Hey there...I am wanting to share a bit about my conclusion to the question about whether online is indeed equal to in-person.
I started out in this line of specialized Orton Gillingham-style tutoring believing that in-person was absolutely better than online. We were in the middle of a pandemic, and my work for the local public school system was turned over by the abrupt change from in-person to online. It really was an amazing task, as we literally had to learn how to implement this Big Change in protocol, to keep our students engaged as much as possible, in about two weeks' time.
The results were not perfect by any means. However, looking on the bright side, we all learned a bit more about the online world of teaching. We are no longer on the learning curve side of things, and have become quite savvy on how to master Zoom and how to use the myriad of teaching tools there are out there today.
What I understand differently today.
More than 75% of my students learn from me exclusively online. Whether near or far, the one-on-one teaching relationship is strong. There have been only a few students that have not had amazing success in reading and spelling while engaging remotely with me. True, the live-social component is not there, but if their location has the right learning environment, they are really just as connected to me as in-person. Our 50 minutes together twice per week is full of connective exercises, interactive learning and great conversation about our topic of the day that is really very effective. They receive materials from me ahead of time to print out from home to use. I allow snacks even (well, as long as they are not overly consuming or distractive), as added nutrition helps with focus and alertness. It also helps that I do my very best to keep learning fun and engaging. No boring sessions from me, if I can help it!
Other added-benefits of the online experience are:
Less illness passed around (germs and bacteria have not yet figured out how to cross over in cyberspace).
Less time spent by parents for commuting. Even students coming to me from just across town, considering traffic, can require 20-25 minutes of transit time easily each way.
Kids get more time at home, learning comfortably and easily from home. As long as they are provided all the needed supplies and equipment, which most homes have these components already, kids get a little more time to relax and prepare for our sessions.
I do offer limited opportunities for in-person sessions; either for a certain limited amount of time (usually in the beginning of our work together). I can be flexible for regular in-person session dates scattered throughout the month as well (which I refer to as "hybrid"). I offer these options on a limited basis.
If you are open to learning more about online tutoring sessions, please contact me to discuss it HERE.
I also have remote families that would be willing to share with you their experience. I also have a Testimonial Page on my website you can access from HERE.
Thanks, have a great day!
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