It’s that time of year where students and parents alike are wondering how that stubborn AP US history score can be brought up or what kinds of English help would be most effective at bringing up your grade, and we’re here to tell you that subject specific tutoring might be just what you need.
Based on an exclusive interview with Sarah Newport, a seasoned tutor with more than 20 years of classroom and tutoring experience, we’re here to give you a glimpse into what a humanities subject specific tutoring session might look like. Sarah has been helping students improve in AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP European History, AP Human Geography, AP US Government, AP United States History, AP World History, as well as helping students develop essential study skills, writing capabilities, and literary analysis techniques with Marks Education since 2014.
Sarah leverages her expertise to not only improve students’ grades but also deepen their understanding and appreciation of these challenging subjects. At Marks Education, our tutoring services revolve around a personalized approach, tailored to align with each student’s academic needs and interests. While every student is different, and so every session is different, here is a look into what you might expect to find in a humanities subject specific tutoring session.
English Tutoring
In English centered tutoring sessions, we’re usually helping students conduct close readings of novels or poetry, making sure that students are active readers and are paying attention to the crucial themes or character developments we’re exploring in the book. Understanding the book is central to being able to write about it.
Students might also need help formulating a thesis, creating outlines or structures, completing the pre-writing process, or gathering evidence to support their claims. These are standard tasks in any English class, and we’re ultimately here to make that happen in our personalized tutoring sessions.
Sometimes tutors will spend time reading academic writing with the student to ensure that they’re understanding the language being used and arguments proposed. For example, Sarah recently helped a student write an essay on “Pride and Prejudice” where the student examined the position of women in society. The paper required that the student read peer researched articles on the topic and incorporate them into her paper. Students tend to only get one of these papers in high school, but this can be a great skill to have when preparing for college level writing. As a tutor, Sarah helped the student develop core strategies for digesting dense pieces of academic writing and taking helpful notes. The student was then able to work with Sarah to format their work and ensure her argument was backed up with proper support.
History Tutoring
History subject specific tutoring sessions are very similar. We encourage students to practice active reading strategies, and turn the headings of textbooks into questions. For example, when encountering a heading titled: “Causes of the Civil War,” Sarah encourages students to put in their notes “What are the causes of the civil war?” and try to come up with an answer to this question by the end of the section. This helps ensure that students are taking in what they’re reading and are building proper metacognitive skills.
Sarah will often help with history papers, preparing students to build an argument and using historical evidence to back it up. In history courses, it is particularly important to identify larger themes and understand how they contribute to the events at play. This can be hard or overwhelming for students, but we’re here to help them develop the skills to make this process easier!
Building Foundational Study Skills
What distinguishes Mark’s Education from our competition is our emphasis on developing foundational study skills through personalized tutoring sessions. We hope to help our students succeed long after their time with us, and that starts with making sure students have the tools to succeed. While every session is different, many incorporate strategies on the pre-writing process, time management, and how to deconstruct arguments into manageable parts. This holistic approach ensures students are equipped with the skills beneficial beyond their immediate academic requirements. These are skills they can take with them to school, college, the workforce, and their future.
Maximizing Humanities Tutoring Session Effectiveness
Preparation is key. Sarah recommends that students have a good sense of their syllabus before coming to a session: understand the expectations, the calendar, and the course readings. Doing so helps you plan out your reading and knowing when you need to have drafts ready. This is really great information to know ahead of time because it allows you to look realistically at these elements and incorporate them into a schedule that works for you.
Sarah recommends that students come to their sessions having done all of the reading beforehand so during the season they can use their time with the tutor effectively and make progress on desired subjects. This is also a great way to identify problem areas and come into the session ready to tackle them.
