A cornerstone of my approach with students is to devote our first session to developing a bespoke Success Plan. Prior to the first session, I give each new student some time to come up with their own priorities and goals while working with me. This guides things from the start. During session 1, I usually spend around 90 minutes probing and asking many, many questions, so that I can get a handle on what is working well for a student and where there is room for improvement. I provide some initial advice during session 1, but it is important that I then pause and spend time reflecting for a day or so following the session. I then draft up a bespoke Success Plan for the student. The plan includes the student’s personal priorities, followed by the specific strategies and techniques that we will use, and the order in which I think we should move through things.
From there, I often operate like most tutors where I assist students with understanding content from class and/or assignment support, but my approach is always guided by the overarching Success Plan. This is the power of combining tutoring with learning advising and being able to work with students one-on-one; I can ensure we are continually developing metacognitive skills and reflective processes in a way that is tailored to that student. The ultimate goal is for a student to become an independent and effective learner. I am always working towards the day when a student tells me they feel like they don’t need me anymore. Now THAT is the biggest tick in my personal Success Plan!
I’m excited to share this anonymised version of a Success Plan I have developed recently for a new student commencing Year 12. This plan won’t be relevant for everyone – it has been developed with one student in mind. This student and I will continue working together, being guided by this plan, until the student is ready to fly solo. Some students reach that point within a few weeks; for others it can take a little longer. But we always get there!
Janine Rix Learning Solutions 