Adventures in Tutoring Daily Challenge – Day 18

I thought it would be interesting to take a few blog posts to look at the differences between online and in-person tutoring. And, these thoughts are just my opinions based on my own personal experiences and the second-hand experience I have through others’ accounts. Yours may differ, and that’s okay. I’m just sharing “tutoring adventures,” as I’ve personally experienced them.

So, I think I’ll come from the perspective of one thought per blog post for why I favor online tutoring over in-person tutoring.

And, let me just start out by stating that I have no real experience with in-person tutoring. All my years of reading tutoring have been of the online variety. (Unless you count homeschooling my son for 1st and 2nd grades as a form of tutoring.)

No, let’s not count that. So, I’ve only tutored online. But, I have tutored online in different settings. I’ve taught for individual families. I’ve taught for a tutoring company, supporting elementary and middle school children in various public schools throughout the United States. And, I’m currently teaching elementary and middle school students — all attending the same hybrid (online and in-person) private school.

(However, I do have room to support young learners from individual families, if you know of anyone looking for a reading tutor for their child(ren). Check out my “Tutoring Services” page for more details.)

Okay, so why I favor online tutoring over in-person tutoring (in no particular order):

Reason #1- The Comfortability Factor

And I mean “comfortable” in two major ways. Let’s start with the first way . . .

Physically. I can work online but do it from my home (or anywhere else if I choose) Home is my happy place, though. I love my home. I’m a homebody, naturally. I’m comfortable at home and can stay long periods of time in my home without feeling like I need to escape. Hee. Hee. My home is warm and full of things that bring me peace and joy and convenience.

I have access to everything I need to hold a successful tutoring session and don’t need to venture anywhere else to do so. Nor do I desire to uproot all my tools, resources, and equipment that are snugly secured in my home and move them to another location to instruct an awesome learner when I can just as effectively utilize those same things where they comfortably rest. No wear and tear. No hustle and bustle.

I can even dress more comfortably by being online and at home. Granted, I dress appropriately and accordingly for each session with my children. For sure. But, I can get away with the pajama stuff on the bottom half of my body if I want. The children don’t see that part of me. I can wear my cozy socks only or houseshoes if I want, and no one will scold me for breaking the dress code.

Location . . . Location . . . Location can mean all the difference between a not-so-comfortable and a comfortable tutoring session.

So, I tutor in my home office. Because I can do it efficiently. It’s like my educational playground, and all the fun stuff is at my disposal. Plus, I have a big front window in there, and I love having the blinds open when I work with the children. Natural light does wonders for the energy level of this old gal. I do find myself energized more when the sunlight permeates the room (which comes in handy when working with young-ins). I need all the energy boosts I can get!

And when it’s not so sunshiny — maybe it’s cold and snowy or dark and stormy. Guess what? I DON’T HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE to get to an in-person tutoring session. And, the parent doesn’t have to get out of his or her home to bring my tutee to an in-person tutoring session with me during those unwelcoming weather days. And why? Well, because my work is indoors . . . in my home . . . online.

Oh, and let’s not forget when the body may not be acting right at times. It could be due to getting older and the body wants to do what you don’t want it to, or you may have been bitten by the “sick” bug. In either case, it’s easier to play off unpleasantries and keep a tutoring session on the books if you’re able to do it online, even if you’re not feeling the best. Furthermore, you never want to run the risk of getting your tutee sick by teaching him or her in-person, when you’re sick. Online tutoring takes the “spreading sickness” risk factor out of the scenario.

I absolutely love the freedom and flexibility I have by getting to do my work online.

Online teaching, specifically at my home, allows me to be more of me and to give more of myself to the children I serve.

In this post, I focused more on comfort externally. But in the next post, I’d like to explore the other major way that online tutoring affords me the comfortability factor. It has more to do with the internal stuff.

To be continued . . .