig" Bag

What should I bring to my sessions?

When I first started tutoring, I showed up to a session with my laptop and some paper.  I found myself constantly looking for tools to use during my session.  Here's a list of what to bring to every session regardless of the subject.

The 10 Essentials 

1.  Pencils (mechanical), Pens (multicolored), Color Pencils, Markers, Highlighters
2.  Paper - lined/white
3.  Straight Edge/Ruler
4. Calculator - scientific, graphing
5.  Workbooks, printables
6.  Tablet, iPad, laptop
7.  Headphones (over the ear)
8.  Calendar - Paper/Electronic
9.  Business Cards!!!
10.  Scrapbooking Tote

I can remember my first few weeks of tutoring.  While I made it through my sessions, I ran into many issues. Clients come to a session with an open mind...which also means empty hands.  Really, it's symbolic and kinda sweet!  The client is telling you..."I'm all yours and open minded.  Please, make me smart!".  The truth is that we don't make anybody smart.  As tutors, we help them actualize what skills they already know by showing them a better way to understand it.

A couple of notes:  

Be Prepared:

Clients will not always be prepared for your lesson.  That's why they're paying you!  You need to have things ready.  Remember, you're being payed a premium to teach a client something that they should have learned for free.  Just because they forget their items, doesn't mean you can't work with them.  In fact, you better have something ready in case they don't.  Sure they'll finish the lesson, but nobody wants to pay for something that's not helping them.  A couple of lessons that are paid for where no learning occurs will lead to no more sessions.  Tutoring is as much a business as it is helpful.  The client is your priority.

Be Technology Driven:
If you're not electronic, you might want to think about it again.  The Tablets, iPad, laptops etc help so much. On some occasions, the client needed help completing online assignments.  Other clients needed YouTube videos to help explain a concept better.  Today's learners are techno savvy...you have no choice but to be techno savvy.

Business Cards!Business cards are a must!  I can't tell you how many people have asked me for a business card and I didn't have one during a session.  I missed so many so many potential clients.  I know some of you are thinking..."I'll just write my info down!"  The truth is that a business card is durable and fits easily in a wallet or purse.  They have colors, pictures, and information that written information does not have.  They serve a purpose and are used by all professionals.  To be honest, I have yet to get a call back from information written on a piece of paper.

The Tutor's Tote

  Need I say more!  It's light weight!  Easy to carry all your items for multiple clients and worth the money.  

Imagine all your items in one easy, organized place.  Better yet, it shows the client that you're prepared, organized, and knowledgeable.

These items can be expensive...especially the better the quality.  I was able to get a great deal on my item.  I went to Michael's and they had a 40% off sale.  
The truth is that you've got to carry things to a session...this is the type of item you need!