In a span of four weeks, three to four times a week in February, an 8-year old boy participated in a short one-on-one reading intervention conducted in his mom's office in UP. This was my first time to do this independently. In other words, self-employed and freelance. I have tutored students before but not this extensive and structured. For those teachers reading this who have tutored for a long time, stick around for I know you can relate.

Looking back on the last few weeks, I have been reminded that I am born to teach and I have a lot of things to learn and relearn about this craft. This experience taught me the following:

1. A teacher must be resourceful.

In this day and age where the world wide web only requires a good internet connection, a laptop, and a printer, a teacher can use a lot of available resources and materials. Being employed in a full time job for almost six years, I was well-provided with resources and materials. The employer usually pays for all the costs. When I started as a freelance reading specialist/tutor last February, I was not equipped with materials. As a freelancer, this requires more money on my end. So it is important to be resourceful in finding ways to acquire them.

Many websites offer free reading materials. Some examples of these websites are www.themeasuredmom.com, www.readinga-z.com, www.readingrockets.org, and www.k5learning.com. These materials could be used as is or modified according to the needs of the students. But the best yet time-consuming way is to create your own materials. It's a fun and creative way to teach too!

Aside from materials, self-study of reading approaches or programs first (if you cannot afford to be trained yet or do not know which approach to be trained in) works. Again, the internet is a good resource for this. Watch videos, download free eBooks on manuals, etc. Get all the information you need.

2. A teacher's job is to intervene; not to change the student overnight.

Change is a big word. I do not think that teachers change the students. When we teach them, we might cause transformation in them indirectly. But the change still comes from the student. Their determination to study and do better in the skills that they have play a huge role in their academic and non-academic successes. As a teacher, the job is to provide opportunities and experiences where they can get their motivation and inspiration.

3. A good teacher builds rapport with students easily.

A teacher may be so good at teaching. But if the teacher fails to make a student communicate and express his true self, then the learning curve of the student goes downward. The student's desire to succeed is lessened. So as a teacher, I learned not to aim in improving the skills alone. In Filipino, this is sometimes referred to as "kuhanin mo ang loob." You must draw a student out of his/her shell. So he/she will naturally and willingly respond to you.

4. Tutoring is a job.

I have met several teachers who have the mindset of "tutoring lang (only tutoring)." This is similar to the "teacher lang" and "teaching lang" mindsets. These mindsets might have come from the idea that teaching is a job that is cumbersome and pays little. Then the tutoring mindset is worse because a tutor is not in a classroom unlike other teachers. But let's get to the point. Teaching in whatever setting is hard, especially if you are dealing with struggling students. So

I had a Math tutor in high school before because I had difficulty in geometry and trigonometry. My tutor helped me with my assignments and prepare me for the next lessons. For the other subjects, I had none. I have no special need that affected my overall learning (or so I thought haha). She was an academic tutor. A reading specialist/clinician/intervenionist/tutor, on the other hand, is different from an academic tutoring job because it does not involve completing assignments and studying lessons. It is focused on developing specific skill/s to aid students in different learning environments. Currently, I am doing both to my students. This way, they are applying the skills and strategies I have been teaching them to different content areas or academic subjects.

Though tutoring could not be considered a long-term or stable job, it is a noble job. I am providing an intervention to struggling students who could not keep up with school standards and teacher/parent expectations. The only difference is the students are being educated in a one to one or a small group instead of a classroom setting. The goal of both scenarios are the same: teach and help a student develop the skills he/she needs to use independently. It is NOT "tutoring lang."

This teaching experience has jumpstarted my career after a year and a half of teaching hiatus due to thesis. I didn't imagine this. But God must have thought about enhancing my teaching experience and giving me a task to work hard for each day. He did not allow me to deteriorate or lose my passion. Indeed, He has planned everything in proper timing. He also gave me an achievable amount of workload.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20

When the season changed to summer (April - May), I was called to a new place where I practiced providing individually designed reading intervention programs for each child. I enjoyed it so much despite the distance, commuting experience (I love LRT 2 except the heat), and salary pay. I was able to see beyond the negativity. I became more thankful of the experience I gained. I looked at it as a training ground.

This summer, (June-present) which does not feel like summer, is a fresh start. The reading sessions for the little boy resumed. This was not expected because I thought that I would be working full-time in my previous work. Surprisingly, the mother of my 8-year old student was co-workers and friends with the mother of my now 10-year old boy in "Reading Link," a teaching practicum course for my Master's four years ago. The mother of the 10-year old boy suddenly called me last February, referring me to her friend. Now, she also wanted me to provide a reading and writing intervention for her son. What a connection! The timing was even beyond my imagination. I knew that this was God giving me a job to practice my teaching skills, mostly what I learned in MA.

Truly, everything has a purpose. I learned to be more grateful about every opportunity no matter how big or small. I know that nothing is wasted as long as I am seeking, listening, and obeying God's will.

I am excited with where God is going to take me next. For now, I am going to do my very best and glorify Him with what I have and where I am.

K