Case Study #4 - Helping a 3rd grader reach her potential

Sarah Thompson is a sweet, determined 5th grade student. She actually started working with us when she was in 3rd grade. Sarah always struggled to keep up with her classmates. She always felt like she was falling behind. And this frustrated her. She had the drive to do well, but her learning difficulties were formidable obstacles to overcome. And it became apparent that tutoring might be the way to go.

Plan of Action:

Immediately upon meeting her, Sarah’s tutor could see how much she cared. Sarah struggled with confidence, and she was often hesitant with her answers, even when they were correct. When she would get something wrong, she would get frustrated with herself, and shut down. When this happened, her tutor gave her the space to express those feelings. Sarah particularly struggled with reading comprehension; when asked if she liked reading, she responded, “I like the stories, but it’s just so hard!” It was clear to her tutor that Sarah had all the will to learn, but that she needed support in building her confidence, and in learning ways to work through her difficulties.

Results:

Over the course of her lessons, Sarah’s tutor has consistently made strides in encouraging Sarah, and helping her build confidence. Her reading skills have dramatically improved, especially comprehension. She began to feel genuine pride in her work, and as a result she enjoyed learning even more.

Outlook:

As her lessons continue, Sarah’s tutor will continue to work on building confidence and learning tools. Naturally, Sarah still gets answers wrong sometimes; but she is far less likely to become frustrated in herself. We have been happy to see her learn and improve over time, and know that she will continue to do so!