5th Tutoring Session

My fifth tutoring session today with E. was much better than last week. As I went to the school, I was feeling apprehensive and just hoping that she would be in a better mood and would want to work with me. At first she did not make eye contact with me when I entered the classroom. However, I simply asked her if I could sit beside her while she ate her snack, and she agreed. Soon, she leaned over to me and said, "I want to go with you." So we left and sat in a foyer. Here, we began by coloring pictures and as we colored the pictures we each took turns telling a story about the character in the picture. As we colored, we also discussed what colors we were using and what colors we liked best. Next, we drew pictures of flower bouquets and used stickers. We made one for each of E.'s family members. As we worked we talked about her family, and E. talked about their restaurant. E. talked a lot and seemed much more comfortable with me.

In my reading of Other People's Children, I have continued to explore the idea of what the relationship between teacher and student should look like. Lisa Delpit says that the relationship should be primarily between the teacher and student, and secondly the relationship between the teacher and the content. This is illustrated in my relationship and experience with E. When dealing with students of a different culture, it is vitally important that the relationship be built before the teacher tries to teach the child.

I also had the opportunity to visit E.'s family's restaurant this weekend. When at the restaurant E. acted somewhat shy and would not look at me. However, as I sat there for a longer period of time, she and her brother came out and were cautiously looking at my friends and I. I then went over and talked to her and her brother and she smiled shyly at me. This is a small thing, but the little things are what builds that relationship. As time goes on, I hope to continue to build our relationship so that she feels more comfortable just talking with me. I believe that as E. learns to talk and share of herself freely, then she will truly be able to learn the things she needs to know.