Ruby Clarke is a sweet, bright 8th grader. She’s also quite shy. Her confidence in school had been low for some time, which led her to doubt herself and get answers incorrect through overthinking. So her family decided to try tutoring. They hoped that having a low-pressure, one-on-one environment would allow Ruby to gain confidence, and get the most out of her classes.
Plan of Action:
When Ruby started lessons, her tutor immediately noted that Ruby was very non-vocal, and didn’t ask questions. She had to be coaxed into participating in lessons. Her tutor found that Ruby did better when she had guidance, but struggled on her own. And without prompting, she would sit quietly during their lessons. Over time, Ruby got more comfortable with her tutor, and began to open up. In addition to teaching her important English and Math skills, her tutor also created a space where Ruby could share her opinions and feel more comfortable speaking.
After several months of tutoring, Ruby has shown great improvement in her confidence. She is more willing to engage in her lessons, with less prompting, though she still has some reservations about asking questions. But she has started to become more confident, and her tutor has encouraged her to form ideas on her own, making her own decisions about what she wants to write or read, and sharing how she’s feeling.
In future lessons, Ruby’s tutor will continue to nurture her confidence. She is quick to pick up on concepts, and as she’s becoming more sure of herself, she’s starting to get correct answers more and more often. Her tutor will encourage her to continue thinking independently, and develop her own ideas about what she’s learning. Ruby is on the right track to becoming a self-assured and self-sufficient student.