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Deep Roots for Successful Growth
Student Assistance
Students have differing needs.
Whether struggling academically or needing additional enrichment, student assistance benefits every learner. Piñon Tutoring honors the needs of each student and considers the whole person during tutoring sessions, including the development of social and emotional skills, time management and organization, identity, and integrity.
Subject Areas
We are proud to offer tutoring in the following areas for all Kindergarten through College learners:
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Literacy, Phonics, and Foundational Reading Skills
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Math
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English Language Arts (ELA) and Writing
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History and Social Studies
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Science (General Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
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Foreign Languages (Spanish and French)
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Executive Functioning (Organization, Time Management, Work Completion)
...and more!
Learning Theories Utilized
When considering assistance for a student, it is important to consider research-based learning theories. Many classrooms are ill-equipped or incapable of addressing these learning theories on an individual basis whereas Piñon Tutoring's one-on-one approach targets and tailors education to meet the needs of each learner.
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Challenge and Support
The first to consider is Nevitt Sanford's Theory of Challenge and Support. In a nutshell, Sanford's Theory states that learners perform best when confronted with an appropriate level of challenge for their individual skills and learning styles and met with an appropriate level of support. If there is too much challenge, students feel defeated and give up, fostering a sense of incompetence that serves no learner. If there is too little challenge, students feel bored and as if they are wasting their time. If there is too much support, students do not develop their own critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. If there is too little support, students once again feel defeated and give up.
Piñon Tutoring addresses Sanford's Theory by assessing students' skills and then creating a plan that considers the appropriate levels of challenge and support each learner needs. During tutoring sessions, students engage in problem-solving activities that nurture their educational endeavors while receiving adequate support to be successful.
Because a classroom environment caters to the needs of the many rather than the needs of the few, oftentimes students who need additional support or enrichment are left in a grey-area of challenge and support that does not meet their individual needs. One-on-one attention in the form of tutoring is the best way to solve this problem.
Multiple Intelligences
The second learning theory to consider is Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This theory states that individuals learn in different ways and that the best way for them to learn is through an individualized approach that honors their intrinsic learning style.
People's learning styles may incline them learn:
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Musically: through songs, patterns, instruments, and rhythms
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Visually/Spatially: through seeing, imagining, drawing, diagraming, pictures
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Bodily/Kinesthetically: through movement, dance, interaction with the environment, exercise
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Intrapersonally: through feelings, introspection, philosophizing, self-improvement, independent activities
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Interpersonally: through social interaction, group activities, relationships, competition
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Naturalistically: through nature, plants, animals, being outside
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Logically: through math, patterns, reasoning, problem-solving
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Linguistically: through language, writing, poetry, listening, speaking
While it is impossible for a classroom teacher to individualize instruction based on the learning style of each student, Piñon Tutoring addresses Multiple Intelligences Theory by assessing how each student learns best and then tailoring tutoring sessions to accommodate the individual's learning style.
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Social-Emotional Learning
The final learning theory to consider for student assistance is the Social Emotional Learning Theory. SEL theory focuses on providing students with the skills necessary to manage their emotions, achieve positive outcomes, and build relationships and community. This may not sound academic, however in 2011 Durlak et al. found that Social Emotional Learning leads students to achieve 11 percentile points higher in academics. Additionally, the study found that students who engage in SEL have decreased levels of anxiety and depression surrounding schooling and in general and build stronger relationships and communities through empathy and compassion.
SEL focuses on five areas:
Self Awareness
Self Management
Social Awareness
Relationship Skills
Responsible Decision Making
Many schools do not consider the whole person when it comes to education and instead focus on pure academics. By integrating SEL into subject areas during tutoring sessions, Piñon Tutoring nurtures students' learning holistically so that they are more capable of achieving success in educational pursuits and in life in general.
