Service Learning Summary
Apr 2005 | Filed in: Professional
| Decision Point
2
Rationale
This experience has been a good one for me. I
served at MOMs once a week tutoring a fourth grade
student. This student was very unmotivated and felt
that MOMs was boring. He always wanted to get on
the Internet and play games. It was very difficult
to try and get him motivated to do his homework.
Many times he would not have homework and I would
have to revert to the lesson plan written for the
week. But again, my student was uninterested in
doing anything that he knew was “homework” or
schoolwork related. Even when he did have homework
it was difficult to get him to do it. But once he
began to focus are started trying he was able to
complete the homework with relatively little
difficulty. He appears to be a bright kid but lacks
motivation and understanding as to why education is
important.
I learned a lot about student motivation through this experience. I had a difficult time with this student at first because I have always been very motivated. I tend to even take my desire to better myself so far that other people call me an over achiever. But I also realize that education is important. I have a desire to learn and be better educated. I do not remember if I felt this way when I was in the fourth grade, but I would venture to say that I was. I have always enjoyed school and always done my best because I wanted to learn more.
The student that I tutored was not motivated and did not view learning as important. He wanted to play and have fun all of the time. I had a hard time trying to get him motivated. There were even times when he was so distracted and resistant to do anything constructive that I would have to take away some tickets. Eventually I would have to stop being “Mr. Easy Going” and take a ticket away if he didn’t do his homework or do what I have asked him to do. When I finally did take a ticket away, he would instantly become angry and say that I was mean or a jerk. But I did not feel like I had wronged him because I had exhausted every other possible option to make him do his work.
There was a constant difference between the two of us. I don’t know how he felt but there were a couple of times when I was counting down the minutes until it was time to leave.
On my last day of service my regular student was not there so I was assigned to a group of three students. These students were all in first grade. They were all ready to begin doing their homework and worked diligently the entire time. It was a very enjoyable time on that particular visit. This contrasts sharply with my regular student who would resist and procrastinate as much as possible. It helped me see the difference in students and the differences that age and race can make in students.
This tutoring experience has been very valuable. When I began serving, I thought that this would be useless because I don’t plan on teaching students of this age. But as I worked with these students I learned that they learn differently which requires a different approach. It has even sparked an interest in possibly pursuing an elementary education major in addition to my secondary education major.
I learned a lot about student motivation through this experience. I had a difficult time with this student at first because I have always been very motivated. I tend to even take my desire to better myself so far that other people call me an over achiever. But I also realize that education is important. I have a desire to learn and be better educated. I do not remember if I felt this way when I was in the fourth grade, but I would venture to say that I was. I have always enjoyed school and always done my best because I wanted to learn more.
The student that I tutored was not motivated and did not view learning as important. He wanted to play and have fun all of the time. I had a hard time trying to get him motivated. There were even times when he was so distracted and resistant to do anything constructive that I would have to take away some tickets. Eventually I would have to stop being “Mr. Easy Going” and take a ticket away if he didn’t do his homework or do what I have asked him to do. When I finally did take a ticket away, he would instantly become angry and say that I was mean or a jerk. But I did not feel like I had wronged him because I had exhausted every other possible option to make him do his work.
There was a constant difference between the two of us. I don’t know how he felt but there were a couple of times when I was counting down the minutes until it was time to leave.
On my last day of service my regular student was not there so I was assigned to a group of three students. These students were all in first grade. They were all ready to begin doing their homework and worked diligently the entire time. It was a very enjoyable time on that particular visit. This contrasts sharply with my regular student who would resist and procrastinate as much as possible. It helped me see the difference in students and the differences that age and race can make in students.
This tutoring experience has been very valuable. When I began serving, I thought that this would be useless because I don’t plan on teaching students of this age. But as I worked with these students I learned that they learn differently which requires a different approach. It has even sparked an interest in possibly pursuing an elementary education major in addition to my secondary education major.